Author: C.L. Schneider
Narrator: Cassandra King
Length: 15 hours 16 minutes
Publisher: C.L. Schneider⎮2020
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Nite Fire, Book 3
Release date: Nov. 13, 2020
Secrets are a dragon’s best friend. Deception is a close second. Both provide a sturdy armor, allowing half-dragon shape-shifter Dahlia Nite to live undetected among the humans. Walking in two worlds, belonging in neither, she wraps herself in a shroud of lies to hide in plain sight. But nothing stays hidden forever.
When dismembered bodies of multiple species are dumped on the riverbank, the case falls to Dahlia and Detective Alex Creed. Backed by Sentinel City’s new task force, the pair finds themselves urged along by clues that seem too good to be true. Bouncing from one crime scene to the next, they hunt for a clear motive in a murky sea of conflicting evidence. Already on edge from the recent string of unexplained crimes, the city begins to unravel.
Drowning in missing creatures, slaughtered remains, masked men - and the search for her sidekick’s missing sister - Dahlia burns the candle at both ends. Seeking answers, she employs her empathic abilities and uncovers something deeper and more sinister than a simple serial killer’s web. As the dots connect and worlds collide, she struggles to shields her friends from the truth. But secrets can be deadly. And Dahlia’s not the only one who keeps them.
Smoke & Mirrors is the third book in the Nite Fire series.
Buy Links
Buy on Amazon⎮Audible⎮iTunes
About the Author: C.L. Schneider
C.L. Schneider is an award-winning author of immersive fantasy fiction, including The Crown of Stones Trilogy and the Nite Fire Series. Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river, she penned her first novel at age sixteen on a typewriter in her parent’s living room. She currently resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley with her husband and two sons.
To learn more about C.L. Schneider, and the worlds she creates, visit clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews and excerpts, subscribe to her newsletter, and join her Street Team. An active part of the indie author online community, you can often find her on social media, chatting about the daily ups and downs of a writer’s life.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Amazon⎮Instagram
C.L. Schneider is an award-winning author of immersive fantasy fiction, including The Crown of Stones Trilogy and the Nite Fire Series. Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river, she penned her first novel at age sixteen on a typewriter in her parent’s living room. She currently resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley with her husband and two sons.
To learn more about C.L. Schneider, and the worlds she creates, visit clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews and excerpts, subscribe to her newsletter, and join her Street Team. An active part of the indie author online community, you can often find her on social media, chatting about the daily ups and downs of a writer’s life.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Amazon⎮Instagram
Interview with C.L. Schneider
What can you tell us about Nite Fire?
The Nite Fire books are written first person, from the perspective of Dahlia Nite: a shapeshifting-creature hunter from a parallel world ruled by dragons. The series is based on the premise that all the creatures of our myths and legends actually exist, but on parallel worlds. Rips form between the worlds, the creatures slip through, and from those sightings our legends are born. Sometimes their visits are innocent blunders. Most “monsters” can’t sense the torn veil until they’re upon it. Many times, though, the incursions are planned—and deadly.
When the first tear opened on Dahlia’s home world of Drimera, the dragons that reside there took it upon themselves to monitor and restrict the “exits” to other worlds. Twisting and hiding the truth, fabricating lies and hording secrets like gold; many worlds have been impacted by Drimera’s choices. Their eons of shadowy maneuverings have turned reality into fantasy and truth into legend.
But, now, the monsters are getting bolder. The shadows are shifting out of place a little more every year, moving humanity closer and closer to an awakening. And somewhere out there, a mysterious global threat is growing…
What do you think readers would find compelling about your character?
I think what makes Dahlia stand out are her flaws. The perfect heroine can get boring fast. They always do the right thing, overcoming every obstacle without consequence. But that’s not real life. Real people are flawed. They make mistakes, have bad habits, and say the wrong thing. I want my readers to feel as if my characters are real. Even if they’re reading about someone who isn’t human, they still need to be able to relate to their fears, hopes, and mistakes. I think being able to identify with a “real” character drags people deeper into the story and keeps them invested on the character’s storyline.
What was your inspiration for writing Nite Fire?
I’m a bit of a fangirl. I love fantasy and sci-fi TV shows, like Supernatural, X-Files, Jessica Jones, etc. The list of my favorite shows is far too long to mention here! I wanted to write something that was inspired by my love for those shows, with a “monster-of-the-week” quality to each book and an underlying mystery that develops throughout. I wanted to switch gears from the male character in my previous epic trilogy, to a strong female character that is equipped to take the (supernatural) world by storm—after her morning coffee, of course!
Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
No. I hadn’t dived into the realm of audio yet. Once I did, and the process was started with book 1, it was in the back of my mind as I wrote book 2. Even more so with book 3. I thought of how certain scenes would sound as I crafted them. Something I hadn’t expected, is that I can hear my narrator’s voice when I’m writing Dahlia, as well as several of the other characters. I love that!
How did you select your narrator?
I met Cassie at a local comic con. She stopped at my table to check out my books, and we started chatting. She was cosplaying as one of my favorite characters (Rose Tyler from Dr. Who), and it didn’t take long before our conversation evolved. She told me about her audiobook narration, and I was instantly intrigued. I took Cassie’s card and contacted her a few months later. We had already hit it off. But once I listened to her audition, I knew she was the one to bring Dahlia to life.
How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
Cassie and I have worked very closely throughout the entire process. Before she started recording, I typed up character profiles and sent her info on potential voices. After she read Flash Point, we met for coffee and discussed the book at length. We keep in regular contact as she records the series. She’s a delight to work with and passionate about the story, which really shines through in her narration. She even dressed up as Dahlia Nite for Halloween last year!
How do you manage to avoid burn out? What do you do to maintain enthusiasm for writing?
I don’t really struggle with burnout. I almost always feel an urgency to write. What I struggle with is juggling everything else that comes with being a published author, plus family, friends, taking care of the house—so I can write—while attempting not to ignore anything or anyone. That’s where the burnout comes in: trying to fit it all in, with the urge to write constantly tapping on my brain. Every year I tell myself I’m going to work out a better schedule. Instead, I do what I always do: rely on multiple to-do lists, an understanding family, and lots of coffee.
Do you think certain types of writing can translate better into an audiobook?
I think unique characters that really stand out, and can be easily differentiated, are important. As is crisp dialogue that’s written in a way that is true to each character. The settings should be visually descriptive to put the listeners in the moment. Less-wordy styles of writing would keep those with split attentions (driving, etc.,) from wandering during the meandering sentences.
Is there a message that you to try convey with your writing, something you want your listeners and readers to take away?
Not really. There are themes in my writing, but they aren’t put there with some grand purpose. They are simply part of the story I’m telling. All I really want my readers to take away is a good time. My goal is to make them feel; the good and the bad. I want to take them on an adventure that leaves them smiling, laughing, crying, and ready to throw the book across the room. I can’t think of anything better than to keep someone glued to the pages—then leave them with a massive book-hangover!
What’s next for you?
Book 4 in the series is up for pre-order now. The audio version will follow later this year. And I just started working on the draft in the 5th and final book in the Nite Fire Series. It’s going to be a challenge. There is a lot to wrap up. But I promise it will be a wild ride. After Nite Fire is finished, I’ll be concentrating on my novella series, which is set in the world of The Crown of Stones, my epic trilogy. The first novella came out last summer. I’m planning four books in the series, with a stand alone full-length novel at the end. After that: who knows! I’ve got about a dozen other stories spinning in my head.
The Nite Fire books are written first person, from the perspective of Dahlia Nite: a shapeshifting-creature hunter from a parallel world ruled by dragons. The series is based on the premise that all the creatures of our myths and legends actually exist, but on parallel worlds. Rips form between the worlds, the creatures slip through, and from those sightings our legends are born. Sometimes their visits are innocent blunders. Most “monsters” can’t sense the torn veil until they’re upon it. Many times, though, the incursions are planned—and deadly.
When the first tear opened on Dahlia’s home world of Drimera, the dragons that reside there took it upon themselves to monitor and restrict the “exits” to other worlds. Twisting and hiding the truth, fabricating lies and hording secrets like gold; many worlds have been impacted by Drimera’s choices. Their eons of shadowy maneuverings have turned reality into fantasy and truth into legend.
But, now, the monsters are getting bolder. The shadows are shifting out of place a little more every year, moving humanity closer and closer to an awakening. And somewhere out there, a mysterious global threat is growing…
What do you think readers would find compelling about your character?
I think what makes Dahlia stand out are her flaws. The perfect heroine can get boring fast. They always do the right thing, overcoming every obstacle without consequence. But that’s not real life. Real people are flawed. They make mistakes, have bad habits, and say the wrong thing. I want my readers to feel as if my characters are real. Even if they’re reading about someone who isn’t human, they still need to be able to relate to their fears, hopes, and mistakes. I think being able to identify with a “real” character drags people deeper into the story and keeps them invested on the character’s storyline.
