Interview & Giveaway: Carrie Ann Ryan - AN ALPHA'S PATH

Hi Everyone. Please help me welcome Carrie Ann Ryan to AsianCocoa's Secret Garden today! Carrie's new novel An Alpha's Path was released this month.

AsianCocoa: Welcome Carrie Ann and congratulations on your debut novel, An Alpha’s Path. It’s a pleasure having you here on the blog today!

Please tell us a little about yourself and why you became a writer.

Carrie Ann: My name is Carrie Ann and I’m a paranormal romance author by night and a chemistry teacher by day. I’m short in height, but tall on the sarcasm. :-)

I started writing because I read so many books in such a little amount of time, that the voices in my head wouldn’t shut up. LOL. They wanted to voice their story, so I wrote them down. Luckily, I have great friends who’ve helped me turn my stories into something that I wouldn’t mind reading. I hope you feel the same.

AC: Your new book, An Alpha’s Path was released this month (Dec. 5^th). Would you tell us a little about it?

CAR: It’s a book about finding your true love. Someone to complete you. Sounds cliché – but really – who doesn’t want to find that. Mel is a brilliant chemist who’s never really had a decent date and Kade is a century old werewolf coming off a bad breakup. Together there is a connection of hope and sweaty goodness.

Oh and did I mention it was a blind date?

They may have great chemistry – yes I just laughed at my own joke – but that doesn’t mean they can stand it in the long haul. You’re just going to have to read to find out.

AC: Melanie and Kade meet on a blind date. Have you ever been on a blind date? If so, how did it turn out? If not, would you ever consider it?

CAR: I’ve been on one blind date when I was 16. My friend wanted to go out with her boyfriend, but her mom would only let her date in groups. So I was forced on a group date. OMG. My head hurts just thinking about it.

At 16 I was already in college, the guys were 17, but still in high school. And they acted like 14 year old boys. If I had to hear the phrase, “Dude, whatever” one more time, I would have hit them. As it was we saw the movie Ali, then went home.

HORRIBLE

However, Kade and Mel’s date went better by far! Believe me. Their date in no way had anything to do with the disaster that was mine. LOL

Have y’all been on blind dates?

AC: How many books do you have planned for the Redwood Pack series?

CAR: Seven! Whoot! An Alpha’s Path is the first book that starts off the series. Though it’s a novella, the other six will be full length novels. Since there are seven Jamenson siblings, you can guess that each book will be about one of them.

However, as I introduce new characters, more ideas are forming. So there may be novellas on the side of the overall story arch as the series progresses. It just depends on if their voices are strong enough.

AC: Who has been your favorite character(s) to write about? Is there any of your of books that has been your favorite to write so far?

CAR: My favorite character so far is Kade. He’s an Alpha male, but not annoyingly so. I loved finding the depth of this character as I went on.

An Alpha’s Path is the favorite of mine so far, but my current WIP Trinity Bound, the third book in the series, is quickly moving up to be my favorite.

AC: Can you describe to us your writing process?

CAR: I’m a plotter. I have an overall outline for the series for key plot points. Then for the book I’m currently on I have a book outline. Then I have an in depth outline for each chapter. I need it because my brain works too fast for my fingers to type :-).

I also have character descriptions and world descriptions in their own files. I also made a family tree. You can see some of it here.

AC: What was the last amazing book that you have read?

CAR: So hard to say! But the most recent one was Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn. Dark, entertaining, steamy and action packed. Love the series. Love the author.

AC: What is your favorite supernatural character and why?

CAR: Spade from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost.  While most people love Bones – oh and I do too – I fell for his friend. The way he cares for Denise just makes me blush.

AC: I know you’re an avid reader but other than writing, what other things interest you?

CAR: Cooking. I love finding new recipes, making new things, and just watching my hubby’s face when he likes it. I started college too early to know exactly what I wanted to do. But if I could have gone back at 13, I might have gone to culinary school

AC: Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers? Are there any new projects you’re working on?

CAR: I’m currently working on A Taste for a Mate, book 2 in the Redwood Pack series, which is Jasper’s story and Trinity Bound, book 3, which is Reed’s story.

Book 2-7 of my series has an overall story arc that’s taking me to a darker place. I love it.

I’m also thinking about a new Angel series and a Western series that won’t let me go. We will just have to wait and see what happens!

Thank you so much for letting me come by today! I’m super excited about my debut release and I can’t wait to share it with y’all!

An Alpha’s Path
by Carrie Ann Ryan
Release Date: December 5, 2011

          Melanie is a twenty-five year old chemist who has spent all of her adult life slaving at school. With her PhD in hand, she's to start her dream job, but before she does, her friend persuades her to relax and try to live again. A blind date set up through her friends seems like the perfect solution. Melanie can take one night away from the lab and let her inner vixen out on a fixed blind date - a chance to get crazy with a perfect stranger. The gorgeous hunk she's to meet exceeds her wildest dreams – be he is more than what he appears and Melanie's analytical mind goes into overdrive.

          Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night way from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a one night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?

Excerpt:

Kade could only imagine how she would look with her pale, creamy, skin against his darker, bronze skin. Watching her lashes brush her cheeks as she glanced down at her barely touched meal he knew he wanted to kiss any fears or anxiety she carried away.

Mate? I think it’s time to go upstairs. Don’t you?

He couldn’t agree more with his wolf. But he didn’t want to rush her. No matter what happened tonight, they would be going upstairs – that was a guarantee. What they did once they arrived however – was up to the woman in front of him.

“You look as if you have the same appetite as me.” At the sound of his voice, her head popped up from whatever deep thoughts she was thinking. “What do you say we take a walk around the property?”

“Oh, okay. I guess I am just not that hungry tonight.” She smiled sheepishly as she set down her fork and any pretense of enjoying her food.

“Let’s go then, the check taken care of, so we can take our time tonight.”

She smiled timidly again and grabbed her wrap and black, beaded bag. He fluidly rose from his seat and offered her his hand.

“Where would you like to walk to?” Kade, again, toned down his wolf and waited for Melanie’s reply.

“Our room?”

Her face was still stunning with the shade of beet red it became at her surprising, yet not unwelcome, announcement.

His wolf growled in agreement and preened for attention.

He gave her a smile that promised sinful and wicked deeds.

“That sounds like an outstanding idea, Melanie.”

Author Bio:

Carrie Ann Ryan is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. Her first book, An Alpha's Path, will be released soon. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She love meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website and Blog

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Friend

Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

Giveaway:

Carrie Ann will be giving away a $25 Amazon Gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more comments you leave the better your chances of winning.

 

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