C.K. Bryant Author Interview ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from C,K, Bryant

I've always been a writer. Even before I could compose a single word with pen, I scribbled my version of cursive along the open page just to see what it looked like. As a teen, I swiped my dad's old Royal typewriter so my muse could breathe life into what my vivid imagination had created.

I've spent the last twenty-five years married to the man of my dreams and raising our two sons. After helping run the family restaurant for most of our marriage, I've finally broken away to pursue my dream of being an author.

In addition to graduating from The Institute of Children’s Literature, I attend writer’s conferences and workshops on a regular basis. I'm a member of Idaho League of Writers and the Executive Director of Authors Incognito, a national writers group that includes over 300 aspiring authors.

When I'm not with my family or tickling the computer keys, I love camping, reading, scrapbooking, listening to all kinds of music, and making new friends.

I'm currently living in the middle of sage brush and lava rock with a spectacular view of the Snake River Canyon in South Central Idaho.

Tell me a bit about yourself.
Well, I'm old enough not to claim my birthdays anymore. Married to the man of my dreams and have one son who will graduate from high school in May of this year. When I'm not tickling the computer keys, I like to read, scrapbook, do anything crafty and spend as much time as I can outdoors. I live in the middle of sagebrush and lava rock with a spectacular view of the Snake River Canyon. I have one dog, one cat and a frog that lives outside my bedroom window that serenades me to sleep every night.

Where were you born and where do you call home?
I was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but my father was in the military so we moved around a lot. Once he retired, we settled in Jerome, where I graduated from high school. I now live in Kimberly, Idaho with my husband and son. We really like it here. It's a small town full of wonderful people.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a mom. Plain and simple. I loved a lot of things—writing, reading, outdoors, crafts, you name it, I dabbled in it. But my passion was to be the mother of at least 5-6 kids. It wasn't until my husband and I had been married for several years that I found out I couldn't have children. Talk about a knife to the heart. I was crushed. Fortunately, we decided to adopt. I can't begin to tell you how much joy it brought me to hold that little boy in my arms. He's almost 18 now. Man, I feel old.

What was your first introduction to YA literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?

Good question. I started out writing adult romance, but my books were clean. (I kept the bedroom door closed) That didn't go over well with romance lovers. They wanted more than I was willing to give. It was then that the Twilight series became so popular, so I picked up a copy and began to read. By the end of the series, I had changed the age of my characters and cut about 30,000 words so it would fit into the YA genre. Now I can't get enough of YA. I read everything I can get my hands on. I love that I can write what I love, keep it clean and still gain a readership that appreciates the standards I try to keep in my books.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Oh, this one is easy. Ali Cross, author of BECOME. She's been my friend and critique partner for years now and I would not be the writer I am without her. She's so good at shredding my work and making it much better than I could ever make it myself. If you haven't read her book, you really should. It's freakin' awesome.

How many books have you written?
BOUND is my first completed novel. The sequel, BROKEN, is also complete, but in the middle of major revisions. I hope to have it out by late spring 2012. I have 10 other novels in the works, all in different stages of completion. Some have won awards in first chapter contests. I'm anxious to get The Crystor Series finished so I can move on to those. I miss them.

For those who are unfamiliar with your novel, Bound, how would you introduce it?
Bound is different than anything you've ever read before. I've created a world for my characters that will take your breath away. Magic you've never seen. Shapeshifting creatures you'll fall in love with. Friendships you'll wish you had. Emotions you'll discover that you haven't felt in years. It will take you away from the humdrum world you live in and leave you wanting more. I promise.

What was your inspiration for Bound?
ACK! I hate this question. But only because the answer is so cliche. Are you ready for this "original" answer? A DREAM! I couldn't get it out of my head, so my friend told me to write it down. I did and it took on a life of its own.

If you could introduce Kira to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Oh, I'd definitely introduce her to Desi, the MC from BECOME (by Ali Cross). Ali and I have talked a lot about what would happen if Desi (the devil's daughter) met up with Kira. I think they'd become good friends.

