GIVEAWAY-Interview with Leigh Evans about her newest Mystwalker novel The Thing About Weres

Please welcome Leigh Evans author of The Mystwalker Series where she's telling secrets like why she waited until she was 50 to start her writing career, what she misses from life "before being an author" and what happened to her at the 2013 RT Convention in Kansas City and how humor plays a part in her life. Then enter the contest for your very own copy of The Thing About Weres

   

• ISBN-13: 9781250006417
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 7/30/2013
• Series: A Mystwalker Novel Series , #2
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Edition description: First Edition
• Edition number: 1
• Pages: 422

***GIVEAWAY****
ENTER BELOW US ONLY
FOR A COPY OF THE THING ABOUT WERES
SPONSORED BY LEIGH'S PUBLISHER
ST. MARTIN'S PRESS
GOOD LUCK!!

Overview
THE THING ABOUT WERES
Leigh Evans
In the never-ending saga that is my love-hate relationship with Robson Trowbridge, I, half-Were Hedi Peacock, have had a change of heart. Ever since I shoved Trowbridge through the Gates of Merenwyn, I’ve been the leader of the pack—hard to believe, right?

Praise for The Trouble With Fate:

“A true storyteller with a tough heroine and an original and engrossing tale. Reader beware, if you pick up a Leigh Evans book, you won't put it down until the last page.”

—Patricia Briggs, New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series

“[A] brilliant debut…has a likeable, light-fingered heroine with smarts, a tough sexy hero with troubles, and a glimpse into a fascinating fae world that will have you howling for the next book. I loved it!”
—Suzanne McLeod, author of The Shifting Price of Prey

“What a delicious read! Chock full of fun twists and sexy diversions, one of them named Robson. Leigh Evans is definitely one to watch. Get this book! You will not be disappointed!”
—Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author of the Charley Davidson series

“It's rare to find a debut novel with a well-crafted world, a great story and dynamic characters, but this book has them all. I was grabbed early and hooked to the very end. I eagerly await the sequel!”
—Karen Chance, New York Times bestselling author of the Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab series

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Leigh, welcome to my blog.

Thank you, Debbie. I’m delighted to be here. 

Tell us about your new novel The Thing About Weres.

The conclusion of the last Mystwalker novel left our heroine Hedi Peacock in possession of an unusual job title: Alpha-by-proxy. Let’s take a moment to consider how well that might have gone. Hedi was twenty-two, with little affection for werewolves or long-term employment.

Now, take into account that Weres are incredibly territorial and the job comes with the obligation of enduring many, many, long-assed grievance sessions about leaf blowers and property lines. Balance that against the knowledge that the fairy godmother responsible for gifting Hedi with patience was a total slacker…

Fast forward six months. A fatigued and disillusioned Hedi Peacock looks upward to grimly pin a wish upon a star. Wouldn’t you know it? That’s when Karma steps in again, determined Hedi receives exactly what she asked for.

This is the second in your Mystwalker series. Is there a planned number in the series?

The series will conclude with the 2014 release of the fourth book: The Danger of Destiny.

Leigh, you didn’t write your first novel until you were 50 and you stated in a previous interview “I always knew I could write a book, but I’d given up on the idea of actually doing so by my forties.”

Can you tell us your own author story, what changed your mind?

I was on the sofa, a small bowl of potato chips balanced on my chest, watching Oprah. I’d seen the episode before. But still, there I lay, limp with boredom, too lazy to change the channel. That’s when the thought hit me: I can lay here for the rest of my life and it wouldn’t matter.

Huh. So was that how I was going to let the rest of my life unwind? I was going to lay around feeling like I was done? Nothing valuable to say? Over and done?

Hell no. I got off the damn couch.

What’s the most fun about writing fantasy fiction?

When you sit down to write an urban fantasy, you’re the absolute queen of your fantasy world until such time as your editor sends her revision notes. Until you get that page of notes, you can lie and fabricate with impunity. It’s your world, your rules.

How did the idea for the series come to you?

I’ve read hundreds of paranormals and have enjoyed stepping into the heroine’s shoes. (Hey look! I’m as thin as Kate Beckinsale and twice as fearsome!) But after a couple of hundred books, I found myself yearning to read a story featuring someone who wasn’t tall, slender and beautiful. Someone who wasn’t naturally brave. Or for that matter—truthful, honest and good.

Put bluntly, I wanted a different type of bad-assed girl. That’s how I found myself writing a coming-of-age story set inside an urban fantasy series and why the Mystwalker novels chronicle the life of a girl who’s pushed, quite unwillingly, toward claiming her own destiny.

Hedi Peacock. Half Fae, half Were, and all trouble.

Leigh, I just read your blog post about your “adventure” at the RT convention in Kansas City. I’m sorry you were ill. But what I found most telling about it was you humor.
Do you think humor is important in telling your stories?

I got over it, Debbie, and humor helped. In my blog about the difficulties of finding a doctor in Kansas City, I decided to leave out the part where six inmates from the local prison arrived for their annual check-up. Sounds far-fetched, right? That’s why I didn’t put it in. But it’s the truth. There I sat, wilting in the waiting room’s plastic chair, and in they filed. Evidentially, Karma felt I needed a course adjustment.

It was too funny not to inwardly smile. (I mean, seriously—was it something I said?)

Humor. It’s vital, isn’t it? It allows you to breathe between the bad stuff.  

Let’s talk about your love scenes:
What rating would you give them?  

Hard to say. The love scenes in the first book of the series were written from the perspective of a girl who’d never been held—think about that—or even kissed.  Those scenes are both awkward and tender. That being said, one should never forget that Hedi’s a very quick learner. Things get decidedly hotter as the series progresses.

Would you be embarrassed if a member of your family read them?

Horrified.

What’s the one thing about “before being a writer” that you miss?

Weekends off. The wonder of two consecutive days to garden and see people and get groceries and fool around and make pasta and sit doing the one thing I really love beyond all other activities—reading. I know many authors have figured out how to write, handle business, and still be utterly fabulous, but I haven’t.  That’s my next project: finding the discipline to walk away from the keyboard.

Okay it’s just us, shhhh. Tell us a secret about you.

In the mornings I write with my kitten Dumbles (short for Dumbledore) tucked inside my t-shirt. That’s where he likes to sleep and I’ve given up on trying to encourage him to take his 9 a.m. nap anywhere else. So, right now, he’s there. Tucked inside my favorite battered graphic t-shirt. Just his head and one paw sticking out.  Every so often he erupts into a rumble of throaty purrs.

Leigh, will there be any signing events for this release?

I’m in the process of reaching out to several independent bookstores. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on my website! www.leighevans.com

Thank you so much for taking the time to let us get to know you a little better. Good luck with the new novel and all the ones to come.

It’s been my pleasure.

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