#NAAugust Week Four, Day 25: Beyond The Contemporaries - Angelborn by L. Penelope

Hosted by Books Are My Fandom  

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Twenty-Three : Interview with @charmedcastor + month long #giveaway

So through the power of Twitter is where we met our next guest! 

If Twitter is good for anything, it's connecting with some aweomse people(especially fellow Kingdom Hearts fans ;p)

Her debut novel releases 2016, so we're getting here before she's famous =D

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Twenty-Two : Interview with @literallycoco + month long #giveaway

So we've seen and heard such amazing things about our next guest!

If you didn't already know, there's this social network. Maybe you've heard of it?

It's called, get this...Wattpad.

Not only that, but for all you writers who are looking for a different medium to try your work out on and get response from actual readers, it's a really awesome space to gain community.

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Twenty-One : Interview with @LAH_Author + month long #giveaway

Happy Holidays all you awesome folk!

We took a few days off, because, who would really hop on our blog to read an interview during the holidays XD

But now that we're entering the last few days of our month long event of interviews, we're delighted to introduce who's next up!

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Twenty : Interview with @Loribeth215 + month long #giveaway

Can't believe it's literally two days from Christmas. We know everyone probably has Xmas plans, but we haven't listened to a single Xmas song this year XD 

That's so not like us =D 

Anywho, we're just one week away from ending our giveaway. Have you entered yet! We still have many awesomesauce interviews including today's lovely we also got to see a little more of during Mya Lairis' Colors in Darkness event!

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Nineteen: Interview with @VampyreQueen14 + month long #giveaway

We're coming down to our last week of interviews, and we're about to introduce one we connected with with former interviewee May Lairis!

All these new Speculative Fiction authors we're new to. You're welcome ;p

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Eleven: Interview with @MiaMitns + month long #giveaway

Hey awesome people!

We're about to enter the third week of our diversity month, and we couldn't end it without another interview!

Our next author we also saw a lot of during past guest Mya Lairis' Colors in Darkness event a few weeks back. We're hoping if people haven't already heard of her, they find a brand new Speculative Fiction author to indulge in =D

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Ten: Interview with @constanceburris +month long #giveaway

Happy Saturday awesome people. Totally confused about the weather East Coast bound. It's December and CT don't know what month it wants to be. I'll keep the warm weather, but don't come at me with snow next week!

So we mentioned the weekends were fair game, and I almost waited until the last minute, but our next interview is up!

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Nine: Interview with @Arkwen452 + month long #giveaway

Just to let you guys know, we’re working double duty to make sure we fit everyone in, so expect two new interviews this weekend(possibly more after a few extra confirmations!). As far as our diversity month goes, thanks so much for folks who are coming and supporting all these great inclusive voices!

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Eight: Interview with @KaiLeakes + monthling #giveaway

We're almost to the end of the week, but the response for the event has become overwhelming, to accommodate everyone we will post on a few weekends too =)

 

Our next guest we've seen on Twitter here and there, but it wasn't until yesterday's guest hosted her Colors in Darkness event that we got the chance to know her work more.

For those looking to diversify you Paranormal Romance, look no further =D

Twinja Book Reviews Annual Diversity Month Event Day Eight:

Author Kai Leakes

Thank you for stopping by the blog! Why don't you introduce yourself to readers!

Greetings and Hello everyone! 

I'm happy to introduce myself as Kai Leakes. I am the baddest *kidding*, sappy, blerd around and I happen to also be a writer of Speculative Fiction and romance. Namely, fantasy, romance, and paranormal works. I am the author of Sin Eaters Devotion Book Series, it’s behind the book short follow-up Rebel Guardians: Sin Eaters Chronicles Book One, current short stories - Love, Lies, and Pleasure: A Brothers of Kemet Story (Romance) and Free Your Mind (a cyberpunk short). 

​I am from the Midwest, namely St. Louis, Missouri. I gained an addiction to books at an early age. 

What can you tell us about your journey being an author?

My journey as a author was nothing but luck I feel. Due to the fact that, books were my love, writing out my imaginative stories didn't start until late in life due to my desire to see myself reflected in the pages of books I read. Sharing impromptu vibrant romance story tales with my cousins as a teen, writing books didn't seem like something I would pursue until one day in college. 

My first story was a historical romance that I lost. I later, years later after graduating, ended up writing a epic fantasy, in a alternative world where magic was born to save the world. I really wrote it to test myself and see if I could create a story and I happily did. However, that gem is so raw that I'm keeping to myself to tweak it for later. Eventually from there, I ended up creating Sin Eaters and I've been procrastinating and writing ever since. 

