Pet psychics - do you believe they exist?

So I've had an interesting couple of weeks. I was in a fender bender that has left my car in the body shop for going on the second week now, and I've felt pretty banged up, too. And last Thursday, while walking my friend's dogs, I came across a tiny black kitten that my friend and I then went to great lengths to rescue. A foster through a rescue group now has the kitten, so hopefully the poor little guy is getting the care he or she needs to eventually be adopted out to a loving owner.

I mention these things because it will help you understand the awww-factor of another interesting thing that happened to me Sunday.

My rental car has satellite radio, and one of the channels — STARS 106 — features a weekly show with renowned pet psychic Sonya Fitzpatrick. I used to love watching Sonya's show on Animal Planet many years ago, and I've listened to her show before when I had access to satellite radio. Yesterday, I decided to call in and see if I could talk to Sonya. I've tried before and never gotten lucky enough to get on the air.

Anyway. First try, her screener answered my call and put me in the cue! Wow. I could not believe it. I'll note that all that was asked of me was my name and one brief question that I'd like to ask Sonya. I decided to ask Sonya if my cat, Dusti, was feeling okay. She's had a lot of issues with her anal glands, and she even had a procedure for that about a month and a half ago.

So I finally got on the air with Sonya. I sounded like a kid and apparently say "um" a lot, which is embarrassing, but anyway.

Before anything, Sonya asked, "Who's the black cat, Angie?"

Wow. I was kind of in shock for a second, because that little black kitten I helped rescue has been on my mind a lot since I turned him/her over to a foster mom.

So I explained to Sonya that I had just found this kitten.

"He came in immediately, and he's very grateful to you. Thank you, thank you, he says."

Next, Sonya asked when Dusti had had trouble with her digestive system, and we chatted about my cat's anal gland problems.

My beloved and very spoiled cat, Dusti

My cat also told Sonya I'm a big worrier (I totally am), and said I'm always worrying about her. Anyone who knows me knows this is true. That's not a whoa factor, because obviously I'm worrying if I called in to ask how my cat was feeling, but still.

"When did you change her food or give her something different?" Sonya asked then.

Whoa. At my vet's advice, I switched Dusti's food completely about two months ago, because my kitty is a little fatty and because the vet thought weight loss would help her anal gland problem.

Apparently, my cat likes the new food and recognizes she's well fed, even though she'd prefer it if I left food down all the time for her the way I used to, according to Sonya. She also misses her old bowl. Who knew?

Sonya also said my cat told her about my best friend, who lives in an apartment, and — another whoa moment for me — said that my friend's hair is very different from mine (I have long hair and my friend has very short hair). Apparently, my cat thinks my friend would look nicer if she grew her hair out like mine because I have "beautiful hair."

"And tell her to leave my nails alone if she comes visit," which cracked me up because the only time my friend comes over is to help me cut Dusti's nails.

My cat also supposedly told Sonya that I don't go away often, which is true. I get separation anxiety if I'm away from my cat for long periods. True story.

Apparently I'm "the best mum" and she loves me and is very happy and feels spoiled.

All in all, it was a very fun conversation and, yes, I was left a little amazed by some of the things Sonya said during it. Specifically, her immediate mention of a black cat. Also, that my friend's hair is very different from mine. Playing devil's advocate, Sonya could have guessed all of the rest based on whatever, but those two things? Very specific guesses that are amazingly accurate without, I feel, any leading on my part.

Obviously, as someone who wrote about a psychic capable of communicating with animals in my book "On the Scent," I am open to the idea of psychics being legit, although, to be honest, I also possess a healthy amount of skepticism in such matters.

I managed a recording of my conversation with Sonya, which I'm linking to below (It's about 8 minutes long). Give it a listen. You tell me — do you think this psychic spoke with my cat? Call me crazy, but I think she might have. And that, folks, is pretty darn cool.

Learn more about Sonya Fitzpatrick at her website. And listen to my clip on her show by pressing the PLAY button below!

Stereotypes...and you know, it's OK to embrace them, maybe?

Can I be reals for a minute?

Emma "Spider" Fisher — adorkable heroine of my upcoming release — is one of those characters writers claim demanded her own story. You know, the characters who jump up and down, waving madly, demanding more attention from an author while she's trying to focus on other characters? Yep. That was Spider. Originally, she was a tiny lil character, a female hacker type, a mere plot device to bring Zach's private security business into the new century in the epilogue of his book. I didn't expect to see her again after a brief mention at the end of "On the Scent."

Oh wait. Suddenly she offered a great way to move a plot point along in "Something Wicked." Okay, so...when I wrapped that book and was thinking about book three, Spider kept tapping me on the mental shoulder and pointing at herself. Biting her lip, glee in her eyes, bouncing on her heels.

I decided, why not? And I'm so glad I did, because out of every character I've written, I had the most fun writing her. I'll even tell you a little secret. Rather than completely defying that new modern stereotype of cute girl hackers...you know the one...it's probably invaded your favorite TV show by now...well, I decided to kind of embrace it.

Here's the thing.

