Amanda Carlson Interview

I have loved reading everything I have read that Amanda Carlson has written, and I can't wait to read more of her work in the coming months. I was more than happy to host her on this blog and to do an interview with her. I hope this provides a nice look into the world she has created. Enjoy.

UFR: If you had to pick a theme song for this book what would it be and why?

AC: I listened to a lot of Kings of Leon with this book. I love Closer, which I’ve heard is actually about a vampire. But for this one I think it had to be Sex on Fire. Everything was changing for Jessica so quickly and the beat to that song applied (plus, I love it. It’s super sexy.).

UFR: Since everyone who reads this blog is a reader themselves, I love asking about what your characters would be reading. So if Jessica had a book on her nightstand, what would it be?

AC: Hmm, she’d possibly be reading Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She likes an edgy read. No romance for her.

UFR: Do you share any characteristics with Jessica?

AC: No, not really. I wrote the kind of heroine I’d like to hang out with more than anything having to do with myself personally. I’m low key and she’s tons of fun, LOL! I so wish I could take her out and pick her brain.

UFR: If you could be any member of any supernatural race, what would it be and why? Would you chose a werewolf like the ones you write?

AC: I think I’d be a shifter, but I’d like the freedom to shift into anything. I’d love to fly as well as run fast. It would come in handy!

UFR: What was the hardest scene for you to write in the book and why?

AC: The opening is always the hardest. It’s what I rewrote the most. Drawing the reader into a new world is nerve wracking. There’s a lot of pressure to do it right, entice them in but don’t give them too much. If you over explain the world, readers get bored. Book 1 in a series usually has the most info, because the world has to be outlined. It’s the first introduction a reader gets to a world. Subsequent books don’t have to spend as much time there, so the pacing is usually faster.

UFR: Who is your favorite male character to write so far? They all have so many different attributes, any favorites among them?

AC: I love James, there’s no two ways about it. But Rourke has my heart. He’s the most mysterious and has the most to offer Jessica. I do love writing Danny’s snark too, but it has to be Rourke. He’s been dubbed Mr. Sexypants by a reviewer and I think that moniker will stick!

UFR: Who was your first introduction into urban fantasy?

AC: I fell into PNR first with Kresley Cole. That was awesome! My first UF? Hmm, I think it was Kim Harrison? But I read a lot of in between before I found ass-kicking UF. Once I did, that quickly became my genre of choice. I love my UF full of action with a side of romance.

UFR: Who are some of your favorite authors?

AC: Amanda Bonilla, Julie Ann Walker, Faith Hunter, Karen Chance and Kate SeRine.

UFR: Any advice you would give to aspiring writers?

AC: FINISH. You have to reach the end no matter how bad you think it may be. If you don’t finish, there is no book! I know you can do it. The story is in there someplace. Keep at it.

UFR: Now that Full Blooded is out, can you tell us anything about Jessica's next adventure?

AC: Jessica’s on a non-stop adventure in HOT BLOODED to find her man, kick some goddess ass and figure out what she is. It’s full of action and mayhem. Lots of mythological baddies and fighting involved. It was a blast to write. I can’t wait until it releases this April.

Thanks so much for hosting me today! It was a pleasure to stop by. For anyone who jumps in to the series, I hope you enjoy it!

Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Synopsis:
Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared. 
After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

Review:
I was fortunate enough to be able to read the novella before it came out and reviewed it (seriously check it out). I have read a lot of novellas that a written for book series and now that I have read this book, book 1 in the series, I can honestly say this is the best companion novella I have read. I think reading the novella gives you such amazing insight into the character of Jessica, that when you start reading Full Blooded you will already love her and in some ways understand her.