Outside of writing small stories for myself, I honestly can say that the real fire put in my belly with it, didn't happen until I started writing fan fiction with a friend I met on our favorite author, L.A. Banks website. If the site was still up, you guys could have seen some of the work we did, but so far its gone from the web. 

It felt natural to me to create those stories funny enough. I loved it and always looked forward to what I could include to the thread. 

What can you tell us about your experience growing up?

Growing up, I gravitated to all things fantasy. The only books that I recall in those genres that had clear diversity was, Babysitter Club. I could not find anything in the genres I like that reflected me and I used to look for it. Which was disappointing and had me mentally changing characters to reflect my world.​

I loved mermaids (the little mermaid was fresh and the bees knees when I was growing up), X-men, and vampires. That was my go between. If I could find stories that had those magical elements then I was all for it. It just sucked because not a lot of them, if any represented me or my family.

How can we make the conversation about diversity where it needs to be?

I think the conversation about diversity is going exactly where it needs to go. It's growing and becoming louder and I am here for it. I crave to see diversity become the default instead of what it is now because frankly, it's annoying and not reflective of the real world. Especially in the US. I crave to see more faces of color on book covers in fantasy and romance. I also crave to see those faces in on screen. I need to see our lives shown and shown how we love and that we don't ALWAYS seek the approval or love of the default as media always tries to make it appear. Especially when using POC's as tokens. 

I mean hello! POC are abundantly living in the cities, these speculative fiction/fantasy/comic books that are on TV and movies and being read based. Yet, we are never shown, but in a wink of the eye.

Above all of that, I crave to see more writers of color (who write speculative fiction/fantasy and romance) in the forefront being celebrated, best-sellers and giving major publishing and movie deals! 

What has been your favorite character to create and why?

This is a hard one, I have two. 

Khamun and The Medusa. Two polar opposites in the battle of good and evil are my favorite characters to have created. Khamun started out as nothing but a voice to me, the Attacker. That's all I knew him as when I created his intro chapter. If you've read Sin Eaters multiple times, I know that my readers can tell that the intro chapter is my favorite. It was so descriptive that you could feel your self in his world, in his mind and seeing what makes him tick. 

Khamun is my body boy hero. Not classically sexy, but handsome and alluring. His temper and duty to protecting us while being an outcast, makes me care for him so much. I also enjoy connecting with his prowess and crafting his fighting scenes. 

Now, another one who fires me up in the same with with fighting is The Medusa. This woman is a powerhouse who happens to be the object of a incredible evil force and has no qualms about it as far as the reader knows. I love jumping in her mind and discovering many different things about who she is and her complexities. But above all of that, I enjoy watching her toy with her targets and toy with those she hates, which is the Light. 

Why do you write the types of books you write, and do you plan diversifying genres in the future?

I love writing paranormal romance because that's what I grew up reading in a sense. I gravitated to Bram Stoker, RL Stine's Fear Street, Anne Rice, then in the mix was Babysitters Club and whatever tawdry historical romances I could get my hands on. 

It all shaped me into who I am today. As a young child then, I imagine myself as the characters. Changing their color, their shape, hair etc. It got to the point where I couldn't do that anymore. It was that, which lead me to creating y own stories and why I purposely chose to shape my stories around who I wanted and needed to see in stories. So the plan to diversifying genres was always there and I have. I've stepped into contemporary romance and Cyberfunk for the first time. I'm also, stepping into the world of Steampunk for the first time.

Who is your favorite Book Bae?

My sexy Jag-were in L.A. Banks Vampire Series. I can't give you the name because I forgot it. Sad, I know. But, he was fineeeeeeeeeeeeee! and a good guy. Oh and a shape-shifting jaguar. I mean, hello! 

If you can have any superpower or supernatural ability, what would it be and why?

If I could have any superpower, I'd have a combo of Storm and The Phoenix's power. I want to protect my mind from mind readers. Move things with my mind. Have a tiny bit of strength. Fly or teleport and use fire or lightning if I wanted. 

Can you see that I'm a little super power greedy? LOL. 

What is the book that have the biggest impact on you and why?

L.A. Banks Vampire Huntress Series. The impact was that not only did she have a book of vampires and bad-taz fighters, but, they were all of color! The lead was a sista with dreadlocks, dark skin and not model vixen typed. Then above all of that, the man who loved/needed her was a fine darker toned Latino brotha! I absolutely loved it.

She crushed the stereotypes in the black/Latino and more communities. I miss her deeply. L.A. Banks allowed me to see myself in her world with no problem. I craved that and it impacted me greatly. So, go grab her books and if you have a young adult, introduce them to her Shadow Walker book, then as they get older to young adult, hand them Minion, book one of her series.

