Ok, so if you haven’t already noticed, I, Megan here at Love, Literature, Art, and Reason, the girl that never freaks out about stuff and never gets all “fangirl” about anything, have a new obsession. I’ve stumbled upon the YA paranormal romance series Lunangelique by Kristin R. Campbell and I’m hooked. And today, I’m lucky enough to feature an interview with the author!
About Lunangelique: (Published June 20th 2012) For Alexis and Alex life has been great. They have loving parents, great friends and live a life every teenager dreams. However, they are adopted and Alexis struggles with wanting to know who their real parents are and not wanting to hurt her adopted parents. Then, a stunning guy moves across the street from them. One who has a secret past and seems to know things about Alexis. One who does mysterious things and leads her to other mysterious persons. One who pushes her to discover her extraordinary birth family and the truth between mythology and religion.
About Sleeping Gods: (Published September 20th) Alexis must pick up the broken pieces of her heart and pull herself together because she has a mission: To awaken the sleeping gods. When she is at the point of giving up, wearing her pretend smiles and feels like there is nothing left of herself, her friend becomes her savior. Patryck helps put Alexis back together again and in return Alexis sees him as something more than a friend…
Together with her brother, Alex, her father, Edmund, and a team of angels they make their way to Mount Latmos, to awaken the gods. But obstacles are in their way, one of them being Cole, the traitor, the one who shattered Alexis’ heart.
New friends and family she never thought she would meet will come to aid Alexis.
… And a love will blossom that will redefine the saying, “Love you forever.”
About the Author:
Kristin R. Campbell currently lives in Utah with husband and two children. I am an editor for husband's publishing company, prior military and have a bachelor in Criminal Justice. I love hiking, travelling, and of course, reading and writing.
Interview Time!!!
Me: How long have you been writing?
Kristin: Honestly, I started writing about a year ago. I got this great idea (well, great to me) to write an adult/historical-fiction book. However, there is so much research involved and I had to constantly stop writing to research more and more... Needless to say, that book isn't done yet, and because I just want to WRITE I abandoned that project, for now, and concentrated on 'Lunangelique.' I used to write a lot in high school. Mostly poetry. I have over five hundred poems and I used to keep an extensive journal, that went with me everywhere, to document all my thoughts and just life as it was happening.
I started editing for Jessica Sorensen over a year ago and thought, "I could do this." And so I did.
M: What inspired you to write the Lunangelique series?
K: Lunangelique was a name I liked. I used to write it in my journal when I was bored and all over my notebooks in high school. Eventually, I named my black cat, Luna, and my white rat, Angelique. Because I liked the name so much I wanted to write a story around the name and that's how I came up with the story line: a girl who has connection to the moon (Luna) and angels (Angelique). Not very inspiring, is it? lol!
M: Do any of the characters reflect people you know?
K: Not really, more like people I would like to know. I did use my children's names for some of the characters. I think my daughter is building up to be someone like Lexi. And my son has that scientific mindset about the world that Alex (my son's name) does. I really don't want to mix people in my life with my books because it's too personal. I don't want people to be able to read about my life and those around me.
M: Is there a release date for Book Three in the series?
K: Not as of yet. I can tell you that I hope for it to be out by the end of November. That's the goal.
M: What are you currently working on?
K: Awakened Gods (book 3) and an adult contemporary called 'Little Talks'. I'm really excited about that story and can't wait to finish the 'Lunangelique' series so I can dive head on into it. I've also been outlining about 5-6 other books and I need to get back to finishing the first book I started writing. I can't mention the name because it kind of gives the story away.
M: Who is/are your favorite author(s)?
K: This changes all the time. I really fell in love with Alyson Noel last year. I grew up reading Anne Rice. She is always a favorite. Conn Iggulden, Steven Saylor, Margaret George, and Phillipa Gregory. Oh, and my newest favorite is Jennifer L. Armentrout; her characters are so witty, Iove it!
M: What is your favorite book?
K: Easy question. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas, of course. It's a very, very smart book. I love everything about it!
M: Favorite movie?
K: All time favorite is a toss up between 'Gone with the Wind' and 'The Ten Commandments'. It changes all the time but these have been my all time favorites.
M: Favorite reading spot?
K: My bed or back porch.
M: Ebook or Physical book?
K: I hate to admit. It's the ebook. My mom gave me my kindle for my last birthday and I was like, "There is no way in hell that I am trading in my books for a computerized book!' However, when I realized how much cheaper books were and that I didn't have to wait to run out to Barnes and Noble, I fell in love with the ereaders.
M: Alexis is one of my favorite characters in YA fiction and it broke my heart watching her try and mend her own heart back together in Sleeping Gods after Cole leaves her. Was this difficult to write?
K: Difficult? It was difficult reliving my own heartbreak from when I was her age. I remember how much stronger emotions were when I was a teenager, how you felt the world was ending and no one understood because "you were the only one to have ever felt that way." I remember feeling like I was betraying my own feelings when I started coming out of the depression and how I didn't think it was okay to smile or laugh. It was difficult to write about mixed feelings. On one hand, Lexi wanted to be angry and hateful, but on the other hand, she couldn't stop her heart and soul from reaching out and saying, "You still love him, you idiot!"
