Hi everyone! Welcome to Day 4 of the Paws with a Cause Donation Event! Today, my guest is Katya Armonk!
I hope you enjoyed the last three day’s posts and if you didn’t see them, just scroll down when you’re done here and enter to win some more prizes! Then hop over to all the other blogs for even more fun and games. There are 59 Blogs most of which have multiple bloggers, so for eight great days, you can hop around and read stories about pets, discover books about pets, and generally have a great time. Blog posts here at Beautiful Boys Books so far include me, Cat Cavendish, PG Forte, and today, Katya. Each of us is awarding a prize at the end of the week, so enter to win on each day!
Today i’m delighted to welcome new author and fellow Etopian, Katya Armonk. And who can resist her wonderful new erotic paranormal, To Hiss or to Kiss? Katya is giving away a copy of this new novel to one lucky commenter, so be sure and leave a comment with your email! First, a wonderful story of Sundance.
In Memory of Sundance
In my new novel, To Hiss or to Kiss, the main character communicates with animals telepathically. She has two cats, and it was easy for me to base one of them on my cat, Sundance. Unfortunately, we lost Sundance a few weeks ago. My husband and I miss him terribly, but he will live on in my book in some of the mannerisms of Chloe’s cat Enoki. And I was able to add a memoriam to the final book.
The first day I met Sundance, I was volunteering at the humane society and showing another cat, who I also ended up adopting, to a couple looking for a cat. The wife was holding Eduardo when the husband walked up with Sundance, who promptly bit the man’s hat. We all had a good laugh, but the couple didn’t bond with either Sundance or Eduardo. However, I did, and my husband and I adopted them together a few days later.
I put them both on the lower level of our house to get acclimated before they met our other cats. When I went to check on them, I couldn’t find. I searched until I found them curled up together behind the bathroom door. They were instantly buddies.
Here are some things that made Sundance a fun character. He was a big cat and entirely ungraceful by cat standards. He had orange freckles around his mouth and on his nose that added to his goofy countenance. To show affection, he would awkwardly head butt us. He always knew when I was upset and needed a head butt to make me feel better.
Despite his gentle nature, his meow was incredibly loud. His soft version sounded like he said “mmrrpp.” He would chase a laser pen in a circle until he was so dizzy he couldn’t walk straight, and then would come back for more. He also loved to play with his tail.
I’ve been blessed to have many animals in my life, both of my own, and through my volunteerism and work in the animal health field. Whenever you read about an animal in my books, know they are always related to an animal I’ve met along the way. Also know I wouldn’t be writing without them.
Excerpt — To Hiss or to Kiss:
Oh God, I am such a moron. Who just meets a guy, gets tackled by him in the dark when sneaking around on someone else’s property, shares secrets, goes to his house, and gets all hot and bothered? What the hell is wrong with me? And I so know better than to drink too much. I can’t even remember the last time I had a hangover and it’s sure as hell never been over a man. A man whom I
trusted.
Actually, I’m not sure I ever really trusted him, but I came closer than with any other stranger I’ve ever met.
So there’s that.
My navy comforter is knotted in my hands, and Sashi is looking at me like I’ve really, truly, finally gone off the deep end. I realize I’m anthropomorphizing her. She doesn’t really think I’m insane; she’s way too rational for that. Sometimes knowing what cats really think ruins a perfectly good image, though. And a lot of jokes on the Internet.
Enoki comes in with his characteristic loud meow, jumps up, and awkwardly headbutts me. His concern is palpable and his presence helps calm me down. I scratch his head, really wanting to hug him but knowing he doesn’t much like it. Then I hear him. “You can hug me, Chloe. Seems you need it.”
I almost start crying as I bunch him in my arms.
He even starts to purr. “I know you like it,” he tells me.
I have the best cats, and I determine not to sulk all day over another cat.
Blurb — To Hiss or to Kiss:
Chloe can “talk” to animals…so why can she hear the thoughts of this hot, green-eyed man?
Abandoned by her mother and raised by a father who’d given up on life, Chloe doesn’t let anyone get close. Lucky for her, she can communicate with animals—telepathically. Her long hours at the animal shelter help her cope with the stress, and the animals are the only people she needs. But when a suspected dog-fighting ring comes to her attention, Chloe decides to do a little spying. And in her rush to win the dogs’ trust, she almost gets herself caught.
Until a sexy stranger intervenes, and she finds she can overhear his thoughts. She’s never been able to hear people, and this man’s about as sexy as she’s ever seen. It’s more than intellectual curiosity that drives her to discover his secret: he’s a jaguar shape-shifter, and the presence of this cat among the dogs might be a bit too much to handle. But the animal attraction is just too hot to resist, and the passion between them makes both the sparks—and the fur—fly…
Buy Links:
Author Bio:
I like books that are funny and fun to read (and hot!) but also make me think or look at the world in a new way. I am influenced by magic realism, comparative mythology, and esoteric spiritual practices from around the world.
I spent too many years chasing someone else’s definition of success. My life simplified, I returned to my first love of writing.
These days you’ll find me writing, pet sitting, juggling a number of freelance gigs, and reigning as my home’s domestic goddess. I live in the Midwestern U.S. with my husband, dog and cats. Alas, I have, as of yet, been unable to teach my husband how to purr.
****************************************
Thank you, Katya. Everyone, be sure and leave a comment with your email to enter to win a copy of To Hiss or To Kiss!
And here’s all you need to know about the wonderful organization we’re supporting with this Hop!
Paws With A Cause® enhances the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities nationally through custom-trained Assistance Dogs.
PAWS® increases awareness of the rights and roles of Assistance Dog teams through education and advocacy. Founded in 1979, Paws With A Cause is dedicated to helping its clients who are challenged by many disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Seizure Disorders, and Hearing Disorders to name just some. Each of our dogs are trained to meet the specific needs of our clients. Tasks may include opening and closing doors, picking up objects, pulling a wheelchair, turning lights on and off, and alerting a person to particular sounds like a telephone, doorbell, smoke detector and many others. Our dogs change lives by enhancing the independence of our clients. By just opening a door, a dog opens up the world for a person with a disability and your donations will go to making that happen. PAWS thanks you so much for your donation and allowing us to open more doors.
2. Click on “Make a Donation”
Comment with your email to win Katya’s prize!
Oh God, I am such a moron. Who just meets a guy, gets tackled by him in the dark when sneaking around on someone else’s property, shares secrets, goes to his house, and gets all hot and bothered? What the hell is wrong with me? And I so know better than to drink too much. I can’t even remember the last time I had a hangover and it’s sure as hell never been over a man. A man whom I trusted.
