Secret: At HL Woods - Interview with D K Davis, Author of The Secret Series - Excerpt - Giveaway
The Secret Series
Book 2
DK Davis
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: BWL Publishing, Inc.
Date of Publication: December 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-77362-990-2
ISBN: 978-1-77362-989-6
ISBN: 978-1-77362-988-9 print
ASIN: B077ZT2H5V
Number of pages: print book - 199
Word Count: 60,200 words
Cover Artist: Michelle Lee
A high school ghost-seer, an all-star jock, and a bully, cross paths, sparks spew, and lives change…
A series of secrets, invisible yet glaring, and most include a supernatural spin, like an unwelcomed sensation sparking every nerve ending.
Bri, a seventeen-year-old ghost-seer, keeps her ability under wraps at the new school until a murdered couple from the 60’s asks for help.
Kyle, a high school jock, realizes the new girl lives next door; she’s crazy cute, goth-odd, and too convenient to ignore.
Max, Kyle’s best friend, only sees Bri as a wicked threat.
Luke, Bri’s gay best friend, moves in for the summer, escaping his abusive father.
Paths cross, sparks spew…will anyone remain the same after?
DK Davis writes YA sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy with a good dollop of all the relationships woven in between. When she’s not writing, editing, or reading, she’s hiking, RV’ing, fishing, spending time with grandchildren or her favorite muse (her husband) in Southwest Michigan.
She also writes mainstream supernatural, suspense-thriller romance as S. Peters-Davis.
She also writes mainstream supernatural, suspense-thriller romance as S. Peters-Davis.
Welcome to Character Madness and Musings Ms. Davis.
Tell us a little about yourself. DK – Hello Brandy, Jena, Alan, and everyone visiting JB’s Bookworms or Character Madness ~ it’s so great to be here. I’m DK Davis, author of young adult paranormal romance, Secret: At HL Woods. I enjoy writing young adult paranormal, supernatural romance. I also enjoy spending time hiking in nature, fishing with hubby, or spending time with my grandchildren. They are all muses for my stories. I love paranormal stories.
Tell us about your newest book.
DK – Secret: At HL Woods is about a murder that took place in the 1960’s, Bri, a girl who can see and communicate with their ghosts, Kyle who has the means to seek justice, Luke, a friend who supports with mad computer skills, and Max, a bully who hides from himself by creating hell for everyone else ~ particularly Bri.
The Secret Series books are all stand-alone stories – different characters with their own unique “secrets” and story.
Is it available now?
DK – Yes, it released on December 15th. All links to it can be found here: http://books2read.com/secretatHLWoods
Have you published any other books?
DK – Yes, Secret: In Wolf Lake and Unorthodox (mainstream paranormal/supernatural suspense-thriller as S. Peters-Davis
How long have you been writing?
DK – I’ve been writing seriously for the last ten years ~ it took me a while to learn and gain confidence; )
Nods. it isn't easy crossing that hurdle.
DK – Secret: At HL Woods is about a murder that took place in the 1960’s, Bri, a girl who can see and communicate with their ghosts, Kyle who has the means to seek justice, Luke, a friend who supports with mad computer skills, and Max, a bully who hides from himself by creating hell for everyone else ~ particularly Bri.
The Secret Series books are all stand-alone stories – different characters with their own unique “secrets” and story.
Is it available now?
DK – Yes, it released on December 15th. All links to it can be found here: http://books2read.com/secretatHLWoods
Have you published any other books?
DK – Yes, Secret: In Wolf Lake and Unorthodox (mainstream paranormal/supernatural suspense-thriller as S. Peters-Davis
How long have you been writing?
DK – I’ve been writing seriously for the last ten years ~ it took me a while to learn and gain confidence; )
Nods. it isn't easy crossing that hurdle.
What inspires your stories?
DK – I wasn’t kidding about my muses for YA – my grandchildren ROCK!! But I also draw from “LIFE,” other books, movies, TV, other family, friends, conversations, news…so much fodder for fiction.
