Naughty Bits' Book Reviews: Tour: Review: Interview: Playing Hooky by Rita Webb Series: Paranormal Investigations #1 by Rita Webb

Playing Hooky by Rita Webb
Series: Paranormal Investigations #1

by Rita Webb
Publication: January 21st 2013
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella (100 pages)

PURCHASE:

Barnes & Nobles:

Playing Hooky is an awesome start to the Paranormal Investigations Series For a short novella it sure packs in the action and emotions. I absolutely LOVED the banter with Jason and Emma!!!

With it being a novella we only get a sneak peak into the series and characters but that peak has me all excited for what is to come! It's a great quick read that flows beautifully full of wonder with mystery and magical creatures.

I think the Paranormal Investigations Series is going to be an awesome new series and I can't wait for the rest of the books to come out!

Synopsis:

Valentine’s Day.

And my 21st birthday.

Whoop-de-doo.

Just another college day full of classes and more homework than is humanly possible.

…until Jason, my best-friend-since-kindergarten, shows up to take me out for the day.

Like old times: the two of us on a wacky adventure, playing hooky from real life. With his lopsided grin and tickets to a circus full of misfits and monsters, he introduces me to a whole new world—one full of magic and mystery—and turns my reality upside down.

Except nothing goes as planned, and we end up running through the city to find a missing siren before someone brews a love potion with her blood.

Sirens and love potions, witches and elves, and Valentine kisses. Nothing will be the same for me again

Rita has stopped by for a short Q&A session!

I hope your excited because I know I am.

Welcome to Naughty Bits' Rita!

Do you write more than 1 story line at a time?

My muse is a fickle lady. She needs variety and fresh story lines, and if she doesn’t get it, she’s moody. So yes, I have about 5 stories I’m working on, (along with 3 others on hold). I couldn’t get anything done otherwise.

Can you tell us a little about the book you are promoting? Where did you get your ideas for it?

I LOVE paranormal and urban fantasy stories, and I can never get enough Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, and Jim Butcher. So when someone leant me One for the Money by Janet Evanovich, I kept re-imagining the bounty hunter story with paranormal creatures.

But I already have several long-term projects in the works. I didn’t have time for another project.

Hmmm . . .

Unless I could make it smaller stories. If each story could be novella length and that I made them sweet and fun . . .

If I had a continuous plot line to pull them together . . .

I could find extra time for something like that.

I cant wait to see the others in the series!

Do you ever let family members read your books?

Nobody except my husband, who is also my first editor, sounding board, encourager, inspiration, collaborator, and sometimes co-writer. Married for 12+ years and we still act like honeymooners. We’re best friends and share a love for books—many times it is the same books and we have to fight over who gets to read it first.

Awe! That's so sweet!

Can you tell us what other books you have that you are working on or will be releasing soon?

The next stories in the Paranormal Investigation series . . .

Taking Chances – Emma returns home from college to discover that people are going missing. Jason and Emma work together to find the culprit, but strange things are happening—

Breaking Angelina – Emma’s sister Angelina has been carrying dirty secrets. Find out more about her story and motivations.

Stealing Hearts – Someone steals Jason’s heart-shaped amulet, and Jason’s inner demons are rumbling within him. If he doesn’t get his amulet back, he may lose what shreds of his humanity he has.

*Squeals!* Yay! More! I can't wait to read them!

What advice would you give new or aspiring authors?

1. Read and write. And then read and write some more. Study good writing books, and then write. Then read books in your preferred genre, and then write some more.

2. Keep going and never give up. When it comes to the arts—dancing, singing, painting, drawing, telling stories—nobody else can express your heart and emotions. The only one who can be you is you.

3. Write from your soul, but be warned that your soul can become depleted. You must take time for yourself.

4. Pace yourself. Little bits each day get a novel written.

5. Plan for a career, with several books in mind, rather than just being a one hit wonder.

That sounds like really great advice!

Thanks for stopping by Rita and chatting with us today. I look forward to having you back!

How about a quick little excerpt?

Excerpt:

The door swings open, and we step inside. Whoever was on the other side of the peephole, he’s already gone.

Inside, a smoky haze blurs the room, and although it isn’t even five o’clock, every table has somebody hunkered over a bottle of beer or whiskey. A band plays Celtic music, the kind that worms into your feet and makes them dance the jig even if you don’t know how. The strains of the fiddle wrap around the music of the guitar, accordion, and bagpipes and around my heart, and I can’t help but fall in love with the sound.

Bare-chested even in this cold weather, the four musicians (three male and one female . . . yes, even the girl is bare-chested and jiggling nicely) dance on the small stage while still playing instruments and singing, drunker than anybody in the room, and when I look closely, I realize they’re not wearing brown pants but instead fur covers their legs.

Legs that end in hooves.

Three satyrs and a satyress.

Thank goodness for ninth grade English lessons in Greek mythology. Most professors would likely be happy to know that satyresses prance around just as naked as their male counterparts.

Emma smacks the back of my head. “It’s just boobs. Even I have a pair. No reason to stare so hard. Put your eyes back in your head.” She grabs my hand, leading me toward the bar . . . and positions me with my back to the stage.

“But you’ve never shown me yours. Take your shirt off, and I’ll stare at yours instead.”

“You did not just say that.”

“Yeah, I think I did.”

“Men.” She rolls her eyes.

AUTHOR BIO

Leaving the house to go to school, I had schoolbooks spilling out of one hand, the other holding my place in a Nancy Drew novel, and bunny slippers still on my feet. My mom was a wee bit upset.

I haven't changed much. Still always have a book (or two) in my hand or creating stories in my head, and although I don't have any bunny slippers, I love writing in my jammies and snuggly slipper socks.

When I grow up (maybe a hundred years from now), I'd like to be a superhero, but for now, saving the day, one page at a time, suits me just fine.

With my husband TJ (my own cuddly werewolf), I home-school our three girls, who keep us busy with art, science projects, books to read, dance classes, and walks about the park.

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