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Guest Post by Author K. Reed with Awesome Post-Apocalypse Giveaway and a Chance to win an iPOD with a simple comment!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012


The author will award nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour and one to the host with the most comments (excluding hers and the host's) - US/Canada only.  COMMENT TO WIN THIS AWESOME PRIZE!

The once glittering ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have been consumed by the endless funeral pyres.

Grayson, once the Baron of Harwich, sought only to protect his people. Rescuing a half-dead woman was not among his plans. But something about her pulled at him. Perhaps it was her beauty, still evident beneath the pallor of loss. Perhaps it was the recently fired rifle at her side. Or maybe he was simply tried of death. All he knew was that the plague had taken too much already. He couldn’t let it take her as well.
Lady Juliette Adair had been ready to die with her brother. She didn't expect to be shown mercy in a world that had no room for mercy. When Grayson saved her she questioned his motives but soon found herself intrigued by him, drawn to him.
Societal rules were a thing of the past, dead along with the ton. Juliette had no manner by which to measure her growing closeness to Grayson any longer. But when she discovers he may not be the man she thought she knew more is at stake than just her heart. The secrets she carries could make a king or destroy one.

Summary

Excerpt:

He didn’t know what made him look, what sound captured his attention, but he suddenly knew he was not alone. Cursing his carelessness, he drew his sword and looked around. There, on the opposite side of the bed, pushed against the wall.
She lay on a settee, head resting on one arm, dark hair falling down the side of the sofa. He glanced to the bed, to the man there, and wondered who the dead pair were. She looked to have survived the plague; her face and neck were thin and smooth. Died of neglect, then. The last living being in the house and she couldn’t summon the strength to feed herself.

His eyes locked on the rifle lying just under her reach. Sheathing his sword, it was then he noticed that powder marks blackened her hands and were smudged along her face and neck. He quickly scanned the area, a small bag of powder and a case of shot rested on a nearby chair.

Cautiously walking closer, Grayson crouched before the prone figure and surprised himself by reaching out to touch her. He stopped just short of her cheek, curling his fingers into a fist. He took a brief moment to admire her beauty.
Even in death, she captivated.

Standing, he picked up the rifle and backed away, turning to search the rest of the room before he’d take the powder and shot.

That was when he heard her moan.

Thanks for having me today! So you want to know why I wanted to write a post-apocalyptic Regency romance. It’s simple. Simple-ish.

Almost 200 years after her death, Jane Austen is still incredibly popular. Many authors made and still make a great success for their names writing Regency romances. Harlequin’s historical line is composed of nearly all Regencies. Okay, and I admit it--Regencies have always been a personal favorite. Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors.

One day as I sat at my computer, wondering how to be different in the Regency romance world, how to set myself apart, how to not be one of many, and then inspiration hit. It hit after too much History Channel, entirely too much time staring at the blank page of my computer screen, too much time thinking about this, and possibly too much alcohol one evening.

The idea for Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire wouldn’t leave me alone. It was certainly different! And certainly one way to set myself apart in the Regency Romance world. But it’s still a big risk. Regency readers expect a certain style, certain elements of the world to be in the story. After all, what’s a Regency without the ton? Or balls, galas, gowns, and nobility?

Dark Inheritance, while it may have some of those elements present, is a very different look at what a Regency romance can be.

Then there’s the risk. How do I present a new version of a Regency romance in such a dystopian world? Risk yes, and excitement! This is a brave new world and I can play with the elements of a traditional Regency and yet turn them on their ear. Put the drama of courtship front and center in a world where the societal rules are either dead or dying.

But this world shows a Regency romance as it would develop in a fractured setting. Here’s an excerpt to whet your appetite, read on and let me know if my risk was worth it!

Author Bio:

Romance author with an historical twist.

Too many post-apocalyptic stories, movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was the way to go, and wrote that one instead.

A lover of all things historical, of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty criminal element of Victorian England.

Luckily she has an understanding family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll stick to the east coast and the internet.

@kreedauthor
http://www.kreedauthor.com/
kreedauthor@yahoo.com


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

128 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting the author today.

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Thanks for having me today! I'll be happy to answer any questions your readers have about the Regency Era, what happens after the apocalypse, why this was so fun to write, or anything else they'd like to know about me.

    ~K
    Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire, now available on Amazon http://amzn.to/JthcJ9 and in all e-book stores.

