#Spotlight & #Interview :: Chrysalis Series by M.L. Lacy

All families have secrets. At 32, Bree Campbell discovers her entire life has been a secret. A human born into a family of magicals, she begins questioning everything and everyone around her. The prophecy told at her birth speaks of a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones charged with saving both the human and magical realms. Bree must face this reality and life with her new family; a clan of vampires protecting her. The sorceress, Esmeralda, will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. None could then oppose her and she would be free to rid the world of all humans. Will Bree awaken the hidden powers and find inner strength needed to save the world?

Bree's eyes are opening to unimagined possibilities. Reunited with her soul mate, Steven, and her protectors Bradley, Bill and Rick, she journey's through a world she is only now beginning to comprehend. Challenges abound as she contends with the jealousies of her new status from Madelyn and the two newest members of her clan. As tensions escalate, the dynamics within her new family are enough to rock her world. And if that wasn't enough to contend with, Esmeralda, her arch nemesis who desires nothing more than to wipe Bree from the face of the earth, holds nothing back as she strikes out at Bree's family and friends. As the prophecy told at her birth continues to unfold, Bree and those around her are only beginning to truly understand the danger's she will face and the strength required to endure. But her transformation as a Magical has only just begun and her abilities grow much too rapidly, draining her to the point of complete exhaustion. Her clan fears that too much has been demanded of her and they continue to tighten their circle of protection around her, preventing her from following her true path. Bree must find a way to convince them that she is capable of prevailing while she searches for a way to save both human and Magical worlds - before it's too late.

A rollercoaster ride from beginning to end, the saga continues as Bree races against time to save the human and magical realms from the evil plans of her arch nemesis, Esmeralda.

Esmeralda isn't letting any dust settle as she gains another's help in her quest to capture the last, and most powerful, Chosen One.

A traitor becomes known as another becomes an ally. One's life is uncertain while another's ends. And the fifth of Bree's Special Seven is revealed in this fast paced continuation of the captivating series, Chrysalis.

A Magical Interview

DDS: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m fifth generation German. I grew up on a farm in central Indiana, however all of my adult life, I have lived in the West, finally settling in Texas in 1994. I love the West and the wide-open spaces. My favorite vacation(s) spot(s) are Yellowstone, the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Rocky Mountains, Santa Fe (just to name a few).  I long to visit Glacier National Park and Alaska. My husband and I have raised two wonderful boys, I have three beautiful granddaughters, and two fantastic daughter-in-laws.

DDS: What got you into writing?

I’ve always made up stories in my head, but never put pen to paper until the Chrysalis Series. This story simply would not go away. I found myself thinking more and more about, until it occurred to me the only way I was going to stop thinking about was to write down the story—get it out of my head and on to paper. I did that, then tucked the story away in a drawer, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So I dug it back out and started tinkering with it. My original copy was only 80,000 words, but as the ideas presented themselves and as I started envisioning all the twists and turns I could write—and as I started having fun, it doubled in size and what was once only going to be 1 book has turned into a hopeful 7. 

DDS: Tell us about the “Chrysalis” Series.

Chrysalis – The Awakening was awarded first place in the Rebecca’s Read’s 2010 Written Art Award in the Fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy category.

All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her humanity; that is until she learns that she is a human born into a family of magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life.

As the doors to Bree’s new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the human world she has always known and the magical world she is just now discovering. But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone.

Bree’s journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her human life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. No sooner is Bree reunited with her long lost love, Steven, she must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family.

Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart, and soul and restore her Demon to his corporeal form, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all humans and rule as she chooses.

But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace her new responsibilities. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. But will it be enough to save the world?

DDS: What was the hardest part about writing this series? 

Finding the time to sit uninterrupted and just write. The story comes easily; it’s just the time. I work full time, and family time is important, so that give me about 2 hours in the evenings and my weekends.

DDS: Any unpublished work, written before the Chrysalis Series - that’s still somewhere in your drawers, that we should know about?

Nope, Chrysalis is the first

DDS: What are your writing pet peeves? 

