Bloodline: An Interview, Review, and Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Vicki Vass back to Cozy Up With Kathy with her new series. BLOODLINE is the first book in the Witch Cat Mystery series and was released April 18th.

Kathy: You start a new series with BLOODLINE. Did you have a specific inspiration for your Witch Cat Mystery series?

VV: Yes, she is sitting on my computer right now. She begged me to share her story with my readers. She has an intensity to her so that when she stares at you, you know she is reading your thoughts.


Kathy: Is magick and witchcraft a particular interest of yours?

VV: It began when I was walking the Appalachian trail and the blue mist was rising off the Blue Ridge Mountains. There was something otherworldly about that part of the country. It’s one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, and the magic is deep there.


Kathy: Have you always had an interest in the Salem witch trials?

VV: Yes because it is such a fascinating period in our history. I have always loved history and found the drama associated with the witch trials interesting.


Kathy: What was your favorite part in writing this story?

VV: Creating the characters and watching them come to life. They proved to be a great deal of fun.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

VV: I probably fall within the middle. I don’t sit down and write a formal plot but have a general idea of where the story is going but otherwise I pretty much make it up as I go along with a lot of editing and moving sections around. In my first book, I changed the first chapter at least seven times before I was happy with it.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

VV: I enjoy connecting with the readers. I’ve had a lot of fun marketing, meeting readers by attending blog tours such as this one or live author chats. Probably the thing I dislike about marketing is the time it takes. My time is limited and when I am marketing I am not writing.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

VV: I am currently working on book five in my Antique Hunters series. It is taking longer than normal because we have two puppies. Atticus just turned one so he is calming down slightly. Tracker is still six months old and crazy. I forgot how much work puppies are!

****************************************************************************

Review 

BLOODLINE by Vicki Vass

The First Witch Cat Mystery

In the year 1692 Terra Rowan was a 17 year old girl running for her life. With the screams of her mentor in her ears and not knowing the fate of her friends, Terra took the only chance she had, a chance of a new life, and drank the potion. The potion saved her life, but transformed her. Now Terra lives on the streets in modern day Asheville, North Carolina. The same day her good friend is murdered, a young woman comes to town, playing a song from Terra's past. Unsure if she can be trusted, Terra nonetheless befriends the girl, but both seem to be hunted by a malevolent force. Is this the evil that killed her friend? Will the ladies of the Biltmore Society be able to help, or are they part of the danger?

With rich detail about herbs and crystals, as well as the Biltmore Estate, Vicki Vass initiates readers into a new world, new, yet ever so old. While I had difficulty warming up to some of the characters, I absolutely fell in love with Pixel. His sweet innocence, bravery, and love of food, make him an endearing and immensely lovable character. He also reminds me of my ginger cat, Mariusz!

My enjoyment was profoundly marred, however, by the poor editing. I would be engrossed in the story, then abruptly pushed out of the fictional world by issues with grammar and typos.

BLOODLINE has an absolutely fascinating storyline. I hope that future books in the series develop and expand on the wonderful ideas present here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Bloodline by Vicki Vass. This book is the first in the Witch Cat Mystery series and was released May 1st.

In the year 1692 Terra Rowan was a 17 year old girl running for her life. With the screams of her mentor in her ears and not knowing the fate of her friends, Terra took the only chance she had, a chance of a new life, and drank the potion. The potion saved her life, but transformed her. Now Terra lives on the streets in modern day Asheville, North Carolina. The same day her good friend is murdered, a young woman comes to town, playing a song from Terra's past. Unsure if she can be trusted, Terra nonetheless befriends the girl, but both seem to be hunted by a malevolent force. Is this the evil that killed her friend? Will the ladies of the Biltmore Society be able to help, or are they part of the danger?

Anne Hillstrom’s Shopping Wishlist - Guest Post & Giveaway

Anne Hillstrom’s Shopping Wishlist

By Vicki Vass

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Anne Hillstrom, star of the Antique Hunters Mystery Series written by my good friend and fellow shopping enthusiast Vicki Vass. I love shopping. Not just any shopping, my passion is in finding antiques, lost treasures and novelties from days gone by. So, I can continue shopping, I connect people antiques, clearing space for more treasures. The thrill for me is the hunt and the reward is finding good homes for orphaned artifacts. As my dear Great Aunt Sybil would say, life is about obtaining memories, in the end that’s all we have.

Dear Aunt Sybil, I miss her so. CC and I named our antique store after her, Great Aunt Sybil’s Attic. Finding her murderer spiraled us into a world of mystery and mayhem. Clues, like antiques, need to be dusted off and sometimes pieced together but on to more pleasant matters.

I have been on the hunt in recent days, scouring eBay, estate sales and flea markets for finds for myself and our growing list of clients. I have a few treasures to share with you.

With the holidays rolling around, I’ve been researching centerpieces for a lovely table display and this antique cut crystal epergne certainly would make for a stunning table display. Couldn’t you picture the warm glow from the candles and wrapping it in holly?

  

Next on my list, CC’s Christmas present. CC, my fellow antique hunter, is a journalist and blogs about our adventures. At a recent estate sale, I found her this original Remington portable typewriter in its original case. The company has a long and storied history, starting by making firearms and then gradually making an entire line of typewriters, including this 1930s model. I can’t wait to give it to CC.

