Welcome to Tea with Mrs B, an author interview series. Here to share a pot of tea and to chat about her brand new story Wildflower, which appears in this week’s release of Untamed Destinies: A Romance Anthology, is Kim Petersen.
Kim Petersen is a USA Today Bestselling Author, author of The Ascended Angels Chronicles, and co-author of the Stone the Crows series. Her debut novel, Millie’s Angel received a gold award in the 2017 Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards.
Based in Australia, Kim forces herself out of bed in the wee hours to walk the oceans roads of the NSW sleepy south coast town where she lives with her family. She is always grateful she did because she thinks there is much to be said about those small hours. She loves to explore the meta-physical aspects of life, and the universal bonds of love and friendship – then find expression through creating works of urban fantasy, paranormal and dystopian fiction. Sometimes, she drives too fast because it feels good to be reckless 
She loves empty beaches, summer storms, big shady trees, and music – not necessarily in that order. Reading books is an obsession, and great movies and Netflix can be a satisfying pastime when it’s time to tune out to the world. Mostly, she loves to ponder anything mysterious and beautiful.
Hello Kim. It is my pleasure to welcome you to my blog, Mrs B’s Book Reviews and thank you for joining me for Tea with Mrs B, an author interview series. To set the mood for our tea infused interview, what is your preferred beverage, tea, coffee or other? And side accompaniment, scone, cake or other?
Hello Mrs B! I’m excited to be joining you for some tea and talk, thank you so much for having me here. I’ll take a cup of your legendary tea, please… and perhaps a scone with some jam and cream.
Can you tell us what genres you write for and how many books you have had published?
I write speculative genre fiction; paranormal romance, urban fantasy and more recently, I co-authored a dystopian thriller series.
I have three novels and one novella included in the Ascended Angel Chronicles, as well the co-written trilogy, Stone the Crows series with J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon. My newest release, Wildflower is a 30,000-word novella included in Untamed Destinies.
Untamed Destinies: A Romance Anthology has just been released. Can you describe your story, Wildflower, in just a sentence?
Wildflower is about two people who fall in love and discover a connection so deep, they must decide if it’s worth overcoming the major challenges that keep them apart.
Untamed Destinies: A Romance Anthology was co-written with Beth Prentice and Catherine Evans, can you tell us more about the collaboration process on this book?
Untamed Destinies came about in a rather fated way, it was one of the reasons we used “destinies” in the title. Beth and I have been friends for a while now, and I had met Catherine more recently during one of her workshops at the Wollongong Writer’s Festival back in November. I’d been tossing over whether or not to attend the festival, eventually purchasing tickets at the last minute because I just knew I had to go for some reason.
About two weeks following that weekend, Cath and I got together over some coffee – we really clicked and spent hours in that coffee shop talking about craft and life. That same afternoon during a phone conversation with Beth, we talked about Valentine’s Day and how it’s a great date to release a romance book. I was like, “why don’t we just do it?”, then, she was like, “yeah!”. So, I emailed Cath and asked her if wanted to get involved. By that evening, it was a done deal – we were doing it and I had a brand-new project to think about.
Everything unfolded so easily for this project. It was as if it was meant to be; these untold stories suddenly had a vessel in which to arrive by Valentine’s Day. Working with these two women has been an amazing experience. These are the days when video meetings are super fun! We laugh a lot, and they actually like me. I think.
Where did the inspiration for your characters featured in Wildflower come from?
Actually, I’d made a similar trip to the U.S back in 2017 and met some interesting characters along the way. While I was in Chicago one woman in particular stood out to me. I was drifting around DuSable Bridge in the misty weather looking around, and she just started talking to me. She was friendly and chatty – I mean openly chatty, and I was thinking “who is this woman?”, you know, just talking to me as if we were great friends. I’m not sure why, but we had this awesome conversation about love and connections, and she mentioned something about her twin flame being married and how difficult it was for her. It got me thinking about those kinds of soul connections. So, I did a lot research and even spoke to some twin flames. Almost always these connections must overcome massive obstacles to be together, so I that’s what I did – gave the characters big hurdles to leap and used that woman as my inspiration for Arie. Interesting stuff. I had to write about it.
Is there a particular scene in Wildflower that you are proud of?