  1. Thanks, K. You answered my question yesterday about what percentage of the population was wiped out in your verse. It's kind of funny that I seem to be attracted to some post-apocalyptic fiction lately. I love HG Wells, Doris Lessing, Arthur C. Clarke, etc. I've read The Stand, The Road, World War Z. I LOVED Kevin Brockheimer's A Brief History of the Dead. It was very haunting. (But I haven't read any of the Left Behind series!) I like that yours is set in the Regency period. I wonder if those conventions and traditions seem silly when there's so much death and destruction; OR, do people cling to them even more, for some semblance of normalcy? It's very thought provoking!
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

  1. sara said...:

    sounds like a great book, ill have to check it out :)

  1. sara said...:

    forgot the email...silly me :)
    sarapples@gmail.com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    I read this blog and am fascinated by this concept. I love historicals and wonder if you are following the "rules of regency" or have your characters completely diverted away from them?

  1. I have to admit, you really caught my interest with that excerpt. I don't read a lot of indies due to time constraints with my job, but I'm going to make an exception. :-)

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Hey Catherine! Hey Anonymous! Love the questions.

    In the Dark Inheritance verse, just like any other world, people will cling to some remembrance of what it was like for them before the devastation they are living through.

    I have some characters that believe at least a portion of the old ways is necessary while others feel that they live in a world where rules are made by the power you have. As the series progresses we will meet more characters that want to cling to the Regency ettiquetes and ways with great passion, maintain whatever elevated status they believed they had. But in this new world we will see if that is even possible.

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Hey Catherine! Hey Anonymous! Love the questions.

    In the Dark Inheritance verse, just like any other world, people will cling to some remembrance of what it was like for them before the devastation they are living through.

    I have some characters that believe at least a portion of the old ways is necessary while others feel that they live in a world where rules are made by the power you have. As the series progresses we will meet more characters that want to cling to the Regency ettiquetes and ways with great passion, maintain whatever elevated status they believed they had. But in this new world we will see if that is even possible.

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Thanks for stopping by, Kayla! I love it when pieces of my stories catch people's attention. Makes it all worth it. Thanks for stopping by.

  1. Unknown said...:

    Very cool giveaway!! Fits perfectly into my genre du jour!

  1. Rachel said...:

    Yay! silberman.rachel@gmail.com

  1. Wow ! Thank you for such a great giveaway! The book looks great and one that I am very interested in reading.

    mimirose41209 at hotmail dot com

  1. Wow What A Book I cant Wait To Read It I Have it On My Wish List. butterfli262002@yahoo.com

  1. Dyniy said...:

    I believe that this is going to be a hooked on this series. It has definately caught my interest in the small excerpt that I read here. I read the 1st book in another post apolyptic series a couple months ago and I've been waiting impatiently for the next book. I hope that between this series and the other one they will be spaced right so I won't have to go through withdrawal to terribly bad. Thanks for the new great read and the awesome giveaway.

  1. Thank you so much for the giveaway! This sounds great! :)

  1. debbie said...:

    I love post apcolypse, but I have never read any set in this period. I would love to read it.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  1. Great post, it looks like i have one more book to add to my to read list, sounds really good:)
    elliott2668(at)yahoo(dot)com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    What lovely comments to wake up to! I've read many post-apocalyptic stories, some new (Hunger Games) some almost classic (Canticle for Leibowitz) and loved them all. But I wanted different.

    That and I wanted to give away really cool survival baskets!

  1. Nedraw said...:

    Post Apocalyptic stories are some of my favorites. I'm reading an older one now by Gordon R. Dickson called Wolf & Iron.
    Giving one a Regency setting sounds pretty interesting ...definitely going on my list.

  1. wow what a wonderful prize package. Thanks. the book sounds awesome to. Gale
    pgan427@yahoo.com

  1. Tanya said...:

    I'm am loving the concept of a post apocalptic regency as they are two of my favorite genres. Putting them together is just an added bonus. This is going in my TBR pile for sure! Thanks for the wonderful giveaways!

  1. Tanya said...:

    Forget my email

    tanemaxx20(at)gmail(dot)com

  1. erin said...:

    sound fantastic! thanks for the great post and giveaway!
    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

  1. this sounds like a must read! it's on my TBR list now! can't wait! smp0804@hotmail.com

  1. Kelly said...:

    That was such a tease to leave the exerpt like that! Now I gotta read it soon!!
    delivery.RN at gmail dot com

  1. Kelly said...:

    the author's site doesn't work and goodreads is also down gah!!! I can't get to anything to find out more!!
    delivery.RN at gmail dot com

  1. Cathy C said...:

    loved the excerpt - can't wait to read more!

    thanks for this awesome giveaway!

    catherine c

    catherine0807 at hotmail dot com

  1. Natasha said...:

    Great excerpt! Thanks for the chance to win!!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Glad you guys are excited for the book! Yes, my website is going under a renovation and should be back up in a few days. But the link to amazon with a full preview is: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Inheritance-Fallen-Empire-ebook/dp/B0081657LM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337205690&sr=8-1


    I've made note of all the emails.. we wwil draw for the prize in a couple of days! Good luck!

