Meet Isis Rushdan

Today I welcome author Isis Rushdan, who is celebrating release week of

Protector of the Flame

the sequel to

Kindred of the Fallen.

Congratulations, Isis! During her busy, busy time, Isis stopped by to answer a few questions for me. Here's our mini-interview:

Me: You have such an interesting background with joining the U.S. Army right out of high school, moving on to be an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and then continuing in the Armed Forces in the reserves. What I'd love to know is whether any of your experiences in the Armed Forces have made their way into your writing and how.

Isis: The sense of camaraderie I felt around other troops and the immediate bond whenever I’ve relocated has definitely translated into my Kindred series. The Kindred species I created are all connected through a tragic history and when they’re within proximity also by their energy streams if they so desire. Duty and honor play crucial roles for the warriors as well. Something I comprehended on a deeper level once I joined the military.


Me: Very cool. I love having this background before reading. So, what is the world like in the Kindred Chronicles---how much realistic and how much fantasy? And did any of the many places you've lived influence your fictional world more than others?

Isis: The series is a contemporary fantasy. I wanted readers to instantly feel grounded in the world. Using an initial setting that felt realistic helped accomplish this. Showing the characters first as people with relatable problems and then as supernatural also enables readers to connect. My love of travel has a bigger influence in the second book, Protector of the Flame, as I drag my characters around the world.


Me: I adore being dragged around the world! I also adore your book covers. They're stunning, and I feel like I could stare at them for hours. What was the process like in creating them?

Isis: Thanks! I’m so happy you like them. Strong book covers are vital in this industry and I’m thrilled with mine.

My editor sent me a form I had to complete. My first step was to make a list of various covers on the market I liked and write down why. For some it was the use of color, for others the emotions conveyed in the poses of the characters, the overall feel and even the font used. Then I researched the cover artists at Samhain. Finally, I put as much detail as possible on the form, including a request for the artist who ended up doing my covers.


Me: You and your cover artist make a great team. I've never written a series, so here is something I always wonder about authors who do: while writing Protector of the Flame were there any elements of the previous book, Kindred of the Fallen, that you wished you could alter?

Isis: Oddly enough, no. As soon as I finished writing Kindred of the Fallen, I wrote Protector of the Flame and that was before I even had an agent. As I revised KOTF, I was able to make minor alterations and adjust timelines to fit the second book. Of course as I did this, I had the third book in the back of my mind.


Me: Aha, so it worked out well to get that next book written before securing an agent. And now for the question that I just can't resist asking any author who stops by: if you could pick one song that best captures the essence of Protector of the Flame, what would it be and why?

Isis: A lot of the music I listen to comes from soundtracks. For Protector of the Flame it’s tough to pick just one because the scenes vary widely across the spectrum of emotion and type of action. If I could only pick one it would be "Burn My Shadow" by U.N.K.L.E. from the Repo Men soundtrack. It was perfect as I wrote some of the fight scenes, and the lyrics couldn’t suit this book overall any better:

I have burned my tomorrows
And I stand inside today
At the edge of the future
And my dreams all fade away

I faced my destroyer
I was ambushed by a lie
And you judged me once for falling
This wounded heart will rise

Me: Cool song!  It has sort of a Doors-ish feel to it, and I can see why it was good inspiration for the fight scenes.  

Isis: Thank you so much for having me on, Nicki! I really appreciate it.

Me: Thank you for being here and for answering all my questions.  Best of luck on the new release!

Here are links to Isis' website & Protector of the Flame.

Author Website

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

So, have any of you got questions for Isis?