Repetitive words…. or over use of descriptive words—sometimes reading a scene itself can be more exhausting when you over use those ly words. Finding an error when you’ve combed through your manuscript line by line—your editor has combed through line by line—your beta reader has combed through line by line… did I mention the over use of colorful adjectives (lol)

DDS: Who is your favourite Character? (one of your own creation – published/unpublished) 

Okay, that’s a hard one—I truly do like all my characters, even the bad ones (they are sooo much fun to write) so if I have to say in the Chrysalis series it would be writing for Esmeralda… then there’s Thomas... and Madalyn, but on the other side, Rick’s fun to write for too. So’s Brad… well, let’s face it—I like them all.

DDS: Now time for some fun facts about you. If “The Awakening” was to be turned into a movie – which Actor/Actress would you like to see playing the characters? 

Rick – Adam Baldwin

Steven – Dave Giuntoli or Henry Cavill

Billy – Neal McDonough

Bradley – Viggo Mortensen

Thomas – Jerry Lacy (Dark Shadow’s time frame)

Bree -  Allison Scagliotti

Esmeralda – Sharon Stone

Gina – Amanda Tapping or Sarah Lancaster

Stanley – Richard Dean Anderson (Stargate time frame)

Sandy – Yvonne Strzechowski

Becky – Jewel Staite

Those are a few of my picks

DDS: Who is your favourite author & which is your favourite book? I know it is beyond difficult, but you can name only one in each category!! 

I do not have a favorite author, but if I did have one, it would be JK Rowling (for writing the Harry Potter series) and my favorite book is the first book of the Harry Potter series.

Do any of your favourite Authors influence your writing style? If yes, then who and how?

No, my writing is my way. I write in first and third person, I write in common voice. It’s an easy style and it allows you to become part of the story.

DDS: One thing readers would be surprised to know about you… 

I am the world’s biggest worrier. (self-imposed, but a worrier none the less) and when you think about it—being a writer and having your work out there for all to see and comment on, is well, overwhelming.

DDS: Besides writing, what else do you enjoy? 

Hiking; painting; scrapbooking; photography; being a grandmother; cooking.

What’s brewing? What can we expect from you next?

Soon to publish (Fall/Winter 2012) is the first book in the Starburst Series – Enlightenment.

Kerri’s marriage has ended and she is returning home to begin a new life, unaware that David has waited twenty-two years for her return. Time has separated them, yet his love for her has remained true, and now it is up to him to convince her that they are meant to be together. 

But others will challenge, and an old flame that has vowed to destroy anyone David loves, will interfere. 

Will true love conquer all?

Soon to publish (2013-ish) Firstborn’s Destiny – Lies

All that Kelsey had thought to be true her entire life, shattered upon hearing her grandmother’s deathbed confession; her parents had not died in a fire when she was three. Along with a box of letters and cards sent to her grandparents when she was a child, her grandmother shared the awful truth that, although her parents loved her, they left her in her in their care.

Though the information she'd gleaned from the letters, she has learned the charm she's worn since her birth has protected her from something evil. Now Kelsey must find the reasons why her parents abandoned her, and the reasons why someone wants her dead.

Will she find her answers before it is too late?

DDS: What’s the one thing that you want your readers to take away from this book? 

Enjoyment.

DDS: Anything else you would like to say to your readers/fans?

Visit me on Facebook and keep in touch

Follow me on Twitter

Join me on my Blog

Friend me on Goodreads

I do enjoy hearing from everyone

About the Author

Madonna Lacy is the author of Chrysalis – The Awakening. Her intense love for the Rocky Mountains, and the American West, are often reflected in her story lines for her Chrysalis series. 
A vivid imagination of places and people allows her to create fictional worlds that push established storytelling boundaries. M.L. Lacy is married living in far north Forth Worth, Texas, is the mother of two sons, and the grandmother of three granddaughters.

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Giveaway

Ms.Lacy has kindly agreed to Giveaway a Copy of Chrysalis - The Awakening. US  Winner gets a Paperback copy of 'The Awakening' and International winner will have a choice of ePub or Kindle copy of the book. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win this book! 

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