I'm pleased to welcome Charlene A. Wilson, a fellow Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal RWA chapter member. Charlene's on a virtual tour for her latest book, One for Kami.
Charlene is an author of paranormal tales that take you away to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse you into the lives of her characters.
Charlene is an author of paranormal tales that take you away to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse you into the lives of her characters.
She began writing in her early
teens when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters and worlds were so amazing
that she brought them to life through her books.
Readers can find more about Charlene at:
Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com
Blog: http://bit.ly/CharBlogs
Facebook: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonFan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorCAWilson
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonGR
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleneawilson/
Readers can find more about Charlene at:
Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com
Blog: http://bit.ly/CharBlogs
Facebook: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonFan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorCAWilson
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonGR
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleneawilson/
Welcome, Charlene.
Thank you for having me on your
lovely blog to share my thoughts today, Diane. This is a real treat. *smile*
Love is something we all long
for, to find that someone who we ultimately share our lives with. But how we go
about finding the right one is approached differently around our world. There
are many customs when it comes to love and marriage. I once had a friend whose
parents came to America from China. Theirs was an arranged marriage and they
met each other for the first time during their wedding ceremony. They learned
to build a loving relationship, had several children, and were celebrating 37
years together. When I asked her how her parents felt about having to accept
who was chosen for them, her answer surprised me a bit.
“It’s hard to find the right
person to build a life-long relationship with. Lasting love takes a lot of hard
work. Who better to choose a partner than the parents that know you better than
you probably know yourself?”
Another example would be of when
the oldest daughter is given in marriage first. I heard of an instance where
the wife died during childbirth and her younger sister stepped in as wife
#2. And of course, history is littered
with countries bonding royal sons and daughters to keep peace. While here in
the US, we’re accustomed to choosing our own mates, there are definitely other views
the world over that work for them.
In my new release, One for Kami, Kami and Ian are faced
with having to comply with their own dimension’s laws on the subject. And Kami
is not at all happy with it.
On their home realm,
Two-Eight-Five, every male of the Elite class must take three wives to help
alleviate the poverty-stricken population. One may hold the same status, but
the others must be from a lower standing, and they must have as many children
as will come to them. The impoverished are only allowed one wife and one child.
Kami, being born an Elite and an
only child of her father’s third wife, swore she’d never marry a man under
those requirements. She looked for love among the poor so she wouldn’t have to
share him with two other women, and thought she found just the right man.
Nothing Ian wore, said, or did ever hinted that he was wealthy. After all, what
member of the Elite took their date on peanut butter sandwich pic-nicks, played
with scruffy dogs in the park with a knotted sock, or worked among the soup
houses?
But, there he was. An Elite.
Devastated, she heads to a world
where people can fall in love, marry, and live happily-ever-after regardless of
their position in society. But, Ian has his own agenda....
What are your thoughts on love and marriage? If you had a choice, which custom would you select? Why?
Can love be true if shared with
more than one? Kami doesn’t think so
when she finds Ian is an elite and required to take three wives to eliminate
the poverty-stricken population. Why
can’t he be poor the way she thought he was when she fell in love with him?
Determined to find a realm that
doesn’t have such dictates, she travels to dimension Three-Two-Three to begin
her search. But is love truer in a place
that only allows one spouse than it is in Ian’s heart?
Excerpt from One for Kami
Autumn leaves crunched beneath
his footsteps as he paced the woodland’s small clearing. Each stride matched two beats of her heart
and crushed the sweet memories of their grove.
Dust scented the air as he shuffled into a turn.
“Why are you just now telling me
this?” His breath hitched and he cleared
his throat.
Words wouldn’t form as Kami
lifted her gaze.
Setting his hands at his slender
waist, his hazel gaze shifted to the shadows of the young birch trees. A cloud of insects drifted through the pale
trunks, soft hums filling the air as they paused. Wiping his hand across his strong jaw, he
looked back at her.
“You know I love you, Kami.”
Tears stung as they seeped
beneath her lids and she blinked to relieve the burn. “I need to be the only one, Ian. I can’t know you might love someone else more
than me when you choose another wife.”
She lowered her gaze to the
thick roots that surrounded her. They
wove within the caramel-colored ground, creating a perfect lounge for two
lovers in an embrace. How many times had
they sat there and shared their secrets, their love? How many times had he told her she was the
one, the only one? She cursed the fact
that she was gullible enough to believe it could be true.
Kami forced her voice through
her tight throat. “When I first saw you,
you were playing with that scruffy looking little dog in the park. Its hair was so long and matted I thought you
couldn’t afford to pay a groomer. I
thought that sock with the knot in it was all you could come up with to be his
toy.”
He lowered his gaze. “That stray lives at the park and I removed
my sock to have some fun with him.”
“I know that now. But then I assumed you were poor. And after the third date of peanut butter
sandwich picnics by the river, I thought I knew for certain. I mean, who could love peanut butter that
much? And what member of the elite class
prefers such a simple activity for a date?”
She scanned his solemn
countenance. His love of nature was one
of the things she adored about him, alongside the fact that he didn’t feel the
need to flaunt his wealth. But to keep
such a fact from her under the circumstances...
