Guest Blog, Contest and Chat with Author Carrie Vaughn
Shapeshifters Everywhere
As always, thanks to Rachel and Bitten By Books for inviting me to post!
I will never run out of ideas. Every time I research one idea, I discover ten others. When I started writing about werewolves, I read a lot of werewolf stories — not recent ones, but digging into the folklore, the origins of these tales of people and beasts and the sometimes very thin line between them.
One of my favorites is by 12th century writer Marie de France, who tells of a knight, Bisclavret, who is cursed to shed his clothes and become a wolf for part of the week. He gets stuck in wolf form when his double-crossing wife steals his clothes and runs off with his man-at-arms, but Bisclavret goes straight to the king and manages to get a message to him, even as a wolf. (It’s the original, “What’s that, Lassie? Bisclavret’s wife is evil?” moment.) People were telling shape-shifter love triangle stories 800 years ago! How cool is that?
But there are more shapeshifters out there than werewolves. There’s Ovid’s Metamorphosis, from first-century Rome. You know these stories — Jupiter turns himself into a cow to woo Europa, Diana turns Actaeon into a stag as punishment and sets her hounds to hunt him, various nymphs turn themselves into trees and flowers to dodge amorous gods. People are always turning into other things in Greek and Roman mythology. And it’s usually because of some romance gone horribly, horribly wrong. It’s great.
But I can crank it back even further. The Epic of Gilgamesh, from ancient Sumer, is credited with being the oldest story ever recorded. It’s got a character named Enkidu, who’s a wild man from the hills, raised by animals, all hairy and uncivilized — right up until he hooks up with a temple prostitute who civilizes him, cuts his hair, etc. (It turns out the “But I can change him!” story line is pretty old.) While Enkidu isn’t explicitly a shapeshifter, I like to think of him as one — he crosses the line between wild and civilized — and his story provides a template for countless “man v. wild” stories that followed.
I haven’t even started talking about human/animal divinities: all those Egyptian gods with human bodies and the heads of dogs, ibis, cows, cats and so on. Babylonian sphinxes with the bodies of bulls and the heads of men. Or Nüwa, the Chinese goddess with the body of a snake.
I’m not sure what all this means, or if it means anything beyond the idea that people everywhere, across time and geography, have been fascinated with the natural world and the wild animals who live there. I’m a big fan of the idea of the liminal — a thing or a space that falls between categories, that isn’t one thing or another, or is both at the same time. (A threshold, for example, is neither indoors nor outdoors. It’s a liminal space.) Shapeshifters fit that bill to a T. They’re both human and animal, sometimes at the same time, and sometimes there’s conflict between them, and sometimes there’s a powerful affinity. I think in the modern world we long for a connection to the natural, wild world — we sometimes feel like we’ve lost something, some kind of power or energy. Shapeshifters are a way to make that connection.
Do you have a favorite shapeshifter story from folklore and mythology? Is there an obscure shapeshifter story that you haven’t seen done in a modern paranormal novel that you’d like to? If you could shapeshift into any animal, what would you choose? (I think I would choose a bird — a hawk or an owl — so I could fly.)
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Learn more about Carrie Vaughn below:
Read Reviews of her work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/carrie.vaughn?ref=profile
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CONTEST: PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTEST EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO BELOW. There are also revisions to the rules for this contest, please read them all carefully. Also, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME in your comment/post so we can give you the proper credit for your entries.
Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do just ONE or ALL of these things, and each thing you do will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. REMEMBER you have Until 1/7/10 at 11:59 pm Central to do the different things that YOU choose to do. It is NOT mandatory you make a purchase to enter the contest. There are plenty of free ways to get entries as well.
She will be giving away a Shapeshifter Movie Night pack! Which includes two of her favorite shapeshifter movies on DVD, a couple packets of microwave popcorn, a copy of her new book Kitty’s House of Horrors, and a couple of other goodies. The contest WILL be open to readers WORLDWIDE.
1. The easiest way to enter is by ORDERING copies of Carrie’s book today through tomorrow. Good for 300 points per book you purchase.
From Amazon:
Click here
From Barnes & Noble:
Click here
OR you can use the Barnes & Noble link HERE to make your purchase of ANY kind of merchandise during the contest. You can also use the Amazon link HERE to shop as well. Good for 100 entries to the contest for EACH item you purchase. Not valid on past purchases.
It is NOT mandatory to purchase anything to enter the contests, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.
2. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is ask Carrie a question or leave a comment. It can be ANY question you like. No questions/comments = no entries! You can come by through 1/7/09 and ask Carrie your questions. Good for 10 entries. (max 2 questions that count towards entries)
3. Join us at our daily book chat here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=16937 and vote for us at the P&E polls here: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/reviewsite.shtml VOTE in the weekly paranormal poll here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=16747 good for 25 points for each one you do.
4. Spread the word about this event! Use this direct link to the event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=16931 on twitter, at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread so we can verify your entries. Good for 50 entries per place you post the event link.
RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
The contest ends on 1/7/10 at 11:59 pm Central and the winners will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.
1. Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
2. You have THREE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. Bitten by Books has the option to re-award it or not.
4. Contest is open to USA readers except where noted. The prizes are shipped directly from the author.
5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.
6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.
7. Contest is void where prohibited.
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HI Carrie, I just finished Kitty’s house of horrors and I just loved it. I think I would like to be a were-mermaid so I can swim anywhere. My question is now that Cormac is out how will that affect the relationship between kitty, Ben and Him?
Hi Carrie!
Great interview, your book sounds fascinating. I am definitely going to check it out, and add it to my impossibly long TBR list/pile. I don’t have a favorite shape shifter story, but I do love any shifter books especially the ones with a happy ending. If I could shape shift I think I would want to be a jaguar or panther, I have an affinity for them.
I am wishing you much success on your books and I will definetly be looking out for you on the book shelves.
Did you always want to be a writer?
what’s the first book you ever wrote?
I RSVP’d
I spread the word on FB and The Blood Bank
http://www.facebook.com/#/tawania?ref=profile
http://www.bittenbybooks.ning.com/tawaniaetheridge
I sent friend request on FB
Hi Carrie! I haven’t read any of your books yet, but will add them to my tbr list. This book looks great!!
Follows BBB on Facebook
Voted in weekly paranormal poll.
Pingback: it’s alive! « Filling the Well
Hi Carrie,
And I finally got around to getting the 1st Kitty book, yay.
Oh I like the post. I am a huge mythology/history fan
Hm, I’d like to be a cat, panther, leopard, you name it, I am a cat at heart.
Well since I go by Blodeuedd online I guess that is my fav story even if it is depressing. She was made from flowers to marry a man who could marry no mortal woman. But she fell for another guy and they wanted to kill her husband. Plan failed and she was turned into an owl so the other birds could pick at her
What part of Kitty’s character came first: the werewolf or the radio talk show host?
Hi Carrie….is there any music that you listen to that inspires you while writing the Kitty series???
Hi Carrie. I love your books and Kitty’s House of Horror didn’t disappoint me. Do you already have an idea what is next in store for Kitty? Or does it take some time after you finish one book to decide where the storyline will take you? (It seemed like the last two book came out really close together, was that because you had idea for both stories before you started writing?)
Hi Carrie! Thanks for being here at BBB today! Very informative blog! I love folklore and mythology. Unfortunately I haven’t slept much so my thinking skills aren’t working at 100% and I can’t think of any stories that you didn’t mention. As far as what I would want to be able to shapeshift into….it’s a toss up between something that could fly (like you said a hawk, eagle, or owl) or a feline preditor (probably a panther).
I haven’t read any of your novels yet, but I hope to start them in the next month or two! Can’t wait!
What is your favorite characteristic of Kitty?
What genres do you enjoy reading?
