The Keri Arthur and Maria Lewis Chat
Join Keri Arthur – of Riley Jensen, Dark Angels, Souls of Fire and Outcast series fame – and Maria Lewis – the debut author behind Tommi Grayson in the Who’s Afraid? series – as they talk about everything from boobies to kangaroos (they’re Australian) to books for #WelcomeToMyWorld.
Be prepared to be entertained and enlightened. We love these two, strong women and their progressive portrayal of women in their novels.
7:45pm
Alright, Kezz Dawg! What’s going on? How’s your day? What adventures have you been up to? How’s the resident kangaroo that lives in your backyard.
7:49pm
The day involved breast swashing – had to go get the boobies scanned. After than delight, I’ve been writing a story I’m planning to self-publish while the brain is mulling over the new fantasy novel. As for the kangaroo, haven’t sighted him. Maybe the poor sucker drowned in all the water we have lying about (in and out of the house) What about yourself? Met anyone interesting of late?
7:50pm
I hope you’re working on the next wolf novel!
7:52pm
Hahaha, I love that we’re two minutes into this conversation and tits have already come up. But that’s important yo, get your boobs checked! Know your body! R.I.P Kezza’s backyard kangaroo, hope he’s out there somewhere and doing okay.
7:52pm
As for interesting people, I’m interviewing Tilda Swinton on Friday and so bloody excited because she’s an immortal goddess.
Would it be weird if I ask her to adopt me? I’m gonna do it.
7:57pm
I know too many people with breast cancer not to get the boobies checked! The roo is probably harassing the girls up on the hill – it is coming into breeding season, after all 🙂 Tilda Swinton!? Colour me jealous. Care for an older sibling who also needs adoption?
8:01pm
Also, I currently have a fantasy novel out on submission – keeping the fingers crossed for that one, as I think it’s the best thing I’ve written (though I would think that, of course) 😉
And you didn’t answer my question about the next (3rd) wolf book!
8:04pm
A whole novel, oh boy! Can you give us any teasers as to what it’s about?
8:05pm
Only if you tell me there’s a third damn wolf book. I mean, play fair here!
8:06pm
Haha and sorry, didn’t mean to avoid the question. Who’s Afraid Too? is about to drop in January so I’m gearing up for trying to get it out there as hard as I can and YES! There is a third wolf book (official title now). It’s called Who’s Still Afraid? and it’s written, with the publishers and waiting for the first round of copy edits. The fourth book is done too – tentatively titled I Still Know Who’s Definitely Afraid Last Summer? – so just got the fifth and final one to complete, but I’m trying to take a wee break from werewolves right now.
8:08pm
I love the movie title play on the 4th book. Awesome that you’ve 4 done already – now we just need Piatkus to release them quicker :). What are you playing with right now if not werewolves?
8:09pm
Trying to write a crime novel instead, just for shits and giggles.
8:09pm
Crime is hard. Tried it. Failed. Things that go bump in the night kept interfering.
8:11pm
It is tricky, I’ve found it hard because the story – which would be a trilogy of books – is set in the US and there’s a lot of detail and specifics that I need to get my head around, so been doing a lot of interviews with FBI Agents and reading procedural manuals. I’m enjoying it so far though, I started my career as a crime reporter at the local newspaper so have always had an interest in that area and wanted to delve in a fictional regard (as opposed to non-fiction).
8:12pm
And re: your fantasy novel out on submission, it must feel amazing to have literally dozens of urban fantasy and genre books out there in the world but feel like your best is still in front of you. That’s so exciting to hear, as someone who is a fan of your work and who has watched with joy as you bust down doors and break through glass ceilings like Riley Jenson ;o)
8:16pm
At least you’ve got some history in crime reporting, but setting it in the US is hard, especially since everything is very different, be it law or even language usage.
Riley will always have a special place in my heart. Not only was she my first major success, but she certainly proved that stories can be set in Melbourne and have mass appeal!
Was Who’s Afraid? your first book? Word of warning, if you say yes, I’m going to call you a bitch
8:23pm
Oh man, you’re so right – just the nitty gritty on a trial scene has required so much research and I’m so finicky about getting details accurate. Usually whenever I’m stuck in uncertain territory I make sure I have some skilled proofreaders that either work in those areas and know it well. And just quietly, I think Riley is a hero for alotta and she encapsulates all the things I love with urban fantasy women: she’s strong physically and emotionally, driven, has sexual agency and compassionate.
8:23pm
Mind you, I gotta say Tig has fast become my favourite of your characters I think. Absolutely love her and her empathy! She felt like such a blast of fresh air and the thing that makes her so tough and memorable is her kindness. I love that.
8:27pm
I think it’s worth the time to get the details right, tho, otherwise you’ll just piss off readers. Never a good thing to do. As for Riley . . . she’s a woman not afraid of her sexuality, and not willing to take shit from a man. It’s a message we need to get out there more! Glad you enjoyed Tig. She caused me so many problems initially – refused to talk to me for a good two or more years after I’d gotten 80 pages into her story.
8:38pm
So true! I mean, no matter how hard you try or how long it takes there will always be something wrong but I think one aspect of our job as writers is to make sure that happens as rarely as possible. I LOVE TIG. Been so long since I’ve become as obsessed with a character as I am with her and really hanging out for the second book in that series.
8:39pm
Also, figured we’ve done this for about an hour and covered boobs to books, shall we wrap up?
8:40pm
If you smile nicely, I might just send you an ARC . . .
8:40pm
SEND ME THE ARC WOMAN!!!
8:40pm
Here’s my smile!
8:41pm
LOL
For one week only you can get the first in Keri’s Riley Jensen series for £1.99.
And keep an eye out for her next book in the Outcast series, Winter Halo, coming this December.
When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between worlds, they allowed entry to the Others. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the darkness at bay . . .
The humanoid supersoldiers known as the déchet were almost eradicated by the war. Ever since, Tiger has tried to live her life in peace in hiding. But in the wake of her discovery that Central City's children are being kidnapped and experimented on, Tiger's conscience won't let her look the other way.
The key to saving them lies within the walls of a pharmaceutical company called Winter Halo. But as Tiger learns more about the facility, her mission is derailed by a complication: Winter Halo's female security guards are being systematically attacked by an unknown force.
Now Tiger must summon all her gifts to stop those responsible for both atrocities-no matter the cost to herself...
Have you read Maria’s stunning debut yet. You can get it now:
And to find out more about her next book check it out here.
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