Thursday, September 30, 2010

Guest Author: Kalayna Price + Giveaway!

Kalayna Price, author of Grave Witch, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila to tell us about magic in the open.

Magic in Modernity

When I first began plotting and world building for my upcoming book, Grave Witch, I decided very early on that I wanted the world to be ‘open’, as in everyone knows supernaturals and magic exist. That doesn’t mean everyone approves of magic, but its existence in the world is rather hard to deny.

My heroine, Alex, uses a very specific kind of magic called Gave Magic which allows her to raise ‘shades’--person’s memories given shape and form so that they can be questioned. But there are other types of magics in Alex’s world. The story takes place 70 years after the Magical Awakening, so magic is fairly well integrated. When world building the “big” magic, the showy stuff and the magic that will impact the story line tend to get a lot of attention, but the little stuff, the magic that is in the background, is also important.

In a world where magic is fairly common, what would your average person use magic to do? Maybe convenience spells, like a spell to keep dust bunnies out from under the bed, or a charmed coffee cup that kept coffee at the perfect temperature. Also, I imagine cosmetic spells would be popular. Would a person walk down to a charm shop and pick up and instant makeover? A breast enhancement potion? How about a charm to prevent balding? These are the types of questions I asked myself as I was building Alex’s world. It’s not the story altering flashy magic, but details like these are both fun and give a little more depth to a world.

If magic were real, what type of charms/spells/potions do you think would make your everyday life just a little easier?

About the Author

Kalayna Price is the author of the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the author of the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. She draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. She is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire. To find out more, please visit her at www.kalayna.com.

About the Book

Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, but that doesn’t mean she likes what they have to say . . . 

As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex Craft has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she’s on good terms with Death himself—who happens to look fantastic in a pair of jeans—nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high profile murder when she’s attacked by the ‘shade’ she’s raising, which should be impossible. To top off her day, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, but Death saves her. Guess he likes having her around . . .

To solve this case Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Falin Andrews. Falin seems to be hiding something—though it’s certainly not his dislike of Alex—but Alex knows she needs his help to navigate the tangled webs of mortal and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer wielding a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life . . . and her soul.

Giveaway

Kalayna has kindly offered a SIGNED copy of Grave Witch to one of you fabulous readers! To enter, leave a comment answering the question she asked above and remember to include your email address.

Open Internationally!
Entry deadline: Wednesday, October 6, 2010 11:59pm

19 comments :

  1. I like this! Haven't been familiar with her before but will check her out this weekend at bookstore.

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  2. Thanks for this wonderful presentation. I have read a few more of Kalayna's intrviews and she is mighty cool! XD

    Hmmm, if i had the opportunity to incorporate (sorta) magic into my everyday life, I would absolutely use a spell that could transport me from one place to another in a matter of seconds!
    I have to commute like 3 hours every from and to work, so that would really come in handy! *g*

    Thanks for this wonderful opportunity and giveaway!
    yvantis!hotmail.com

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  3. Thanks so much for having me here today, Jennifer!

    Hi JP. I'm so glad you enjoyed the post. I hope you like the book!

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  4. Hi yllektra. A 3 hour commute? Wow. Yeah, transportation would definitely be handy. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  5. I can't wait to read this book! I've really enjoyed the Novels of Haven so far and this series looks great too.

    Right now, I would love some magic that would mop my floor! We have tile in the kitchen and dining room (a pretty big area) and with an almost two year old it is always a mess. Of course a general house cleaning spell would be awesome too since I don't really like doing any of the cleaning!

    angela.donner @ gmail.com

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  6. I would like a charm to fix my hair and outfits. Life would be eaiser.

    usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

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  7. Oh yes, I second yllektra! I kept thinking in that at the end of those insanely tiresome days and I feel like I can't move another muscle and still have hours and many miles between me and home.
    I would also love any kind of spell I could put over my kitchen so it would make my meals on its own on those days I have lots of things to do at the computer and can barely put it aside (or for when I'm lazy :D).

    I'd love to enter the contest!;) Thank you.

    jen7waters(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I'd like the ability to change my appearance at will. Whether that's a spell, potion, or charm ... doesn't matter ... just that I could do it would be cool. No more buying close, just snap my fingers and I'm changed into anything I want. Sweet.

    tinaigne{at}yahoo{dot}com

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  9. Hey guys! Amazing interview. I loved it.
    I'm DYING to read this book.
    |I would love all types of magic in my life, but one would probably be to make me work out everyday, or at least every other day. Also I would love one to transport as well, like "yllektra (force-oblique)" said. Imagine the gas you'd save? No more traffic! Ah, the life. :)

    natashajennex(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. Could I have a couple of spells that would make the dishes clean, the laundry done and the dust gone?

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

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  11. I haven't read any of her books before but i'll definitly look out for her books!

    I'd have spells for house cleaning. And maybe have random charms to do my hair, colour and style, change my clothes. Stuff like that. Or charms and potions for my mischief making (:

    But I wouldn't want everyone to know about Magic because then I wouldn't be able to prank people as easily and anonymously. That technically wouldn't make my every day life easier, but i'd like it.

    Ohh, plus a transporting spell. And a charm to make my hot water, hot again after I have an hour shower. And a remote locater 'cause I always lose it or take it into my room and forget about that. Oh, actually, i'd like that spell for anything I lost. Yeh, what a great idea! I'd never lose anything (:

    elriic(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  12. So many things- a clean house charm, some glamour magic to always look how I wanted, and I'm all for transporting. Except that would give me no excuse not to go visit my mother-in-law. Thanks for the contest!
    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail

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  13. I like that you focus on the background magic, too. The book sounds great!

    I'd love to find a spell that would give me extra time in my day either by adding extra hours, forgiving the need for sleep, or something/someone that gets the little things done for me.

    Lynnette Labelle
    http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
    lynnette_labelle at hotmail dot com

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  14. Hi Kalayna,
    I'm soooo want to read your books :)

    i would really like to have a mind reading spell. so i would know what i should say or do before everyone else :D

    uniquas at ymail dot com

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  15. I think an "Everything Easy in One Second" spell would be great! Just say "Become an easy task!" and then POOF! something is now easier to do/work on! Haha! I'm so unoriginal, right? I know!

    Thanks for the giveaway, by the way! :)

    Gilliene
    gillieneong[at]gmail[dot]com

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  16. Great Interview. I can't wait to rad it. Now for the question: I think a "My Way" charm would make life much easier. Everything would go my way and that means a perfect carefree life - at least for the person with the charm :-)

    Evie
    info@paromantasy.com

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  17. Thank you so much for the giveaway! :D and for make it international!

    If magic were real, i would incorporate a spell that allows me make food in one second! I'm that kind of person that it is eating all the time. :D It'd be very earier don't have to walk from my room to the kitchen, look for something and get back to my room (lazzzyyy)

    Again, thanks for the giveaway


    Jaz.parks

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  18. Thanks for stopping by Kalayna! I'm really looking forward to reading your book.

    I know it isn't original but I would love to have a spell for cleaning or cooking. If such a thing did exist then I'd have more time for reading. That'd be perfect. :)

    nalynboni AT gmail DOT com

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  19. woo.. my email: dani dot prmr at hotmail dot coom

    hehehhe :D

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