Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Missy the Werecat by @p_g_allison

 

Missy the Werecat

Book One

P. G. Allison

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Date of Publication: Dec 6, 2013

ISBN-13: 978-1494334260

ASIN: B00H2WPGDA

Number of pages: 400

Word Count: 105,000

Book Description:

When puberty brings on her first Shift, Missy goes into the mountains for two years until finally learning to Change back. She can Change from fully human in one instant to a mountain lion in the next.

Everyone assumes her two year disappearance was because she’d been kidnapped by a sexual predator that she managed to kill. She keeps her werecat nature a secret. There is no pack, no pride of other werecats and no alpha. She’s a girl with fantastic abilities growing up and learning to do great things in today’s world, amongst humans. She only has her instincts to guide her and those drive her to train herself to extremes. She must control those instincts; dampening the wild predator is often necessary.

Her raging hormones and enhanced senses require very strong controls; she explores what happens when those controls are relaxed.

Available at Amazon

Prologue

Imagine a world where werecats at one time did indeed exist, but became extinct eons ago. Then, because their recessive genes managed to survive and get passed on -- thanks to some rare unions with humans -- DNA with these special werecat genes continued down through the ages, further evolving and being inherited by a very small number of descendants. And finally, imagine that two of these very unique individuals -- each one in a billion -- would meet, fall in love and become parents. While three of their four children would be normal humans, one -- their daughter Missy -- would be very special. She would be a werecat.

And thus, Missy the werecat was born in today’s era. She’s not exactly the same as those ancestor werecats, but she does have many special abilities -- not the least of which is being able to transform, with a great shimmer of light and burst of energy, into another form. She can Change from being fully human in one instant to being a cat animal in the next. In her cat form, she has the same body mass as in her human form and fully retains her human intellect and memory. And, in either form, she has all the instincts and abilities of a wild, predatory mountain lion.

Eventually, she will learn how to Change forms back and forth, and how to manage and control her special abilities. Her genetic anomaly, combined with some evolution along the way, brings her cat endowments into her human form: speed, strength, agility, and enhanced senses of smell, hearing, taste and sight. She is also gifted with rapid healing and is immune to disease. As Missy will gradually learn about herself, she will go from being a girl with great skills to a grown woman with truly fantastic powers.

Chapter One

Jul 2013

In the middle of her last night at soccer camp, Missy awakened with a strong desire to get up and go outside. She just knew this was something she had to do, and right away. So, slipping out of bed and quietly making her way down from her dormitory room, she did go out. Although there was a full moon, it was cloudy and very dark outside, with no streetlights or anything else to illuminate the landscape. However, the darkness did not bother her at all. She could feel something pulling at her, drawing her away from the dorm. And, she also noticed her ability to see in the dark was somehow much greater than ever before.

She had always been able to see, hear and smell things to an extent far greater than those around her, but tonight it was even more so. She knew she had other special abilities as well. She had gradually come to realize that others were not able to do all the things which she could do. She had accepted that she was just different. She had shown an athletic ability which was quite advanced, excelling in little league and youth soccer programs, as well as at karate practice and during any gymnastic events. She easily had won all the competitive races at school and in her local community. All of that had lead to her attending soccer camp every summer.

Soccer camp was in Keene, NH and near Monadnock Mountain. It was now late July, a month after her 13th birthday, and Missy had really been enjoying her time back at this wonderful camp once again. It was so beautiful there! A whole week away from home, where she was getting some elite training in a sport where, as a junior high school player, she had already been noted as being really special. Her Mom was keeping all the news articles written about her in a special scrapbook along with several photos.

As this week at camp had been coming to a close, she’d been getting more and more excited about the fall season coming up. This would be her last year in junior high and she just knew her soccer team would go on to win the state championship this year and get to compete in the nationals. Then, the following year, she would finally be competing at the high school level. Her older brother and sister had both been telling her all about the fun activities they were experiencing in high school, and she could hardly wait to get there.

