Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Date Published: December 13, 2013
Half-succubus Jazz Watkins spends her days navigating the halls of Moreland High and her nights knee deep in Chicago drug dens hunting Suecai – an evil kind of incubi and succubae who devour the souls of humans. But when a leader of the Suecai curses her, Jazz has to track him down. Either she kills him before the curse burns through her, or she’ll become a full-fledged, out of control, soul sucking monster.
She’s got a handful of weeks, absolutely no leads, and her sexy best guy-friend and team member, Khan, covering her back. But will the growing attraction she feels for Khan get in the way of her mission to save her own life?
Trakena Prevost
Trakena Prevost was born and raised in the great state of Texas, where everything IS bigger and the people are very friendly. She spends most of her time oscillating between being completely obsessed with reading and Korean dramas (to her wonderful boyfriends chagrin) and writing down the fantastic tales rumbling around in her head. When not reading and writing, Trakena spends her time working in HR for a major medical system in Houston, and hanging out with her family and friends.
Trakena has always loved the many worlds she's found in books, where everything was possible. As a child, you would often catch her enjoying a good story in the comfort of the AC, instead of wilting in the Houston heat (she showed great intelligence...even then). It didn't occur to Trakena that the fanciful stories she made up for fun could one day be out in the world, but now that they are she can't imagine it any other way!
Interview:
What inspired you to write your first book?
As a child, I enjoyed losing myself in tales filled with fantasy and the paranormal. My only frustration with these books was that hardily any of them had any people who look like me in them. That’s where my passion for writing started. I just wanted to write the same stories I loved to read, but with a cast of characters that were as wonderfully diverse as this world we’re living in. For me, I write for the teenaged girl I was, and hopefully someone else enjoys it!
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes. I like to outline my stories before I begin writing, and I like to write long-hand before typing out my chapters. That doesn't mean that I have to stick to the outlines I set. They are just to give me an idea of where I'm going as I'm writing so I don't lose my way, but I like it best when my characters surprise me and go in completely different directions. The story also changes some when I type it out. So, by the time my critique group gets my chapters they've gone through at least one editing round!
How did you come up with the title?
It's linked to the predicament that Jazz finds herself in when she's cursed by the bad guy in the tale.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Mostly how trying to solve a problem with violence doesn't end well. Jazz decided to focus all of her hurt and sadness into a vengeful quest, when her real focus should have been love and healing in a productive manner.
How much of the book is realistic?
For me, the wilder the stories the better! I did research maps of the U.S. to make sure that town names I used were accurate, but that's about all.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not at all.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I would say the Harry Potter series first got me thinking on fantasy and how it can really open the eyes and hearts of young people, which made me want to do the same.
If you had to choose, which writer you consider a mentor?
I would say J.K. Rowling is the writer who has the most influence on me. She taught me that if you're going to write a series, make sure that you know how it will end before you begin it. As a reader, I can completely tell the difference between how J.K. Rowling wrote the HP series and how intricately she interwove all of the plots and characters from beginning to end. That's not something you always see.
What book are you reading now?
I'm about to try Delirium by Lauren Oliver.
What would you like my readers to know?
That I'm just a down to earth girl who hopes they enjoy the crazy musings of my brain!
Website: www.trakenaprevost.com
Twitter: @trakenaprevost
BUY LINKS
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Date Published: December 13, 2013
Half-succubus Jazz Watkins spends her days navigating the halls of Moreland High and her nights knee deep in Chicago drug dens hunting Suecai – an evil kind of incubi and succubae who devour the souls of humans. But when a leader of the Suecai curses her, Jazz has to track him down. Either she kills him before the curse burns through her, or she’ll become a full-fledged, out of control, soul sucking monster.
She’s got a handful of weeks, absolutely no leads, and her sexy best guy-friend and team member, Khan, covering her back. But will the growing attraction she feels for Khan get in the way of her mission to save her own life?
She’s got a handful of weeks, absolutely no leads, and her sexy best guy-friend and team member, Khan, covering her back. But will the growing attraction she feels for Khan get in the way of her mission to save her own life?
Trakena Prevost was born and raised in the great state of Texas, where everything IS bigger and the people are very friendly. She spends most of her time oscillating between being completely obsessed with reading and Korean dramas (to her wonderful boyfriends chagrin) and writing down the fantastic tales rumbling around in her head. When not reading and writing, Trakena spends her time working in HR for a major medical system in Houston, and hanging out with her family and friends.
Trakena has always loved the many worlds she's found in books, where everything was possible. As a child, you would often catch her enjoying a good story in the comfort of the AC, instead of wilting in the Houston heat (she showed great intelligence...even then). It didn't occur to Trakena that the fanciful stories she made up for fun could one day be out in the world, but now that they are she can't imagine it any other way!
Interview:
Do you have a specific writing style?
How did you come up with the title?
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
How much of the book is realistic?
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
What books have most influenced your life most?
If you had to choose, which writer you consider a mentor?
What book are you reading now?
What inspired you to write your first book?
As a child, I enjoyed losing myself in tales filled with fantasy and the paranormal. My only frustration with these books was that hardily any of them had any people who look like me in them. That’s where my passion for writing started. I just wanted to write the same stories I loved to read, but with a cast of characters that were as wonderfully diverse as this world we’re living in. For me, I write for the teenaged girl I was, and hopefully someone else enjoys it!
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes. I like to outline my stories before I begin writing, and I like to write long-hand before typing out my chapters. That doesn't mean that I have to stick to the outlines I set. They are just to give me an idea of where I'm going as I'm writing so I don't lose my way, but I like it best when my characters surprise me and go in completely different directions. The story also changes some when I type it out. So, by the time my critique group gets my chapters they've gone through at least one editing round!
How did you come up with the title?
It's linked to the predicament that Jazz finds herself in when she's cursed by the bad guy in the tale.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Mostly how trying to solve a problem with violence doesn't end well. Jazz decided to focus all of her hurt and sadness into a vengeful quest, when her real focus should have been love and healing in a productive manner.
How much of the book is realistic?
For me, the wilder the stories the better! I did research maps of the U.S. to make sure that town names I used were accurate, but that's about all.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not at all.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I would say the Harry Potter series first got me thinking on fantasy and how it can really open the eyes and hearts of young people, which made me want to do the same.
If you had to choose, which writer you consider a mentor?
I would say J.K. Rowling is the writer who has the most influence on me. She taught me that if you're going to write a series, make sure that you know how it will end before you begin it. As a reader, I can completely tell the difference between how J.K. Rowling wrote the HP series and how intricately she interwove all of the plots and characters from beginning to end. That's not something you always see.
What book are you reading now?
I'm about to try Delirium by Lauren Oliver.
What would you like my readers to know?
That I'm just a down to earth girl who hopes they enjoy the crazy musings of my brain!
Website: www.trakenaprevost.com
Twitter: @trakenaprevost
BUY LINKS
GIVEAWAY
The Suecai sound like a unique hybrid I am curious about.
ReplyDelete-Jamie