Ask the Author: Patricia A. Knight
Answered Questions (20)
Patricia A. Knight
Hi Carolyn! Thanks for your interest. Kris, my co-author, and I have been mulling this over ourselves! Both of us have been very busy with new series releases in the past few months and whenever we see each other, we both agree WE MUST DO SOMETHING WITH AMI and Sable, Hiro, Tony, Silk, etc. So, yes, we do have more to come, we are excited about getting to it, but as to WHEN it will come out? My best guess would be late summer.
PAK
PAK
Patricia A. Knight
Unbeknownst to any of the Tetriarch or others, Allegra holled up in a cave in the desert following the battle on the plains of Vergaza (Hers To Choose) Allegra still lurks in the dark plotting mischief to the Tetriarch. Stay tuned. She and Doral will have their moment.
Patricia A. Knight
Hi Medusa,
They introduce themselves to me. I think sometimes that I'm like that olden day scribe who people used to pay to write letters for them. I'm simply the intermediary for the fully formed characters who inhabit Verdantia.
When I begin each book, I have an idea about an occurance on that world and I rummage around in my brain asking the question: Who is involved in all this chicanery, combat, kidnapping, etc., etc., and the characters step forward and say, "This is who I am. Write this down." As I do, others step forward to play supporting roles and come back to haunt me, demanding their own book.
It is highly inconvenient.
My characters are quite bossy and take my plots in directions that differ widely from the concept of the book as originally outlined. At times, the characters are difficult to write as they don't want to reveal much about themselves. Doral (Hers To Command) and Hel (Hers To Claim) are two that come to mind. They are very private people--for different reasons--and it wasn't until I had finished writing the book, that I felt I truly knew them. THEN I went back and added all sorts of details I hadn't known about them until I went on their journey. Steffania and Ramsey (Hers To Cherish) were easy. Both of them are rather "in your face" kind of people. Ramsey, for one, doesn't give a flying *f* what people think of him and was quite blunt about how I should write him.
If you study "how to write good characters" you will note that most of my heroes and heroines fit traditional archtypes. They are probably mishmashes of my favorite characters from the thousands of books I've read over the years.
Nevertheless, I have niggling feeling in the back of my muddle brain that they live and breathe in a galaxy as yet unheard of and are simply waiting for me to write their stories.
Hugs,
PAK
They introduce themselves to me. I think sometimes that I'm like that olden day scribe who people used to pay to write letters for them. I'm simply the intermediary for the fully formed characters who inhabit Verdantia.
When I begin each book, I have an idea about an occurance on that world and I rummage around in my brain asking the question: Who is involved in all this chicanery, combat, kidnapping, etc., etc., and the characters step forward and say, "This is who I am. Write this down." As I do, others step forward to play supporting roles and come back to haunt me, demanding their own book.
It is highly inconvenient.
My characters are quite bossy and take my plots in directions that differ widely from the concept of the book as originally outlined. At times, the characters are difficult to write as they don't want to reveal much about themselves. Doral (Hers To Command) and Hel (Hers To Claim) are two that come to mind. They are very private people--for different reasons--and it wasn't until I had finished writing the book, that I felt I truly knew them. THEN I went back and added all sorts of details I hadn't known about them until I went on their journey. Steffania and Ramsey (Hers To Cherish) were easy. Both of them are rather "in your face" kind of people. Ramsey, for one, doesn't give a flying *f* what people think of him and was quite blunt about how I should write him.
If you study "how to write good characters" you will note that most of my heroes and heroines fit traditional archtypes. They are probably mishmashes of my favorite characters from the thousands of books I've read over the years.
Nevertheless, I have niggling feeling in the back of my muddle brain that they live and breathe in a galaxy as yet unheard of and are simply waiting for me to write their stories.
Hugs,
PAK
Patricia A. Knight
Hers To Captivate is the next work-in-progress. It is the story of the relationship between Hel’s younger brother, Tristan, a young starship captain, Magellan DeLan and a doctor from Talleo IV, Angelica Giverny (who you might remember as “Pansy” from Hers To Cherish).
Tristan has finally been given an assignment that matters, that of preventing a lovely woman’s assassination. In the process he reconnects with a young man who was important to him years ago.
Can they come to love and bond as a three-some amid misunderstandings and murder attempts is the crux of this story. All three are in for some pleasant, and unpleasant, surprises before the end of the book.
The story takes place on Verdantia in the starship port city of Arkodaenia. As you might imagine, it is M/M/F with BDsm themes. Tok, Hel, Ramsey and Steffania have cameo appearances throughout the book.
