Guest Author, AJ Chase with Cat and Mouse
Hi all! We have a very special guest today. Someone who has stepped out of the “norm” for shapeshifters, and done something new, exciting and funny. AJ Chase, author of Cat And Mouse is here to talk about her book, and why she chose to something so unusual to write about. Now mind you, AJ is like thirteen months pregnant (ok, not really, but you get the gist) so our interview will be rather short.
First, let me show you this adorable cover!
For Katherine Stapleton (aka Kitty), being a shape-shifter isn’t nearly as glamorous as the novels and movies make it out to be. It isn’t all raw, animalistic sex and superhuman physical prowess. There’s also the hairballs.
Kitty has spent her entire life being a less-than-perfect were-cat. She can’t control her animal changes, so she decides to excel at matters human. After a decade of worldly successes, she’s back home for her ten-year high school reunion. Yet, she feels just as insignificant as she did back in school–except with Sam Philmore, a fellow D.C. lawyer and past classmate. And her former secret crush. In just three days Kitty gets the bad memories, the good times, the bitter truth, and a mouthful of one very sexy man who just happens to be a mouse sometimes…
Genre: Paranormal/Shapeshifter/Contemporary/Romantic Comedy
Rating: Spicy
Book Length: Novella
Price: $3.99 (Excerpt below)
I think I’d be more excited if I wasn’t so tired. Gestating makes things a lot less exciting. Unless it’s cake. Cake is still pretty exciting right now.
But I wanted to turn it on it’s ear even more by making her the cat and him the mouse.
Thanks AJ for dropping in with us! Do you have any final words for us before you run off into the world of motherhood and new babies?
I wish I had some amazing advice or pearls of wisdom but I’m not much for profundity right now. I’m barely coherent. So I’ll just say thanks for having me!
We wandered across the courtyard, deafened by the huge artificial spray of water as we crossed under the waterfall. The pair of us found a little niche between the pool at the bottom of the waterfall and a large—probably artificial— garden. We leaned against the stucco wall.
I ran my hand over my dress again, self conscious while Sam watched me. What could I do to get him to stop staring? “Do you like living in D.C.?”
“I’ve liked it better since two weeks ago.” He sounded so matter-of-fact I had to ask.
“What happened two weeks ago?”
He played with a random curl that couldn’t be shoved back in my twist. “I saw your name on the Montgomery list.”
Oh, God. My knees went weak, and it probably wasn’t the vodka. At least not all of it.
But it was the vodka and schnapps cruising through my veins that made me stand there limp, with blood pumping hot to all the right places, and not run away. It was the alcohol that made me capable of opening my mouth under his when Sam kissed me hard.
In another moment I would have fled if someone I hadn’t seen in years tried to slip me some tongue, especially considering one of us would probably have to be removed from the Montgomery case.
But not right now.
Sam tasted like cheesecake, high school fantasies, and man. I whimpered low in my throat while his stroking tongue worked magic on mine. Tangling my fingers into his hair, I got into the kiss.
It was a bad idea. But at the moment all I knew was he kissed like he meant it, felt like my wildest dreams, and had his hand on my ass. I don’t think two minutes passed before his tie was off, and my fingers were tangled in the crisp, dark hair on his muscled chest. My black skirt fit too tight to step between, but somehow it had managed to ride all the way up my thighs. Sam stood between my legs, his erection pressing unabashedly into me as we kissed with an insane level of abandon.
It had to be the alcohol. It had to be. God, he was so hot.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you for fourteen years,” he growled, nipping on the lobe of my ear. “Fourteen years of fantasizing about that pretty little mouth of yours.”
“Fourteen—” I gasped as he sucked my bottom lip into his mouth. “I don’t believe you,” I managed after he’d abandoned my mouth and moved to my neck.
“You should. It’s true.”
Modern or Historical shifters?
If I had to choose a book to read for pleasure, it would be a historical romance. Whether paranormal or not, I love a good story set in the past. I have specific time periods and places I prefer, but sweep me away to a different time and I’m happy. The first book I ever published, though touted as a contemporary, had time travel back to the 18th century because of that. I followed with five historical novels, and a few fantasy novels set in medieval times.
Lately, I’ve been writing contemporaries, while pining to get back to the history of things. That’s why I enjoy paranormals, because many times the heroes and heroines have lived for a very long time. They have history, and some have centuries of history. I like to toss in a flashback scene when possible, just to fulfill my own love of history.
But I know some readers have very defined lines drawn when it comes to time period in a novel. Some will only read historical, others love contemporaries. I’m not sure how many enjoy both, and I wonder if they like to see the various time periods mixed in a story?
