Email author at- rfkenney@gmail.com
Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks
Tropes- innocent FMC, grumpy-sunshine, hurt-comfort, traumatic past, magic awakening, dark wintry vibes, us against the world, saving each other
He saved her from a murderer. But can he protect her from himself? Kidnapped by a serial killer, Feather has lived in a remote cabin for years, surviving by cleverness and caution. One night, she unwittingly summons a Fae demon known as Krampus, who enacts vengeance on her kidnapper and leaves Feather free… but with nowhere to go and no memory of the family from which she was stolen. Krampus, a vicious horned Fae with a wicked tongue, doesn’t want anything to do with a helpless human girl, though he eventually agrees to let her stay in his huge, decaying mansion as his maid. But Krampus isn’t the only monster in the house, which complicates Feather’s efforts to clean each room in the strangely sentient dwelling. For his part, Krampus becomes increasingly obsessed with the brown-eyed girl he rescued, a fascination that makes him more vulnerable to the Fae-hunters who’ve been hired to kill him. When the danger becomes too great to ignore, Feather must decide what freedom truly means… and what she’s willing to sacrifice to gain it. This standalone, spicy fantasy romance has wintry vibes but can be read at any time of the year. It features Germanic mythology and monsters, a medieval-fantasy version of a serial killer, and the Fae universe of the Wicked Darlings series.
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How long have you been writing and why did you start?
I started writing stories when I was very young. The earliest one I remember is a self-illustrated mermaid story when I was seven. I majored in English and minored in Creative Writing, but for a while, when my kids were little, I didn’t write stories. I had to work, and a lot of that was writing very boring articles and buying guides and blog posts. In 2018 I was inspired to quit sitting in front of the TV wishing I could be an author and actually write a full novel. I wrote & self-published 3 books, and shortly afterward began the querying journey that led me to being a hybrid author (both self-published and traditionally published).
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What gets you in the mood to write?
I like to eat some protein in the morning, get some coffee & a Propel water, and put on my playlist for whichever book I’m currently writing. Sometimes I also look at the Pinterest moodboard to get myself in the zone.
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What is your creative ‘process?’
I’m a free writer, discovery writer, or pantser, depending on your preferred terminology. I don’t outline, or if I do, it’s just a handful of lines and some scattered notes at the end of the document. I like the excitement of uncovering the story as I go along.
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Who do you look up to most in this profession and why?
I look up to Leigh Bardugo, who is a master at multi-POV; and Holly Black, who got me back into enemies-to-lovers romance; and Ayana Gray, who is literally a queen and such a good writer; and Jennifer L. Armentrout, who is not only incredibly talented but such a sweet, down-to-earth human; and Nisha J. Tuli, who spins amazing stories in rich worlds (and is an actual force of nature herself).
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What’s one of your most recent five star books?
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
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What is the most surprising thing about being an author?
I think it’s the need to stay flexible. You have to be willing to pivot, especially as a self-published author. Staying true to yourself and your voice, but also tweaking things here & there as needed with your marketing, and blending what you love to write with what the readers are looking for.
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What’s something unique about yourself or your writing?
I do a lot of retellings with a twist, and I’m particularly known for genderbending the Sugarplum Faerie in my fantasy romance retelling of the Nutcracker. In my book, Sugarplum is a hot Fae male with pink hair, gauzy wings, a sassy personality, and a dark side.
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What is your favorite candy?
peppermint patties
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Finish this sentence: “When she reached forward towards the doorknob ….
a feathery sheen of ice appeared over its surface, crackling in the still air.
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What is one of your exciting upcoming ideas/themes for a project you haven’t started yet?
can’t say, it’s a secret!
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Who is one of your favorite heroines and why?
I love Jane Eyre. Always have. She’s quiet outwardly, came from a traumatic and abusive background, and yet she’s incredibly creative with wonderful depth. She has an indomitable spirit.
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Who is one of your favorite villains and why?
I love Loki. He’s so sassy and sarcastic, and somehow he’s sensitive even though he can be absolutely, brutally wicked.
ALL DONE!!!
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To support another Indie author, please check out Cassie Swindon’s books. Her most recent is a fairy tale flip (for adults). The Phantom Ink is a beauty and the beast gender reversal following Brody & Mora in an enchanted forest while dealing with a curses of thorns.
