Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin Series

Poison 

Elemental Assassin 0.1

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 6 pages

This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager and is told from the point of view of  Finnegan Lane, Gin’s fos­ter brother.

*****

Web of Deceit

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 10 pages
This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager. It’s told from the point of view of  Fletcher Lane, Gin’s assas­sin men­tor, and focuses on

Gin’s first solo job as the assas­sin the Spi­der.

*****

Spider’s Bargain

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 9 pages

This short story takes place before the events of Spider’s Bite, the first book in the Elemental Assassin series. In “Spider’s Bargain,” Gin Blanco takes on a corrupt cop, but only one of them will be left standing in the end.

*****

Spider’s Bite

#1

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South — when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.
Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction…especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

*****

Web of Death

Elemental Assassin #1.5

Online Fiction Read HERE

1st Edition, 8 pages

This short story takes place after the events of Spider’s Bite but before the beginning of Web of Lies. In “Web of Death,” Gin Blanco’s retirement is interrupted by some unwanted guests.

*****

Web of Lies

Elemental Assassin #2

#2

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

 

I’m Gin Blanco. You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coal-mining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired.

So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scount mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental — with a little Ice magic thrown in — but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man … dead or alive.

*****

Wasted

Elemental Assassin #2.7

Online Fiction Read HERE
1st Edition, 12 pages

This short story takes place in between the events of Web of Lies and Venom. One day, a beau­ti­ful woman walks into the bank where Finn works, and trou­ble soon fol­lows.

*****

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most.

To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists.

At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life

*****

Tan­gled Dreams

Elemental Assassin #3.5

Online Fiction Read HERE
1st Edition, 10 pages

This short story takes place in between the events of Venom and Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from the points of view of Jo-Jo Dev­er­aux and her sis­ter, Sophia Dev­er­aux. When a car­jacker fol­lows an injured Gin back to Jo-Jo’s beauty salon, Jo-Jo and Sophia join forced to elim­i­nate the threat.

*****

Tan­gled Schemes

Elemental Assassin #3.7

Online Fiction Read HERE
1st Edition, 15 pages

This short story spans a period of time start­ing from the last chap­ter of Spider’s Bite and end­ing right before the begin­ning of Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from Detec­tive Bria Coolidge’s point of view and shows her search for her long-lost sis­ter Genevieve Snow. What Bria doesn’t know is what she’s going to do about the fact that Genevieve also hap­pens to be the as…more

 

*****

Tangled Threads 

Elemental Assassin #4

#4

I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past—or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead.

Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur—or die trying—because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too.

The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling . . . or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead. . .

both dead. . .

*****

Spider’s Revenge

Elemental Assassin #5

#5

Old habits die hard. And I plan on mur­der­ing some­one before the night is through.

Killing used to be my reg­u­lar gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spi­der, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly mat­ters: Mab Mon­roe, the dan­ger­ous Fire ele­men­tal who mur­dered my fam­ily when I was thir­teen.

Oh, I don’t think t Old habits die hard. And I plan on mur­der­ing some­one before the night is through.

Killing used to be my reg­u­lar gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spi­der, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly mat­ters: Mab Mon­roe, the dan­ger­ous Fire ele­men­tal who mur­dered my fam­ily when I was thir­teen.

Oh, I don’t think the mis­sion will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more prob­lem­atic than expected. The bitch knows I’m com­ing for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keep­ing Bria safe is my first pri­or­ity. Tak­ing Mab out is a close sec­ond.

Good thing I’ve got my pow­er­ful Stone and Ice magic — and my irre­sistible lover Owen Grayson — to watch my back. This bat­tle has been years in the mak­ing, and there’s a chance I won’t sur­vive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s com­ing with me…no mat­ter what I have to do to make that happen.

 

*****

Thread of Death

Elemental Assassin #5.5

 

#5.5

Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab.

*****

By a Thread

Elemental Assassin #6

#6

Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab.

By a Thread (Elemental Assassin #6)

When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation. Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider—me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun. But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand—permanently.

*****

Widow’s Web

Elemental Assassin #7

#7

I used to murder people for money, but these days it’s more of a survival technique.

Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town.

Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back in town, she thinks he’s hers for the taking.

Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.

*****

Deadly Sting

Elemental Assassin #8

#8

Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me— Gin Blanco, aka the Spider—it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’s priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

*****

Kiss of Venom

Elemental Assassin #8.5

#8.5

The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new e-novella from the hero’s point of view! Owen Grayson is bound and determined to get Gin back…if her enemies don’t get her first.