It’s neat how the paranormal genre allows we writers to incorporate history into our stories. If we have a passion for Napoleonic times we can craft a hero who may have served in Napoleon’s army before being bitten by a vampire and now he’s lived for two centuries. Perhaps we prefer medieval times, and decide that our shapeshifter was summoned in the thirteenth century, and has been walking the world since then, desperate for love and acceptance. I believe that history makes the character stronger, more interesting and ultimately, both smarter and vulnerable as he walks through modern times.
So I want to know which you prefer in your paranormal romances. Straight historical? Set completely in modern times? Or do you like a mix, a contemporary story with flashbacks to the characters’ history?
Michele
Contest and a Post
I was invited to post today, RomConInc. So, there’s my poor lonely post, with a signed copy of WINTER KISS as a doorprize, and only the moderator has commented. They’ll pick a winner at midnight, and I don’t think the mod should win!
Reading and Writing
by Deborah Cooke
Go see!
WINTER KISS – Today’s the Day!
Finally, it’s here – today’s the day that WINTER KISS, Dragonfire #4, goes on sale. It’s got a gorgeous cover – check it out in the sidebar – and I’m pretty much crazy about the hero, Delaney Shea. (I like those emotionally scarred heroes with noble impulses, don’t you?) I also like how Ginger Sinclair tells Delaney how it is, whether he wants to hear it or not.
Romance Reviews Today calls WINTER KISS “a terrific novel” – read more HERE – and we have two, count ‘em TWO, five blue ribbon reviews from Romance Junkies! The first says WINTER KISS is what epic love stories are made from,” while the second says “[s]izzling hot love scenes and explosive emotions make WINTER KISS a must read!” And of course, there was a great review right here on SSR from Penelope Fitzgerald – if you missed it, it’s right HERE.
Check out the back copy and an excerpt on my site HERE. It’s Delaney’s on sale date – do you have your copy of WINTER KISS yet? 
(Yup, I’m just a little bit excited…!)
New Cover!! Hellhounds, fire, castles…
Thanks to Michele Hauf for spotting my newest cover on Amazon. I know a lot of authors’ favorite part of the process is getting their actual books, but mine is seeing the cover for the first time. It reminds me why I do this. Which at the tail end of a writing project (finished a Nocturne yesterday, yay!) is always good.
Anyway, what do you think? I, for the record, think it rocks. I love that the hero is all big and burly as fitting for a hellhound. And I love the background; it really goes with the story. So, today is a happy day.
Oh, and it is also available for pre-order…
Hope everyone had a great, safe Halloween! AND that you all took good advantage of that extra hour of sleep last night.
Do Shapeshifters Celebrate Halloween?
First, I wanted to say that these wolves were actually celebrating their first Halloween at Wolf Howl Animal Preserve and this was their first pumpkin. These are sisters and the one is showing the other how to tackle the big orange thing.
But what if they are really werewolves in disguise? Sure, why not celebrate Halloween? Or any other holiday that they’d like too! Here’s a hunky wolfish guy having a little Halloween fun when not in his wolf coat.
And here’s what I’d like to be able to carve if I only had the talent!
Hope you have a wonderful Halloween! My daughter and her friends are coming over for scary movies and dinner–everyone’s bringing something so it should be lots of fun!
Doing anything special for Halloween???
PS–Did I mention Book 7 & 8 of the werewolf series sold??? Dreaming of the Wolf and Taming the Highland Wolf will be out in 2011. I’m working currently on Plight of the Wolf, Book 6.
Terry
www.terryspear.com
Visit the VampBash!
Starting today, and running all week, the VampChix blog is celebrating all things fangy with a VampBash. We’ll be featuring guest authors, a scavenger hunt to win autographed books, more prizes, and lots of fun.
Find us at: http://vampchix.blogspot.com
Shapeshifters Do…What???
First, for the great news! Book 7 and 8 just sold to Sourcebooks. More wolf tails, uhm, tales to come!
Jake’s story is Book 7, Dreaming of the Wolf, Darien’s brother in Destiny of the Wolf. And Book 8 is about a werewolf romance writer who has writer’s block. Now just think, would a hunky Highlander help unblock you???
Or…would you forget your mission?
This is a picture of Jake, by the way, before he shapeshifts. He has to remove his tag first. Doesn’t he have wolfish eyes?
Just like people, werewolves like to have hobbies. Or at least some of them do. It makes them more…human. But like any world you build, it has to make sense, fit in somewhat with the paranormal world. Of course, you can do the opposite of what readers would expect, and that’s fun, too.
The same with occupations. What if a werewolf was a ballerina? Doesn’t seem like it quite fits. The one more nature loving and agile, but in a wolfish way. The other, delicate, but sturdy, and…well, frilly to my way of thinking. Although ballet dancers can be very seductive, in more of fae like roles. I watched a bunch of different ballet dances like that…some very sexy and primitive, the costumes, silky and earthen tones–just the kind that would suit a werewolf dancer. So I guess, any occupation could work, as long as the job still seemed to suit the shapeshifting persona of the character.
