Giveaway & Interview with K.S. Haigwood & Ella Medler Authors of Eternal Island

Title: Eternal Island
Author: K.S. Haigwood & Ella Medler
Series: Eternal Series (#1)
Genre: Paranormal





Short Synopsis

Eternal Island is a paranormal suspense novel, deeply rooted into myth. Vampires and magic form a unique backdrop to a love story with long reaching consequences. Human girl Ariana Lochalan finds herself transported from the relative calm of her ‘Nowhere, Arkansas’ life into a diametrically opposite existence when she discovers she is a powerful witch and meant to wed High Vampire of Eternal Island, Abe Cambridge. Despite first-sight magnetism, the two protagonists are being pushed apart, obstacles tripping them at every step, outside forces interfering and threatening their peace, and ultimately their lives. A world rich in magic and intrigue, Eternal Island is the first instalment of a saga which has love at its core and delves through the mire that is human nature in a turmoil of feeling and emotion. Would courage, resilience and love be enough to bring together two soul mates?

I would like to welcome Kristie and Ella to the blog today. They will be discussing their book, Eternal Island, with us. 

Kristie can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? 
Absolutely! Um...er...ah, talking about myself is actually difficult for me to do, but I'll give it a shot. Bear with me. I have been married to my soulmate for a little over 8 years, who wouldn't pick up a book unless promised it was filled with pictures. I have an awesome 7 year old daughter, Riley, who talks way too much to her imaginary friends. One hell of a writer she will be someday. My 16 year old step-son, Hayden, is very into football and hunting. I write paranormal suspense romance. I am currently writing my 7th book, Hell's Gift. It's the sequel to my first self-published book, Save My Soul and will be out late November.

Ella can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure. I live in England with my husband and two teenage daughters. I write things that make me happy, such as satire that pokes fun at today’s society, or thrillers, because I love the drama. Paranormal action/romance, which is what the Eternal series is all about, was a completely new genre for me, one that I discovered thanks to Kristie, but I love it. I love the feel of freedom - my imagination can just fly.

These questions are for the both of you.

What do you come up with first in starting a story: Title? Characters? Plot? Setting? Conflict? 

Kristie: Wow, I guess it's different almost every time for me, but if I had to pick the one that happens most often I would say the plot.

Ella: It’s characters every time for me. I love a good person, and I find there’s some good in everyone, no matter how dark their lives might be. I love finding that gem and making it shine. And as soon as you have characters, you have conflict. As soon as you have conflict, you have a plot… and so on.

Who or what is your inspiration? 

Kristie: Everything. My inspiration seriously just pops up out of the blue. I can be driving, cooking, reading, sitting on my front porch looking at a tree and an entire scene will rush through my mind.

Ella: People. I could be out, having a stroll along the sea front and I’d catch a few words, or my eyes would be drawn to a woman walking two steps behind a man – that’s enough to spark a book, or even a series. I’m a people-watcher.

What keeps you writing? 

Kristie: I guess the answer to that should be my readers, and they are, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't thinking about anyone reading the first book as I was writing it. I will have to say the characters in my head, shouting at me when I am doing anything except for writing, not letting me go to sleep because they want to make sure I know where the story is headed, and being there even before my eyes open, encouraging me to get moving to my laptop every morning. My characters are what keep me writing, and I love each and every one of them.

Ella: My brain. Deranged or normal – I haven’t been able to work it out yet – it just won’t rest. I have to write. It’s like breathing. I don’t even pay attention to this need, most of the time. My laptop sits by my elbow or open, on my lap, about 90% of my waking hours. It’s like feeding a hunger or quenching a thirst. You do it automatically, without thinking. My fingers just start flying over the keys and a story is born. It’s actually painful when I force myself to stay away from writing, when my family request my company – body and mind. I usually carry paper and a pen in my coat pocket, and there’s a notebook in my bed-side cupboard and one in the glove compartment in the car.

How long have you been writing? 

Kristie: I started my first book June 2010 and haven't stopped since. There is nothing else I'd rather do. Nothing makes me happier.

Ella: I wrote my first comic sketches at about five or six years old. Then I wrote plays – my friends all got a part to play and we would perform in front of our parents. Life got in the way eventually, but I pulled myself out of it and back to writing a few years back. I wrote a few short stories, but I didn’t find them as satisfying as a full-length novel or play. I get attached to my characters and don’t want to let them go too soon. It’s a family joke – I don’t have as big a problem with my teenage daughters leaving home as I have with writing the last words of a fictional character.

Is there a genre you wouldn’t write in? Why?

Kristie: I guess Sci-Fi, because all that stuff is way too far-fetched to me. I know I write about vampires, angels, demons and other creatures, but they are all real. So, yeah, Sci-Fi is not my cup of tea.

Ella: Historical fiction. I hate history. Sorry – I know it’s where we came from, but I’d rather live in the present. It’s the here and now that matters. Plus, I have a strong dislike of social classes and unjustice of any kind. If I could, I would go back in time and re-write history. Completely.

Is there a genre you would like to write in that you have not done yet? Why?

Kristie: Dystopian or Horror - Either of those interest me. I write very fast-paced books where something is constantly happening. I like to throw in surprises when the reader least expects it, and those two genres would still let me do that easily.