When you have a history of dating an assassin, a night out on the town can turn deadly—fast. Owen Grayson is still wracked with guilt over the end of his love affair with Gin Blanco, and there aren’t enough gin and tonics in all of Ashland to ease his heartache. But when Gin happens to show up at the same nightclub, he isn’t the only one hoping to get her alone. Some shadowy figures will do anything to take down the Spider, Gin’s assassin alter ego, and Owen will do anything to protect her. This could be the way to win her back, or at least give her a night off from fighting for her life; if Owen can survive.

*****

Heart of Venom

Elemental Assassin #9

#9

The hotly anticipated ninth novel in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series finds Gin Blanco on a dangerous mission to rescue a friend. 

When a terror from the past threatens Gin’s friend and body-disposer, Sophia, Gin will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means walking straight into a killer’s trap. Meanwhile, the rocky romance between Gin and Owen reaches a turning point—can they reunite and rekindle their love? Or will the things Gin has been forced to do in her line of work as the deadly assassin the Spider keep them apart forever? Assuming, that is, she survives long enough to find out

*****

The Spider

Elemental Assassin #10

#10

The tenth book in the bestselling and “outstanding” (Romantic Times) Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series finally reveals for the first time the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadliest of assassins.

For the first time, the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadly assassin “the Spider” are revealed in full. In a story that pre-dates the other nine books in the series, Gin Blanco goes through her paces to become the most feared assassin in the Ashland

*****

Poison Promise

Elemental Assassin #11

#11

In book eleven of her New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series, author Jennifer Estep continues “one of the best urban fantasy series going on the market” (Fresh Fiction).

Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight.

 

*****

Black Widow

Elemental Assassin #12

#12

Release date November 25, 2014

There’s nothing worse than a cruel, cunning enemy with time to kill—and my murder to plan.

With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit.

The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.

Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles

The Grimoire of the Lamb

The Iron Druid Chronicles 0.4

.04 IDC

There’s nothing like an impromptu holiday to explore the birthplace of modern civilisation, but when Atticus and Oberon pursue a book-stealing Egyptian wizard – with a penchant for lamb – to the land of the pharaohs, they find themselves in hot, crocodile-infested water.

The trip takes an even nastier turn when they discover the true nature of the nefarious plot they’ve been drawn into. On the wrong side of the vengeful cat goddess Bast and chased by an unfathomable number of her yowling four-legged disciples, Atticus must find a way to appease or defeat Egypt’s deadliest gods – before his grimoire-grabbing quarry uses them to turn him into mincemeat.

*****

Clan Rathskeller

The Iron Druid Chronicles 0.5

This is a free short story that takes place ten months before the events of “Hounded”, the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles, coming 2011 from Del Rey.

http://www.kevinhearne.com/wp-content..

*****

Kaibab Unbound

The Iron Druid Chronicles 0.6

A short story in The Iron Druid series that occurs two weeks before the events of the first book

*****

Hounded

The Iron Druid Chronicles #1

1 IDC

The first novel in the original, six-book Iron Druid Chronicles—introducing a cool, new, funny urban fantasy hero

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

*****

Hexed

The Iron Druid Chronicles #2

2 IDC

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to “make nice” with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial non-aggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. The new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of WWII.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch-hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

*****

Hammered

The Iron Druid Chronicles #3

3 IDC

Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself

*****

A Test of Mettle

The Iron Druid Chronicles #3.5

This wee story, told from Granuaile’s point of view, takes place concurrently with the events of HAMMERED, book three of The Iron Druid Chronicles. It is available for free on the author’s website.

http://www.kevinhearne.com/wp-content…

*****

Tricked

The Iron Druid Chronicles #4

4 IDC

Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.

But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.

*****

Two Ravens and One Crow

The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.5

4.5 IDC

Atticus O’Sullivan is back in an all-new, action-packed, laugh-out-loud novella from the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles. Two-thousand-year-old Atticus may have outwitted and outfought everyone from Odin to Bacchus, but in this eBook original, he’s about to discover what comes around when you go around messing with gods.