At night, she typically found herself anticipating and dreaming vividly about many of these things and had no trouble sleeping soundly all night long. That’s why waking up with this sudden need to go outside in the middle of the night came as such a complete surprise. What made her wake up and why did she feel this compulsion so strongly? She could not understand what was happening. Her entire body was experiencing something new and strange, something she had never felt before. Her heart was pounding and her blood was racing! And, just why was she having all these tingly feelings?

Once outside, she was drawn towards the nearby trees which marked the edge of the deeper forest and she quickly walked over to them, crossing the courtyard and the small parking lot. The full moon suddenly came out from behind the clouds, shining down brightly. She glanced backwards just once, looking back the way she had come at the dormitory building she was leaving behind. She was thinking, “What am I doing? Why am I out here?” But, then she turned and walked deeper into the woods. She just knew this was something urgent and absolutely necessary.

Further and further she went, all the while continuing to experience all kinds of new feelings, with her senses hyper alert and more aware of sights and sounds and smells than ever before. Since she still had not had her first period, she began to wonder if that might be what this was all about. Puberty! Yes, she had been anxiously waiting for this as most of her girlfriends had already had their first period and had started growing hair on their legs, under their arms, etc. Shaving had been a big topic amongst the girls! And, boobs! And boys!

Missy was somewhat of a late bloomer and had not yet really developed. She’d not had her first period yet, in spite of various signs that things would be happening for her very soon. She had experienced some swelling of her breasts and tenderness of her nipples but was concerned she still looked very flat compared to most of the other girls. Although she now did have some hair growing in new places, she had not yet shaved under her arms … when would she finally be getting her period anyway!?!

But all the talks she’d had with her mother and her sister about this important subject had not really suggested anything like what she was feeling right now. Not only was she physically reacting to something, she was also getting so many thoughts and emotional signals. Whatever was happening was compelling her to be out here … something irresistible was forcing her. Nothing had prepared her for this. And yet, remarkably, she was not at all afraid. Somehow, she just knew …

And then … it happened! Her body just collapsed and her mind was overwhelmed, going to a quiet place deep within itself. She didn’t lose consciousness but felt as though she was in a dream state. She had no control. She knew there was some sort of Change happening to her and then there was a shimmer of light and a burst of energy. She could feel this was coming from within, from somewhere deep inside and from something that was a part of her. There was no pain or discomfort during this Change. Then, in the next moment, everything was suddenly new and different. Very different!

She was a cat. Her form was no longer human but that of a large animal, very much like a mountain lion. She had no idea of that, at least at first. She did notice a huge difference in the sounds and smells around her, which now were even more noticeable. And when she looked out at her surroundings, she could see much more clearly, but without all the color. Since it was dark, there wasn’t much awareness of that just yet. Instead, she was noticing more the way things felt to her body. Her arms and legs were very different and were covered with fur. So was the rest of her body, even her face. Her hands and feet were now paws -- paws with claws which could extend and retract.

Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?

I’m Missy the Werecat and I have a dual nature with enhanced senses, abilities and powers.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

Well, to be honest, I’m always focusing on hiding what I am and all my enhanced powers and abilities, trying my best to just appear normal … I’m not always successful, but I’m learning!

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

Well, being a werecat is my big secret!  I only share that with my family and a few others … I haven’t even told my boyfriend yet!

What are you most afraid of?

Losing control!  I never again want to experience what I did during my first Change, when I was forced to become a wild predator while retaining my human intellect.  For two years, I was alone and had to cope, not knowing if I would ever be human again.  Thank goodness, I did eventually learn how to Shift back.

What do you want more than anything?

Well, I actually LOVE my dual nature and want to be all I can be, BECAUSE I’m a werecat rather than in spite of it.  I have abilities and powers which I can use to help others and so I want to fulfill whatever my destiny might be, as a werecat-woman!

What is your relationship status?

I have a really great boyfriend who seems crazy about me.  When I’m with him, I can’t help but relax my controls, opening myself up to him.  I know I must tell him all about what I am and show him I’m a werecat, before we can go any further …

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

LOL.  I don’t have any!  My sister and my Mom pick out all my clothes.  I’ve been far too busy catching up with my studies and training in those extreme ways my werecat nature requires.

