Interview with Abra Ebner, Author of The Knight Angels Series

Today I'd like to welcome Abra Ebner, author of The Knight Angels Series. Her second book within the series, The Book of Revenge, recently released in September and Abra stopped by to discuss it with us. As a huge fan of the series, I can't wait to learn more about what exciting things she has on the horizon for the gang. If you'd like to read my review on the first book, you can check it out here. Let's get started!

THE KNIGHT ANGELS: BOOK OF REVENGE 

BY ABRA EBNER

New characters, New world, but old enemies. Emily struggles to ignore a new friend with emotions that temp her, Wes delves deeper into his past and family while finding friendship isn't reserved for the human race alone, Jane finds out her dear Max isn't what he seems, Gregs friendships cost him more than he expected, and Max forgets that the truth is best. But then again, someone always has to be the liar...
Emotional baggage, begrudged enemies, and the bitterness that comes when the honeymoon of their friendship fades... 

Will the love survive, or as it all just a game?

1. In The Book of Love, (Knight Angels #1) the story centered on a circle of people drawn together by blood, friendship and the supernatural forces that bind their lives together. The Book of Revenge (Knight Angels Book 2) continues the saga of four heroes while introducing new characters. Can you tell us a little more about the book, and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

Book of Revenge attempts to continue the trials introduced in Book of Love but centers the problems around the idea of revenge and old energy coming to fruition. I added a few new, dynamic characters because every book needs a fresh face (I believe). I don't want to spoil too much, but I introduced Jake in a fashion that challenges the idea of 'what he is' in culture today. I wanted to take a well rooted idea and change it to be my own, and after watching a National Geographic show on the subject, I was very excited to give Jake a personality. I know all that seems vague, but once you read the book, you'll get the idea.

2. What three words do you think best describes Book of Revenge (Knight Angels Book 2)?

Vengeful, Contagious, and Sweet.

3. Book of Love, Knight Angels #1 was told through the alternating point of views. Each character’s “voice” stood out for their singularity and contrasting styles. Out of all them, was their one in particular that was the easiest for you to write, and conversely, was there one that was the hardest?

I think that Emily was the easiest to write because she was fashioned after a best friend of mine. It's easier to write a character that is someone other than yourself whereas I viewed Jane as myself, and found it very hard. Wes was also easy to write, I guess because most men I've known are like him... goofy, and not so much like Max... a gentleman. Ha ha.

4. What do you love best about the characters in the Knights Angels series?

That they are all different. I think everyone will be able to find a character they can nestle into, and the idea of that reminds me of a soap opera. Relating with a character is the most important thing in writing. For me it was a constant source of refreshment to change to a new voice. It keeps my mind interested in writing the series, let alone the readers mind to read it.

5. If you could inhabit the life of one literary character and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why?

I would choose Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Funny as it seems, I've always wanted to learn to shoot a bow and arrow and hunt. Living on the edge of the wilderness, I learned marksmanship from my Husband and Father, but I see that as cheating. I'd much rather inherit the skills of Katniss. Aside from that I like the idea that she lives for something. Not many people do that anymore, much in the way that many people don't make anything anymore.

6. What were you like as a teen? Were there certain books that were your favorites and what do you think your teenage self would think about your book?

My teenage self loved books like The Time Travelers Wife, DaVinci Code, and Lovely Bones. I'd never read a paranormal book other than Time Travelers Wife until my friend handed me Twilight in 2008. I first started out writing regular romance novels but after reading that paranormal saga I fell in love with the expanded idea of imagination this genre provided. Fiction to me changed completely because it became limitless. I had to be a part of it.

7. The Knights Angels series does not hold back in exploring issues many teens face on a daily basis- such as sexuality and drugs. What types of feedback do you receive from readers about your novels? Is there one comment in particular that has really affected you?

I've had some older readers approach me and tell me that my books have inspired them to find a better love, and I like that. One reader I know did begin to question her marriage because of what she read, and that was the one that affected me most. I know it's their choice in the end, but it's haunting to know that my words could cause a divorce. In reality, though, the reader seemed freed by it, so I have to see it as a positive thing.

On the issue of drugs, I realized that almost every teen will have a run-in with the concept at least once in their life. I don't want to ignore it because it's true. When I was a teen I was considered a "bookie" yet I still had plenty of friends who went through the drug thing, spanning from the 4.0 crowd to the 'most likely to be on drugs' crowd. It's no longer a secret, and I believe it's better to address the issue and make popular the idea of turning it down than to ignore the issue all together and pretend it doesn't exist. One of the biggest issues today is cough syrup and prescription drugs. I wanted to make a character that was addicted in order to show her changing for the better by the second book. It was a risk I wanted to take.

8. What can we look forward to next from you? Any upcoming projects in the works?

I'm actually working on an illustrated children's book at the moment titled Grumpy Lumpy. I wrote it for my older brother, and it's something I've wanted to do for a really long time. Being that I went to college to study art, it was my chance to actually use this talent for something more than book covers and websites. It's a labor of love for sure.


Thanks Abra for stopping by. Want more? The Teen Book Scene has a full listing of other tour stops. Be sure and check out La Femme Readers tomorrow for an excerpt from the book!

Abra Ebner lives in Washington State with her husband and two cats. She writes everyday, unable to find anything else that brings her as much joy, other than love. Her travels to England, Scotland, Switzerland and Germany, as well as her studies abroad in Australia have granted her a life full of wonder and excitement. She graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Fine Art.
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