Monday, October 5, 2015

Nadja Losbohm: Author Interview & Spotlight


Please welcome to my blog Nadja Losbohm, author of the paranormal and urban fantasy novel, The Huntress.

Book blurb


Ada Pearce is an average young woman. She is 5’4” tall, overweight, and doesn’t play sports of any kind. Shortly after her 21st birthday a mysterious priest informs her of her destiny as a huntress. Ada doesn’t believe that story at first, but when she finds out that creatures of the night threaten the human population, she accepts her destiny, gives up her former life, and moves into the secret rooms of St. Mary’s Church, which had been built hundreds of years ago, and begins her training.

In flashbacks, the protagonist herself tells her story, beginning with her first meeting with the enigmatic and unapproachable priest, through her first year of training and her secret life, to the problems she encounters on her first hunt, and the issues which crop up when a priest and a woman live together…

The Huntress – The Beginnings: a charming mixture of science-fiction, fantasy romance and humor.

Book excerpt

I ran down the street. The glow of dawn was slowly breaking above the rooftops. There was a wonderful play of colors that started off with yellow before it turned into pink and purple then finally blended with the remnants of the nocturnal blue. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I ran like mad through the backyards and felt something running down my arm. I immediately knew it was blood. My blood.
That damn beast must have had a go at me with its claws. That’s another scar. Great! I already had a notable assortment of those. Almost every type of monster had left a mark on me, except the vampires, and I really had no intention of getting too close to those.
Racing through town, I felt like I was running in place. The church wasn’t yet within sight. “Please, please, please!” I begged and looked over my shoulder. Panic overcame me after I realized that the monster had caught up with me and was getting ever closer. Shit! Why was I so slow today? I ran through an empty intersection. The traffic lights were on orange, like every night after a certain hour. I turned around the corner at the Chinese restaurant where red paper lanterns hung down golden tassels and colorful plastic flowers sat on the windowsills. I zigzagged hoping to shake the monster off, but it was no use. It was still on my tail. Desperate, I whispered Father Michael’s name and tried to imagine what he’d say to spur me on and make me run faster. But then I saw the church tower. The cross on top looked down at me. Thank God!
I gathered every bit of strength I had and raced down the alley towards the church. I ran, winding my way around the trees. I heard the monster panting behind me. I couldn’t see it, but it sounded like it just dashed through beds of flowers. In the corner of my eye, I saw rose bushes and soil flying about. People would probably think that a bunch of drunkards were on a rampage again. Then I saw Father Michael. He was standing on the stairs in front of the church door. His dark silhouette paced restlessly back and forth. The lanterns’ yellow light cast a black shadow on the walls of the church.
   I was so glad to see him I started crying. That’s not a good idea, Ada! The tears obscured my vision. I blinked a few times, but the tears in my eyes just wouldn’t stop coming. I called Father Michael’s name and saw how he turned abruptly. His cassock fluttered. How long had he been waiting there for me?
   I couldn’t wait to reach him and be inside the safe haven of the church walls. My feet weren’t quick enough and I stumbled. I tripped over the curb. I thrashed around with my arms before I fell down flat on my face. I felt my hands and knees scraping the asphalt as I heard Father Michael shouting. I struggled back up on my feet and looked at the church. The Father came running towards me across the square. “Where’s the sword?” he shouted.
   I automatically reached to my side but there was nothing. Damn! I must have dropped it as I fell. I looked around and saw it a few meters away. Just as I wanted to run and get it, the Father pushed me aside and grabbed it. I watched the scene with big, wide eyes. My heart almost stopped when I saw the monster getting ready to jump. The Father stood there calmly. He looked like a statue holding a sword and waiting for the right moment to use it. The monster took off and pounced at him. One of the two screamed but I couldn’t tell who. The only thing I could clearly discern was the Father standing right under the monster, which was hovering over him. Father Michael’s arm swung up before the sword slashed the monster’s belly open. The Father turned and whirled around before he finally settled on his knees behind the dead monster.
Mesmerized, I glared at him. I had never seen anyone move like that. He was as gracious and supple as a dancer, yet as precise and relentless as a machine that had only one purpose: to kill.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him as I walked towards him. He took my breath away. He looked like a knight on his knees before his king, offering his sword in allegiance.
   “That was … incredible!” I murmured, looking back and forth at him and then the dead monster.
Father Michael raised his head and looked at me, but didn’t really see me. His eyes were distant, almost veiled. He seemed to be in some kind of trance. He blinked before the veil fell off.
   "Yeah, really incredible!” he repeated sarcastically. He got up. “What the hell was the matter with you?” he said, snapping at me. He came towards me and stood right in front of my face. He was so furious, he panted and breathed quickly. I felt every breath of his on my skin.
   He scared me and I started to stutter. When he started swearing, I knew he was really, really mad.
   “You’re hurt,” he interrupted as his tone suddenly mellowed. He grabbed my arm roughly to check the injury. Feeling the pain, I took a strong, deep breath.
   “I’m sorry,” he said gently, his eyes softening. “You go on ahead. I’ll be right with you and see to your wounds. I just need to take care of this here,” he said, pointing at the dead monster.