How much of a rebel are you?

Well, I don’t think of myself as a rebel but I definitely am a wild predator!  I work very hard to control myself, when in my human form, but I won’t allow others to bully or take advantage of my family or friends …

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Learning to Shift back to my human form!  Of course, winning that first place trophy in Mixed Martial Arts was pretty cool …

What is your idea of happiness?

Being able to relax all my controls.  When I Change back into my cat form, I then can usually do that, and I love spending time as a cat.  In my human form, I’m finding myself “letting go” more and more when I’m with my boyfriend … that REALLY makes me happy!

What is your current state of mind?

I have compartmentalized my mind, due to my dual nature, and my great efforts to always be in control have allowed me to now ignore any pain I might experience and just go forward, doing whatever needs to be done.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family.  After living those two years in the mountains as a cat, I don’t care about things … I care about being able to be with my family.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Well, obviously, my being able to Change in an instant, form one form to the other!

What is it that you, most dislike?

Bullying by others or when someone takes advantage, preying on those who are vulnerable.  Being a predator myself, by nature, I won’t let others do that but will protect them with all the powers and abilities I’ve been given (which, of course, are awesome!  I’m a supernatural, after all!)

Which living person do you, most despise?

Since my world is a fantasy world, this really does not apply.

What is your greatest regret?

Not learning how to Shift back to my human form sooner; then again, maybe I needed those two years … those really did contribute a lot to who and what I am now.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

You mean besides being big and strong and handsome and sweet and funny?  LOL.  Acceptance and understanding!  He must love me as I am and not judge, support all my needs and love me like crazy.  You know … like my boyfriend does!

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Again, acceptance and understanding!  Like my Mom does!

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Since my world is a fantasy world, this really does not apply.

Which living person do you most admire?

Since my world is a fantasy world, this really does not apply.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Wow!  I don’t think I’d change a thing!  I’ve got a great family and wonderful friends and this really, REALLY nice boyfriend … I guess I’d have to say I probably shouldn’t take things all on my own, the way I sometimes do, being a vigilante.  But, that is my nature …

What is your motto?

My favorite is my Granddad’s:  Plan your work and work your plan! 

 

 

 

 

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P. G. Allison has always loved stories about female characters with special powers (Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Bionic Woman, Batgirl) along with stories about witches and werewolves. The Missy the Werecat Series has no pack, no pride of other werecats and no alpha; Missy is a girl with fantastic abilities doing great things in today's world, amongst humans. Future books in this Paranormal, New Adult, Urban Fantasy series are planned where Missy will go on to West Point and eventually serve in the Special Forces.

http://missythewerecat.wordpress.com/

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BIO:

 

Single mom with two teens,grandma of a beautiful baby that I adore,christian,SPED and Elementary Ed. certified,substitute teacher,love to read and watch movies,like hanging out with friends and going to the park. Passionate about fighting Human Trafficking,Abuse,Mental Illness,Cancer,and Bullying. I review mostly YA. Due to content I only will review some NA and rarely Adult books.  I will soon be hosting Blog Tour services. If you would like to request a review, spotlight, giveaway, or Blog Tour info,etc. You may contact me at: princesscandy2008@yahoo.com  

 

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Book Blast, Giveaway & Top Ten: My Favorite Second Chance The Lake Effect Series # 2 by Author Rue @ItsNotMyFavorit

Presented by:

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My Favorite Second Chance

  The Lake Effect Series # 2

by Author Rue

Audience: NA and Adult - Genre: Romance/Contemporary; LGBT - Formats: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions - Cover by:  Regina Wamba, Mae I Design - Editor:  Jazmine Hale- Pages: 328 - ISBN-13: 978-0-9860627-3-5 (Paperback) - ISBN-13: 978-0-9860627-2-8 (eBook) - Date Published: 10 March 2015

Have you ever wished for a second chance?

The Hutchinson sisters are out of the frying pan and into the fire—just like their mother always threatened!

Gwenn is floating in the dreamy, fragile glow of her new relationship with wealthy artist, Daniel Gregory, when a blast from her past makes a triumphant return. Sure he ran out on her over a decade ago, but can she turn her back on a war hero?