What was your inspiration for writing Nite Fire?
I’m a bit of a fangirl. I love fantasy and sci-fi TV shows, like Supernatural, X-Files, Jessica Jones, etc. The list of my favorite shows is far too long to mention here! I wanted to write something that was inspired by my love for those shows, with a “monster-of-the-week” quality to each book and an underlying mystery that develops throughout. I wanted to switch gears from the male character in my previous epic trilogy, to a strong female character that is equipped to take the (supernatural) world by storm—after her morning coffee, of course!
Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
No. I hadn’t dived into the realm of audio yet. Once I did, and the process was started with book 1, it was in the back of my mind as I wrote book 2. Even more so with book 3. I thought of how certain scenes would sound as I crafted them. Something I hadn’t expected, is that I can hear my narrator’s voice when I’m writing Dahlia, as well as several of the other characters. I love that!
How did you select your narrator?
I met Cassie at a local comic con. She stopped at my table to check out my books, and we started chatting. She was cosplaying as one of my favorite characters (Rose Tyler from Dr. Who), and it didn’t take long before our conversation evolved. She told me about her audiobook narration, and I was instantly intrigued. I took Cassie’s card and contacted her a few months later. We had already hit it off. But once I listened to her audition, I knew she was the one to bring Dahlia to life.
How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
Cassie and I have worked very closely throughout the entire process. Before she started recording, I typed up character profiles and sent her info on potential voices. After she read Flash Point, we met for coffee and discussed the book at length. We keep in regular contact as she records the series. She’s a delight to work with and passionate about the story, which really shines through in her narration. She even dressed up as Dahlia Nite for Halloween last year!
How do you manage to avoid burn out? What do you do to maintain enthusiasm for writing?
I don’t really struggle with burnout. I almost always feel an urgency to write. What I struggle with is juggling everything else that comes with being a published author, plus family, friends, taking care of the house—so I can write—while attempting not to ignore anything or anyone. That’s where the burnout comes in: trying to fit it all in, with the urge to write constantly tapping on my brain. Every year I tell myself I’m going to work out a better schedule. Instead, I do what I always do: rely on multiple to-do lists, an understanding family, and lots of coffee.
Do you think certain types of writing can translate better into an audiobook?
I think unique characters that really stand out, and can be easily differentiated, are important. As is crisp dialogue that’s written in a way that is true to each character. The settings should be visually descriptive to put the listeners in the moment. Less-wordy styles of writing would keep those with split attentions (driving, etc.,) from wandering during the meandering sentences.
Is there a message that you to try convey with your writing, something you want your listeners and readers to take away?
Not really. There are themes in my writing, but they aren’t put there with some grand purpose. They are simply part of the story I’m telling. All I really want my readers to take away is a good time. My goal is to make them feel; the good and the bad. I want to take them on an adventure that leaves them smiling, laughing, crying, and ready to throw the book across the room. I can’t think of anything better than to keep someone glued to the pages—then leave them with a massive book-hangover!
What’s next for you?
Book 4 in the series is up for pre-order now. The audio version will follow later this year. And I just started working on the draft in the 5th and final book in the Nite Fire Series. It’s going to be a challenge. There is a lot to wrap up. But I promise it will be a wild ride. After Nite Fire is finished, I’ll be concentrating on my novella series, which is set in the world of The Crown of Stones, my epic trilogy. The first novella came out last summer. I’m planning four books in the series, with a stand alone full-length novel at the end. After that: who knows! I’ve got about a dozen other stories spinning in my head.
About the Narrator: Cassandra King
Cassandra is a professional actor from New York. She works with a private acting trainer and has been making her way into the voice over world. Becoming an audiobook narrator was a great way to combine her desire to act and her passion for literature. She is currently working on book 2 of the Nite Fire series entitled 'Chain Reaction' as well as a Warhammer 30k fan film called 'Death of Hope'. In addition to reading and acting, Cassandra also enjoys anime, sports, cooking, and traveling.
Website⎮Instagram
Cassandra is a professional actor from New York. She works with a private acting trainer and has been making her way into the voice over world. Becoming an audiobook narrator was a great way to combine her desire to act and her passion for literature. She is currently working on book 2 of the Nite Fire series entitled 'Chain Reaction' as well as a Warhammer 30k fan film called 'Death of Hope'. In addition to reading and acting, Cassandra also enjoys anime, sports, cooking, and traveling.
Website⎮Instagram
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