Hello everyone, please welcome Iryna K. Combs. We're going to get to know a little about Iryna with a short fun interview, and then I'll let Iryna introduce her release, Black Wings, with her new publisher Roane Publishing.
First, here's a little bit about Iryna.
Originally from the Ukraine, I am still considered a new face to
America. Speaking three languages including English, that have become just as
natural to me as my native Russian.
I grew up in a town on the south of Ukraine doing the same
things that other kids my age did: dreaming, hoping and wishing. Growing up, I
spoke absolutely no English and never even saw myself somewhere abroad.
Nevertheless writing a novel in another language!
I went to the local school that brought mostly negative
experience in my life. But it shaped me throughout the years. My college life
was much more pleasant. I was known to study well and to go out partying as
much as possible.
Now - owner of bachelor degree in finance/economic and
enterprises.
In my first year of college I began to work in the marriage
agency and met my future husband. We dated and traveled to most of Europe along
with Egypt.
Now on to the interview:
1. When did you
realize you wanted to be an author?
When I saw a dream and thought about it
for a few months I did not really think about writing it down for a while. Until one night
it just hit me. I thought that I had a great story line and I wanted to share
it with people. When I began writing, I still was not sure what is going to
come out of it. When my husband read the very first part, he really liked it
and suggested that I continue and do not give it up. I think when my manuscript
was accepted by my first publisher – is when I realized I am an author!
2. What was
the last movie you watched, and did you enjoy it?
Unfortunately, I rarely watch movies since
I do not have much time. But only about a month ago I watched Hunger Games - Catching
Fire. I loved it. Looking forward to see others.
3. How do
you get your story ideas? Do you people watch or do the ideas come to you at
odd times?
Ideas come to
me in the odd time. Usually it is after reading something or deep thinking
about something. It took me a few months to decide to write Black Wings,
so a long time of thinking and developing the story line. When I was writing,
some things would just come to me as inspiration. It was amazing!
4. What do you like to read in your
free time? Your genre only or do your tastes vary?
Some will be surprised but actually, I am
not a big reader. There are not many books that I have read yet. However, I do
like to read most everything: from psychological books to fantasy and mystery!
5. How do you eat your popcorn, buttered
to the hilt or plain?
I like it with butter or cheese.
Thank you, Iryna, for taking the time to talk a while and thank you, readers, for spending some time with us.
Here is Iryna's book, releasing today. Go grab a copy, it'll be a great way to end the day.
A new time. A new planet. A new world. New
technologies. Two new humanoid species. A new war. The two species separate,
but in the removal, some of the best are left behind among the worst. Captured
and held as slaves, they are treated cruelly for entertainment. Torture. Pain.
Annabel, endures a year of such cruelty,
kept alive only by way of syringes which, while healing, cause a greater agony.
She discovers a secret held by their leader, and decides to help her own kind
by escaping–even if it means a final death, preferable to the life she has
endured. Her escape succeeds, and she joins her own kind at the other end of
the planet. Among her new friends she meets many who help her adjust to their
happier life.
Will Annabel find romance? Or will another war break her down?
Excerpt:
Annabel stopped at
the end of the pier, and covered her face with her hands as tears rolled down
her cheeks. That emotional moment had triggered memories from the Old Land and
the Varkins. She remembered Kate, and how she had promised her freedom but was
not able to keep that promise. She remembered her family she had lost, and her
boyfriend who’d betrayed her. She wished the Big Change had never happened and
she was still a human, with her family and friends. She thought she missed the
Old Land, even the Varkins. She would never have thought she would think again
about that dark place. Annabel stood at the pier and cried as the wind was
blowing her tears away. She heard footsteps approaching her from behind.
"Excuse
me?" One of the fishermen was talking to her, a crying stranger.
"Something happened? Do you need help?"
"No...Nothing,"
Annabel replied and turned away.
"I know we
don’t know each other," he continued, "but I have never seen an
Anlight with black wings crying on the pier, so I wanted to make sure you were
okay."