  1. ann said...:

    This book sounds very interesting as a read for me. I try to expand my choices of books so I read a full range of types of books. So looking forward to this one. Thanks for the giveaway.

  1. Amy S. said...:

    I absolutely love Regency Romances! I've been reading them ever since I graduated high school back in '91. I love dystopians now too, so this mix really intrigues me. I'm looking forward to reading it.

  1. Don't you think it would have been incredibly difficult to be a woman during the Regency period? I like the whole Pampered miss part, but having so few choices (especially who to marry and having a career) would have been so hard! I adore the romance of it all though:)

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    bchild5 at aol dot com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    I'm glad you're expanding your reading, Ann, I find some really interesting books when I try new. Not always but very often.

    Amy, I've always loved Regency romances, too! And yup...since high school. :)

    Breandajean, I think it's the romance of the histoy. The gowns, the balls, the hot guys. Pampered, yes, but they also did a lot with the running of the household (never easy), learning languages, music, drawing. Women may not have careers, and little to no say in who they married, but they were well-rounded young misses.

  1. Love the Excerpt - I love finding new authors to enjoy, Thank you for sharing

    scarlettkitty at hotmail dot com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Thanks for stopping b, Little Star.

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Sounds really good!
    kathyross906@gmail.com

  1. Alison said...:

    This book sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my TBR list. Thanks for the except :)

    alison.fees(at)gmail(dot)com

  1. Unknown said...:

    This seems like a good book.
    Thanks for the opportunity.
    Mike Draper
    dmd311@cshore.com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Kathy, Alison, and Michael, thanks for stopping by!

  1. bn100 said...:

    I enjoyed the excerpt. The book sounds good.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1. Rose said...:

    Awesome guest post and great giveaway!!

    Good luck everyone!!

  1. This sounds like a Must read book! Thanks for the giveaway. :)

    taiyoutenshiATgmailDOTcom

  1. Lindz said...:

    What a lovely post and I will see about looking at getting it to read. I do not really read Histical but I will sometimes so it might end up on my reading list.

    Thanks again

  1. Unknown said...:

    This books sounds like something I would love! Thank you for a great review.

  1. Unknown said...:

    If H.G.Wells and Jane Austen did a collaborative work, it would probably look like this. Post-apocalyptic Regency? Sounds like my kind of story.

  1. elin said...:

    This book sounds amazing. I can't wait to read it. Another book to add to my TBR list.
    emilymeimei204 at yahoo dot com

  1. wanda f said...:

    Wonderful post I love the sound of this book a must read for me .Thank you for sharing with us today and for this chance to win.Have a fantastic weekend
    flanagan@mebtel.net

  1. tjmetz said...:

    Sounds like an amazing book, thanks so much for the chance to win!
    Jennifer
    draoi7383 @ yahoo.com

  1. Kelly said...:

    Love the cover. Love Jane Austen and love the post. WOuld love to win. Can't wait to read it! Thanks delivery.RN at gmail dot com

  1. books4me said...:

    I am always looking for new books to read with original ideas and this is at the top of my list now! Sounds like a unique, great read!


    Thank you for the giveaway!

    books4me67 at ymail dot com

  1. This book sounds great, and that excerpt? Yeah, I really want to read it now! Thanks for hosting the author and the great giveaway.

    tabbs55@gmail.com

  1. Sayomay said...:

    Love the summary of this! Just put it on my TBR list!!!!!!!!!
    xeno_turtle@yahoo.com

  1. wow this sounds great! putting it on my tbr list. thanks for the great giveaway!

    smp0804@hotmail.com

  1. Julie S said...:

    Very cool. Thanks for participating in this tour and giveaway.

    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

  1. Unknown said...:

    Thanks for the giveaway! I love historical novels, and I'll have to check this one out sometime.

  1. Erica G said...:

    The excerpt is great and has peaked my interest in reading the whole book. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    cinderwhims at gmail dot com

  1. I really like historical novels and this one sounds particularly interesting because you just dont get to many about the plague. Thanks for the excerpt I'm looking forward to reading it!

    megnate at telus dot net

  1. Unknown said...:

    Thanks for the great guest post & excerpt.

