The Glass Girl by Kim Alexander

By George Ebey

Author Kim Alexander’s latest work, THE GLASS GIRL, is the third installment in her ongoing paranormal fantasy series, The Demon Door.

In this installment, newly blessed (or cursed) with wings and fire, Prince Rhuun of the demon realm of Eriis sees hope for his life on the human world of Mistra with his fierce human lover, Lelet va’Everley. She literally went to hell and back to save him, and she’s not about to let anything—or anyone—ruin their perfect future.

All too soon, the claims of family, duty, and justice force Rhuun and Lelet to confront new griefs and old mistakes as they attempt to restore balance to the throne of Eriis. But, with every jealous rumor and each vengeful whisper, friends turn, family schemes, and forgotten enemies creep from the shadows.

The Big Thrill recently checked in with the Alexander to learn more about her exciting series and THE GLASS GIRL.

What first drew you to writing paranormal fiction?

It’s my first love and my home. I grew up reading almost nothing but fantasy and science fiction. I feel as if those genres are my native language. One of the reasons I love to work in F/SF is because it can serve as a template for so many other things; you can certainly write hard SF noir, or paranormal romance wrapped in a psychological suspense thriller. I think my favorite part is observing human behavior through the lens of an inhuman mind. I look for the ‘what ifs’ and go chasing after them.

For the uninitiated, can you give us a little insight into what the overall series is about?

The human world of Mistra won the short and brutal war against the demons of Eriis, and like many visitors, wrote their fallen enemies out of the history books. A generation later, the prince of the shattered kingdom of Eriis is obsessed with the forbidden human world—for good reason. He has no idea his own father was human. Does he get to go through The Door between the worlds and see what humans are like? Well, there are now three books in this four-book series, so yes, he does.

What elements do you feel are essential for a good suspense story? 

I love a good slow tightening of the screws. I’m really interested in the tiny ticks that give people away, reveal their intentions, and give the reader a trail of breadcrumbs to follow on the way to the truth. As my editor likes to remind me, people love to feel smart, so juggling reveals, callbacks, and clues is key.

Was there anything new you discovered, or that surprised you, as you wrote this book?

My characters make some very poor choices and have to deal with the consequences. I found it really tough to let them “off the leash” and allow them to follow their path, because I love them and I want them to be happy. But I also want them to change and grow, so, suffering all the way around. I’m also constantly surprised at how the people in the book—that I know came out of my brain—make decisions I didn’t see coming. I have to say it may be my favorite thing about writing—the feeling of being a conduit between the page and…wherever the voices come from.

No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material? 

Well, my hero and heroine have been through a lot. In the first two books they’ve faced down a malicious queen, evil mages, nasty little sisters, ex-boyfriends, and a horse on two worlds over a hundred years. What could possibly come between them now?

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why? 

I started with Stephen King, who knows how to tell a story about people, no matter how bizarre the setting. I love Anne Rice for her lush prose. Frank Herbert was the king of world building. Katherine Neville elegantly blends history with magic. Charlaine Harris gives you no choice but to find out what happens next, and ultimately, that’s a writer’s main job.

*****

Kim Alexander grew up in the wilds of Long Island, NY and slowly drifted south until she reached Key West. After spending ten rum-soaked years as a DJ in the Keys, she moved to Washington DC, where she lives with two cats, an angry fish, and her extremely patient husband who tells her she needs to write at least ten more books if she intends to retire in Thailand, so thank you for your patronage.

To learn more, please visit her website.