Annabel couldn’t
say anything to him as she knew she was not okay.
"My name’s
Robin," he introduced himself. "I come here sometimes when I feel sad
too. I very well know this..."
"Why would
you feel sad?" Annabel whispered, not looking at him. "Isn’t this a
paradise here?"
"It is what
you make it to be," he replied. "But I have my sad days too...I lost
my son before we Anlights came to the New Land and I didn’t know what happened
to him. He just disappeared right before we had to leave the Old Land."
Annabel opened her
eyes and her heart jumped as she turned to look at the Anlight who was talking
to her. He was tall, wearing dark pants and a brown shirt, holding his fishing
pole in his right hand. Annabel looked at him for a moment and her eyes widened
when the moon appeared from behind scudding clouds and she saw his face in its
light. He looked so familiar she was...she knew the reason for his son's
disappearance. She turned away from him hiding her emotions.
"What was his
name?" she asked quietly, predicting the answer.
"Markus!"
he said. "I called him Mark. He looked a lot like me."
Annabel closed her
eyes and took a deep breath, knowing exactly what had happened to him. She bit
her bottom lip, trying to hold tears from washing out of her eyes.
"He was about
your age..." the fisherman continued, happily talking about his son,
"Very brave young Anlight. Sometimes even too brave for his own
good."
Annabel stood
quietly, trying to calm down. She took another deep breath. She knew his son
was that brave Anlight who had been doing most of the talking when they were
first captured by Varkins.
"I know what
happened to him," she whispered, wondering if she should even tell him the
truth. Her voice began to shake.
"Oh, you
do?" The fisherman sounded curious—after all, how she could possibly know?
"I was there
too...I was with him...and others..." Annabel spoke while catching her
breath, trying her best to talk normally without giving in to her emotions.
"Nobody lived..." she finished as more tears quietly ran down her
face.
"Nobody?"
he questioned, needing to be sure.
"Only
me..." She finally could not take it anymore and burst into tears,
sniffing and catching her breath.
The fisherman
sighed and put his head down, in sadness for his son—even though he had already
accepted his disappearance and possible death. He came close to Annabel.
"I knew one
day I would know the truth.” He spoke calmly, and with sorrow. “Thank you for
coming here tonight."
"I am sorry
about your loss," Annabel sobbed harder with every word said. "He and
others were in a lot of pain...and those who died…were the lucky ones. They are
in peace now and will not feel any pain again."
The fisherman took
a step closer and put his hand on her shoulder. He smiled slightly.
"Sometimes
it’s hard to accept what happens to us. Sometimes the reality seems too much
for us to take. But we would not appreciate the good if we did not know the
bad. We are writers of our own lives, and we decide when to close a chapter,
and when to start the new one."
Annabel wiped cold
tears from her cheeks as she looked at him.
"Cheer
up," he continued. "You’re the lucky one! You can continue writing
your life." He paused for a moment. "And I need to get back to my
wife...fish for dinner!" He laughed, picking up a small bucket full of
fresh catch. He walked slowly back along the empty pier, disappearing in the
darkness.
Annabel stood on
the pier for a while longer, thinking about what he had said. She calmed down,
as the wind picked up and she began to get cold. She returned to the car and
drove back to her house. When she pulled up, nobody seemed to be there. She
looked around as she walked to the porch door, hoping nobody was waiting for
her. Annabel entered her house and locked the door behind her. She was just
going to call her cousin about her visit when, again, someone knocked on the
porch door. Annabel recalled what had happened before, and was not in the mood
to continue talking about her own or Dexter's relations. She crossed to the
door and moved the blinds to see who was knocking. However, as soon as she saw
it was Dexter outside, she slid the door open.
I hope you enjoyed the interview and sneak peek of Black Wings. Go grab a copy today!
Remember: If you read a great book, be kind to the author and leave a review.
Happy reading, everyone!