    Terri M
    oklahomamommy0306@gmail.com

  1. Wow- a whole new concept. Looks really good!

    jill.watkins@gmail.com

  1. Stacy said...:

    A post-apocalyptic basket sounds awesome. But even more awesome is a post-apocalyptic historical romance! I can't wait to read it.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

  1. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    autumnflower6ATaolDOTcom

  1. Anonymous said...:

    I love me a good plague!!.....and a girl with a gun never hurts!
    Tia
    videoclimber at yahoo dot com

  1. Brooke said...:

    This one sounds right up my alley. Love Regency England, LOVE dystopians... so this one is going to rock! Thanks!

  1. Unknown said...:

    i would like the survival basket :)

  1. Unknown said...:

    The book sounds amazing and I love regency! Could you see yourself writing a scenario like this in another time period? Did you flip through options and discard a few or did the story just come to you and screamed REGENCY! LOL. This is a great giveaway and I hope you enjoy your tour!!

    viajeradelmar@aol.com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    The East Cost and internet sound like fun :)
    I have never been past the Capitol. I love dystopian and am curious to know where this idea came from. It sounds like a great book.

    dakotagirl16AThotmailDOTcom

  1. With the ingredients of love, a Dystopian world, and Regency characters, bound to be a great recipe for a fun read.

  1. Patrice said...:

    Sounds like a great giveaway.

    pixiepuff2006@yahoo.com

  1. oh wow!!! the blurb just bumped that to the top of my TBR pile!!! thank you so much for the giveaway!!

    smp0804(at)hotmail.com

  1. Denise Z said...:

    Thank you for sharing this excerpt with us today. Dark Inheritance looks like a very intriguing read and I look forward to reading more.
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

  1. This book sounds fantastic! Regency Romance is my favorite, and with a twist? I can't wait!! Thanks for the review:)

    bchild5 at aol dot com

  1. Carol L. said...:

    I love Regency reads . How unique this is . I'm really looking forward to reading Dark Inheritance. Loved the excerpt tease. :)Thanks for sharing.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

  1. Thanks for the new book, I had not heard of it before. Also, I really enjoy when a teaser except is giving. Gives me a much better feeling about the writing style.

    Thanks!

    lisasworldofbooks @ charter.net

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Wow! This book does sound really awesome. I love post apocolyptic stories. Guess I now added another to my TBR pile. Thanks!

    pefrw at yahoo dot com

  1. Fiza said...:

    I haven't heard about this book, but I sounds really interesting.

  1. Krysykat said...:

    Awesome excerpt!

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

  1. hs said...:

    Cool excerpt :)

    hwasunshine(at)gmail(dot)com

  1. Jen said...:

    This book sounds amazing!!! I liked the excerpt :)
    -JennyC

  1. Sounds like such a cool book, a "dark historic twist", nice!

  1. Christina K. said...:

    I love how there's a Regency dystopian! With a science twist:)

    Loved the excerpt:)

    ccfioriole at gmail dot com

  1. Chrissy said...:

    Looks like a book I should take a chance on-thank you for the chance to win! denberry151 AT gmail DOT com

  1. Wow it definately sounds original. I'm glad the idea wouldnt leave you alone. Now I have the chance to read it :D

    megnate at telus dot net

  1. Heather said...:

    Wow, this book is in my TR list now! lol, as for questions... between the review and other comments at this point I really do not have any. However i thoroughly enjoyed the expert of this.

    jaynep140@gmai.com

  1. Thanks for hosting. This is a great giveaway, and I will definitely have to check out the book.

  1. SOS Mom said...:

    Sounds super good..., Thanks for sharing and hosting! I like discovering new genre of books. :)

  1. This sounds like a great book I can't wait to read it

    cindynorman2@att.net

  1. Sounds like a great read!

    Nicole.Zoltack@gmail.com

  1. oh! I do like post-apocalypse.I like the sound of this. Adding it to my TBR wish list. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the Giveaway.

  1. Kenneth said...:

    I have not heard of this one yet, but it looks like one I should check out kenapplesauce23ATaol . ​com

  1. Unknown said...:

    Sounds pretty interesting. I do actually read one semi post-apocalyptic series but it's got the supernatural twist that I love so much in my books hehe. I might consider adding this to my TBR list though.

  1. The book sounds really interesting & different from what I normally read so I'm definetly going to check it out!! Thank you for posting the blurb & for the amazing giveaway!!!
    amccuen319@gmail.com

  1. Darlene said...:

    I am all about dystopia at the moment, seems that I can't get enough! I love the regency element to this dystopia!! Very different, and it sounds like a winning combination! I'm definitely adding it to my Wishlist :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

  1. magic5905 said...:

    Book looks and sounds great, can't wait to read.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

  1. Sounds like a great read! Tara Berke Torres taraducktyl@comcast.net

  1. Lili said...:

    I haven't heard of this book before, but it sounds totally unique so I'd give it a shot! Originality is hard to come by these days.

