Kindred by Indie Gantz

Please welcome Indie Gantz author of Kindred

Indie Gantz will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Kindred

by Indie Gantz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Sci-Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERVIEW:

1. How did you come up with ideas for your books?

The idea for the Akasha series came in slowly over three years. I knew I wanted to write something that played with tropes, challenged readers with mysteries, and had strong characters that people could fall in love with and root for, but the story evolved slowly. I took pieces from my world and placed them in a new world, one that I could control and play with.

2. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I have a degree in psychology, and I have a strong intuition for people, which makes creating characters all the more fun for me. With my psychology degree, I worked as a Behavior Therapist before starting a career in writing, so I have a lot of knowledge about developmental disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal relationships.I used this to help me form realistic characters and storylines.

3. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

Avias Rallidae. I relate to him the most out of all my characters, because he too hides his true feelings behind humor and an aggressive form of apathy. He can also fly. Always a plus.

4. If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

I’m not sure of the exact actors anymore, because my original cast has mostly aged out of their roles. What’s most important is that Charlie and Tirigan are played by people of color.

Here is a link to my original casting choices. http://www.thisisindieg.com/characters/

5. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

            The best advice I’ve received was, “You can’t control how people will receive what you’ve created. It’s not any of your business how they feel about it.” This has helped release me from any potential heartache over bad reviews or criticism. Thankfully, I havent had to endure that yet, but I have to assume it’s coming eventually!

6. Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?

            Most of my hobbies are related to my current profession. I read, I write, I research what I read and write. I also enjoy music. I sing regularly in my community, and I volunteer often. I do yoga and like going for hikes or long walks where I can unplug from the world.

            Before becoming a writer, I worked as a Behavior Therapist to Autistic children. I used this information to help develop Tirigan’s character.

7. Do you have an all time favorite book?

The Picture of Dorian Gray. The way Oscar Wilde unfolds his supernatural tale of sinister hedonism just takes my breath away. I read it often.

8. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?

The third book in the series, Salvage, will be released sometime in 2020. Here is the synopsis:

In Salvage, the third installment of The Akasha Series, Charlie and Tirigan, along with their new friends, are confronted with mysteries both inside and outside of the Dynami faction’s compound.

Kidnapped Téssera, vanishing towns, the murder of one of their own, and Calla’s ever-present absence… It’s enough to overwhelm Charlie even if her reoccurring nightmare wasn’ttrying to burn her alive every night.  And then there’s Neva, the sinister thorn in Charlie’s side. Can they put aside their differences to work together? Charlie doubts it.

As for Tirigan, his focus is still on Calla and bringing his family back together. However, with a little push, Tirigan starts to realize he can’t ignore his feelings forever, eventually coming to the conclusion that something must be done about them.

Enemies & Lovers. Truth & Consequences.

The Damuzi twin’s story continues.

I’ve also written a character profile novella dedicated to Finn, entitled Captive. It will be a limited released, Kindle only, to be released this fall.

Captive: An Akasha Series Character Profile

Challenge your perceptions, beliefs, and everything you think you know about The Akasha Series thus far, through the eyes of Finn.

A quirky train station employee?

Think again.

9. Who is your favorite actor and actress?

Oh man, this is way too hard. I don’t have one, to be honest. I love an actor/actress that can get raw with the camera, or show off sides of themselves that don’t really exist. Right now I have my eye on: Mahershala Ali, Saoirse Ronan,  Lupita Nyong’o, and Timothee Chalamet.

10. Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?

I can’t give you specifics, because there are major spoilers involved, but I can say that it takes place towards the end of Kindred, when Charlie and Tirigan’s timelines finally merge. A major mystery is revealed in this moment between them, and it will leave Charlie feeling overwhelmed and lost.

11. What is your favorite reality show?

Yikes. Will I lose many readers by admitting I don’t watch reality television? I find most reality television shows absurd, and can’t get through them. But! I do love cooking shows or shows related to travel. I loved Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, not only because of the content but because I found him incredibly engaging. I was devastated when he died.

12. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.

Writing a series is incredibly intense! There’s a lot of planning that goes into it, so much so, I keep a timeline and a storyboard going at all times. If you want a series to be successful, you have to have the series pretty much all mapped out from the beginning, at least the major plot points. You don’t want to fail the way How I Met Your Mother did, so I always leave room for changes if my characters or storyline calls for it. For me, as a reader, I always love those moments where a plot point or small detail from an earlier book is finally given relevance or is explained further in a later story. Seeding moments like these are so special and really make a series shine.

BLURB:

In Kindred we find the Damuzi twins settling into their new home with Kori Lark’s family. Desperate to keep the dangerous truth of their identity a secret, Charlie and Tirigan educate themselves on everything that was kept from them, while delving deeper into their mother’s past.

In the future, Tirigan is dealing with the complicated emotions that overwhelm him after the events of Passage. In an attempt to control the situation, Tirigan turns inward and cuts himself off from those who need him most.

By the time Charlie and Tirigan’s timeline’s merge, a burning mystery is solved, and more than one relationship begins to unravel.

Friendship. Trust. Dependency. Lies.

The Damuzi twin’s story continues.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Sorry for taking over your room,” I tell him, walking until the hallway ends in a slatted wooden door. I push it open as Oleander sighs dramatically behind me.

“Yes. I am incredibly put out. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Even though Oleander laughs, a jolt of guilt runs through me. He must see my regret in the sudden tension of my shoulders, because the Gyan’s laugh immediately disappears.

“I’m kidding, of course.” He places a hand on my shoulder, essentially swallowing it whole and forcing me to look up at him. “I’m thrilled to give you my room, Charlie. Over the moon about it. Really! Are you in the market for a new limb, by chance? Because I’ve got a couple with your name on them.”

“My name? Really?” I tease, challenge in my eyes despite the kindness in his.

“Don’t believe me?” Oleander’s brow’s raises comically. “Have a look, yourself.”

The tall Gyan raises his arms out as much as he can in the small hallway, exposing his forearms. There, written in long, flourishing strokes, is my name.

“How?” The question escapes before I can think better of it. Oleander searches my baffled expression for what feels like several minutes. I haven’t a clue what he finds there, but whatever it is makes him smile ruefully.

“You really don’t know what you’re capable of. Do you?”

“I… I guess not. No,” I respond quietly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, Charlie.” Oleander shakes his head. “You are who you are.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Indie Gantz grew up in Northern Virginia and received her Psychology degree at George Mason University. Despite her passion and curiosity for the human mind, Indie left her chosen field of study to finally give voice to the many imagined minds she has created.

Indie lives with her family in North Carolina. She spends her days drinking tea and clacking keys.

Website: www.ThisIsIndieG.com

Twitter: @IndieGisMe

Instagram: @ThisisIndieG

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KX7L1L4

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42967151-kindred

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Indie Gantz will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2912