The Werewolves of the West Series Book One
Genre: Paranormal
Romance/Urban Fantasy
Publisher:
Cambridge Press US under the umbrella of Charles River Press (CRP)
ISBN: 1936185725
ISBN13: 9781936185726
ASIN: B009SV179U
Number of pages:
446
Cover Artist: Ann
Falcone
Book Description:
Chloe Carpenter isn't like other women. She can communicate
with animals. A gift she unwrapped following one of her frequent dances with
death.
In her otherwise wacky
life, she's finally found a semblance of sanity working at the Plum Beach
Wildlife Park, where her unique talents can make life or death differences for
the animals in her care. That semblance is shattered when a new veterinarian
roars into the park in his spiffed up sports car and sets his golden gaze on
her. If she had her way, he'd roar right back out.
Problem: He's her new coworker and he's saved her life twice
- in the past twenty-four hours.
Zane Marshall, Enforcer for the Pacific Pack of purebred
werewolves, has a job to do - figure out who or what is mutilating the young
men of Plum Beach.
With orders to find the woman who talks to animals, he accepts
a position working alongside the fiery Chloe Carpenter, a female who ignites
his interest far more than he ever expected. Remarkably, she's the one elusive
female with potential to bring meaning and passion to his empty existence.
Problem: She despises him.
Together, they're forced to unravel a mystery of supernatural
proportions, a murderous mystery with eternal implications for everyone. In the
process, they discover opposites really do attract.
Major Problem: Zane is pledged to another woman, and she'll
do anything to keep him from Chloe.
Interview:
1.
Where did you get
the idea for the novel?
I love reading
paranormal romance and urban fantasy, and I wanted a book that had a solid cast
of characters, a great adventure, spicy romance, and lots of action. I hoped to
create what I enjoyed reading. The ideas just started flowing. When I write,
things happen that I didn’t plan. Characters seem to want to do their own
thing. So the “idea” grows and changes during the writing process.
2.
Your title. Who
came up with it? Did you ever change your title?
I came up with the
title and never changed it. The publisher stuck with it too. Unfortunately, in
the cutting/editing process some of Chloe’s background was eliminated, which I
thought better explained the whole “kissed a dog” aversion. The fact she ended
up with a werewolf considering her negative “dog feelings” made the title
appropriate. Also, we see a ton of werewolf titles, and I thought it would be
fun to shake things up a bit.
3. Which came first, the title or the novel?
Almost at the same
time, really.
4. Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to
ever happen to you?
Being published and
having readers like my work. It feels amazing when you receive a positive
review and even better when someone personally tells you how much they enjoy
your work.
5.
What book are you
currently reading or what was the last book you read?
No … not this
question. I read multiple books at once, jumping around sometimes. I just completed
Bullet, by Jade C. Jameson, loved it;
I’m finishing up the Feyland series
by Anthea Sharp, and getting ready to start Blood
Shadows, by Tessa Dawn, a dear author friend. There are more, but those are
the primary right at the moment.
6.
What was your first
book that you ever wrote (very first one you wrote, not published)?
The very first book
I wrote did get published by a small indie press that went out of business. It
was titled Slaying the Shadows. Since
that time, I’ve rewritten the book and published myself as Soul Defenders: The Black Orchids.
7.
What is your
writing process?
Process? Yikes! I’m
a bit too sporadic. I just write. I do create a hand written map out of main
plot ideas and characters, and then I take off writing. I always review and
pick at what I wrote last before starting my next writing session. This often
slows me down, but I keep doing it. I think it has become a bit of a process,
actually.
- Who are your favorite authors of all time?
I just can’t answer
this. I read too many genres, too many authors, and like most anything. I love
to read and am very easy to please. I can find good in most things. I was a big
Anne Rice fan back in the day. I have read all of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie
Stackhouse books, and I love Karen Moning’s Fever Series. I also enjoy
Christian author, Frank Peretti, and his spiritual warfare series. I go through
so many phases. I love books!
9. 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?
I always jot a
little note. If I have time to talk to the person, I try to really personalize
it. I’m not sure how exactly I come up with what to say. It seems to flow.
- What is something people would be surprised to
know about you?
I lived in Mexico
as a teen, and slept in a hammock every night I was there (three months). Best
sleep I’ve ever had.
11. How do you react to a bad review?
A little sulking,
but I get over it. The good far outweigh the bad, though it never feels good to
know a reader disliked something you worked so hard on. Imagine someone saying
your baby is ugly. The first bad review feels a bit like that. Overtime, it
gets easier. You have to take the feedback that fits and is constructive, and
ignore the rest. Reviewing is subjective. One person may love what another
hates. It’s the nature of the beast.
12. How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
It was more of an
inner celebration. I didn’t hit the town, or tip the bottle, I just did a major
happy dance in my head and basked in the moment.
About the Author:
Like most authors, Carol Van Atta is no stranger
to the written word. She penned a short novel at age 12 (somewhat frightening
illustrations included, and lots of bunnies were involved), and had a creative
writing piece published in her high school newspaper (about David Bowie's
Diamond Dogs LP). Yes, she's an ex-80's chick.
Devouring books from numerous genres, Carol
developed a deep thirst/hunger for more reading material, and could almost
always be found with her nose in a book.
She has contributed to several popular
inspirational anthologies and devotional books, and lives in the rainy wetland
of Oregon with a terrifying teen (another in college) and a small zoo of
animals. She is taking an undetermined hiatus away from inspirational writing
to delve into her darker side. (Though you can check out her latest spiritual
suspense novel, Soul Defenders). It is rumored that this genre-jumping occurred
after Carol discovered too suspicious red marks on her neck, and experienced an
unquenchable urge to howl at the moon.
Giveaway:
Love is in the air ... Win Big! 9 Books (digital-formats only) with paranormal twists are up for grabs. Carol Van Atta, author of I Kissed a Dog, invites you to enter to win Ebooks and Promo Posters from her publisher.
1. I Kissed a Dog, book one Werewolves of the West, Carol Van Atta, with one poster
2. Soul Defenders: The Black Orchids, Carol Van Atta, with one poster
3. Black Moon, Jessica McQuay, with one poster
4. Blood Betrayal, Alison Beightol, with one poster
5. Morningside, Ashley Madau, with one poster
6. Drama Queens, Kevin Klher, with one poster
7. The Dogman Cometh, Jonathan Womack, with one poster
8. Blood Destiny, Tessa Dawn, with one poster
9. ONE BOOK OF YOUR CHOOSING FROM THE CHARLES RIVER PRESS/CAMBRIDGE PRESS CATALOGUE (EBOOK)
Thank you for the great interview and hosting a stop on my tour!
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