Buy it here


Brief bio

Nadja Losbohm was born on December 14th, 1982 and lives in Berlin, Germany. Her first fantasy novel "Alaspis - The Search For Eternity" (German edition available only) was published in 2012. Since then she has published the popular series of fantasy romance books "The Huntress". In German there are parts 1-5 available (ebook and paperback). "The Huntress - The Beginnings" is the first part of the series and the first English book Nadja Losbohm has published.



Interview:

1. I love urban fantasy and I am curious what books and authors influenced you growing up. What made you decide to be a writer?

I’ve loved fairy tales and fantasy books since I was a child. I grew up with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and “A Neverending Story” by Michael Ende. I think this is why I also like to write in this genre. It’s just great to become a part of a fictitious world and to escape from everyday reality. But it was Karen Marie Moning who really influenced my writing style. I love her “Fever”-series. Her way of writing and telling the story is brilliant; I had so much fun reading these books.
When I was 19 years old, I found out about the works of an artist, who’s also an actor, but he does so many different things: painting, photography, music, writing. That really impressed me. I always liked to draw and paint, but his many-sidedness made me want to try something new. That’s when I decided to write my first fantasy story.

2. How hard has it been to get into the English market? Tell us about your efforts and what you are doing to try and make your book a success here.

It is pretty hard to get into the English market. I don’t say I’ve made it yet. I’ve been given only a handful of chances and opportunities, but I cherish them all very much! The first thing I did was trying to get into contact with English speaking book bloggers, but I never got any replies. So, if there’s anybody who’d like to read and review my book or would like to do an interview – just let me know.
Facebook was a great help. I found the Fantasy Sci-Fi-Network there. Members of the FSFNet are international authors coming from different countries. They were so welcoming and friendly to me. They offered me to do interviews with me and help me to promote my books. They are a great bunch of people! I also did a giveaway, where you could download my ebook “The Huntress” for free or I lowered the price. I regularly post on Facebook and Twitter. I also try to write more English short stories to find new readers, who can read these online for free.

3. Did you always plan on self publishing or did you try and find an agent or publisher first.

No, I did not plan on self-publishing at first. Like many other authors, my dream was to find a huge publishing company, but after I sent my book to several publishers I had to face up to reality. I didn’t get replies or received refusals. But I thought it would be a pity not to share the story with others. So, I started self-publishing it and I’m glad I did.

4. What have you learned as an Indie author that you wished you knew when you first started out?

I wished someone would have told me the truth about how many authors are out there. I had no idea. I wished someone would have told me how hard it can be to wait and how much work it is to be an indie author, but I love what I do, so I don’t give up.

5. What are you currently working on now and do you have plans to have any of your other books translated to English?

At the moment, I’m working on my first German children’s book with short stories and poems about values, which are important to me, such as tolerance, help, respect and hope. I’m also working on a new series of books with one of the characters from “The Huntress”. I do have plans to translate one of my books. It’s the second part of “The Huntress”. And together with a fellow author, Leisl Kaberry, I could already translate a poem. Hopefully more is going to come. There’re lots of plans and ideas.

6.  What can you say to those reading this today that might convince them to give your book a try?

If you’re looking for a unique story, if you like strong female characters, who never give up, “The Huntress” is your book. It is funny, exciting and romantic. It has elements of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, paranormal, humor and love.
It is a quite personal story and written with much blood, sweat and tears. “The Huntress” is a matter dear to my heart or I wouldn’t have fought for her to get translated, which took almost two years. I had so much fun writing this story. I know there’s some kind of uncertainty about translated books and maybe “The Huntress” is not perfect. But please give her a try. It’s worth it.

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