Six years into the training of his beautiful apprentice, Granuaile, a large crow swoops down and transforms into none other than the Morrigan, a goddess who insists that Atticus come with her at once. He must leave his apprentice behind, along with his Irish wolfhound, Oberon—and he must also leave his sword. The Morrigan has always taken extreme pleasure in pronouncing the Druid’s mortal danger and imminent doom, so the fact that she won’t reveal the purpose of their journey makes him very nervous. Of course, any time the Celtic Chooser of the Slain drops in unannounced, it’s never good. When she does let slip that she’ll be saving his life in the near future, Atticus is left to wonder . . . will he soon be giving his legions of enemies something to crow about?

*****

Trapped

The Iron Druid Chronicles #5

5 IDC

After twelve years of secret training, Atticus O’Sullivan is finally ready to bind his apprentice, Granuaile, to the earth and double the number of Druids in the world. But on the eve of the ritual, the world that thought he was dead abruptly discovers that he’s still alive, and they would much rather he return to the grave.

Having no other choice, Atticus, his trusted Irish wolfhound, Oberon, and Granuaile travel to the base of Mount Olympus, where the Roman god Bacchus is anxious to take his sworn revenge—but he’ll have to get in line behind an ancient vampire, a band of dark elves, and an old god of mischief, who all seem to have KILL THE DRUID at the top of their to-do lists.

*****

Hunted

The Iron Druid Chronicles #6

6 IDC

For a two-thousand-year-old Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan is a pretty fast runner. Good thing, because he’s being chased by not one but two goddesses of the hunt—Artemis and Diana—for messing with one of their own. Dodging their slings and arrows, Atticus, Granuaile, and his wolfhound Oberon are making a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from a friend of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His usual magical option of shifting planes is blocked, so instead of playing hide-and-seek, the game plan is . . . run like hell.

Crashing the pantheon marathon is the Norse god Loki. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok—AKA the Apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outfox the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to go on living—and still have a world to live in.

Coming soon:

Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles #7)

(The Iron Druid Chronicles #8)

(The Iron Druid Chronicles #9)

Interview & Awesome giveaway (+2) with Kevin Hearne

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Kevin Hearne to the blog today.  We are talking to Kevin about his Iron Druid Choricles series.  Today is release day for book #6 Hunted.  Please give a warm welcome to Kevin.

kevinhearne-300x200Hi Kevin, please excuse me while I go a little, okay a lot, fan girl on you **EEKKKK**. 

Kevin: Virtual Fist Bump! (But that special secret one I will teach you when we meet in Salem.)

BnK:  Okay I think I am good!!  Where was I?  Oh yes, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses.

Kevin: Thank you! Very kind of you to invite me.

BnK:  Kevin for those who don’t know you can you please tell us a little about yourself?

Kevin: I taught high school English for seventeen years until I unexpectedly sold a few books and became a full time writer. I’ve always been a turbonerd and somehow I’ve managed to get paid for it, so I count myself very fortunate.

BnK:  I have to say that I am totally in love with your Iron Druid Chronicles series.  For those who have been living under a rock, please tell us about the IDC series.

Kevin: It’s an urban fantasy featuring the last of the Druids who has been hiding out from Irish gods for 2,100 years. He’s hidden himself in multiple places throughout the centuries, but when the series begins he’s in Arizona. Once the Irish gods find him there, he decides to fight instead of run, and the consequences of that decision snowball from there.

BnK: On your website (will put link in) you state that there will be 9 IDC books (which I am sad to know there is an end).  What do you plan to do after you are done with Atticus and crew?

Kevin: I have an epic coming from Del Rey, and there might be all kinds of different stuff after that. I might return to the Iron Druid world after a while, but after writing nine books in six years I imagine I’ll need a wee break.

BnK: One of the best things about your books, I mean besides the totally awesomely rad story, are all the great insults.  How do you come up with some of these? Can you share a few of your favorites?

Kevin: I kind of feel it’s my duty to put some unusual insults into print and remind everyone of what is possible with the language. People fall into such a rut otherwise with the same few words and I think we need to realize the potential English has to truly rock someone back with a well-crafted phrase. I wouldn’t want to commit to a favorite insult here, though, because it’ll probably be a different one tomorrow.

BnK: I have been listening to the IDC series on Audible (IDC Audible page).  Luke Daniels is an amazing narrator.  I know you recently interviewed Luke on your blog (Check out the interview HERE).   Have you listened to the audio books?  Did you give Luke any advice as to how you thought your characters would sound? 