Rachel is on the brink of having everything she ever dreamed of, but that’s not how things work out for Hutchinson girls. Her rock-star girlfriend is leaving for a lengthy tour and something is afoot at the bakery. The righteous hand of her mother, Shirley, can orchestrate tribulations from halfway across town.

The sisters think they can run away from their troubles on a quick trip to the heart of Mexico, when an unexpected phone call shatters that illusion.

Filled with intriguing characters, plenty of steamy romance and lovely plots twists, MY FAVORITE SECOND CHANCE will have you flushed with anticipation, blinking back tears, laughing out loud and cheering for your favorite characters.

Amazon / Amazon Series / Goodreads

CLANG!

He woke with a start.

A flaccid sliver of grey light had infiltrated the dank blackness. The comforting numbness in his right shoulder convinced him that he had survived the night. He listened carefully and played his second favorite game—how long until they got to his cell and tossed in what he had come to call “breakfast.”

A key twisted in the lock. The door screeched open, the light blinded his nocturnal eyes and a metal tray scraped across the filthy concrete floor.

His hand searched toward the sound. Treasure found, his fingers encircled the spoon handle.

Slowly, painfully he crawled to the corner and scratched a hatch mark on the wall as he recited his “sanity” mantra.

“I am Sergeant Steven Hays. Today is day 2,189 of my captivity. I am engaged to Gwenn Hutchinson and I will return to her. God. Country. Corps.”

            Steven slid the bowl over and forced himself to consume the foul slop it contained. He was emaciated and his mouth burned from canker sores. One thought kept him alive—his last, sweet, searing memory of her. Gwenn was his guardian angel and he intended to live long enough to tell her.

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Top Ten Authors

I love writing, but working on “My Favorite Second Chance” did come with some moments of “freak out.” Reading helps me escape from reality and relieves stress, and with a teenager running around…I need relief! Books are my best friends!

Here are my all-time favorites:

10. Steven Pressfield

9. Sara Gruen

8. Michael Chabon

7. Gregory Maguire

6. Colette

5. Clarissa Pinkola-Estes

4. Yann Martel

3. J. R. R. Tolkien

2. Marian Keyes

1. Juliet Marillier

This list would be different if you asked me tomorrow. There are always new authors joining the fray, and I know working on the third book in The Lake Effect Series will have its share of ups and downs. Read! Read! Read!

Thank you!

Rue, Author

The Lake Effect Series

 

 

 

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Rue graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, with a degree in Journalism. Her intimate knowledge of the Midwestern United States, the inordinate amount of time she spent in its churches’ pews and her unique parentage make her an expert on life after religion. Having moved 17 times by the time she graduated from high school Rue has seen more than her share of the Great Plains. She never stayed in one place long enough to make lasting human friends. Her best friends were all characters from her beloved books; and the love of reading led to a lifelong passion for writing.

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Book Blast, Interview & Giveaway: A Time Apart by @rebecca_caudill

A Time Apart
Macauley Series
Book One
Rebecca N. Caudill
Genre: Paranormal Romance , Vampire
Date of Publication: February 8, 2015
ISBN: 978-1508482666
ASIN: B00TDR1O6U
Number of pages: 211 (estimated)
Word Count: 71,020
Cover Artist: Rebecca N. Caudill
Book Description:
A love story that traverses the confines of time, life, and death, uniting two passionate souls from different worlds and ages …
Olivia Donnelly has spent her whole life obsessing about how she will die. When tragedy strikes, reality comes crashing down and she’s forced to confront her fears head on. Hoping that a move across the globe will help her to cope with a devastating loss, she arrives in Ireland a broken down shell of a woman looking for a second chance at life.
Almost immediately Olivia is drawn to places she’s never been, and to a man that she’s never met. When she crosses paths with the mysterious and frustratingly private William Macauley, her life is thrown into turmoil unlike any she has ever known. The two couldn’t be more different – she’s human, he’s a vampire – but Olivia can’t get him out of her mind. Having acknowledged her overwhelming desire for William, now she must come to terms with how her feelings for him will greatly alter her future.
Olivia’s understanding of life – and death – take on new meaning as she examines the truth of the person she once was, the woman she was born to be, and how William is the key to her everlasting happiness.
Available at Amazon