Titles are tough. How did you come up with yours? DK – The series name is “Secrets” – the next part of the title is either the location or an identifying part of the story. Here’s the titles of this series so far: Secret: In Wolf Lake; Secret: At HL Woods; Secret: Of Amber Eyes (due out Dec. 2018)
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
DK – Early in life…when I was writing my own versions of a popular sci-fi series in 5th grade. (Little did I know then that it would be my life passion.)
Is theme an important concept in your stories? If so, is it personal for you, or something you feel strongly about?
DK – Theme plays a deep part of my stories ~ not necessarily intentional, but it’s there as a subtle yet impactful piece of the pie ~ the character arcs, the full circle of events that lead to some defining outcome, and that outcome touches many within the story in some way.
What do you look for most in a book when you’re reading, and how do you incorporate that into your own writing?
DK – I adore reading first person ~ a strong unique voice/personality with plenty of tension and actions to create “realism;” an authentic story-star makes for a great page-turning pace and a true-to-life world. I want something I can imagine and resonate with as an actual possibility (and I do possess a wild imagination).
What can we expect to see from you in the future, any books on the back-burner? DK – As DK Davis there’s a mid-grade anthology I’m writing with author S. Willett ~ Jake & Sam ~ Twisted Tales of Freakish Fun, hopefully releasing sometime in Spring or early Summer 2018.
Also Secret: Of Amber Eyes scheduled to release in December 2018
And written as S. Peters-Davis, Malevolent, A Kendra Spark Novel scheduled to release in Fall 2018.
Is there anything you want to add before we close our interview?
DK – Thank you, Brandy. I’m honored and grateful to be here today. Thank you to everyone stopping in. Please remember to enter the contest ~ wishing you all success and an amazing New Year!!
Thank you. We're wishing you a great New Year too. Thanks for joining us today. Good luck with your new book.
DK – I wasn’t kidding about my muses for YA – my grandchildren ROCK!! But I also draw from “LIFE,” other books, movies, TV, other family, friends, conversations, news…so much fodder for fiction.
Titles are tough. How did you come up with yours? DK – The series name is “Secrets” – the next part of the title is either the location or an identifying part of the story. Here’s the titles of this series so far: Secret: In Wolf Lake; Secret: At HL Woods; Secret: Of Amber Eyes (due out Dec. 2018)
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
DK – Early in life…when I was writing my own versions of a popular sci-fi series in 5th grade. (Little did I know then that it would be my life passion.)
Is theme an important concept in your stories? If so, is it personal for you, or something you feel strongly about?
DK – Theme plays a deep part of my stories ~ not necessarily intentional, but it’s there as a subtle yet impactful piece of the pie ~ the character arcs, the full circle of events that lead to some defining outcome, and that outcome touches many within the story in some way.
What do you look for most in a book when you’re reading, and how do you incorporate that into your own writing?
DK – I adore reading first person ~ a strong unique voice/personality with plenty of tension and actions to create “realism;” an authentic story-star makes for a great page-turning pace and a true-to-life world. I want something I can imagine and resonate with as an actual possibility (and I do possess a wild imagination).
What can we expect to see from you in the future, any books on the back-burner? DK – As DK Davis there’s a mid-grade anthology I’m writing with author S. Willett ~ Jake & Sam ~ Twisted Tales of Freakish Fun, hopefully releasing sometime in Spring or early Summer 2018.
Also Secret: Of Amber Eyes scheduled to release in December 2018
And written as S. Peters-Davis, Malevolent, A Kendra Spark Novel scheduled to release in Fall 2018.
Is there anything you want to add before we close our interview?
DK – Thank you, Brandy. I’m honored and grateful to be here today. Thank you to everyone stopping in. Please remember to enter the contest ~ wishing you all success and an amazing New Year!!
Thank you. We're wishing you a great New Year too. Thanks for joining us today. Good luck with your new book.
Keep scrolling for an excerpt from Secret: At HL Woods, by D K Davis.
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Excerpt
Ghosts interrupt an accidental meeting between Bri and Kyle – 471 w/c (from unedited ARC copy)
“Is this a good time?” Kyle leaned against the corner of the garage.