Kevin: I have listened to them, and it’s a testament to Luke’s talent that he can make me laugh at my own jokes because his delivery is so amusing. I’ve only given him advice on a few characters here and there, and that’s all beginning with book 4. I had no contact with him at all for the first three.

BnK:  So I have to thank the amazing Laurie London for suggesting Hounded on Audible to me.  Laurie and I have been on a bit of a bender listening to the IDC books.  It has been fun we have been texting each other quotes.  So I asked Laurie if she had any questions she wanted you to answer. Take it away Laurie…

LL:  Hi Kevin! Thanks for coming onto Kelly’s blog. She and I have been having such fun texting each other various quotes as we listen to the series. I’ve become adept at hitting the bookmark button while driving so that I can text her later. Your knowledge of  Irish Folklore and various mythologies seems really extensive.  Was this an interest of yours prior to writing the IDC series?

Kevin: Absolutely. I used to teach more mythology than was strictly necessary in my English classes, and the students always enjoyed it because many of those old stories are truly messed up. The ancient Greco-Romans had some ideas I couldn’t come up with on my most batshit crazy day.

LL:  Why did you pick Arizona for the main setting of this series?  Was there something in the existing folklore that made you chose it or did you pick Arizona and build the IDC world around it?

Kevin: I chose it because I live here and I’m familiar with it, and to be honest I was a bit tired of reading stories set in NY, LA, and Chicago all the time. It’s also about as far away from Ireland as you can get, and I figured the desert would be a good place for a Druid to hide from the Fae.

LL:  Do you have a phobia of beards?  Or maybe it’s a fetish. There seems to be a lot of characters, particularly the dastardly ones, who have really interesting facial hair.

Kevin: I think it’s a bit of both. I find truly epic beards to be simultaneously fascinating and horrifying and more than a little funny. I want to grow one to learn more about the care and feeding of such personal topiary, but I can’t because my wife won’t let me. The thing is, any sort of facial hair display is a conscious decision on the part of a dude, and I suppose I’m interested by the psychology behind all the different ways that manifests itself. They’re getting in your face with their face, know what I mean?

Bnk:  Thanks Laurie!! Please feel free to hang out for the rest of the interview and throughout more questions if you wish

LL: Okay, I’m an expert stalker. J

Bnk: Okay Kevin, now the hard questions.  Between your witty, smart ass writing and Luke’s awesome narrating Oberon has to be my favorite character in the IDC series.  Who is yours and why?

Kevin: Oberon’s a good time for me, no doubt, but as a writer I have the most fun with Leif and more recently with Granuaile. Granuaile gets her own POV chapters in books 6 and 7 and her voice is so different from Atticus that I find her challenging and refreshing.

BnK:  I want to know will Atticus & Granuaile have any kind of romantic HEA by book 9?

Kevin: Please see book five. J

Bnk: Why on earth did you kill off you know who in book 3?

Kevin: One does not simply walk into Asgard. Someone had to pay the price…and many did.

1BnK:  June 25th is the release date for Hunted (#6 in the IDC series).  Can you tell us a little about the adventure that Atticus, Granualie & Oberon embark on in Hunted?

Kevin: It’s pretty much nonstop action. They’re on the run from two immortal goddesses of the hunt, Artemis and Diana, and a host of other enemies besides, and they have to find a way to survive and defuse tension with the Olympians.

BnK:  Kevin, it has been such a pleasure to have you on the blog.  I am looking forward to meeting you in person at the end of June.  And I believe that Laurie is going to stalk you up in the Seattle area in July.

LL: Yes, I’m going to try to drag my dad with me. I think he’d dig your books.   

Kevin: I’m looking forward to meeting you as well! I’ve never been to Oregon and I can’t wait to visit! Thanks for having me!

BnK:  Is there anything you would like to add before we let you go?

Kevin: I’m very grateful to everyone who’s read the books and told someone else about them. Word of mouth is the best! Thank you!

BnK: Thank you again Kevin. 

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Want to know what the plus 2 is????

The most Awesome Laurie London & Karina Cooper have teamed up with me to give you 2 more chances to win awesome prizes.

Stop by all three blogs for a chance to win.

IDC-Audio-Giveaway

I am giving away an Audio copy of Hounded, Book one in the Iron Druid Chronicles

Laurie London is giving away an audio copy of Hexed, Book two in the Iron Druid Chronicles on her blog HERE

& Karina Cooper is going to be giving away an audio copy of Hammered, Book three in the Iron Druid Chronicles on her blog HERE

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