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Flight 716 with service from San Francisco to Dublin. We ask that you please fasten your seat belts and secure all baggage beneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartments. At this time, please turn all personal electronic devices to airplane mode so that they cannot transmit a signal. As you know, smoking is prohibited for the duration of our journey to Dublin, and that includes in the lavatories. Thank you for choosing Aer Lingus. Enjoy your flight.”
It was usually at this point in any flight where Olivia’s real panic kicked in. Shortly – terrifyingly – the plane would be airborne with nothing but land and sea below. While she knew statistically that airplanes were safer than cars, she’d never known anyone – let alone two anyones – who had been killed, their bodies never recovered, from a freak accident on the freeway. Not to say that it didn’t happen everyday; she just didn’t know anyone that it had happened to.
To distract her mind, she listened to the crew outline the plane’s safety procedures and then the Captain’s welcome, including the weather forecast for Dublin – rainy and brisk, how shocking. Sipping the champagne the flight attendant had offered her when she boarded, Olivia felt the combination of the Valium and the alcohol take over her body, but not quite enough that she gave up the death grip she had on the arm rests. As she felt the tell tale tingle of the Valium working its magic, she thought – not for the first time – that maybe someday a plane crash wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to her. Maybe someday she’d just never wake up from the self-induced drug and alcohol fueled nothingness she needed just to fly.
Who am I kidding?
Sadly, more and more frequently it wasn’t just plane rides that had her mixing booze and pills. Most days she wrapped herself in a hazy blur of alcohol like a security blanket, protecting her in a cocoon of mental fuzziness.
Olivia felt her pulse beginning to race and her breathing accelerate, and she made a conscious effort not to panic, not to look over at Judgy lest the woman start advocating for professional psychiatric help. It wouldn’t have been the first time some well-meaning motherly type had tried to get Olivia into therapy. She stole a quick glance in Judgy’s direction only to find that she was already engrossed in her novel, Olivia’s neurosis and emotional paralysis the least of her concerns.
Not too long after she had fought back the near panic attack, the whirring of the engines lulled Olivia into a stupor that soon resulted in a fitful sleep. For the next ten hours she didn’t exactly fall into a deep slumber, but she wasn’t fully awake either. Her mind seemed to float between a dreaming and wakeful state, and she felt strangely separated from her body. She’d see snippets of things in her head but wasn’t sure if the images were of events or instances that she was remembering, things she was imagining, or scenarios she was concocting to be used in her novel.
And then Olivia saw, quite clearly, the face of a man she had never met and yet she felt like she had known him all of her life – blue eyes, sharp and unnaturally piercing as if he could see deep into her soul. She saw a field of green that stretched far and wide, rolling hills dotted with sheep and lined with stacked stone walls. She saw herself as a child chasing a puppy larger than she was down by a river while laughing that high-pitched squeal that only a child can make as the dog raced back toward her covered in mud and dripping with water. And then that image changed as quickly as it came and she saw her mother as a young woman, happy and carefree, in love with a man who was not Gerald Donnelly.
And as she always did when in one of her fitful states of sleep, Olivia saw all the ways she could die – car accident; mugging gone horribly wrong after having put up a brave fight; her house on fire, the flames licking at her feet as she tried to run; her body weak and broken as it was ravished by cancer; or her heart slowly stopping as she lay in her bed, blind from old age and hunched with the rigors of time.
And in these dreams she was ready for it – any of it – almost welcoming the vast blackness that would follow whatever her death would be.
And then she saw that face again – the man she didn’t know but felt so deeply that she should. He whispered her name, longingly, “Olivia.”

