Author Faith Hunter Release Party and $100.00 Gift Card Contest LIVE Here!
Faith answers questions!
October 2nd Death’s Rival, the latest in the Jane Yellowrock series, was released. Squeeeeee! The series is a dark Urban Fantasy about a Cherokee skinwalker, who kills rogue-vampires for a living. The series has a pretty nifty (and complicated) world building, and I sometimes get asked excellent questions by fans about Jane Yellowrock, the world, and the magical systems. The two sets of questions in this post were asked by a fan (who has also become a good friend) and they made me think. So, here, answered especially for BBB, is one about Jane’s love life. Ermmm … Okay, her lack of love life. (see me rolling my eyes.) I have tried to give away few clues and spoilers and still give you honest answers. You can read that as – Inside Information!
And hey, you can win a free $100.00 gift certificate to Amazon or B&N if you participate in the BBB event!
Q – Why does were-taint automatically occur during sex? Even through a condom? Even to a Skinwalker?
A – In Jane’s life, she was in the middle of a complicated relationship with an undercover New Orleans’s cop when he was infected with were-taint. And that changed everything. For reason that are covered in the series, Rick LaFleur can’t shift into his were-animal, and that make the three days of the full moon insanely, unbearably painful. But even without that considerable problem, if he and Jane risk intimacy, there is the slight possibility of transmitting that virus to Jane. And that means death. How?
Were-taint infection doesn’t always occur during sex, especially with condoms, but it is possible. Condoms tear, or are sometimes not perfectly made, and were-taint is especially strong in all body fluids. Worse, when Rick became infected with the were-taint, he was … um … gifted! Yeah. That’s the word (koff-koff) … with a Grindolow. Pea is a neon-green-furred juvenile, a creature that is most often confused with a dyed cat until it is grown, but only because people don’t expect to see a fanged, clawed killer no bigger than an eight week old kitten. Grindylow’s job is to kill any were-animal that transmits the disease, and they are a no tolerance species.
Pea plays a bigger and bigger part in Rick’s—and therefore Jane’s—life in future books. As to the Skinwalker possibly being immune to the were-taint? Well, in all honestly, Jane hasn’t told me! It doesn’t seem likely (barring miracles) that she, of all creatures, would be immune. So at this point, I have to say, were-taint is the strongest, most virulent virus on the planet. And even Jane is in danger.
Q – Why, in Skinwalker, didn’t anyone recognize the bad-guy’s scent as being a species-match to Jane’s?
A – Liver-eaters smell different from sinkwalkers. Once a skinwalker makes the decision to go down into the Dark-side, and become the creature called the liver-eater, and they chose a human victim, everything about them begins to change. Their appetite changes, their needs change, and when they take the body of that sacrificial victim—a human or other sentient creature—they take on the scent signature of the victim. This stealing of a living body gives them youth and vitality and a new identity for a long time, but even that body will eventually begin to get old, and when it does, the smell starts to change, they start to decay, and they need copious amounts of blood to keep their scent markers normal for the victim they chose and replaced.
When the character in Skinwalker was taken and eaten by a skinwalker who had gone into the Dark, No one noticed anything new, except perhaps a few new habits, and forgetfulness, which could be explained away or even hidden, if the liver-eater had chosen to live apart for a time.
I hope that gives you a taste for the series, without satisfying you too much! And be sure to do all the steps to win the gift!
Books in the Jane Yellowrock series in the order they should be read:
Skinwalker
Blood Cross
Mercy Blade
Raven Cursed
Have Stakes Will Travel
Death’s Rival
Author Bio:
Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. She writes the Urban Fantasy Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock: Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death’s Rival (Oct. 2012), Blood Trade, (April 2013) and two short story compilations, Cat Tales and Have Stakes Will Travel. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. A role playing game based on the series, Rogue Mage, just went to press!
Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 20+ books in print in 27 countries.