  1. Wall said...:

    I love the idea of a post-apocalyptic Renaissance novel. I love the era and I think having it be post-apocalyptic would be a great twist. I look forward to reading this novel.

  1. Kristin said...:

    Wow...the author sounds a lot like me. My all-time favorite place is the beach and my worst trait is that I am super-critical of myself!!! Thanks!

    wowknk at gmail dot com

  1. bn100 said...:

    Very nice interview. Very intriguing book.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1. post-apocalyptic Renaissance novel is an insane idea!!! Love it! It's way out there and hard to predict!!

    www.amysbooketlist.blogspot.com

  1. Sounds like a great book Great Interview also Thanks for the great giveaway too crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

  1. It's something different from what I normally read. Sounds like a great book and love the cover. Thanks for this great giveaway!
    -Maritza R

    mararob80 at gmail dot com

  1. Unknown said...:

    This books sounds like something I would love to read!~ :D

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

  1. Denise Z said...:

    This certainly sounds like a unique take on the old favorite. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to share with us today.
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

  1. Catie said...:

    oh gosh my TBR pile just keeps growing ;) Thanks for the giveaway.

    catiesmoviesinmyhead@gmail.com

  1. Ntzee said...:

    Sounds interesting! thanks for the giveaway!!

    n_thao06@hotmail.com

  1. Fiza said...:

    Sounds really interesting.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    fa.iza@ hotmail.com

  1. Christina K. said...:

    Great excerpt!

    I like the flow and the characters - the story sounds very intriguing

    Thanks so much

    ccfioriole at gmail dot com

  1. Wall said...:

    Love, love, love the idea of this book, Regency is one of my favorite eras and having that era being tilted on it's axis sounds great.
    mindywall@att.net

  1. This is not the genre I would normally read but this book does sound interesting!
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  1. Kelly said...:

    This sounds like quite the interesting read. Thanks for the excerpt!

  1. I love the creative idea of this story. I love Regency romances and darker stories, too. The excerpt really made me want to dive into the book!

  1. Unknown said...:

    OMG!!! The Cover is Amazing! It really grabs the attention. Thank you so much for the giveaway! Happy blogging!

    themaniacalbookworm at gmail dot com

  1. I love Post-Apocalypse books! They are my fav and this read sounds amazing! Thanks for the giveaway!

  1. The plot sounds really intriguing.Thanks for the post.

  1. Anme said...:

    I love the idea of having a devastating event happen during the Regency Era in lieu of contemporary or future settings, so this is really interesting sounding!

  1. I'm intrigued and this sounds really good. Can't wait to check it out

  1. Historicals have always been a favorite of mine and this one sounds intriguing.

  1. Brooke said...:

    Just bought in on ebook. Cant wait to dive in. Love historicals and dystopians, sounds like a great mix.

  1. momma8385 said...:

    This book sounds wonderful. I didn't want to stop reading. I wished there was more posted. I know this is one of those books that I will not put down when I start reading it. Thank you for the chance with this giveaway to win this great sounding book.
    :)Jeanne B.T.
    jeannebates_t@yahoo.com

  1. Unknown said...:

    Great except I love how it sounds so far!

    red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1. Vinci said...:

    Greetings:
    thanks, for this great giveaway, eh.
    also, as I love to read Historical
    novels, sounds like my kind of book.
    Having the book post-apocalypse
    is an added bonus. WTG on your writing
    skills. cheers dayle b @ telus dot net

  1. andieleah said...:

    Wow sounds great...very intrigued in a historical post apocalyptic read

    andieleah78@gmail.com

  1. Melissa said...:

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

    bookcrazy124 at gmail dot com

  1. Eli Yanti said...:

    sounds like a great book :)

  1. Alyssa Susanna said...:

    OHMYGOSH!!!! I LOVE THE EXCERPT!!! Rifles and swords... woohoo!!! Post-apocalyptic stuff, Regency, yay!!! The cover is pretty too. Thanks for the post and giveaway! You're so good with these, Krystal!!!

    Alyssa Susanna

  1. Alyssa Susanna said...:

    Ooops, probably should have left my email address. THIS IS NOT A DOUBLE ENTRY. Just my email. Thanks!

    Alyssa Susanna
    lilleetleet(at)verizon(dot)net

  1. WOW! This sounds epically cool! Thank you!

    catchingashootingstar at hotmail dot ca