Author Tracey H. Kitts and Her Furry Ones.

 

I’m thrilled to have Tracey H. Kitts as my special guest here today (even if she does spell her name the girl’s way!).  Please help Tracey feel welcome:

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Who are your favourite authors ?

I love Dean Koontz. Other than him, I don’t really have a favorite, but I do read a good variety.

What is your favourite novel cover?

At the moment, I’m loving the new cover for Bitten. It perfectly captures the story.

What’s the best Hero Moment you’ve ever seen in film?

The moment that stands out to me is from the last X-Men film (X-Men: The Last Stand ), when Wolverine walks right up to Phoenix even though she is trying to kill him. She asks if he would die to save everyone. He says, “Not for them…for you.”

What’s the best Hero Moment you’ve ever read in a book?

Hopefully, everyone has read the entire Harry Potter series by now so this won’t be a huge spoiler. I loved when Neville cut off the snake’s head. I actually dropped my book to cheer.

What reading device do you use for reading ebooks on?

I use my computer. I actually don’t own an ereader.

What is your take on the indie author phenomenon?  What do you think the book industry will look like in five years time?

Hmmm. Good question. I think the indie explosion, as I call it, is due to a lot of people realizing they don’t have to use a traditional publisher to get their work out there. Not to mention, authors can finally earn a royalty percentage they can live with.

However, self-publishing is both a good thing and a bad thing. Without professional editing and book covers, self-published titles will maintain their bad reputation. I’ve had people get flaming mad at my books (and leave reviews saying such) simply because they were self-published. Even though (as other readers pointed out) my books were professionally edited and had great covers. The angry reviewer stated they just flat out “hated” any self-published titles.

They also wrote another review just to bash me as an indie author and say I wasn’t good enough for a publisher to take my work. Clearly, they didn’t read my bio and see that I’m traditionally published as well.

I think the biggest obstacle for indie publishing and its authors to overcome are stigmas like this. Many people still assume that a title is garbage simply because it’s self-published. Hopefully, that is quickly changing. In five years’ time, I believe many things will have changed. I’m not sure how to predict an industry I see changing so quickly, but I am eagerly watching.

Do you ever skip the “I love you!” scene in your novels?  Do you feel you’ve been cheated if they’re missing in other authors’ books? 

I feel like as a reader and a writer, if the audience has been with the characters through their entire journey, they deserve to hear the words. There are some characters who wouldn’t just say it so bluntly, but you can still work it into the conversation some way. People deserve the closure I think.

What’s your take on eBook piracy?  What would you do about it if you were given carte blanche?

If I could do anything, I’d have the pirates pay the author for each copy stolen. As someone who has been the victim of piracy, I can tell you it hurts. When you’re not making millions a year, a few hundred here or there is the difference in a house payment. I figured it up a couple of years back. Based on the number of times pirate sites said my books were downloaded (data was collected from many sites), if even 1% of those downloads were actual sales, I would’ve made about $10,000. Instead, my car got repoed that year. I have some very strong opinions about ebook piracy.

If someone offered you immortality, but you could never write again…would you take the offer?

Nope. That would be a deal breaker for me.

What are you currently reading?  How’s that going for you?

Bite Me by Christopher Moore. It’s hilarious.

What will you be reading next?

Probably one of my own titles in preparation for its re-release.

The Desiree Staccato

In honour of Desiree Holt who started this Saturday Night Live style tradition:

• Favourite colour? Purple
• Favourite drink?   Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee with vanilla cream
• Favourite writing oufit? Batman pjs
• Favourite food(s)? Chocolate fudge 
• Favourite music?  80’s rock
• Favourite sport?   Boxing (before it started to suck)
• Favourite body part?      Earlobes
• Favourite spot in the world?    My hometown
• Favourite movie?  I love movies, but can’t narrow down a fav.
• Favourite TV show?       Probably Dexter
• Favourite flower?  A red rose
• Favourite thing to do at knock-off time?     Play video games

Tell us about your book.

Sandra Ashton is a witch who suddenly finds herself dating three vampires. So, what do you do when you’ve got three immortal beings professing their undying or is that undead love for you? You agree to what they like to call, “joint custody.”

WARNING: This book contains graphic language, violence, and lots of sex.

And an excerpt 

Chapter One

How do dead men attract so many live women? It was something I’d often wondered, and couldn’t for the life of me understand. It was Halloween night, and I was yet again trying to unravel this mystery. I might have had more success without the alcohol. But, I’d been suckered into the whole situation anyway.

