Ally Shields's Blog, page 76

Coffee Chat: Finale of Kirstin Pulioff's Trilogy

Happy Wednesday!

Thanks for joining us for coffee and book talk.

We've been privileged to follow Kirstin Pulioff's Madeline from the beginning of her adventures as a young woman approaching her adult years in The Escape of Princess Madeline. (See prior visits here: Sept 2012, Dec 2012, and May 2013.) Today, her creator Kirstin Pulioff is here to talk about what happens now that Madeline has made that transition and achieved her happily ever after in the final book of the trilogy.

Welcome, Kirstin! I'll pour us both large cups of black coffee while you remind readers of your bio, and add a little something about yourself that we haven't heard before.
Bio: Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom. When she's not writing, she is busy with her kids and church.

And that extra something: I recently had a fun experience hiking up in the Portland woods. My kids and I were hiking at the Portland Arboretum, and as we were heading back to our car, we saw filming trailers. Intrigued, we investigated, and found them shooting an episode of Grimm. What a fun experience. The kids had fun building a fairy house around the trees while a friend and I watched part of the episode be filmed, and met the cast. It was probably the most random run-in while hiking... and I was glad we didn't see the bad guy on the trail!

Author contacts:

Website: www.kirstinpulioff.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KirstinPulioffAuthor 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KirstinPulioff 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11281401-kirstin-pulioff
Amazon Author page:  http://www.amazon.com/Kirstin-Pulioff/e/B00A2498Z2/
Ally:  Now that we're settled with coffee in hand, shall we get started? This book is the last in a three book series. How does it feel to say goodbye to these characters? Were you ready?

KIRSTIN:  Surprisingly I was ready. I have loved being inside Princess Madeline's head these last few years, struggling with her challenges, and enjoying each adventure, but it felt time to let the additional adventures go unwritten. I was able to tell the story, tie the trilogy together, and create the happily ever after that I envisioned for her. It's hard to describe that feeling, like when you put the last piece of a puzzle together, or hear the door latch behind you. It felt complete, and the right time to say "The End."

Ally:  What's next on your writing agenda? A new series? A new genre?

KIRSTIN:  I actually have a few ideas in mind. The first new story is going to be a YA Fantasy adventure, geared for the older teens, tentatively titled Dreamscape: Saving Alex. I also have ideas rolling around about a middle grade fantasy adventure series for boys. It's always exciting to see where the muse will take me.

Ally:  What are your best marketing tips for fellow writers?

KIRSTIN:  I struggle with this as well. I think the best advice is to be consistent. Be consistent with the amount and type of media you do. Different venues feel more comfortable for everyone, and I would suggest that you find that one that works for you, engage with other people, and have fun.

Ally:  Put on your reading hat for a moment, and tell me what book or books are at the top of your TBR pile.

KIRSTIN:  Oh... I just finished this great urban fantasy, wink wink. No, I have a couple new books that I plan on reading. A YA fantasy by Alyssa Auch, Inito, and the Hunger Games. Yes, I am hanging my head in shame. I put it on my list months ago, but I plan to start reading it very soon!

Ally:  Let's finish up with some quick answer questions:
a. I am my own worst critic. True or False? True b. I love winter. Bring on the cold and snow! True or False? False c.  Will you be watching the Olympics' coverage on TV? Nod. I have a secret addiction to ___________ (fill in the blank). Coffee (ok, not so secret... so how about peppermint bark) e. favorite actress: Jennifer Lawrence
Ally: It was delightful to have you, Kirstin. Do come back and tell us about the next book - whatever it turns out to be. :)

KIRSTIN: Thanks, Ally! Always a blast.

Ally: Now let's take a quick look at the conclusion of Madeline's story, Princess Madeline and the Dragon. (For my review of this MG/YA novel and an excerpt, click here.)

Book Blurb:

After a season of battle and rebuilding, the Kingdom of Soron is exhausted. With the return of the exiled wizards, the Spring Faire, and her upcoming wedding, Princess Madeline is looking forward to a peaceful season of celebration. 

When the mysterious green dragon reappears, threatening the kingdom and the king, Princess Madeline and Prince Braden won’t rest for long. Faced with this incredible new danger, Princess Madeline and Prince Braden must find a way to lead their kingdom and secure their future. 

Can they find the answers hidden within their mother’s cryptic messages from the past, or will the dragon destroy everything they hold dear? Follow Princess Madeline as she embarks on a dangerous new adventure to save her kingdom and her family.