Tristan has finally been given an assignment that matters, that of preventing a lovely woman’s assassination. In the process he reconnects with a young man who was important to him years ago.
Can they come to love and bond as a three-some amid misunderstandings and murder attempts is the crux of this story. All three are in for some pleasant, and unpleasant, surprises before the end of the book.
The story takes place on Verdantia in the starship port city of Arkodaenia. As you might imagine, it is M/M/F with BDsm themes. Tok, Hel, Ramsey and Steffania have cameo appearances throughout the book.
Patricia A. Knight
Oh! That would be fun…I’ll put it on the list. These are the vignettes that are planned in the Verdantia series (so far)
Ramsey collars his Vixen.
Doral tops Ari
And??? I’m very open to suggestions from readers.
Ramsey collars his Vixen.
Doral tops Ari
And??? I’m very open to suggestions from readers.
Patricia A. Knight
There are many noble households still loyal to Nyth Uchel, but they obey their present sovereign as embodied in the persons of the Second Tetriarch. Many Houses would follow and fight for a DeHelios King or Queen should one rise up in violation of An Chairt Mór and demand the high throne of Verdantia.
At one time, Verdantia teetered on the brink of a bloody civil war—one faction maintaining that House DeHelios held too much power—another insisting the DeHelios line was chosen by Verdantia, Herself, to rule. King Aryn DeHelios revealed that She had shown him a grim future should proud House DeHelios not relinquish the high throne. In a stunning example of obedience to their Great Mother, King Aryn abdicated his crown and signed An Chairt Mór, The Great Charter, wherein all DeHelios were forbidden the high throne of Verdantia. His action averted civil war.
The capital moved south to Sylvan Mintoth—and House DeHelios withdrew behind the diaman walls of Nyth Uchel. Nothing could erase the magickal importance of Torre Bianca, however, and the DeHelios mystique grew into legend. As a tribute and reminder to all of Verdantia, the DeHelios banner is always displayed side-by-side with that of the current ruling House.
At one time, Verdantia teetered on the brink of a bloody civil war—one faction maintaining that House DeHelios held too much power—another insisting the DeHelios line was chosen by Verdantia, Herself, to rule. King Aryn DeHelios revealed that She had shown him a grim future should proud House DeHelios not relinquish the high throne. In a stunning example of obedience to their Great Mother, King Aryn abdicated his crown and signed An Chairt Mór, The Great Charter, wherein all DeHelios were forbidden the high throne of Verdantia. His action averted civil war.
The capital moved south to Sylvan Mintoth—and House DeHelios withdrew behind the diaman walls of Nyth Uchel. Nothing could erase the magickal importance of Torre Bianca, however, and the DeHelios mystique grew into legend. As a tribute and reminder to all of Verdantia, the DeHelios banner is always displayed side-by-side with that of the current ruling House.
Patricia A. Knight
The term “blue dagger” comes from ancient times when the mercenaries used to carry a unique, scimitar-like blade of “blue steel.” In current times, a blue dagger is worn as a patch on the right shoulder of their jump suits.
The youngest of eight children and the only girl, Steffania followed in the footsteps of her father and brothers, all of whom were Blue Daggers. It was the family business, as it were. Raised by her father—her mother being dead—she copied her only role models, the men in her family.
The youngest of eight children and the only girl, Steffania followed in the footsteps of her father and brothers, all of whom were Blue Daggers. It was the family business, as it were. Raised by her father—her mother being dead—she copied her only role models, the men in her family.
Patricia A. Knight
Ramsey spent all of his boyhood and teenage years in Nyth Uchel and knew the DeHelios family well. They were happy years. As boys, he and Hel maintained an ongoing game of “one-upmanship” that carried into adulthood. When Ramsey’s family lost their estates and fell into disgrace, Hel was one of the few who continued to treat Ram as an equal. When all the rest of Verdantia closed and locked their doors against him, Hel and Eric DeStroia, extended a hand of friendship, refusing to believe the charges against him.
As an adult, Ramsey infuriated Hel when Ram ambushed him, knocked him unconscious and stole Hel’s prized stallion. Though Hel doesn’t realize it, Ramsey did it to save Hel’s reputation. A man found robbed and unconscious in the dirt cannot be prosecuted for rendering aid to a known murderer. Of course, Ramsey would never tell Hel that.
They have a most contentious friendship, but there is little doubt in either man’s mind. Each would die for the other.
