Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Texas, went to high school in Colorado and somehow ended up in Oklahoma where I finished up college. It was an odd path. My love for the NFL came from my dad—all sports actually. I hold NBA season tickets to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma’s Broadway Series as I also adore musical theater. I just returned home from the RWA conference but stayed an extra five days and saw five shows! Oh, and I love karaoke….
Tell us about your most recent book.
I write in a variety of sub genres contemporary to historical. From sweet to spicy. My latest book is
The Price of Scorn – book iv: Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother. The actual series started where Cinderella’s slipper slides onto the foot of her batting-eyed sister, Esmeralda, and Prince Charming ends up engaged to the wrong girl. But as a traditional fairy tale (and in each of the first three books) each girl gets their guy. The Price of Scorn, however, is much different. In this tale of tragedy, how can there be a happy ending for Cinderella’s evil stepmother?
Who is the villain or antagonist in your story and what is she like?
The villain in this story is twofold actually. Lady Hildegard Bergenoir Simmon Roche, also known as Hilda. She started out much like most girls. She was in love and very determined to have the man she loved. But fate and her father had other plans for her.
What do you think are the heroic qualities she possesses?
As I said, she is very determined. That is an extremely important characteristic for her. Life’s challenges and timing were key in her perseverance when push came to shove, where eventually her outlook on trust, love, and the general goodness of others became skewed.
Is there any respect between this character and the hero/heroine of your story?
That’s an interesting question. You see…she is the villain, antagonist, and heroine of this story.
What was the most difficult part of writing about this character?
It took two years to write because it was so difficult, and frankly, sad. Very sad. I was telling someone about the story when I was writing it and almost started crying.
If you could give this character one piece of advice, what would it be?
I would tell her gently to breathe, and trust that things have a way of working out. But given her history and temper, such advice would be in vain.
Who is one of your favorite fictional villains?
One of my absolute favorite villains is the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera. He loves Christine so much it hurts. And when he tells her “Make. Your. Choice.” And she turns and kisses him, she disarms him. She has cut him to the knees with her kindness—now he has no choice but to set her and her lover free. The audience is left crying for this horrific and disfigured man who has killed when all you wanted was death for him. It is the love ideal triangle.
My beta readers gave me the same reaction for Hilda. I was stunned and thrilled.
Blurb: Did you ever wonder why Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother was so mean? So evil? Fourteen years after Prince Charming and Cinderella are crowned as Chalmers King and Queen, Cinderella, Pricilla and Esmeralda gather at their mother’s deathbed. Lady Hildegard Roche has nothing but resentment and scorn for the stepchild who culminates all that was stolen from her.
In a story of enlightenment and shock, the sisters learn how tragedy shaped their mother into the woman she became. The question is: Can the sisters forgive her?
Excerpt:
“Why are you telling me this now?” Papa roared so loudly the paintings on the wall seemed to tremble in fear.
But Hilda knew it was she who was trembling. On stealthy feet and hugging the wall, she crept closer. There was no other way to gain her freedom save leaping from her balcony.
Even Juliet had not jumped to her death in that particular fashion. That line of thought sent a shudder of terror over her. We are not lovers destined to death, she reassured herself. All she need do was make it to the pond. Off Papa’s property. Then out of Alsace to the safety of Grenoble, all within the arms of Pierre. ’Twill be over soon…’twill be over soon…soon. If she kept repeating the words, they would come true. Wouldn’t they?
She slipped by the clock—a monstrosity—though she rather loved the overbearing piece of wood at the moment.
“You,” Papa spat. Hilda froze, squeezing her eyes shut. “You are responsible for her recalcitrant nature.” The menace from the foyer rose like a poisonous haze that rent the air.
The breath rushed from Hilda’s body leaving her trembling like the leaves she’d heard stirring from her balcony. She chanced a peek below. Her father’s large form hovered, a threatening force over Maman’s slight one.
Buy links: The Prices of Scorn – book iv: Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother
Amz: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0103IA1IE
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-price-of-scorn-book-iv-kae-ellewheeler/1122361152?ean=9781514856499
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-price-of-scorn-book-iv-cinderella-s-evilstepmother
The Wronged Princess – book i http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MF3NK0
The Unlikely Heroine – book ii http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00819H9KG
The Surprising Enchantress – book iii http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CFN92RC
Social Media: http://kathylwheeler.com http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler.com http://pinterest.com/kathylwheeler.com kathy@klwheeler.com
Bio: Kae Elle Wheeler, (aka Kathy L Wheeler) authors both contemporary and historical romance. She was born in Presque Isle, Maine, grew up in Dallas, Texas but migrated to Boulder then Longmont, Colorado where she attended high school. Her college degree from the University of Central Oklahoma is a BA in Management Information Systems and vocal music minor.
Kae is an active member of the Oklahoma Romance Writers. She also belongs to The Beau Monde, a historical Regency chapter, and the Dallas Area Romance Authors. She loves the NFL and holds NBA Thunder season basketball tickets, and Celebrity Attractions Broadway season tickets. She also adores musical theater, reading and writing, of course—and just to round things out to scratch the singing itch—karaoke.
Kae lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her musically-talented, attorney husband, Al. They have one grown daughter (who recently had her first baby) and one bossy cat, Carly, who acts as if she was the rescuer rather than the rescue-ee!