I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!!
“7% and Rising” by Kim Knox
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Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Romantic SciFi-Futuristic
ISBN: 1-59998-695-7
Length: Novella
Price: 3.50
Publication Date: November 27, 2007
Cover art by Dawn Seewer
He used her. She can’t trust him. But the fire burns between them hotter than ever.
For Level Seven Observer Cahn Dal, her mission is simple—on the surface. Travel 700 years into the past, alter a complicated equation that will assure the continuation of this timeline, and slip out unnoticed. Except someone else got there first, and he’s waiting for her. Alexander Roen. The man she has loved since she was a teenager, and, to her disgust, finds she still desires as hot and as hard as ever.
Roen, former Level One Observer, known traitor to the Foundation, and hampered by an old injury, needs Cahn’s help to find out who’s behind a massive conspiracy to alter the timeline. His body isn’t too broken, though, to forget his long-denied passion for Cahn.
Cahn reluctantly agrees to help find the one piece of evidence that will solve Roen’s puzzle. But when she finds it, barely escaping with her life, they find it isn’t the end.
It’s just the beginning of a deeper nightmare, one filled with monsters of unimaginable horror.
Kim was awesome enough to give us some Q&A.
question 1: how did you come up with the story for 7%
The first quarter of the story leapt out at me as a woman landed in the twenty fifth century and followed her mission orders with her bitter, pissed off artificial associate. Then she met the damaged Roen. I could almost hear the whirr and click of his leg
The rest of the plot came slowly, I had to twist it and twist until I was happy all the ends fitted. I’ve always had a love for time travel and how it can seriously screw with your life. What can I say? I can’t help it, I was brought up on Doctor Who. *grin*
question 2: you’re known for creating amazing worlds and intense storylines in an explosive novella package. Have you ever considered expanding the world with another novella or two?
I think there could be another story in the world of 7% and Rising. I have to admit I’m nervous about sequels, lol, but I’m coming around to the idea. I have ideas that follow up To Summon a Demon and Nimue’s Price. Now I just have to find the time to actually write them!
question 3: Name one quirk you have as a writer. It can be a ritual or a way you write.
Layering in the senses is important to me. Sight and sound turn up automatically, but the one I have to have in every scene is the sense of smell. It’s the most primal sense and pulls out memories and emotion. A whiff of cinnamon can pull be back to my very early childhood and brings with it a swell of half-remembered images. For me, it brings a scene to life.
question 4: What was the most difficult part about writing 7%
Keeping the plot straight, lol My plots are usually twisty-turny anyway, throw in the heroine, Cahn Dal, jumping backwards and forwards in time and it literally added a whole new dimension.
question 5: The cover is absolutely gorgeous. Dawn Seewer did an unbelievable job. Would you mind giving us a tasty excerpt?
Yes, the cover is just beautiful. And here’s a little snippet:
“Here.” He lifted a mug she hadn’t noticed him holding. “This will help.”
“What is it?”
Roen limped towards her and the rising scent from the mug reached out to tantalise her. Cahn breathed it in and almost sighed. “Your special chocolate.”
“Very hot milk chocolate with fresh double cream and caramel syrup…”
“You’re evil.”
Roen smirked. “I know.”
Her hands closed around the mug and, for a long moment, she let herself breathe in the rich aroma of chocolate. Roen knew her weakness. It had been years since she’d last had it. Years. She sipped and the cool, light touch of the cream lingered on her lips, her tongue. She tilted the mug and the rich flow of sweet liquid chocolate made her sigh.
Memories rose unwanted. Roen’s bright apartment with its clean painted walls and expensive furniture. Her mother laughing at something Roen had said. Her father quiet and just showing his slow, cautious smile. Roen’s sisters holding up their cups, demanding more from the ancient chocolate pot that he’d pilfered on one of his missions.
Dead. They were all dead. Only she and Roen remained.
Her hand shook.
Hot tears burned her eyes and her throat tightened.
Roen grabbed the mug before she spilt it and dumped it on the table. “Cahn?”
She turned from him and scrubbed hard at her wet face. “It’s too rich for me,” she muttered. “I’m used to…” Her words faltered at his warm hand on her shoulder. His fingers squeezed, gentle, comforting. Damn the man. Damn him. Why couldn’t he just be himself? His real self? “Roen, stop it.”
“What?” His hand slid from the thin cotton of her vest to her bare skin in a slow caress. “This?”
Cahn couldn’t breathe. “What…what are you doing?”
He brushed away her wet-slicked hair and pressed a kiss below her ear. She shivered. Roen did it again. And again. Soft. Slow. Insane. “Do you still want me to stop?”
It was all her little private fantasies come true. Roen wanted her. Her?
“Cahn.” His breath stirred her damp skin. “Turn around.”
She closed her eyes and forced herself to face him. His thumb brushed her lips and she jumped. She stared at him, not quite believing the shine of want in his dark eyes.
“We have to grab what time we have,” he said.
He traced her jaw, fingers light. Cahn froze. He couldn’t mean it. Roen had never wanted her. Never. A smile touched his mouth, edged with regret. His gaze dropped away and he sighed. “But then again, perhaps not in this reality.”
He stepped back and his hand fell to his leg as it whirred. “Not as I am.”
No. Roen wasn’t getting away that easily.
“Yes,” Cahn said and covered his mouth with her own.
The taste of him made her groan. Hot, wet and just…him. Much better than chocolate. She stumbled back, impacting the cool stone wall and dragging Roen with her. The heavy press of his body against hers. His hands slid down, slipping into her shorts.
Yes, so much better than chocolate.