SEQUEL TO ZIA

       Now that INAMORATA'S PASSAGE has been released, I thought I would answer a few questions people have had concerning the ZIA trilogy.  Most of you want to know if both Kim and Kiel return in the sequel, and the answer is yes (although Kim's presence is greatly diminished due to the new setting - Kiel's world.)  But if you are Team Kim, don't worry, he'll be back with a vengeance in the final book - even though the relationship between Zia and Kiel ignites with a fevered intimacy in this new sequel.
     
       "Zia closed her eyes, and let her head drop back onto Kiel’s shoulder.  Her fingers guided his
pleasured hands, their movements synchronized with the pounding rain.      
        She reached behind her back, clutching each side of his hips and pulling his body to hers. Slowly, Zia moved one hand to the front of his waistband, allowing it to slide gently downward, the distant thunder applauding her gesture."

        The second question I always get is why I chose to make the two male protagonists in my novel Asian.  And to that, I say "Why not? "  With the ever growing popularity of K-Pop/K-Dramas in America, I felt it was time for western females to finally have a romantic fantasy featuring the types of young men they...well...fantasize about.  And that is South Koreans.
        I had a reader want to know if I based my characters' appearances on any particular Korean stars, and I told her yes.  Then I had another young lady ask me to be even more specific, so here goes.  If you are reading ZIA or IP and need a visual for Kim or Kiel (pronounced Kyle) check out these photo mash-ups, and I think you'll have a very good idea - plus some pretty sweet, candy-coated dreams!

KIEL

Lee Min Ho (Boys over Flowers, City Hunter)

T.O.P (Big Bang)

KIM

Choi Siwon (Super Junior)

Kim Hyun Joong (Boys over Flowers, Naughty Kiss)

       

Very Nice Blog About ZIA

Brianna from Kentucky had a very nice mention about ZIA in her blog at you-aint-asian.blogspot.com You Ain't Asian.  I really appreciate her positive comments, and if you enjoy K-Pop, K-Dramas and the like, you will definitely want to follow her blog.  Someone else started a tumblr for ZIA at http://ziabyterrylovett.tumblr.com/, so if whoever it was is reading this, thank you!  I didn't even know what a tumblr was!  And, at Amazon.com, a reader has started a ZIA discussion group.  It can be found by scrolling down past the reviews.  Thanks to all these people for "finding" ZIA and helping get the word out!!!

K-POP, LEE MIN-HO, & ASIAN ALIENS

I've had several people contact me through FaceBook to ask about the origins of my novel's two male characters, Kiel (pronounced Kyle) and Kim.  They were fascinted with my choice of ethnicity for the Caucasian heroine's love interests.  If the blog title didn't say it all, I will - they are both Asian. 

Actually, Kim is Asian, specifically Korean.  And yes, I realize that Kim is a Korean last name, not a first name.  Most American readers wouldn't know the difference, but I do explain his surname reversal  in the chapter "Seoul Kiss."  As for the character of Kiel also being Asian, well...HE IS and HE ISN'T.  Although his appearance may suggest otherwise, he can't be from Asia if he isn't from Earth.

Now, to get back to the original question.  How in the world does an "over-thirty" Caucasian-American writer decide that her teen novel's male protagonists should both be Asian?  Simple - I am the mother of a teen daughter who is part of the growing subculture of American females obsessed with Korean boy bands, better known as K-Pop.  I doubt there is another woman of my age anywhere in the USA who has been subjected to more hours of Korean television than I have.  Not that I'm complaining.  It's a taste that actually isn't all that hard to acquire (whether you use a fork or a pair of chopsticks.) 

I was indoctrinated a few years ago.  It began with a continuous barrage of Supior Junior songs blaring from our living room stereo.  Soon, other groups joined in - 2 PM, Shinee, B2ST, Big Bang, and MBLAQ to name a few.  Eventually, listening to the music wasn't enough, and I was required to watch hours of K-POP music videos.  I have to admit that looking at Super Junior's Choi Siwon isn't exactly torture (more on him later), nor is the opening sequence of MBLAQ's video "Give It To My Y."  So, as a loving parent, I willingly complied.  But our household's teenage females needed an even bigger Korean-boy fix and began indulging in Korean TV shows. I succumbed as well, watching every single episode of "Boys Before Flowers," "You're Beautiful," "Personal Preference," "Coffee Prince," "Naughty Kiss" and "My Girlfriend is a Gummiho." 

Asian overload, you might ask?  At times, yes.  Still, when I began writing my YA romantic fantasy, ZIA, I knew it would include Asian-American characters.  As I saw more and more of my daughter's now college-aged friends fall prey to K-Pop's undeniably handsome young men (they call it that "Asian Persuasion"), I knew it was time for an American teen novel to feature male love interests who were not your typical Caucasian fare.  Hence, Kiel and Kim were created.  And it is there, that I will finally answer the original question put to me on Facebook.  Were either of them based on real people?

The answer is no, not based on, but rather inspired by.  And I will tell you who they are - the basis for Kiel and Kim's physical descriptions. Kiel is a combination of actor Lee Min-Ho and singer Lee Joon (remember that opening scene in MBLAQ's video?); and Kim is a combination of actor/singer Kim Hyen Joong and singer/actor Choi Siwon ( I told you I'd mention him again.)

So, if you decide to read ZIA and need a visual image for either character, now you have it.  And if you don't know any of these Korean superstars, start Googling.  Like my daughter, you'll be glad you did!