“Why? Is it your turn to take the picture and share it with the world? You and Max got a dare going on? Or is your shadow hiding around the corner?” I didn’t trust Max but thought Kyle was different, in a good way, but his defending Max threw me. Perhaps it was all about standing up for their bro-ship. I would do the same for Luke. Living as a gay boy in a straight family that defied it was harsh, and kids at school were sometimes rough about it also. Luke had no one but me, and no one understood me but him.
“It’s not like that.” He let out a big sigh. “Honestly, if you would have tried a little harder to be social…friendly, you’d have a few friends.” He shook his head and the urge to slap him overwhelmed me. “Yea, you started a new school in March, so what. You’ve been here for over three months and haven’t joined any sports or clubs. Now school’s out for the summer, so you’ll be starting your senior year like you ended this one, with no friends, nothing in common with anyone.”
“Are you lecturing me?” I sprang out of the chair and stepped to the front of him, toe to toe, his back to the brick wall. “Because it almost sounds like you’re telling me that it’s my fault Max is treating me like crap.” My whole body trembled as I fisted both hands. What in the heck was that all about? Was I planning a beat-down on him?
His eyes sparked then narrowed. He just stood there staring at me with those half-closed stormy-blues. Saying nothing.
“You gonna kiss him or what?” Gloria and Martin stood beside us. How and the heck did they manage to follow me? “Go on, get it done.”
“We both know you want to and I can safely say he wants to,” Martin added. “He’s practically licking his lips with anticipation.” He and Gloria giggled.
Kyle’s arms slid around my waist as if he acknowledged Martin’s directives. His body meshed into mine.
Oh gods, what the heck was happening? I shoved my fists against his chest so he pressed into the bricks, and then I jolted out from the solid web of his arms. My brain fogged and my smoky crystal vibrated against my sternum…again. “What are you doing?” My words came out more like a pant than a yell. How was that working for me? Not.
Kyle smiled, a slow stretch of his full lips, and his silence pierced my ears. Maybe this look was his smolder.
“Why? Is it your turn to take the picture and share it with the world? You and Max got a dare going on? Or is your shadow hiding around the corner?” I didn’t trust Max but thought Kyle was different, in a good way, but his defending Max threw me. Perhaps it was all about standing up for their bro-ship. I would do the same for Luke. Living as a gay boy in a straight family that defied it was harsh, and kids at school were sometimes rough about it also. Luke had no one but me, and no one understood me but him.
“It’s not like that.” He let out a big sigh. “Honestly, if you would have tried a little harder to be social…friendly, you’d have a few friends.” He shook his head and the urge to slap him overwhelmed me. “Yea, you started a new school in March, so what. You’ve been here for over three months and haven’t joined any sports or clubs. Now school’s out for the summer, so you’ll be starting your senior year like you ended this one, with no friends, nothing in common with anyone.”
“Are you lecturing me?” I sprang out of the chair and stepped to the front of him, toe to toe, his back to the brick wall. “Because it almost sounds like you’re telling me that it’s my fault Max is treating me like crap.” My whole body trembled as I fisted both hands. What in the heck was that all about? Was I planning a beat-down on him?
His eyes sparked then narrowed. He just stood there staring at me with those half-closed stormy-blues. Saying nothing.
“You gonna kiss him or what?” Gloria and Martin stood beside us. How and the heck did they manage to follow me? “Go on, get it done.”
“We both know you want to and I can safely say he wants to,” Martin added. “He’s practically licking his lips with anticipation.” He and Gloria giggled.
Kyle’s arms slid around my waist as if he acknowledged Martin’s directives. His body meshed into mine.
Oh gods, what the heck was happening? I shoved my fists against his chest so he pressed into the bricks, and then I jolted out from the solid web of his arms. My brain fogged and my smoky crystal vibrated against my sternum…again. “What are you doing?” My words came out more like a pant than a yell. How was that working for me? Not.
Kyle smiled, a slow stretch of his full lips, and his silence pierced my ears. Maybe this look was his smolder.
I could see how it would work to melt frozen hearts. Mine was doing a good job of hyper-drum-beating against my ribcage.
Hello Brandy, Jenna, and Alan - thank you again for hosting me at your place. It's a pleasure being here:)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Good luck with your book.
DeleteI enjoyed the interview it was really great to learn more about the author.
ReplyDelete