Some of your favorite authors are getting together for a box set that promises to give you all the fall season feels. I recently spoke with Naleighna Kai about Promise Me a Miracle.
Tell me about your latest book.
FIVE AMAZING BOOKS AND AWESOME ADVENTURES. Each book captures an element of a wedding that seems doomed not to happen while dealing with their own romantic entanglements. The maid of honor is detained in the Middle East in a nefarious plot, while the jeweler transporting the rings has a deadly past that finally catches up with her. A designer is challenged to repair the wedding gown deliberately destroyed by a vandal and the culinary staff comes down with a mysterious, possibly fatal, illness and requires a cure. To make a bad situation even more critical, the florist disappears, along with the plans for the reception—almost in the same manner as the groom, who is trapped behind enemy lines and needs a miraculous rescue. Will everything come together for the big day?
The boxset of five books is written by
Naleighna Kai
Martha Kennerson
Karen D. Bradley
Stephanie M. Freeman
J. L. Campbell
U. M. Hiram
What inspired you to write it?
Promise Me a Miracle is the brainchild of J. L. Campbell and Karen Bradley. They both wanted something centered around our mega successful series—Kings of the Castle, and with an uplifting holiday theme.
When did you fall in love with the written word?
Early on. My mother had me reading from the Bible. Way too early. Shouldn’t be much of a surprise that I was reading her romance novels too. But it really came home for me when I read Octavia Butler’s Mind of My Mind. Good Lord, that woman could write. She told an amazing story that felt like it could have been 600 pages with the she succinctly crafted the prose. One book made me tear into her entire catalog. Same with Leslie Esdaile’s [writing as L.A. Banks’] Vampire Huntress Legends, Tananarive Due’s The Living Blood and Steven Barnes’ Lion’s Blood. Master story tellers.
What’s the hardest part of being an author?
Learning to let people learn their own lessons. I have this tendency of being a problem solver before the problem truly presents itself and provides the hard-earned lesson that it’s supposed to for that person. Sometimes people need to hit that brick wall and get back up and become victorious.
What books have you read lately and loved?
So what had happened was, I’m in this group on Meta/Facebook, so I’m too ashamed to say. Mostly, everything else I’ve been putting my eyes on are developmental editing and agent submissions.
What book(s) are you most excited to read next?
Actually, submissions from S. L. Jennings and Angel Payne.
Who would you cast in a movie to play your main characters?
The guy who plays Conrad on The Resident and Tatiyani Ali.
What’s next for you?
Landing book deals for my clients with major publishing houses. The Ladies of the Castle series, and The Game of Life series. I’m also writing a sci-fi book. My first one. It’s exciting, and these character are polite. They’re giving me time to build the world. They ask if they can come in and chat with me, and if I say not right now, they ask when they should return. This is totally unlike previous characters who come through and won’t let me go until the story is done.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
You (Chandra) have known me since the very beginning of my career. You were my first editor and came highly recommended by Michael Baisden. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of the Promise Me a Miracle Box Set.
To learn more about Naleighna Kai, literary agent, developmental editor, USA TODAY Bestselling author, and mother to one amazing author and graphic designer son, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
@naleighnakai on IH, Threads, X
www.Naleighnakai.com