Interview

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be? When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

Most definitely, yes. I began writing short stories in elementary school, and when I won a few awards I decided that someday I’d grow up and be a famous author. Of course, I also wanted to be a judge, a horse jockey, a rock star, and a host of other things most young kids dream about. I studied Journalism in college and when I started, I had assumed that upon graduation I’d write professionally for a newspaper, or would work behind-the-scenes in a newsroom. I ended up instead writing radio commercials for a Top 25 market, and while it wasn’t what I had dreamed of, I told myself that I could still call myself a Writer. Eventually, I made my way to technology PR, which requires a ton of writing – albeit not very creative, and your name is never attached to it. I found it very difficult to balance my day job with my desires to pursue a career as a fiction writer, so with the support of my husband I quit my job at the end of 2014 to pursue creative writing full time. The day I changed my LinkedIn profile was when it hit me that I was really, finally, absolutely on the road to becoming A Writer.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

I began writing A Time Apart in 2008, and it was published in 2015. I had considered shopping it to an agent with the hope of getting a major publisher to put it out, but after working on it for so long, I became impatient for it to see the light of day and so I went the self-publishing route, and I have plans to continue publishing follow-up books in the series myself.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

A Time Apart is the story of two souls who defy the confines of time, life, or death to be together.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

I’m in the process of editing and revising Blood of My Blood: Book Two of the Macauley Series; you can catch a sneak peek of it at the end of A Time Apart. It picks up exactly where Book One leaves off, but in it we learn more about William’s life after he became a vampire, and we see how Olivia is settling into her new, preternatural life.

I’m also working on a regency romance that has been simmering at the back of my mind since I’ve been obsessed with the period for many years now. I don’t want to give too much away about it because it’s still in the early stages, but there’s a paranormal angle there as well and I’m really excited to mix the genres as they’re my two favorites.

What genre would you place your books into?

Paranormal Romance, with erotic leanings

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I grew up sneaking my mom’s romance novels, and today I’m a voracious reader of the genre, so it was pretty much a foregone conclusion when I began writing creatively as an adult that I would write a love story. I’ve been obsessed with vampires for as long as I can remember, so I knew that the first book I would write would have a male vampire hero. And of course, I love a steamy scene as much as the next gal, so I definitely wanted to have elements of eroticism included as well. And I’m drawn to plucky heroines who march to the beat of their own drums, so to speak, so paranormal romance is a good genre for a female character who isn’t shy or retiring.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

While I more closely identify with Olivia, I am so in love with William! If I were going to fall for a vampire, he’d certainly be the one! While I love my husband beyond reason, when I drop into the world of fantasy, I gravitate toward men who are confident but not over-bearing, who are complex, but not afraid to share their emotions. William, for all of his confidence and argument to the contrary, is very conflicted about who and what he is and I find that dichotomy intriguing. And of course he’s sexy and commanding – men want to be him, and women want to be with him – you can’t have a book in the genre without that trope.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I’m slowly getting into a routine that is comfortable for me. I wake up, spend time on social media, and then I get to the creative stuff. I stop to clean my house, go to the gym, and do other chores. When my husband comes home, I spend time with him and when he’s working or has gone to sleep I start writing again. I’m pretty much a night owl – I’ve had insomnia my whole life – so working late into the night is the best option for me. I also find that I am more creative when the world outside is silent and there are no distractions (I live in the city and it’s really quite loud – sirens, cars, people, planes, etc.) And because I’m easily distracted, I absolutely cannot listen to music that I know the lyrics to. I’ve been listening to a number of Spotify playlists that feature ambient music, which has been good for me. Last month I discovered Hozier, and I was listening to that on repeat but then I learned all the words and so he’s been relegated to my driving playlist.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

Yes. I have to know what people think. As persnickety as I can be, I’m also a people pleaser, and no one writes a book hoping that people don’t like their words. Thankfully, the reviews I’ve received on both Goodreads and Amazon have been positive, even from people who don’t normally gravitate toward the genre, so I haven’t been too upset yet.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I had the title figured out as soon as I settled on a main narrative arc. I toyed with changing the title, but when I decided to break the book into a series, I used the different title for Book Two as it fit the story better.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books? Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?

