by 
Kendíka’s second chance at life begins as a nightmare.
Will the eerie eyes always looking down from the sky reveal themselves?
Kendíka challenges the aliens no one has ever seen to bring about a better life for the humans trapped in the surreal Regency world she wakes up in. While getting to know her alien owner, she discovers the aliens aren’t so perfect and have much to learn about humans.
Will Kendíka survive or perish, attempting to make life better for the people living on Regency?
Excerpt:
Startled by the lack of movement, Kendíka sat up in bed, scanning the shadows in the moonlit room. Perspiration beaded her forehead while her heart pounded against her ribs. The last thing she remembered was sitting in the limousine next to Mr. Vetrano, arguing about her future. He insisted the will mandated her future, not him. Did the pill knock her out? How dare he drug me!
She blinked and, holding her breath, glanced around the unfamiliar room. When her lungs screamed for air, she exhaled then took another deep inhale. What the hell? What happened to the limousine?
Butterflies unsettled her stomach. Her back stiffened. Her heart drummed. Oh, my God! When did I get out of the car or come to this room? Why would Mr. Vetrano bring me to such a freaky place? Fear and the thought of her parents’ death brought fresh tears to her eyes.
She slid out of bed and shuffled her bare feet along the stone floor, hands held out to make sure she didn’t bump into anything hidden by the shadows.
At the opposite end of the room, she could make out a dark blob, which she hoped might be the door. Somewhere along the wall near it, she would find a light switch. She advanced slowly, making sure not to stub her toes. Her fingertips ran along the smooth wood. The handle felt cold. She pulled on the knob, but it didn’t budge. Strange! Her heart missed a beat. Why is the door locked?
With all her strength, she pounded on the door. “Mr. Vetrano?” She paused. “Is anyone out there?” She beat her fists on it a few more times, but when no one came to investigate the commotion, she slid to the floor and buried her face in her hands. Think, girl, think. Standing again, she moved her hands along the smooth walls at the edge of the molding, feeling for a light switch. Why can’t I find it? She tried again…nothing but wall. Why is no one coming?
Fun Facts:
– One of the more challenging items I researched was how to address people. I had been under the impression that I could refer to a duke as ‘My Lord.’ Boy was I wrong! To do so is quite degrading. A duke is addressed as ‘Your Grace’, and he’s introduced as, for example, ‘Charles Emory, the Duke of Deverow.’ Yes, he is one of the leading characters in my book.
– What about the funny little hat maids wore that looked like a shower cap? Well, that’s called a mob hat, and no, it has nothing to do with mobsters and gangsters. It was an essential part of a maid’s uniform.
– Speaking of servants, I had to understand what a footman does versus a butler. A footman did a variety of indoor and outdoor jobs. Important to me were the indoor jobs. Learning that a footman laid out the table, served the meal and tea, and assisted the butler helped me determine what Wordsworth’s duties had to be in the book.
– During this research, I learned that the butler was responsible for household security and most important, the wine cellar. The butler didn’t wear a uniform, but he wore a black cravat instead of a white one so he would not be mistaken for a gentleman.
About the Author:
Contact the Author:
Here is the cool Interview I had with Annamaria Bazzi. Enjoy! 🙂
the cold of Michigan, but at the age of five my family relocated for a good six
years to Sciacca, Sicily. Returning to the states was hard especially since I
didn’t speak English though I still managed to get great grades and attended
Wayne State University upon graduating from high school. As a July Leo I love
heat, so summer is my favorite time of year.
only have two novels, Incantation paradox, an urban fantasy, and White Swans A
Regency World. I also have two short stories, Revelation of Abaddon, an urban
fantasy, and A Simple Matter of Justice, a paranormal. At the moment I’m
working on the edits of Dragons in the Resistance I hope to publish in the
summer. I also have a Christmas novella almost ready that will be sold in a romance
box set with other authors in September.
this genre?
write fantasy mixed in with science fiction and a pinch of romance for young
adults. Magic and theoretical physics have always fascinated me hence I include
them in my stories. In the real world almost everyone experiences romance at
least once in their lifetime, hence the pinch of romance to make the stories
more realistic.
sure I really have one. I enjoy starting with a hero that is a bit weak to show
her growth, but have had to change to a strong hero from the beginning because
people don’t seem to like a hero that is closer to reality. I suppose readers
want to see a character that mimics who they would like to be—strong.
away with them after reading your work?
always prevail and should be followed no matter who you are.
inspired you to become a writer?
child, I always dreamed of being an author one day. After a twenty-year career
in the information system, I decided to open an in-home daycare and write in
the evenings.
become a writer, which career would you have chosen and why?
twenty years in computers I needed a change and if I had not wanted to become a
writer I would have tried to open my own little shop selling painted quilted
pillows and blankets. Time ago I learned to quilt, and since I love to paint on
canvas decided to purchase white muslin to use as my canvas and then quilt
pillows or baby blankest around them.
career?
wants to be recognized world wide, but the changes of that happening to most is
quite small, so I settle for a good number of followers who enjoy reading my
stories. As a writer, I want to bring not only enjoyment but also some
awareness of what I think needs to change in the world. If in the process I do
inspire people to change for the better, I’ll consider myself fully
accomplished.
start something?
I don’t remember since I started writing little stories down when I was about
eight years old.
down to write I do it in a corner of my kitchen table, in the middle of all
family activities. No, it doesn’t distract me, it just makes me feel part of
all that’s going on.
ideas come from problems in the real world and my desire to fix them in a way that
makes sense to me.
how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
work on multiple projects at a time, I don’t really experience writer’s block.
If by chance I’m not inspired to work on a particular novel that day, I turn to
a different one. I also blog and there’s always a certain amount of research
that needs to be done. I’m never just sitting twirling my thumbs.
published? (From draft to finding a publisher to finally publishing)
to get the book written. Next it goes to a few beta readers. When it comes back
with comments, I write my second draft. Then I put the book away to distance
myself from it before I tackle a third draft. Once the third draft is done I go
over it again to make sure I stay in the characters deep point of view. At
about draft number seven or eight, I send the manuscript to my editor to start
working with her on what she thinks will improve the story and getting rid of
repeated words and other grammatical and punctuation problems. In the mean time
I talk with my cover designer to bring about my vision of the cover.
line editor is done with the manuscript everything goes back to the editor for
formatting. Once that’s done it comes back to me to make sure no grammatical
errors were overlooked.
eBook is quite easy and with createspace paperbacks can also be ordered.
self-published author I’m involved in every aspect of the publication of my books.
choose this route?
problems marketing my books…I just haven’t learned what works for my books. Why
self-publish? Because I’m involved with every aspect of the writing, the
creation of the cover design and when the books are released. Everything
depends on me not a publishing house. I guess it all boils down to control of
my own works.
how to market their books?
really have any to give considering I’m in need of help with this task.
is something I enjoy so much, I’m going to continue to write young adult novels
and also some romance.
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Nikita, it was great chatting with you. Thank you so much for hosting the tour stop for White Swans