Blog Tour: Lost Library by Kate Baray

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Kate Baray and Lost Library.

About the Author:

Kate Baray is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy writer. She lives and writes in Austin, Texas with the help of her spotty dogs and hound. Kate has worked as an attorney, a manager, a tractor sales person, and a dog trainer. All exciting and interesting jobs, but none so much as writing!

www.katebaray.com

www.facebook.com/katebaray

www.twitter.com/KateBarayAuthor

Kate has stopped by for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I gave it a try in the second grade, had a bit of a hiccup, then picked it up about thirty years later…which is now J

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Too many to count, but some of the more interesting ones in no particular order include, tractor parts & service marketing rep , lawyer, dog trainer, and cleaning person. If student counts, that was one of my favorites!

? How long does it take you to write a book?

For a rough/first draft, four to five weeks. That doesn’t include all of the fantastic help of friends and beta readers, as well as multiple rounds of editing.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I adore writing in bed under the covers when it’s cold outside…but I live in Texas. It’s a good thing a like writing at other times quite a bit, too ;)

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

Little pieces from a variety of people I know or have met and experiences I’ve personally had. And, of course, my imagination. No character is any one person I’ve ever met. So, for example, I may have seen someone at the grocery who had particularly lovely hair, and one of my characters will have a similar hair color or style.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I have a few friends who help iron out plot details for me. There may occasionally be a beer or a margarita involved. The overall tone isn’t really a choice, just how I write. And the genre was a specific choice because I thoroughly enjoy urban fantasy, romance, and paranormal romance.

? What books have most influenced your life?

That’s a big question, and I’m not sure I know. But there are books that represent important points in my life and for which I have really fond memories.

When I was an exchange student in Germany, I wanted to read in my spare time but wasn’t sure that I could understand a book I’d never read before.  My German was pretty sketchy at the time J So I hunted until I found something I’d read (and loved) before—Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Swiftly Tilting Planet” was what I landed on. A little piece of home, a familiar story but rediscovered in a new language. It was perfect, and I still love that book!

? What are you reading right now?

I’m beta reading Lori Ryan’s second book in the Evers series.  She’s a good friend and a very entertaining writer – check her out! And since your interview has reminded of a great book I haven’t read in a while, I’ll be revisiting A Swiftly Tilting Planet ;)

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Hang out with my dogs, volunteer with my search and rescue team, and try to kick my tv addiction. Hulu and Acorn.tv are not my friends.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Queso or peanut butter cookies, depending on if I’m feeling salty or sweet.

? What do you think makes a good story?

Specifically, for me, when I’m choosing a story, I want something that entertains. Preferably a story that supports my silly assumption that the world is populated by mostly good and decent, if complex, people. (See below for favorite writers.) I think Julia Quinn does a fabulous job of creating realistically lovely characters—they’re exceptionally nice without being reduced to caricatures of real people.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

It depends on what day you ask, because my top ten can fluctuate. I’m a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series and Julia Quinn.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats? Dogs

·        Coffee or tea? Both!

·        Dark or milk chocolate? Milk…or white

·        Rocks or flowers?  Flowers

·        Night or day? Night

·        Favorite color? purple

·        Crayons or markers? Dry erase J

·        Pens or pencils? pens

Lost Library

Kate Baray

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Word count: approx. 71k

Pages: approx. 275

Book Description:

Author Kate Baray begins her new paranormal romance series with Lost Library, a tale of werewolves, magic, adventure and romance. 

John Braxton arrives unannounced on Lizzie’s doorstep. Little does she know that when she invites him to a drink on the porch, Lizzie opens the door to a secret world of werewolves—oops, they don’t like that name!—Lycan, magic, spelled books, and power hungry evildoers. Caught up in one man’s search for power, Lizzie soon begins to uncover surprising secrets about her own past and powers.

And romance with a serious but sexy Lycan? It might just happen…

Excerpt:

Worth had almost reached the door, when he stopped, straightened, then let out a guttural snarl. A noise very unlike the urbane, sophisticated man Lizzie had seen thus far. He stood silently for a moment. When he turned, Lizzie couldn’t see any sign of the anger or distress he’d voiced. He looked exactly as he always had, elegant and in control. Her heart beat erratically, quickening in panic then slowing as she willed herself to be calm. Something was horribly wrong, every instinct told her so. But she would maintain her composure.

            Worth spoke to both Moore and Lizzie, saying, “I’ll be keeping you company for a few minutes longer. We have some unexpected guests.”

            No! Not now, not yet. That was her first thought. She knew it was John. In her gut—in her heart—she knew it was John. She feared for her family, certainly. But the immediacy of his presence made him the focus of her fear. Worth was a factor John couldn’t have accounted for.

            Her response to Worth was visceral. He frightened her on a level she didn’t truly comprehend. It was as if the juxtaposition of his polished image and the malevolence she knew he harbored made him even more terrible and frightening. Evil should look evil, dammit.

            She needed some kind of plan. She had to help, because sitting by and watching the man she just might be falling in love with fall prey to Worth—well, no. That wasn’t happening.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My thoughts:
Fantastic read!  The characters are wonderfully made, the writing is imaginative and descriptive.  The story is filled with action and paced to keep the pages turning and the reader up later than planned.  I enjoyed the suspense and intrigue, as well as the romance.  My favorite elements were the characters.