Hello, all! I have an author on today who I met through the Clean Reads Publishing family. It really does feel a bit like a family, all of us authors who have published with Clean Reads. We help each other with marketing tips, answer each other’s questions, give each other recommendations and tips on where to get stuff printed, what blog tour service was worth the money, and so on and so forth. I have enjoyed being a part of this group.
Back to my guest. Emerald Barnes is the author of the Knight’s Academy Series and is here to share with us about the newest book in that series, The Hunted. So, without any further rambling from me, I’ll jump right in.
Hello, Emerald. Thanks for being on my blog today. First, can you tell us a little about your novel.
My novel, The Hunted, is the second book in the Knight’s Academy series, and it follows Myka after she’s found out the meaning of her birthmark and the truth of the Knight’s Academy. She’s on the run from the vicious vampires who want her, and she finally discovers the truth of who she is.
Such an interesting and unique story! What was the inspiration for The Hunted?
My novel, the entire series actually, was inspired by a dream I had where a vampire saved a human from being a captive, which was probably inspired by Twilight and The Vampire Academy series.
Hmmm…I do dream about my genre and I know I think in the dream “this would be a good story”, but I don’t often remember enough of the dream to capture it 🙁
Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you were a child?
Actually, I started out wanting to be an archaeologist. I had read books about kid archaeologists, and it was something that struck a chord with me. But then, I realized that writing and entertaining others like those books did for me was what I really wanted to do. That was probably in high school, though.
What made you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
In high school, I started writing stories, and when I injured my foot, I ended up with this paranormal story I wrote because I couldn’t do anything else. That was when I knew writing was for me.
I know there are things we all love about writing…and things we don’t love so much. What part of the writing process do you dread?
Editing. It’s totally essential and probably the most important step, but it’s so tedious.
I hear ya’. I’d rather write three novels than edit one.
As much as I think writers learn from doing and from craft books, I think we learn intuitively from reading other writers. What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading Kitishi Island by Jordan Elizabeth.
What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?
It depends. I have a mix for my Knight’s Academy series, which you can listen to on YouTube. But lately, it’s been Brett Young and Christian Kane that have dominated any playlist I have!
Can you share with us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
My main character, Myka, finds out who her real parents are in this novel.
And, lastly, do you have any current projects you’re working on? Care to share?
I’m currently working on book three, The Chosen, in the Knight’s Academy series and a Christmas novella called Christmas Beginnings.
Busy lady! I love it! Thank you so much for visiting with me today and I look forward to sharing more about your books!
The Hunted
Myka Williams has been forced out of Knight’s Academy and is on the run, constantly moving to keep the vampires off her trail until Preston’s venom is no longer coursing through her veins. But she isn’t alone.
Brent Jacobson is her protector, training her and teaching her how to be the werewolf she’s destined to be. He’s annoying, stubborn—and hot. But there’s something he isn’t telling her.
Myka has to come face-to-face with the truth of who she really is. Will she find safety, or will she always be hunted?
Buy Links
Enjoy an Excerpt
Preston jerked Myka’s arms behind her back roughly. He wrapped her wrists in duct tape, and the memories of that day, where he was about to rape her, flashed in her mind. She wasn’t going to let Preston hurt her again.
After he’d secured her, he moved her hair off of her neck and whispered in her ear, “Oh, I’ve been waiting too long for this, dog. You’ve been hard to find. Too hard. Guess all that venom I pumped you full of has worn off. Lucky for me, I knew you couldn’t resist seeing your dear ole parents again. No matter what you are.” His hot, excited breath made her shudder. He shoved her into a chair and turned her around to face her parents.
He nipped her neck, and she jumped. He laughed, and Barry said, “Get your hands off my daughter.”
Myka closed her eyes. Preston wasn’t going to like being told what to do. A harsh smack of skin on skin sounded, and she screamed, “Preston, no!”
Hot tears burned her eyes, but he paused. He stared at her, anger rolling off his body in waves, but at least he stopped hitting her dad. Barry’s face was red from the punch.
“Please don’t hurt them,” she begged.
Preston rubbed his hand through Jilly’s hair, and a sob escaped her lips. Myka’s heart sank in her chest. She had to do something. These monsters weren’t going to keep their word. They would kill her parents, and she would die before she let that happen.
“Okay. But you have to come back to Knight’s Academy with me, pop out little hybrid babies, and never leave my side,” Preston said, running his finger over her cheek.
“You know I won’t agree to that,” she said, staring at her parents.
“Then you will watch them die.” He leaned over Jilly and stared at Myka with black eyes, and his fangs were protruded, ready for the bite.
“Preston, please. Please don’t do this!” she begged.
“Leave her alone, monster! I’ll kill you if you touch her,” Barry said.
Preston laughed harshly. He lowered himself closer and closer to Jilly’s neck. Myka screamed; her body tingled, ready for the change. A loud howl rumbled through the kitchen, just as wood and glass shattered around them.
In case you missed The Marked:
Myka Williams has never fit in with her peers, and although her adoptive parents are loving and supportive, she feels most at home alone in the woods.
When she’s offered a full scholarship to Knight’s Academy in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, she takes the opportunity for a fresh start. She soon learns that Knight’s Academy is more than just a school. Within the stone walls of the institution, humans and vampires are mixing, and their offspring are going unnoticed.
As Myka falls prey to the evil plan of the school, she makes a chilling discovery about her own heritage and realizes that she’s at the Academy for more than just an education. Myka must yield to her birthright at the risk of losing everyone she loves or succumb to the fate that Knight’s Academy has in store for her—a fate worse than death.
The Marked Buy Links:
Paperback links:
More About the Author
Emerald Barnes resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it. She’s an auntie, a youth leader, a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person. God is number One in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor. She’s addicted to tv and binge-watching shows, and she has a thing for superheroes.
Connect with Emerald and her books
Website: www.emeraldbarnes.us
Blog: ebarnes23.wordpress.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/emeraldbarnes
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fanpageforemeraldbarnes
Twitter: www.twitter.com/emeraldbarnes
Street Team: www.facebook.com/groups/emeraldbarnesstreetteam
Fan Team: www.facebook.com/groups/emeraldbarnesfans
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emeraldbarnes
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/emerald_barnes
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emeraldbarnes
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Barnes/e/B004PL38QS