Kia was born in a small town in Australia, moving around a lot at a young age until finding a stable town where she finished her schooling. Kia found herself enjoying and expressing herself through poetry, short stories and writing, photography, painting and drawing. All these mediums help Kia express the different world that she is so fond of.
Kia began writing at the age of fifteen in high school- finding that all her warped and strange dreams were giving her a fantastic new world- and since then she has never looked back.
In ‘Senior Art’ she focused on feminism and female empowerment; exposing through her work issues and concerns that many people would rather just “sweep under the rug”.
In one art installation, Kia made a bed out of Pokémon cards- the concept being that when she slept a new world would come to life and it was the only one she saw and constantly lived in.
She now focuses on her photography, writing and self-help blogs on her website: ‘Precious Living’.
Kia is now keenly working on “The Three Immortal Blades” series knowing that this book has to be shared with the world and that is what she aims to do now.
Writing in her Australian home, Kia tries to focus at times on simply what is running through her head, as her cats either terrorize her legs as scratching posts or her puppy barks in her ear for play-time. And as she continues her series, they grow with her book.
Kia is strongly supported by her friends and family and thanks them dearly for being with her along the bumpy road and nothing would please her more than having your support as well.
Book title:
Possession Of My Soul - The Three Immortal Blades
· Genre: Urban Fantasy
Karla Grey is an ordinary young woman that is taken from her mundane life into a world of blood lust as she begins to struggle with a unique ability. Karla is a Shielder; an exceptional fighter born with the rare ability to project a Shield for protection. However, Shielders are not the only kind that possesses such a talent. The Shielders battle a war that has been raging for centuries against the Starkorfs, who harvest humans and Shielders alike to obtain a near immortality.
Alongside the charming Lucas and selfless Paul, Karla must unravel the purpose of her curse and battle an unknown presence manipulating her thoughts; a mysterious woman who may be dormant for now, but has every intention of possessing Karla-mind, body, and soul.
Within this new reality that Karla faces the search for the Three Immortal Blades begins.
· Publish date: 15th May, 2014
· Publisher: Crystal Publishing
Extract from 'The Possession of my Soul':
“Karla? Karla?” Dad’s voice was as frantic as mum’s. “Karla, get home now. We have things to discuss.” He sounded jumpy and tearful. I took one step back, and my leg buckled again. I tried dragging the other leg under my body but they could no longer move. My body is shutting down on me.
My eyesight was blurring into blotches of black and then, blotches of green. The pain was like venom triggering every nerve of my body to shut down. I can’t handle it anymore. “I love you,” I gasped into the phone, while tears replaced the stream of rain drenching my face.
“What? Are they there? Don‘t become what they want you to, sweetie. Please!” my dad shouted. I heard mum scream in the background and I felt her pain layer on top of mine. I can’t breathe. Don’t become what they want me to? What is Dad talking about?
“What who wants me to be?” I whispered, wincing as I felt myself dipping in and out of consciousness. A loud ring echoed through my head blocking out the noise of my father and the rain; then silence. All noise was lost. My knees collapsed at the same time as the world around me. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I thudded to the ground again, barely able to see my hands in front of my face. My lungs wouldn’t accept any air now.
My body had completely stopped. My mouth filled up with blood, and I could feel it dribble onto the road underneath my face. Relief and fear was all that functioned in my mind. Relief to know that the pain will go away; fear to know that I’m dying.
I felt ice-cold hands lifting me off the ground from the waist while another hand cradled my head. My eyesight could only determine the outline of his shadowy face. The sadness it contained reflected my own. Rain washed over his face and dripped off onto mine. His lips moved as if he were shouting, but I heard none of his rage or furry. Only bliss. My face was cradled in Lucas’s chest; he was embracing me in his arms. My eyesight slowly was taken away from me, leaving me in the dark. I can’t breathe.
Welcome to the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network, Kia. It's great to meet such an enthusiastic young author.
When did you start writing and why?
I started writing at fifteen, in high school. I often got complemented for my imagination in short stories and my art concepts. And then I began having vivid dreams where I thought ‘I must write this all down,’ and has eventuated since. So the original manuscript I once had for Possession Of My Soul is very different to the published version now.
Sounds like it was meant to be and I guess it helps answer my next question too. What made you choose this genre?