Olivia was always Olivia, but I did change her last name to honor my Irish grandmother. I never even considered that she had any other name. When I pictured her in my head, she was just Olivia. Since then of course Scandal has come out, and while Olivia Pope is a very strong female in her own right, I hope people don’t think that I named my Olivia after her though! J In early drafts, William was Liam (a shortened version of his name), and I think I changed his last name about three years ago but I can’t remember what it had been before.

The only made up place in my book is Macauley Castle, and it’s an amalgamation of several different castles I’ve seen online or visited in person over the years, including Ashford Castle and Lismore Castle in Ireland. There is currently a 14^th century tower house for sale in the midlands that I would love to buy and live in, but alas it’s not meant to be. Still, I can look at it and pretend it is where Olivia and William now reside.

The bar at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin exists, as does the fireplace in it that William warms his hands in front of when he and Olivia first meet. I wrote that scene based on images I saw on the hotel’s website and some travel blogs. When we visited Dublin in 2009, we splurged and stayed at the hotel since I was already well on my way to writing the scenes that follow that pivotal moment.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I’ve always written females that are outspoken and definitely do not shy away from controversy. They say that authors write what they know, and I’ve never been the silent type. Early report cards indicated that I needed to be quieter in class. J Today I tend to write my female characters the way I would hope to be if I found myself in the same scenarios, and I hope that my readers can see themselves in both the character’s struggles and successes. And of course, I always want my heroes to be dark and brooding, mysterious and complex – don’t we all! – so that’s a characterization I stick with in various forms. While the men tend to look the same, I’m working on a different genre and I tried to go with a different look for my heroine but I missed her long red hair, so I’m back to that with her. It’s a look I love.  

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is ...")

In A Time Apart, there is a scene where William feeds Olivia a pretty lavish meal, much to her amusement. In the course of dinner, they have a conversation about religion, or lack thereof. I don’t know that I would call what is revealed in that conversation a moral, nor is it certainly hidden, but it’s definitely a point I wanted to make about my characters.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

For ease of purchase and reading, I am an e-book convert. I do love a hardback though for my bookshelves, the heavier and more gorgeous the cover the better.

What is your favorite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once? Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

Depending on my mood, I have a few favorites, which I have read multiple times.

Interview with a Vampire is what set me on my love of the paranormal. I have yet to read an author that can invoke the feel of New Orleans, a city I adore, quite the way that Anne Rice did in that novel.

Another favorite, albeit an unoriginal one right now, is Outlander. I’m a sucker for a highlander with a heart of gold and Jamie Fraser is the perfect embodiment of what I like to see in that sort of male character. I was very worried about the TV version of the show, but it has surpassed my expectations. I daresay that I like Claire even better now than I did in the pages of Gabaldon’s version. Bravo to Ron D. Moore and Caitriona Balfe for elevating such a beloved character. And Sam Heughan, despite my earliest skepticism, is absolute perfection in the role.

Another favorite of mine is A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. When the third book in the series came out last year I re-read the first two, devouring them quicker than I did the first time I read them. I love the varying paranormal aspects and the history that Harkness invokes in her tale. I recently read that the All Souls Trilogy is going to be developed into a TV series by BBC so I am waited with baited breath.

Your favorite singer/group is?

Kelly Clarkson is my queen, followed closely by Miranda Lambert.

 
 
 

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Rebecca Caudill read her first novel when she was just four years old and has been hooked on books ever since. When she wasn't writing her own stories, she was sneaking copies of her mom's paperbacks to read late into the night.
Fast forward several years later and Rebecca graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in English Lit, which gave her new insight into the written word. Following college, Rebecca embarked on a career in tech PR in the famed Silicon Valley, which eventually led to her leading Global R&D communications for a Fortune 500 company that everyone knows by name. Finally, after more than a decade of writing words ascribed to other people, in December 2014 she quit her job to pursue writing full time.
Today Rebecca lives with her husband and beautiful-but-neurotic cat in Oakland, California. When not creating fictional worlds inhabited by strong women, rakes, rogues, and dashing heroes, she is planning her next vacation, trying out new recipes, or drinking Islay scotch.
Blog – http://www.rebeccancaudill.com
Twitter - @rebecca_caudill
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