Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand Blog Tour Review/Interview/Character Interview/Giveaway

SYNOPSIS:
I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

MY THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed getting to know Tara and Wes in this story. The author was able to portray them in a way that you wanted to jump in the story and be right along with them. While there are some similarities to other "popular" books out there, you have to ask if there really is an "original" idea left out there? Now with that said, I have to say that this is definitely a unique twist on the everyday shapeshifting werewolf story. The author weaves a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat, grasping the metaphorical pages (since I'm reading it in ebook format ;) ) and making you read every. last. word. I can't wait to see what happens in Book 2, Cold Blood!!

CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE:
• How do you feel about your family, now that you’re an adult? 

Huh. I guess I am an adult … I miss my family. I’m hoping I can see them soon.

• What do you want from life? 

I thought I knew before … all this. Now, I don’t know. Be happy, I guess.

• What three things would you take to a Desert Island? 

A football, a jet ski, and a pretty girl.

• In your relationship with others, how are you different with family than you are with friends? Why? 

My friends are the only ones who know the real me, anymore. I trust them with my life.

• How do you fall in love? At first sight? Over a long period? 

*laughs* Tara and I go way back, so I guess I’d have to say it was gradual. But once I knew, I knew.

• What parts of loving come easy for you? Hard? 

Letting go is hard. Most right choices usually are.

• When you walk into a room, what do you notice first? Second? 

The new me notices scent first. Whether I mean to, or not. And scent can give away a lot. Even tension in the air has a feel to it. I’m getting better and better at reading that.
• Is one sense more highly developed than another? (Are you more visual, or audial, etc, or do you rely on the famous sixth sense?) 

Like I said, my sense of smell is pretty strong, but everything’s magnified. Sight and touch, too. *grins* It’s pretty awesome. 

• Did you turn out the way you expected? The way your parents predicted? 

*laughs* Uh, I think it’s safe to say I turned out nothing like they expected. They just don’t know it.

• What really moves you, or touches you to the soul? 

Music. A good song can make you feel a certain way or make you remember something you’ve tried to forget.

• What do you consider your special talent? 

Reading Tara. I haven’t figured out if that’s good or bad yet.

• What are you most proud of about your life? 

The people in it. Family and friends. I couldn’t ask for a better group.

• What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why? 

*sIgh* I kissed a girl at a school dance that I shouldn’t have. I don’t know why I did it. I wasn’t thinking. I don’t even like her but she said some things and got my head all twisted around and … I only kissed her back for a second. But damn, I guess that’s all it takes when you have an audience.

• What are you most afraid of? 

Never seeing my family again.

• What's the most important thing in your life? What do you value most? 

Life itself. There was a time I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I almost didn’t. Everything feels sweeter now, sharper, more exciting. I’m embracing that.

• How do you feel about your life right now? 

What, if anything, would you like to change?
• What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

Two months ago, I would’ve said a football scholarship. Now … not dying. 

• What is your greatest regret?

 Not being honest with myself about my own feelings.

• What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? 

Losing someone you love … I’ve seen it and I can’t imagine what it would feel like.

• What is the quality you most like in a man? 

Honesty.

• What is the quality you most like in a woman? 

Same.

• What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? 

I don’t think things through to the consequences.

• What do you most value in your friends? 

Loyalty

• Who is your favorite hero of fiction? 

Superman
• Which living person do you most admire? 

Tara Godfrey 
• How would you like to die? 

Living. I don’t want to sit back and let life happen, I want to live it with whatever time I have left. 

• If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? 

I feel almost like that’s already happened.

• What is your motto? 

We may only have today.


AUTHOR INTERVIEW:1. If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? 

Future, for sure. I don’t want to go back. The past should stay behind me. 

2. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? 

Hmm… Jesus, Phillip Phillips (from American Idol because his voice does things to me. Hmm probably not a great idea if Jesus is there.) Cassandra Clare, Richelle Mead, LMFAO (although that’s more than one person), Olivia Newton John ß for the hubs and so we can sing Grease together … although I think that puts us over the limit. Geez, this is a hard question!

3. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

 My cell phone (it has a kindle app), moisturizer, and a hair tie (the frizz would be out of control in that humidity!!)

4. What is one book everyone should read? 

 The Forever King by Warren Murphy (“To arms, To arms!”)

