Karin Shah is Here!!

Karin Shah is in the House today to tell us about herself and her great new debut, Blood and Kisses!

Thank you Karin for joining me today. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up in Rochester, NY and was a School Library Media Specialist (Librarian) for several years before focusing on writing full time.

What is the most romantic thing your significant other or anyone has done for you?
When we first started to date, my dog got hit by a car, (she survived and lived to a ripe old age) but my husband called the vet hospital every hour all night to check on her. It might not be romantic, but it told me he was the one!

That certainly qualifies!

Do you ever write in your PJ’s?
All the time.

What are your pet peeves?
Judgy people, probably because I fight against my own tendency to judge and I don’t like that part of myself.

Cats or dogs?
Dogs. I have a basenji and a Vizsla and I enjoy showing at dog shows. I’m hospital allergic to cats or I would say both, because I think cats are beautiful,. I just can’t go near them.

White wine or red?
No wine for me except w(h)ining. I get a headache.

Coffee or tea?
Tea. I force myself to have coffee in my cocoa for the health benefits, but I don’t really enjoy it.

Vanilla or chocolate ice cream?
Cookie and Cream.

What are 4 things you never leave home without?
Iphone, wallet, lipstick, clothes.

Laptop or desktop for writing?
Laptop.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
I prefer to write on my laptop on my bed, but I often write at the kids Tae Kwon Do studio or on the risers at gymnastics.

If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you?
Three previous Survivor winners. They may be backstabbers, but they know how to build a fire.

I would so have to agree!

An actor you have a crush on?
No real crushes on actors. I save my crushes for fictional characters. On that note, Dr. Daniel Jackson of Stargate SG-1. Though, as actors go, Orlando Bloom is pretty hot.

What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?
I adore Stargate SG-1. I watched all ten seasons on netflix this summer and fall. It just got better and better. I finished in September, but I’m still having withdrawal.

What made you decide to be an author?
I don’t know if I ever chose to be an author. The stories come. I might as well right them down.

How did you choose the genre you write in?
I write what I love to read, so I write Paranormal Romance, Science-Fiction Romance and Fantasy.

Are you a panster or a plotter and why?
I’m a pantser. If I write out a whole outline, so much of the story is expended, it’s hard to get the enthusiasm up to write it.

Is there a particular author who may have influenced you?
I love Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, and Linnea Sinclair. I’ve been writing for a long time though, for influences you’d probably have to go back to Dorchester’s Lovespell line of Paranormal Romances and Futuristics. SaraAnne Dawson and Anne Avery come to mind.

What is your all time favorite book?
That’s a hard one, but I’d have to go with The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

What is your favorite sentence or quote in your new release?
Apparently, I like my own work. It’s pretty hard to choose, but…
Gideon nodded. “This is a revenant. Just a husk, really, with some limited intelligence. Someone’s puppet.”
Thalia noticed the knife lying next to the revenant for the first time. A chill that had nothing to do with the rain rolled over her. “He didn’t have a stake.”
“That’s because it wasn’t me he was gunning for.”

How much trouble did your characters give you while writing your new release? Which one?
My characters rarely give me any trouble. It’s real life that usually interferes in the form of doubt monkeys.

Where do you get your ideas from?
Everywhere.

How did you choose your title?
My then five year-old son chose the title. I had a different one, but another book came out with the same title and I decided to use it as an opportunity to think of something better. I had my then seven year-old daughter and my son out on the back deck and I asked them to help me brainstorm. Frankly, I thought they’d wander away after a few minutes. My daughter suggested BLOOD AND WITCHES and then my son came up with BLOOD AND KISSES and since there is a letter at the end of the book, it seemed appropriate.

What a great choice!

How do you cure writer’s block?
Writer’s block is about self doubt. The best way to overcome it is to write. If you can’t force yourself to work on the project you should be working on, write something else until you can get past it. And take lots of baths, the best ideas come to me in the bath.

Do you have any advice for an aspiring writer?
Write, write, write and read, read, read!!

What sacred advice have you been giving by another writer?
I’m trying to pick something Linnea Sinclair has said to me, but she’s so wise it’s hard to pick one. I guess it would be “bleed on the page.” We censor ourselves so much while writing. We have to shut off the inner critic and pour the emotion on the page, otherwise the reader won’t be swept away. This is often easier said than done.

Great advice.

Where can your readers stalk you?
At Easton Towne Center in Columbus, Ohio. My family loves to go out to eat and see a movie there.

Tell us about your new release:
BLOOD AND KISSES
A powerful immortal vampire and a beautiful witch must work together to stop a murderous rogue vampire who is terrorizing the city. As they work together, an uneasy alliance turns into something more, but they can’t afford to get too close, witch blood is poisonous to vampires…

Sounds like a great read! Can’t wait to see how they can overcome the poison. Thank you again Karin for joining me and talking.

You can pick up your copy of Blood and Kisses here and go to Soul Mate Publishing for other great new debuts!

Coming November: The Swan Cove Murders Coming December: Secrets of Jenkins Bridge Launch Party October 12th for Soul Mate Publishing. Check out this Sunday's coming blog to sign up!!