Storms of Lazarus Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Today I'm pleased to welcome author Karen Kincy back to the blog as part of the promotional tour for the second book in her new adult dieselpunk romance series, Storms of Lazarus. I was able to pick Karen's brain a bit regarding Ardis, Wendel, and the world she's created for this series, so I hope you all enjoy the interview! Be sure and check the bottom of the post for all the details on a special giveaway as well as the full list of participating blogs.

In this second installment, Ardis and Wendel head to Königsberg, Prussia from Constantinople. Is there any particularly interesting historical tidbit or piece of trivia you learned while researching either place for Ardis and Wendel’s adventures?

Königsberg, Prussia is Wendel's hometown, and this city no longer exists in reality. (Neither does Prussia, for that matter.) Königsberg suffered heavy damages in World War II, and the Russians renamed the city Kaliningrad after they took over the city. The castle was demolished, though the cathedral was rebuilt. I had to search through old postcards and photographs of Königsberg to get a sense of this lost city where Wendel once lived. As for Constantinople, that's now Istanbul, so I had a lot of inspiration to work with. My grandpa, who's Armenian, actually came to America from Istanbul.

If you could steal one of the steampunk/dieselpunk gadgets of this fictional world for your own personal use in this reality, which one would you most want for yourself?

I would steal a clockwork dragon. (And I can't say anymore without spoilers!)

If both Wendel and Ardis were asked to name a way in which they felt the other  person was different in Storms of Lazarus from who each was in the beginning of Shadows of Asphodel, what would each of them say?

Wendel would say that Ardis is less sanctimonious, since he did think she was rather prejudiced against his necromancy when they first met. She didn't even want to touch him. But I doubt Wendel would say this to her face. Self-preservation, and all that.

Ardis would say that Wendel is finally free to become the person he could have been. He's no longer forced to work as an assassin necromancer, so he's searching for who he is now and what he wants to do with his life. She's not sure how to help him with his nightmares, but she would be damned if she doesn't try.

In Storms of Lazarus, Ardis gets to spend her first Christmas holiday with Wendel. Given the two of them are currently facing innumerable problems and therefore can’t have what one might call a normal holiday together, what would she say her ideal Christmas Eve with Wendel would consist of if possible?

Her ideal Christmas Eve with Wendel would definitely be warmer and quieter. After all, they didn't plan to spend the holiday as fugitives trudging across the snows of Bulgaria. Ardis dreams of a little cottage where they can be alone together and--finally--relax. They talk about running away together to Switzerland someday, and they aren't entirely joking.

Let’s say you’re granted the ability to jump into any piece of steampunk fiction for a single day. Which world would you be most curious to explore and which character in that world would you most want to meet?

Oh man, I would totally want to meet Nikola Tesla! I'd want to meet him in our world's history, too, but if Tesla were given steampunk technology, I'm sure he would invent something genius. As for places to visit, I'd be really curious about steampunk Japan.

I happen to have an enormous soft spot for characters who are damaged or tormented in some way, and Wendel fits that bill pretty well given everything he’s been through. Who would you say is your all time favorite damaged or tortured hero?

Maybe, just maybe, I'm mildly obsessed with Wendel. He was a character in my very first novel, which will never see the light of day, and he waited patiently until I wrote a better book for him. Besides Wendel, I would have to say I'm still a major Snape fangirl. He's definitely a hero by the end of the series, even if Harry didn't always appreciate it.

Thanks so much for stopping by Karen!

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STORMS OF LAZARUS

Sometimes escape is impossible. Sometimes love isn't enough.

1913. Christmas Eve. Ardis hardly expects a quiet holiday with Wendel, between fleeing Constantinople and hiding from an ancient society of assassins. And they owe a debt to a certain archmage.

In Königsberg, Prussia, they work with Konstantin on the next evolution of Project Lazarus. Wendel once called Königsberg home, the city now besieged by the Russians and their clockwork engines of war. This may be Wendel’s last chance to save his family and find redemption, but he's tormented by nightmares and tempted by laudanum. Ardis fears her love isn’t enough to save Wendel. Her hands are full piloting the automatons, and she's terrified to tell him a secret of her own. Will they—and their love—survive the storms of war?

Goodreads • Amazon

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KAREN KINCY

Karen Kincy (Redmond, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.

Website • Twitter • Facebook

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GIVEAWAY

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