Hi Carrie,
I just started your series and I have to say that I love it! I went out and purchased your other books before finishing Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Can’t wait to dive into the rest on a reading marathon. Congrats on such a successful series.
PS – I love that you mention Tatterd Cover on your site… I love that store and visit it everytime I get to Denver.
Oh, and contest stuff…
3. attended daily book chat
voted in P&E poll
voted in sexiest female paranormal character poll
4. spread the word
http://not-really-southernvampchick.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/manda513?ref=name
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/29157/discussions/161992/Competitions-put-em-here-
http://www.goodreads.com/mandan513
Carrie – I love your series, I’ve really enjoyed Kitty’s character and I can’t wait to read what happens next! I always really liked Kitty and Cormac so I’m not giving up there, but I’m curious what’s going to happen between her and Ben in the meantime.
How many more books are planned for this series?
Are you working on any other projects/new series that we might see someday?
Thanks!
For #3, I did the book chat, paranormal poll, and the p&E poll
For the contest, I voted in the sexiest female paranormal character poll and posted to my fb.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/dwolinski?ref=profile
Hi Carrie and Bitten!
Awesome to see you profiled today! I’m just waiting for my newest copy of Kitty’s adventures to make to my door via UPS. I want to know how you choose major characters/locations (like the bar and it’s barkeep), and names for them. Do they honor someone, or are they floating around in your brain til you find the right spot to put them in the story?
I posted this event to my FB, Twitter and New England Browncoats yahoo group.
http://www.facebook.com/shelleyhachman?ref=profile
http://twitter.com/dawnsister
—–Original Message—–
From: NE_Browncoats@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NE_Browncoats@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shelley Hachman
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 1:04 PM
To: NE Browncoats
Subject: [NE_Browncoats] OT: Carrie Vaughn
If you are a fan of Browncoat author (and Steampunk fan), Carrie Vaughn, of
the werewolf Kitty series, she is doing a guest interview at 12pm CST today
at Bitten by Books.
http://www.facebook.com/l/3f1df;bittenbybooks.com/?p=16931
She is also giving away some prizes, and you can spread the word for
entries.
Shelley
I am anxiously awaiting House of Horrors, which should be arriving in the mail soon. I’ve really enjoyed all the books so far.
I think it’s great that you do so much research on the myths and legends associated with the supernatural, as I think that adds a real texture to the world. I’ve always been curious about those women who fall in love with Zeus when he’s a swan or a bull. What are they like?
Would you say you avoid reading more modern takes on the paranormal because you don’t want to be subconciously influenced by them? Do you keep an ear to the ground, so to speak, in case you happen to have an idea that you want to use in your books that is similar to an idea in another book? And I’ve noticed that the Kitty books are less overtly sexual than some others in the urban fantasy genre. Can you talk about why you made that decision?
PS- Curveball was sorely missed from Suicide Kings. Any more WC in your future?
I wanted to congratulate you on your new release. I am sorry to say that I just finished the midnight hour and loved it. My husband went to Barnes and Noble and thought I would like it. He has recently finished buying the rest and I am reading them one by one. Nothing better to do when your in bed all day with a broken leg. You really took my mind ofo of my reality and went straight into yours. Thanks for taking me to a different place and time. Happy writing. :p
oh, and I voted in the P&E poll, the character poll here, and posted this chat on FB:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1254377264&ref=nf
Carrie, love the series. I would like to be a shapeshifter that can choose which animal shape they take. A true shifter. Might make an interesting character.
My question to you is are the characters going to do more in Southern Colorado?
Contest:
I RSVP’d
voted on your poll
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/BooksThings/statuses/7449074790
Whew! Already so many questions! Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
Now, let’s get going on answers.
esperanza g: I really hate giving anything away, because it’s hard to tell what some people will consider spoilers. But Cormac is definitely a part of future books. In Kitty 8 (Kitty Goes to War) we find out a little about what happened to him in prison, and it will definitely affect his character moving forward. He’ll still be a part of Kitty and Ben’s life, though.
Jamie E: I’m always working a couple of books ahead from the current release. I finished Kitty 8 last fall and am revising it now, and I just started Kitty 9. I have a pretty good idea of what 10 will be about, too. #5 and 6 came out close together because they were sort of a cliffhanger/two-parter.
Tawania Etheridge: Yes, I pretty much always wanted to be a writer. I loved telling stories and making up adventures, I did a lot of theater for awhile because that was another way of having adventures, but I discovered I was good at writing — in school it was pretty much the only thing I was good at. The first book I wrote: depends on how you define it. The first book I ever really showed people was a fantasy called Rain I wrote in my 20′s. It didn’t sell. But in high school I wrote a really long Dungeons and Dragons parody featuring all my friends as characters. That was probably the first novel-length thing I ever wrote.
Dan W.: The talk show idea came first. So, she was a DJ before a werewolf. But I decided to make her a werewolf because at the time (I wrote the first short story in 1999 or so), having a female werewolf main character hadn’t really been done yet. I wasn’t interested in writing about vampires and it seemed boring to just make her human. So werewolf it was.
Arlene: I listen to all kinds of music. In each book you’ll find a playlist of songs that had a particular impact during that book. I’m a child of the 80′s so New Wave, punk, and 80′s rock always features. I also listen to a lot of soundtracks.
Amanda L: I like that Kitty’s a loudmouth. She doesn’t have a real good internal editor, which is great fun. When most characters would be thinking in asides, I go ahead and put quotes around them because it makes it more fun. I read pretty much everything. I like stand-alone, fairy tale type fantasy ala Patricia McKillip and Robin McKinley. I like kind of far-out wild science fiction, like Iain M. Banks. I love the right kind of space opera — Lois McMaster Bujold and C.J. Cherryh. As you can see, I’m more into authors than genres. I’ll read anything that packs a punch.
And moving on…
I voted in the P&E poll and the weekly poll.
Hi!
I love the Kitty books. I’ve six of them on my shelves at the moment and have the seventh one high on my wish list. The books get better with each subsequent book (as they should) and that makes me happy too. Kitty grows and changes as the series goes on. It’s nice to read a story that isn’t “cookie cutter”. The paranormal mystery sub-genre is a favorite reading experience for me.
Wow! What great stories you found as you did research and background ananlysis for your stories. How fun! It’s amazing how we repeat and go in cycles with the stories. It just goes to prove that humans are humans no matter what, when, or where we are
Do you plan to continue the series for a while? (I can only hope.)
Amy T.
I RSVP’d today, almost missed this opportunity. I love your books. Congratulations on your success!
One of my favorite myths is an 1800′s tale of a German merchant who made a deal with a witch. A belt allowed him to turn into a wolf. (I am incorporating this tale into my own novel.)
I love that you do so much research on your characters and that you include so many different shapeshifters. Do you think you will ever add any more Native American shifters, good or evil, into future stories?
Carrie, I also wanted to comment on how much I have enjoyed the progression of Kitty’s character. In the first book she is a scared and abuse woman, it was liberating to see her progress to the strong, brave leader that she is now!
Stephanie S: Yes, my first young adult book, VOICES OF DRAGONS, is due out in march. Rock climbing, jet fighters, boyfriends, dragons! I also have a stand-alone contemporary fantasy novel called DISCORD’S APPLE coming out this fall. It’s chock full of mythology, and I’m looking forward to its release.
C-Bass: Oh, thank you for the Curveball comment! Yes, she was missed by me too, but the story took a turn where she didn’t quite fit. However, there’s a plan to release the first volume of Wild Cards with new stories to fill in some gaps, and I have a story in that: “Ghost Girl Takes Manhattan.” It’s Wraith’s origin story!
