Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read: AudioBook Tour: Embracing the Dragon by K.L. Bone

Author: K.L. Bone

Narrator: Kylie Stewart

Length: 6 hours 59 minutes

Series: Flames of Kalleen, Book 1

Publisher: K.L. Bone

Released: Sep. 12, 2018

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Can a human heart withstand the flames of a dragon’s soul? For centuries, the dragons of Kalleen have ruled the skies. Blessed by the goddess of fire, those born of her power are destined to exist within two worlds while fully belonging to neither. As the youngest daughter of the dragon queen, Amelia has always been torn between her humanity and winged form. In meeting Stephen, she found a blossoming love that gave her hope of finding balance. But it is a dream destroyed when her sister, and future queen, sets her sights upon the same man. Forced from her lover’s side, Amelia embraces a self-imposed exile, taking refuge in the northern mountains. In this new life of solitude, she banishes painful memories by retreating to her dragon form, sheltering the wounded girl within. Yet it is an isolation that cannot last, as the new dragon queen’s cruelty bears down upon the kingdom, allowing an ancient enemy to rise. Drawn from her banishment by the pleas of friends, Amelia must choose. Will she embrace the destructive beast within? Or draw upon the frail humanity that lingers dimly in her soul, in a desperate attempt to help her people and mend a broken heart?

K.L. Bone is a bestselling author of dark fantasy and paranormal romance. Her works include the bestselling Black Rose Guard dark fantasy series. The bestselling Flames of Kalleen paranormal romance series. The Rise of the Temple Gods fantasy series. And a stand-alone science fiction novel, The Indoctrination. Bone has a master’s degree in modern literary cultures and is working toward her PhD. She wrote her first short story at the age of fifteen and grew up with an equally great love of both classical literature and speculative fiction. Bone has spent the last few years as a bit of a world traveler, living in California, London, and most recently, Belfast. When not immersed in words, of her own creation or studies, you’ll find her traveling to mythical sites and Game of Thrones filming locations.

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Kylie Stewart has been writing short stories and books all her life. She was influenced by her Scottish heritage to become an independent British history buff and has a small library dedicated to Tudor history and is a lover of Arthurian legends. From contemporary, to fantasy, to the paranormal, she loves to write gritty, real, and raw romance that make you dread to see the pages dwindle. A member of RWA, she is also a member of the APA and works as an audio book narrator when she isn’t writing. Kylie lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and fellow voice actor Eric Rolon, and their three cats Asuka, Ollie, and Haru.

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Q&A with Author K.L. Bone

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
- In my more recent books, yes. I tend to be more conscious of deciding where characters are from, in order to give consideration to various accents that can be used for narration.
How did you select your narrator?
- Kylie Stewart did an audition for another I was working on. The specific book for which she auditioned was part of a series which was already pre-contracted to someone else. However, I loved her audition and asked if she would consider working on a different project. A few months later she started on the Flames of Kalleen series and we have now done six projects together. She’s amazing to work with. Professional, friendly, and always delivers the books on time. She puts amazing emotional depth to the various characters, and I hope to continue working with Kylie on many future projects.
How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
- I do work closely with my narrator throughout the audiobook process. I tend to offer a pronunciation guide for character names, fantasy terms or in the case of some books, any terms used in a foreign language. I also discuss any particular type of accents that should be used, prior to narration beginning.
- Once all the files have been recorded, I then review the audiobook and email my narrator with any corrections and changes that need to be made prior to finalization.
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
- I am an avid audiobook listener. I used to listen to books on tape on long car rides with my mother when I was young and continue to listen to audiobooks on trips to this day. I love how narrators can bring a story to life with accents, emotional conveyance and pacing.
Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
- There are several pieces of back-stories thread throughout Embracing the Dragon. One scene in particular, a dragon knight named Gwain is telling the story of how his little sister was kidnapped by the wicked temples and how he attempted to save her. Gwain finding his sister after years of forced separation is a highly emotional scene which was conveyed beautifully by my narrator, Kylie Stewart. Hearing this scene read aloud added an emotional depth with brought the characters and scene to life.
If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
- I think time travel would be fun! I would be torn between seeing ancient Rome and England during the reign of the Tudors. I love reading about the history of both King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. I am also a huge Shakespeare fan, so the time period would allow me to see one of his plays during Shakespeare’s lifetime, which would be amazing!
What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- I wouldn’t personally consider it ‘cheating,’ but instead, enjoying the story in a different medium. I think stories can be enjoyed in many formats.
How did you celebrate after finishing this novel?
- A bottle of champagne and a favorite movie.
What gets you out of a writing slump? What about a reading slump?
- Deadlines.
In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?
- The great part of writing a series is that the more familiar with a world and character I become, the easier it is to dive into their stories and to figure out how a character will react in any given situation.
- The difficult part is ensuring details remain consistent from one book to another. From what a particular location looks like, to recalling what color eyes minor characters have. Sometimes it can take hours searching through previous books to ensure that minor details remain constant throughout a series.
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- When I was a young author, I met one of my own favorites, Laurell K. Hamilton. She told me to choose a wall in my house, cover it with rejection, and only once it was completely covered, could one begin to dream of success. This advice resonated with me throughout my writing career, reminding me to both accept negative criticism with grace, and to celebrate success when finally achieved.
What’s next for you?
- I am currently working on the third book in the Flames of Kalleen series, Forsaking the Dragon, which has an anticipated release date for the spring of 2020. I am also working on a new series called Starbound, which will be co-written by Greg Wilkey. The first book, Fallen, is also expected to be released in early 2020.