I also wrote Spider's story when I was knee-deep into discovering "Doctor Who" and Amy Pond kept bringing the snark and I decided I like snarky female characters. Then Charlie kept popping up on "Supernatural," bringing the snark, and she was a hacker. And this was after I had already become a fan of Felicia Day and "The Guild" — and Felicia's character Syd/Codex, so it's Felicia who I swear started this trend...

Then Oliver Queen sidekick Felicity became my favorite character on "Arrow" and Joss Whedon created his own version of a cute female hacker (Sky) on Agents of SHIELD, although, let's be honest. Does anyone actually like her? Cause she's more annoying than cute in my book, but I digress, and now you're thinking, wow, you watch way too much TV, Angie! Yes. Yes, I do, but that's besides the point. Well, or only a small point.

The point is, I enjoy this stereotype. Those characters are fun! I would also like to point out there's more of me in Spider than any other character I've written, so I didn't rip off her character from those shows, although it might seem like it based on this post. Because that's the thing. Even though I might have leaned toward this new stereotype of cute girl hacker (and can I give a shout out to Julie Moffet's massively awesome Lexi Carmichael mystery series, while I'm at it?), I also tried to make Spider unique within the genre. Because that's what every writer tries to do. There's a reason my character calls herself Spider and does what she does. OK, so I made her a redhead in a hat tip to Felicia Day, and also in tribute to Daphne from Scooby Doo because I still heart the Scooby gang so much, but Spider is, I hope, her own person. Or character, anyway.

Spider's quirky, a little bit neurotic, kind of anti-social, but also a sucker for anyone in need of help. Her day job is also kind of boring, because, honestly, running computer scripts to find security holes in a website most of the time isn't as exciting as hacking into the FBI recognition software, which every hacker character on TV seems to do now. That's partly why Spider decides to play girl detective, and gets a surprise when it's way harder than it seems.

Spider also feels kind of underappreciated — as if she's the security team's little sister, forever stuck in the dreaded "friend zone" with this group of hot guys. She's also a gamer, a fangirl, and a bonafide geek (like yours truly) — and is trying hard to be an independent adult when she meets Noah West, a complete and utter mystery, not to mention a total hottie.

In book three, Spider starts to realize she is kind of awesome and capable of holding her own with the team. So I like to think Spider's story is as much of a hero's journey as it is a good old-fashioned mystery and romance.

And did I mention she likes to bring the snark?

I hope you'll pick up her story when it releases—which will hopefully be very soon! Seriously, I should be announcing more details about this book soon! In the meantime, here's a teaser blurb:

And along came Spider...

Socially awkward Emma “Spider” Fisher prefers her laptop to people, so she’s more than happy to oblige her boss when he asks her to pet- and housesit while he honeymoons in London. It doesn’t take long for accident-prone Spider to lose a dog, get locked out of the house, and set off the house alarm. Thankfully, her hot new neighbour is more than happy to come to her rescue. But Noah West is a mystery to Spider—and one she intends to solve. Because either the man is seriously living in a haunted house, or he’s a serial killer. Either way, he’s a total hottie, so Spider will have to guard her heart while she and the animals sniff out the truth.

Written Fireside: Missing You — Part 3

Welcome to the third chapter of "Missing You," a Written Fireside story written by a group of wonderfully talented Harper Impulse authors!

***Follow the story from the beginning by clicking on Part 1 and 2***

Part 1 by Lori Connelly

Part 2 by Lisa Fox

***

Written Fireside: Missing You

Part 3 by Angela Campbell

Kaylie fed George. Based on how quickly the dog scarfed down his kibble, she guessed he hadn’t eaten in a while, but then again, he always gobbled down his food. No. Her gut told her he was starving, which did nothing to alleviate her anxiety over her brother. While she waited for Sam, she scrounged around Max’s belongings looking for something, anything, to give her a clue where he was.

The old abandoned mansion.

There was no reason Max should be there, but it would be the next place she looked, with or without Sam.

Her hands trembled as she fingered the files on Max’s desk. Her nerves were raw, and not only because her brother was missing. This would be the first time she’d seen Sam since the night she’d called off their engagement. They’d both said such terrible things.

A thud in the next room distracted her from thinking about the man she’d once hoped to spend her life with. Curious as to what George had gotten into, she started in that direction, but a chill danced along her spine and her stomach tightened, causing her limbs to freeze.

Don’t go out there, her instincts warned.

Her fingers wrapped around the first object they found—a plaque her brother had been awarded for some of his volunteer service. A floorboard creaked nearby as Kaylie readied the makeshift weapon and pressed against the wall beside the door. A tall figure in black crept into the room, a ski mask covering his or her features. As the person turned toward her, Kaylie swung the plaque, connecting with bone and sending the intruder sprawling forward with a loud masculine groan of pain. She spun and ran, colliding with someone else in the hall. Air escaped her lungs as she was slammed against the wall, iron hands holding her in place.

