Author Kerry Schafer joins us today to talk about her latest book, Wakeworld!
For those who haven’t read Between, can you tell us a bit about Vivian and Weston and catch us up on their story?
Vivian has been handed rather a difficult destiny – with dreamshifter, dragon, and sorcerer blood in her veins, she’s got all sorts of conflicts and challenges to sort out. In Between she has a pretty sharp learning curve trying to get her mind around realities beyond what she had ever dreamed. Since there are already dragons running amok in the waking world, she doesn’t have a lot of time to figure out what dreamshifting is all about and is always running to try to keep up. In Wakeworld she’s starting to get a handle on the dreamshifter business until a powerful dragon locks her out of the Between with Zee (the man of her dreams) on the other side. As much as she hates her inner dragon, she’s going to have to come to terms with it in order to find a way to get to Zee and save the worlds from destruction. She also has to figure out how to work with Weston.
Weston Jennings makes his first appearance in Wakeworld. He was designated as his father’s heir to the dreamshifter role when he was only a child. However, he didn’t want this and resisted, which precipitated a devastating family tragedy that drove him underground. Now he’s being forced to face up to his past and has to make a choice whether or not to finally embrace his power and help Vivian with her quest.
What is a dreamshifter?
A dreamshifter is tasked with the responsibility of guarding the doors that lead from the Between, populated by all manner of dream creatures, and Wakeworld (what we think of as reality). Dreamshifters can also enter dreams and alter them. This is a dangerous proposition, as for them the elements of dream are real and they can be wounded and killed as surely as in the waking world.
Urban fantasy/paranormal novels are popular right now. What is different about The Between series that makes it so unique?
For one thing, The Between books have a rural, small town setting, rather than the usual city. The characters’ adventures in the Between and in Dreamworld involve dragons and sorcery and other elements that tend to be associated more with Fantasy than with UF or paranormal books. There are no werewolves or vampires, although we do have dragon shifting going on. And, of course, the dreamshifter and dream worlds are unique.
How many books do you have planned for The Between series?
I’ve planned the series as a trilogy, but the developing plot of the third book keeps telling me it thinks we need four, so we’ll see.
What’s next for you, after Wakeworld? Any other stories on the horizon?
I really want to write a follow up novel to my Dream Wars Novellas. But first I need to finish up Between 3, plus I’m in revisions on a fun Paranormal Mystery/Thriller called Dead Before Dying.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your experience in writing.
I’ve been writing ever since I was a little kid. Back then it was mostly poetry (very BAD poetry, but I thought it was lovely.) Writing has become a habit I can’t break, and something I would do even if I weren’t being published. That said – I am so excited to be finally living the dream of seeing my books on shelves and websites. Sometimes I’m not entirely sure I’m awake.
Who are some of your favorite authors? What books do you love?
Oh, that’s a dangerous question. Let’s see: Anne Bishop – I first discovered her through the Black Jewels books, but her new Urban Fantasy series is wonderful. Carol Berg – especially the Collegia Magica Trilogy, but everything I’ve read of hers is brilliant. Alex Bledsoe – both the Eddie Lacrosse and Tufa novels. Alex Hughes – her Mindspace Investigations are this awesome mix of police procedural and SciFi. And, oh – The Harry Dresden books, Ursula LeGuin, everything by Guy Gavriel Kay, Madeleine L’Engle, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien – yeah, I’ll stop now but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Books rock my world.
Thanks for your time! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you so much for inviting me over to your blog! I love to talk to readers, so feel free to hit me up on Twitter where I’m @kerryschafer, or at my FB page – http://www.facebook.com/kerryschaferbooks
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Courtesy of Ace Books, I have a copy of Wakeworld for one (1) lucky winner!
Contest is open to US residents only. No PO Boxes, please. To enter, just fill out the form below. Contest ends February 28. I’ll draw a name on March 1, and notify winner via email.
ENTER DAILY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING!
Good luck!