KristinaSo lucky to have author Kristina Streva with us here today. Welcome !Tell me a little bit about your main character of this book, Kristina.
KS: My novel follows three sisters, Yuri, Britt, and Tanis. They were born with long black tentacles instead of beautiful mermaid tails and because of their deformity, they are banned from entering Atlantis. They share a similar backstory and deep sisterly bond because their mother passed away. However, they all have unique personalities.
Yuri is the eldest and was left in charge to care for her two younger sisters. She is deeply protective as she had to take on a mothering role at a very young age. Britt is the middle sister and the troublemaker of the group. She didn’t take her mother’s passing very well and found ways to lash out for attention. Then there is Tanis, who is the youngest and a bit silly and naïve. She is the peacekeeper of the group and is often caught between Yuri and Britt’s bickering.
No spoilers, but Britt gets them in a bit of trouble…
SC: Do you believe in the paranormal and if so, do you have an experience you can share?
KS: Yes, several actually! I’m a huge believer in the paranormal and I think we are closest to the spirit realm when we are children.
SC: We think so too. Please, go on...
KS: When I was in high school, I had an old television in my room that would turn on by itself in the middle of the night to static. It reminded me of the movie Poltergeist! Things only got increasingly weirder from that point. At the time my mother was waking me up for school and would open the door to my bedroom to awaken me. One day, I see the door open and a shadow standing by the entrance. I immediately assumed it was my mother and began my morning routine. However, when I looked at the clock, I noticed it was only three in the morning. So, I went to ask my mother why she woke me up, but she was fast asleep. I am still not sure what woke me that morning. I believe it to be a shadow person.
In another instance, I was sitting on a chair in my bedroom, tying my shoes so that I could head to the gym. A lava lamp that was resting on the back of my dresser came flying up and almost hit me on the head. It fell next to my feet and startled me. I don’t think the ghost in my house was friendly like Casper.
Once I went away to college my hauntings seemed to stop completely. My mother no longer owns that place, but I hope whoever lives there can make peace with the spirits in my bedroom.
SC: That must have been scary, thanks for sharing. What titles are you working on now that you can tell us about?
KS: I’m working on the second book in The Inked series! It’s been hard to fit everything in with my busy schedule. I’m still trying to market my first book while balancing work and taking some classes on the side too!
I’m very excited to continue this tale and I hope those who read The Inked become invested in my characters and look forward to the second book!
SC: We can't wait! Let's take a look at this novel now.
Excerpt:
Kaleb, the son of King Oasis, sat on his red and gold chariot. Large black seahorses adorned with golden paint pulled it forward as his army followed behind, saddled on their seahorse steeds. With each command from the King’s son, they drummed their fists on their armor made from reinforced turtle shells, all stunningly painted and garnished in sequins and gold.
A few days ago, King Oasis had proudly declared that there would be a competition between him and his twin brother, Neo. A beast had been terrorizing Atlantis, and whoever brought him the head of this creature would take the throne and the enormous bounty that came with it.
“Forward! We can’t afford to lose the trail of this beast!” Kaleb shouted as he lifted a long golden horn to his lips and blew.
His army moved forward in unison. He trailed behind them in his chariot, gripping his long-pronged golden trident in one hand and horn in the other. Kaleb was on the hunt, much like the monster who had hunted the occupants of Atlantis. Just last week, two more children had gone missing, and now that his troop had moved forward, he could search the area for survivors.
His eyes carefully scanned side to side, above, and then finally to the bottom of the seabed. To his left, he spotted a damaged boat flipped upside down with a large, jagged hole in one side. He tightened his grip on the trident, swimming down toward the dilapidated rowboat. Silver strands of hair stuck out of the damage in the boat’s side, looking like kelp waving in the current.
“Hello?” His body crept forward hesitantly as he cleared his throat. “By order of the King Oasis, reveal yourself!” Kaleb’s voice bellowed through the water.
The rowboat stirred as the head of a young girl tentatively made its way out of the hole. Her pale body followed, embellished in a purple laced corset that ended where her long black tentacles protruded.
Kaleb’s mouth dropped open. Now, Yuri swayed before him. His wide eyes traced her body up and down.
What…what is this girl doing here? Oh!
“Do you mean to harm me?” Yuri asked, cutting through the silence, her tone sharp as a blade.
Kaleb’s mouth curved into an amused smile. She’s bold. He had not seen her kind very often—they stayed hidden. This was new to him.
It was for a fair reason they hid away since his people hated hers, after all. Despised them with great passion. He ran his hands through his light-brown hair and then down to his chiseled jawline.
What if my father had found her? He shook his head, refocusing mossy green eyes on Yuri as he studied her.
Her hair was beautiful, and much like that of the mermaids he had grown up with, it was long and flowed behind her in the water as she moved. Yuri’s eyes met his, and he held her gaze, staring at the stunning icy-blue that looked back at him. He traced her pale complexion from her face down to her skinny arms, now held bent and stiff against her hips.
“Do you not know who I am?” He wore a cocky smile that hollowed into dimples at his cheeks.
Yuri’s brows furrowed. Her sharp glare stabbed at his ego, causing his dimpled smirk to retreat from his face like a wounded soldier. “Honestly, I don’t care who you are. Answer the question.
Are your intentions to harm me?” Her eyes darted to his pronged trident.
Kaleb’s grip loosened on his weapon as he stooped toward the seabed, his eyes remaining focused on Yuri’s icy-blue scowl. He opened his palms, letting the trident roll out of his hands and onto the sandy seafloor.
Inching back, he straightened his arms, outstretching his hands high over his head. “No, I don’t wish to harm you. Do you wish to harm me?” He wiggled the fingers of his empty hands.
Yuri crossed her arms over her puffed-out chest.
“That entirely depends on you,” she sneered. Her nostrils flared.
The once-retreated smirk returned to Kaleb’s face. How could such a small and petite girl have so much attitude? This girl is feisty! As his heavy trident sank deeper into the ocean floor, he lowered his hands and tapped awkwardly at his sides. His armor clung to his broad, muscular chest as he gestured in a proper bow. I might as well introduce myself properly.
“I’m Kaleb. My father is King Oasis of Atlantis. My troops and I came out here to hunt the beast that terrorizes these waters.” Kaleb paused for a response that didn’t come. He waited.
His stomach knotted at Yuri’s silence. It twisted like the ends of a fishing net. Her deep-blue eyes stared off to the rowboat in which she had emerged. “And you are…”
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