Today we give a warm WELCOME to our Guest Author, Katya Armock!
Katya, please tell us anything you'd like for us to know about you, your writing style and of course, your new novel, To Hiss Or To Kiss.
People often wonder where I and other authors get their
inspiration. For me, the question is where don’t
I get inspiration? Writers are observers of the world, and I’m always tucking
away random things in my brain. Like a weird conversation overheard at a
restaurant, a funny thing my husband said or did, or the antics of the cats and
dogs in my life.
I also find inspiration in what I read. At RT last year, an
editor gave the advice to writers to always “read up.” In other words, always
read authors that are as good as or better than you because it will make you a
better writer.
It got me thinking about what I admire about my favorite
authors. So here’s a bit about three authors I love and how they inspired
aspects of my own writing:
- Nalini Singh: I love her Psy-Changeling series. Not only are they highly imaginative, but they are touching and funny. I am always smiling and still left wanting more at the end of every story. I try to capture some of everyday life into a gripping story the way she does because we live life in every moment—not just the big ones.
- Ilona Andrews: I doubt I’ll ever be able to write a fight scene they way Gordon and Ilona do, but I aspire to have my own version of wonderful, witty, hilarious dialogue.
- Larissa Ione: I adore the way Larissa writes the most beautiful love scenes. Yes, there’s crazy good sex, but there’s also a lot more going on. When I write a sex scene, I try to keep in mind how this scene moves the story and the hero/heroine’s relationship forward.
If you’re a writer, which authors inspire you to be better
at your craft? Readers, who do you love to read and why?
Readers, please chime in with your comments. Notice I will let others go first...lol...
Excerpt:
Jorge and I are fast asleep after our antics in bed, when I
feel a wetness on my hand and I hear Ringo calling out to me.
“Chloe, wake
up. I really, really, really need to pee.”
I moan and sink deeper into Jorge’s arms, pulling my hand
back.
“Chloe, wake
up. I’m dying here. I have to pee.”
Ugh, why won’t that voice go away? I crack my eyes open and
see Ringo by the bed, prancing around, doing the doggy version of a potty
dance.
Ringo starts hotfooting toward the bedroom door. “Thank goodness. I’ve got to go.”
With a sigh, I extricate myself from Jorge, which causes him
to groan in his sleep. I get out of bed and throw on one of his T-shirts.
His voice is groggy. “Where are you going?”
“Ringo’s got to pee.”
He nods and closes his eyes.
Gee, thanks for the assistance. I roll my eyes as I head to
the front door.
The other dogs all crowd around as I near the door. Guess
Ringo was just the messenger. They all go flying out when I open the door. I
send out a telepathic reminder to stay close to the house.
Suddenly I see headlights flip on, and a van pulls into the
end of the driveway. Ringo, who is closest, starts to bark and lunges toward
the van.
“Ringo, no, come back!” I yell at him aloud, but he keeps on
going. I mentally tap him, but he is in the zone and doesn’t respond.
I watch in horror as the van door slides open and a man
catches Ringo with a rabies pole and then hauls him into the back. I scream as
the door shuts and the van tears out of the driveway. It peels away, dust
flying in its wake.
The van is still in sight when Jorge rushes up behind me.
His hair is mussed, and he’s wearing only a pair of jeans, which under other
circumstances would have been a treat for me. “What happened?”
“Ringo just got pulled into the van, and they sped off.” I
don’t know if I’m more pissed off or worried.
Buy Links:
Blurb:
Abandoned by her mother and raised by
a father who’d given up on life, Chloe doesn’t let anyone get close. Lucky for
her, she can communicate with animals—telepathically. Animals are the only people
she needs. When a suspected dogfighting ring comes to her attention, Chloe decides
to do a little spying. In her rush to win the dogs’ trust, she almost gets
caught.
Until a sexy stranger intervenes, and
she finds she can overhear his thoughts. She’s never been able to hear people,
and this man’s about as sexy as she’s ever seen. It’s more than intellectual
curiosity that drives her to discover his secret: he’s a jaguar shape-shifter,
and the presence of this cat among the dogs might be a bit too much to handle.
But the animal attraction is just too hot to resist, and the passion between them
makes both the sparks—and the fur—fly…
Author Bio:
I like books that
are funny and fun to read (and hot!) but also make me think or look at the
world in a new way. I am influenced by magic realism, comparative mythology,
and esoteric spiritual practices from around the world.I spent too many years chasing someone else’s definition of success. My life simplified, I returned to my first love of writing.
These days you’ll find me writing, pet sitting, juggling a number of freelance gigs, and reigning as my home’s domestic goddess. I live in the Midwestern U.S. with my husband, dog and cats. Alas, I have, as of yet, been unable to teach my husband how to purr.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Katya. Best of luck with To Hiss Or To Kiss (which sounds fabulous!) as well as everything else you have going on in your busy life! Please tell us how to stay in touch and follow your latest adventures and creations.
Follow Links:
Website: http://katyaarmock.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katyaarmock
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KatyaArmock
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