Hunter writes full-time and works full-time in a hospital lab, (for the benefits) tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their rescued Pomeranian’s to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
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Learn more about Faith Hunter below:
To read reviews of this author’s work go here.
http://faithhunter.net/
https://www.facebook.com/faith.hunter
Fan page https://www.facebook.com/faith.hunter#!/official.faith.hunter
https://twitter.com/#!/HunterFaith
Beast (character) fan page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beast/135860763157310
Jane Yellowrock (character) fan page https://www.facebook.com/janeyellowrock?ref=tn_tnmn
Penname Gwen Hunter https://www.facebook.com/#!/gwen.hunter1
Pen name http://gwenhunter.com/
Rogue Mage RPG http://www.roguemage.net/rpg/
RPG fan page https://www.facebook.com/RogueMageRPG
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Squeeee!!!! Congrats Faith on your latest release of Death’s Rival. Of course I RVSP to this event. I wouldn’t miss it. The only bad thing is that now we have to wait until next year for the story to continue. Guess we will just have to re-read the series again.
Hi Lee. Thank you so much!
Will you be doing a series on PsyLED??? I would love to know more about Soul.
Hi Linda! For sure some shorts and a novella. If a PsyLED story took off, then a stand alone would be huge fun. I am clearing some time in my writing schedule for the end of 2013 to write new stuff.
Not until the end of next year????? :::sighs and looks really really sad:::: ;-P
Linda, 2013 is for NEW unwritten books. Blood Trade is out in APril 2013.
Faith…..It needs to be out earlier! LOL I want it NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the one advantage to coming into a series late. You can get all the books in the series and devour them!
I am looking forward to your hints about what is coming out next year…which is only a few months away!
What did happen with the live interview today? I was unable to connect to it.
Hi Linda. I had a death in my family this morning so I am not doing anything live today. (Which just sounds so weird.)
Faith I am so sorry for your loss. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you
Are you going to write more on Molly and company??? I would love to see that relationship healed.
Hi Linda! You have picked up on my two fave possible spinoffs.
For sure some shorts and maybe a Molly/Everhart/sisters novella. Ditto on a stand alone being fun. I am clearing some time in my writing schedule for the end of 2013 to write new stuff and the Everharts are in there!
Faith, I am going out a on limb and at great personal sacrifice….but I volunteer to read these stories before they get published and give you feedback. I know it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it and I am willing to volunteer for it!
Just in case you don’t have enough people to volunteer for this hard and demanding position!
I can’t believe I have not found this series before now. I can’t wait to start reading it! Do you have any idea how long this series will last or does it just depend on where the characters take you?
Thank you for this great giveaway! I look forward to reading your books!
I did RSVP for this event.
Hi Phoenix. I think between 10 and 15 books. I’ll know more when I get the next book done. But I am nowhere near done now!
Phoenix Carvelli, you also need to read the ROGUE MAGE series. Faith is a wonderful writer no matter what genre. It almost makes me want to not have found her yet. Just a wonderful writer and person.
wwww. Thanks Linda!
Thanks! I’ll add that series to my TBR List.
I forgot I have to tell the powers that be that I RSVP’d for this event.
RSVP. What will the next Jane Yellow rock be about?
Renee, I just turned BLOOD TRADE in to my editor. In it, Jane is hired by the Master of the City of Natchez to bring down some rogue vampires. But the vamp-plague that started in DEATH’S RIVAL has had some unexpected consecquences, and Jane is stuck right in the middle, flying by the seat of her pants.
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I can’t wait to start this series, sounds brilliant, the questions above have made me extra curious about the goings on in this series!
Thanks for the competition! My question for you is, if you could be born in any other time, when would it be and why?
THanks, Sophie. I hjope you like it. I am a modern-day girls. I like hot running water, gas stoves, hairdryers, good medical care opportunities, jobs and computers for writing on. Quills just seem like too much work!
First off i want to say Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
I do have a question though:
1. How did you find Jane? what lead you down this writing path?
Erika, I’ve wanted to write since tenth grade! And Jane has been living inside me for years befroe I finally found a way to set her free.
Hello! Sorry about the death in your family. Hugs and thoughts out to everyone.
I just read Death Rival this past week and it was fantastic! My favorite Jane book yet.
1) A couple of my friends have also read the book and we were debating about the scene where . . . well, I don’t want to give spoilers! We’ll call it “the incident”. Ha ha! Some of us understood that in that scene, Bruiser did not have his will and his “puppet strings” were literally being pulled. Others however took it to mean he couldn’t help Jane because of his job/role. Could you clear that up for us?
