VBT: Giveaway & Interview with Carol Van Atta author of I Kissed A Dog

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.

Purchase Links: Author Blog, Book Depository, Amazon, B&N, Indie Bound

Title: I Kissed a Dog

The Werewolves of the West Series Book One

Author: Carol Van Atta

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






Excerpt:

“Calm down, Missy.” Zane hovered over the female Zebra. His current caring demeanor belied his feral nature as a werewolf.

Standing just inside the door, I could sense Missy’s terror. She saw Zane as a hunter not a healer. I wondered if he was even a real veterinarian.

“Are you planning to help or just watch me struggle?’ Zane asked, eyebrows raised.

“Oh, I don’t know. She thinks you’re going to eat her for breakfast.”

“You think you’re so cute, don’t you? Do you have any idea what you’ve got us into?” He moved away from the squirming filly to face me.

“Me?” How in the world could he blame me for his brutal rampage? And why did I still find him so darn delectable? My so-called disgust had vanished, replaced by an unacceptable craving to feel his mouth on mine. I forced myself to think of the bloody men in the field. That did the trick. My loathing returned.

“Yes! You! When I said ‘stay in the bar,’ did that not mean stay in the bar?” He stepped closer, glaring down at me, his eyes wild with fury and something I couldn’t discern.

Backing up, I found myself pressed against the wall. Icy fear froze my mouth, keeping me from spouting off.

“What have you done to me, Chloe Carpenter?” Taking another step, he reduced the distance between us. I could smell his musky cologne and feel his body heat.

“You’re scaring me,” I peeped.

“It’s about time something scared you.”

Without warning, he reached around the back of my head with one vast hand, drawing my mouth to his.

His lips pressed against mine; I melted — my knees all rubbery. Sensing my dilemma, his other hand slid around my waist pulling me closer.

To my dismay, he was hard — everywhere.

A little moan escaped from the back of my throat as I parted my lips, allowing him to explore my mouth. Sighing with pleasure, my hands moved of their own accord, finding their way around his neck and into the thickness of his dark waves. His hair was as I’d imagined, soft yet dense.

A delicious wildness hummed between us, I was reeling from its intensity.

Missy’s distinct braying-bark tore through my mind, reminding me I was locking lips with a vicious, inhuman beast, all while the zebra looked on, fearing not only for her own safety, but also, from the images she was firing my way, for mine.

“The zebra needs you,” I whispered.

“From what I can tell, you need me more.” Zane smirked.

“O-o-o-o-o … you.” The words wouldn’t form.

So much for self-control.

Deciding to hammer my raging hormones into submission, I approached Missy with caution. I could see the pain and terror in her eyes. Apprehensive, she snorted as Zane moved closer.

“You’re scaring her. How can you be a vet when the animals see you as a predator?”

“I’m great with lions, tigers, and bears, oh my.”

For a moment I just stared — a werewolf joking about the Wizard of Oz. Could things get any stranger?

I should have known better than even to think the question.

Just for Fun and Just Because: Both Chloe and Zane work with animals at a wildlife park in the fictional town of Plum Beach, Oregon. Plum Beach is actually a substitution for the real coastal town on the Oregon Coast: Bandon. Bandon is home to the West Coast Game Park Safari, which was the model for the Plum Beach Wildlife Park. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, you’ll want to visit. You can actually pet baby animals … like lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! The photo below is from one of my trips to the wildlife park. That is my hand on the lion cub.

I interviewed Carol Van Atta! Here is what she shared with me:

Out of the books you've written, if you could live in one of them which would it be and why?

I would love to live in the I Kissed a Dog/Werewolves of the West World. Gorgeous men, exciting adventures, and if I was like Chloe, I could talk to animals. I’ve always wanted to have a good long sit down with my dog, Stryder. Yes, there is a character in the book named after my dog.  lol!

In what scenario do you do your best work?

With my laptop on top of a pillow on my lap, feet up, and some background noise (actually there’s usually more noise than I care for, but I’ve learned to write with or without). I tend to write in the evenings as I’m a night owl and still have to work at my “day job” during daylight hours. I’d love to have a big office, overlooking a scenic landscape, with high tech toys, well, you get the picture. For now, my love seat with the expandable footrest will have to do!

What are you working on and when can we expect it to be out?

I’m currently working on She Kissed a Vampire, book two in the Werewolves of the West series, Soul Defenders: Jaden, book two in the Soul Defenders series, and The Esther Experiment, a stand alone young adult book. I’m under contract for my Werewolves of the West series, so that book comes first. I suspect it will be out by fall 2013. I marvel at the number of projects you authors can keep straight at the same time! It's great for us readers that you are so good at multi tasking. :D

Which books have been on your tbr shelf the longest?

Oh wow! That’s a tough one. I am addicted to buying books. My bookshelf is full and my Kindle is overflowing with unread books. I read several books at once and have two that I’ve started and have yet to finish, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing; they’re both sensational. One is Iced, by Karen Moning, the other, The Passage by Justin Cronin. I keep purchasing shorter books and reading them instead. Silly, huh? :D I think it's some kind of addiction. I do the same thing. I have sooo many books on my shelf that I haven't read yet and I keep buying more before I have a chance to even think about reading them!

Paper or plastic?

Depends what I need at home! Good answer!

What food can't you live without?

I’m currently on a food program, Take Shape for Life/Medifast (love it by the way). But … if I was eating the way the “old me” ate, it would be ice cream, pizza, Hawaiian food, and Chinese Food. Yikes! That’s way more than one food choice. Good luck with your food program!

Inside or outside?

Depends on my mood (and the weather). Right now it’s inside. I live in Oregon, so rain can keep me inside when I’d rather be out.

Ice cream in a cone or dish?

Dish with a cone on top! lol! My kids eat theirs that way too.

What is your favorite sport? For me ― swimming; to watch ― my son’s baseball. He is now playing college ball in Texas. I miss the Little League days.

What is your favorite or least favorite veggie and fruit?

Fave fruit is a Pomegranate all the way. Veggie would be sugar snap peas, though sometimes they give me major hiccups.

What is your favorite animal?

Wolves. They are majestic, sleek, powerful, wise, well, you get the point. Incredible creatures. I love the big cats too. Nothing like a black leopard.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Lying. You’ll notice in my book, Chloe, the book’s heroine, is none to fond of dishonesty either. In that way she takes after me.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

Thank you so much for asking and having me on your site. I appreciate your support!

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.

Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Facebook (Werewolves of the West Page)


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