Author Profile
Name: Kendare Blake
Books published: Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna book #1), Girl of Nightmares (Anna book #2), Antigoddess, Sleepwalk Society
Where to find the books: barnes&noble, amazon, goodreads, abebooks, half.com, alibris, better world books, powell's, google play
Where to find the author: her website, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books published: Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna book #1), Girl of Nightmares (Anna book #2), Antigoddess, Sleepwalk Society
Where to find the books: barnes&noble, amazon, goodreads, abebooks, half.com, alibris, better world books, powell's, google play
Where to find the author: her website, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Quick Bio:
Kendare Blake is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London.
Kendare Blake is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London.
Interview:
Hi Kendare! Thanks for joining me today!
Q: How much research did you do on ghosts, witches, and voodoo while you were writing Anna Dressed in Blood?
A: Well, most of the witch stuff I already knew. And the ghosts… some are based on real murders. So, I did some digging there. The voodoo stuff I researched also, but I wanted to keep it mysterious so most of the research went unused!
Q: Are Obeah and Obeahmen a real thing, or did you just put them in there for dramatic purposes?
A: Obeah and Obeahmen are real. But, THE Obeahman was entirely fictional. And, I don’t think true Obeahmen would put up with his crap for long.
Q: Was there a certain play list that you listened to while writing this book, or are there any certain songs that make you think of your characters?
A: I didn’t write Anna to music. I don’t usually write to music. But, Sally’s Song from the Nightmare Before Christmas (when sung by the incomparable Fiona Apple) reminds me a lot of Anna. I don’t know what reminds me of Cas. Something by The Rolling Stones, because he loves them (and he loves them because his dad loved them). Probably, “Paint It Black”.
Q: Anna Dressed in Blood has been picked up to be made into a major motion picture, and I know you probably don’t have any say in casting, but if you did, who would your dream cast be?
A: You know, I don’t know. There have been reader requests for Dave Franco, but I think he’s too old. Or Logan Lerman, but he seems like more of a Thomas to me. As for Anna, there’s a young actress who is an ardent fan and she makes these beautiful photoshops of her as Anna. The actress’ name is Alexis Raich. I have no dream cast, but those photoshops sure are pretty.
But you’re 100% right. I will not have any say in casting!
Q: Can you tell us anything at all about the production, or is it all being kept hush-hush?
A: The production hasn’t started yet! They’re working on the script I think, or finding a proper writer for the script. Lois Duncan’s Down a Dark Hall is up first, and then they’ll move on to Anna. I can’t wait to see how it goes. I’ve got every finger crossed. Some twice.
Q: Are you working on anything else for Anna and Cas right now, or do you have an entirely new series in the works?
A: My new novel, ANTIGODDESS, released on September 10th. It’s a whole new series, about dying Greek gods and the reincarnated heroes whose lives they ruin. It’s the first of a trilogy. As the gods die (each in their own, grisly way) Athena and her kid brother Hermes search for answers, and a way to stop their deaths. When they get a tip that a girl in upstate New York might be the reincarnated Cassandra of Troy, and a powerful weapon, they must get to her before the other gods do. Because in true god fashion, the others have decided that the best solution to the problem is to eat each other, murder each other in the hopes that the last gods standing will regain their immortality.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
A: Read. A lot. I know, that sounds obvious, but sometimes when you start writing, you forget to read, and forget to think about other writing in terms of what you can learn from it. Then later, you’ll need to stop doing that and remember to read for enjoyment. Also, get to know your characters before you write them. Know what they might say in any given situation. It’ll help the work to flow naturally.
Showcase question
Q: You are a men in black agent……
A: I am a Men in Black agent and I don’t rock the suit. People are constantly mistaking me for a limo driver in that outfit and it ticks me off, so I flashy thing them and tell them they weren’t looking for a driver, they were looking for a pair of parachute pants to wear to work the next day. I spend most days hanging out with Frank the Pug and devising new ways to spy on Agent J in the locker room. I mean… I didn’t say that. Uh… here, look directly into this light.
Do you have a teaser from either your current work or the next book in the Anna series that you would like to share?
