From #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper Kerri Maniscalco comes the sizzling, sweepingly romantic sequel to Kingdom of the Wicked!
We had the pleasure of speaking with Kerri Maniscalco again about her new release, Kingdom of the Cursed!
Hi Kerri! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and about Kingdom of the Cursed?
Sure! My name is Kerri Maniscalco and I am the #1 NYT bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper quartet, along with my new series, Kingdom of the Wicked. Both series are gothic in tone and feature a murder mystery. I love anything with sizzling romantic tension and banter, so both elements play large roles in all of my novels. Kingdom of the Cursed is the second book in the Kingdom of the Wicked series and it’s my spiciest novel to date. It features some of my favorite tropes—enemies to lovers, there’s only one bed, stabby anti-heroes, and lots of banter.
What sin do you think you’d fall prey to if you were to be tested in the kingdom of Hell?
Oh, gosh. I think this would likely change depending on mood. I’d love to be tested for House Wrath for obvious reasons. But honestly? After working hard all day, I’d love to be in House Sloth and just curl up with a good book, a cup of tea, and be lazy.
Favorite trait of Wrath’s?
I love his cunning and his wit. Seeing him work around rules is so much fun and when they irk Emilia it’s just the best!
Kingdom of the Wicked released during the pandemic, what has the publishing experience been like for you while drafting Kingdom of the Cursed?
I think every time you write a book there are unique challenges that pop up, but this year it was hard to shut off the outside world and get into that creative state without tons of distraction. Romance novels were my favorite escape, so that really fueled my love for writing this sequel and helped me focus on (hopefully) crafting a story that would offer other readers an escape for a few hours, too.
What are Emilia’s favorite comforts?
Emilia loves to lose herself in the kitchen, letting her creativity takeover as she tests new recipes. It brings her a sense of calm and peace, plus she loves spending time with her family. She also loves to read, so she can often be found with a spicy romance novel. I think her newest favorite comfort is antagonizing Wrath, though. Getting under the general of war’s skin is especially fun for her.
How do you celebrate the completion of a book? What are your plans for celebrating the release of Kingdom of the Cursed?
I think it’s really important to celebrate each step of the publication process and for the completion of a book, I usually buy myself a gift that reminds me of it in some way. This year when I turned in that final draft for publication, I found a mirror that is very House Wrath for my office. It’s one of my very favorite things and I feel inspired each time I look at it, especially while drafting book three.
