Urban Fantasy
Date Published: November 17
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Twenty years ago, Reaper of Souls Kassidy Simmons battled Azra-El, the Angel of Death and won—or so she thought.
Now, a number of strange and unexplained deaths are afflicting Kassidy’s quiet New York town. She wishes she didn’t care. But she does.
Her empathic abilities are expanding beyond her control, and the intense emotions are tearing apart her relationships. They’re also degrading the magical wards put in place to protect her from other Reapers and the even deadlier Wraiths—onyx-eyed henchmen of Azra-El.
Allied with her longtime mentor and a college professor with ties to her past, Kassidy learns that the untimely deaths are regenerating Azra-El, and that the only way to stop him is with the Scythe of Cronus, the legendary weapon of the God of Death.
To save her loved ones and reset the natural order, Kassidy must journey home and confront a past she’s been running from for two decades. She’ll face-off with enemies, old and new, and through a haze of fear and addiction, Kassidy will learn the secrets of her heritage, and challenge head on the one being she fears most—herself.
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
Ultimately, I want reader to be entertained. But underneath
the fantasy and mythology, there are some themes within this story that may
resonate with some people. Kassidy is a
woman with a history of trauma and that has impacted her relationships. Her use
of alcohol and pills to quiet voices is very much a metaphor for challenges that
some people experience daily. Kassidy had to get to a point where running from
her problems was no longer an option. Once she stopped, her path became clear,
she accepted help, and she found herself able to move forward. I think that
ability to stop, access, and accept help is an important lesson for us all.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Yes. At times…focus. I think every writer can struggle,
to some degree, with remaining focused. I’ve been focused on a storyline at
times when a new idea pops in my head and then I’ve been pulled toward it. I’ve
abandoned some projects as a result. I think what I’ve learned though, is that
in those instances, I just haven’t been as committed. Writing a book is much
like a relationship or friendship. If you’re committed, you see it through to
the end. You fight for it. When your heart isn’t fully into the project, it becomes
easy to get distracted and walk away. I didn’t have that problem with DEATH’S
LEGACY. It started out as a bad script and I recognized it needed more. I
needed to nurture the story and build upon it…and here we are.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
This is my second book, but my first COMPLETE
book, and thus, this is my favorite so far. But I have many stories to tell, so
perhaps they’ll give DEATH’S LEGACY a run for the money in my heart.
If You had the chance to cast your main character from
I’ve actually thought about this a lot. I tried
to determine who would best capture the angst, the attitude, the sarcasm, and
the vulnerability of Kassidy Simmons, and I landed on Morena Baccarin. From Firefly,
to Homeland, to Gotham, and even Deadpool, she’s shown an incredible range of
emotion and growth in the characters she’s played. Kassidy is fierce, but scared,
funny and sarcastic, capable, but vulnerable, and Morena Baccarin has captured
those well.
When did you begin writing?
I’ve always loved to write. I was the kid who
loved English and Creative Writing, and preferred essay exams to any alternative.
In the early to mid-2000’s I was serious about poetry but stepped out of that
and back into crafting stories around 2012. That’s when I got serious about it
and began taking workshops, reading more, and learning more about the craft.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
DEATH’S LEGACY was originally
a script for a screenwriting workshop I took while working on my MFA. I thought
the script was bad, but I loved the story, so I began its novelization in May
2018. All in all, from the first word to the final draft, it took just over two
years.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve been inspired by many. Not necessarily to
become a writer, but to never give up writing. There have been frustrating
moments that have made me want to hang up the quill, but witnessing masterful
storytellers thrive and reading their work helped provide that push. I have to
give shout outs to Tessa Dawn, bestselling author of the Blood Curse series,
and Jonathan Maberry, another bestselling author who crafts magnificent and
complex stories. They’ve both been very encouraging and have taken the time to
teach me a great deal about the craft of writing and business of publishing.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Honestly, I loved every bit of it. I’m a bit of a
pantser, until I get lost, then I transition to plotter, to fill in my madness.
So, the opportunity to craft a story, and refine it during the editing process
was amazing for me. Ultimately, I loved the opportunity to create complicated
characters. Characters that, while fantastic in their ability and history,
still had a very human element. Chiseling away at all the excess to make the
story and the backstories real, giving the characters more depth, was among the
most enjoyable aspects of the writing this novel and subsequent stories.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Exciting. Emotional. Tense. Fun.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the
future for your writing?
My current WIP is a follow up to DEATH’S
LEGACY. It’s tentatively titled, THE LAST TITAN, though that may
change as the result of the latest Dresden novel. Kassidy and others will
return, and a new villain will be revealed. In this new story we’ll learn about
Jaxon Burke, a man with near perfect recall. He’s got some challenges, too.
Principle among them is that despite his near perfect memory, he can recall nothing
about his life before awakening alone and naked in a field outside of Rome…500
years ago. In addition to that I’m working on some short stories and looking
forward to submitting those for publication.
About the Author
Dennis Crosby grew up in Oak Park, IL and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Illinois in Chicago. With a degree in Criminal Justice, he spent six years working as a Private Investigator and during that time developed an affinity for writing poetry. While working on a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology, Dennis transitioned into social service. Dennis has spent the last twelve years working with men and women experiencing challenges with mental health and addiction. He currently serves as Clinic Director for an Opioid Treatment Program.
With a lifelong passion for writing, Dennis wrote dozens of short stories, tapping into his creative side, but did not pursue the finer points of the craft until later in life. After leaving Chicago and moving to San Diego, Dennis had the opportunity to get more involved in the writing community where he strengthened his skills. To further augment his writing skills, Dennis completed an MFA program at National University.
A self-proclaimed geek and lover of pop culture, Dennis still lives and writes in San Diego, CA.
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