Buy Links:

Amazon
Smashwords
B&N
It's great to see everyone this week! Come back soon!

The Party is Over

What a birthday party!!

If you missed the party...well, you missed the party! Um, does anyone recognize these feet? It so, would you please send someone to claim them? :)

The virtual balloons are all put away, the virtual champagne has been consumed. Yes, all of it! I'm not sure what happened to the cake, but it's gone too. I've heard from reliable sources that three of our partiers were late for work the next morning!

Truthfully, I had a wonderful time, and I want to thank everyone who stopped by here, Facebook and Goodreads to help me celebrate. You made it quite a fun day!

The prize winners have been selected and notified. Electronic prizes have already been delivered and the other packages are ready to go into the mail Monday morning. Congrats to these winners:

Prize #1, the signed print book was won by Barbara.

Prize #2, the five ribbon bookmarks went to Cheryl, Shawndra, Tori, Chene and Shannon.

Prize #3, the two sets of two digital books were won by Brenda and Debbie

Extra prize, the Amazon gift card for having at least one correct answer in the quiz went to Zee (who got all the answers).

      For those who are curious, here is a list of correct answers:
                                        a.  Ari's favorite color is green.
                                        b.  Favorite wine: chardonnay
                                        c.  Favorite TV shows: The Voice, Gossip Girl, Supernatural
                                        d.  Favorite actor: Johnny Depp
                                        e.  Favorite ice cream: rocky road

I have several requests for party favor bookmarks, and those will also go in the mail on Monday.

So for now, the party is really over. Sigh. But, there's a new Ari book coming soon...and another after that...  Something is always happening around here. I hope you come back soon!
We'll be back to regular programming on Wednesday.
Be sure to check out this week's Coffee Chat!

Birthday Party Giveaway!

Let's Party!
It's my birthday!

To celebrate I'm giving away a print book of any of the four Guardian Witch novels, swag and ebooks to random commenters or you can email me your choice at AllyShieldsBooks@aol.com. (I'll confirm email entries so you know you're entered.)
Get your name registered with your choice of prize in the comments or by email before 11:59 p.m. PST Jan. 31.
Yes, you may enter for every prize, but it takes a separate comment or email for each! :)


Prize #1:  Signed print copy of your choice of one of the four books (US entrants only):
Prize 2: Ribbon bookmarks (5 winners, you may live anywhere)

The tiny picture frame has book 1 on one side, book 2 on the other.
Prize 3: An ecopy (pdf, mobi or epub) of any 2 of the books listed in Prize 1) (2 winners of 2 books each)

Party favors!  Any entrant who wants one will receive a paper bookmark with all four book covers on it. (Please don't leave your snail mail address in the comments. I'll contact you by email to get it).

EXTRA PRIZE:   Hey, what's a party without games? So here's a birthday quiz. Are you on Twitter? Have you been reading #Arifavs? If so, you should already know the answers (or can find them by doing a hashtag search). If not, give it your best guess. :)
If you get even one answer correct, you'll be in the running for an extra prize, a $10 amazon gift card!


a.  What is Ari's favorite color?
b. Her favorite wine?
c. Her favorite TV shows? (I gave 3, one will do)
d. Her favorite actor?
e. Her favorite ice cream?

Good luck to everyone! I hope you'll help me celebrate by submitting your entries. Remember, the birthday drawings close at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 31!
                                             ~~~~~
BTW, if you live in the US and want more chances to win a print copy of Blood and Fire, get your name entered in the Goodreads Giveaway. It runs until February 11!
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; } Goodreads Book Giveaway Blood and Fire by Ally Shields

Giveaway ends February 11, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Sunday Musings

Happy Sunday!

They say we'll be having a blizzard by 4 p.m., so I'm dreaming of warm places to visit. This pic happens to be from Hawaii, but I can think of several inviting locales. In fact, any place 75 degrees and sunny would get my vote! :)
If you could be anywhere in the world this morning, where would you choose?

I had intended to announce a new Goodreads' giveaway today of two print books of Blood and Fire, but it hasn't yet been approved. It should be live soon, and I've put the widget at the bottom of my home page. It will update as soon as the giveaway is open for entries. If you're in the US, be sure you get your name on the list!

In the meantime, I'm participating in Set the Scene in Six Sentences again today. Read my snippet from Blood and Fire (it's comment #5) and check out the other entries.
If you've read the Guardian Witch books, what snippet would you suggest for next week?