I was at a bachelorette party in a club called Lucy’s. Who the hell has their bachelorette party on Halloween night? My friend Karen. While I watched the tall, leggy blond celebrating her last night as a free woman, I got distracted by the wildlife.

One of the main attractions at Lucy’s was its dancers. Taking center stage was a luscious piece of meat by the name of Alex. He was a weretiger. I knew this because he’d purred at me earlier. His lithe body moved easily to the music, like a well-oiled machine. He was beautiful, but I didn’t pay much attention. While he gyrated to some of Ms. Lennox’s greatest hits, I found what sweet dreams were made of, and it wasn’t on stage.

He was around six feet tall with long auburn hair and the most magnificent backside I’d ever admired. I couldn’t wait to see what the front looked like. While I took in the view, the lyrics of the song combined with my blood alcohol level made me think I might like to be used by him. Better yet, I might even like to abuse him.

Whoever he was, I was willing to bet he wasn’t human. The really hot ones rarely are. Everyone knows Lucy’s isn’t run by humans, though the patrons are almost exclusively human. However, I was still surprised to come across someone so obviously … other.

As I watched him, I knew he was aware of my gaze. How could he not be? As my grandmother would say, I was “staring a hole through him.” On my way to the restroom, I had to force myself to look away from the redheaded stranger before I ran into a table.

My red dress was still in good shape, even after a night of bar hopping with a bunch of drunken twenty-somethings. It was strapy and short, but not short enough to look slutty. The color went well with my dark hair and I ran a hand through my long wavy locks as means of freshening up. After rummaging in my little red evening bag, I powdered my nose and reapplied lipstick before leaving the restroom. If that tall, handsome whatever he was decided to look my way, I wanted to give him something worth looking at.

I reentered the main room, and he turned toward me as if he’d read my mind. His hair fell in a silken mass about his shoulders as he turned. His eyes were a stunning shade of green which matched his shirt perfectly and complemented his hair. I admit, I have a weakness for redheads, but this one made me literally weak.

The top few buttons on his shirt were undone and I tried not to stare at the pulse in his throat as he approached. My smile just wasn’t working and I’m sure I looked as nervous as I felt. Before he could get closer, I walked out the back door. Yes, I know it was a cowardly thing to do, but I wasn’t about to pick up a strange preternatural being. I’d also had quite enough of the party and was taking out my cell phone to call a cab when I froze.

Something was coming toward me. I looked around and realized I’d walked out into a dark alley. Stupid is too mild a word. Whatever it was, it growled as it approached, and I saw amber eyes glowing in the darkness.

“Going somewhere?” a deep voice growled.

Before I could answer I was pinned against the wall. My cell phone fell to the ground along with my purse. A werewolf had flung himself at me and was pinning me by the throat against the wall. I could barely breathe, let alone summon up a scream.

He leaned in and began to sniff my midriff as if he were breathing in a steak on the grill. But before he could bite into my flesh, he was gone. I hit the ground and stared in numb shock as the redheaded stranger flung the werewolf down the alley as if he weighed nothing.

The wolf yelped like an injured dog and ran, but my savior didn’t pursue. As the stranger turned to me, his eyes glowed as well and with his long hair now covering his face, they were all I could see.

“My name is Navarre,” he said, and his voice was like velvet. “I don’t know who you are Miss, but you should stay out of dark alleys.”

“I’m Sandra.”

“Well, Sandra, it looks as if my dinner has escaped this evening.”

Then I understood. He was a vampire. I looked into his eyes once more and knew what Navarre wanted as a reward. I tilted my head and instantly felt his lips pressed against my throat. I’m not sure the exact moment he bit me. Excitement and arousal coursed through my veins like the greatest thrill. He smelled of expensive cologne and his hair fell across my face as he embraced me. Just as the pleasure became almost too much, I felt the slightest pain, and he withdrew from me.

Navarre thanked me for my generous reward, and I made it home safely that night.

“You may think I’m crazy, but that won’t be my last visit to Lucy’s. Blame it on my weakness for redheads, but I’m going back for more,” I told my sister.

“You’re crazy,” Priscilla said with a laugh.

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You can catch up with Tracey at her website … Blog … Facebook.

Thanks, Tracey, for being my guest today!  I see we both like red-headed heroes!

t.