Virtual Tour and Giveaway: Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

Today we're welcoming author Kenya Wright to the blog on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her urban fantasy novel, "Fire Baptized".

Kenya is giving away a $10 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter. So comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

I grilled Kenya with some "must know" questions, and she has graciously responded. Take it away, Kenya!

First off, what's Fire Baptized about?

Since the 1970’s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend Meshach and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention.

While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?

Why urban fantasy?

I really enjoy reading the urban fantasy genre. Sixty percent of my books are urban fantasy so when it was time to write a book I knew I would write in that genre.

What's a normal day like for you?

I usually wake up at five in the morning and write as much as I can. Then I help my husband get the kids ready for school. Later, I head to work and sneak a couple more chapters in during my commute. After work I go to law school in the evening, and then I head home and put the kiddies to bed. If I’m not exhausted I may write some more.

I pretty much exist on coffee and the hope that one day all of this work will help me attain my dream of being a full-time writer.

Plotter or Pantser?

For Fire Baptized, I was a pantser. I just wrote without any clear outline or direction. I ended up with 180,000 words. During the revision process I cut so much stuff. Fire Baptized was complete at 68,000 words. That’s a lot of stuff I cut.

As I write the sequel which is called The Burning Bush, I’ve become a plotter. I spent two weeks putting together an outline. I’m currently on Chapter 24. I'm really enjoying being a plotter. I have clear direction and I don’t feel like I’m wasting words and time.

Any odd quirks you'd like to share?

I bite my nails a lot. It’s ridiculous because I’m always telling my kids not to bite their nails.

What are the pros and cons of being self-published?

I would say the pro is having complete control of the self-publishing process. From the cover to the formatting, it’s really fun creating the entire concept and package.

The con is actually is also having complete control of the process. Editing is a long exhausting process that takes weeks of going over the book so many times that by the fiftieth time I’m sick of the book. I use three to four editors and have several beta readers. Each time someone reads it, I go over there notes and add or take away from the story.

What's coming up from you that you'd like to share with our readers?

Next week, I’m releasing a short story collection called Caged View that involves the three main characters of Fire Baptized. In May, I will release the sequel to Fire Baptized which is called The Burning Bush. Additionally, in July I will release a YA novel named Chameleon which is also set in Fire Baptized’s world, but will have less graphic violence and language.

Any questions you'd like to ask our readers?

I would love to know if anybody has found an awesome book for 2012 yet. With all of my writing it’s hard to take the time to find a great book. Any good recommendations?

Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sung the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.

However, writing has been the only constant love in her life.

Now Kenya is publishing her first book, Fire Baptized, the urban fantasy novel she always wanted to read. This novel is the first book in a series.

Will she succeed? Of course.

For she has been coined The Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.

Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.

Website: http://www.kenyawright.com
Book Video: http://youtu.be/a28T5HzpGJ4