Welcome, welcome, welcome to Isabo Kelly, author of The Naravan Chronicles . . . and many other titles. Isabo's career began fifteen years ago with the first novel in this series, The Promise of Kierna'Rhoan. To say The Secret of Narava has been a long-awaited release would be an understatement. But once you read it, you'll have to agree, it was worth the wait!Fifteen years between these novels doesn't mean Isabo has been sitting on her hands. Indeed, the opposite is true, with award-winning titles such as Thief's Desire, Destiny's Seduction, Marshall's Guard, and others, including her most recent stellar fantasy romance, Brightarrow Burning.
One thing's for sure, Isabo can come up with some wonderful titles. And her stories? {fanning self} Hot hotties abound!
The Secret of Narava takes place on the planet Narava, in a galaxy far, far from Earth, in a future time that introduces us to other species and cultures in glorious technicolor. Yet, as futuristic as The Secret of Narava appears on the surface, a real life plot will pull readers in and make them feel as if they're right there with the characters. Case in point, this story is set around an archaeological dig on Narava, something Earthlings are well-familiar with. When an anomaly is spotted in the data, Dr. Ti'ann Jones and Dr. Krin Freemont are stunned at the findings and decide to call in re-enforcements to help secure the site. Only, the leader of the new security team, Nathan Longfeather, sends the normally focused Ti'ann into a tailspin. You see, she'd had a short-lived but galactically stellar love affair with the man a few years back. Worse, he doesn't remember her.
As the story unfolds, readers will find themselves beside Ti'ann and Nathan as they discover what this anomaly means and re-discover what Ti'ann thought was lost years before.
Is The Secret of Narava a futuristic with romantic elements or a romance based in futuristic times? That can only be decided by the reader. Either way, if you love science with your romance, or romance with your science, you'll get this story in spades. The building heat between Ti'ann and Nathan will have you squeezing your knees together and screaming, "Just kiss him already!" while at the same time letting yourself be pulled headlong into the dig and what the secret of Narava really is!
I caught up with Isabo recently and chatted about her book, and everything else we could think of. And you know me by now. I want to know more about where authors work, so I asked Isabo --
Thanks for sitting and chatting with me, Isabo. As usual, what begins as a quick chat turned into a grand auld chinwag! So, the readers want to know what your writing space is like. What is the space like where you create your stories?
My couch! LOL. Actually, for the most part, I do sit on the couch in my living room working on my netbook. This is a super comfortable, fluffy couch. I’m surrounded by bookshelves. And at night—when I usually write—it’s quiet and I can dim the lights or have them bright. Whatever suits. When I feel the need to sit at my desk—which doesn’t happen often for actual writing these days—my desk is set in a little nitch just outside my living room. It’s cluttered, has a bunch of books, knick-knacks and my printer along the top, things stuffed into the cubby holes, and a big big monitor to work on. Also, the sliding draw that usually houses the keyboard and mouse is broken so those are up on the desk too. There are stacks of papers and binders sitting on the edges of the desk and a few pictures of my son set up in front of the books on the top part. But I mostly use the desk computer to do business work—promotion, emails, etc… When I write, the only “space” I need is my laptop which goes with me whereever I need it to.
I love, love, love my laptop, too. Where's my writing space? Anywhere I can take Old Red! ;-)
So, do you have a daily writing routine? If so, what's it like?
Before my son starts preschool (my baby is about to start school!), I work late nights, from 10pm to 1 or 2am after the house goes to sleep. If I need to, I do some work during the day so long as my son cooperates with mommy being distracted. And if I’m really behind, I let my husband have a “guys” day with my son while I sneak off to write a little. Once my boy starts school, though, I’ll shift my working hours to the mornings, 8:30am to 1:30pm. Late nights during the week will probably be limited since I’ll have to get up early with the boy to put him on the bus, and I am not a morning person.
Oh, you poor thing! First born off to his first day of school. After five years, I'm sure that apron string is well-knotted. Just think of all the new friends he's going to make and all the stories he'll come home with.
So, aside from trying not to stress over a child starting school, what do you enjoy doing when you're not writing? Not that stressing over children at school is fun ;-)
Oh lots! Of course, I love nothing better than curling up with a good book. But I also love crewel and cross-stitch, baking, sudoku, majong, playing with my son, going to sporting events with my husband and son, yoga, and taking really long walks (I’m a walking madwoman). I love getting the chance to go to museums, zoos, and Broadway shows here in NYC. I very much enjoy visiting with my friends, either dinner out or an evening in with a bottle of wine. I love swimming, though I don’t get a chance to do that as often as I’d like. And I adore traveling. We travel as much as we’re able. My son is so used to flying at only 4 years old, it’s all I can do to keep him from running down the gangway as soon as the doors open for our flights! Actually, I might have too many hobbies. This would explain why I don’t get bored. Ever. LOL.