UPDATE: Just learned the new title for Guardian Witch book five has been approved! Watch for Fire Storm in March!

                       Thanks for stopping by. Don't miss the Coffee Chat on Wednesday.

Coffee Chat Interview with Author Sara Hubbard

Happy Wednesday! A familiar face has joined us today on the Coffee Chat!

Welcome, Sara Hubbard!

Now, last time Sara was here for an interview--in November 2012-- she got waaay off topic. Instead of telling us about her book, Blood, She Read, she talked about Christmas Trees. Oh, yes, you can read the proof yourself by clicking this LINK. :)
Well, it won't happen this time. We're going to keep her strictly on task with a series of questions. Lol.
Since Sara doesn't drink coffee but prefers chai tea, my magic pot is steeping away. :)

While I'm pouring our drinks, why don't you tell our readers a little about yourself, Sara.
BIO:  Sara Hubbard is the author of romantic novels for both young adults and adults. Her debut novel BLOOD, SHE READ released fall 2012 and was a NEORWA Cleveland Rocks winner and a RCRW Duel on the Delta finalist. Sara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two children (four if you count her husband and her needy labradoodle) and works as a registered nurse with the military.

Find out more about Sara and her books here:
http://www.sara-hubbard.com
http://twitter.com/SaraLouHubbard
http://pinterest.com/saralouhubbard
http://www.facebook.com/sarahubbardauthor

Ally: I usually ask guests to reveal something about themselves that isn't in their official bio. What deep, dark secrets are you hiding? Lol

SARA:  I don’t know! This is a tough one. My bio states I’m military but it doesn’t say that one of the best times of my life was Basic Training. And no, I’m not a sadist. The camaraderie at Basic is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, and I still remain close with several of the people who completed it with me, and that was back in 1998.

Ally:  Thanks for sharing that. Now on to the book talk. Is this your first NA novel? Did you find writing it any different than writing YA?

SARA:  Yes, it is! In fact, this was one of the first books I ever wrote, although it has changed dramatically since then. What I like about New Adult is the exploration of intimacy between the hero and heroine. You have to be careful not to add too much spice to Young Adult novels and it was nice to be able to write the intimate scenes between my characters without any restrictions.

Ally:  What do you like best about your heroine? Why do you think the hero is the right guy for her?

SARA:  Hmm…I think what I like most about her is you would do anything for the people she cares about, even risk her life if she needs to. She’s also a little naïve and trusting and, for me, it makes her endearing. I’m not sure if the hero is right for her (you’ll have to read the book and decide for yourself!) but, I do think there is undeniable chemistry between them and exploring their relationship was a lot of fun.

Ally:  Readers often want to know where our characters come from. Did you have an inspiration for Isame?

SARA: You know, when I wrote this novel I was writing it while Pride & Prejudice played in the background. I think it inspired the time/place/feel of the novel but I can’t really say that I had any inspiration for Isame. The novel began with a scene in my head about a girl running from giants in the woods. It all kind of morphed from there. I wanted to have some yummy heros and giants just weren’t cutting it. Tattooed warriors from a distant land were a little more swoon-worthy. 

Ally: Describe the unique setting you used in By Force.

SARA:  Think 12th century England. Sort of. The place is completely made up, but I guess this era has a similar feel to it, with castles and men and women on horseback and knights, etc. There are five islands that make up this world: Northern and Southern Copaxa to the East, Optavia to the West, Faemell to the Southwest and Ghost Island to the Northwest. Each island has their own unique features. Isame comes from Copaxa and is kidnapped by savages to be taken to Optavia, the land of the Daentarry (or savage folk). Faemell is an island filled with half species and fairies, or I should say, is “rumored” to be the home of fairies. Wink, wink. And Ghost Island is the land of the dead.

Ally:  Putting our books in the hands of readers is a struggle for all authors. Have you found a magic wand or even a tip or two on marketing that you could share with other writers?

SARA:  I wish I had a magic formula, and if I did, I would gladly share! Sadly, I don’t really have one. What I’ve found has helped is to be very active on social media and to ensure you engage your readers. Be grateful to them for helping you live your dream. :)

Ally:  It's almost time to share a quick look at your new release, but I do have one last question. Given our last conversation was all about Christmas trees and your great love of the season, dare I ask? Is your tree still up?