I do avoid reading most current urban fantasy/paranormal because to tell you the truth I’m not particularly fond of a lot of it. I just keep thinking about how I would do it differently. (which I do…) And yes, I’d rather not be influenced. So I stick to my own thing and don’t pay much attention to what else is going on. It hasn’t been a problem so far — there are always going to be similarities, but it’s how people handle the issues that really tells. As for not making the Kitty stories so sexual — there are plenty of people doing that, and I have so many other stories I’d rather tell. So yes, it was a conscious decision and that’s not really going to change. I’d rather stick to the political/adventure stories.
Melissa B: Yay, for southern Colorado! I actually have a Cormac short story that I set in a fictionalized Lamar, it’ll be in the PN Elrod anthology Dark and Stormy Knights. As for Kitty, though, I have her going to a couple of other places first. So, no plans yet for a return to S. Colorado.
Since Kitty is a fan of a rare steaks AND a celebrity, how soon before she has her own ad campaign that looks like…
“Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
(Unless there’s a full moon)”?
Hi,
I just got my copy of Kitty’s House of Horros but haven’t had a chance to start it yet. I hope you plan to continue writting about Kitty.
Would you ever consider having Kitty travel to another country?
RSVP’d
Voted in both polls
Joined the daily chat
Congrats on the release of Kitty’s House of Horrors. I love all the Kitty books and I went to every book store around here but could not find it. Ended up heading to Target and got the last copy they had, was so happy to finally find it! Was saddened that Kitty wasn’t on the “Who is the SEXIEST paranormal character” pole on here. Kitty and Riley Jenson are my 2 favorite werewolves. My questions are: Do you read other werewolf novels? If so what ones did you read and did you like them?
http://www.facebook.com/dwolinski?ref=profile#/WhiteWolf05?ref=profile
Amy T.: I’ve got at least three more novels planned, plus a short story collection. I have even more ideas after that, but that’s what I’m contracted for currently.
Melinda H: I don’t have any near-future plans to include Native American shifters. But you never know. I’m actually moving into Chinese mythology right now, which is full of cool and weird ideas (Nine-tailed foxes! Monkey King!). There’s just too much to write about…
Dan W.: **groan**
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Hello Carrie, I already devouried Kitty’s House of Horrors, Thank You for such a wonderful series.
3. Voting Done
4. post here: http://marvelousbookpage.blogspot.com/
Facebooked Betty Street
and I RSVPed
Hi Carrie- my q is: how much of the time you spend writing do you devote to your short stories?
I voted in the polls and RSVP’d
And I’d have to shift into one of my cats- the most spoiled b@#$es on the planet (plus, a housecat is cute, so it can lure you into dropping your guard before it unleashes claw hell)
Sandy G: Yes. In fact, I want to set a future book in London — imagine the creatures and people Kitty could meet there! There’s some travel logistics to work out. Like, how would a werewolf cope with being stuck in a tiny seat in a cramped plane full of people for 9 hours?
Jessica B: I don’t read too many other werewolf novels. I get frustrated with a lot of them because they miss a lot of issues that I think are important. So I avoid them — I’d rather focus on my own. That said, I’ve enjoyed Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega books. She really captures those characters. I like that they’re vulnerable. I get frustrated with “superhuman” paranormal characters.
I won’t clog this board up with too much Wild Card love, but getting to see how Jennifer Maloy went from librarian to daring thief sounds GREAT. Besides, my 1980′s copy of Wild Cards 1 is almost destroyed.
I have to say that I, for one, appreciate the differences that you bring to Kitty’s world. I don’t care for too much sexuality (implied is far better for my tastes), and I see more moments of humor in one of your books than in some entire series, which is welcome. Plus, weaving in Senate hearings and side trips to Vegas make your world a much richer place, which is why I keep coming back.
I don’t know if anything is in the works, but do you forsee Kitty branching into other media? I would love to see a Kitty comic book, or a television show (or a Radio Drama!)…
HI Carrie! I just wanted to let you know I really enjoy your Kitty Series and it’s originality. And Thank you for coming by to answer questions! Mine question is simple, I’m just curious as to what helps you write when you get in a bind, what is your muse? I ask every author this and it’s very interesting to see the answers. Can’t wait to see yours! And I can not wait to get the new book!
I RSVP’ed on Facebook and on BBB.
RSVP’d.
Great Interview.
How much down time do you have and what do you do when you are not writing.
Thanks,
Fallon H.
Super interview!!
Just got my first Kitty book and am very excited to begin the series!
Who are your favorite authors to read? Or do you get any time to read??
thanks,
Wendy
Bethany C.: It’s hard to say how much time I spend on shorts — maybe 15%? What’ll happen is I’ll be working on a novel, I get stuck, then take a week off to work on a story, then go back to the novel. I got back and forth a lot.
C-Bass: Other media — no solid plans yet. A lot of it is waiting for the right offer to come along. You know, an offer that’s actually going to turn into something cool and real, rather than getting stuck in production hell.
Brittany Green: When I get in a bind, it’s usually because something has gone horribly wrong and I take a little time off to figure out what. Where did the story take a wrong turn? Where am I trying to get to? Can I get there from here? Asking and answering questions about the story helps me figure out what’s _really_ going on, then keep going and make the story better.
I’m going to duck out for a little while to walk the dog and have lunch, but I’ll be back…
Oh, and if I don’t answer your question, please ask it again. There’s a lot of comments and I may have just missed it.
Thanks!
Hi Carrie!
I love the Kitty books, and our bookclub does too! How do I contact your publicist for a signing?
I RSVP’d
Hey Carrie– I also read the book this weekend. Great continuing series. Can’t believe it’s number seven already! I too cannot wait to see what happens with Cormac. You couldn’t be planning on crushing good sweet Ben could you? Are werewolves poly?
OH joy! I was jumping when I received the BBB newsletter informing me of this event. It was just last week that I saw a review for Kitty’s House of Horrors and I knew, just knew, I had to read it. Seconds later, I was sharing the link with a friend who’d told me she’d read all but that one, and that I’d love them.
I R.S.V.P’d
I also shared my enthusiasm here:
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/joannekenrick/status/7449960986
FACEBOOK: acebook status’d it: http://www.facebook.com/joannekenrick
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/268171-carrie-vaughn-is-in-da-bbb-house
I wonder, how come I’d not heard of this series before last week? Shocking! I must have been walking around with my head in the sand, or something. Anyway. Problem solved. I know now. I can now do something about the fact that I’ve not read any of Kitty’s adventures.
I’m told they’re sexy, witty and romantic! YAY Plus, I saw an interview where it was mentioned House of Horrors is scary.
Did those scary scenes hound your dreams while writing?
Hello Carrie, Thank You for spend time here today. Which book cover is your favorite?
3. Done
4. http://beetsbooks.blogspot.com/
RSVPed
Hi Carrie,
I rsvp’d and voted, and retweeted and FB’d
Just finished reading the first Kitty book, and on the lookout for the rest. I love your voice. (And lots of the fav authors you mentioned are mine, too–I read everything Bujold, McKillip, Cherryh & McKinley write.)
I am currently finishing up a novel with a main character who is an Ulfhednar, based on the Norse shapechanger/berserker legends. I wanted to do something a little bit different…
I guess some of my favorite shapechanger stories are traditional ones like “Beauty and the Beast.” And I love mythology. Can’t wait to see what you do with the Chinese stuff
And thanks for not feeling like you have to add overt sexuality to every page of your books. I like a little sexiness, but I’m more interested in an interesting voice and a sense of humor!
Do you follow a schedule when you write?
I voted in the poll, too. (Sarah and Mercy)
Hi Carrie!!! I’m so glad you made it to BBB!!! Your Kitty series was the first urban fantasy series I ever read. I was strolling through Borders and saw the cover. I thought, gee this is different, and that’s all she wrote. I have read through book 3, and have the next 2 sitting at home. I love the series!!!
I noticed most of your book signings are around CO. Do you think you’ll ever make it out to the mid-west?
I have to agree with the shapeshifter bird. I would love to be able to fly. I also wouldn’t mind a bear just to see what it feels like to be so strong or even a dragon to combine them both. However, a dragon might be slighly more noticable to the everyday person.
