Guest Post: K Reed

Today I have K Reed, author of Fallen Empire, blogging at The Life and Lies.

I adore historicals, I studied history in college and have always been attracted to the genre. In the last several years there have been a number of great historical novels, the hot historical and a plethora paranormal historicals and I knew I wanted to enter the publishing world as an historical writer. I chose the Regency Era because, aside from being a fan of both the era and Jane Austen, it still is one of the most popular sub-genres in romance—regardless of what some publishers will tell you, the Regency has not died.

But I also wanted to stand out as a Regency Romance writer with something a little different—with a story that had more edge. With that in mind, I came up with a dystopian world of Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire.

In a way, this is really a genre unto itself. There are other alternate history novels but none quite the same as the plague-ridden world of Dark Inheritance.

Nothing about the Dark Inheritance world came naturally. Nothing! Everything, down to where the story took place, was carefully plotted and constructed. This world was born from the desire to mess with the societal rules of Regency England. There’s nothing quite like smashing mores of the day than collapsing their government, and therefore much of society.

I do admit I had quite a number of inspirations for this setting—the fall of the Roman Empire, the French Revolution, and the Black Death. And when you put them in a blender, place the remnants in 1804, and you have my book.

Dark Inheritance is the tip of the Fallen Empire iceberg. It’s a tight timeframe where a specific set of events take place. This first book is the opening of what I hope will be a well-accepted series.

I’m a fan of the Hunger Games, and even though I still haven’t read the book (I have it on hold at the library) Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, any story like these. I wanted to toy with my own verse, particularly in a society where the rules are so well defined. If you could create your own alternate history, what setting would you like to play with?

Thanks K!

 

About the Book

The once glittering ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have been consumed by the endless funeral pyres. 

Grayson, once the Baron of Harwich, sought only to protect his people. Rescuing a half-dead woman was not among his plans. But something about her pulled at him. Perhaps it was her beauty, still evident beneath the pallor of loss. Perhaps it was the recently fired rifle at her side. Or maybe he was simply tried of death. All he knew was that the plague had taken too much already. He couldn’t let it take her as well.
Lady Juliette Adair had been ready to die with her brother. She didn't expect to be shown mercy in a world that had no room for mercy. When Grayson saved her she questioned his motives but soon found herself intrigued by him, drawn to him.

Societal rules were a thing of the past, dead along with the ton. Juliette had no manner by which to measure her growing closeness to Grayson any longer. But when she discovers he may not be the man she thought she knew more is at stake than just her heart. The secrets she carries could make a king or destroy one.

 

About the Author

Romance author with a historical twist.

Too many post-apocalyptic stories, movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was the way to go, and wrote that one instead.

A lover of all things historical, of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty criminal element of Victorian England.

Luckily she has an understanding family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll stick to the east coast and the internet.

Giveaway

The author will award nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour and one to the host with the most comments (excluding hers and the host's) - US/Canada only.

Leave a comment below for your (and my) chance to win!