Yesterday my children and I attended the Pro Bowl (at this link). During the half time show, the NFL saluted military families. The field was filled with a "parade" of military personnel representing the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy.
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| Pro Bowl with military personnel |
Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.
However, writing has been the only constant love in her life.
So here we are Kenya is publishing her first book, Fire Baptized, the urban fantasy novel she always wanted to read. This novel is the first book in a series.
Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.
Kim: I grew up in Coral Gables (a suburb of Miami). What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of Miami?
Kenya: That’s awesome that you used to live here! My favorite sound is people conversing in Spanish. I moved here four years ago to go to University of Miami law school. What I immediately noticed was that a lot of people spoke Spanish. One time I was in Wal-Mart during a thunderstorm. The store’s lights went off. All of the announcements were in Spanish. I had to blindly walk around crowds of people, mumbling the few words I knew.
My favorite sight is male bicycle riders! For some reason, there are a large amount of men that ride their bikes only in tiny metallic thongs. It is the most amusing thing to witness. When I am feeling down, I drive around and check out the crazy men in the metallic thongs.
My favorite smell is Cuban food! I’m pretty much addicted to fried plantains.
My favorite smell is Cuban food! I’m pretty much addicted to fried plantains.
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| foodnetwork.com |
Kim: What did the Navy teach you? What was your favorite place you visited (or thing you did) in the Navy?
Kenya: I was Persian-Farsi linguist in the Navy. My job was in the intelligence field so if I tell you anything about my job I’m going to have to kill you! (I can’t help it. I love saying that.)
Interestingly, I was in the navy for six years but I never went on a ship or was stationed at a naval base. I was stationed at an army base in Fort Gordon, Georgia the whole time.
The favorite thing I did in the Navy was meet my husband and friends. I’ve now been with my husband for ten years. I’m still in touch with my friends and we try and visit each other as much as possible.
Interestingly, I was in the navy for six years but I never went on a ship or was stationed at a naval base. I was stationed at an army base in Fort Gordon, Georgia the whole time.
The favorite thing I did in the Navy was meet my husband and friends. I’ve now been with my husband for ten years. I’m still in touch with my friends and we try and visit each other as much as possible.
Kim: Love this line from your bio, "the urban fantasy novel she always wanted to read" - what qualities do you seek in an urban fantasy novel?
Kenya: I seek three qualities in my urban fantasy novel. First, I love mystery, fantasy, and romance. I must have all of those combinations in my urban fantasy novel. Second, I love succulent muscular men in my books, two or more preferably. Finally, I enjoy novels with bigger themes within the story.
Kim: Tell us about FIRE BAPTIZED.
Kenya: Fire Baptized is an urban fantasy novel set in a world where humans have forced supernaturals to live in cages. My main character Lanore is a supernatural college student that stumbles upon a murder and catches the attention of a killer. She spends the rest of the book searching for the killer’s identity so that the murderer won’t catch her.
The novel is not your typical urban fantasy. There are themes of racism and gender discrimination. There are two love interests and Lanore struggles with her feelings for both guys. Additionally, the magic system is based on the Santeria religion, so there is a strong Afro-Cuban influence throughout the book.
Kim: What's next for Kenya Wright, other than singing Thriller in the bathroom?
Kenya: I’m currently writing the sequel to Fire Baptized which is called The Burning Bush. The sequel will be released in July 2012. I’ve also written an erotic paranormal romance novella called Incubus Hunter that will be released on February 13, 2012.
Additionally, I plan on singing Adele’s Rolling In The Deep for all future bathroom performances!
Kenya: I’m currently writing the sequel to Fire Baptized which is called The Burning Bush. The sequel will be released in July 2012. I’ve also written an erotic paranormal romance novella called Incubus Hunter that will be released on February 13, 2012.
Additionally, I plan on singing Adele’s Rolling In The Deep for all future bathroom performances!
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| Adele singing ROLLING IN THE DEEP |
Mahalo, Kenya, for joining us at SOS Aloha! Kenya is giving away five ecopies of FIRE BAPTIZED. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about languages - do you speak more than one? Or, what language intrigues you?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, February 5, 10 pm in Hawaii.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
I know a little Italian but that is it.