I have been a fan of Kitty and her Midnight Hour radio show since book one. I can’t think of a better treat than reading Kitty’s House of Horrors while munching popcorn and looking forward to a shapeshifter DVD.
Hi,
I RSVP’d
I loved your thoughts on shapeshifters and mythology.
I would love to be a domestic house cat so I can be loved unconditionally.
Who are your favorite authors to read?
I RSVPd for this event
3. have done all 3
4. Posted on facebook.com/bluestarc218
Hi Carrie, I really enjoyed reading Kitty’s House of Horrors and I’m so glad Cormac’s out of jail. I wanted to if Kitty will ever encounter Mercedes Cook sometime in the future?
RSVP’d
Voted in P&E and paranormal poll
Hey Carrie! I am soo excited to get your new book. I absolutely love the series.
I RSVPd, voted in the polls, and re-tweeted (MinnChica)
Nicole S.
fallon hadley: I pretty much write something every day. I do have a little down time–I love traveling and spend a couple weeks a year out and about. Otherwise: books, movies, walking the dog, etc.
Wendy Frye-Agers: I do most of my reading at meals and before bed. I have lots of favorite authors. Right now, I’m gobbling up Steven Erikson. I love Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Iain Banks, Lois McMaster Bujold, Steven Brust, lots of classics. I also read a lot of nonfiction for research.
Jill F.: I’m pretty much handling my own signings/appearances right now and it really depends on where I’m at and what traveling I’m doing. I can’t do too much since it’s coming out of my own pocket. My emails on my website for more info.
Kim: Ben’s here to stay, and we’re heading into spoiler territory… I think werewolves have the same range of relationship possibilities as human beings.
Beet Troels: I think the cover to Silver Bullet is my favorite — it really pops with the skin tone, and she’s got that wry smile.
Deborah Blake: My schedule: yup. I try to do business and errand stuff in the morning, and block out between lunch and dinner for writing. It doesn’t always work, but I can usually stick to it.
Heather C: Yeah, I’m afraid since no publisher has yet paid for a book tour, and I’m doing it out of my own pocket, I’m limited about where I do signings and most of them are local. I do travel to conventions a little more often, so keep your eyes open. I post my schedule on my website.
Cassandra M: See above for fave authors.
Steph: Yes, I’m sure she’ll encounter Mercedes Cook again. I’m not sure exactly when yet, but she’s definitely out there causing trouble!
Yay, guest blog from Carrie! I love all those old tales — I’d not heard Marie d’ France’s before! My favorite shifter stories at this moment are Coyote stories — ones where Coyote can be a man or an animal (or ambiguously both) in order to get into trouble, or get himself out of trouble (or just get laid). I loved what Christopher Moore did with Coyote in Coyote Blue.
So, here’s one of your questions back at you — what obscure shape shifter tale do you have a hankering to retell?
(Contest stuff: voted in P&E and the poll, RSVP’d, and, as always, BBB is on my blog roll at http://alanajoli.livejournal.com — and so is Carrie!)
Addendum: Carrie, how could we convince you, Jeri Smith-Ready, and Stacia Kane to get all of your radio personalities together sometime for an in character shindig? (Smith-Ready has the vampire DJs from WVMP, and Kane writes Megan Chase, the on-air therapist who deals with off-air demons.) Having you guys play together is a pet dream of mine.
Hey Carrie,
Just have to say how much I have enjoyed your “Kitty” series. I love paranormal romance and a good series so your books have filled my days and nights with bliss. I was lucky enough to have the first 4 books before starting the series(as I hate to read 1 and then wait a year for the next one- this was wonderful). I now have the next 3 and intend to read them back to back also. Can’t wait for your YA “Voices of Dragons”. Any chance that will become a series? Oh, and as for being a shapeshifter– well as most animals can’t read- the only shifting I would want to do is being a book store owner, so I could read everything as soon as it came out.
My question-
What book would you give everyone if you had an endless number of copies and why?(it doesn
Hey Carrie!
I know that someone already asked what part of Kitty’s character came first, but I’m curious as to how you came up with her altogether. Where did the idea for Kitty come from? (Hopefully this isn’t something that has been asked before – if it has, I apologize for the repeat!)
As for the contest, I voted on the P&E poll, RSVP’d, and I’m friends w/ Carrie on Facebook.
OH – I also voted on the Paranormal Poll as well!
Carrie, thanks for being here. I will definitely be adding to my TBR list.
I posted this to my Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and LiveJournal.
I voted in the polls. I follow BBB everywhere I can.
Faerydreamer64/dbarskey06/faerymagick08
Alana Abbott: The thing is, I keep finding a way to tell the obscure stories I want! Right now I seem to be moving into hybrid territory rather than shapeshifter territory. I want to tell some of the stories of deities that are both human and animal.
As far as what you’d have to do…I can’t speak for the others, but get us together with a bottle of wine would work for me.
I haven’t met Smith-Ready or Kane yet, but I’m sure it would be a hoot.
Mario Acevedo and I did a joint signing last year where we played “Which paranormal protagonists would call into Kitty’s show?”
Lisa Richards: I don’t really plan on Voices of Dragons becoming a series. I have at least one sequel planned, but beyond that, who knows?
I’d give away Peter Beagles “The Last Unicorn” because it’s just about the perfect fantasy book. And come to think of it, there’s at least one shapeshifting scene…
Caitlin: The idea for the series: I thought, these supernatural relationship problems are so wild, Doctor Laura would never be able to handle them, they need their own radio show. So of course the show needed a host. She actually had a different name first, but then I decided she was a werewolf, and then I just had to name her Kitty because why not?
I absolutly love this series!
Im friends with BBB on everything,
I voted in the polls.
I shared here, http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/profile.php?ref=name&id=1463087417
Oh and i RSVP’d
Hi Carrie! I have to credit you with converting me to the whole paranormal genre. I was all about mystery, romance and romantic suspense when your first Kitty book came out, but when I saw it in my local bookstore I thought it looked interesting so I bought it. I was really impressed, and I’ve had your books on preorder as soon as they become available ever since. I liked your books so much, I was curious enough to wade into the world of paranormals. My TBR pile was a whole lot smaller back in those days.
Love your books! Me and my friend have been counting down until your release and it finally came!! It was the best cuz we were both sick and it just made it happy to see that the next Kitty book was out, even though we couldn’t buy it, yet. Anyway, i would not want to be a bird shifter at all, not with all the funky pollution in the air lol, but then the ground isn’t great either. I would want to be a wolf, fox, lion, or tiger shifter. Happy reading and writing…Taylor Z
I RSVP’d
Thanks for sharing Kitty with us.
Hey Carrie. Been reading lots of Kitty on Kindle which I didn’t think I would ever do because it’s not tactile enough, but sure is convienent having access to a book all the time on an iphone and hopefully BlackBerry soon.
I always thought Lady Hawk was such an incredible movie/story and showed how even though man turned to beast and wanted to be human the beast side ruled his thinking which I see in Kitty through your writing.
Do you find yourself in social situations wishing you could call on an inner animal to deal with things sometimes?
I have the first two Kitty books. Have gotten a little behind though. How many are there now and do you have a definite end in mind or are you going to keep going as long as we all buy the books.
If I could shapeshift into anything I’d like to be a dragon. Strong, can fly, always warm. Either that, or if it has to be a creature that exists in todays world, then either a bear or tiger.
I RSVP’ed
Have done #2 now(asked a question and answered on of the ones Carrie posed)
Have done all three things for #3.
I RSVPed earlier this morning and I voted in the Sexiest Female Paranormal Character. Think I might need to go add my comment to the listing though.
