Please Welcome Author KaSondra Leigh!

Today I am super excited to welcome my friend and author KaSondra Leigh to The Cover Contessa for an interview!

I live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. I write about teens doing fantastical things in magical worlds. Sometimes they fall for each other and make sacrifices for their friends. Oh, and sometimes they love music and nature too. I live with two teens, mentor other teens, and write with them. Some of them have made me promise to write a boy book next. Now that I have completed my MFA in creative writing, I find that I have a little extra time to play CLUE more often. I live in an L-shaped house dedicated to my grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass. 

When Copper Suns Fall is my debut novel. 

KaSondra has written several totally spectacular books, but today I will be highlighting a Young Adult novel that you may know well. Recently, this book has had a "face lift" and a bit of a name change, and it's even more gorgeous and incredible than the first release!

The Lost Immortals: When Copper Suns Fall (Copper Suns #1)It has been fifty-five years since the angels of the Apocalyptic War attempted to wipe out humanity. Now a new nation has been built where alchemy is forbidden, and angels fear for their lives as they hide among the mortals. The city’s leaders share one view on the ancestors of angels: extermination.When her twin brother falls into a strange coma, sixteen-year-old Chela Prizeon vows to discover her role among these exiles, the royal angels known as the Lost Immortals. Chela’s only hope lies with the mysterious, but infuriating leader of a rebel group. But can she trust this boy, someone who can control her dreams and her heart.Escape into a world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and forbidden romance.

1st Publication Date: December 6, 2011

2nd Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Publisher: TriGate Press

ISBN: 147933927X 

Buying Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

And without further ado, here's KaSondra!

1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I always understood that I have a very large imagination. I figured I was going to have to choose to do something in life that went along with that. So my answer is yes!
2. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
It really depends on the genre. Basically, I write 3 different ones: Rantasy, Gothic romance, and Paranormal romance. It took me almost 6 years to get the Lost Immortals right. The Gothic novel, Hacienda Moon, started out as a screenplay. It took me 4 years to get that one. The paranormal romance series, Dark Seraphine, only took a year.
3. How do you come up with themes for your stories?
I’m odd. It all starts with the title. LoL
4. Do you have a schedule of when you write?
Yes! Between 3am-8am. That’s the most alert time of the entire day for me. It’s all caffeine induced afterward. :D
5. How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?
I have a very large support group. Plus, my sons are teenagers that have their own lives so they’re very understanding of mom’s obsession.
6. What elements do you think make a great story line?
Memorable characters, a strong plot, and most of all tight writing: all of those things come together to create your style which is what you should use to pull your reader into the story.
7. What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
Everything is hard. No kidding. There is just so much that goes into creating a living, breathing story. To give that touch that makes it feel real takes a lot of patience, skill, and time.
8. How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve written close to 10 books. No, not all of them are published yet. LOL. I love all of my stories, but my favorite by far is Dark Seraphine. It’s written in a teenage boy’s voice. My 15 and 16-year-old sons are the ones that helped me the most with it. My betas have said it’s my best voice yet. I told them that’s because I grew up with boys and live with a house full of them. So naturally, the male’s voice is what I know best. :D
9. Do you have a favorite character?
Sure do. Caleb Wood, my 17-year-old lead in Dark Seraphine. Seth Alton from the Lost Immortals is a close second place though.
10. Where do you write?
I sit at my desk that’s beside my deck. That way I feel close to nature.
11. When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?
Do you mean that crazy indie person route? LoL. I joined a group called YA LitChat and met many talented authors just starting out like me. I’m talking some that are truly big names now. I became close friends with one of the moderators, LM Preston, and she convinced me to try out indie publishing. So I did. I haven’t looked back since.
12. Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?
Oh yes. They’re in awe, and are really proud of what I’ve done so far.
13. What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
Oh boy. I’m a DIY girl. I love HGTV, love David Bromstad. Hehe. I also garden, play
Tomb Raider, and spend too much money on movies with Chris Hemsworth in them. :D
14. What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?
Read. Read. Read. Write. Read. Read. Read. Write some more. Don’t skimp on that formula. If you do, then your readers will pick up on it.
16. What is your favorite book? Favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
I love too many books to clump them into one favorite. It’s the same with authors. I can name a few of my inspirations though: Octavia Butler, Anne Rice, Kami Garcia, J.K. Rowling, Dean Koontz (on his good-book days), Stephen King (same as DK) Ann Radcliffe, Mary Shelley, Elizabeth Kostova, and many others.
17. Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such?
I have a team of beta readers, a proofreader, a super sharp editor, three award winning cover designers, and someone who writes my press releases. In fact, I’m planning to officially launch TriGate Press (the indie label you see inside my books) as an official publishing entity in 2013. Keep an eye out for details on that. :D
18. Are you working on anything now?
Always. I’m polishing up the Lost Immortals Book 2 and writing the sequel to Hacienda Moon called The Emerald Isle.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today.
My gazillion website links:
Author website: http://www.kasonndraleigh.com
Book Trailer: (Hacienda Moon) http://kasonndraleigh.com/id28.html
Book Trailer: (Lost Immortals) http://kasonndraleigh.com/id14.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kasonndraleigh
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbooks
Facebook#2: http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbookspage
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alestasia/the-lost-immortals/

Thanks so much for being here today, KaSondra! It's been such a pleasure having you! Come back soon! Click here to see a list of all of KaSondra's current publications: KaSondra Leigh on Amazon