2) What is your favorite aspect of the world building process? What is your favorite aspect of Jane’s world?
Thank you for sharing Jane’s story with us!
Hi Zeenat. I like that — the incident! Bruiser underwent a siginificant change in this book that you learn more about in Blood Trade. But yes — he was totally blood drunk and under Leo’s control.
As to world building, finding out why the character dose the things she does is my best trigger. When I blend the reasons in with the magic, magic in the writing sense happens.
I am really enjoying 92/3′s way in) Death’s Rival. Eli and Alex are a great team for Jane. I hope future story lines will include them. Alex is just great.
Lingeorge, yes, they will be a big part of the next book!
Hi!
Seeing all the various genres you write up there, just have to know – how easy/hard is it to do a couple of different ones… or how do you keep all your various worlds straight… or does it ever get confusing… or something. Not entirely sure what the correct way to ask it is, but if I touched it at all with one of those, yeah! LOL
Lois
Hi Lois. Going back and forth can be difficult. I try to structure my writing schedule (book delivery dates) so I have plenty of time to concentrate on one project at a time. I’d go nuts without that!
I’m so sorry for your loss, Faith! I definitely sympathize. Interesting about were-taint being sexually transmitted…I’d never thought of that before. That would have been a new one for health class in high school!
Thank you, Trix. And I nearly did a spit-take with tea! Yes, that would have been a class I’d attend! *How To Avoid Becoming A Were-Animal!*
Elaine G-Canada
RSVped
My question is
Which cover is your favorite in this series and why?
Elaine, I just saw a mock-up of Blood Trade and I LOVE IT! It is a totally new color for the series and it captures the feel of the book perfectly.
I am so sorry for your loss. May you and your family find peace during this time.
I hope you have had the opportunity to visit Sedona. I find that area to be awe-inspiring!
Phoenix, I did not get to Sedona, but I hope to go there in the next year.
Question 2:
If you could spend a day with a character, who would it be and what would you do?
Elaine, — Beast! Seriously.
I forgot to say — watch her play and hunt.
Question 3:
What 3 things would Jane never leave the house without?
Elaine, a stake, a burner-phone, and her gold nugget necklace.
Hi there. So sorry for your loss. I am a new reader, but in serious need of a good ADULT book!
Elie, I don’t write for kids. Not a lot of on-page sex, but a lot of sexual tension and intrigue and ACTION!
Geez! Condom rippage leading to weretaint! That should keep a lot of, erm, thighs locked on full moon lights. Particularly if the guy is excessively hairy.
Just sayin’
Oh, and when will we be able to get a grindy for our very own. I’d love to sleep with a neon green, killer kitty!
Mud, I did do a spit take on that one! And I’ll see if I can find you a cuddly killer cat…
*Hands Faith something to clean her computer screen. Can’t have her waste time when she could be writing about Jane* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz3Bj5rqFDY
So sorry for your loss.
Question: If you have the silvertongue ability (Inkheart) what would be the first book you’d read and what would you read out.
Raonald, I’d read any scene with Beast!
OOPS! Raonaid! SORRY!
Common mistake! LOL. Sometimes people mix the a and the o.
I’ve been meaning to read your books but never had the money to buy the first one.
OMGosh I called you Raonald! I am so SORRY! Raonaid! Forgive me! ANd yes, life can be very hard sometimes.
Quite alright! Use to people mispelling it. I get Roanaid / Ranaid / Ronaid Raonald. Very many versions. So it’s cool!
Skinwalker has been ordered. I am curious to learn more about the neon green kittens?! How did you come up with the idea for Pea?
Phoenix, I was looking for a mythical creature and I found Grindylows online. I loved the name. The other stuff came as I wrote them. Developmentally, as it were.
Hello Faith!
I just bought on Fri. which means I have all of them. Is there any part of you that you have incorporated in to Jane? If not, which part or mannerism would you give her? Does Jane have a favorite drink and is it something you would drink yourself?
Lisa, I have a Beast I keep chained up inside.
And like Jane, I am HUGE tea drinker.
