Talking with Author, Kaylie Newell and A Tasty Giveaway

Today is our Lucky day....cause we have the Very Amazing, Kaylie Newell here today, hanging out and chatting about her NEW RELEASE, Falling In Danger.  I will also be hosting a GIVEAWAY of ONE E-BOOK copy of Falling In Danger by Kaylie, so make sure to leave a comment with your name and email address at the end of this post!!  So without further ado....Ms. Kaylie Newell.

A Tasty Read: Your New Release, Falling In Danger,  has a very unique plot line.  Can you explain how the idea came about?

Kaylie Newell:  I love animals, but I’ve always been afraid of Pit Bulls.  I was guilty of generalizing the breed and judging terribly.  So when the Michael Vick story broke a few years ago, I was surprised to find how desperately I wanted these dogs to find new loving homes, despite the fact that many people were saying they were dangerous and un-adoptable.  As I watched their stories unfold, I saw that despite everything they had been through, many of them did find forever homes.  And turned out to be wonderful, loyal, loving family dogs.  I was fascinated.  And started to feel myself change.  I started questioning beliefs I’d had since childhood. 

Each time I saw one of their segments on the news, I started asking myself questions like, what it would be like to cover a story like this?  How emotionally involved would you get?  What if you had always been terrified of dogs, but needed to tell their story anyway?  How deep would you have to dig within yourself to find the strength to change life long beliefs and learn a new kind of acceptance?  And slowly but surely, the idea for Falling In Danger was born.

It’s about a naïve, young reporter who stumbles onto an underground dog fighting organization in LA.  The ring is eventually busted, but she can’t forget what she’s seen.  She’s driven to do a story on the dogs who were left behind and the sexy detective who ended up saving them.  In the process, she discovers layers of her heart she never knew existed.

It’s a book about being afraid, but doing what you know is right anyway.  And it’s about finding love in unexpected places.  Sometimes all you have to do is open your heart and your mind, and it’ll step right in.

A Tasty Read: Kaylie, I couldn't agree anymore.  The book truly touched my heart.  As the mommy of two rescue pups, I would love for you to tell the readers more about "The Pixie Project".

Kaylie:  The Pixie Project is an animal rescue organization centered in Portland, Oregon.  Their goal is to shed new light on pet adoption, by giving it a fun, fresh twist.  They want to celebrate the fact that there are so many people out there who want to adopt.  And so many wonderful animals to pair them with.  Most of their animals are taken out of shelters and put into foster homes to await their forever families.  Pixie knows that in order to have the most successful matches, prospective new owners need to know what a particular animal is like in a home situation.  It’s like a matchmaking site for pet adoption! J  Their motto is “Nothing is impossible.”

My amazing publisher, Beachwalk Press, has agreed to donate 40% of the proceeds from Falling In Danger to The Pixie Project.  It’s my hope that this gift will touch the lives of many animals looking for new homes and another chance at life.  To learn more about The Pixie Project, you can visit them online at http://www.pixieproject.org.

A Tasty Read: That is Unbelievably kind of them and I hope you are able to make a ton of money for the Project!

A Death that Lingers has some paranormal elements.  Are there any other genres that you would like to write?  And did I hear you were finishing a "Sexy Novella"?

Kaylie: I do love a good ghost story!  A Death That Lingers combines my two favorite subgenres- suspense and paranormal. I’d love to try and write a historical one day, but it would have to be suspenseful.  Or have a ghost in there somewhere ;)

I just finished my first attempt at an erotic novella.  It was a real stretch for me, and a great learning experience.  What I found is that there are definitive lines that I don’t feel comfortable crossing.  I wasn’t sure what they would be before I started, but now I do.  Overall, I’m pretty proud of this little story.  It’s called Teaching Officer Lonesome and I’m hoping to get it polished up to submit in the next week or so-

A Tasty Read: I think it is GREAT to try New things...step outside of the box.  What is next for Kaylie Newell?

Kaylie:  I’m taking the month of February off from writing to concentrate on marketing.  I really want to get the word out about the connection between Falling In Danger and The Pixie Project to maximize the good of the donation. 

In March I’m going to start on my third full length novel, Wolfe Creek.  I’m super excited about this one!  I’m going to write it in first person, which will be interesting.  Everything about this book is so vivid to me already- the plot, the characters, the setting.  I’m hoping it’ll be my best one yet-  Fingers crossed.

A Tasty Read: Well, Ill be excited to read it!!  Can you tell us a little bit about the "Romance Mavens"?

Kaylie: My best writer girlfriends and I got together and decided it would be fun to start a blog.  We’re so proud of it!  Our goal was to make it fun and flirty-  We wanted to talk about writing, reading, romance, hunky guys and everything in between J  One thing we really wanted to focus on was getting some of our favorite authors to guest.  We’ve had Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, and Christine Rimmer to name a few.  It’s been great.  By blogging regularly, it keeps our writing sharp and we’ve met so many wonderful new people who love exactly the same things we do.   

