Fresh from the hectic holiday, our guest today is my friend Alix Rickloff. Actually, Alix is a return guest. We interviewed her for her debut book, Lost In You. Now Alix has a new series with the first book, EARL OF DARKNESS to be released Dec 28.
Top Pick from RT!
Romantic Times calls the book “a tangled tale of good and evil, magic and mystery, passion and desire — one that won’t be easily forgotten.”Top Pick – “This book is magic personified.”
—Night Owl Reviews“Secret societies, baffling documents, monstrous stalkers–Rickloff has studied the textbook thoroughly, then added more sex.”
—Publishers Weekly“Get ready to curl up on the sofa and lose yourself in this fabulous Regency with a wicked twist of paranormal.”
—Award-winning author Melissa Mayhue
Alix will give away a signed copy of Earl of Darkness to one lucky commenter today.
Welcome back to the Riskies, Alix. You have an exciting new series to announce. Tell us about the first book, EARL OF DARKNESS.
Set in Regency Ireland, EARL OF DARKNESS features Aidan Douglas, the eldest son and heir to the title earl of Kilronan. He believes clues to his father’s murder and his brother’s disappearance lie in the pages of his father’s diary. Unfortunately, the only person he’s found who can decipher the language it’s written in is Cat O’Connell, the beautiful thief he catches trying to steal it. Together, lord and thief race to understand the dark secrets contained within the book even as they struggle against a passion that both know can only end in disaster.
Tell us about the Heirs of Kilronan series.
EARL OF DARKNESS is the first book in this new series which follows the children of the old Earl of Kilronan as they struggle against the fallout from the evil their father unleashed before his death.
The second book, LORD OF SHADOWS is due to be released in July 2011 with the third and final book, whose title is still under consideration, coming out in January 2012.
We’re all about taking risks here. What is risky about EARL OF DARKNESS or the series or both?
The risk, as always, lies in the balance. This series is my latest attempt at blending Regency historical and sword-and-sorcery fantasy as I return to the world of the Other, a race of humans bearing the blood and magic of the Fey. And to spice things up, I’ve added my own take on the Arthurian legends.
Attracting historical readers who may not normally pick up a paranormal while giving paranormal readers the in depth world-building they’re looking for is a constant juggle. Happily, the blending of these two sub-genres has grown in popularity over the last few years so, hopefully, I’ll be able to keep doing it for a long time to come.
Your story is set in Ireland in 1815. Did you come across any interesting research?
The rampant epidemic of heiress abductions in Ireland during the eighteenth-early nineteenth century. These poor women were being snatched all over the place. Of course, the idea begged to be included in a story.
I understand you have joined the Blame It On The Muse blog. Tell us about the blog. Who participates and what is your focus?
Blame It On The Muse was started in the spring of this year by a group of published and unpublished authors with one common interest—a love of words. We offer a blend of features for both readers and writers; author, agent, and editor interviews, book giveaways, musings on the writing life along with lots of chatty fun.
What’s next for you?
LORD OF SHADOWS is coming out July 2011, and Book 3 of the Heirs of Kilronan series is due out January 2012.
I’m currently working on an Heirs of Kilronan spin-off series set in 1816 London, though my characters will be making visits to Scotland and Cornwall with perhaps a brief return to Ireland.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to stop by the Riskies for a chat. I’ve had a great time.
To celebrate my visit as well the release of EARL OF DARKNESS, I’ll be giving away a free copy to one lucky commenter.
Okay, everyone let’s start the chat. Comments and questions please! Alix has generously agreed to seclude herself from her busy family and sit in a quiet room just so she can respond to you!
Hi Alix! When I was in HS I spelled my name like that. well, briefly. until my teachers started asking who the heck ‘Alix’ was and why I wasn’t handing in my assignments XD
I love the covers to both your books! Do they bare resemblence to the characters and/or a scene in the books? (please tell me you have the heroes just randomly tossing off their shirts and coats on foggy nights outside the castle)
Lexie
Hello, Alix & Diane! Happy Holidays : ) Alix, congratulations on your “Heirs of Kilronan” series and the first release, “Earl of Darkness”. I am quite intrigued by the story line for the series, and the “Arthurian” legend is my favorite! With all my reading choices, I look for well-developed, involving characters and detailed, interesting story lines. Many authors today write in multiple genres. If I like an author’s work, I will follow them from genre to genre. This past year or so, I have been stepping outside my fiction box on a regular basis, and it’s been a blast. “Regency historical and sword-and-sorcery fantasy” sounds wonderfully imaginative and involving!