So now that I have talked up the novella I should probably fill you in on the book. Full Blooded is a great first book in the series. It opens up a lot of characters in Jessica's world in just this amazing way. But first an formost I think we should touch on the concept of werewolves in this book. All the werewolves are male (which you could get from reading the synopsis), but it's a really interesting dynamic that this creates. You have a bunch of really superstitious, super strong, battling for power males who suddenly have this female among them. And what do they do to this female? Do they revere her? No, they treat her like she is less than nothing, and worse that she will be the downfall of them all. That's not to say she doesn't have allies, and she has some really good allies that end up being really great characters to watch evolve. But overall without even touching on the story of the book I love the concept. I like that Carlson was able to take a race, werewolves, and toy with all your preconceived notions of what a werewolf is suppose to be, and then make it something cool and unique. I love when an author is able to take an idea that I have in my head and surprise me.

The book starts off right in the thick of it, Jessica is in the middle of her first change and oh lord does it not go well. This change, well it changes everything about her life. And not just her life but the life of the pack she left behind, that she thought she would never be a part of. You find out more and more about Jessica's DNA and what her being a werewolf means as the story goes on, and I won't ruin it for you because Carlson does a great job giving you just enough information to leave you wanting more. But this changes everything for just about everyone.

Carlson also does a pretty awesome job crafting the other characters. Jessica's dad is really everything you would want in a dad. He's a great alpha and he does everything he can to protect his pack, but at the same time he is in this terrible situation where the pack sees his daughter as a problem. But the great thing about him, is that throughout the book I never once doubted his love for his daughter. She has other people who love and care about her just as much. I love her brother for one, and their bond only grows throughout the book. And of course there is of course her childhood friend, fellow "different shifter", and business partner who sticks by her side no matter what.

As for the romance in this book, there is definitely some hot and heavy action within the book. I am so tempted to give you some information about the hot and heavy but I really don't want to ruin it for you. I was a little bit surprised by the events, so I think it would be better for you to experience the ride through the book.

And as for the ending, well it has a pretty awesome ending. It leaves a lot open for the next book, and it makes you really want to know what is going to happen next. I really enjoyed this book, it was one of those books that I didn't want to put down and I seriously enjoyed every word of it. I liked the writing style of Carlson, and her ability to write not only the world building and characters in a fantastic way but she also writes action really well too. I would recommend this book to anyone who like a "were" book but I would recommend this book to anyone who liked Urban Fantasy at all. It's a great ride.

Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Synopsis

Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem is-she's no wolf. Called a curse, a witch and the Daughter of Evil by the superstitious wolves, Jessica decides to fight for her freedom, at age nineteen, the only way she can-in the ring. 

When she's brutally attacked right after her fight, is it enough to finally earn her freedom off Compound, or will she be forced to endure the hatred even longer . . .

Review:

So excited about this new author! She fortunately came into my life through another author I love, Amanda Bonilla (who also has great taste in books), so I was super excited about reading this novella. And I have to say that after reading the novella I am totally excited about her full length book! 

The concept is actually pretty cool. But to start I should mention that this series is primarily made up around werewolves (yay), but Carlson offers her own unique take to werewolves. There are no females. I really like this about the book, I think it makes her main character Jessica, all the more strong. Sure she doesn't have all the skills that a werewolf has, but in order to survive in this world she was born into she had to be strong emotionally and let me tell you she is quite tenacious. Something I happen to love about Jessica. 

This novella is just the perfect amount of the action and information to make you really want to read a full length novel. Literally after reading the last words within the novella I thought to myself, "holy cow, the "blank" has hit the fan and I wanna see what happens to her next!". On the plus side I have scene Carlson's release schedule so we won't have to wait long for her books to come out, and I do mean books, plural. 

The novella is only about 20,000 words so you really only get a glimpse of the world that Jessica lives in. But I want to point out that the one thing I was pretty excited about when I was reading the novella was that the world does not only contain werewolves. I love it when you have a whole world of different kinds of supernaturals. I can't wait to see how they are all going to come together and interact with the character of Jessica. 

So long story short, I think Amanda Bonilla was right, this series is going to be a big hit with the werewolf loves out there. I would recommend this novella to anyone, it's a quick read, but it's a fun and oh so very action packed novella, so go pick it up!