I think I started reading this series back at the 3rd book release and fell in love with it very quickly! I still need to buy the new book at Borders this weekend. Would do the Barnes and Noble or Amazon to earn more entry points, but I got a Borders gift card, so that’s where I’m going!
Anyway question #1 I have is will we ever really see Cormac again really? I mean I know he’s “busy” (spoiler-ish) for awhile, but will he actually pop back into the action any time soon or will we just see him as we’ve been seeing him?
And on a side note, for some reason I was really hoping Kitty would’ve ended up with Cormac. I liked that he was a hunter and she was a werewolf and they had all this attraction between them. But since we’re 2-3 books in now with her being with Ben, I’ve grown to like him too.
Pretty much by 3:30pm everything has been asked. First thanks for stopping by Carrie. Second I loved the new book, it reminded me of the Mario Van Pebbles film Surviving The Game. Best wishes in the future!
I RSVPed.
Hi Carrie, love the series! Do you ever consider writing another genre under another name? And also, how about doing a crossover between your werewolves and the wolves of another book, like Kelley Armstrong’s? If CSI and NCIS can do it, what’s to say you can’t too!
I’ve loved Kitty from the beginning. I read House of Horrors in one night (the same night it downloaded to my kindle!) I have also listened the the first four from audible on my ipod. Do you know if the rest of the books will be made digital too? I see they are on cd, and Margaret Gavin is a great reader for Kitty! I thought I’d share too that I’m such a fan of Kitty that my Kindle Dx is named Kitty Norville, and has a wolf skin on it!
Hello Carrie!
I haven’t read your books yet but I do have you on my TBR list. You are a fairly new author to me, what other paranormal characters are you interested in writing about?
1. Joined Carrie’s facebook
2. RSVP’d
3. Chatted
4. Took part in polls
5. RSVP for 1/7 Author Adrian Phoenix
6. Friends with BBB
7. Goodreads
8. Facebook
9. Facebook Fan page
10 Blood Bank
11.Newletter
12.and everything else…
Hi Carrie! so excited for the new Kitty book! already RSVP’s, freinds on Fb and goodreads. posted link on my FB profile and rsvp’d for Adrian Phoenix on 1/7
Hi Carrie, congrats on your newest book!
If I could change I’d definitely go with a bird. Being able to fly so carefree would be the best feeling in the world I think.
Thanks for all the great comments! And for reading the books.
Scott W: I don’t think I’ve ever called on an inner animal, but I’ve talked to people who have. Instead, I try to call on my inner James Bond or Batman.
Beth C.: I do have an end point in mind for the series, but I don’t know how many books it will take to get there. As long as I keep getting ideas for books in the meantime, and I’m still having a good time writing it, I’ll keep going.
Jessica S.: You need to read the new book, House of Horrors! I think if you read some of the comments there are some spoilers about what happens to Cormac. So, the short answer is, Yes! He’s back full-time in book 8, which should be out toward the end of this year.
I get lots and lots of comments about what did and didn’t happen between Kitty and Cormac, and all I can really say is this is how it turned out, and I followed the story I wanted to tell.
Gordana F: I’ve got other books coming out under my own name this year. They’re all pretty much contemporary fantasy, young adult or otherwise. I don’t see myself doing anything wildly different enough to require a different name.
As far as crossovers with other werewolf authors…the big problem is we all have different worlds with different rules, and it would be really hard to reconcile those. For example, if I’m not mistaken one of the big things in Armstrong’s world is that Elena is the only female werewolf. (You can probably correct me if I’m wrong, since I haven’t read the books.) That doesn’t work at all with Kitty’s world, where there are lots of women werewolves. Plus, are werewolves in the open or hidden? It gets complicated. Unlike CSI or NCIS which pretty much exist in the “real” world. Nominally.
Denise Waszak: As far as I know, all the books are available digitally, and they’ve got audiobooks planned through the sixth. Not sure about the seventh, I’ll have to check. The author is the last person to learn these things!
Lisa G: As far as other paranormal characters, I’m open to just about anything. The Kitty books have had vampires, werewolves, ghosts, djinn, skinwalkers, psychics, witches, were-seals, were-felines, etc. etc. My upcoming book Discord’s Apple has Greek gods and immortals. I’ve got a dragon character coming up. And for a future Kitty book I’m borrowing some characters from the Chinese pantheon. Sky’s the limit!
Hi Carrie, thanks for visiting BBB. **Spoiler** My question is: Why did you choose to have Kitty hook up with Ben instead of Cormac? I’m a huge Ben fan and love them together, but a lot of others that I’ve interacted with on forums were really rooting for Cormac. I know you can’t make every reader happy, but I was. I’ve read the entire series, but not House of Horrors yet, going to get it this weekend.
I RSVPd for this event, I voted for BBB on the P&E Polls, and voted in the weekly paranormal poll.
Thanks for being here today, this has been so much fun to read through. I love the Kitty books and can’t wait to read Kitty’s House of Horrors as soon as I finish up the series I’m reading now. I’m glad to hear Cormac is back, he’s been my favorite (besides Kitty) since the beginning. I must say I want Kitty and Cormac together, don’t get me wrong, I like Ben but I LOVE Cormac, LOL.
I was going to ask when book 8 was coming out but you already answered that question and since book 9 is already in the works I can guess it will be out sometime next year. When you say you are contracted for 3 more books, does that include book 8 (so the series is contracted through 10 books or are you contracted through book 11)?
Hi Carrie, Love your books! Just finished Kitty Raises Hell. Love it!Can’t wait to read the next one. As a fellow Coloradoan I always find it interesting to read about familiar places, makes it seem more real for me. One character I would like to see more of is Rick, he just seems so sexy to me.
Hi Carrie, great post. I recently came across Morrigan, who shifts into a raven. Haven’t seen anything about her, though I’d like to. And the idea of shifting into a bird appeals to me most, too. Except maybe during molting season.
Keep those Kitty books coming!
I RSVP’d.
Best,
Cate
Hi Carrie
Thanks for being here and answering all of our questions like Kitty does.
Your series is one of my favorites and I highly recommend it to all of my patrons at the library not to mention my friends. I saw that someone else asked who you like to read, that was going to be one of my questions. I am always on the look out for good authors. Are you going to be at Dragoncon in Atlanta, GA this year? I would like to get more readers into the urban fantasy genre do you have any suggestion on how to present your books and other authors in your genre to the public?
I do love the Kitty books, but I also have a question. Where do you come up with ideas for caller conversations for the radio show? I see how some of them tie into the stories at times but others just seem out there. Do you already have those in mind when you start the story or do you come up with them as you are writing?
Shifters in mythology are so numerous, I just can’t pick one!
Also:
3. Join us at our daily book chat: done!
Vote for us at the P&E polls here: done!
Vote in the weekly paranormal poll here: done!
4. Spread the word about this event! RT’ed! http://twitter.com/c_morin/statuses/7456064891
Coleen K: I’m contracted through 10, plus the short story collection which I don’t necessarily count as part of the series since it isn’t chronological.
Karen Bailey: Ah, the Cormac question. I get this a lot. The truth is, I can’t honestly say that I ever planned on Cormac and Kitty hooking up. Yeah, lots of sparks there. But let’s face it, Cormac isn’t good relationship material. He can be really loyal and protective, but he’s also kind of a sociopath.
Here’s how the story went: I wanted to have Kitty deal with someone in her life being infected with lycanthropy. My first thought was Cormac, but the problem was if Cormac ever got bit he’d just shoot himself. That’s how strongly he feels about it. So my next thought was Ben, which was cool because then both Kitty and Cormac would have to deal with this really traumatic event. At that point, Kitty and Ben ended up together and instinct took over. The situation made a lot of sense and I just went with it. I also considered Kitty being the one to accidentally infect Ben in a fit of losing control. But then Cormac would shoot her. It wouldn’t matter how much he liked her at that point, he’d just kill her because that’s what he does. So, the constraints of the characters themselves really determined how that went.