Well, the next book in the Anna series is the only other book in the Anna series thus far, and it’s called GIRL OF NIGHTMARES. But, it’s been out for a while now so I won’t tease it. It does come out in paperback in June though!
Here’s a tidbit from the next ANTIGODDESS book: Achilles shows up!
Thanks again for allowing me to interview you, have an awesome day!
Thanks so much for having me by the blog! What a fun set of questions!
Q: How much research did you do on ghosts, witches, and voodoo while you were writing Anna Dressed in Blood?
A: Well, most of the witch stuff I already knew. And the ghosts… some are based on real murders. So, I did some digging there. The voodoo stuff I researched also, but I wanted to keep it mysterious so most of the research went unused!
Q: Are Obeah and Obeahmen a real thing, or did you just put them in there for dramatic purposes?
A: Obeah and Obeahmen are real. But, THE Obeahman was entirely fictional. And, I don’t think true Obeahmen would put up with his crap for long.
Q: Was there a certain play list that you listened to while writing this book, or are there any certain songs that make you think of your characters?
A: I didn’t write Anna to music. I don’t usually write to music. But, Sally’s Song from the Nightmare Before Christmas (when sung by the incomparable Fiona Apple) reminds me a lot of Anna. I don’t know what reminds me of Cas. Something by The Rolling Stones, because he loves them (and he loves them because his dad loved them). Probably, “Paint It Black”.
Q: Anna Dressed in Blood has been picked up to be made into a major motion picture, and I know you probably don’t have any say in casting, but if you did, who would your dream cast be?
A: You know, I don’t know. There have been reader requests for Dave Franco, but I think he’s too old. Or Logan Lerman, but he seems like more of a Thomas to me. As for Anna, there’s a young actress who is an ardent fan and she makes these beautiful photoshops of her as Anna. The actress’ name is Alexis Raich. I have no dream cast, but those photoshops sure are pretty.
But you’re 100% right. I will not have any say in casting!
Q: Can you tell us anything at all about the production, or is it all being kept hush-hush?
A: The production hasn’t started yet! They’re working on the script I think, or finding a proper writer for the script. Lois Duncan’s Down a Dark Hall is up first, and then they’ll move on to Anna. I can’t wait to see how it goes. I’ve got every finger crossed. Some twice.
Q: Are you working on anything else for Anna and Cas right now, or do you have an entirely new series in the works?
A: My new novel, ANTIGODDESS, released on September 10th. It’s a whole new series, about dying Greek gods and the reincarnated heroes whose lives they ruin. It’s the first of a trilogy. As the gods die (each in their own, grisly way) Athena and her kid brother Hermes search for answers, and a way to stop their deaths. When they get a tip that a girl in upstate New York might be the reincarnated Cassandra of Troy, and a powerful weapon, they must get to her before the other gods do. Because in true god fashion, the others have decided that the best solution to the problem is to eat each other, murder each other in the hopes that the last gods standing will regain their immortality.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
A: Read. A lot. I know, that sounds obvious, but sometimes when you start writing, you forget to read, and forget to think about other writing in terms of what you can learn from it. Then later, you’ll need to stop doing that and remember to read for enjoyment. Also, get to know your characters before you write them. Know what they might say in any given situation. It’ll help the work to flow naturally.
Showcase question
Q: You are a men in black agent……
A: I am a Men in Black agent and I don’t rock the suit. People are constantly mistaking me for a limo driver in that outfit and it ticks me off, so I flashy thing them and tell them they weren’t looking for a driver, they were looking for a pair of parachute pants to wear to work the next day. I spend most days hanging out with Frank the Pug and devising new ways to spy on Agent J in the locker room. I mean… I didn’t say that. Uh… here, look directly into this light.
Do you have a teaser from either your current work or the next book in the Anna series that you would like to share?
Well, the next book in the Anna series is the only other book in the Anna series thus far, and it’s called GIRL OF NIGHTMARES. But, it’s been out for a while now so I won’t tease it. It does come out in paperback in June though!
Here’s a tidbit from the next ANTIGODDESS book: Achilles shows up!
Thanks again for allowing me to interview you, have an awesome day!
Thanks so much for having me by the blog! What a fun set of questions!