“Where is the flash drive?" an unfamiliar voice growled from beneath a mask. "Did your brother give it to you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Her eyes widened as he aimed a gun at her. Before she could think, let alone react, a streak of white and brown plowed into the stranger, sending the weapon sliding underneath the desk. George! The man and growling dog wrestled on the ground for several seconds until the man managed to get away, scurrying through the hallway and out the back door. Kaylie glanced toward the spot where she’d last seen the other man. He was gone, the curtains flapping as a breeze drifted through the now open window.

Trembling, she whistled for George to follow her as she ran for the front entrance. She would call the police from the safety of her car.

Kaylie swung open the door and caught herself before crashing into the man on the doorstep. Dark hair damp from the rain framed familiar blue eyes, which were currently drawn together in a scowl.

“Sam!” she cried, and threw herself into his arms.

**

Be sure to visit Mandy Baggot's website June 24 for part 4 of "Written Fireside: Missing You."

The Keepers: Declan - Rae Rivers Launch Tour + Giveaway!

 

The Keepers: Declan, the book fans have been eagerly awaiting, is finally here! We're celebrating the release of the second book in Rae Rivers' paranormal romance series today with a launch tour and giveaway. Find out all the details and be sure to get your entries in to win a copy of Archer, the first book of The Keepers.

What they say: '“You lied to me, misled me, attacked me,” Declan murmured, dipping his head toward hers, “but what we had three months ago wasn’t fake, was it?” Kate's gaze faltered to his lips, heat pulsing between them. But she didn’t deny it. Declan Bennett has zero tolerance for thieves. He and his brothers, the Keepers, are fiercely protective of their witch, Sienna, and their privacy. So when Kate Carrigan breaks into their estate, he'll be damned if he lets the little wildcat get away with it – especially after she seduced him three months ago, leaving him buck-naked in a New Orleans hotel. Declan wants payback – and some answers. Before she was murdered, Kate's mother ingrained it in her not to trust anyone. Kate’s magical powers make her a pawn in the war between good and evil, a war she’s always avoided. Declan is everything she’s been taught to fear, even if she can’t forget the memory of his touch that one night… Trouble is brewing as the powers of evil regroup - bolder and hungrier than ever - and Kate is forced to choose a side. Hot romance, epic battles and action abound in Book 2 of The Keepers.'
  Click Here To Buy The Book - UK  |  Click Here To Buy The Book - US

Rae Rivers

Author Bio: I’m an avid reader and writer with a passion for writing romance novels. I live in Cape Town, South Africa, with my gorgeous husband, two beautiful children and a zoo of house pets. Besides writing, I love family time, the outdoors, travelling, watching TV series, reading and chocolate. For more information about my books, or me, please visit www.raerivers.com. I can also be found here:

Wattpad | Facebook | Goodreads| Pinterest | Twitter |

Newsletter Sign-up

 

If you haven't already had the pleasure of reading one of The Keepers' stories, you can find information on Archer, the first book, HERE and why not download the FREE prequel to the series, The Keepers: Sienna HERE.

Otherwise, enter via the Rafflecopter below for the chance to win one of two copies of Archer*

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Terms and Conditions

*Giveaway copies of The Keepers: Archer will be gifted to the winners via Amazon. Rae Rivers and Candle Lit Author Services reserve the right to amend or cancel the giveaway at any time without prior notice to entrants.

 

Join me at the Romance Festival this weekend!

First of all, can we all just celebrate the fact it’s Friday for a moment? 

Okay. Moving on.

Hopefully by now, you’ve heard about the Romance Festival happening this weekend. The best part? It’s FREE. Second best part? You can come in your pajamas. Heck, you can show up nude if you want. Not even kidding.

This festival is 100-percent all digital, meaning all you have to do is register online and boom—you’ve got chats with editors and authors, blog posts about romance novels from your favorite authors, Twitter conversations, Facebook meetups, and a whole lot more! Several publishers are involved, including Harper Collins, and specifically, HarperImpulse — the digital imprint my psychic detective series is published under. Haven’t registered? No problem! There’s still time to register and gain access to the schedule of events. Simply visit this link: So many great authors are taking part, of course you want to participate! ‪http://bit.ly/1oS11Zc

Besides the stellar lineup of authors involved, I’m super excited because I’ll be participating in a Facebook chat Sunday with fellow HarperImpulse author Rae Rivers, whose The Keepers series is a total must-read, by the way. I can’t wait for the next book to release NEXT WEEK! Declan's book is going to be a-maz-ing, I just know it. Anyway. Rae and I both write paranormal romance, so the chat will be all about paranormal romance. 

Besides Rae, the chat will also feature authors Gena Showalter, Darynda Jones, and Helen Phifer.

That's right. I said GENA SHOWALTER, DARYNDA JONES and HELEN PHIFER.

My reaction when my editor told me who else was participating looked pretty similar to this...

So, yeah. Trust me. If you love paranormal romance, you’ll want to log onto the Romance Festival Facebook page Sunday —11 a.m. Pacific time; 2 p.m. Eastern U.S. time; 7 p.m. London time. 

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the festival and spread the word. I hope you’ll join us for the paranormal romance discussion Sunday. 

See ya there!