ReplyDeletePlease to do enter me in the drawing for this book.
I love languages. My first degree was a double major in languages. I seem to pick them up easily. We adopted a child from Poland and by the time we left, I could understand the news.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the Interview, and the awesome pics!!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could speak many different languages. I know a very little bit of Spanish. I wish I knew more so I could communicate with my BF's family more but for some reason my mind refuses to learn anything but the basics.
ReplyDeleteI know just a little bit of Spanish. I should try and learn a new Spanish word a day to build up my vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteI only speak one language. I took spanish in high school and only remember a few words, it just never clicked for me.
ReplyDeleteI actually took 4 years of Spanish in high school so I still retain enough to get by in "pidgin" (although my brain feels like it's rusted when I try to use something I learned decades ago!), I can fingerspell slowly and I am trying to teach myself French right now (although I keep crossing up the Spanish words since they have the same roots!). I have learned hello, goodbye and thank you in several other languages but that's about the extent of my polylinguistics!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for introducing a new author, she sounds like she is going to be a refreshing new voice in the genre! Welcome and congrats Kenya, you must be so thrilled to see your work in print!
ReplyDeleteAny one that is a Navy Veteran has got to be great.
ReplyDeleteI don't speak any language other than English but often wish that I did espicially since I've moved back to Florida and the Spanish population has increased since I left here 31 years ago -- The only Spanish that I remember deals with home appliances like toasters and frying pans but that comes from working for an import/export company prior to going into the Navy.
Anyway, Welcome aboard and enjoy
Nice to meet you Kenya! From a fellow veteran and writer...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Kenya, on the release of Fire Baptized. I must confess that I haven't read a lot of urban fantasy, but from the sounds of this book, I need to expand my horizons.
ReplyDeleteI only speak English, but can understand some French (mostly written). I do know how to say I love you in a Spanish, French, and Norwegian. Oh, and I'm a fan of Adele, too - love Rolling in the Deep!
How did you become fluent in Persian-Farsi?
I only speak English even though the French teacher tried for 2 years in high school.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great!
Have never wanted to speak any language but English.
ReplyDeleteFirst off I just love Adele!!! As to languages, I just speak English. I did take 2 years of Spanish and recognize many words, especially when I see them written but I was horrible at trying to speak it. My ancestors were all from Sicily so I heard Italian dialect from all my relatives and maybe if they had that in school I would have had a chance lol.
ReplyDeletecatslady
I'm not good at learning languages. I tried Spanish in high school and quit after the first semester. I do know some words in Spanish and I also know some words in my grandparents Sicilian dialect.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Thanks so much for the Congrats and support! I'm pretty jeolous of everybody's ability to speak Spanish. I could really use it out here in Miami!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for sharing! I love the cover of your book. I dont speak any other languages. I took a year of spanish in high school but i was aweful!! Languages are not my thing. I have wanted to speak something different, spanish, french and german were always ones that caught my attention. If i could learn, those would be the ones. ;) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've always been interested in languages. I would like to speak Italian. This was a very enjoyable interview.
ReplyDeletei'm speaking in 2 languages - indonesia and hokkien (chinese) but i would like to be expert in speaking english and korean ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Shadow and bn100!
ReplyDeleteWow@ Eli Indonesia and chinese... forget english, I'm impressed1
i barely speak english, lol and i speak the southern english too
ReplyDeleteI know a little French. I would like to learn Latin and to read Egyptian hieroglyphics.
ReplyDeletemarlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Egyptian hieroglyphics? Interesting. If you don't mind me asking... what made you interested in that?
ReplyDeleteHey what an interesting career and you didn't move all that far from Georgia to Florida. I have never lived in Florida, have friends in Orlando I wish I could manage to visit. Interesting book and good luck with sales and the sequel as well. Urban fantasy is always a good read.
ReplyDeletethanks Kathy! Yeah it wasn't that big of a move from Ga to Florida, but definetly to complete different environments.
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