As an adult, Ramsey infuriated Hel when Ram ambushed him, knocked him unconscious and stole Hel’s prized stallion. Though Hel doesn’t realize it, Ramsey did it to save Hel’s reputation. A man found robbed and unconscious in the dirt cannot be prosecuted for rendering aid to a known murderer. Of course, Ramsey would never tell Hel that.
They have a most contentious friendship, but there is little doubt in either man’s mind. Each would die for the other.
Patricia A. Knight
He takes exquisite care of a pair of finely balanced throwing knives that were a gift to him from his mother. He wears them on the inside of each forearm in a specially crafted sheath. His proficiency with them is almost mythical. The only man on the face of the planet who surpasses Doral in skill is Eric DeStroia. Their (mostly) friendly rivalry is well known.
Patricia A. Knight
The Tetriarch has a fleet of starships that comb the galaxies for the enslaved Verdantians—men and women. Some of the ships are gone for years on their quest to return Verdantia’s stolen citizens. The starship captain, Magellan DeLan, in Hers To Captivate, is one of the Verdantian nobility searching the vast reaches of space seeking those vital to the Verdantian way of life.
Patricia A. Knight
Because all Verdantians “live” through Her, even after death, Verdantia has shown A’rken the faces and names of those who will be instrumental in the events to come. A’rken has “seen” Isolde DeCorvus in the visions that Verdantia has given him.
Because all Verdantians “live” through Her, even after death, Verdantia has shown A’rken the faces and names of those who will be instrumental in the events to come. A’rken has “seen” Isolde DeCorvus in the visions that Verdantia has given him.
Patricia A. Knight
A’rken is a very old man. No one really knows exactly how old. He simply appeared in Nyth Uchel one day with warnings of a coming disaster. He has a mystical connection with Verdantia. She shows him future events of great portent. She warned him about the Haarb invasion and forewarned him about the events chronicled in Hers To Claim. Those who are familiar with the seer think he dwells more in the ethereal plain than he does in reality. In truth, his ability to differentiate between a true vision, and what is only a product of the weird plants he ingests, is open for question. Ramsey DeKieran is right to wonder what is in the soup A’rken feeds them.
Patricia A. Knight
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Patricia A. Knight
Hi Mistik,
From your lips to God's ear! I'm sure my publisher would agree about the need for a clone. I'm 2 books behind for the year! Darn hospital.
I have already started on V#5. The MCs in "Hers To Captivate" are Hel's brother, Tristan, Tristan's crush from before the Haarb wars who has risen to captain in the Verdantian space fleet and Pansy (Angelica Giverny from Cherish). In response to MANY requests, I'm writing all y'all a M/M/F again--not that it's any hardship! LOL
To protect her from the slaver cartel, Tok has accompanied Angelica to Verdantia. Angelica is there in response to an invitation from the 2nd Tetriarch to set up a psychological and neurological center in the space port of Arkodaenia to treat the returning noble women with medical issues. Tok will find a large love interest, literally, a large love interest.
And of course, where there is Tok and Pansy, you must have Ramsey and Steffania. ;-) I have some very fun ideas about the interaction between Ram and Hel's brother, Tris. Dom Ram is going to teach Dom Tris all about the "grace of the rope"--using Tristan's subs, of course. :-) I'm excited to write about Ram, a beautiful male sub and Angelica.
Since it is a PAK story set on Verdantia, you can be assured of O denial. LOL. Since it is in Akodaenia, the one spot in Verdantia where technology works, we will have funky sex toys imported from around the galaxy. Shall I bring back the nano-botts?
There is one thing you can help with--if you feel like it. I am trying out names for Tristan's lover. I need something manly for a handsome naval captain, but the name must also have a good nickname. What do you think of this one: Magellan Aiolos DeLan. Tris can call him, Mage? I'm open for suggestions. :-)
As for shorts...In my October newsletter, I will be sending out a link to a free "scene" between Ramsey and Steffania. It takes place immediately after the close of Hers To Cherish. Ram "officially" collars Steffania and they break in the ropes she presented him with. :-)
I also have a "scene" between Doral and Ari planned where Doral proves to his Highlord that he is emotionally whole and very much the dominant--so quit treating him like he's some wounded creature, by the Goddess! Again, the link will be offered to my email subscribers for free. I'm planning this for around Thanksgiving.
Phew! Long answer, but that is a glimpse into the future. I'll write as fast as I can. ;-)
PAK
From your lips to God's ear! I'm sure my publisher would agree about the need for a clone. I'm 2 books behind for the year! Darn hospital.