What about hobbies? A respite from the normal way a wolf would behave? Sure. Although it might be hard to visual an alpha leader type knitting baby booties.
So the question is then, what does a Highland werewolf like to do as a hobby???
Hope everyone has a super Saturday! My computer crashed and so my son is here to the rescue.
Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male–with a kilted hunk to boot!”
www.terryspear.com
When I’m Not Consorting with Werewolves
What do I do when I’m not consorting with werewolves and dragon-shifters? I play around in the kitchen.
I love spice cookies. Now that fall’s here, I’ve been indulging my yen for them by testing this recipe for yummy, low-carb pumpkin bars. The bars are also relatively low-fat. And the liquid egg substitute speeds up preparation. All you have to do is shake the carton and pour.
Low-Carb Pumpkin Bars
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix)
- ½ cup liquid egg substitute
- 1 cup Splenda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- Pinch of salt
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup unbleached white flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup raisins (optional)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan, and set aside.
2. In a mixer bowl, combine butter, pumpkin and egg substitute. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add Splenda, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Beat on medium speed until incorporated.
3. With mixer running, add flours and baking powder. Mix until well combined. Turn off mixer and stir in raisins, if using.
4. With the back of a large spoon, spread mixture evenly in baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 28 to 32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Cookies will keep at room temperature, in the pan covered with plastic wrap, for two or three days.
Makes 16 squares.
Run Fast, Run Happy
First, I’d like to take a moment and introduce you to my new book cover! Isn’t it pretty? Lone Wolf is the sequel to The Moon: Tigress by the Tail and will be released in December with Tease Publishing! I can’t wait.
Once the victim of scientific experimentation by the Government Control of Supernatural Activities (GSA), Damon doesn’t have a past, and he isn’t sure he has a future. He doesn’t even know if his ability to change from human to wolf is a virus, or magick. But the instant he lays eyes on the pretty cop from the local police force, he knows he has to learn the secrets of his past before they destroy her future.
Krystal is the best animal cop on the police force, hiding magickal talent beneath layers of excuses and quick thinking. For five years she’s tracked Peter Burke, a butcher who steals any form of canine to supplement his dietary needs. The day she saves a wolf from losing his head at the sharp end of an axe, her entire life changes.And then there is Damon, the mysterious, sexy ex-soldier with no memory of his past who awakens fantasies of dark and sensual nights.
But the GSA isn’t finished with Damon, and when the shadowy government agency joins forces with Burke, Krystal too finds her life in jeopardy, the target of men and women led by their own desires. Damon and Krystal must work together to stop evil and destroy years of illegal research.
Ok, please watch this video before you go further down on this post, otherwise you’ll never come back to it. Lisa will understand.
Next, I’d like to share my awesome news with a friend. Her name is Lisa Kristof. For the last couple of years, we have talked about the lighter side of life. Okay, the darker side of romance novels, but the
lighter side of life. One thing our shifters never have to deal with is cancer. That’s not necessarily true about their human mates.
When I wrote Tigress by the Tail, our hero’s mother was dead. She died of Cancer. I never specified what kind of cancer, and for the rest of that story, you’ll have to read the books. I remember one of my reviewers said how sad it was even in our fantasy worlds, the C word manages to break in and cause just as much pain there as it does in real life. But there are reasons I chose cancer for Lance’s mother.
I met Lisa online. She was originally from New Zealand, living in Texas. She was an avid animal lover who worked for many years in canine rescue, specializing in the hard to place rottweilers. Several dogs found wonderful, loving homes because of Lisa.
Lisa was one of those rare people who developed cancer at age 32, long before the age 40 when our doctors start to at least watch for it. So early in fact, her doctors insisted she did not have cancer, that the pain in her arm was not related to the lump in her breast. She had to return to New Zealand for a family visit and see a doctor there in order to force the mammogram, where she was diagnosed with cancer, MONTHS after the physical symptoms. Lisa left us on May 6, 2008, after 7 years of fighting this horrible disease. She left with a strength of character that most of us can only write about in our books. She left a legacy of honor, strength, love and purity. Lisa, you shall always be missed.
October is breast cancer awareness month and I thought I’d share a video taken of Lis just before her death in 2008. Her message: Run Fast, Run Happy. My message: Don’t let youth stop you – if you find out you have a lump, please push your doctors for a more specific diagnosis. Don’t let what happened to Lisa happen to another.
Learn more about young women and cancer.
WEBMD about Younger women with breast cancer.
Lisa Kristoff, 1969-2008
Run Fast. Run Happy
