In the Spotlight – C.E. Kilgore

Right now I’m reading Ghost in the Machine from the “Corwint Central Agent Files” series by C.E. Kilgore. I’m enjoying this intriguing sci fi novel and it’s a pleasure to welcome the author here today to talk about the recently released third book in series, Tracing the Stars.

About C.E. Kilgore

C.E. Kilgore has always had a love of romantic stories and science fiction. Although active in the writing community during her undergraduate studies, she chose to focus on her love of history and culture. Graduating with an HBA in History and a BA in Cultural Anthropology, she puts a deep emphasis on creating characters and environments within her writing that are full of both culture and history. The relationship development between characters and the worlds they live in is also an important aspect of her stories. Sarcasm, comedy, hidden “modern” references and subtle hints at underlined universal meanings are common within her writing style, but there is always plenty of action and a darker side lurking just around the corner.

Read on more more from C.E. and her newest novel!

About Tracing the Stars

The sci fi series, “Corwint Central Agent Files”, continues with book 3, Tracing the Stars .

Hankarron Eros has loved Tara since she had pigtails, but fear of losing their friendship leads him to keep his heart’s desires locked away. When the truth about his family is exposed and leaves him grasping to hold onto his ship, his crew and his sanity, words are spoken that can’t be taken back and the presence he had grown so used to having at a convenient reach is gone.

Tara Flint has never denied her heart’s attraction to the floppy-haired, brown-eyed Hankarron, even if he can be a stupid limik sometimes. Her strong will falters as she is forced to decide between a promise she made to her father, a boy she has loved since she had pigtails and the possibility of finding out what her life might be like without the presence of Hankarron always by her side.

They say that the stories of our time will one day be traced into the stars to help guide others home. Fate strings intertwine with skipping stones across the stars of the universe, pulling it forward and writing new lines in the night sky as the Corwint Central Agent saga continues to lead Ethan, Orynn and Jarren towards a collision that holds the power to change everything.

Now let’s shine the spotlight on CE!

Maer: Thanks for joining us to tell us about your new book, C.E. What is the funniest or oddest thing that has happened to you as an author?

CE: As a self-published author, I’ve had my fair share of hiccups. One of my biggest was when I was adding a cover page update to Book 1 and Book 2 on Amazon. I accidentally switched the two mobi files, and for about 18 hours, book 1 was book 2 and vice versa. Now, I have a strict rule that I don’t try to do two things at once and never work on my files without coffee.

Maer: Do you use beta readers and, if so, what qualities do you look for in a beta?

CE: Sometimes, but not always. I look for betas who can understand style, like science fiction and are willing to give honest feedback.

Maer: What is a one line synopsis for your book?

CE: Fate doesn’t always give you what you want, but it will always give you what you need; even if you don’t realize it at the time.

Maer: Intriguing. What can you tell us about the new book and the series?

CE: This is book 3 in the Corwint Central Agent Files series, which currently has three main books published (including this one) and three published side stories. I am currently working on three additional side stories and there are three more planned novels at this time. Book 4 is scheduled for spring of 2014.

Maer: Which character, other than your Main Characters, is one of your favorites to write and why?

CE: This is a toss-up between two. I love Brom, but he hasn’t had his real moment yet. His book will be book 5, and I think the readers will come to love him as much as I do. Brom is a storyteller by nature, and he is strong, compassionate and loyal. He also had a subtle sadness hidden within his hazel eyes that hasn’t been explored yet. In book 3, I ended up writing Trip ‘Wild Fists’ Weston quite by accident and he turned into a main character all on his own. He was so much fun to write, and I’m going to be incorporating him and Jennadri in future books as well.

Maer: I know you have a lot of them, but if you had to pick a color to describe your Main Characters what would they be and why?

CE: I actually incorporate specific colors within each of my characters. Ethan, for example, is blue. He is a Mechatronic Automaton struggling with emotions he wasn’t designed to fully deal with. Orynn’s color is white – it’s a symbol of purity and also her struggle with the tainted black in her spirit. Hankarron is brown – earthen, simple on the surface but complicated below. Tara is green, Brom is orange, Merik is pitch black, Asha is gold and Jehdra is red. I think if you read the series, you’ll be able to figure out what those colors represent.

Maer: So, who are your favorite authors to read?

CE: So many – but I will say that I read mostly Indi. Don’t get me wrong, I like big name authors like Kathy Reich, Terry Goodkind and George R.R. Martin. I have just found so many wonderful stories from the Indi community to fill my reading time that it’s all I seem to be reading lately. If you check out my GoodReads book shelves, you’ll find a ton of indi authors to read. For those that have been steering clear of indi books, give indi a chance. I know there are some stinkers out there, but there are so many incredible gems, too.

Maer: CE, can you share a bit about the project you’re working on now?

CE: I am currently working on two main projects. One is Book 4 of the series, Breathe Into Existence. Book 4 will focus on the development between Asha and Merik, and it will continue the story of Ethan, Orynn and Jarren. Things are going to come to a breaking point in book 4 when the ‘collision’ finally occurs. I have also recently started working on a contemporary romance story, but it is without a title.

Maer: So, what do you do when you’re not writing?

CE: I love to garden, though this year’s weird weather has kept me indoors mostly. I also do a little crochet, watercolor painting and I do contract work as a website developer.

Maer: You’re a very creative lady! What influenced you to write in your genre? Do you write in others?

CE: I love science fiction. I grew up on Star Trek and Star Wars. More than anything, I loved the exploration of cultures and the questions those types of shows, and Space Opera in general, raises. I think the questions, those explored in a futuristic setting, and often times far away galaxy, are questions that ring very true for our own time period and civilization as a whole. I love Space Opera’s focus on character development, too. When I realized I could add romance into the mix, I was hooked. I have recently started working on a Contemporary Romance piece, seeing if I can ask the same types of questions and create the same depth of character development within a contemporary setting. So far, it’s been a fun and enlightening experience.

Maer: What music, if any, do you like to listen to while writing?

CE: Everything from Dubstep to Classical. It really depends on the mood of the scene I’m working on. Music creates images for me and helps me feel the scene I’m trying to write.

Maer: Thanks so much for dropping by today, C.E. Do you have anything you’d like to add?

CE: My true goals as a writer are to tell a good story and to always keep improving. Writing is a way for my imagination to run rampant, and I am glad that some readers have joined me on my mind’s escapades.