And, when on eBay, I always search for the most expensive item in antiques. Sometimes my eyes are bigger than my budget. This time I found a perfect Thanksgiving dinner accompaniment, this George IV sterling silver tureen, a mere bargain at $34,000. It is heavily embossed along its surface, and the lid features a mother eagle feeding its young. The body has large lions with ball and claw feet. Who could resist this? While slightly out of my budget, it means my hunt continues. I’ve learned that luxury items don’t always have to come at a luxury price.    

  

CC and I recently attended the Randolph Street flea market in Chicago, full of salvaged artifacts, stained glass windows, turn-of-the-century doors and to my delight, a Limoges three-piece tureen, handpainted with delicate blue and white flowers. The set is complete with lid and stand. Perfect for the store. I snap that up with a few other pieces. 

  

With the holidays approaching, I plan to decorate the front window with festive China, tablecloths and candlesticks. My white Persian Sassy and her kitten, Sybil, will keep watch in the front window as passerbys stop to look in. They’ve learned to tread softly through the fine china.

Thank you for letting me stop by and share some of my favorite things. Happy holidays!

*****************************************************************************

Vicki Vass writes the Antique Hunters Mystery series. KEY TO A MURDER is the fourth book in the series and was released this summer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Killer Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Vicki Vass to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Vicki pens the Antique Hunters Mystery series. Killer Finds, the third book in the series, was released earlier this year.

Kathy: Anne Hillstrom is an antique hunter. Do you collect antiques?

VV: Yes, I based the series on the weekends I spent antique shopping with my real-life friends Anne and CC. We would go antiquing every weekend and as a writer I began chronicling our adventures. Though we never stumbled across any real-life murders.


Kathy: What's your favorite style of antique? Do you have a favorite period or type of object?

VV: I've gone through several periods. When I first started antiquing, we had just bought our house so I looked for pieces to fill the space, including an Eastlake framed picture, several jadeite bowls and a 1920s brass flower stand. Currently as my house is out of space, I have been buying antique fine jewelry. In terms of time periods, I veer toward Edwardian pieces, Victorian and occasionally art deco.


Kathy: In Killer Finds Anne's identity has been stolen. What an absolute nightmare. Have you had to deal with such a horror?

VV: Not on such a large scale. I've had my credit card information stolen a few times. I received a call one time from Chase asking me if I was checking into a hotel in Toronto while I was sitting at home in Chicago. I also had my debit card used in Florida while I was at home. These were very scary situations.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

VV: I've loved cozy mysteries forever. I grew up on my mother's Nancy Drew books and then evolved into reading Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr. I changed the spelling of my first name after reading the Vicki Barr mysteries. I've also read all Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. I enjoy putting the puzzle pieces together and getting involved in the actual solving of the case.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

VV: I have a science fiction novel that I wrote with my husband, which was recently published by Zharmae press. It is called the Lexicon and loosely based on my travels to Sudan, Africa.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

VV: The antique hunters mystery series is about two best friends who love to shop for antiques and collectibles, and trouble seems to find them. I recently started a second series, called Alex Kustodia Mysteries, about a gem hunter. I love gemstones and have always dreamed of traveling the world to find them. I also publish a series called Neighborhood Watch based on the not-so-real-life adventures of my next-door neighbor.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

VV: I don't necessarily have a favorite character though I am partial to Alex in Gem Hunter. She is Russian like me. She is fearless and shares my love of gemstones.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

VV: I was inspired by my weekly excursions with my girlfriends as well as a certain pair of flowered capri pants that my friend wears.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

VV: I was hoping that readers would enjoy my characters as much as I do.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

VV: This is an interesting question. I feel like I should say something literary like Fitzgerald, who I love, or Steinbeck. I would love to meet Jane Austen. I've read her books over and over. I would also invite Margaret Mitchell because I admire her writing and she shares my journalistic background. Then that leaves me with L.M. Montgomery who wrote Anne of Green Gables (I've read her journals, she is very interesting). My last choice would be Stephen King because his books keep me up at night and I want to know how he lives in his world.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

VV: Not as much as I'd like as we just brought home a 10-week-old puppy but it doesn't stop me from having three or four books going at once. I am almost finished with the Glitter and the Gold by Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, and I am also reading Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt by Arthur Vanderbilt. Those are both research for the next antique hunters mystery as the girls visit the Biltmore, Vanderbilt estate, in Asheville, N.C. I am also reading A Lasting Passion, the letters of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov. This is research for my next Gem Hunter book. For light reading, I am reading The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan. I just finished the Woman in the Photo which I found very interesting.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

VV: My hobbies include antique shopping. reading and playing with my puppy.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

VV:Diet Coke, skinny pop, chocolate and water. Like my character Anne Hillstrom, I am on a low-carb diet so I am trying not to keep junk food in the house. Chocolate and popcorn do not count as junk.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

VV: I just completed the first draft for the fourth book in the Antique Hunters series and am working on the fifth book and the second book in the Gem Hunter series.


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

VV: I love creating my characters and developing their worlds.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway