Blog Tour: Dancers and Divas Series - Author Spotlight - Kathy Petrakis

Today we have Kathy Petrakis stopping by for an interview to talk about her series Dancers and Divas and what writing means to her! 

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated or did you always just know you wanted to be a writer?

For most of my career, I was working in banks. Apart from the emails I sent home about my disastrous travelling adventures, I didn't write at all. I didn't even read that much. To this day, I do not know why I suddenly had this urge to write and write this story. I was in London, working for a bank and made this decision one day.

I made my notes while travelling through Mexico and Cuba and then came back, jobless and began writing. The learning curve went on from there! Now it's like I've opened a Pandora's box with ideas coming to me in the middle of the night or while watching a play or TV show. I can't keep up with them all!

What inspired The Dancers and Divas Series?

Blog Tour: Dancers and Divas Series

Passion and Pain (Dancers and Divas #1) by Kathy Petrakis
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 15, 2012
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Does passion and desire guarantee success? Can friends really be trusted? Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit?

These are questions tenacious street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York’s top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the carefree and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage.

But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena’s friendships, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success?

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Bittersweet (Dancers and Divas #2) by Kathy Petrakis
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 28, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Can secrets stay hidden forever? Can people really change? Are some mistakes unforgivable?

As Elena and Sebastian embark on a fresh start, will Letitia keep his secret, or will she use it to destroy them? As Veronika falls in love, Frankie is out of rehab and trying to make amends, but will it last for either of them? Meanwhile, as Anya is torn between loyalty to her Nana and love for Darius, could Darius fall for the new temptress, Rosa? With her stunning looks, her powerful, sensual dancing and her desire to seduce, she has everyone nervous but what secret is she hiding?

Continue the roller-coaster journey with your favorite characters as they try to survive junior year at the country’s top performing arts school.

“There is drama, stress and anger all wrapped up in a neat bow just waiting to be unleashed.”

“.. at first, it felt like I was reading a new version of Step Up 2... LOVE... then it merged into a little Glee... then it merged with Center Stage... then in the midst of it all was the Gossip Girl...”

“It is extremely well written, and the plot is very engaging. I couldn't put it down..”

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Excerpt:

She showed Darius her choreography ideas to date, long and flowing. “That was beautiful, Anya. But can I suggest we change some of these steps and add a lift here? I mean, listen to the words:

“I never dreamed there would ever be
Someone who saw the real me
Who could know my darkest secrets
And never run in fear.”

“So we’re talking about giving everything of yourself hoping you’ll have that returned. That means you are feeling vulnerable.” He looked at her reflectively. “Hmmm. How about you come towards me, scared, but we don’t quite meet as you are waiting for my reaction?” He suggested some moves that she expanded on. “Yeah, that’s really good.” He replayed the song to listen to the words again.