I have to say, I love that I am witness to something where these are the types of questions running around in my day! Now I’ve got way more scenarios popping up in my head that I was nowhere near thinking of before.
And I love that there are so many of us that are actually desperate for the answers about Were-taint during sex, liver-eaters and signature scent on a victim.
Unbelieveably. Outstanding. So thanks for that!
I can’t wait to read this and now I’m uber excited to see the cover for Blood Trade!
I’m always curious about this. Are there details in the world or the lives of the characters that never make it into the books, but that you know in your head?
Thanks! Oh and you make very cool jewelry!
Thank you for the excitement, Rae! That make my day.
As for the questions, you can thank Mud for them. When fans send me questions, I save them and use them in blogs before the book comes out.
Very little comes up in my head that doesn’t make it into a book. That said, that is a sex cene in Blood Trade that hit the cutting room floor. LIps are zipped. That is all I’m saying. LOL
Zipped lips?! Oh, you are so cruel!
I love the series! I can’t wait to read Jane’s next adventure~
Thank you, Stephanie!
Great series, I’ve enjoyed it so much. I just ordered Death’s Rival and can’t wait to immerse myself in Jane & Beast’s world again! Thanks so much for writing these books.
Thanks, Julie!
sounds interesting will have to check it out.sounds like some thing I would read.
Thanks, Stacey
Congrats on your latest release!
Thanks, Minna!
What is your favorite childhood book/series?
Dovile, I liked the Boxcar Kids! So independant!
Have you ever written fan fiction? For what fandom?
Never. I have too many of my own characters running around creating mayhem to use someone elses.
If your mind were a house, what would it look like inside?
Probably like a tornado struck it. (rolls eyes) My brain is kinda messy.
thanks for a great post and giveaway! Love Faith’s books
Erin, thanks!
I haven’t read the Jane Yellowrock series, but I did listen to the audiobooks of the Rogue Mage series. Loved them. This series is in my HUGE TBR pile, but I just haven’t gotten to them yet. Must get on that cuz they sound great! Are you doing any more from the Mage world? Thanks!!
Joani, Thank you so much.
There is a huge amount of fiction in the Rogue Mage role playing game, and I am planning to write a novella (or a series of shorts) set in Thorn’s world in 2013.
Faith, I’m always glad when you show up in my various feeds — I’ve been intending to start your series for ages, and the reminder always bumps it to the top of the pile. Thanks for appearing here!
I read the 5th book in less then 24 hours. This is with me working and sleeping.
Loved it! nonstop hoping the next book will be 500 pages! So the ride doesn’t end so soon
Thanks again for a great book!
Teresa
I loved your Rogue Mage series. And I had no idea you had a pen name. I’m going to have to go scarf up a few Gwen Hunter novels!
This series sounds very interesting. Will be adding the series to my reading.
I found your books by just looking around Barnes & Noble one day. Pick up the first one and was hooked. Now I just have to go get your Gwen Hunter books too.
I read Death’s Rival in ine sitting. Of course, now I really want the next book. It’s good we only have to wait till february.
Love this, =) thanks for the giveaway!
Happy Thursday!
//Linda
I’m behind on Jane’s world and need to catch up. I’m so glad I came today because I didn’t know you wrote under another name! I’m also a tea drinker, but I’ve been delving into the darkside with coffee drinks the last couple of years. I still love tea though.
I’m sorry you had a death in the family..my thoughts are with you.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before you tried to get published?
If you could witness any historical event past, present or future what would it be and why?
What to you is the best part of being a writer and what is the part you wouldnt mind giving up?
I caught the Q&A with Jane and Beast, and now this — I’m convinced. Now I HAVE to read this series!
I love this series. I have missed reading them. I am going to start the series all over again.
What made you pick the Western NC area and Asheville as a setting for Jane Yellowrock? I love it because I have lived in the Asheville area my whole life. Now in Fairview (just a few minutes from Asheville). You describe the area really well.
Hi,
This is a good series. Thank you for the giveaway.
Jenn
so excited, thank you!! cant wait to spend it
WOOHOO I love you both!! Cant wait to get it and spend it, thank you Rachel and Faith!