For this week’s Author Spotlight I am excited to have the amazing and talented Emerald Barnes who is on a Blog Tour due to the release of her latest Book, “ The Marked.”
SS: Thank you so much for being here again Emerald. I am so happy to have you.
EB: Thanks for having me, Sylvia! I always love being here.
SS: Can you please tell us about what you have been working on and your latest books?
EB: I have been working on Knight’s Academy Book 2 and a new book, the beginning of another series, called The Healer (currently unpublished). My latest published book, The Marked is the first book in the Knight’s Academy series. It follows a seventeen-year-old Myka Williams who leaves her home in Mississippi for a private school in Tennessee, but Knight’s Academy isn’t exactly what she thought it was.
SS: Is This book is part of a series right?
EB: Yes. It’s the first book in the Knight’s Academy series.
SS: What can you tell us about the plot of the story?
E.B. It’s a paranormal novel set in a fictional town in Tennessee. It focuses on Myka who is running from her past, trying to figure out who she is. But it’s not that simple. There’s a secret to Knight’s Academy—and Myka’s been marked. Humans and vampires are mixing, and their offspring are going unnoticed. It’s a fight between good and evil tied up in a coming of age story.
SS: Where do we find Myka the main character of this series?
EB: We find Myka at Knight’s Academy. She’s trying to figure out who she is. She’s adopted, so she feels like part of her is missing. She loves her family, but she also feels like she needs to escape. So, she’s searching for something—though she can’t place what it is. And she’s met this devastatingly handsome guy, but he is broody. She can’t tell whether he likes her or hates her. And Preston—he won’t leave her alone, even if she tells him to. So, she’s stuck and life at Knight’s Academy isn’t as easy as she thought it was going to be.
SS: What can you tell us about where the idea for this series began?
EB: The idea came from a dream I had. I had this dream about people, who later turned out to be vampires, kidnapping humans and locking them away in a tower. I was part of these humans being locked away, and one person saved us in the dream. I know the dream doesn’t sound at all like The Marked, but that’s only because I used that dream about vampires taking humans, the basic plot, and then as my characters evolved, so did the story.
SS: What can you share about the characters in this series?
EB: Well, I can’t share too much, but since you’ve already met Myka, I’ll talk about Milo. He’s the other main character, and he’s a hybrid—half vampire, half human. That is revealed within the first few chapters of the book, so I think it’s safe to tell you that without giving you too many spoilers. He hates his life, and he’s made it his main goal to take down the empire his dad has built. Then, there is a Luka. He’s a vampire, and he’s got a complicated back story. But, he becomes one of Milo’s unlikely allies. And then, we have Olivia Michaels. She’s completely human, Myka’s best friend, and a fiery red-head you don’t want to mess with!
SS: How is this series different from your other books?
EB: t’s different because, although it’s paranormal, it’s not a Christian book. Most of my other books are Christian fiction novels. The Marked has become more of a book for entertainment value than a book for helping others like the Entertaining Angels series. I love both, and I hope you guys do too!
SS: What is some writing advice you can share with other writers about your writing?
EB: Don’t give up. I know it’s clichéd, but I was writing this book four years ago—maybe longer. I think I started it back in 2012. I never thought anything would come of it. I thought it would just be one of those books that I wrote that never saw the light of day. But during the summer last year, I thought I’d take a chance on it, and so I submitted it to Clean Reads. I forgot I even sent it until the owner sent me a message saying she wanted to publish it! They took it on, and I was published. Now, it’s one of those books that readers can’t stop talking about. I’ve had multiple conversations with multiple people about what was going to happen next. So, just keep plugging away. It may seem difficult most days, but if you’re determined to be a published author, you’ll be one.
SS: Thanks again Emerald and Congratulations on your latest release!
Link to the official book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AlXDgxjHAs
Link to the official Knight’s Academy Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLmodANrY5a0gKQiqfZR9koZbFb7SQqMw
About The Marked: Knight’s Academy Book 1:
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 succumbs to the fate that Knight’s Academy has in store for her—a fate worse than death.
Where to Buy The Marked:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jG7GKB
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2jG9rY0
Nook: http://bit.ly/2kADf7G
iTunes: http://apple.co/2ka1EQM
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2l3GxOD
Add The Marked to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33825997-the-marked
About Emerald:
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:
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
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emeraldbarnes
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/emerald_barnes
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