Donna: I’m afraid I won’t be at DragonCon this year, but I’d love to go back in future years.
As far as getting readers into urban fantasy, I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask since I usually just say, “No, really, give it a try, it isn’t all half naked chicks with guns.” I think it’s important to let people know that there’s lots of different kinds of urban fantasy and find out what exactly they like. Find out if they want more romance and suggest those authors, find out if they want more action and suggest those. Let them know that authors like Tim Powers and Charles de Lint are also urban fantasy.
Carrie, thanks so much for being here today and sharing so much info. Also, congrats on your many successes.
1. If you had a free day to spend any way you’d like, what would you do?
2. Have you broken any New Year’s resolutions yet?
(Psst, Rachel, I:
RSVP’d
voted in the predpoll
voted in the sexiest female para poll)
Hi Carrie- sorry I am late for the party! I was just able to find the first Kitty novel last night at the local bookstore
and it is in my TBR pile of books as we speak. My question I love to ask is who is your inspiration for the Kitty series and who would you like to team up with to co-author book?
And if I could be a shapeshifter I would want to either be a dolphin or a dog (just like my Chinese year animal is).
I rsvp’d and I am a friend/ fan of both BBB and Carrie on FB.
Hi, I too am late was on the road all day. Just finished House of Horrors and ate it up. Can hardly wait for the next installment. This series just keeps getting better.
Hi Carrie- Sorry I am late to the party. I was finally able to find your first Kitty book last night in the local book store and it is now in my too be read pile of books. My question I have for you is- if you where able to co-author with anyone you wanted, who would it be? Also- who has been your insprition for becoming an author and for Kitty?
I RSVP’d for today and I also am friends / fan with both Carrie and of BBB. Along with I am trying to decide on the voting polls and will do that in a moment after this is submitted.
Jason C: I do both, come up with calls as I’m writing and before hand. It depends on what the situation calls for — am I tying it into the story, or do I want it to be silly, or funny, or poignant. I’ve had suggestions from friends that I’ve used. Often it’s something that’s been bugging me.
Shirley H: 1) Tough question, since I have my dream job I’m pretty much already spending my days how I want. Even on free days I’d probably write _something_. Sleep in, read a book cover to cover, which I hardly ever do. 2) I don’t really make resolutions. I have ongoing goals that I’m working toward, so it’s not really a matter of breaking them, just doing what I need to do to accomplish them.
Laura P: I don’t really have a specific inspiration, except for negative inspiration (see above comment about Doctor Laura not being able to handle supernatural problems). I try to make Kitty someone I’d like to hang out with. As far as teaming up…I’d like to co-author with a friend of mine, fantasy author Daniel Abraham, because I know he’d challenge me.
I’m going to take off soon for dinner and stuff. I’ll try to pop back on once more this evening, then again in the morning. So stay tuned and I’m sorry if I don’t get to your questions right away!
Thanks again for reading/participating!
Hi Carrie,
I have always loved reading old mythology and I think the reason I love this genre so much is each writers personal twist on so many of these old stories. I can’t think of anything obscure today, oral surgery yesterday and am on to much medicine at the moment….
What do you do to reward yourself for all your hard work?
Do you wait until you are completely done with a piece or do you set yourself small goals?
Thank You
Koren
right now if I could shapeshift in to anything it would be something small, cute and cuddly…so somebody would hold me until I feel better….
any other day I would probably pick a large cat of some kind…something fast and powerful
I RSVP’d
2. Done
3. voted p&e poll….still debating on BBB poll
4. posted here…..
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=241794906948&id=1339196135#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1339196135
I love stories of shapeshifters – but it’s always the clothes that cause a problem. I’d like to see a story that finds a way for the shapeshifter to keep their clothes. If I were a shapeshifter, I think I’d like to be a black panther. They’re so dangerous, mysterious, sleek and sexy.
I RSVP’d and voted in both polls.
Hi Carrie,
Thank you for being with us today.
Which was the hardest book for you to write & why?
Tweeted chat here http://twitter.com/samk52/status/7460395286
Am subscribed to BBB newsletter,
following BBB on Twitter (samk52),
am a member of the Blood Bank
http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/profile/SharonKnight
hi carrie! i just finished the house of horrors…. very captivating! love your series. waiting to see what happens with cormac… kitty is so down to earth. love how she finds trouble without her meaning to. was wondering if you are going to start another paranormal series of any kind…
i RSVPd
friend of carrie on facebook
follower on twitter
hi carrie! thanks for coming to visit us here at BBB
Carrie – I finished house of horrors, after terribly embarrassing my sister in Target doing a happy dance when I found it out early, and I loved it! I can’t wait to see how you have things play out between Kitty, Ben, and Cormac. They’re going to be an interesting combination!
What did you find difficult or different about writing for young adults instead of adult genres?
Are we ever going to find out what happened with Cormac and the haunting in jail or did I miss a short story somewhere?
Thanks for all the hours of enjoyment you’ve provided us all with your imagination and its creations.
i RSVP’d
voted in the poll
& am a friend of Carrie on facebook!
Hey Carrie,
I just finished Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand and am just getting ready to start Kitty Raises Hell. I really love the series and can’t wait to see where it goes next.
It seems Vampires are the “it” thing lately in the entertainment world i.e. books, movies, and TV.(and I love it)…The graphic abilities nowadays have made the physical transformations of *people to creature* less “cheesy” for lack of a better word and I think the New Moon creators did a good job with the Were’s. My question is – Do you think that the Werewolf genre will latch onto the current Vampire explosion and gain some more popularity?
Hi Carrie
2.I love the Book by Keri Arthur book there shape shifter books. I would Be a Werewolve if i could I allways love Wolves.
3.I did the Daily Chat & Voted for P&E Polls & I Voted in the Paranormal Weekly Polls
4.I Spread the word on my myspace and facebook and here is the links
http://www.myspace.com/sasluvbooks & facebook.com/sasluvbooks
* I RSVPed
From Stacey S
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
Carrie, Have enjoyed all your books so far. Waiting for the new one to arrive this week from Amazon. I have recommended you to a few co-workers, not sure if they have tried you yet. But you are one author that I have been recommending to friends that ask.
Great post. I love the Kitty series and am excited about the new one. If I could shift into anything though it would be a cat shifter, panther or tiger probably.
How many more books are you currently planning in the Kitty world?
Whats your favorite city to visit but not live?
I RSVP’d
Voted for BBB in the P&E Poll.
Voted in the paranormal poll.
Tweeted – http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/status/7453766710
Posted – http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/2010/01/bbb-carrie-vaugh-and-kittys-house-of.html
I RSVPd
http://iyamvixenbooks.blogspot.com/
Bitten by Books is on my blogroll at all times
Carrie’s blog is on my blogroll
I voted in the Sexiest Female Paranormal Character Poll
Carrie: If I could shapeshift, I’d be a hawk. I love watching them up on the telephone polls as we drive to work (we live and work near Boulder, CO) and they are scouting for breakfast or dinner. Then they take off and dive. Or when they catch a thermal….
VWinship at aol dot com
Wow. I really respect authors who dig into history like Karen Chance or Karen Marie Moning…I would like to think of that anyway. They use legends and real people who lived in the past. I find it fascinating.
Are you going to share any of the legends you learned with Kitty? Or are you thinking of publishing another story?
I don’t read many books with shifters…I find vampires interesting more. But if there are the undead lurking about then we have the very lively, energetic shifters around, so I know some of them. Maybe…a…hmm Medusa, and the whole Roman/Greek stories rewritten. I would like to read about them. Trying to piece all the mythologies is hard.
As for what type of a shifter I would like to be…not original but I would like to be a wolf. Flying is great, but both of types of animals have some sort of freedom to them. I really wouldn’t like to be shot while I am flying, but I would like to sense/hear my attacker…hahah doesn’t make much sense. But I would like to run on all fours and not be something as big as a lion or a tiger, they are too exotic for my taste. I would like to stand the cold, just travel in packs and have one mate for life.