Yeah, there is a scene when Charly’s wife confronts him about Arie. She’s not a main character in the story, but the scene plays out in a raw, emotionally powerful way. You can feel her pain and sense of betrayal. And I think you can really empathise with her, despite her being part of the situation that stands in the way of our hero and heroine being together. The thing about the connection described in the book, though, is that it isn’t anything to do with man-made concepts about marriage. It’s about a higher love that transcends those conceptions. I know that idea may be difficult for some to understand and accept, and some people may get uncomfortable. I’m okay with that, because sometimes, even when we don’t necessarily understand something, it doesn’t it mean it isn’t truth or that it doesn’t exist.
How challenging is it to compose a successful paranormal romance based narrative?
I think undertaking the task of composing any narrative project has its challenges. For me and my storytelling process, it’s about tapping into my imagination and allowing it run with some at times wild ideas. That’s all good, until I have to actually make sure the story has all the components it needs to work. Even then, I’m never really sure despite working with a (now) solid outline. I find I get someplace in the middle and feel as if I’m almost writing blind because there’s so many thoughts going through my mind – all jumbling around in there, creating a sense of loss of control at some point.
It’s at that moment I kind of have to let go and trust the creative energy as it flows, and I remind myself it always comes together in the end. And then it always does. It’s exhilarating and I love it.
What do you hope readers will take away from reading Wildflower and the anthology as a whole?
At the end of the day, each story included in Untamed Destinies is about the destiny of love and the strength of those connections. Love isn’t always accommodating to your situation. Love doesn’t care what was happening in your life before it comes along and turns your brain inside out. It just erupts from nowhere and catches your heart till you can barely breathe and can’t imagine a future without that person. That’s destiny untamed at its very best.
I hope readers will take that message away from Wildflower, The Ivory Veil by Beth Prentice, and Storm Struck by Catherine Evans, because that’s what these stories are really all about. The sacred connection of love.
How will you celebrate the official release day of Untamed Destinies: A Romance Anthology?
Ha! I’ll probably grab an extra-large coffee after I drop the kids off to school before heading back to my desk to work. Hold up – I always get an extra-large coffee… actually, Catherine and I are going to get together for lunch on release day because she lives a few towns further down the coast from me. We’ll probably video call Beth on messenger while we’re at it. Yeah, that’s what we’ll do.
Also, we are putting together a giveaway for the awesome readers – a signed paperback copy of Untamed Destinies and book money, a $20 Amazon gift card. The best part about this is that the lovely Beth Prentice is due in Sydney at the end of this month for the Books by the Bridge Author Signing Event, and I plan on being her fangirl on the Saturday. Hoping to get Catherine there as well so we can sign the book together under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I love that bridge because I absolutely adore the rich history of The Rocks – my favourite part of Sydney.
*Enter the competition here.
Can you tell us about your journey to publication?
I had a girlfriend in my life during the years after my first marriage had ended. Her mother gave her a French name because she’d always wanted to visit France. She was a White Witch and she really looked out for me, and we spent a lot of time exchanging thoughts and ideas about the meaning of life. Great conversations.
Late one night I was laying on my bed, she was stroking my hair and whispering in my ear, and she told me I was going to write books. I remember thinking there was no way I could write a book. But the seed was planted. She believed in me, I just needed to believe in myself. About 3 or 4 years after that, I went through a traumatic situation where I really felt a sense of loss of control – anxiety hit hard and I was experiencing these horrible melt-down episodes. It was enough to set the wheels in motion – suddenly, I knew I had to take control of my life; I had to write. When I sat down before that first blank page on my laptop and slowly began to punch out the words, the feelings were indescribable. I knew I was finally on my path.
Is there a genre you haven’t tried writing yet, but want to in the future?
I had created this blog when I first started out. I had no idea what content I should be filling this space with, so it ended up sitting there collecting cyber-dust. I didn’t have the confidence to actually write about the stuff I really wanted to write about when I first created it. It was fear. Maybe I let it get in the way, or maybe it wasn’t the right time. But lately, I’ve a new inspiration, like a shining light beckoning me forward, encouraging me to take chances and be myself. I take notice and listen. So, I revamped the blog, called it, Undercurrent, and have started posting short memoir pieces – a new kind of writing and I have been enjoying it.
Other than that, I adore writing genre fiction. Fiction allows us to explore imagination, I’ll never tire of reaching for more and creating those kinds of stories.
Undercurrent: https://kimpetersendotcomdotau.wordpress.com/
Aside from writing, do you have any interesting hobbies?
Hobbies? Umm… not really. Is that boring? I don’t collect stuff, and I don’t paint or own a pottery wheel. No musical instruments work with these hands, and I don’t knit either. I don’t even think I’ll take up knitting when I’m over-ripened with nothing else to do! I have an insatiable interest in all things meta-physical and I meditate. I love music, too. Music is food for the soul. Those moments when you just totally lose yourself in the beat are some of the best. I couldn’t live without music.
