Interview and Giveaway for the author of Rising Wind, Ken Floro III

1.    Where did your interest in writing come from?

I think I’ve always had the storytelling impulse, that drive to share ideas and experiences. Writing was a medium I could access and where I could control and shape the things I wanted to express, so that’s where I committed my creative efforts.

2. Do you have a "ritual" you do before you write?

Honestly, no. I wait for inspiration and then do my best to heed the creative call when it flutters down from the Muses.

3. How do you come up with your characters?

All of my characters start as people I know. Feeling like I already know them helps me move forward once I toss them into the unfamiliar environment of the story. Then I can sit back and watch them interact with each other, the storyscape, and the plot. That way the stories essentially write themselves, and I get the privilege of enjoying a front-row seat as the action unfolds.

4. What genre do you like best?

The first book that truly captured my imagination and ignited a lifelong passion for reading was C. S. Lewis’s Prince Caspian. Ever since, the mythic realms of High Fantasy have been the favorite retreat for my imagination.

5. When not writing, what are your hobbies?

Reading, reading, and reading. Any chance I get I turn to a book. I’m always in the middle of at least three at a time – a hardcopy at home, one in iBooks, and one on Kindle. Reading not only provides an opportunity to explore the landscape of human imagination, but also to effectively receive private lectures from some of the most brilliant minds in history. When you read something you are directly experiencing the thoughts of the author, as if he or she is writing or speaking directly to you. It gives the reader a chance to develop a personal relationship with the person behind the text. I’ve always loved that.

About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!

About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an autographed copy of The Rising Wind! Here's what you need to do...

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog.

That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Rising Wind tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!  

 After graduating into the Imperial knighthood, Marcavius and his cousin book passage aboard a merchant ship, the Rising Wind, to visit their family estate before reporting to the legions. They know no ship dares tread the heart of the Mennaidran Sea, yet along their voyage a strange fog suddenly sets the Rising Wind adrift in those haunted waters. Fortunately another passenger offers his skill as a navigator to save the day, yet he insists that the ship first detour to a nearby island to replenish its supplies. There the ship’s unlucky passengers soon learn that the monsters and magic of legend are no mere myths! Friends, strangers, and even bitter enemies must work together in order to survive and escape. Yet some of the greatest dangers they’ll face are destined to come from one another. 

Get The Rising Wind through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  

About the author: Ken was born and raised in the Southside of Saint Louis. After earning a degree in World Literature, followed by a degree in Culinary Arts, Ken soon made the obvious career move and went to work in medicine. If you’re having any trouble guessing why, then you’ve probably never served time in the literary or culinary fields. A little taste of reality can suddenly turn a healthy paycheck, normal working hours, and long-term job security into sumptuous delicacies. Despite the sudden change in his employment trajectory, Ken never turned away from his dream of writing. He’d nurtured a lifelong creative ambition, which had gained direction when a funny true story he wrote for a high school English class became so popular with his classmates they traded copies of it in the hall and passed them up and down the bus. Ever since that catalytic moment, Ken has been writing as a hobby and a passion. Thus far, he’s published eight books, along with several other tidbits. Connect with Ken on his website, Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.  


a Rafflecopter giveaway