A Tasty Read: Since this is A Tasty Read, share you favorite dessert?

Kaylie: I think my favorite dessert of all time is a plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies and a glass of frosty milk.  Yummy!  Growing up, my mom always used the Tollhouse recipe, so I think those are my favorite.  Makes my stomach rumble just thinking about them J Mmmm…

A Tasty Read:  I can't thank you enough for Hanging out today and I wish you all the success with you writing and with the Pixie Project.


Kaylie: Thank You for having me, and thank you to all who have purchased Falling In Danger.


**GIVEAWAY: Win an E-Book Copy of Falling In Danger, to enter just LEAVE A COMMENT WITH A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. Giveaway will run until Friday, Feb 24th (12am, Eastern Time)

**Winner will be announced on Saturday.

 About the Author

The daughter of an English teacher and a freelance writer, I knew I wanted to be a novelist at the tender young age of twelve. Armed with a college ruled notebook and a ballpoint pen, I set out to write my first manuscript, but quit after seven pages to finish my math homework.

Several years and many short stories later, I’m taking another crack at it. My first book, A Death That Lingers was just released in November 2011 by Beachwalk Press, and my second book, Falling in Danger will be out February 20, 2011.

I live at the base of the mountains in Southern Oregon with a very supportive (and handsome) husband, two adorable little girls, two slightly less adorable cats, and a geriatric mutt named Dodger. I spend my time reading, writing, cuddling my girls and dreaming of my next novel

Falling In Danger Excerpt:

“This way.” Fitz pulled her down another hallway until they reached a door at the end. She limped along, her arm rigid in his hand.

“What are you planning on doing to me?”

Fitz eyed her as he opened the door. “Come on.”

Jessica leaned to the side, looking directly down an obscure flight of stairs which led God knew where. “Down there?”

He didn’t answer, but tugged on her arm, taking the first step down.

She locked her knees in place, her one useless Jimmy Choo sliding maddeningly on the tile. “I’m not going down there.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.” Her voice cracked.

“Yes. You are.”

She yanked, but it was no use. He held tight.

Full-fledged alarm finally lit her up like a firecracker. She kicked and clawed, while strange noises escaped her throat. She was vaguely aware of an arm wrapping around her waist, even as she arched away, bucking like something wild.

“Stop it,” he hissed. “You’re only going to make it worse, do you understand me?”

In reply, she turned and sank her teeth into his shoulder.

“Shiiiit!”

He snatched her up, this time not seeming to care if he hurt her in the process. Again, she was slung over his shoulder as he made his way down the staircase. She twisted around, desperately trying to get a look at what was waiting at the bottom. Her heart slammed in her chest, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Being upside down wasn’t helping. Where was a paper bag when you needed one?

Fitz slowed and reached over to switch on a light at the base of the staircase, never easing his grip off the back of her legs. A weak, yellow glow overtook the room, and she looked up, shoving her hair out of her eyes.

It was sparsely furnished, and dim. She peered into every corner, trying to make out the details. The tangy, sweet smell of marijuana made her nose wrinkle, as well as something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Something vaguely familiar…and unsettling.

“If I put you down, are you going to be a good girl?”

She gritted her teeth, and mumbled.

“All right then.” With that, he leaned over and deposited her into a heap on the floor.

Glaring up at him, she scrambled to her feet, too overcome with fear to stay where she was.

She looked around again, stepping closer to Fitz, not knowing what should scare her more; him, or whatever was in the room with her.

Then she heard the unmistakable sound of a chain dragging in the corner. She whipped around and took a step backward, bumping into the wall of a man behind her. She flinched at the feel of his skin on hers, but couldn’t move away.

“What was that?” Her voice was no more than a squeaky exhale of air.

“That?” He took her arm and pulled her away from the shadows she gaped at. “That was Bruta.”

The chain moved again. It was big and heavy, the kind used with big machinery. Each link was just a little smaller than her own fist. It snaked its way across the bare floor and disappeared into the darkness a few feet away.

Her pulse was spastic, rising and falling to the point where she felt a sickening dizziness closing in on all sides.

“Bruta?” For some ridiculous reason, all she could picture was a bear. And then promptly imagined it devouring her. Piece by bloody piece.

The chain moved again when she uttered the word. It jerked across the floor as if on its own accord. She sucked in a breath and held it, unable to move, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Whatever was attached was getting closer. She could hear a soft snuffling sound as it presumably tested the air and her scent penetrating it. Clickety, click, click. Her mind raced. The sound of paws on tile? It was big, whatever it was. She could sense that, even through the darkness. She tried backing up even more, but Fitz’s solid body blocked her way.

And then she knew. The smell that she had recognized even through the pungent scent of marijuana, and God knew what else.

Dog. It smelled like dog.