I have already started on V#5. The MCs in "Hers To Captivate" are Hel's brother, Tristan, Tristan's crush from before the Haarb wars who has risen to captain in the Verdantian space fleet and Pansy (Angelica Giverny from Cherish). In response to MANY requests, I'm writing all y'all a M/M/F again--not that it's any hardship! LOL
To protect her from the slaver cartel, Tok has accompanied Angelica to Verdantia. Angelica is there in response to an invitation from the 2nd Tetriarch to set up a psychological and neurological center in the space port of Arkodaenia to treat the returning noble women with medical issues. Tok will find a large love interest, literally, a large love interest.
And of course, where there is Tok and Pansy, you must have Ramsey and Steffania. ;-) I have some very fun ideas about the interaction between Ram and Hel's brother, Tris. Dom Ram is going to teach Dom Tris all about the "grace of the rope"--using Tristan's subs, of course. :-) I'm excited to write about Ram, a beautiful male sub and Angelica.
Since it is a PAK story set on Verdantia, you can be assured of O denial. LOL. Since it is in Akodaenia, the one spot in Verdantia where technology works, we will have funky sex toys imported from around the galaxy. Shall I bring back the nano-botts?
There is one thing you can help with--if you feel like it. I am trying out names for Tristan's lover. I need something manly for a handsome naval captain, but the name must also have a good nickname. What do you think of this one: Magellan Aiolos DeLan. Tris can call him, Mage? I'm open for suggestions. :-)
As for shorts...In my October newsletter, I will be sending out a link to a free "scene" between Ramsey and Steffania. It takes place immediately after the close of Hers To Cherish. Ram "officially" collars Steffania and they break in the ropes she presented him with. :-)
I also have a "scene" between Doral and Ari planned where Doral proves to his Highlord that he is emotionally whole and very much the dominant--so quit treating him like he's some wounded creature, by the Goddess! Again, the link will be offered to my email subscribers for free. I'm planning this for around Thanksgiving.
Phew! Long answer, but that is a glimpse into the future. I'll write as fast as I can. ;-)
PAK
Patricia A. Knight
My hubby and I were vacationing in Yellowstone National Park last summer and we brainstormed this idea for almost two weeks. The book I wrote is wildly different from the one we had plotted out, LOL, but I've come to discover that my characters take over and the story goes in the direction THEY dictate, no matter what MY preconceived notions were.
Patricia A. Knight
Sometimes ideas come out of the blue, but mostly they are generated by the secondary characters in my books who clamor for a book of their own.
Patricia A. Knight
Several exclusive shorts for my subscribers involving characters from my books, wrapping up my fourth Verdantian book, Hers To Claim, for an August release date...and finishing my first audio book, Hers To Command, for a September (?) release date. Pretty busy. Oh, yeah...forgot the Christmas shorty to go in an anthology with some other author friends.
Patricia A. Knight
Learn your language--even if it means going back to school.
Broaden your vocabulary and learn to use a thesaurus. For a writer, words are the colors in the picture you paint for your reader. Get beyond the primary colors.
Learn the rules of grammar.
Grammar is the brush technique that shapes and controls the color you apply.
Unless you master both vocabulary and grammar, you always be frustrated by what you create. It will never resemble the masterpiece that exists in your mind.
And finally, no matter how good you are, hire a professional editor. No writer can proof their own work.
Broaden your vocabulary and learn to use a thesaurus. For a writer, words are the colors in the picture you paint for your reader. Get beyond the primary colors.
Learn the rules of grammar.
Grammar is the brush technique that shapes and controls the color you apply.
Unless you master both vocabulary and grammar, you always be frustrated by what you create. It will never resemble the masterpiece that exists in your mind.
And finally, no matter how good you are, hire a professional editor. No writer can proof their own work.
Patricia A. Knight
Knowing that out in that wide, wide world, there are people who are just as passionate about the worlds and characters I create as I am. I never stop marveling.
Patricia A. Knight
I write anyway. LOL Most of the time it is drivel and I edit it out, but this will usually get the atoms moving about in my brain and produce something that IS worth keeping.
Barring that, I call a good friend of mine, also an author, and we hash out the sticky points. I almost always come away from these calls with renewed enthusiasm and an influx of fresh ideas.
Barring that, I call a good friend of mine, also an author, and we hash out the sticky points. I almost always come away from these calls with renewed enthusiasm and an influx of fresh ideas.
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Feb 15, 2024 01:13AM · flag