Feature Friday: Kady Cross

In her other life Kady Cross is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 books. She is lucky enough to have a husband who shares her love for the slightly twisted, and all things geek, and a houseful of cats with whom she shares her darkest secrets.  When she’s not listening to the characters in her head she’s either trying to formulate the perfect lipgloss or teaching herself to solder. She has a weakness for all things girly, sugar skulls, and boots. Her love of books and makeup borders on addiction – from which she never, ever wants to be cured.

Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

Kady:
Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Trite, but true. Study your favorite authors, write until you find your own voice. Listen to your instincts and always keep striving to improve your work.

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

Kady:
Oh, I don't think I could pick a favorite! That's like asking someone to pick their favorite star in the sky, or their favorite snowflake. There are so many beautiful books out there. Maybe I haven't found my favorite yet.

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for The Girl with the Iron Touch?

Kady:
My husband. He was the one who thought it would be 'cool' to have a group of sentient automatons pop up. I thought it was the perfect way to continue the Machinist story line (and arc of the series) and also give Emily and Sam their time in the spotlight.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing The Girl with the Iron Touch? What were they and how did you fix them?
 

Kady:
No snags except what to do with Jasper, who is still a little out of sorts after the events in New York. Then, Cat showed up and I sent them off on their own adventure (look for the 'Wild Adentures of Jasper Renn' short storyin a few months)!

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in The Girl with the Iron Touch is your favorite and why?

Kady:
Mila. I think because she was new, and just so odd! lol. She was a lot of fun to write in that book, and it's been interesting watching her evolve.

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
 

Kady:
It's not terribly exciting! I've known I wanted to do this since I was 8, which was hundreds of years ago, now. I was 28 when I sold my first book. What I did was look at my favorite authors and check for any repetition of publisher. Turned out about 3/4 of them were at the same house. Then, I compared my style to theirs, picked the ones I thought I was most compatible, and researched if any of them shared the same editor. And what do you know, most of them shared the same editor! I sent that editor my book, which she then gave to her assistant and with permission to buy it if she wanted it. Lucky for me, that editor did indeed want the book!

A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?

Kady:
I'm working on the last book of the Steampunk Chronicles (insert sad face) and pitching a brand new series (insert manic face) that I think readers will love! It's different from the SC, but I'm really excited about it.

A.L.:
You write both adult and YA in a couple of different genres. What do you prefer writing?

Kady:
It depends on the day! lol. If I'm writing YA I prefer adult and if I'm writing adult I prefer YA. I think it's a weird neurotic thing that most writers have to keep them pushing forward.

A.L.:
Out of all the Steampunk Chronicle books you've written so far (including your novellas) what's your favorite story-line and why?

Kady:
Now you're asking me to pick my favorite child!? lol. Hmm. I think the evolution of Finley and Jack's friendship has been my favorite. Certainly very interesting for me. Also, Griffin's arc from boy afraid of what he is to (spoiler alert!!) embracing his power in book 4.

A.L.:
What's your favorite set of cosmetics right now? (brand, color, etc.)

Kady:
You're killing me. If you could see my makeup collection you would not be asking me this! OK, right now I'm totally in love with Inglot eyeshadows and MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. Fab for summer. Oh, and Benefit 'Fakeup' concealer. It is amazing!

The Giveaway:
Oh, you guys are so lucky this week.  Kady is giving away the entire series (thus far) of The Steampunk Chronicles -- signed.  AND it's international!  I've read a good chunk of this series and met Kady (she's a CT author like I used to be) and I love both the books and the author a lot, please support her! :D

The Girl in the Steel Corset: In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her.When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no "normal" Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of "them." The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on--even if it seems no one believes her.

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The Girl in the Clockwork Collar:  In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling-or dangerous Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper from the clutches of a devious criminal demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. One false move from Jasper, and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens and tightens. From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens follows Jasper's elusive trail. And they're about to discover how far they'll go for friendship. More than ever, Finley must rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley...and will risk his life and reputation to save her. Now, to help those she's come to care for so deeply, Finley must infiltrate the criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much....

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The Girl with the Iron Touch:  In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

Read Goodreads Reviews.
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How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner via email. This contest is open to international entrants. 


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