What is next on the horizon for Kim Petersen? Do you have any writing projects you would like to share with us?
Vampires. I love vampires. I knew there would come a day when I’d have to indulge in my own version of sexy vamps. I’ve been working on a dystopian thriller series set in a world dominated by vampires – only our heroine develops her own supernatural gifts. It’s a pretty cool world, and I love working on this story because I get to really let loose with the imagination.
As for the horizon, it looks mysterious today. I’m not sure what’s coming, but whatever it is, it feels exciting and it feels right.
What 2019 book releases are you most excited to read?
Becoming Supernatural by Dr Joe Dispenza – I picked it up last year at the Sydney Mind, Body and Soul convention and it’s been sitting on my desk beside my laptop ever since. It’s about how common people are doing uncommon things and reconditioning your body and mind to access mystical secrets. It’s not a 2019 release, but it’s definitely a 2019 read for me, and right up my alley.
Finally, wrapping up our tea themed interview, who would you most like to share a pot of tea with?
John Lennon or Jim Morrison.
Thank you for taking the time to visit Mrs B’s Book Reviews for Tea with Mrs B Kim. Congratulations on the publication of Wildflower, which is featured in Untamed Destinies: A Romance Anthology!
It’s been a pleasure. Thanks for the chat!
Sometimes, love is inescapable
Snuggle up, relax, and prepare to fall in love as you journey through three of the most romantic tales you might ever experience!
Untamed Destinies is the brand-new romance anthology from bestselling authors, Beth Prentice, Kim Petersen and Catherine Evans.
HEAT LEVELS:
The Ivory Veil by BETH PRENTICE ~ Sweet
Wildflower by KIM PETERSEN ~ Sexy
Storm Struck by CATHERINE EVANS ~ Sweet
Untamed Destinies is 3 uniquely different novellas, with differing heat levels, and different genres, but at the core of them all is finding your soul mate.
Catherine Evans writes a gorgeous rural romance, Kim Petersen drifts into the mystical world of paranormal, and Beth Prentice pens a sweet romance with a touch of mystery. Together we’ve created a book where the reader can escape into diverse worlds with contrasting styles, and hopefully discover their next favourite author.
The Ivory Veil:
Does Grandma really know best?
Gracie Saunders loves her job at The Ivory Veil Bridal Boutique. She loves matching the perfect dress to the perfect bride, and she loves how the veil can show a woman what a bride really looks like. But when the boutique is bought by the one man she hates, suddenly her life is turned upside down.
Throw in a long-standing family feud, a mysterious wedding gown, and the blurred lines between love and hate, and Gracie finds herself in the middle of a web of complications.
Can she separate her feelings long enough to see what’s real? Or will she be out of a job and single forever?
Wildflower:
When it’s real, can you walk away?
Arie is happy – life is good and she wants for nothing. That is, until she flies to New York city and discovers a soul connection so deep, she can’t look away.
Charly is everything Arie never knew she wanted – he opens her mind to a beautiful soul dance that takes her so high, her world begins to unravel beneath her feet as she is faced with confronting reality.
The problem? They’re both married, but that’s not all.
Can Arie risk everything for a love deeper than anything she ever wanted, or will the dream die along with the truth?
Wildflower is a standalone paranormal romance. If you like forbidden romance, angst, and books you just can’t put down, you’ll love bestselling author Kim Petersen’s steamy paranormal romance.
Storm Struck:
You’ll fall head over heels in love after catching a storm while running.
New to town, in a stressful job, Tamara Hancock jogs daily for her sanity. When she comes across a riderless horse, memories of her childhood flood back, including her grandmother’s odd prediction.
Rob Richmond wasn’t paying attention when his horse, Storm, dumped him into the ocean. With a suspected broken collarbone and ankle, he’s not sure how he’ll get home until Storm arrives with a woman who is part guardian angel, part Amazonian warrior, and all horse whisperer.
Tamara is difficult to work out. Sometimes funny, sometimes feisty, always skittish.
Can Tamara work through the pain of her past, and find hope for a future? Is Rob the man who can earn Tamara’s trust and her love?
A sweet rural story of 19 000 words.
Untamed Destinies: A Romance Anthology by Catherine Evans, Kim Petersen and Beth Prentice was published on February 12th 2019. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
Connect with Kim here:
Website
Goodreads
Amazon
Bookbub