SARA:  Lol. Actually, my Christmas tree is now down, although there are still pine needles kicking around the house. I never can seem to get rid of them!

Ally:  That's why I've gone with artificial. It was a pleasure to have you visit, Sara. Come back anytime. We'll end today's chat with a peek at your book...
Book Blurb:  By Force

Kidnapping Isame would set them free…

Isame wanted freedom: the freedom to travel, the freedom to explore, but most of all, the freedom to choose the life she wanted over the life—and the husband—her parents had chosen for her. But when Isame leaves home to accept another man’s proposal, she happens across five fierce, handsome warriors. She wonders why they’ve travelled so far from home, but she never imagines their purpose might have something to do with her. Not even after they kidnap her.

Remmie is a man of honor and fierce loyalty. So when his king commands him to find a specific young woman on the island of Copaxa, he’s prepared to obey. But he’s not prepared for the woman to change everything. Isame is special. He can see it from the start. But how can one puny woman make him question everything he’s always known, including the rightness of doing what he’s promised?

Heat rating: mature YA

Excerpt:  He dropped my arms immediately and left my side. When he returned, he carried a wool blanket. Confused by his kindness, I watched his face as he carefully tucked the blanket in around my half-sitting body. His eyes flashed down, meeting my gaze. Something about the way he looked at me did strange things to my stomach. He looked…sad…regretful. But he said absolutely nothing. He wrapped the rope around my wrists and tied them with enough slack for me to easily wiggle out of them. I could have escaped if I had any energy left in my body, which I did not. I considered thanking him for the blanket, but how could I express my gratitude toward a man who had stolen me from my family?

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

Thanks for stopping. Come back soon!
If you'd like to visit our Book Hooks hop, scroll down!

A Peek Inside the Cover with Book Hooks #1

Book Hooks is a blog hop hosted by MFRW (Marketing for Romance Writers). Authors may participate every week or as often as possible. Since posting day is Wednesday, this will usually follow my Coffee Chat, so don't forget to scroll down.

What will you find in Book Hooks? Each week, members of MFRW will post a few sentences of a published book or a work in progress. If published, the post will also include cover, blurb and buy links.

Each entry will have a linky links list to take you to the other authors participating. I hope you'll enjoy this new addition to the blog. If you miss it on Wednesday, just click on category Book Hooks on the sidebar.
Today's excerpt if from Chapter 16 of Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch Book One). The heroine, witch cop Ari Calin, has a favor to ask vampire club owner/singer Andreas, and she's tracked him down between sets at the club.

Book Hook:

“What was that last song you sang?”

“An Italian love song. Did you enjoy it?”

“Amazing.”

He turned to look at her. “It was, or I was?” His voice invited a broader interpretation.

 She smiled. “Both,” she said, not bothering to hedge. “But who’s fishing for compliments now?”

“Touché.” His familiar laugh came then, rich and intimate, strangely companionable.

He was so approachable tonight that Ari began to relax. A dangerous frame of mind around a vampire, she thought, but then she hadn’t planned to play it safe tonight.

Blurb:

Twenty-three-year-old Ari Calin has sworn to keep the peace in the Olde Town district of Riverdale, and most of the time the Otherworlders cooperate. The vampires, werewolves and other magical creatures go about their business, living side by side with humans, until the foreign wolves arrive and a virtual reality drug hits the streets. When violence erupts, Ari needs more than her witch fire, weapons and potions to stop the madness.

Joining forces with a human police officer, Lt. Ryan Foster, and a way-too-sexy vampire singer, Andreas De Luca, Ari hunts for the enemy—from the vampire strip clubs to the caverns under the city. Every step draws Ari and her companions deeper into an old feud and closer to the brink of a supernatural war.

Youtube trailer: http://youtu.be/BIXnMGOlztQ

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/WA9e2o
B&N:  http://bit.ly/RPrJ45
Kobo:  http://bit.ly/Xt5EFY


Check out the other Book Hooks for this week ~

Ally's Snippets: Set the Scene in Six

Good morning! Hurrah, the sun is finally shining in Iowa!

Today I'm participating in Exquisite Quills' Set the Scene in Six Sentences. Click the link and look through the comments to see the contributions from other authors and leave your own entry!

