Book Tour: Out of Practice Aphrodite by S. E. Babin Interview & Giveaway

BLURB:

Abby’s major screw-up brings the wrath of Zeus upon her head. He offers her a choice – work for him or spend the rest of her days hanging out in Hades with her ex-husband. For Abby, this choice is a no-brainer, especially when Zeus says the only thing he wants her to do is make a love match.

She’s the Goddess of Love. What could go wrong?

Everything.

Abby stumbles into an ex-lover, a dead demi-god and the realization that a crucial relic has been stolen right out from underneath Zeus’ nose. Eris, the Goddess of Chaos and Discord, is behind the theft and murder and the faltering powers Abby is trying to keep secret. With Zeus breathing down her neck, she’ll need to keep her wits about her as she races against the clock and Zeus’ imposed two-week time period.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Not only is she struggling with a budding attraction to a sexy lawman and feelings for long-time friend, Hermes, she’s also trying to keep everyone out of the path of a vengeful goddess while saving the Earth and Olympus from the reign of a tyrant. What’s a goddess to do when the fate of the world rests upon her fashionable shoulders?

EXCERPT:

“Ma’am, mind telling me why your little gang is here?” Although I loved his baritone, I took offense at his tone and felt myself bristle.

“We’re here to see a friend,” I said, my tone icy.

His face gave nothing away, but his cold eyes told me he knew there was much more I wasn’t telling him.

“We received a phone call about ten minutes ago about a disturbance in this area.”

Impossible, I thought. There’s no one around to see anything. “Who called you?”

“None of your business, ma’am.” He tipped his hat at me and turned to Artie.

“Hi, Officer,” Artie chirped a little too brightly, especially since there was a dead guy lying less than fifty feet from us.

He said nothing but whipped out a notebook from his pocket. He flipped it open to a clean page, extracted a pen from his uniform pocket, and barked, “Name.”

“Jane Smith,” Artie said.

At his tilted brow and look of disbelief, I groaned inwardly. This couldn’t go worse if we had planned it.

“Nice name,” he said, condescension dripping from his voice.

Artie, clueless to his sarcasm, grinned widely at him. “It’s a family name.”

“I’m sure it is.” He then turned to Ares.

“And you are?”

Ares offered him a superior smile and said, “John Smith.”

I choked on a hysterical giggle. We were about to get cuffed and thrown in the pokey if we weren’t careful. The officer let out a deep sigh and closed his notebook.

1. Where did you get the idea for the novel?

I entered a Valentine’s Day flash fiction contest a few years ago. My protagonist was Aphrodite. Right after that, the idea was born.

2. Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?

I came up with it! The title stuck all the way through. Fortunately, my publisher liked the title, let me keep it, and even let me name the series. I lucked out with that one.

3. Why did you pick this genre? What do you like about it?

I read for entertainment and relaxation. I love stories with a paranormal twist, and I happen to be obsessed with mythology. Almost everything I read has some sort of paranormal vein to it.

4. Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?

Getting the email that someone loved my book. That was the best thing EVER! My reaction was embarrassing. My kids thought the house was on fire.

5. What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you read?

I’m reading David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants.

6. What is your writing process?

I try to get 5,000 words down each day. I’m not always successful. There is lots of coffee involved. Sometimes tears. Sometimes curse words. I no longer have an official day job, so I try to treat this like one, except for my attire. Every day is casual Friday!

7. At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say? 

Since I’m a brand new, little baby writer I have yet to do a book signing. I’d like to think I would be supremely witty and come up with something original for everyone. Real life could be much different, though.

8. What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I once got pulled out of a car by an angry camel.

9. How do you react to a bad review?

Since this is my debut, I don’t have any yet. However, I did receive some humdingers of criticism in some of the contests I’ve entered. So, to answer your question about how I reacted – I didn’t. There will never be a time everyone loves what I’m doing. This is the same no matter who you are, where you are, or what job you’re doing. I take the criticism, pull out the parts that might be worth a second look and toss the rest of it out. If you let those things get to you, you will never realize your full potential.

10. How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

Besides the initial freak out, I had a nice dinner with my husband and Coronaritas with a really good friend. Then we had a small party with some friends. Thank you so much for having me today!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sheryl has had a book in her hands pretty much from the time she could hold things with her hands. Her love of reading turned into a curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own. Beginning with random, terrible poetry and a slightly popular reimagining of Beowulf’s Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl ended up spending way too much time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything even remotely cool.

Sheryl has a fondness for humorous, lighthearted stories but also secretly covets bad-ass leather wearing chicks who curse too much. It helps if they’re funny, too. She writes a little bit of everything but is currently focusing on light paranormal mysteries. Visit her at http://sebabin.com/.

Twitter - @hungrybiblio

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007993170744

Website - http://sebabin.com/

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Aphrodite-Naughty-Goddess-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00J1ABHQG/ref=la_B00J1J236A_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394975176&sr=1-1

The author will be awarding a chocolate/coffee/wine-themed gift basket (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/virtual-book-tour-out-of-practice.html