Welcome, today we are talking with K.E. Turner! I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to answer a few questions. First, let’s delve into who you are. Some of the questions may be untraditional but you’d be surprised at what readers connect to, and sometimes the simplest ‘I can relate to that’ grabs their interest where nothing else can.
Can you share a little something about K.E. Turner that’s not mentioned in your bio?
I first met my husband nearly thirty years ago in Eastern Australia, but back then we were only friends. He then moved back to Western Australia. Ten years ago, due to a friend’s wedding, we reconnected. I packed up all my belongings, quit my job, left all my family and friends, and moved across the country to be with him.
How long have you been writing?
I remember writing stories when I was in primary school (for those in the US, I think that’s grade school.) I was about ten or eleven years old. When I was supposed to be doing schoolwork, as soon as the teachers back was turned, I’d have my notebook out. I never really took it seriously- it was more of a hobby until my twenties. Then I kind of got serious about it, and then again in my thirties, but I always let it go because of a rejection, life got in the way, or too many ‘it’s not a real job’ type of comments. It wasn’t until I was in my late forties, early fifties that I really decided I was going to give it my all. I published my debut novel at fifty-one. It’s never too late.
What have you found most challenging about it?
Finding the time to write. With my husband I own and operate a farm stay. It’s a seven day a week business that keeps us both pretty busy. Then there’s family commitments, friends, time out to relax- all things which a petty important for a work life balance. It doesn’t leave a lot of time for writing.
What does writing do for you? Is it fun, cathartic, do you get emotional?
I love writing. I get caught up in my characters and the story. I love putting my characters through their paces. It’s fun. But I do get emotional at times. I’ve just finished writing Book 3 in my Wolves of Langeais series (Wolf’s Redemption) and one scene I wrote had me reaching for the tissues. I hope my readers feel the same when they come to that scene.
Describe what your writing routine looks like. Are you disciplined with a strict schedule or do you have to be in the mood?
If I waited until I was in the mood, I’d never finish a book. 😊I try and write every day. Due to everything else I have going on, and not having a dedicated writing space other than a corner of the living room, I get up at 5am every morning to get two hours of peace in which to write. Some days it’s harder than others. Sometimes I’ll write 1300 words. Others, I’ll squeeze out 200. But for me, routine works. It’s like my brain knows 5am is time to write and it kind of kicks into gear. I also use Abbie Emmons Immersive Writing sprints- a selection of music and sounds set in 25 minute increments. My favourite is the train one. It’s like my brain hears that sound and it helps me get in the right headspace.
Did you go into writing thinking that it would be a hobby or a job?
When it was kid, it was a hobby. But once I decided I was going to give it one last real hot go, it was always as a career. I want to be able to earn enough money from my writing for it to be my fulltime job. Seeing it as a career helps me keep going, keeps me disciplined, and helps me put any setbacks into perspective. Everybody at the beginning of their career has start at the bottom, has a steep learning curve and setbacks. In that respect, writing is no different from being a doctor or a veterinarian. It requires, time, work, dedication and persistence.
What inspires you?
I love to read, and I don’t stick to one genre. I’ll read romance, fantasy, mystery, paranormal, crime, historical, women’s fiction, horror- you name it, I’ll read it. So I write the stories I want to read. Stories that have more than one element in them. Wolf’s Keep and Wolf’s Prize for example, are a romances, but they have paranormal, historical and suspense elements.
What are your pet peeves?
Tech companies/programs doing updates that are supposed to make things better or easier, but all it means is I have to relearn how to use the program all over again. Or I can’t find anything. Or the function that I found useful is no longer available and has been replaced with something so complex that I’ll never learn how to use it in time before they do another update. Here’s looking at you Facebook (Meta), Google, Mailerlite.
Who is your hero?
My Dad. He’s not had the easiest life, but he takes everything in his stride and just finds a way around things. For the most part he’s calm, considered, he’s always there for me when I need advice, or to just listen. He’s also my biggest fan. He’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that I’m an author. He even convinced my hometown library to stock my books. Go Dad!
Give us one thing on your bucket list.