Even though Exquisite Quills is primarily a romance site, I chose the opening lines from Blood and Fire (Guardian Witch book four), which are far from romantic!  :)

Here's my excerpt:

Ari’s long hair whipped in the wind, the pale strands stinging her cheek as she looked down from the cliff top at the scene below. Three cops, two in tan uniforms, huddled around a sprawled figure. She recognized her human partner from his tall frame and fair, curly hair. As usual, Lt. Ryan Foster wore casual jeans. His position as head of the Inter-Community Division (IDC) of the Riverdale Police Department gave him latitude in his attire. His khaki windbreaker jacket, optional on a late March day, was tightly zipped, indicating he’d been there since before the sun came out.

That's it. You only get six! Now, go check out the other snippets on Exquisite Quills--and have a fabulous weekend!                                                            
Thanks for stopping. Come back soon!

Coffee Chat with Author Cindy Carroll

It's Wednesday and you know what that means ~ coffee & books!
We're joined today by author Cindy Carroll.
Welcome, Cindy! May I pour you a cup of coffee?

CINDY: Yes, please! I like my coffee double double. Canadians will know what that is. :) It's double cream and double sugar.

Ally: Coming right up! In the meantime, why don't you share your bio with our readers and add something personal about yourself.
Bio:  A background in banking and IT doesn't allow much in the way of excitement so Cindy turns to writing stories that are a little dark and usually have a dead body. She writes screenplays, thrillers, urban fantasy and paranormals. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her fiancé and three cats. When she's not writing you can usually find her painting landscapes in oil or trying space paintings with spray paint.

Something personal? I love Nickelback. (Canadian rock band)

Author Links:

Website: http://www.cindycarroll.com
Newsletter signup:  http://www.cindycarroll.com/blog/newsletter
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CindyPCarroll
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCindyCarroll
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/writesbooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/writesbooks
Ally: When you and I first talked, you expected your urban fantasy to be released this month.  Unfortunately the release was delayed to March, which happens in this business, so much of what we do today will be a cover reveal and a sneak peek at the future. :) I love being the first to know, so let's talk about Almost Normal.
What is the setting for your novel, and what type of characters live there?

CINDY:  Almost Normal is set in a fictional Ontario city based on Oakville, Ontario. It's full of culture, a lake shore, a beautiful downtown area with quaint shops and cafes. My main character is a cop, dedicated to the job with no desire for a social life. Her best friend is a little more flighty, likes to have fun and keeps her grounded. Everyone in her circle tries to draw her out, set her up, pull her into a social life she wants no part of. 

Ally:  So what super powers does your cop heroine possess? Why did you choose this power? How does it add to the story?

CINDY:  She's a shapeshifter. Actually I was trying to come up with a story idea for a call for submissions for shapeshifter stories. Once I started plotting it out I realized it would be great for the first book in a series so I had to come up with another story for that call for submission. Her shapeshifting ability helps her solve crimes. Her sense of smell and sight is much better than a normal person.

Ally:  Do you write other genres? Is there something we could go buy today?

CINDY:  I do write in a lot of different genres. My first published story was a horror short story. I have two crime stories in an anthology. My urban fantasy is the first in a series, but I also have a paranormal series (with ghosts) on the go.
A couple of stories can be purchased on Amazon. Check out my author page: here.

Ally:  Where and when do you write? place, time of day?

CINDY:  The day job pays the bills for now so I write in the evenings usually in front of the TV on my laptop. Once I get my office set up (right now it's a storage room) I plan on writing in there. 

Ally:  Let's wind up with a few quick answer questions:
a) spring or fall - spring because there's still summer to look forward to and it means winter is over.b) favorite author, living or dead - Dean Koontzc)  Do you have pets? If so, what? - we have three cats, but I consider myself the owner of six cats. Three of them live with my sister. She got custody when I moved out. :)d) One item on your bucket list - Visit Australiae) Last place you went shopping - Metro - grocery store.Ally:  Cindy, it was a pleasure to have you visit. I hope you'll let me know when Almost Normal is released so I can pass the info to my readers. Now for the big reveal...
Blurb: 

Sierra Sands is a detective with a secret, on the trail of a serial killer. Not only does she have to stop him before he can kill again but she also has to make sure her suspicious partner doesn't learn the truth about her.

The truth is she's a shapeshifter.

Only two people know her secret. Her best friend thinks it's cool. Her sergeant keeps trying to figure out how he can use it to catch killers.

Unedited Excerpt:
        Walking in someone else’s shoes was hard.  That’s why Sierra always bought her own.  When her supervising officer marched towards her desk with that doom and gloom look on his face she knew a shopping trip was in her near future.  And she knew she wasn’t going to like it.