What chapter was the most memorable to write and why?
The ending. I wanted it to be perfect. I wrote about a dozen different endings to BOUND, but ultimately, I needed it to end the way it did. It leads perfectly into the next book and prepares the reader for what's to come.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
Yep. The first of four in THE CRYSTOR Series. I wanted to squeeze it all into a trilogy, but it's just not going to happen. There's too much to tell and I didn't want to cheat the reader out of all the goodies.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about Kira?
That regardless of her "mouse" tendencies, she's got a strong woman growing inside her. She's a kick but warrior and we'll see a lot more of that in the books to follow, especially the third one. (No spoilers here)

What is the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
Work. The first draft of BOUND was written on my old laptop in a cubby in my husband's office. We own a restaurant and I used to work the front, waiting on customers, taking out orders, doing dishes, etc. I'd take every spare moment to write. Every time the bell on the front door rang, telling me I had a customer, I'd cringe. I just wanted to write. It wasn't until I had the contract from a publisher, that I quit working there and started writing full time at home. Of course, the publisher thing didn't work out, they closed their doors and I was left out in the cold. But that's all in the past and I'm glad to be an INDIE now.

What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Someone once commented on how they loved the mythology in BOUND. WHAT? Mythology always makes me think of Greek Gods or other forms of popular mythology. I hadn't thought of my book that way before—that I'd created my own mythology. I found that very interesting.

Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
HA! Because it wouldn't leave me alone. It occupied my thoughts 24/7. It even kept me awake at night. I had to write it down or I'd go insane.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?
I actually have a big surprise for my readers. There's a deleted scene from BOUND that will come out in an anthology, IN HIS EYES, on February 14th. You can read more about it >>>>HERE<<<<

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
ROFL! Do I have any tattoos? And since you didn't ask it, I don't have to answer, right?

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?
Well, maybe that I don't have an attic or basement. ROFL!! Looking in my closet, on the other hand, might be a little embarrassing. My house is so small that what little closet space we have is jammed packed full of "stuff" and not very well organized. Maybe what would surprise you the most is that you opened the door and all that stuff didn't fall on you head.

Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of the YA genre?
Anything by Catherine Anderson. She's a great romance novelist and because that's what I grew up reading, she quickly became my favorite. I'd love to meet her some day. My favorite is Phantom Waltz.

Favorite places to travel?
I love the ocean, so any place where I can see the surf and the sun setting on the water.

Who was your first boyfriend?
His name was Ricardo. He was an exchange student from Brazil. He took me to a dance once and I was smitten. But then he went home. We wrote for a few years, then lost track of each other. So sad. He was a good guy.

Favorite Cartoon?
Bugs Bunny. Didn't even have to think about that one.

What is your most memorable travel experience?
That would have to be when I was younger. My father was in the military so we moved a lot. We had this awesome travel trailer that was our second home and my dad always made our moves feel more like vacations. He'd map out all the fun things to see and make sure we saw it all. I've been all over the US and even lived in Germany. Can't beat those memories.

Which author would you love to co-author a book with?
I like working alone and getting into my characters. I'm not sure I could work with someone else. I take my work very seriously and I think it would feel like they were intruding on my territory. Does that sound bad?

When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.

BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite sacrifice and untamed love.

Bound by C.K. Bryant totally had me mesmerized from the beginning. Maybe the biggest aspect of this book is that it is so different from what is out there. Bryant’s imagination and unique writing style made the story’s originality very appealing and refreshing.

The world that Bryant created was full of magic and mystery. The characters living in this world will have you amazed with the powers they possess. Kira and Lydia’s friendship was one for the ages. The bond between them was extraordinarily—mentally and emotionally. We usually hear friends say to each other that they would sacrifice their lives for one another but unlike Kira and Lydia, it was very believable. The strength of their friendship is very strong and solid and something I have never read before in a book.

Overall, Bryant’s brilliant story will have you mesmerized and thrilled from beginning to end. It is a roller-coaster ride of excitement, action, mystery, love and friendship that is never before been experienced. It is unique and original. I am forever a Kira fan and I am ready to jump back into this unearthly world when book two comes out.

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