Bullets and Bones
Desa Kincaid, #2
by R.S. Penny
Next Chapter Publishing
Genre: sci-fi western
Desa Kincaid set out to save her world from the machinations of a madman.
She failed.
Now, she finds herself a prisoner in her own city, navigating a web of political intrigue. Hope beckons in the form of the mysterious Spear of Vengeance, a weapon forged by the gods.
To recover it, Desa will take a journey into the very heart of the ancient world and confront an enemy more powerful than any she has faced so far… Her own guilt.
Desa Kincaid Bounty Hunter
Desa Kincaid, #1
by R.S. Penny
Next Chapter Publishing
Genre: sci-fi western
Desa Kincaid has spent the last ten years in pursuit of a man whose experiments have killed over a dozen people.
Blessed with the power to transform ordinary objects into devastating weapons, she journeys through trading ports, backwater towns, forests, deserts and the haunted remains of a dead city.
But can she stop her enemy before he unleashes something terrible on the world?
Author Interview:
⫸ What inspired you to write this book? OR Tell us a little about how this story first came to be. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else?
The Desa Kindcaid series started as a story on a website. It was sort of a protest against the plodding epic fantasy you got from authors like George Martin. I had three goals I wanted to accomplish.
Keep it exciting and fast-paced
Choose a setting other than Medieval England.
Start the characters in a dark place and have them move toward the light. (Too much fiction does the opposite).
⫸ What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
It took me a while to figure out how to do combat with the magic system. It’s kind of a nuts-and-bolts thing. For instance, I discovered that in many cases, describing the effects of magic – “A blast of lightning erupted from Desa’s ring” – was more effective than using the magical jargon. “Desa triggered her Electric-Source.”
⫸ What surprised you the most in writing it?
How popular it became. I wasn’t expecting that.
⫸ What does the title mean?
If you’re referring to “Bullets and Bones,” I’m afraid that’s a spoiler. You’ll find out what it means by the end of the book. The third and final book in the series is called “Face of the Void.” That’s also a spoiler. But I’ll let you muse on what it might mean.
⫸ Were any of the characters inspired by real people? If so, do they know?
No. I don’t do that.
Except with Jeral Dusep (one of the villains of the Justice Keepers series). He’s a politician. I purposefully learned to imitate Donald Trump’s speaking style for his dialogue.
⫸ Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
The series is kind of a denouncement of cynicism. You know, that attitude that says “All people are selfish; you can’t trust anyone?” Desa, in particular, starts off with a very cynical outlook and makes some poor decisions as a result. Over the course of the series, she learns to overcome that. I’m purposefully avoiding going into too much detail to avoid spoilers.
⫸ What is your favorite part of the book?
For Bullets and Bones, it’s got to be the train fight scene. That was so much fun to write. Though a lot of people like the haunted forest chapter.
⫸ Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
They all presented different challenges.
⫸ What are your immediate future plans?
I’m going to finish the third book in the series and then publish it.
About the Author:
Throughout my twenties, I wrote about five novels and threw them all out because they weren’t very good. But I improved and honed my skills with each new manuscript. About two years ago, I had an offer from a traditional publishing house, but I chose to go indie instead. Writing is my passion; if I could dedicate myself to one thing, it would be bringing the ideas in my head to life.
