Blogoversary Day 22: Amanda E. Alvarez

Amanda: I was born and raised in Texas – and due to an unfortunate three year stint in Michigan – I don’t plan to ever live anywhere where flip-flops and sweatshirts don’t constitute winter attire. A little adventurous, I tend to find myself in a slew of dangerous (and hilarious!) predicaments (law school and fighting raccoons in dumpsters) and thankfully I have many friends ready to lend aid (while they laugh.)

When not lawyering, writing, or thinking about going to the gym I’m often caught sampling local cupcake offerings and planning to someday co-open an evil bakery and sell dastardly desserts. I currently live in Dallas, Texas with one regular-sized cat and one jumbo-sized cat, and can be seen writing in public places frequented by hot guys (strictly for research purposes, of course!) with my friends and fellow writers Killer Cupcake and Pantherista (names omitted to protect the not-so-innocent).

Amanda: Since I’m absolutely terrible at summing up my book, how about I give you guys the blurb?

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she’s ready to move on…with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.

But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries—and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn’t sure which side of the war she’s on.

With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within—and love a man who embodies everything she fears?

You can purchase Hunting Human at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Carina Press.  And if you’re interested, RtB’s review can be found here.

Amanda: I’m an atypical writer. I didn’t discover writing until I was 26 or so, a couple of years out of law school and I wanted to try a few new things. To me writing a novel was sort of like running a marathon, it was something I’d tossed around in the abstract but had never pursued. Hunting Human is the first book I ever attempted to write and it’s the first book I’ve ever published. Needless to say, I was completely shocked the day I got the call that Carina Press wanted to buy it.

Amanda: Work in progress.

Amanda: Actually, I find I have to really work at motivating myself to write. Writing for me is like going to the gym – I know I love the results and that when I get into a pattern I love doing it, but, well I can find reasons to put it off and procrastinate like you wouldn’t believe.

Amanda: I actually used to be such a snob about romances. I didn’t start reading them until I was in law school and it was then I discovered what a wonderful outlet they were. Such pure escapism. It was a natural thing for me to want to write what I most enjoyed reading.

Amanda: I’d love to write a Roman era historical. It’s also the genre I won’t touch. I can’t imagine being very good at the research necessary to pull it off. 

Amanda: I’d love to see ancient Rome or ancient Egypt, though I’m not sure I’d want to stay for a year. I’m pretty sure I’d been killed in the first few days for lack of ability to blend in with the locals. I’m not sure what I’d take… A camera, batteries and a journal with a large supply of pens.

Amanda: Well, Suzanne Frank and everyone at the SMU Creative Writing program in Dallas – they were nothing short of instrumental in my road to publication (which they know, because I tell them. A lot.) And someone, I think it was Suzanne once said on writing villains that “The villain is the hero of his own story.” Now I don’t know if she was quoting someone else, or just shooting from the hip, but that is a bit of insight I carry with me through every project.

Amanda: Free time? I do not know what this is? Is it fun? Just kidding, well mostly. I go to the gym, read a book, hit a movie. Typical things.

Amanda: I’m finishing up an unrelated project right now that has been both a ton of fun and a ton of anxiety. Then it’s back to work on the next books in the Hunting Human line.

Amanda: Facebook, Twitter and my Website

Amanda: Read anything new and unusual in the paranormal romance genre lately? Any new favorites off the beaten track that no one else has caught onto yet?

Contest details:

• The prize is a download of Hunting Human.
• The contest is open to anyone over the age of 18.
• You must leave a comment for entry.
• A valid email address needs to be included in your comment.  If you’re worried about spam, please modify your address, such as admin.bookblog AT gmail.com.  You can also send a message to this email after your comment has been posted.
• While following the blog isn’t required, it is appreciated.
• The contest ends on  Thursday, July 28.