Thanks.
Aori H.
I RSVPed
Hahahah, I read the your comments, my questions were answered. I can’t wait for your new books. I have read every one of them, and I was afraid that Cormac would come back and confuse Kitty, but whew, after I read some of the comments I feel content and at peace. I just love Ben.
Can’t think up of any other question except this one:
Do you think humor is something we are born with or something we have to practice/work hard at?
I love reading your books, and I can’t wait to get to House of Horrors! One question I have is how much research do you do for your books? You reference a lot of mythology, not to mention all the real-world places the characters visit. Do you have a specific time for research (first, research, then write the novel) or do you do it as the need arises?
I RSVP’d on Facebook
Voted in the P&E poll
Voted in the weekly poll
Hi Carrie:
I have to say how much I enjoy your books. As to a were-animal. I don’t know. Maybe one of the big cats, I have 4 small ones.
I have your book and like someone wrote, I found it at Target too. My husband hid in the racks. LOL
keep writing I see Kitty going places.
Jo
2 – RSVP and question 43
3 – all 3 are done
4 – facebook – http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/hcreely?ref=profile
goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/66629-blog-contest-and-chat-with-carrie-vaughn
twitter – http://twitter.com/Heatwave316/status/7467087242
myspace – http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=510955351
Koren Cota: Movies and chocolate are pretty big. I’m a small rewards type. If you do a little bit every day it never seems as big a deal.
Sharon K : I think the most difficult book so far has been #5, Dead Man’s Hand, because my model for it was screwball comedy, which is a tough framework. That line about “death is easy, comedy is hard” is really true. All the books have their challenges, but I set myself a pretty high bar on that one.
Jocelyn S. : If I start another paranormal series, it’ll be with Cormac as the main character. I’ve built up this one world, I don’t want to have to start from scratch again. But I write a lot of fantasy and SF on the side, so who knows what’ll happen there.
Jordan: Yes, I have novella explaining exactly what happens to Cormac in prison. It hasn’t been published yet, but I’m hoping to make it part of the short story collection coming out in a year or so.
As far as writing for young adults — I didn’t try very hard to do anything differently, to change my writing on a prose level at all, because you run the risk of sounding like you’re talking down to kids, which is very bad. The one thing I really tried to do was take the problems that teenagers have seriously. It’s easy to dismiss teens when you’re older/more experienced and you know those problems may not seem as huge as the ones that come along later. But you have to remember what it’s like to be 16 and treat that world with respect.
Tracy: I hope werewolves take off. I think they’re long overdue. I also think the problem isn’t the special effects so much as the stories that get told about werewolves. Vampires get to have lots of different stories–tortured hero, all-powerful villain, etc. etc. But werewolves all have pretty much the same story–the Jekyll and Hyde, battling the beast within, etc. etc. And the werewolf always loses. We have to start seeing different, more interesting stories before werewolves can take off. I’m interested to see what Benicio del Toro’s remake of “The Wolfman” does for the genre.
Donna S: I think I’ve already answered the how many books in the series question, which is I’m contracted for 10 but I have no idea how many I’m going to do after that. My very favorite city to visit is London. So many sights, excitement, history, etc. I love it.
Vickie B: I live in Boulder too. We have a wonderful variety of hawks, falcons, and eagles. I love watching them, too.
Aori Hanazari : I’ve done a ton of stories and more are on the way. I try to work with actual folklore whenever I can.
As for humor, I think it can be learned. I think it has to be practiced to be appreciated. For example, I was watching some old silent movies on TMC the other day — they’re hilarious, but it’s a very different kind of humor than we’re used to now. But if you’re open to it and you let yourself laugh rather than be jaded/cynical, it can be great.
Haley L.: I do quite a bit of research, and as you mentioned I end up doing more for “real world” aspects than I do for the paranormal/mythological. For Kitty Goes to Washington, for example, I did a ton of research on the government buildings and what branches of government Kitty would be dealing with, and how D.C. is laid out, etc. I’ll usually do a chunk of research to generate ideas. Then I’ll write the book, and figure out specific details I need to know as I go along — the kind of info I couldn’t have anticipated beforehand.
Signing off for the day — I’ll check back in in the morning.
Thanks again for the comments!
Hi Susan welcome to BBB
im new to your work and i was couirous how u entice me to read your book what kind of pitch would you give me about it if u saw me ina store and i was just looking for something new to read
my question to you is whats one of the things youve done to celebrate a new book or a finished manuscript
BBB
Ivoted on both polls
BBB
im already friends with you on
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oh lord just shakes my head sorry please disreguard the susan i just posted i was copy and pasting my list of places i shared and copy and pasted the whole thing from lasttime i entered a contest here
my real question to Carrie is
if you could be any paranormal movvie star or character who would it be and why
I R.S.V.P.’D
2) Hey Carrie What Are One Or Two Things We Wouldn
Hello Carrie I Wanted To Know If You Always Wanted To Be A Writer Or If There Was Something Else You Wanted To Do?
AH! I love Carrie Vaughn books. I don’t even know what else to say about this. Haha
3. Did all three!
Hi Carrie! I have not had the pleasure of reading your books yet but hopefully I will soon.
RSVPd
voted in P&E polls
Voted in the weekly paranormal poll
My qestions for you:
what book is at the top of your wishlist now? And do you have any New Years resolutions as a writer? Thanks!
RSVPed for this
3. chatted and voted on both polls
Hi Carrie,
Being a lover of all things wolves, I love Kitty. Just received my copy of House of Horrors today and can’t wait to start it. My question is, and it is with fear that I ask it, do you see an end to the series? Most authors of urban fantasy say they series will run for so many books. Do you have a predetermined number of Kitty novels to write, or will you keep writing as long as they keep selling and we keep reading?
As for your questions, one story I read when in college while taking an anthropology class dealt with Sedna, the Inuit Goddess of the Ocean, and how she appeared as a beautiful white seal. I think that’s what started my fascination with shapeshifters, as she was able to take any form. So I guess a story deal with Selkies would be interesting. If it’s been done before, I haven’t come across it.
Regarding what form I would chose if I could, it would have to be a wolf. It’s not original, but as I said, I love all things dealing with wolves.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us here, and I look forward to the next Kitty novel.
All the best,
Mike (aka Woofer)
I hope that werewolves take off too!
voted on the paranormal polls & joined the daily book chat
Carrie, I just love the Kitty books. I am looking forward to picking up the new one. Do you have a favorite book in the series and why is that a favorite?
I RSVPed and I am friends of BBB on facebook and myspace. I also voted in both polls.
Not sure if someone asked this or not, but have you ever thought of writing YA? Or did you and I’m just missing something? I read mostly I guess “adult” books, but some YA and recently a lot of writers who write for adults have taken up YA. So I was just wondering if you might? And if so, what about?
2. Hi Carrie,
I’m completely new to ur books but I do love weres! and mythology
I don’t have a favorite or obscure shapeshifter story but if I could shapeshift into any animal, I’d like to have flexibility like Sam does in the Sookie Stackhouse novels. If I could only choose one animal, then it would have to be something with big strong teeth, lol! like a panther maybe.
3. Joined daily book chat, and Voted for BBB at the P&E polls,
VOTED in the weekly paranormal poll
4. Tweeted
http://twitter.com/BellaFranco/status/7476710843
oh and I rsvp’d too
Hi Carrie,
Love all your books. I like to scuba dive so i think I’d like to shift into some type of marine animal. The second on my list would be a type of bird. Not a predator but maybe something where I could fly long distances but not as a predator or something that is hunted.
Do you know how many books will be in the Kitty series? Will the love triangle ever be resolved?