I want to stand in the grounds of Langeais Keep in Langeais, France, (where my series The Wolves of Langeais is set). I’ve never been there. I haven’t been to 10th century France either, but that’s the joy of writing. If I let my imagination run wild, and do a good bit of research, I can set a story wherever takes my fancy.
What would readers find surprising about you?
According to my beta reader, I’m naughtier than I look. Especially when you get to the open door sex scenes. Wolf’s Keep is a slow burn, but I’ve upped the ante in Wolf’s Prize, and even more so in Wolf’s Redemption- due to release in December.
If you could go to heaven, who would you visit?
I’m very lucky that, apart from my grandparents, I’ve not lost too many people in my life. But I have lost an awful lot of pets. I’d want to see them. And I think my grandparents would understand.
Now that our readers know who K.E. Turner is let’s get down to the business of your book, Wolf’s Prize, which is book 2 in The Wolves of Langeais Series. Please tell us a little bit about, Wolf’s Prize.
Aimon Proulx, a tenth century French chevalier and werewolf, is in an unenviable position. His alpha is in hiding- presumed dead. A conniving archbishop is killing members of his pack. The notorious count of Anjou wants them to create an unbeatable supernatural army for him, turning chevaliers into werewolves. His pack is on the verge of extinction, and one of their own has betrayed them. Now Aimon has been tasked with uncovering who that traitor is. That is, until he comes across something they had all thought lost. A female werewolf.
Kathryn Beauchene doesn’t truly know what she is. She thinks she’s cursed- a monster. Nor does she have any idea that a pack exists. Until she’s drawn into the world of the Langeais wolves by the Count of Anjou. Aimon vows he’ll keep her safe from all who hunt them, but with her burnished copper locks and her fiery temper, Kathryn is more than a task. She’s a temptation. One he’s trying really hard to resist.
What was your hardest challenge writing this book?
One of the biggest challenges was remembering everything that happened in Wolf’s Keep (book 1) and weaving in the back story just enough so things made sense, but not too much that it was boring.
I also found it a challenge writing Aimon, my hero. In Wolf’s Keep, I described him as young, naïve and idealistic, but he’s also a 10th century chevalier and werewolf. As mentioned above, I’m not keen on cinnamon roll heroes, but I think I’ve managed to get the balance right. By the end of Wolf’s Prize, I’d fallen in love with Aimon as much as I had Gaharet, my hero from Wolf’s Keep.
What kind of research did you have to do?
I’d done a lot of research on France, Langeais, Langeais Keep and customs/life in 10th century France for Wolf’s Keep, so I had all that material already. In Wolf’s Prize, I go deeper into what it means to be a werewolf and Aimon and Kathryn spend a lot of time in their wolf form, so I did a lot of research on wolf behaviour. I watched a lot of YouTube videos from wolf conservation groups to pick up on mannerisms, expressions and the way wolves interact with each other.
What in your opinion makes good chemistry between your leading characters?
I think there has to be some tension (sexual or otherwise) between them. They can’t just meet and everything go smoothly, otherwise the story is all over in the first few chapters. But I also think that the characters need to fit together. The reader needs to believe that the two characters would work better with each other than any other character, even if the characters themselves can’t see it. Whether they compliment each other- he’s the calm to her emotional storm- or if they have a connection or something in common- their values, their temperaments, their goals, or a similar background or emotional wound- they need to be well matched.
How many books do you plan in the series?
There are seven books planned for The Wolves of Langeais- Wolf’s Keep, Wolf’s Prize, Wolf’s Redemption, Wolf’s Return, Wolf’s Witch, Wolf’s Chance and Wolf’s Crusade.
Any other works in progress?
Wolf’s Redemption is due for release in December 2024 and I’m currently writing Wolf’s Return. I’ve also written a short novel- a contemporary paranormal story based on the descendants of the Langeais Wolves that I hope will be accepted as part of a second chance/Christmas anthology.
Any advice for aspiring authors?
The best thing I ever did for my writing was to join a writer’s group. Finding a community of like-minded people has helped me in so many ways. I’ve had the support of other writers, I’ve learned from those more accomplished, and I’ve made valuable connections.
Final words?
The Wolves of Langeais series is ideally read as a series, so my publisher is putting Wolf’s Keep on sale for the week leading up to the release of Wolf’s Prize on May 7th
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