The Jazzy World of E's Bookshelf: Author Spotlight: Seth King

Author Spotlight Week continues with new author, Seth King. King, a New Adult Romance author, released his debut novel, The Goode Fight last October. He followed that up with the first book in his Mrs. Robinson series in November. King is currently getting ready to release his new full length novel, The Summer Remains on Feb. 14. It is a book that is not your typical boy meets girl story. In my interview with him, King discusses the inspiration for The Summer Remains and how it feels to releases his newest book. It's my pleasure to introduce you to Seth King, today's Jazzy World of E's Bookshelf Author Spotlight.

Seth King's Biography

A new kind of New Adult Romance author // 25 years old.

An Interview with Seth King

Hi Seth, congratulations on the upcoming release of your book, The Summer Remains. How does it feel to be releasing it and having people finally read it?
Thank you! I know it’s my job to put different combinations of words together in endless perpetuity, but this is the first sensation I have ever found difficult to spin into language. This book is SO searingly personal to me, and to see people responding so well is, just, well…

Like I said, when I come up with the right combination of words, I’ll let you know. Right now all that comes to mind is WTF OMG IS GOING ON OMG, and that obviously wouldn’t work, so it’s back to the drawing board for me.

The Summer Remains is not your typical boy meets girl story, what was the inspiration for this book?
Thank you! I take pride in being atypical. The main inspiration for THE SUMMER REMAINS was the short and remarkable life of my brother. Since the day he died I knew I was going to write a book inspired by him, and this is what came out. An artist’s job is to synthesize life into art, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to run from this story for long. It screamed at me from the silence and jumped out at me from the darkness, and soon I was powerless. It’s not directly about him (as writing just one sentence about him makes me want to have a meltdown), but anyone who knew him would instantly recognize my brother’s humor, wit, cynicism, fighting spirit, and proclivity for cake in my main character, Summer.

I also have certain family members with disabilities/medical conditions, and growing up with them inspired me to write this story as well. Kathryn Stockett of The Help said to write what disturbs you, particularly if it bothers no one else, and seeing my family members become marginalized by society because of their issues lit a fire within my soul that made me wake up one day and decide I was just crazy enough to write a book and try to change things.

Summer is a character that readers can easily connect with, she’s smart and her wit and humor make her a standout. How important was it for you to create a character like Summer?
Thank you! Many readers have professed shock that Summer is such a “strong woman,” a title I find to be outdated and embarrassing. She’s not a strong woman, she’s just strong, period, it’s just that society isn’t really used to seeing that quality represented in female characters, which is sad, and a different subject for a different day. It wasn’t really “important” to create any kind of character - this is just how Summer’s voice started speaking in my head one day, and all I had to do was write it down. Once again, this is probably due to my brother’s influence.

You call yourself a new kind of new adult romance author, in an indie world where authors are coming out with new books everyday, what would you say sets you apart?
My immense and undeniable talent.

Just kidding! What sets me apart is my adam’s apple. There aren’t many twenty-five-year-old males coming out with contemporary romance novels these days, or any day, come to think of it. I knew right away that my gender and age would raise eyebrows, and so I just decided to get that whole thing out of the way very early on. I’m here, I’m young, I’m a dude, I’m proud to write romance, and I’m not going anywhere.

What was your favorite part of writing The Summer Remains?
This was the most difficult book I’ve ever written, so I would probably say my favorite part was finishing it. (Just kidding. Just like any artist, I treasure the artistic process, and the reason I get out of bed every morning is to write, and put in the work, and poison myself with exorbitant amounts of coffee and Coke Zero.)

What do you hope readers take away from reading it?
A new will to treat humans with dignity, specifically those with disabilities and medical problems; a newly-reinforced appreciation for life and love and the people around them; the ability to never again look at an oak tree in the same way; and a craving for Funfetti cake.

In 10 words or less can you tell readers why they should read your book?
I tore it out of my soul. Come see why.

Is there anything else you would like to say to readers?
Thank you, thank you, thank you. To all twelve of my fans: I appreciate you to my bones.

Books by Seth King

The Summer Remains

(Release Date 2/14/2015)

Synopsis

Twenty-four-year-old Summer Johnson knows two things. The first is that due to a quickly-worsening medical condition, she faces a risky surgery in three months’ time that may very well end in her death. The second is that she would like to fall in love before then.

As spring sinks into her namesake season on the Florida coastline, Summer plays the odds and downloads a new dating app – and after one intriguing message from a beautiful surfer named Cooper Nichols, it becomes clear that the story of what may be her last few months under the sun is about to be completely revised. All she has to do now is write something worth reading.

Tender, honest, devastating and triumphant, The Summer Remains explores a very human battle being waged in a very digital age: the search for a love that will outlast this temporary borrowing of bones. In an era when many feel compelled to share and re-share anything about everything, prepare to feel a love so special, you will want to hug it close and make it yours forever.

*This is a full-length standalone romance*

Pre-Order Your Copy Today

Mrs. Robinson

Synopsis

MRS. ROBINSON PART I, THE ELECTRIFYING FIRST INSTALLMENT IN THE MRS. ROBINSON SERIES BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR SETH KING, AS SEEN ON THE COVER

How far would you go to save someone you love? And how far would you go to get revenge on a loved one who betrayed you?

Ben Bradley is a twenty-year-old student and aspiring MMA fighter with a dead-end day job and a desperate need for cash to help his disabled sister out of a tight spot. Grace Robinson is a lonely forty-something D.C. housewife who spends her time reading about red rooms of pain while her husband busies himself with the office interns. And with the arrival of a controversial new app called Hookd that matches attractive young men with powerful women willing to pay for their companionship, Ben and Grace soon find incredibly appealing – and risky – solutions to their problems.

With Hookd, Ben can easily make the money to save his beloved sister, while Grace can get back at her cheating husband and spice up her quiet nights with the kind of hot, anonymous sex she only reads about in books. All they have to do now is get over their moral hang-ups and press download…

And then hope Grace’s vindictive husband, Congressman Richard Robinson, stays in the dark once Mrs. Robinson’s affair explodes into something more passionate and erotic than she could have ever imagined.

Click Here to Buy Mrs. Robinson

The Goode Fight

Synopsis

In a stage of life when everything seems daunting, the fight to find love can still be the scariest thing of all – but in college senior Taylor Haney’s case, it may have just become downright deadly.

I’m bad – but I don’t want to be bad anymore.

In fact, leaving my Nashville life behind and swearing off love forever was the only thing keeping me from falling back into my old ways and fucking up again, and I was doing pretty well at pretending to be good – until I met Taylor Haney, that is.

Now I can think of nothing but Taylor. Her shy smile…the way she fidgets with her hands when she gets nervous…the sounds she makes when I tie her to my bedposts and go to town on her…the way I get a glimpse of eternity when I look into her hazel eyes…

And that little lovey feeling is the worst thing of all, because it means I’m breaking all my old rules now – and that means nobody is safe. Especially Taylor.

Because the last girl I fell in love with is currently lying in Brentwood Cemetery.

Click Here to Buy The Goode Fight

Teasers