You sound like me . . . better to be busy than bored! You certainly have enough on your plate to keep from being bored.
Thanks for taking some time to chat with us about what it's like on your side of the writing . . . your real life.
Readers may enjoy an excerpt from The Secret of Narava.
• • •
As she walked down the rocky path leading from the lifts to the campsite, she pulled out her memo tablet and called up the list of elements making up the anomaly. Puzzling through the strange mixture of molecules, she only looked up and noticed her surroundings when she heard a hesitant cough. Blinking, she realized she’d reached the very edge of the camp and had nearly walked right past Krin. She started to smile.
Until she spotted the man next to Krin.
Her breath locked in her throat. She froze, unable to move or think or speak. Even when Krin stepped forward and made the introductions, several heartbeats passed before what he said worked its way into her brain.
“He’s the man I was telling you about,” Krin said, a note of hesitance in his voice.
She pressed her lips together to keep her mouth from dropping open and focused on Krin.
“Dr. Jones,” he continued, despite the creases marring his smooth forehead, “this is Nathan Longfeather. He’s agreed to assist us with our security issues.”
Ti’ann nodded and was about to say they’d met before when a deep and, unfortunately, well-remembered voice said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Jones.”
Her gaze snapped around, locking with his dusky, green-amber eyes.
He didn’t remember her.
She saw it in his expression, as plainly as if he’d pulled a knife out and shown it to her before plunging it into her gut. Oh god, he didn’t have any idea who she was.
She suppressed the sudden tremors sneaking up her body and sucked in her top lip, pressing it hard with her teeth.
When he extended a hand at the introduction, she took it but pulled away from the warmth of his big palm with a jerk. She couldn’t look him in the eyes, but letting her gaze wander over the rest of his face didn’t help either.
He looked exactly how she remembered him—strong, high cheekbones; sharp, broad nose; sensuously firm lips on a wide mouth; smooth brown-red skin.
His straight black hair hung nearly to his waist, almost as long as her own. The top was held back from his face by a small braid.
His broad shoulders and narrow hips hinted at a temptingly masculine physique. Though, through his loose trousers and flight jacket, a person would have to guess at the degree of muscle and strength.
Unless that person had seen him out of his clothes.
Ti’ann’s mouth dried at the memory.
• • •
Diggity! My mouth just dried at the memory of reading this book the first time. Nathan is . . . well, very desirable. You'll have to read the book to find out just what his story is . . . the man behind the smooth composure, the long weekend in bed with Ti'ann and his memory issues.
There is more than one secret on Narava! Grab this book and discover them all for yourself.
• • •
Isabo grew up in Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World. Unbeknownst to her, Las Vegas prepared Isabo for a life in the spotlight.
Though she started making up stories at an early age, Isabo originally chose science as her first career. She pursued this by moving to Honolulu, Hawaii for her undergraduate degree in Zoology and was lucky enough to work with dolphins for two and a half years.
Returning to Las Vegas, Isabo worked in the Natural History Museum as the Shark Lady, hand-feeding live sharks and other tropical fish and reptiles. It was at this time she rekindled her love of writing stories and started her first novel.
A few years later, Isabo had the opportunity to move to Germany with her family and jumped at the chance. She spent nearly two years traveling Europe and developing her writing skills before life took her to Ireland where she returned to college to finish her Ph.D. in Animal Behavior.
Isabo's first novel, The Promise of Kierna'Rhoan, was published in 1999 and began her career in the spotlight. Isabo earned herself a reputation as one of the industry's top science fiction, fantasy and paranormal authors with such titles as Destiny's Seduction (2005 RIO Award of Excellent winner, 2005 EPPIE Award Finalist for Best Fantasy and 2003 Pearl Award Nominee) and Siren Singing (2009 PRISM FF&P Award Winner).
Isabo now lives in New York City, an other entertainment capital, with her family and enjoying the literary life.
• • •
Isabo loves hearing from readers so be sure to drop her a line. You can find her online --
Isabo's website - http://www.isabokelly.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/IsaboKelly
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/isabokelly
Isabo's blog: Isabo Kelly Rambles - http://www.isabokellyrambles.blogspot.com
Tirgearr Publishing - http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Kelly_Isabo
And if you want to buy a copy of The Secret of Narava, be sure to visit Isabo's page at Tirgearr Publishing with all her buy links. The Secret of Narava is available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, iTunes/iBooks, and all other readers --
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And don't forget to check out Isabo's upcoming titles, Interface (Naravan Chronicals short) and Christmas Present!