There is no limit for fantasy; imagination is the key for opening up such fantastic worlds. I am not limited by logic or facts. And plus, its fun. Everyone loves having a little bit of magic in their life, and if they can’t have it they can most certainly read about and consume it.
Which scene from your book do you like best and why?
Thus far my favourite scene is in Phantom Wolf. However I won’t spoil anything until you’ve read it. So my second favourite is one of Karla Grey in Possession Of My Soul. Where after a certain event, she feels like an empty shell and alone. She is sinking in water believing that she is safe, but in truth she is actually drowning. I like this scene and concept because I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling. Where something so shocking happens in your life that you feel you’re drowning within your own emotion or the surface of the water/ situation seems so far out of reach that you can only extend your hand out towards it.
Great visualisation.
Do you have another job outside of writing?
Yes. I have a fulltime, 40 hour job during weekdays as a weighbridge operator, where I direct trucks to certain locations with the company’s products and invoices. And a part time job on weekends and some nights at a takeaway Fish and Chip shop. I am also a consultant for PartyLite (candles and Accessories) and Nutrimetics (Make-up and skin care products).
My goodness! You are a busy young lady!
What are you working on now?
Currently I am finishing Phantom Wolf, the first of its trilogy. I am currently finalising edits and starting to create a campaign for my book but also on behalf of the RSPCA (which is an Australian welfare group that looks after and rescues animals) as an animal lover this is very close to me and I appreciate all that they do. For the first week of Phantom Wolf’s release I will donate all profits to them. So right now I am very busy organising that so I can create as much hype and interest to help such a great cause. I have also started writing Possession Of My Heart, the second book to The Three Immortal Blades, trilogy.
I am loving that Phantom Wolf's cover. I think it will have great appeal to the Young Adult readers and beyond.
Who are your favourite authors?
I am a huge fan of Kristen Cashore. I love empowering women and feminism myself and reading her books are just so, well perfect. Her books are visually stunning and she just knows how to make the women in her book entitled to such raw power, where although they fall in love, they are not dependant on the man. I love it. Another author I admire is Isobelle Carmody, much for the same reason, whom I was lucky enough to meet at a book signing at SupaNova on the Gold Coast.
I was there at SuperNova too. Hey, maybe next year we can have a FSFN stall together :-)
Do you have a blog?
I have two. I have my blog on The Three Immortal Blades website, keeping fans updated with the progress of my books competitions etc. But I also like to post every Monday informative blogs that might help other writers, freelancers and artists. Articles of my own experiences, things I’ve learnt along the way of being a self-published author and interviews with other freelancers such as my editor, Ashley Patterson or two illustrators Philip Battisti and Ynne Black.
My other blog is on my Precious Living website, although I haven’t been able to update it as often as I would like lately because of my focus and busy schedule for my books. Often I blog self-help/affirmations every Monday and I like to post heart-warming articles of tragedies that have happened to real people and have taken it in as a lesson and moved on, inspiring me, and I hope it does the same for others. The articles I have written are also informative and educate readers on something’s such as diseases they have never heard of before. When I travel more often I will also have a travel blog on there.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing or working?
When I have the time I like to sketch, paint, read, cook and watch anime.
What’s your favourite pet?
I love all my pets; I have Sia who is a Cavoodle (dog) and my partner in crime. My partner, Scott often jokes that we are too alike and she is too human. But I love her all the more for it. I also have two cats, Forest and Isa, both female as well who are from the same litter but look like two completely different cats. One is white and one is black so I often refer to them as my Ying and Yang kitties.
Do you prefer ebook or hardcopy?
Call me old fashioned but I prefer reading hard copy. There is no better feeling than having your bookshelf full as you follow and collect your favourite author’s books. I don’t know, having them in my home seems more personal and a hobby to me then reading it on my iPad.
Kia, thanks so much for dropping by to sit on the FSFN interview couch. It's great to have another Australian member for our truly global Fantasy Sci-Fi Network.
Websites: http://www.thethreeimmortalblades.com/
http://www.preciousliving.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheThreeImmortalBlades
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7949493.Kia_Carrington_Russell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kia_crystal
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Possession-Of-My-Soul-Immortal/dp/0992502802/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1400196103&sr=8-3&keywords=possession+of+my+soul
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