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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Author Interview & Contest with Katie Reus

Did you all read my review of Alpha Instinct? A super new release? Well if you didn't you should have! I loved the book and even before reading it I already had contact with the author, Katie Reus, to make sure she had time to be on the blog.

So make sure you check out Alpha Instinct and for now check out this interview with the author to get a better feel for the book and writer. Oh and enter the contest! You only have till Tuesday to enter and win a copy of the amazing Alpha Instinct!

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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your debut book, Alpha Instinct?

Katie - Thanks so much for having me, Amber!

Ana and Connor are the two main characters in Alpha Instinct, the first story in the Moon Shifter series. They have a history together, which is something I absolutely love in romance.

After all the pregnant females and the males in her pack are killed by a mysterious poisoning, Ana is forced to take on the role of pack leader. Without an Alpha, the pack is vulnerable to her neighbor Taggart who wants not only their land, but Ana in his bed as well. Ana and her sisters are financially solid and have no problem running the business side of their ranch on their own, but their pack numbers are dwindling and they’re struggling trying to deal with vandalism, cattle mutilations and other security issues.

When sexy Scottish shifter Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before. She can’t forget the way he left without a single word, as if all the time they’d spent together meant nothing to him. However, she puts her pride aside to save her pack. Violent attacks are escalating in town and she has no doubt that sooner or later people are going to start pointing fingers at her kind regardless of proof. Unless they can figure out who’s targeting them and why, a few cattle mutilations and property damage will be the least of their worries. And if Connor doesn’t gain her trust, he’ll never get the chance to claim the one woman who’s never left his thoughts.

Amber - How did you come up with the idea for Alpha Instinct? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?

Katie - When I first started working on Alpha Instinct it was never meant to be a full length book, much less part of a series. It just sort of developed that way. But once I realized that a lot of the new characters popping into my head wanted their story told too, I came up with an extensive chart to keep track of my characters and it all sort of flowed from there. So it wasn’t really a long process when I decided to let my characters take over.

Amber - What kind of research did you do for Alpha Instinct? Anything interesting or is the research boring?

Katie - I’m a geek so I love research! Even though this series takes place in a world different from our own (one where shifters and vampires came out to the world twenty years ago) the pack deals a lot with local law enforcement so I interviewed some detectives and police officers that I know to better understand different procedurals and laws. And, I also read a lot of various books and articles on folklore, myths and legends on werewolves (though my shifters are not called werewolves). I also read a lot about wolf mating habits, pack interaction, etc.

Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?

Katie - I always pick my characters’ names carefully and you’re the first person to ask me that! Connor is originally from Scotland and Ana (Analena) is originally from Spain so I researched various baby name sites and browsed a few baby names books from my local library. I made sure their names had origins where they were originally born. And Analena means grace, which is why I chose it for my heroine. She’s very sharp and graceful under any situation. The name just so completely fit her.

Amber - Why did you pick the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre?

Katie - Writing paranormal romance took me by surprise, though it probably shouldn’t have. I discovered romance through romantic suspense so when I decided to become a writer I think it’s kind of natural that was the genre I gravitated toward. Eventually I discovered a whole new world with paranormal romance and it just sort of happened. It wasn’t like I consciously picked it. It kind of picked me ;)

Amber - What is like being a new author on the writing scene? Wild parties with other authors or sitting at home writing more books as fast as possible?

Katie - Lol! No wild parties though I have had a lot more contact with other authors who write in the same genre lately and it’s nice to have people to talk about the industry with. And yeah, I’m totally at home writing like a crazy person pretty much every day ;)

Amber - Is Alpha Instinct the first in a series?

Katie - Yes.

Amber - When can we expect to see more from your work? Are you working on any other projects?

Katie - Lover’s Instinct is the next release in the Moon Shifter series (book 1.5, a novella out in August 2012), Primal Possession will be out directly after that (September 2012) and the third book will be out in early 2013. I am working on something right now but I can’t say what it is just yet ;)

Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?