Ella: Travel – fiction based on real-life stories. I travelled a lot and I would love to sit down one day and put all those years down on paper. I guess I haven’t done it yet because the stories currently in my head are so much better, or maybe I recognize the fact that it would take years to write about the many places and cultures I’ve experienced, and I am essentially a very impatient person – just ask Kristie. I want something new in my life all the time.

Kristie: Yep. Uh-huh. What she said.

Authors have their ups and downs – choosing whether or not to self publish or try traditional route, dry spells (writers block), or just the real life chaos that demands their attention – has there ever been a moment you thought to yourself “ why in the hell am I doing this“? Since we are having this interview we know you worked out the problem, how did you get past it? 

Kristie: Well, I actually didn't know anything about self-publishing when I finished my first book. After getting turned down 57 times by agents and publishers I decided to look in another direction. Self-publishing is what I found, and I haven't regretted one second of it.

Ella: I’m doing this because it feels natural – that’s the real reason, the answer to your question, and no, it never occurred to me that I could be doing something different. Any previous jobs were there to keep me fed and housed, and I came back to writing as soon as I woke up from the modern, trance-induced ‘hamster-wheel’ approach to life. Then, I existed. Now, I live. I tried both traditional and self-publishing, and the latter is what fits best with my character, attitude to life in general and set of values. I could never wait years for something to be published, and I could not recommend anyone, friend or foe, to put up with the old-fashioned publishing mind-set, even if some of the people involved in it are indeed good-natured and polite. As and when it catches up with the rest of the world, I might consider traditional publishing again. Right now, it disappoints me.

Any WIP? Care to share it with us?

Kristie: Like I said earlier I am writing the sequel to Save My Soul. I have been on an emotional rollercoaster with this novel. Anna, I know you've read the first, and I can promise you will not want to miss Rhyan's story.

Ella: I’m writing the sequel to my thriller, Blood is Heavier, and I intend to release that later this year. By popular demand, I have outlined the back story to a much-loved character in that book, Tequila, and plan to have her tell her story to the world early next year. I also have a sequel to the Martin Little satire in the works, and there are at least another dozen ideas that are ‘cooked’ enough to deserve being written next. And, of course, the rest of the Eternal series.

Do you have a particular time or place that makes writing easier?

Kristie: My muse has been sleeping in till around 5 p.m. lately, so I guess I'd say that evenings are best for me.

Ella: I’m an early morning person. I wrote Martin Little, Resurrected on a cushion on the floor, in a corner of my living room, with headphones on so I could drown most of the kids’ racket. Blood is Heavier was written on a leather sofa – my sofa! – and I still consider that my writing corner. It’s away from the mayhem, off the master bedroom, through an archway, and has views of my overgrown back garden.

Kristie how was it to work with Ella?

Have you worked with other authors? If so whom? Any authors you would just about do anything to work with?

I honestly don't think I could have picked a better person to bring into my world and share my characters with. I have not worked with any other authors, but I can't imagine it would go any smoother than working with Ella. She is awesome. Honestly.

Ella how was it to work with Kristie? 

Have you worked with other authors? If so whom? Any authors you would just about do anything to work with? 

Never worked with other authors, no. I read a lot of horror stories about authors who hated the co-authoring experience, but in our case I just can’t believe how easy and natural it felt. Kristie deserves all the credit – she is the one who got the two of us together, and she is an amazing person, a genuine friend and has a genius brain. I love her like the little sister I never had. Don’t even think about it… hands off – she’s mine! Other authors? I would have to feel that really close connection with them that I feel with Kristie, and that’s not an easy thing to achieve. No matter how successful a person is, or how clever, pleasant or skilled, they rarely fit in well with someone else. So – no. Not yet, anyway.

Did either of you disagree on how a character reacted or even the progress of the story?

Kristie: Not really disagree - no, if she thought something needed to be different we talked about it. She was usually right. I know her head is swelling right now, too. =D

Ella: And yes, it is, thank you, Kristie. But there were plenty of things I missed, that Kristie picked up on. I think we’re both experienced enough to be able to tell when something flows right, or if a section needs re-writing. We’re women, so we don’t have a huge problem swallowing our egos and being objective, for the good of the final story.

Kristie what was your favorite chapter (or part) of Eternal Island to write and why?

Oh, wow, um... I suppose writing the conflict between Michael and Abe was my favorite. I also enjoyed any part of the book with Jonah in it. And any scene with Abe and Ariana in it, too. LOL. I guess that was more than what you asked for, but there are so many parts of the book that are my favorite. It's hard to pick only one.

Ella what was your favorite chapter (or part) of Eternal Island to write and why? 

I liked writing the battle on the beach, simply because I love the drama. I also enjoyed any highly emotional scene, and the parts where Abe and Ariana were… (clears throat) alone. Oh, and the final scene. And… hang on – you said ‘one’, right?

Any parting words for aspiring authors readers and or fans? 

Kristie: If you love to write, then do it. Never stop following your dreams.

Ella: She took the words right out of my mouth! There’s nothing you can’t achieve if you just put in enough commitment.

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