“I fell in love with you, believing you would make me the one choice you
were allowed as a member of the lower class.”
A gust of wind lifted his black
hair to dance around his face. The
cheery motion seemed to mock his lips as they dipped into a deep frown. “If it were up to me, I’d have only you. Can’t you believe that? I’ve waited, pushed the age limit to wed,
looking for the right one to be my first.
My first, Kami. The others
will never mean what you do to me.”
“If you really love me, you’d
want me alone. No other. Period.”
Frustration bubbled in her chest at her misconception of their love.
He tilted his head and bit his
lips together. “I can’t help that I was
born an elite. If it were possible...”
“If it were possible, what? You’d give up your birthright and join the
ranks of the vagabonds who can’t afford food for the one wife and child they’re
allowed? Or you’d buck the system and
refuse to wed the other two? That would
only land you earthbound, exiled to a foreign dimension, and stripped of
everything but the clothes you wear. And
while you’re considering it, I’d advise you to wear a thick coat and heavy
boots because I hear they choose some pretty rough climates for those who
refuse to live by this law.”
The sarcastic response rolled
off her tongue before she realized it, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t right. None of the counsel’s decisions on
eliminating poverty was. The lower class
weds one spouse and bears only one child while the elite must choose three and
produce as many offspring that would come to them? It was absurd.
Find another way to spread
the wealth than through inheritance.
She looked at him, and her voice
rose with her exclamation. “I can’t stay
here and conform to the laws of this dimension.
Not when I know there are other places that don’t require such
things. I need the freedom to love
whomever I want whoever they are, without the stipulation of a quota. And if that means transferring, then that’s
what I’ll do.”
“If your mother was alive...”
“Well, she’s not.” Kami scowled.
She had expected him to try to bring her mother into this, but it hurt
just the same. “But, I can’t believe she
wouldn’t want me to be happy. She was
one of a quota, Ian, one that had only one child. Father’s attention stayed on the others.”
Ian’s broad shoulders lifted as
he took a deep breath and sent his gaze back to the trees.
“I’m leaving for a six-month
stay in Three-Two-Three. With me gone,
you’ll be free to start your family before you turn twenty-five. I won’t stand in your way to fulfill your
obligation. You’ll have time to find a
woman that will happily live by the law.”
Her voice lowered to a mumble.
“And I won’t have to see you do it.”
Ian’s heavy brow furrowed and
his dark lashes narrowed his gaze. “And
what will happen if you find someone while you’re there? That realm doesn’t know we exist, Kami. What will you tell him when you leave every
six months to come back to renew your travel rights?”
“When I choose someone, it will
be because our love is true. He’ll
understand I need some time away.”
His mouth dropped open and he
shook his head. “What love that’s true
has those kinds of secrets?” A scowl
crossed his face and he drew his hand through the air. “And what makes you think a love there would
be truer than my love here?”
“They choose only one. They pledge their hearts and it lasts a
lifetime.”
“Promises can be broken
whichever realm you’re in.” Orange and
yellow leaves scattered as he marched across the small tract and sunk to the
ground before her. Taking her hands in
his, he looked into her eyes. “Stay
here. Marry me. Be my elite choice. There can be only one first time, and I want
it to be you. Let it be enough.”
It took all of Kami’s strength
to look away. She clenched her jaw,
trying to control the hiccup that would surely release a sob.
Ian shook his head and his voice
lowered to a plea. “Please, Kami. Don’t go.”
She pinched her lips together
and the hiccup forced its way to her throat.
Snatching her breath, she kept it silent, but it jarred her into
action. “The consort has already granted
my leave. I’ve taken the training and
temporary employment is waiting for me.
If I can make it work, I’ll arrange to stay longer.”
The frank tone of her voice gave
her strength as she stood. “Goodbye,
Ian.”
Ian’s hands slowly released her
as he rose and stepped back. His square
jaw flexed. “Never say goodbye. This isn’t the end.”
Tearing her gaze from his hazel
eyes, Kami focused her thoughts on the Inter-dimensional Courtyard. A wave of heat sizzled through her veins as
her elements prepared to shift through space.
The scene before her distorted and a soft fizz buzzed in her ears as she
synced into the atrium.
Available at Amazon: http://bit.ly/OneforKami
What they’re saying about One for Kami:
“Sweet, romantic, and
heartfelt. A great introduction to the
author’s world.”—J.D. Brown Book Club
“One for Kami is a story that will have you willing to give up
everything for your one true love.”—Annette, Gothic Mom’s Book Reviews
“[Wilson] spins a tale of true love
spanning time and dimensions that will inspire the reader to sacrifice
everything to find their soul mate.”—Debbie,
Read2Review
Charlene is offering a giveaway of an e-copy of One for Kami to a lucky commenter. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment. She's also holding a tour-wide giveaway and all commenters will be added to the Rafflecopter for a chance to win. Readers can follow along and enter/answer the questions from here. Each stop with have a question related to it for readers to answer and rack up the entries.