Katie - I’m sure music does inadvertently influence me (it certainly has the capability to affect my mood) and sometimes I’ll see stories on the news about the state of the world or economy and I know some of that goes into my writing. I think it would be impossible not to be influenced by modern culture just a little.

Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?

Katie - I really enjoy books by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nalini Singh, Jeaniene Frost, Linda Howard, Cynthia Eden, Kaylea Cross and Laura Wright. There are many authors I read but those immediately jump to mind.

Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?

Katie - A wolf shifter. Why? Wolves are gorgeous and the ability to turn into such a cool animal would be pretty sweet.

Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will come back again ;)

Katie - Thank you so much for having me!





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Contest Time!

One reader who comments on today’s blog will be randomly selected to win a print copy of Alpha Instinct (US eligible only). Contest will be open until noon Central time on Tuesday February 21, 2012. Please leave your email address in the comments section. Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by!

How To Enter


Leave a comment about Katie's book but no 'Enter me' comments!!!!


No Answer = No Entry


'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry


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The contest will stay open until noon Central time on Tuesday February 21, 2012 and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.



15 comments:

Book Lover said...

Thank you for introducing me to this author. The book looks fantastic.

<3 Mandie time4mommy @ gmail.com

Lexi said...

Analena is a beautiful name, I have never heard it before. Isn't looking up baby names addicting? I spent so much time online looking up names when we were expecting. So I can't imagine how much time could be spent finding names for your characters when you know you want the origin to match up and the name match the personality. Fun post to read, thanks Katie!

eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) com

JenM said...

I love shifters and in my opinion, there's always room for one more book featuring them. I'll be looking forward to reading this.
jen(at)delux(dot)com

Starr K said...

This book sounds amazing....maybe I should let you create my book lists, lol.


Starr.k.Griggs@gmail.com

Katie Reus said...

Thanks for stopping by today, Mandie :)

Thanks, Lexi! Yes, looking them up is super addicting. Next week I'm about to start working on a whole new set of characters/world so I'm getting myself ready for hours of research :)

Katie Reus said...

That's kinda what I think, Jen *g* I love shifter books!

Thanks for stopping by, Starr! :)

JoAnna said...

Alpha Instinct sounds like a great book. I am glad to see this will be a series. I love series.

beckerjo at verizon dot net

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myrandaroyann said...

Your book sounds great! I'd love to read it. I love wolf shifters. ;) In fact, I'm rereading Nalini Singh's Kiss of Snow right now. I love Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nalini Singh, Jeaniene Frost, Linda Howard, Cynthia Eden too so we mesh there as well. I'll definitely be checking out Alpha Instinct!

myrandaroyann[at]gmail[dot]com

Becky said...

Alpha Instinct sounds like a very interesting and exciting story. The mysterious poisoning that kills most of Anna pack plus where they are struggling trying to deal with vandalism, cattle mutilations and other security issues has me very interested in reading this series. I'm looking forward to reading this story plus the others that follow this one in this exciting new series.

beckyqward@gmail.com

Aurian said...

Thanks for the interview Katie, it is nice to learn a bit which each new post I discover.

Not entering the contest, as I live in Europe.

Unknown said...

Great interview! I always love to hear what the various authors have to say :) Alpha Instinct sounds like it will be a very good read!

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annalisa said...

Enjoyed your interview. I love shifter books and Alpha Instinct sounds awesome. Beautiful cover too! I was happy to read that Alpha Instinct is the first book in a series. How many books will be in the series?

TOPSAIL246(at)aol(dot)com

Alicia0385 said...

I have seen many great reviews about this book!! I cant wait to read it. Thanks for the wonderful interview!

aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Gail said...

Great interview. I'm looking forward to reading 'Alpha Instinct'. I like shapeshifter novels and this sounds like it will have a different take on the shifters. Also I love the names you choose for your lead charachters, Analena is very pretty. Conner seems very manly;-)
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.

gsryley(at)gmail(dot)com

wanda f said...

Realy enjoyed thos interview Im very excited about your book Alpha Instinct is one of my must have books .Have a great week
flanagan@Mebtel.net