A Realm of Blood and Mercy

1)     What is your Author name; use your Pen name if you have one.

K. M. Laumann

2)     What is your genre and what drew you to it?

Romantic Fantasy, and specifically, my subgenre is portal fantasy. I’ve always loved books where someone out of the ordinary stumbles upon something magical, lifechanging, or discovers something within themselves that was thought to be impossible.

3)     Which character of yours is your favorite and why?

Theo-the great Captain Theodoric Fastrada. He isn’t only the love interest but has his own POV and story arc. Theo developed from a suggestion from my writer’s circle to add his POV to introduce the fantasy world before Amaris even gets to Magoria. Little did I know this was the BEST suggestion for my entire book, and honestly for the entire series.

Theo battles with mental health, specifically panic attacks and PTSD. In my personal life as a first responder, mental health is still a taboo subject in some circles. The hardest part, though, is that so many people struggle and we don’t even know it. That is what Theo’s journey is all about, moving that internal battle from within into the light and learning to lean on your friends and family.

I see myself everywhere in these characters and in this world, but if there was ever a character I resonated with the most, it would be Theo.

4)     How did you come up with your cover design?

My cover designer gave me the specifications and industry standards to go off and we worked from there. She said with romantic fantasy and romantasy an object as the sole center is huge. There were many things I considered, especially with Amaris being a FF/medic and a mystique and Theo being a soldier, but eventually I settled on the willow because it’s intriguing and a key part of the storyline. Most romantasy novels have a sword or dagger, but not many center on a tree. I had people asking and wanting to read the book because they wanted to learn why that was the key focus for the cover. That comment alone for the reveal made me realize I’d chosen the right cover.

5)     What is your favorite part about being a writer?

I get to make up stories, have fun, create, and play. That’s how I see writing. When I first started writing A Realm of Blood and Mercy, my friends and I were diving back into our childhood selves and finding creative pursuits. For me that was writing. I found joy in the fact that I could put whatever I wanted to paper and weave an entire story to life. I was able to motivate someone, make someone gasp, scream, or cry. I never thought I could do that, but one of the first readers to message me was a paramedic who said she’d read my book and said she was truly motivated by Amaris. I was getting back from a run and read that in the back of the fire truck at 1am. I couldn’t stop smiling and nearly cried.

6)     How much description do you give to your book characters?

Probably way too much. Behind the scenes, I’m constantly building out my characters and continuing to build Magoria. It’s expanding at a rate that I’m even having a hard time keeping up with. I’m a visual reader and writer. As I write, I’m picturing the exact scene in my head and where and what everyone is doing. It’s like an actual movie is taking place in my mind and that sometimes comes across in my writing, at least that’s what my critique partners have said.

7)     What is your favorite book and why?

Six of Crows. I’m a sucker for the underbelly of a fantasy world and give me all the POVs you can. I love getting the different storylines, and I think this book was well executed and to this day remains one of my favorites. Kaz is one of my favorite characters of all time.

8)     Where is your favorite place to read?

This old rocking chair we have at one of the fire stations at work. Sounds hectic, I know, but trust me. On the weekends, when we have time to relax, I love curling up in this chair. It’s quiet, it’s comfy, and for some reason, I can finish an entire book sitting there if we have no calls.

9)     Do you prefer to read series or independent novels?

Series. I never want it to end. I’ve found myself enjoying a few duologies in the last year or two, but a single book just isn’t enough.

10)  If you could live in any “book world” what would that be?

Can I be biased and say my own? Kidding! If I can’t choose Magoria, I most certainly would want to live in the world of Percy Jackson, but only if I was a demigod. If I was a mortal oblivious to the monsters, that would be boring.

11)  What is your favorite book turned T.V. show/movie and why?

Hunger Games. I grew up in the dystopian era and went to all the Hunger Games movie theater releases, but in my opinion, it was the best adaptation to film. There are always differences, but I was truly impressed.

12)  What is the name of your book/series? Tell me a little bit about them.

My book is called A Realm of Blood and Mercy, and it is book one of The Godwin Chronicles. It’s a dual pov romantic portal fantasy set between Earth and the realm of Magoria.

We follow Amaris Carter, a firefighter paramedic, who is killing it at work with a new promotion to lieutenant but struggling to even face her fiance at home with his unpredictable moods and late night drinking binges, and Theodoric Fastrada, a captain and son of the Duke of Luana, who has recently returned home from the Trade War and is having a hard time adjusting to normal life.

Amaris and Theo meet when he is sent to investigate the disappearance of a missing lord and Amaris just so happens to fall through a portal to his world and manages to stumble right into his murder scene, blood, guts, and all.

Mistaken for the killer, Amaris is arrested and has two choices to find a way home to fix her struggling relationship–prove she could never take a life or escape.

13)  Do you have a website? If so, what is it?

Yes, it’s kmlaumann.com

14)  Where can we find and follow you? (Name your social media platforms.)

Insta: kmlaumann.writes

TikTok: kmlaumann.author

15)  If there anything important that you would want my readers to know about you?

I love writing authentically and vulnerably, with that being said, my books are recommended for adult audiences and do have trigger warnings. A Realm of Blood and Mercy has some sensitivities written in a note from me in the beginning of the book and on my website, kmlaumann.com. There will be future books that will have on page intimate scenes and possible trigger warnings.