Can’t wait to read your latest and my daughter is looking forward to your YA series (me, too). Keep writing we love your work!
Hi Carrie,
I love your books about Kitty. I hope you keep going with this series.
I am sure there are millions of things Kitty can get into. I plan on getting your YA book also. I really love your writing.
I RSVPed
I joined in daily chat
I voted for BBB on the P&E polls
I voted in weekly poll
Julie S.
Good morning!
Before asking questions, you might want to check back on my previous answers (you can find them by doing a search for my name) since a lot of repeats are starting to creep in.
Beverly G: Paranormal character — you know, I don’t know. I kinda like being human. For some reason the answer popping into my head is Dana Scully, who isn’t paranormal herself but is just so dang smart and sensible in dealing with the paranormal, I like her a lot.
Raquel Vega-Grieder: Well, I’m an Air Force brat, and I’m a huge SF geek. I can pretty much recite all the dialog to the first three Star Wars movies.
Denise Vega: Yes, I pretty much always wanted to be a writer. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.
Dovile P.: Well, I spent Christmas buying all the books on my wishlist! Right now I’m in the middle of Suicide Kings, the new Wild Cards book. I don’t really have resolutions — I have ongoing goals that I’m always working toward. They don’t really change from year to year.
M.J. Evans: I do have an end to the series in mind, but I don’t know exactly when it’ll come. I keep getting new ideas in the meantime. But I think endings are important, so yeah, it’ll end someday.
Susan: Well, my favorite one is usually whichever one I’m writing at the moment. Each one has different challenges and a different tone, something fun I accomplished, so I hate to pick a favorite.
Jessica S. : Funny you should ask, my first YA novel, Voices of Dragons, is due out in March.
Beth M. : The love triangle… To tell you the truth, as far as I’m concerned there isn’t much of a love triangle. There’s tension, but I don’t have any plans to put it at the forefront.
I think I would want to either be a tiger, or maybe a phoenix. Something about the phoenix is so mysterious and exciting, and breathes the fire of life!
Name: TMRozich
How do you think your dog would react to werewolves? Are all dogs inherently scared of them, or do submissive dogs feel more at ease around them than dominant animals?
Hi Carrie,
Do you have any daily pre-writing ritual?
I RSVPed.
Voted for BBB at polls.
Going over to daily book chat now.
I love shape-shifters, always have. Haven
David D: Well, my own dog reacts badly to just about everything, so I’m not hopeful! I think most dogs would be inherently scared of them, just because they’re so weird. Kitty’s sister’s golden retriever has to stay in the yard when she visits.
Lesley Cheah: No ritual to speak of. I try to get business and chores done in the morning, then walk the dog and have lunch to unwind, the spend the afternoon writing. It’s a schedule more than a ritual.
Celtic Witch: Thanks! I love that Horrorfest got me going back to StarFest after a 10-year absence.
Carrie I love your Kitty series and I think you are right. People need to feel a connection to animals. That is why people like shifter stories. If I had a choice, I think I would chose to be a cat of some kind. Cats are so graceful and strong.
Debby Creager
creagers@windstream.net
hi carrie
gotta say i love kitty’s world!!love what u have done with it,and i must say i devoured KHOH in a day and gosh lady that was gooood!!!wow wont say to much for the folks who havent read it yet but my fav bit gotta be the last 3/4 pages(pack of 3)woohoo.
have u got anpther book lined up and if so title ideas and when can i get it??lol
do you have major in put in the title and covers coz the are really good(understatement!!)
love the shifter ideas throw in vamps and thats just perfect,i dont watch many were moves not that many good ones mostley cheesey(that can be ok got to be in the mood)fav shifter flick at the mo is ‘cursed’ u gotta see it.l j smith got me on th paranomal books and i loved the shifters in them proberbly more than the vamps for a change.
i would be a shifter from the big cat family or wolf
keep up the amazing storeys
becca
uk
Carrie,
I love reading your books. Aside from being good, they also ‘stay true’. I like how Kitty is a werewolf and everything else is just her. She is ALSO some super-rare supernatural and she doesn’t have any other special powers.
My question is do you use any charts or guide to organize your thoughts or plan your books?
RSVPed
I already own all of Kitty’s books (they are too good to wait)
but I did use the link to purchase
The Better Part of Darkness – Kelly Gay
Three Days to Dead – Kelly Meding (emailed receipt)
Voted in P&E poll and weekly poll
Friends with Carrie on Facebook and Myspace
Do you have a favorite shapeshifter story from folklore and mythology? Is there an obscure shapeshifter story that you haven
And RSVPd for this.
BECCA R: I have a lot of stuff coming out — check my website and some of the other answers. A YA book coming out in March, Voices of Dragons; a stand-alone novel called Discord’s Apple, and at least three more Kitty novels.
I come up with the titles. I don’t have much input on the covers, but the artist, Craig White, does a great job.
Kristen Cottrell: I outline the books, but it isn’t very organized. Most of it’s handwritten brainstorming type of outlining. I try to know what the end is before I start, and make a rough list of scenes. It’s pretty freeform.
I just got my copy of the House of Horrors yesterday, and will be reading it soon.
Do you plan on writting more book in the Kitty series as long as you got a contract for them? Or do you have a definite point where you want to end the series?
My particular favorite shapeshifter is the medieval legend of the swan maidens; there are numerous fairy tales that tell of women changed by evil magic into swans. Every so often, they would come to the water and remove their coats of feathers to wash. If a man stole their feather-coat, the woman would be required to stay in human form and marry him, but if she ever found where he hid the coat, she could be free again.
I RSVPd.
Joined in the daily book chat.
Voted in the P&E poll.
Voted for the weekly paranormal poll.
Hi Carrie, I love all kinds of shapeshifters. Enjoyed your post.
voted in poll
voted in other poll
posted on Twitter:dlsmilad
posted on FB:Dina Stornello
cant remember if rsvpd, lol
thank you,
Dina S
dlsmilad@yahoo.com
2.I rsvped and here I am late again lol. First of all just want to say I love your books. and can we please please have cormac book or story where he gets his i mean his HEA. too true he is sociapath but a lovable one. I’d take him lol.
3. I voted for you in the P/E poll and I voted in the paranormal poll already
4.I posted this on my blog http://www.bookcrazyscrapbookmama.blogspot.com
Jennifer L: Ooh, yeah, the swan maidens. Sounds much like the Celtic selkie stories — seal people.
And “The Six Swans” is one of my favorite Grimm stories.
darchole: The short version, since I’ve answered this a couple of times: Yes, I have an end point in mind, but I don’t know when it’s going to be since I keep getting ideas in the meantime.
Pamk: I’m working on a novella in which your very request is answered. Stay tuned.
We’re closing in the one end…I’ll probably check back in at least once more. But THANK YOU all so much for the great comments and support and enthusiasm!
I love Kitty!
I would be a bird so I could fly and poop on my enemy’s head.
Voted in polls
Posted link on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tiahb
I have been thinking about what animal I would choose to shapeshift to, and I am not sure. I would want to be able to change into a creature that is not too vulnerable. I love the idea of flying, but birds of all kinds get shot out of the sky for fun. How about a giraffe?
I’ve not read many shape shifter books, but the few anthologies I’ve read have made me want more. I’ve seen many promoted and reviewed, all sounding interesting. I’ll be checking out your books to find out what I’ve been missing.
Have voted in the P & E poll.
Have voted in the weekly paranormal poll.
I just wanted to thank Carrie for responding to our questions!! Loved her answer to my question, very thorough, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from her. Just bought the book yesterday and look forward to reading it this weekend!
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Thanks for inviting me. Interesting information on shape shifters. I never knew the stories were that old.
I want to tell some of the stories of deities that are both human and animal.
That sounds awesome. I’m glad you keep finding ways to tell the stories that intrigue you (because then we get to keep reading them).