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Author Spotlight: BK Rivers, author of the Raining Down series
I had the pleasure of meeting BK at the Brains to Books Cyber Convention this year when she participated in my Readers' Fantasyland Event. We chatter about her love of the country and how much she missed a green landscape. I had the opportunity to ask her about her Raining Down series and about her upcoming book, Raining Down Redemption. I learned who her favorite character is and why she enjoys writing Contemporary Romance novels. Don't forget to join her Raining Down Redemption Book Launch Event on Facebook Aug 9th for prizes and teasers about her new book!
Book Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Suggested Reading Audience: Adult 18+
Content Warnings: Sexual Situations
Book blurb for both books:
RAINING DOWN RULES (book 1 in the Raining Down Series)
Jemma Bowers hasn’t kissed anyone in over a thousand days. She knows—she’s counted.
For twenty-year-old Jemma, rules are not meant to be broken…even if she’s the one who created them. Friendships have boundaries, relationships mean trouble, and don’t even get her started on sex. Haunted by the death of her mother and her father’s abandonment, Jemma finds herself hungry for something meaningful and permanent, but is afraid of what may happen if she pursues it.
Jordan Capshaw can’t fight his addiction. Not even if it will cost him his career…When Jemma finds Jordan drunk and barefoot in the street, she convinces him to get in her car. Aside from the fact he’s the lead singer of her favorite band and pretty much the rock star of her dreams, she quickly realizes his addiction is a monster neither of them can control. Who knew choosing between a rock star and a fireman could be so difficult?
Emotions run high as Jemma soon finds herself caught between the troubled rock star and her growing affections for Vic Harper, a swoon-worthy firefighter from her past. But when her grandmother passes away, leaving her with no other family, Jemma’s world falls apart. To save herself from further heartbreak, she risks it all by breaking her own rules, and putting her heart on the line.
After all, the heart just might be the biggest rule breaker of them all.
RAINING DOWN REDEMPTION (book 2 in the Raining Down Series) Available August 2nd! Jordan Capshaw gave up the carefree rock star lifestyle of sex, drugs, and alcohol six hundred and sixty days, five hours, and ten minutes ago…but who’s counting?
Jordan’s reckless choices were killing him day by day. That is until he met a woman who helped him see the kind of life he really wanted to live—too bad she chose another man. Almost two years later, he’s clean and sober and back in Phoenix working with his band on a new album. Regina Velasco’s past is about to catch up with her and turn her world upside down…
Reggie works two jobs and shares an apartment with her best friend just to make ends meet. She’s loved Jordan since they were teenagers, but broke up with him after high school graduation so he could pursue his music career. Her focus has been raising her son, not giving in to distractions like old high school flames. Jordan isn’t used to to denying himself anything. If he really wants something he goes after it, no matter the consequences…When he runs into Reggie, his buried feelings resurface and he can’t help himself. He asks her out on a whim, but when she blatantly refuses, it reignites a desire he thought faded long ago. Jordan knows Reggie is more than a trip down memory lane, and he wants it all this time around. With his band’s album nearly finished, and another tour on the horizon, is Jordan finally ready to let the rock star lifestyle go for good and prove to Reggie he’s changed? After all, redemption won’t come without sacrifice…
Purchase Raining Down Rules at Amazon.com http://www.amzn.com/B01B8R1LF6
Join BK's Raining Down Redemption Book Party on August 9th! https://www.facebook.com/events/1222844784407290/
Interview:
What made you decide to become an Author and write a book or a series?
I was not a reader growing up, in fact I pretty much stopped reading anything after the third grade. It wasn’t until the later half of my twenties that I finally realized how much I was missing out on by not reading. So, a friend introduced me to Shannon Hale’s THE GOOSE GIRL and I haven’t been able to stop reading since.
For me, writing became something I craved—I suddenly had characters popping into my mind with stories they were dying to share. The stories floating around in my head were keeping me from sleeping at times and so the only way to get the rest I needed was to write them down. Funny how once you start writing you still don’t sleep at times because you find yourself so immersed in the story that you stay up into the wee hours of the morning to get the scene just right.
Why did you choose to write in your genre and what are some of the difficulties associated with the genre?
When I first started writing, I dabbled in young adult fantasy because that’s what I loved to read. But I’d find myself getting stuck in a corner during world development. That being said, as I grew as a writer, I found myself naturally gravitating toward writing contemporary stories. I love being able to draw inspiration from places I’ve lived or visited as the setting of a story as well as imagining scenarios just to see how they’d play out.
