Her new book, The Guardian, a Sword, and Stilettos, book one of the Enlighten Series, is available now at $2.99 for an e-book or $9.99 for the paperback. Check out it here on Amazon!
Take a few minutes please to read below, where you'll find a synopsis, excerpt, unique facts, Kristin's bio, and more!
The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos
The Enlighten Series (Book 1)
Synopsis:
Zoe Jabril could be just another 17-year-old girl attending parties with her friends and checking out cute guys—except her best friend is a Guardian Angel, and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, half-Angel, both sent to Earth to protect her. A high school classmate happens to be a trendsetting shopaholic Fairy. And now there’s a new Werewolf in town.
Now Zoe has to deal with her feelings toward Shay, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. She is under constant attack from Demons, trying to kill and stop her from fulfilling the Prophecy: a girl will be born who will unite the Enlightens to battle evil. Then on top of that, between boring homework and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to prevent the Devil from escaping Hell.
In order to do so, Zoe must devise a kick-ass plan ASAP or watch everyone die, because she’s running out of time. She turns eighteen in two months—the date Armageddon kicks off.
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Five facts about Zoe:
- She’s 17-yo, but a junior in high school.
- She has dark brown hair, brown eyes, is about 5’6 tall.
- Her BFF is a boy, Kieran, who lives down the street from her.
- Favorites: Color is purple, flower is orchid, food is chicken parmesan
- Career: Wants to be a vet.
Five facts about Shay:
- He stands at 6’2, has blond hair, aqua eyes, athletic build.
- Drives a black 1957 Bel-Air.
- Prefers wearing black clothes.
- Favorite movie: Star Wars (the original trilogy).
- Is a Nephilim (half angel and half human).
Five facts about Kieran:
- He stands at 6’, has wavy blond hair, blue eyes, model build.
- Drives a golden Cadillac CTS-V.
- Prefers neutral-colored clothes.
- Is a Guardian angel to Zoe.
- Comes across as bossy and controlling.
Five facts about Sidelle:
- Is a Summer Fairy.
- She’s dresses trendy, has green eyes, pixie black hair, and model build.
- Glamour powers: Can read minds, manipulates the weather.
- Attitude: Snarky with a capital S.
- Drives a green Mini Cooper convertible (Turbo).
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Excerpt:
I stumbled into Kieran as a tremor moved through me, the hairs on my arms stood at attention like tiny lightning rods. “Do you feel that?” my voice sounded breathless, even to me.
He glanced sideways, “Feel what?”
“Look.” I held out my arms to him, “I feel strange. Like someone…” I rubbed my slightly numb hands over my forearms and sucked in a breath, as he hooked his head around. I fell into step beside him. “Never mind. It’s probably nothing.”
This happens when lightning’s about to strike, right?
The heat from the sun radiated off the few cars parked along Boutique Row, their owners engaged in mid-afternoon shopping. Store fronts displayed the new and trendy ‘must-have’ dresses, shorts, and shoes for the spring season. I paused to see my reflection. Not a hair was out of place. Thank God.
The Coffee Grind’s signature cinnamon dessert scent wafted through the air and my teeth hurt with the memory of sinking them into it time and again. What I wouldn’t give to be able to park my back end on one of their leather wing-back chairs and crack open a book, while the fire crackled next to me in the original stone hearth.
“Earth to Zoe,” Kieran’s gentle voice broke my trance. He poked my shoulder. “Are you going to order or what?”
My face flamed. “You could’ve ordered for me.” I rummaged through my purple backpack. “You know I get the same thing every time.”
Kieran watched me rub my arms, as he told the cashier, “She’ll also have an ice water.” He tilted his head toward the menu board. “Anything else?”
“Did you order me a chai?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Cause you know I can’t function without a good cup of—”
“You can’t function with it, either.”
Then I turned my attention toward the clerk, unsure if I recognized him or not. I hope he doesn’t know me. “Nothing else. Thanks.” I handed him some bills.
