Today our featured guest is author, Karen Duvall. Karen has been kind enough to answer our ten quickies, so we can get to know her just a little better. We've also been gifted with an excerpt from her latest release, Sun Storm. It's one of three novellas in Harlequin Luna's Til the World Ends anthology. So let's get crackin'!
1. Mountains or Beaches? Definitely beaches. I was born in Hollywood, California, and grew up in Hawaii, so the ocean feels like my natural habitat.
2. Early Morning or Late Night? Used to be early morning, but over the past few years I've become a night owl. I don't sleep much, maybe 5 or 6 hours a night, so if I'm in bed by one I'll be up at the crack of dawn anyway.
3. High Heels or Sneakers? My feet are embarrassingly big. I can't wear heels; they pinch my toes and give me blisters. It's sneakers all the way.
4. Summer or Winter? Definitely winter. Even though I grew up in warm climates, I really like cold weather. Love snow and rain, snuggling up to the fire with a blanket and a book. Heaven.
5. Wine or Chocolate? Wine. I like chocolate okay, but a good glass of wine is my weakness.
6. Pen or Laptop? Laptop. I can hardly read my handwriting sometimes, and to be honest, writing long hand makes my hand cramp up after a while. My fingers fly over a keyboard.
7. Sports Car or Motorcycle? Sports Car. I drove a motorcycle into a ditch once. I never could coordinate my hands and feet with the gears, gas and breaks. For me, driving a motorcycle is like trying to walk backwards.
8. Gold or Silver? Silver. It goes with anything.
9. Appetizer or Dessert? Appetizer. I'm more of savory person than one who goes for sweets. I love dessert, but I'd much rather have a yummy crudité.
10. Kindle or Paperback? Kindle. I adore my Kindle because I can enlarge the type. That tiny type in paper books gives me a headache and makes my eyes burn. I can read for a long time on my Kindle without my eyes getting tired.
The Blurb:
Sarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms-in the cosmos and beyond. And she’s not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She’ll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.
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The Excerpt from Sun Storm:
"Going somewhere?" Ian eyed the vehicle.
"As a matter of fact, I am. Another storm is coming, to downtown Denver this time, and I'm kind of in a hurry to get there before it hits."
He scowled, his delicious brown eyes getting lost in his squint. "That's dangerous."
"Not for me. But it could be for the people in Denver if I don't arrive in time to warn them." I flipped up the Storm Trooper's hood and angled my jack under the battery to lift it from the ground. The higher I could get it, the less distance I'd have to carry it.
"Let me do that." He crouched down, scooped up the battery with a grunt, and carried it the rest of the way to the vehicle. I was about to explain where it needed to go, but there was no need. He plunked it precisely in place and began hooking up the cables.
"How did you know—?"
"Your dad and I have something in common." He hunkered over the engine, checking lines and pistons and electrical cords. Ian knew his way around a solar-powered car. "I was a mechanic in Boston. That's where I'm from."
He seemed too good to be true, which spiked my suspicion meter. I seriously liked this guy, so why did I resist trusting him?
"All set," he said, as he wiped his hands on his scrub pants. "Ready to go?"
I frowned. "Are you inviting yourself to come with me?"
"Don't mind if I do." He smiled and I had to admit his charm was disarming. There was real heart in that smile. His eyes had a genuine twinkle, but they also hinted at what remained unspoken. I sensed his discomfort, which made me uncomfortable, too. About him.
I couldn't think of a better way to find out more about him than to take him along, but only on one condition. "Before you hop in, I need you to answer a question for me."
His smile faded to a barely discernible grin. "Sure. What do you want to know?"
"What kind of Kinetic are you?"
His grin broadened to the snarly one I liked so much. "I'm the weatherman."
Ian controlled weather. I chased weather. The combination was uncanny. I thought about the good he could do for farmers and their dying crops. Hardly anyone grew fruits and vegetables anymore, unless it was in a controlled terrarium or greenhouse. The yields were rare and precious, and only available to the wealthy.
Now that we were both buckled into our seats and on our way out of town, I decided to ask more about what he could do. "If you can make it rain, you have the power to change the world."
About the author: Karen
Duvall lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four incredibly
spoiled pets. She's an award winning author published with Harlequin Luna and
is currently working on a new contemporary fantasy series.
Twitter: @KarenDuvall
Sun Storm sounds very intriguing, Karen. It's at the top of my TBR file now. Thank you very much for spending time with us here today. We wish you much success with all of your books!
The other day a bird landed on the edge. I was so curious about the bird, I forgot about the deck. I ran over to sniff it, and it flew away! Then I was stuck. I was far away from Mom and the only way to get to her was to walk. I was very careful. Slow steps. Tiny steps. And you know what? I got there. Close to mom. She gave me a cookie.
It’s been fascinating to watch Lucy work through her fear. 