        “Sands, grab your jacket. We’ve got a live one.”

        The surprise was momentary.  She composed herself, grabbed her jacket off the back of the chair and jumped up.  The fact that Raymond was taking her to the hospital meant he wanted to use her special gift.  He called it a gift.  On good days she could bring herself to think of it as a gift.  Mostly she thought of it as a curse.  No one liked being a freak.  And no one liked the fact that the only reason they were alive while the rest of their family was dead was because they were a freak.  She pushed painful memories aside and followed her sergeant out of the station.

        In the car Raymond filled her in on the latest victim.

        “She’s alive, barely.  Best guess is that the killer was somehow interrupted and left her for dead.  Maybe she escaped.  We don’t know for sure.”

        “Still no physical evidence?”

        He shook his head, a worry line going through his forehead.  “Same as the others.  Almost.”

        She knew what he meant.  This guy hadn’t left any of them alive so far.  She wondered what could have interrupted him enough that he would leave before making sure she was dead.  Right now it didn’t matter.  It was the break they’d been looking for since they connected all the victims.

        When they arrived at the hospital they stopped outside the victim's room.  There was something her sergeant wasn't telling her.  And from the look on his face she wasn't going to like it.  Two officers flanked the door.  He wouldn't tell her until they were in the room.              
Thanks for having coffee with us & come back soon!
Watch for the March release of Almost Normal! 
            

First Peek at Guardian Witch Book Five

Shh, don't tell my editor...

I can't wait any longer to give you just a tiny peek at the next Ari book.

Release day is only a couple of months away, so I thought it was time to share. Just remember, this is the unedited version, and even the title is currently up for grabs. I don't think this snippet will give much away, except introduce you to an interesting little character, a werejavelina, that we haven't seen before.

Set up:

The night before this scene there was a terrible bar fight between a group of werejavelinas passing through town and local elves. Afterward, the surviving javeys, who are unwelcome everywhere because of their nasty tempers and crude habits, left town in a hurry.
As this scene opens, Ari has just left her office for the day and is making a regular stop at the local shifter shelter on her way home.

Snippet:

The suspicious face that peered from the shelter window immediately smiled and opened the door for her.

"Guardian, I'm delighted to see you, especially tonight. I sure could use your advice.” The matronly-looking woman was the werewolf in charge of the facility. “Got a bit of a problem.”

She swung the door wide, and Ari immediately saw the source of the trouble. A young werejavey. “I thought they left town.”

“Well, not this one. They either forgot about him or just didn’t want to mess with him.” The woman whispered behind her hand. “Only a baby, but he sure is unpleasant. Stinks, and language straight from the sewers.” The headkeeper wrinkled her nose, then turned to her charge. “Mangi, this is the Guardian. Say, hello, and try to mind your manners.”

The half-boy, half-hog javey snorted at her. “All I want from y’all is food, none of yer prattle. Do this, don't do that. Ya ain’t my mama.”

“And thankful I am about that,” the woman retorted. She looked at Ari and lifted her shoulder. “What am I going to do with him? He showed up about an hour ago, and already he’s run everybody else out for the night. I can’t keep him here, but I can’t turn him away either.”

“Where’s your home?” Ari asked him.

“S'none of yer bus'ness. 'Sides, ain't got one no more.” The javey scratched his snout.

Great. A homeless, unwelcome visitor. What were they going to do with him?

                         That's all you get for now. :) But watch for more in the coming weeks.
                                                                             Thanks so much for stopping!

Coffee Chat with Author Rebekah Ganiere

It's Wednesday! Time for coffee and book talk!

Today we're joined by author Rebekah Ganiere, who writes paranormal and steampunk.
How do you take your coffee, Rebekah?

REBEKAH:  I don't drink coffee, but I LOVE hot chocolate, which is ironic because I don't like chocolate. My kids say I make the best hot chocolate ever. Mostly because I make it with a Ton of creamer.

Ally: Okay, while I'm fixing your hot chocolate, why don't you introduce yourself to our readers?
AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS:

Rebekah's love for stories began as a child with Shel Silverstein poetry. She began writing her own poetry and short stories in junior high and high school and then went on to study theater in college.  Ultimately she ended up going back to writing so she could stay at home with her kids. Rebekah is a member of Romance Writers of America as well as the Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal Chapter, her local Los Angeles, Orange County, and Young Adult chapters. When she isn't spending time telling the stories of the characters constantly chattering inside her head, you can find her hanging out with her husband, four children and menagerie of pets. A dog, a rabbit, 2 bearded dragons, 1 Russian Tortoise and 2 Leopard Tortoises. The escaped snake has yet to be located.