M: Book Two mainly takes place in Europe. Have you ever been to Europe? If so, where? If not, where would you go first?
K: I love Europe! I've visited a few places: Sigonella, Sicily; Rota, Spain and Souda Bay, Crete. I love the architecture and the feel that you have stepped back in time. The food. The culture. I really want to go to Florence, Italy and Rome. I am a huge Michelangelo fan and want to see his sculptures and paintings soooo bad!
M: Lexi picks up on the languages relatively quickly. Can you speak any other languages?
K: Um, no. Unfortunately. I took three years of French but can only read it. I used to try and teach myself Spanish and Italian, but I just suck at languages. I can read Latin a little.
M: Most of the characters in the series have some sort of talent. Cole can persuade people to do just about anything, Patryck can see the past and future, and Edmund can teleport. Cole's talent is my favorite. Do you have a favorite talent?
K: If we're talking fantasy-based, then I would say my favorite talent would be, or the talent I would want, would be to fly! It would just suck to be cold though. I wouldn't pick mind-reading or time travel because there are things you just shouldn't know.
M: Alexis has the ability to be good at everything, but she focuses mainly on art and music? Do you have any artistic or musical ability?
K: No. My husband is an artist and I love art. However, I have no artistic ability what-so-ever. I love music, but again, I'm not really good. I taught myself guitar and bass as a kid. I can read music. I played the violin for a few years and I've been teaching myself the piano for the past 3-4 years. But I wouldn't say I have musical ability.
M: This series has rapidly become one of my favorites and I'd love to see it made into a movie. Do you have any favorite books or series that you'd like to see become movies or have already become movies? If so, what?
K: 'Lord of the Rings' was the most accurate description of a book I have ever seen! I am so glad it was made into a movie and I can't wait to see 'The Hobbit'. A book that hasn't been made into a movie yet is 'Katherine' by Anya Seton. The characters are mentioned in 'Sleeping Gods.' It is by far the most romantic untold story in history. I love that book soooo much. Almost as much as 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. It seriously needs to be made into a movie.
M: Who designed the covers for the Lunangelique series?
K: My husband. He has such an amazing talent and I'm so glad he is using it to make the covers. He used to paint all the time and gave it up for digital media. I really wish he would start painting again.
M: What is the most difficult part of writing a book?
K: I don't know. I don't write the books. Lexi, Cole, Alex, Patryck and all the other characters do. lol! I'm not kidding either. For instance, Cole was supposed to be a bad guy and Ollie was supposed to be the love interest but by chapter 3 of 'Lunangelique' they said, "I don't think so, lady." lol!
The hardest part is finding an ending. I am struggling with that so much for book 3. I don't know how it's going to end.
M: Have any advice for aspiring writers?
K: Just write. I tell my friends that all the time. Just sit down and write. You don't have to start at the beginning. Just write.
I didn't have an outline for 'Lunangelique', I just thought of a few characters and started writing. I never put together an outline, only character development. Outlines weren't needed until I had to think of what was going to happen between point A and B.
M: This series combines many religious and mythological characters and aspects. What/who is your favorite mythological creature/person and why?
K: Good question. I don't know. hmmm... I love religion and study everything... I love Homer's books (The Odyssey and The Iliad). I really can't think of whom I would pick. There are so many and they're all so different. I think I'll say Persephone, though, because she was able to outwit the gods and strike a bargain. I think she has a strong character. I know I would definitely love to meet her if I could.
M: Lexi's favorite meal is a cold sandwich, which I totally relate to. What's your favorite sandwich shop and what do you order?
K: Mmm... Sandwiches. lol! The one thing about myself that I actually put into a character. I love Panera Bread. The delicious breads, coldcuts, cheeses, mayo... Sorry, what did you ask? What would I order? Whatever, Italian sandwich they had. I love salami and that is always on the Italian sandwich!
M: Patryck has the ability to travel to the past and witness historical events. What historical event would you travel to if given the chance?
K: So many to choose from! I would want to see a battle. Maybe one of Julius Ceasar's. Not from his time in Gaul though, one of his earlier ones; when he was younger.
M: Patryck also has the ability to travel to the future and see the destiny of others. If you could, would you want to know your future? Why or why not?
K: No! I like surprises. Plus, if you know your destiny than by knowing you could change it. Or maybe that's your destiny because you believed it was. Would it still be your destiny if you never saw it to begin with?
Thank you for the interview! You picked some really tough questions!
M: Thank you so much for agreeing to do an interview and giving me the opportunity to read and review your books. I'm a huge fan!
Where to Buy Lunangelique (Lunangelique #1):
Barnes & Noble $0.99 for Nook
Amazon $0.99 for Kindle
Smashwords $0.99 for all E-Reader platforms
This series is absolutely awesome! Read my review of Lunangelique (Lunangelique #1) and check the series out for yourself.