What type of advice can you give to those starting out?

My journey as an emerging writer and stepping into the role of author has been rewarding but difficult. Learning how to take the steps to tighten my writing and create a plan in marketing myself continues to be a struggle. But with having a foundation under you and a support network around you, becoming a writer can be a great adventure. So my advice is write and trust in yourself! 

Finally, where can folks go for updates, and to learn more about your projects going on?

You can find me here: 

Official Website

Check out my Book Trailer!

Facebook Page

Follow me on Twitter!

My Blog!

Tumblr

 

Thank you and remember, “The Light Always Prevails.” 

Born in Iowa, but later relocating and raised in Alton, IL and St. Louis, MO, Kai Leakes was an imaginative Midwestern child, who gained an addiction to books at an early age. The art of imagination was the very start of Kai’s path of writing which lead her to creating the Sin Eaters: Devotion Books Series. 

Since a young child, her love for creating, vibrant romance and fantasy driven mystical tales, continues to be a major part of her very DNA. With the goal of sharing tales that entertain and add color to a gray literary world, Kai Leakes hopes to continue to reach out to those who love the same fantasy, paranormal, romantic, sci/fi, and soon, steampunk driven worlds that shaped her unique multi-faceted and diverse vision.

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Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Seven: Interview with @MyaBlackkoda

It brings us great pride to present our next guest.

Some Romance friends may know her, but if you're just finding out, even more awesome!

She started an event/initiative highlighting inclusion in Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Horror called "Colors in Darnkess." It was so fun, we joined for the fun, and look forward to it next year. You can even get updates on the Facebook Group, with all the lovelies looking and promoting their dark Speculative Fiction!

Twinja Book Reviews 3rd Annual Diversity Month Day Two: Interview with @BlkGirlMagicMag + #giveaway

So it gives us immense pleasure to introduce our next guest. She's doing big things with the e-magazine "Black Girls Magic Lit", celebrating the diversity of Black girls and women in Speculative Fiction!

Conversing online with her has been a blast, that we had to sit down with her for our Diversity Month event!

Without further adieu...

August Martial Artist Spotlight: Marjean Holden

So this month's Martial Artist Spotlight is a real treat!

Review: The Legacy by Necole Ryse

July 23rd, 2015

The Legacy by Necole Ryse

Diverse Book Tours Presents: The Legacy/The Missing Mini-Tour by Necole Ryse

Welcome to "The Legacy & The Missing" Blog Tour!

This Mini-Tour features author Necole Ryse, and is brought to you by Diverse Book Tours!

Looking for a Mystery/Thriller YA/NA novel? Want to get a glimpse into the prestigious world of a HSBC? Dive into the "Birthright Trilogy" today, and meet your favorite new author Necole!

Review: NeverLove by Angela Brown

NeverLove by Angela Brown

June 16th, 2015

This book is also crossposted on Rebellious Cupid Book Reviews

Diverse Book Tours Presents: Maybe Baby/ Maybe Tonight-Author Interview w/ Kim Golden

Welcome to the "Maybe Baby/ Maybe Tonight" Tour featuring author Kim Golden!

Review: Edge of Truth by Natasha Hanova

September 27th, 2013

Edge of Truth by Natasha Hanova

Why We Need Diverse Book Reviewers and Bloggers: Twinja Book Reviews' List of Black Book Bloggers Who Review Diverse Spec Fic #BSFM

We're more than halfway through the month, and it's about time we released some awesomeness!

Since it's Black Speculative Fiction Month, we've been highlighting authors who write speculative fiction, but what about those of us who read it? Everyone talks about how we need diverse books, which is 100% true. But one of the things we often over look, is the diversity in the book blog world.

Any one can have an appreciation for diverse titles, as they enrich the lives of everyone. But the lack of diversity makes it difficult for those who fall under a default, to truly understand the differences in narratives being told.

Black Speculative Fiction Month, Day 15:Author Alicia McCalla's Thoughts on #BSFM

 So we've been a bit taken back after KidLitCon. We're slowly gaining back momentum, after just a day of being back from California. 

To keep the ball rolling, we're featuring another author today. She's been on our blog before during our first annual Diversity Month event, and it probably wont be the last time she shows back up.

Her book "Breaking Free" will have made our list for best Black Speculative Fiction Month books in the YA catergory by the month's end(still figuring out , out of the pile of many, that we want to skim it down to) but in the meantime, here are author Alicia McCalla's thoughts on Black Speculative Fiction Month!