Website: www.RebekahGaniere.com

Twitter: @VampWereZombie

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/VampiresWerewolvesZombies

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/VampWereZombie

Ally:  Now you've shown them the official bio, tell us something unique about yourself you wouldn't ordinarily mention.

REBEKAH:  Oh wow! Uhm... I am secretly obsessed with Monster High dolls. I can't wait till my three daughters get sick of theirs so I can add them to my own small collection. My favorite is Weberella. The limited edition Comic Con one I got this last summer at Comic Con San Diego. It has all the creators signatures on her box.

Ally:  That is unique! And I'm not quite sure how we transition from that to writing, so let's just make the leap. :)  Tell us how you chose the genres you write. Are they the same ones you read?

REBEKAH:  I write Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy and Steampunk. I read mostly in those genres and have loved fantasy since I was a child. I've always had a healthy obsession with vampires, from the time I was young and before it was commonplace. I don't know if I chose that genre or if it chose me. But growing up on Star Wars and Star Trek, Dragonlance and the Hobbit, I think it was just a place I identified with and loved.

Ally:  Describe your writing cave: whether its an office, a corner in your bedroom, or just a place you have to go in your head to write.

REBEKAH:  Oh man, my writing cave is my bedroom. I have an amazingly squishy foam bed that I love to sit on while I write.  It is usually surrounded by my kids that I homeschool, my writing books, and my two writing buddies, my leopard tortoises Hulk and Loki that are in their tank next to me. My television is always on with court TV, if I'm not listening to Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, Katy Perry, Green Day, Live, 3 Doors Down or Broadway Musicals.

Ally:  All of our supernatural creatures have special powers of some kind. If you could choose, what power would you like to have and why?

REBEKAH:  I would love to say I'd be a vampire, but honestly, I think drinking blood might make me sick. So, I think teleportation or telekinesis would be fun. I would love to move stuff with my mind. Or not have to sit in traffic.

Ally:  We all have favorite authors who either inspire or entertain us but very few that we reread. Do you have authors, living or dead, that you have read any/all of their books more than once? Who are they?

REBEKAH:  C.S. Lewis, Edgar Allan, Shakespeare. J. R. R. Tolkien as well as L. Frank Baum and Lewis Carroll.

Ally:  Quick Answer Questions:
     a. pantser or plotter : Both. I Plot the points and Pants how everything gets there
     b. favorite after 5 beverage : Shirley Temple
     c. last place you went on vacation : Comic Con San Diego. Best Vacation Ever!
     d. number of pets you have (and what they are) 7 - 1 dog, 2 Bearded Dragons, 1 Rabbit, 3 Tortoises
     e. favorite tv show (past or present) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Ally: We've now arrived at one of my favorite parts of the Coffee Chat, the revealing of another book. Today's feature is Rebekah's latest release, Dead Awakenings.
BLURB:

Evaine, a struggling New York theater student, enters an unsanctioned drug trial in an effort to pay bills.  She awakens in a derelict hospital, chained to a bed with no memory of who she is, or how she got there.  A band of pale skinned men, led by the gorgeous Luca, burst in, whisking her away to safety.

Once at Haven House, Evaine is introduced to The Family. Like them, she has become A Deader, a reanimated Undead.

Luca is hell-bent on stopping the experimentations, and killing those responsible. He has no time for a Newborn who is struggling to control her rages, hunger, and powers. Nor does he have the desire to deal with the feelings she's awakening within him.

Despite their best efforts, Evaine and Luca find their connection intensifying when suddenly, she remembers not only who she is, but also her fiancé, Tristan; who is still looking for her. 

Torn between her first love and her new heart’s desire, Evaine runs back to Tristan putting everyone in danger. When a rogue faction of Deaders, called Feeders, attempts to kidnap her, Luca suspects Evaine is the key to the experiments.

Can everyone band together to keep Evaine off the cutting table of those she escaped from? Or will second death tear her away from everyone, for good?

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/YiCqYd9UBMk

Buy Links:

Amazon                           B&N                        

Thank you, Rebekah, for the chat. Good luck with your book!

Thanks to the rest of you for joining us. Come back soon!