5. If you were a superhero what would your name be? 

 The Slug Slayer

6. If you could have any superpower what would you choose? 

To not be afraid of slugs. Okay, no seriously? Flying. Hands down.

7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? 

Chocolate Fudge Brownie

8. If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? 

My son, Tyler

9. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? 

Coffee

10. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? 

I don’t know if it’s a quirk or a flaw but I use the words “like” and “just” a lot. I am always editing them out, lest all my characters sound like 10th grade cheerleaders.

11. Night owl, or early bird? 

Night owl, only because I HATE getting out of bed! Doesn’t matter how early I go to sleep, I still have to drag my ass out of bed each morning. Once I’m up, I’m good to go.

12. One food you would never eat? 

Monkey brains. Unless I became a zombie.

13. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 

Hottie McNaughty Werewolf Boys.

14. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 

I’m finishing up the conclusion of DreamKiller – my adult urban fantasy series. There are two parts out now, but when I’m done, I will compile it all into one novella. It’s pretty badass. Think X-men meets Heroes. The heroine was inspired by Kate Beckinsale in Underworld. (see?? Told ya’, badass!)

15. What inspired you to want to become a writer? 

Tragedy. I know that might sound strange but something devastating happened in my personal life a few years ago and my mind was so full of grief and overwhelming anger and emotion that I would’ve gone crazy without some sort of outlet. Writing became that outlet for me. It still is.

16. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. 

I went to Nashville for UtopYA Con this past July and it ROCKED! Not only because I got to meet a lot of my writer buds BUT I got to meet READERS! That was so cool! Especially Alli -- who basically told me she drove there just for me. How cool is that!?

17. If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?

 Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. Where I would proceed to steal Jace from Clary. He’d be like “Clary who?”
18. What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? 

The Hobbit… did you SEE that the movie is coming??????? AHHHHHH!!!!! ß a little excited for this. 

19. Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters? 

Wes’s song is Hey Jude, by the Beatles.

20. What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 

Do it in spite of the fear.
21. When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"? 

A librarian. Me and my sis pretended at this a lot as kids. 
22. How did you know you should become an author? 

Because my family/friends kept telling me to.

23. What's the craziest writing idea you've had? 

Were-ligers. ß True story. I participated in a #StoryFrenzy panel at UtopYA con and we concocted this off-the-cuff story about were-ligers and were-cows and kept it going on Twitter. Just search the hashtag #Ligerbane and you’ll find the story as it was written, one tweet at a time. (and yes, I came up with that title. Hehe #genius)

24. What's the best advice anyone has ever given you? 

Enjoy the journey.

25. Favorite Food? 

Mexican
26. If you were a bird, which one would you be? 

 A Whip-poor-will. I loved its call outside my bedroom window as a child. I heard it so often, it became comforting. Like a nightlight or a favorite blanket. 

27. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

 Something by Cassie Clare, with an inscription that talks about how we’re BFFs. Legit Bffs, too. Not because I’m stalking her.

28. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? 

Overcame
29. What's your favorite season/weather? 

Summer!!! I live about 2 miles from the beach. I love the water. Winter is simply Christmas—and then a countdown til summer. 
30. How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? 

Drank wine. 
31. Favorite places to travel? 

I went to Dominican Republic last month and it was AWESOME!
32. In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with? 

Tehereh Mafi 
33. What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it? 

Favorite scene from the Dirty Blood series so far is in Cold Blood (book 2) where Tara kicks Alex in the man-parts and then they take a tumble down a very public hillside. Love, love, love it. 
34. Favorite place? 

My house ßhermit!

35. Best Christmas present? 

My laptop
36. Nickname? 

Feather 
37. Favorite quote? 

 I’m not random, you just can’t think as fast as me. 
38. Skittles or M&Ms? 

Peanut M&Ms 


Thanks for hosting me, the questions were great! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her military husband and two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's helping her husband with DIY projects in their home (he woodworks - she paints) or she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food and vintage tees, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

Author of Across the Galaxy, Whisper, and the Dirty Blood series. I write, read, and fuss at my kids. Oh, and I do laundry, lots of laundry. I'm pretty good at it, too. Sometimes I even read WHILE doing laundry - and fussing at my kids. I'm a multi-tasker.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

You can stalk Heather on her Blog, Newsletter, Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, Twitter, and Facebook.

GIVEAWAY!!!!

One lucky person to comment on this post will win an ebook and signed swag from Heather :) Giveaway ends 10/3.