“How’s track going, Zoe?” the clerk asked.
Damn.
“Think you’ll make it to State?”
I realized he was a sophomore on the team. Our paths crossed during several meets. He looked thin in his black polo shirt, and I knew a mirror would reflect a similar physique in me, though my lavender sundress tried to disguise it.
I shrugged. “I have fast times, but we’ll see. If I don’t make it this year, there’s always senior year.”
My fingertips skimmed the glass display of mammoth muffins and assorted pastries as we moved down the aisle to the ‘Pick-up Here’ sign. A heavy coffee aroma hung in the air.
A figure in dark clothing with yellow-tipped, spiked hair stared at me from outside the glass entrance door. His eyes narrowed on contact with mine.
Chills rushed through my body.
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PURCHASE LINKS:
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Author Bio:
Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small river town in Minnesota with her parents and older sister. And after receiving a double Bachelor of Science degree from Winona State University in Paralegal and Corrections, she worked as a Paralegal for various law firms around the Twin Cities for 14 years. Then she left the legal field and is now a Senior Buyer for a technology company.
Currently, Kristin lives in Eagan with her husband and two Calico cats. She also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.
In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women’s Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!
Kristin’s first book, The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos, is published by Kasian Publishing.
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Interview:
What drew you to writing?
I took a lit course in high school and a reading one in college. Didn’t think anything of it but enjoyed writing and reading back then. I started reading as something to do before I met my husband. Then when Twilight came out, a group of friends created a book club and it’s been downhill ever since. I read a ton. My cousin started writing and she asked me to (beta) read for her. I did but didn’t really know what I was doing. One of her friends asked me to read one of hers too so I did b/c my cousin said that my comments were spot on.
Then in January 2013 I dreamed of the warehouse scene. Didn’t think anything of it until the next night I had the same dream in the warehouse. Woke my husband up and told him about it. He said I should write it down. Of course I didn’t. The 3rd night, I dreamed of the tattoo and knew I had to start getting it down on paper so to speak. I started writing when I got home from work and wrote until the wee hours of the morning, so 7-8 hours at a time. Go to sleep a few hours and get up for work. Did that for 3 weeks.
Do you have a degree in writing?
Nope
Do you believe that matters?
Nope
Why/Why not?
I don’t think you need to have one to write.
How long did it take you to create your first book?
3 weeks for the first draft to be completed.
How long did it take you to create the last?
4 weeks.
What have you learned in between?
The sentence structure and grammar
What are you currently learning to further develop your craft?
Right now, anything marketing.
Do you prefer creating short stories, or novels?
novellas
What Genre do you write and why?
YA. I’m not really sure exactly but I think its fun. Gets me to think about my own experiences and compare it to how it’s changed these days
Can you pick a favorite line from your latest work (or the work being highlighted) and tell us why this is your favorite?
It’s not a line but a scene: This close, my rescuer—Shay Curator, apparently—had long, powerful legs which fit nicely in his black jeans. He wore black biker boots, and a black T-shirt hugged his upper torso, the sleeves barely contained a set of rippling biceps. I imagined he was trying unsuccessfully to hide what would no doubt be an impressive six pack. In sharp contrast to his dark clothes, he had fair skin. Even though he was over six feet tall, he had moved with catlike grace.
I think this captures exactly what I see Shay like and I hope I’ve conveyed it well enough to the reader.
What about your life influenced your drive to create?
I got all out in everything I do. Never half do stuff. It’s an all or nothing attitude.
Tell us something personal you’ve enjoyed due to being an author.
I love being able to hand out business cards with my name on it and being proud I’ve made a name for myself.
What is next on your current writing agenda?
I need to finish the series but have been thinking about a YA Dystopian from a male perspective.
This series sounds incredible! Good luck, Kristin! And thank you to all of the readers out there who support. Please feel free to share this blog!
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