Author Interview: Krysta Scott ~ New Release: Shadow Dancer #TWRP

I am beyond delighted to host my friend and share her debut novel, Shadow Dancer, which is an excellent paranormal romance.

Welcome, Krysta! Please tell us a little about yourself.

Hello my name is Krysta Scott. I grew up a mid-western girl in the suburbs of Chicago. After I graduated from college, I relocated to Oklahoma with my husband. I have been in Oklahoma ever since and consider Oklahoma my true home. Chicago is a nice place to visit but it is too anxiety provoking. I prefer the slow calm pace of a fifteen minute rush hour to and from work. Also, my daughters are native Oklahomans and they would have it no other way.

Where did you get the idea for Shadow Dancer and what was the most difficult thing about it?

I am a family law attorney who does some work as a Guardian Ad Litem. When I started writing again after law school I was encouraged to write about being a lawyer. Much of what I do is wade through the muck of emotional turmoil caused by tearing a family apart. It’s bad enough when I represent the parent. They fight about past wounds and injuries that have nothing to do with the child. Yet somehow the child gets pulled into their battles. It is especially painful from the child’s perspective. When I am a Guardian Ad Litem, I try to keep the child out of the middle of the dispute as much as possible. It is not an easy task. So you can imagine my reluctance to write about the heartbreak I deal with all the time. But then I thought, what if I could change how parents behave? That’s how the idea for Shadow Dancer emerged.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I am an attorney. Most days I like it a lot. Some days it can be very stressful. Writing is a very good way to relieve that stress. That is probably why I took to writing again.

Do you collect anything?

I collect Star Trek ornaments. It started when I got the shuttlecraft ornament as a birthday gift. It all got out of hand. I have almost all of the Star Trek ships, Star Wars ships and the Dr. Who Tardis. I have so many ornaments they have their own tree. I bought a black Christmas tree with white lights so my ships could hang in space during the holiday season. This is a good thing for the rest of my family so they can have their own more traditional Christmas tree.

What was your first job?

I worked at Burger King. When my daughters were little they thought that was cooler than being a silly old attorney.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

Well that’s not hard. Stop watching TV. Not going to happen but I would certainly have more time on my hands.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Escape to Witch Mountain. These books took me to another world where fabulous things like magic and flying cars were possible.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Shadow Dancer?

Having the power to change things is a huge responsibility. There are consequences to misusing power even if you have the best intentions.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

I would rather have a bad review than no review. There are many reasons a reasons a reader likes or dislikes a book. That’s why there are so many different types of books. There is something for everyone.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

Romantic Suspense or thriller.

What is your most prized material possession?

My Raggedy Ann dolls. Why? When I was a child I created voices and personalities for my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. I would control them for my sister. They are a big part of my childhood. Like the characters in my favorite books, they have stayed with me.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

My favorite author is probably Joan D. Vinge. She is a very skilled world builder. Her descriptions are pure poetry, her character three dimensional and her concepts are breathtaking.

Tell us your favorite…

Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Music: Pop and Rock & Roll
Place you’ve visited: Scotland
Place you’d like to visit: India and Italy
TV show from childhood: Lost in Space
TV show from adulthood: How to Get Away with Murder
Food: Sushi
Sports team:  Cubs and Bears
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? I would say board games but I think the more honest answer is television.

And now, Krysta has a question for readers. And, she’s giving away a $5 Amazon gift card to one commenter. To enter, answer this question:

Would you rather read about characters facing problems in the real world or a world far far away? Why?

 

Blurb:

As an attorney for children, Guardian Ad Litem Nikki Angelus’ priority is protecting innocents caught between warring parents in custody proceedings. Her job proves almost impossible, until she discovers the power, through dreams, to alter the past and transform people into loving parents. But devilishly attractive attorney, Garrett Nightshade, seems to know what she’s trying to do, and is determined to stop her.

Garrett Nightshade isn’t happy about his position in the Guild of the Celestial Night. Especially when he’s given the task to find and destroy the Shadow Dancer—a Guild member with the ability to unleash dangerous power. His duty becomes even more distasteful when he learns that the lovely, enigmatic Nikki Angelus might somehow be involved.

Will their growing love survive the showdown between the shadowed dream world and reality?

Excerpt:

Nikki leaned against the sink contemplating her next move. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t characterize what the Hanover family needed.

She stopped Parker from beating his wife, but something still remained…off. Especially since he was using his powers again. She spread toothpaste onto her toothbrush and scrubbed her teeth so hard her gums bled. Not once during the time she was mucking around in Parker’s head did she stop to consider his parents might have been right to strip him of his gifts. She’d focused on Parker’s pain, not on the reasons for his parents’ actions. She spat into the sink. She had to make this right. But where to begin?

Parker would have his guard up. Resistance would make her task more difficult if not impossible. In truth, she wasn’t quite sure how to go about mending such egregious errors. Perhaps focusing her efforts in strengthening Amy’s defenses against Parker’s wishes would net better results. She wrapped Amy’s velvet scrunchy around her wrist, the one Lori had given her.

Nikki glanced up in the mirror again, pressing her lips together. She wouldn’t be deterred from her mission until she fixed this situation. She stalked to the bed, crawled in, and pulled the covers to her neck. She closed her eyes and drifted into oblivion. She raised an arm toward the slip stream. Before she was caught up in its electrical surge, steel fingers wrapped around her arm and yanked her around. She looked into Garrett’s hard gaze.

“You’ve done enough damage. I won’t let you cause anymore.”

“And how are you going to stop me? I’ve evaded you before.” She was getting weary of his pestering. Didn’t he understand she was trying to fix her mistakes?

“Like this.” He moved closer. The heat of his breath trailed her skin, tickling the back of her neck. He kissed her, sending shockwaves of need charging to her most private places. The smell of cinnamon and cloves drove her to a frenzy. Fire coursed through her veins. The charge sizzled on her lips. She fell into him, kissed him back. Her traitorous arms circled his neck. His hands locked against her spine, sending warm shivers through her.

She dragged her lips from his, gasping for air. Her heart ached but she willed herself to stay put. This was all a game to him. A desperate ploy. “I know what you’re trying to do. It won’t work.” Her mind reeled.

He smirked. “If you knew what I was trying to do, we wouldn’t be in your head. You’d be in my bed.”

“I told you this would not happen again.” She balled her fists, refusing to give credence to the pleasure of his words. Oh, to fade into oblivion, here, with him. So easy to give in. But the bastard was only trying to distract her like she had him. Did he think her that stupid?

BIO:

Krysta Scott has always been a daydreamer, imagining worlds far away with happy endings. When she was in fifth grade, she was so caught up in fantasy she earned the dubious distinction of being named the girl who daydreams the most. The award for this questionable honor was a colorful transparent plastic poster made to look like stained glass. It was very cool. Given her flights of fancy, it came as no surprise to her family when she announced she was going to be an actress. Unfortunately, her pursuit into theater didn’t last long, because she was too withdrawn and shy to exhibit any talent in this area. Left with no other choice but to pursue a more practical avocation, she decided to major in psychology and then go to law school. Not able to let go of the worlds she created in her head, she returned to writing and was very excited when the Wild Rose Press contacted her first book.