As far as difficulties associated with the genre…I’d say this is different for every author and reader too. What one person finds difficult to write or read will be different than the person sitting next to them. As far as marketing in this genre—that’s a whole different level of difficulty. You have to find your niche and stick with it knowing you’re doing something amazing by writing and publishing a book!
What is your favorite book you have written? What was the hardest part to write?
My favorite book I’ve written at this point has to be Raining Down Redemption. I love my MC, Jordan, and loved letting him discover who he truly wanted to be. The hardest part of writing this book was working in the secret that could shatter all Jordan thinks he’s knows.
Who is your favorite character to write and why?
Right now, I have two characters I’ve loved writing. The first was Jordan because he’s dealt with a lot in his life and when he’s handed everything he’s ever wanted after he becomes super famous as a rock star, he finds himself dealing with addiction. I loved writing his struggles after he became clean and sober. People don’t necessarily understand that just because you’ve chosen to become clean and sober, the world is all roses and sunshine. Jordan still has urges and fights against them, ultimately growing as a person into an amazing man.
My second favorite character is Ace in book 3. He’s an incredible person, a great police officer and a good friend. But when it comes to women, he’s terrified of letting his heart love again. Without going too much into the story, his previous wife died and he’s shut himself off from feeling emotion. He’s haunted by her memory and feels guilty he couldn’t save her.
I think, for me, I love writing conflicted characters who are dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. I love to see their growth throughout the story and then fall in love even when the character doesn’t think they deserve it.
What is your writing process? Do you have the story planned out or does it surprise you as you write it? Do you write at night, or in the morning? Do you listen to a play list?
I’m a late night writer, meaning after all three of my kids are in bed my head is clear enough to concentrate on writing. I put in my ear buds, turn on either my favorite Pandora station or play my Spotify playlist for the novel I’m currently writing. If I don’t wear my ear buds it’s really hard for me to concentrate on the story. I’ll typically write 1 chapter a night, though sometimes it’s hard to get that much on the screen. Right now, however, I’m on a deadline and writing 2-3 chapters a night.
Do you enjoy writing a series or individual stories?
I enjoy writing standalone books because I love to have closure at the end of a book. My Raining Down series is a series of standalone books that have recurring characters though it’s not necessary to read one before the other—thus, standalone books.
What are the strangest events or advertising methods have you used to get your name and books into the public eye?
I haven’t done anything strange or unusual and due to my introverted personality, don’t think I ever will. I really enjoy participating in Author Takeovers on Facebook and interacting with readers. It’s really exciting talking about my books and finding readers who are eager to read your book and then turn around and tell you how much they loved it…it’s the greatest feeling you’ll ever feel as an author.
What would you like your readers to know about you or your books?
Two things…I won’t ever write the F-bomb. I strongly dislike the word, don’t ever say it in person and feel books can be just as good, if not better, without it. Second is that even though I write new adult contemporary romance novels, you can expect sexual situations but they won’t be in the realms of erotica. I’m not comfortable writing descriptive sexual scenes and really wouldn’t want my children reading it if they were to come across my books. I feel like you can write in sex without all the nitty gritty, save that for your own bedroom.
Looking ahead, what can we expect to see from you in the future? What are you working on?
Let me see…You can expect book 3 in the Raining Down series some time toward the end of the year, yay! And depending on how I feel, it will probably be the end of this series. Once book 3 is submitted to my publisher, I’ll be working on a few different books that I’ve started. The first will be a college rodeo series I’m really excited about. I also may begin editing a couple young adult novels, the first being a contemporary young adult the second being a paranormal young adult.
Author bio:
BK Rivers grew up riding through rolling fields of grain on horseback, driving hay trucks and catching frogs in a silver creek. She traded country life for the big city when she married the love of her life, but the heart always returns to the country.
BK, her husband and three children live in the Phoenix suburbs on their own mini farm surrounded by crowing roosters and the low nicker of horses. When she’s not writing, she can be found baking anything sweet, in fact it’s been said her brownies are so good they save marriages.
The inspiration for her novels comes in many forms, but mostly from her Gotye channel on Pandora. She writes young adult and new adult novels to the beat of Gotye, Snow Patrol and many others.
Contact BK Rivers:
Website: http://www.BKRivers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBKRivers
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WriterRivers
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/BKRivers