Cassiel Knight-Interview, Giveaway and Review

It is my pleasure to have Cassiel Knight on my blog today. She has agreed to answer some questions for us. The publisher is offering an ebook for giveaway, so just leave a comment with your email address to be entered.

Tell the readers a little about your book Relic Defender: Key of Solomon.

The heroine, Lexi, is a lonely archeology student seeking to forget her painful past. Against her will, she is swept into a fierce battle between good and evil and must team up with sexy Mikos, a fallen angel on the path to redemption, to find King Solomon’s legendary book of magic to save the human race.

What was the inspiration for the book?

I wanted to write something different then the market was selling. I never really found vampires sexy and I certainly didn’t werewolves (I’ve changed my mind a little), and I’d always loved the idea of angels. Like many, I’d grown up thinking of angels as beautiful beings decked in white with blue eyes and golden hair. While I wasn’t opposed to that, I still wanted something different. I wish I could remember when I fell on the idea of fallen angels. It was probably from something I researched but once I had the idea, and later learned that the stories go that God wouldn’t let them back into Heaven no matter what, Mikos and his story was born. Lexi went through several “career” fields before I settled on archeology and the reason for that is simple. I love reading and studying the past. Finally, I discovered the legends of King Solomon and the fact he was supposed to be a magic user and had a ring given to him by God that allowed Solomon to control and compel demons. I took all this and mixed it with a big spoon and ta-da! Key of Solomon.

How many books are going to be in the series and can you give us a hint of where it is headed?

I’m excited to say that book 2, The Death Skull, is going to be released from Samhain Publishing in August 2012. It is Jackson and Marisol’s story. Of course, if you haven’t read it, you have no idea who they are. Well, let me tell you a bit about them. Both Jackson and Marisol are in the first book. Marisol is a fallen angel who works with Mikos but she is different in that she doesn’t want to be redeemed or return to Heaven. She’s a warrior angel so all she knows is fighting. And winning. Jackson, a charming Texan, is a mercenary turned protector. When Archangel Michael throws these two together to find the Death Skull, sparks fly. And they aren’t just the ones coming from Marisol’s fingers. I have a rough first chapter of book 2 on my Relic Defender website at www.relicdefender.wordpress.com plus, if you are on the fence about Key of Solomon, you can find some excerpts there you can’t find elsewhere.

Book 3, is Ash and Cat’s story. They will be looking for a Templar Cross. Each book focuses on a new couple but the ultimate war is to stop a demon from finding a way to overthrow Lucifer and take over Hell. This is one bad-ass demon so it would literally be Hell on Earth if he wins. Book 3 is the final battle.

As far as how many books. Well, as you can tell from above I have three. However, I’m a writer so if readers want more stories set in this world, well, I think I can give them some. I actually (shush, my editor doesn’t know this yetJ) have toyed with the idea of a fourth book – another Lexi and Mikos story.

Have you always wanted to be a writer and how long have you been writing professionally?

I’ve always written but didn’t think about writing as a career until much later in life. Like in my late thirties. I don’t remember anything specific that led me in this direction. I just remember always writing. I loved English Composition and writing essays, I was the editor of my school’s newspaper and since then, it seems like I’ve always written. For company newsletters, produced training documents and handbooks and even did some legal writing. And once I started reading romances, I was hooked on writing fiction.

Who has had the most influence on your writing and why?

 Stephen King. I’ve also loved him and have admired his genuinely scary mind. How the heck does he come up with his stories? I imagine his mind is one wicked place to be. But that’s not why he influences me. I read his On Writing book, his, sort of, autobiography and book on writing. In it, he’s blunt about what it takes to be a writer and makes no apologies for his journey. But most of all, he’s an example of persevering and passion. When I grow up, I want to be Stephen King.

What gives you the most enjoyment in life?

Cuddling with my shih tzus, gardening and reading. I also love going to conferences and doing other writing-related stuff. It’s not a business to me – it’s truly my passion and gives me great enjoyment. I do it as much as I can.

Who is your favorite author and why?

I really have two - Jim Butcher but for his Harry Dresden series only. I tried to read his fantasy series but after Dresden, well, I can’t read him as anything else. I just love the world he created for Harry, and I’m in awe of his imagination. My second favorite is Stephen King. Seriously. He’s so wickedly scary and such a genius at creating terror on the page. I’ve read his On Writing book a number of times. It’s quite inspirational.

Who is your biggest supporter?

This is hard to answer. I’ve had a lot of support. I’d have to say my husband has been the most patient and supportive in that he has been willing to spend money on something that had no returns. Now that it does, I feel better but he’s never told me to stop because we can’t afford it. Even when he wasn’t working, I may have had to cut back but he was still there for me. So, maybe this isn’t as hard to answer as I thought. My husband of nearly 21 years has been my biggest supporter. My family and friends have been terrific, too, and I don’t want to leave them out. Writing may be solitary but the drive to publish is not and it really takes a village.

For a chance to win Key of Soloman: Relic Defender, just leave a comment and your email address so I can contact the winner. Contest is open to all and will remain open through Sunday, October 16, 2011 midnight EST.

Review of Key of Soloman: Relic Defender

Key of Soloman: Relic Defender

Cassiel Knight

Samhain Publishing

ISBN 9781609283728

   Anthropology PhD candidate, Lexi Harrison, works in a strip club to earn money for university. She doesn't bare all as she belly dances because she is beyond good and doesn't need to. Mikos Tyomni has never seen anyone dance the way she does. How can Archangel Michael send Mikos on assignment with someone like her? Fallen angel Mikos downfall was women. Now he is expected to protect Lexi at all costs. How will he ever make it back to heaven at this rate? Lexi feels someone watching her with steel gray eyes. Next thing she knows a customer is getting a bit too routy. Mikos lands on the stage faster then she can imagine to rescue her. She must be seeing things. Is that wings on his back?

   Mikos has thirty days to convince Lexi that she is the last line of defense against the forces of evil before Hell's deadliest demons attempt the mother of all prison breaks. Yeah, right! She really believes that until her university mentor and friend leaves her holding the key to hell. She is the Defender.  Things really heat up with the sexy archangel, demons, and fallen angels. Lets not forget the shape-shifting rock that is fond of 1920's gangsters.

   I absolutely loved this book. This book took off from page one and never stopped until the end. If you are a fan of fantasy, this is the book for you. Even if you are not, this is a wonderful story. You have fallen angels, one of which is trying to return to heaven. Another one who is on the side of good but is not interested in returning to heaven. We have the devil himself who is drop dead gorgeous. Demons coming from all directions and our shape-shifter rock. Lets not forget the devil's son. Yes, you heard me right. Go figure! The storyline  flows smoothly from the beginning to the end and all the characters just fit right in. Even though the story centers on the struggle between good and evil, we have a lot of sexual tension going on with some romance thrown in for good measure for all you romance lovers. This is the first book in the Key of Soloman series. I most definitely will have my eyes open for the next book in the series. I also hope there turns out to be a fourth one to bring back Lexi and Mikos.

   I wish to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book for review purposes.

   Don't  forget to leave a comment for your chance to win your copy.

I give Key of Soloman: Relic Defender 5 out of 5 stars