Friday, March 9, 2012

Book Tour for Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright (Guest Post & GIVEAWAY)


Fans of the paranormal and urban fantasy genre rejoice!  There's an exciting and intricately created new series by Kenya Wright that I'm dying to tell you about!  Fire Baptized is the first book in the Habitat series and is an intriguing start to what promises to be a thought provoking series with some sexy shapeshifting men vying for the heart of a strong heroine.  Courtesy of Goddess Fish Promotions I get to introduce you to this compelling world as well as offering you a giveaway for an Amazon GC so you can purchase this book for your very own.  First up is Kenya Wright talking about why readers are drawn to urban fantasy....

Three reasons why readers love urban fantasy.....

Courageous Heroines:

Not every urban fantasy novel has a female protagonist, but most do. These strong women usually possess supernatural powers and amazing inner strength. They’re fierce protectors of victims and even the tough male characters in the book. Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrew’s Magic series) is a perfect example of an awesome take-no-crap heroine.

In my book Fire Baptized, Lanore can create and control fire. She’s known for directing flames to sexual predators and abusive men.

Happy Meal of Popular Genres:
   
Urban fantasy novels give you the opportunity to enjoy many genres in one story. In these books, fantastical elements like vampires and shapeshifters secretly or knowingly exists among humans. Additionally, a steamy romance sub-plot is included within the story. Others involve a complex mystery or fast paced thriller. The Sookie Stackhouse series displays magical characters among mystery and romantic plot lines.
   
Fire Baptized also follows this mold. My supernatural character Lanore hunts down a killer while attempting to juggle two love interests.

Drool-Worthy Heroes:

Picking up a book in this genre usually guarantees an introduction to a yummy hero. Sometimes you meet several gorgeous men in one book. They come in all sizes, muscular to swimmer’s bodies.  Some of my favorite heroes are Barrons (Moning’s Fever series), Curran (Kate Daniels series), and Bones (Frost’s Grave series).

Fire Baptized has two luscious heroes. MeShack is a Were-cheetah that’s six-foot-six and wrapped in layers of muscle. Zulu is a blonde Mixbreed with even more muscle.

I’ve provided two excerpts from Fire Baptized that introduces each hero. Additionally check out the photos that inspired my characters!


EXCERPT #1:

A creaking sound announced MeShack’s door was opening.

“Like a slow river, baby,” MeShack sang. His voice was a musical instrument, sending smooth liquid tones through the apartment. “So slow, you run through my heart.”

He bent his copper-toned body under the doorway’s frame.

“Like a slow river, baby.” He wrapped a pink towel with yellow flowers around his waist and closed the door. Drops of sweat clung to the rows of muscle on his stomach. “You run through my heart. Like a slow--”

“Would you stop? You’re going to get that song stuck in my head.” I glared at him. His skin glowed like honey poured over layers of caramel. His black pupils blazed within hazel irises. I looked away and asked, “Is Joanne asleep?”

“Is that her name?”

I rolled my eyes and nodded.

“Yeah, she’s asleep.” He walked in a bowlegged stride toward me, bent down to kiss my X brand, and snatched the joint from me. “Cool shirt. The hot Were-cheetah that bought you that shirt must be a comedic genius.”

“Or a pre-med geek who thinks he’s funny,” I muttered. The shirt I’d put on after my shower read, “I wish I was an Ion so I could form an exothermic bond with you.”


EXCERPT #2:

Seconds later, I spied Zulu stomping my way. The security lights shone on his X brand. His blond dreadlocks hung beyond his broad shoulders, slapping around his elbows. He wore no shirt, just indigo jeans that hung low and framed perfect abdominal muscles. Multicolored cords were sewn into his ivory skin, in a swirly pattern that stopped at his wrists. It had to have been pretty painful when he’d gotten it done. With each furious stomp, his muscles bulged under the cords.

Fuck. He was pissed. I stood up, told Bernie I would be back, and headed toward Zulu.

“What are you doing here?” I held my hands out to my sides.

“You forgot about our date,” Zulu growled, his voice deep with a dominant edge. It was why Supernaturals, or Supes as they were most often referred to, stopped and listened when he spoke at MFE rallies.

“Zulu, it wasn’t a date.”

He narrowed his eyes. Usually they were a blend of dark blue and gold, reminding me of the dawn’s sun as it peaked through the habitat’s ceiling. Tonight, his eyes were midnight black. His gaze was like the sharp edge of a sword pulled out for battle.

I took a step back and cleared my throat. “We were just going to talk about what happened.”

He raised his blond eyebrows. “You mean when I had you on my desk, dress lifted, shirt ripped, and your lips on mine?”

“Fine. When we kissed.” I bit my lip.

FIRE BAPTIZED (Book One in the Habitat Series) by Kenya Wright

Since the 1970’s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend Meshach and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention. 
 
While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?




AUTHOR BIO:

Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sung 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.

Now 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.

Will she succeed? Of course.

For she has been coined The Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.

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.

Website:  http://www.kenyawright.com

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Prize is a $10 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter from the entire tour.

-Giveaway is OPEN TO EVERYONE!
-To be entered just leave a comment along with your email addy.
-One commenter will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more tour stops you make a comment on the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.
-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 3/16.

8 comments:

  1. "A Happy meal of popular genres" - I love that. I agree on all three points.

    YUMMY pictures. Thank you for the visuals.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  2. I really am glad this is a series. I hate to have a story over when it is really good.

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  3. Great excerpts. And I loved the trailer. I'll have to check this out. :)

    cayce006 at yahoo dot com

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  4. I have not read an urban fantasy romance before. I like the premise and the diversity inherent in the story. AND, it got an A in the review here. That's high praise.

    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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  5. I love UF stories! Added this to my shopping list. Would love to read it. Looks fantastic, Kenya. Love the cover too.

    kaceyhammell@gmail.com

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  6. Great trailer. Loved the music. From your blurb and excerpts I can tell you've done a great job building an interesting world.

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  7. I have to agree with Kylie. I loved the trailer. It caught my attention and made me want to read the book. I want to know more about the world you have created and how Lanore makes out and who wins her attention. Thank you.

    Lynn
    lareynolds0316@gmail.com

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