Author Kendy Ward is back with the latest entry in her Knight in Damaged Armor series. I recently spoke with her about Reign Storm.
Tell me about your latest book.
The story is set in my home town of Nassau, Bahamas, and follows the love story of
journalist, Reign Bryant, and detective, Storm Knight, who know each other through Reign’s brother who is Storm’s partner. Reign is a rule breaker and Storm plays it by the books. They don’t see eye to eye on most things, and borderline the each other.
When Reign uncovers information that implicates government officials in illegal activities, the last person she wants to go to for help is detective Storm Knight. However, she is in over her head and he’s the only person she can turn to.
Reign has little use for the detective’s holier-than-thou attitude. Despite his looking down his nose at her, she can’t shake the attraction that she she’s felt for him since she teenager. Storm too remembers the attraction between he felt for Reign when he first meant her, but she is off limits for several reasons.
As they work together to keep Reign out of harm’s way, Storm finds the wall he’s erected around his heart beginning to crumble as Reign removes her mask and allows him to see the real her.
What inspired you to write it?
Reign Storm is the third book in the Knight in Damaged Armor series, but I actually started writing it first. Storm is the inspiration for the “knight in damaged armor”. He is flawed. He is struggling in a couple of areas in his life, but he loves God and he is working out his salvation. Reign also has her struggles and challenges on her faith journey. As a Christian fiction author, I wanted to tell their story because they are relatable, and hopefully, how they face their challenges will help someone face theirs.
When did you fall in love with the written word?
My mom bought me the classics like Great Expectations, The Man in the Iron Mask and A Tale of Two Cities, starting in elementary schools. It was my introduction to fiction reading. I enjoyed reading those stories, but I fell in love with the written word when I first read Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. I got lost in Avonlea. When I would put down the book, I felt like I had just returned from an out of town trip. Anne, Gilbert, Diana, Matthew and Marilla felt real to me. This series is what unlocked my love of reading.
What’s the best part of being an author?
The absolute best part of being an author for me is getting to tell a story and people connecting with the story and characters. That brings me the most pleasure.
What’s the hardest part of being an author?
For me the hardest part of being an author is everything that comes after the story is done. When I’m done with the story, I want to move on to telling the next one, but a book is not going to sell itself. So, the selling and promoting part is the hardest for me.
What books have you read lately and loved?
I really loved reading All the Cowboy Wants by Rhonda McKnight because I’ve always been fascinated by the history of black cowboys in the US. Plus, your boy, Stone, was super sexy.
What book(s) are you most excited to read next?
I’m looking forward to reading Island Queen by Vanessa Riley because I too am an island queen. Also, I want to finish The Promised Land by Barack Obama.
Who would you cast in a movie to play your main characters?
I’ve casted and then re-casted Reign Storm about three times. Lol. Right now, I’m going with Henry Simmons for Marvel’s Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D. as Storm and Jennifer Hudson as Reign.
What’s next for you?
In my day job I work in the construction industry, and I’ve been wanting for a while to do a story with heroine who works in the construction industry. So, right now I’m developing that character and creating her world and story.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
Thank you, Chandra, for this opportunity to share about Reign Storm and my writing journey.
To learn more about Kendy Ward, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
kendy@kendyward. com
Website: www.kendyward.com
Instagram: instagram.com/queenkendyward
Twitter: twitter.com/KendyWard
Facebook: Facebook.com/KendyWard