Promo: Amazon: The Ushers, Book one and Interview with the author, Vanessa North

First let me say that I apologize to Liz from CBLS and to Vanessa North. I was supposed to post this interview yesterday along with a review and it is unacceptable that I didn't. Not only did I forget to post it, I haven't read this book yet and I was looking forward to reading it!

There really is no excuse but I offer one anyway. My favorite Aunt died and last year at this time we lost my Dad to cancer. I have been a little distracted and sad. I truly am sorry that I didn't post this when I was supposed to.

Now, I was able to interview Vanessa North and this is what she said:

What is your favorite thing about writing?

I love getting into my characters’ heads and figuring out what makes them tick. It’s important to me that their actions be believable for who they are and what they want, so I spend a lot of time working on my character worksheets and getting to know these people. That’s my favorite part.

Do you have to concentrate and visualize the story or do ideas just randomly come to you when you're out and about?

Some of both. The initial inspiration is usually one of those “bolt from the blue” sorts of things, but I am a plotter, so I sit down and work through the story in a fair amount of detail before I start writing.

What types of books do you like to read?

all types! Romance is my favorite (I love those happy ever afters!) but I’m also a big fan of science fiction and dig fantasy too. A good literary novel that feels fresh and relevant can pique my interest too.

Who is the first person you call with good or bad news?

My husband. :D That is sooo sweet. I hope he appreciates it!

Do you have any hobbies?

I knit and run. I’m a fairly accomplished photographer. Before my kids were born, I wakeboarded and snowboarded, and I look forward to doing those things again in a few years when the kids are old enough to do them with me!

How do you prefer to communicate ( in person, texting, email, or phone)?

I vastly prefer face to face, but if I can’t have that, text or email. The phone drives me crazy.    I don't mind the phone but I hate when it rings more than once or twice!

What is your favorite flower?

I love the smell of magnolias blooming.

Favorite beverage?

A very good chardonnay

Homemade or store bought?

Home made Yum! Can I come over?

Breakfast, lunch,or dinner which meal is your favorite?

Dinner for sure.

Quiet or loud?

When I’m writing, I like it quiet, but the rest of the time, I like having a lot going on around me--luckily, with four year old twins and two dogs, the action never seems to stop! lol! I understand. :D My twins are eleven and combined with their brother, the only time the house is quiet is when they are at school or asleep!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

Title: Amazon (The Ushers, Book One)

Author: Vanessa North

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Length: 54,000 words

Genre(s): Erotic Paranormal Romance (Action, F/F/M)

Heat Level: Sizzling

Available:Oct 12 from Musa Publishing

Blurb:

Jack's routine investigation of rogue wolf sightings threatens to uncover both Bianca's secrets and her passionate nature. Can she trust him enough to make the sacrifice her destiny demands?

Born albino, Bianca was spared death in infancy when her mother found safe haven among the ghosts and misfits of Amazon Pack. As Guardian of Amazon, she protects the hidden pack with a ferocity that belies her delicate appearance.

Jack’s routine investigation of rogue wolf sightings in his territory uncovers both Bianca’s secrets and her passionate nature. He finds her alluring and terrifying: he’s convinced she’s his mate, but is she also the Usher--key to their culture’s most sacred prophecies?

The Usher’s destiny requires a sacrifice to repair a rift in wolf culture and set the Goddess free. Can Jack and Bianca trust each other enough to pay that price?

Here is an excerpt:

Bianca pulled her v-neck t-shirt over her head, shucking off her shoes and jeans. Jack immediately started shedding his clothes as well. Growing up among wolves, he’d never really given much thought to nudity. Their bodies grew in size as they shifted, so he was accustomed to stripping down before a run in order to preserve his wardrobe. He glanced over at the Albina as she shook her hair out. Standing in the moonlight, she was stunning. He saw her delicate pink nipples were still hard and aroused from his kiss. The curls of hair on her mound were as fair as her hair, and he saw the delicate pink folds glistening, swollen with arousal, peeking through the white curls. Her beauty was astounding. He saw marks on her skin, leaned closer to examine them. Tattoos, he realized suddenly. All wolves were tattooed after their first shift. Most of them were tattooed in black ink with colors for emphasis, but several of hers were done in white. As befits Albina, he thought as he admired the elegant symbols. Her entire back was covered, here and there a shadow in grey? or a bit of color drawing attention to some of the more consequential tattoos. Clearly she was a powerful Guardian for her pack--she’d not have been tattooed so many times without having achieved her place of power by virtue of her skills. As she turned to fold her discarded clothes, he could see some scars on her body, remnants of fights won. The tattoos glimmered in the dark, beckoning him to trace them with his fingers, his tongue. He groaned, and she looked over her shoulder at him with a smile.

“Kathy has changed already, are you ready?” she asked, turning to stare at his body in the moonlight. Hard and muscled everywhere, his upper body hairy and tattooed all over. She looked at his signs and symbols of strength and honor, a visual representation of his place in his pack. They confirmed that he was a fit mate for her--his beautiful body bore scars of fights clearly dominated, and the tattoos that marked him as a leader curled around them. She smiled, her gaze lingering at the proof of his arousal, standing proudly from the bed of black curls at the top of his legs. She blushed slightly as she realized he had followed her gaze. He grinned back at her with a wink as he sank to his knees.

She had seen many wolves shift before. However, she found herself curiously watching him, to see if her mate--there was no longer a doubt in her mind that he was indeed her mate—would seem different from those others. It was sensual, witnessing his change--his body shook and he turned his head with a loud cracking noise. He owned his change like only a powerful wolf could--it was masterful, graceful almost, as his black fur grew over his body. Then he sat, watching her, a huge black wolf with golden-brown eyes. He was resplendent. She knelt next to him, still in her human form, and caressed between his ears. His fur was soft and his eyes kind. He closed them and rolled his head into her hand like a dog seeking a touch from his mistress. His essential masculine scent still surrounded him in his animal form, and as she stroked his head, he snorted and his tongue lolled out between sharp lethal teeth to lap at her hand. She loved the feel of his fur between her fingers, and he clearly enjoyed her attentions. But then he shook his head, took a couple of steps towards the woods and whined back at her. If they were mated, they’d be able to read each other’s thoughts, as pack-mates could, and even more than that, they’d be able to share their feelings through their mate bond. But even without that bond, she could sense his eagerness to run. She grinned and let loose her wolf, feeling the change work over her, bringing forward the animal, tucking the woman away inside.

About the Author:  

Vanessa North was born in New England but moved to the South as a teenager, where she learned to appreciate biscuits and gravy, bluegrass, and that most welcome of greetings: “Hey y’all!” She has a degree in Mass Communication but has long since abandoned journalism in favor of writing romance. Instead of telling the news, V would rather tell stories.

Vanessa has a voracious appetite for books and loves all kinds. She writes obsessively: every day brings new ideas and stories to tell. When she’s not buried in a book—hers or someone else’s—you can find her taking thousands of photographs of the people she loves.

She lives in Northwest Georgia with her handsome husband, not-quite-civilized twin boy-children, and a pack of dogs.

Contact her: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

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