Fallen Angel Reviews would like to welcome Ms. Kayelle Allen. Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed today. I would like to ask you a few questions to help our audience get to know you and your books a little bit better.
What is the first story you ever wrote?

My first story was called Human Perfect. Imagine being an industrial spy in the android business. What abilities would that spy need to do his or her job perfectly? It had a great twist at the end. My publisher's newsletter, the Silver Siren, will be featuring this short story very soon. You can sign up for the newsletter here. http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/silverthreads.htm Each month the Silver Siren features a short story or excerpt, a recipe, blog info, contests, and interviews with one of the authors from Liquid Silver Books. It's always a fun read.

How many hours a day do you spend writing?

Several. Weekends, it's more. If possible, I get up early on the weekend so I can spend extra time. Weeknights, I work from about 7 to 10 pm.

Where did you get your ideas for the Tarthian series?

Everywhere! I have no shortage of ideas. I've trained myself to see things from a different perspective. Look at life a little differently. For example, I was watching the Super Bowl last year and wondered if the Tarthian Empire, where my books are set, would have something like that. In March 2007, my second book of the Chosen series debuts, and it has several scenes with a sport called Ruckball. I designed it, came up with player positions, moves, the field, rules -- all the basics I'd need for the sport. You can download wallpaper from the book by visiting my wallpaper page here.

If you have a favorite character from your books, who is it and what makes this character so special to you?

I've been asked this before, and usually say they're all like my kids. I couldn't pick one. But as I've thought about it, there are really two that stand out. The first is Khyff Antonello, who was in At the Mercy of Her Pleasure and was the hero of For Women Only. He's also mentioned a number of times in Alitus. However, the one character who has been featured in all my books is Luc Saint-Cyr. The enigmatic Harbinger. Saint-Cyr dominates any scene he's in. He has solid black eyes because he wears contact lenses that hide his true eyes. Why? The only way to find out is to read the book Wulf. Readers who know -- shh. *smiles and winks*

I loved Senth and Khyffen from the Tarthian series. Are you planning any adventures for them?

Definitely! Both are mentioned in my next book, Alitus, due out March 2007. They have much stronger roles in another book I have in the works called When I Breathe. At the end of For Women Only, Senth and NarrAy were married, and Khyff and Mehfawni Ruh were engaged. Mehfawni was pregnant. In When I Breathe, we'll find out whether she has a boy or a girl. Since the child will be half-human and half-Kin (feline), will this HalfKin child have any special abilities? Readers of the series know that Senth is a HalfKin (he and Khyff share a human mother). He's quick, smart, and as curious as a kitten about how things work. He was always in trouble. Imagine a little one with those characteristics. HalfKin who are more Kin looking than human have an additional ability that Senth doesn't possess. We'll find out what that is in this book, and learn more about the dark secret that Luc Saint-Cyr is hiding.

When you read a book what kind of book holds your interest?

Although I write Science Fiction, I read about Highlanders, time travel, and historical romance. It's a complete change of pace that takes me totally out of my usual thought patterns. I come away with new ideas after reading these. I've also fallen in love with M/M, which features two heros in love, and wrote my first book in this genre last year. Wulf was released in September 2006, and has been my top selling book since.

Do you have any favorite authors? If so, who are they?

My favorite writer of all time is Heather Gladney. She has two books out of print which are worth hunting down and buying. Teot's War, and Blood Storm. Sci-fi Fantasy that is a little on the slashy side. No pun intended -- the hero is a swordsman. She inspired me to write. I wanted to make words do what she made them do, which was bring other worlds alive. Mary Renault is another writer with this talent. I read The Persian Boy, a novel about Alexander the Great, years ago and was astonished at the incredible power of her writing. You could feel the dust choking you as you walked across Persia with Alexander. The heat burned your skin in the desert wastelands. I've recently discovered another writer with their kind of power and majesty in his writing -- Michael Barnette. He described a kiss as "violets and passion, of honey, roses and the brittle flavor of lightning." How amazing is that? Putting together these kinds of senses in writing takes the reader into new depths.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

To stop and think, "What would you dare if you knew you couldn't fail?" And then to stop worrying about failing and just do it.

When you have free time, what is the one thing you love to do?

The first thing that popped into my mind when I heard free time was "sleep!" I must be working too hard! When I wait somewhere, if I have a new eBook on my PDA I'll read, but I also like to play solitaire. It's addictive. Another favorite thing is mahjongg, and I am great with jigsaw puzzles. If you're talking vacation, then I want to go somewhere away from the city and have total peace and quiet. No cars, no TV, no phones. Water running nearby, like a river or waterfall, or maybe the ocean. Yeah, that's the life.

Can you tell us a little about your upcoming writing?

Alitus is the next book in my Tales of the Chosen series. There are four planned, each titled after the hero. Wulf, Alitus, Jawk, and Bold.

Here's the blurb I use to describe the series:

Welcome to the Tarthian Empire, where sex is sex and lovers are lovers, and how the genders pair up is nobody's business. Secrets here conceal multiple players on both sides of power, hiding layers of partial truths and centuries of political manipulation so convoluted only the ones who live forever can follow the trail. Sometimes, even they're a mite confused. And the Chosen, the everyday guys who serve Those Who Cannot Die are right in the middle of it all. Like the Tarthian Tour Company slogan says, "Where do you want to wake up tomorrow?" Some days, you're just glad you wake up, period. Come take a chance. Play awhile on the steamy side of the galaxy. We dare you.

The Chosen are;

Called to serve
Honored to protect
Obedient to the Vow
Safeguarding the truth
Enabling life
Neutralizing threats

How has being published changed your life?

I'm more focused on the result and less on the events leading to the result. Instead of working to become published, I'm focused more on continuing to improve, better not only my writing but also my business. I'm learning how to market my writing, as well as myself. I have had to learn such things as website management, html, marketing concepts, and business planning. There is a lot more to being a writer than simply writing. You must also market yourself. That takes as much work as writing. It's not an easy job. If it was, everyone would do it.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Never let anyone steal your dream. Do not believe that you are too ____ (fill in the blank with whatever your doubt is). If I believed what other people told me I would be sitting in front of the TV right now watching reruns. I have made my own future. Do not settle for "almost." You can do this.

Is there anything that you would like to share with us?

I'm excited about having this opportunity to spend with you. Fallen Angel Reviews has provided wonderful support for me throughout my career, and I'm sure will continue to do so. FAR is among the very best, and it's my privilege to be here.

I would like to extend several invitations. One, to explore the Tarthian Empire by visiting my website.

There are three ways to tour the empire; 1) by watching a slideshow of the various worlds and books where the worlds are featured, or 2) by clicking on the interactive map of the galaxy to explore on your own, or 3) by starting with the "Begin Tour" button and following it through all 22 worlds.

The other invitations are to come over and friend me on MySpace and Tagged, and/or to join my Yahoo! Group, Romance Lives Forever. I often feature new authors here and have frequent guests. You never know who will pop up. Authors who would like to be featured are welcome to contact me. All my information is on the group site.

I would like to thank Kayelle Allen for taking the time to give FAR this interview. I look forward to following your career and reading more of the Tarthian series.

Interviewed by: Teresa