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Hi, Alix! I’m intrigued by the idea of a story set in Regency Ireland. I don’t think many have done that before. What made you decide to set it there?
Margay
Good morning! Welcome back, Alix. It is exciting to have you back with another romance “touched by something other.”
I’m exhausted from a very nice Christmas day. All was perfect except my turkey cooked too fast and was dry.
The good news is I received several Amazon gift cards!!! Kindle store here I come.
Margay, Amanda as Laurel McKee has an series set in Ireland just before the Regency.
Good morning and sorry to come late to the party. Call it an overabundance of holiday cheer.
Lexie,
I have my parents to thank for my name’s spelling. And while it’s a popular name now, growing up I was one of the few Alix’s around.
I love my covers too! Pocket did a fantastic job with them, and, yes, the art department did ask me for descriptions of my characters to use during the design process.
Virginia,
I’ve always loved the Arthurian legends and read anything even remotely connected to them– Stewart, Bradley, Whyte, Cornwell. Adding my own spin to the story was a lot of fun and let me play with characters that have intrigued me since I was a child.
Margay,
The spark for the story originated in an earlier manuscript whereby the setting of Ireland was established. I found all sorts of fabulous resources–old maps, travelogues, books on both Dublin and the countryside. And my s-i-l, who is actually Irish, read it over and assured me I had no glaring errors.
Happy Boxing Day, Diane! And thank you for inviting me to chat. After the frantic pace of Christmas, I’m enjoying a relatively quiet day watching the snow fall.
I love the idea of blending Regency historical and sword-and-sorcery fantasy. They’re two of my favorites and I don’t believe I’ve read a combination like that before. It all sounds very intriguing starting with the title and what a gorgeous cover! I’ve been hearing good things about this book and look forward to being taken away and into your world.
Congralations on “Earl of Darkness”
Thank you all for the congratulations!
I’m ecstatic at the enthusiastic response EARL OF DARKNESS has received so far from reviewers and can’t wait to see how readers enjoy my blend of regency-paranormal.
Oh, Alix this sounds like such a great read !! I’m really looking forward to this series.
When you basically create your own blend of mythology how do you keep track of everything and how do you decide how much paranormal, how much mystery and how much romance to include to keep it all balanced? Is it something you keep track of in some way?
Louisa,
Thanks for stopping by and great questions!
I have an ever-increasing folder in which I keep track of my world-building–spells, characters, how the worlds all fit together. I’m constantly referring to my notes as I write. That or adding to them.
As to the mix of romance to mystery to paranormal, I have no special formula to keep it all balanced out. I’m not nearly that organized. It just seems to grow out of the story as I write.
What does make it easier are wonderful cp’s and an agent and editor that let me know if things are going off-track anywhere along the way.
I love the combination of historical with a touch of fantasy. Ireland has not been used as a local for as many historical romances as I would like. It is rich in history and traditions. It is a perfect setting for stories that incorporate fantasy. The belief in the fey and otherworldly is very close to the surface.
This sounds like a series I will very much enjoy.
Best of luck with the release of EARL OF DARKNESS and the books that will follow.
What great covers! I especially like the one for “Lord of Shadows” because it has my favorite cover model Paul Marron on it.
I also like Regency Ireland fantasy setup. Of course, “fantasy” is practically a given when dealing with Ireland. 🙂
ironss[at]gmail.com
Earl of Darkness sounds like a fantastic story, I’m looking forward to reading it. I love the combination of Regency Ireland and sword-and-sorcery fantasy, I know I’m going to be hooked on this new series.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
Whatta Hot covers !!
Hi Alix, you are a new for me author. i would really like to have the chance to read your books 😀
uniquas at ymail dot com