Interview & Giveaway: Hunger Moon by Melissa Snark

Hunger Moon

Hunger Moon
Victoria Storm Novel, Book 2
Melissa Snark

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy

Date of Publication: April 25, 2013

Number of pages: 378
Word Count: 101,000

Cover Artist: Farah Evers

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Sony     Kobo     ARe     Smashwords

Valkyrie Victoria Storm desires nothing more than to provide her wolf pack with a safe haven, but her position as priestess to the Goddess Freya also brings with it certain… obligations. Not to mention complications.

War with the Barrett family resulted in the deaths of her parents and most of her pack. Now, hunters are hot on the trail of the remaining pack members. Sawyer Barrett, a human hunter hell bent on revenge, is convinced that Victoria murdered his brother. He will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Victoria must defend the survivors and somehow lead them to safety. Months on the run has weakened the pack, and there are newborn pups to protect, making swift travel impossible. Ahead, the promise of refuge beckons.

Their best chance for survival lies in Sierra Pines, California: Arik Koenig, a powerful, dominant male wolf. He promises to protect and provide for the pack, something Victoria knows the pack needs for survival. His mysterious past is riddled with violence and death, including the slaughter of his entire family twenty years before. His wife died under mysterious circumstances and his son, Logan, is rumored to be her killer.

What is truth? Who can she trust? The desperate spirit of Arik’s murdered wife calls out for help, and Logan begs for assistance in clearing his name. Victoria must solve a murder that has pitted father against son, rooted in a mystery reaching back two decades. Her quest starts her on a journey from the human world to Odin’s Valhalla and back again.

Victoria will find salvation or face destruction beneath the Hunger Moon…

Excerpt: 

Victoria felt him before she saw him. His power washed over her with the force of an incoming tide, as dark, mysterious and unstoppable as the ocean. Her wolf rose to answer his in instinctive response, defiant and determined. She challenged his power and altered the irresistible flow so it passed around rather than over her. Before she reached the office entrance, the male werewolf responded to her presence and surged to his feet. He rounded the desk, demonstrating extraordinary grace and strength, and she braced for a physical confrontation. He dwarfed her in both height and weight.

As soon as their gazes met, they locked in a dominance contest. His narrowed eyes pierced hers; the light-pigmented brown irises were the color of honey and eclipsed the whites and round black pupils. Wolf eyes.

Victoria did not approach with her head low or avert her gaze. Instead, she challenged him outright, radiating defiance, posture stiff and erect. While they faced off, she regretted the tactical error, but it was too late to rescind. Her stubborn pride permitted no retreat, and it went against her nature to submit.

"Let's take this outside where there are no humans to bear witness," he said in a deep, resonant voice she found appealing.

Aroused, her wolf took an immediate interest in him as a fine, fit male animal. For the first time, Victoria noticed his physical appearance, and her wolf found him more than acceptable. She estimated his age as being in his late thirties. He in no way suffered for the smattering of silver hairs that peppered his dark head. He was a perfect specimen of a man.

Distracted, Victoria broke eye contact, but not to submit. She ran her gaze over his body with blatant approval, lingering on his broad shoulders and chest, muscular arms and legs. He wore a tailored navy suit with a light shirt and dark blue tie. From the way his clothing fit, there was not an ounce of spare fat anywhere on him.

His features possessed splendid symmetry, though a silver scar on his right cheek marred his perfection. The shape of his brow, nose, and lower face hinted at a distant Roman heritage. High cheekbones alluded to his Nordic blood. He cleared his throat, and Victoria scented both his arousal and amusement.

"Did you come to challenge me, or do you have something else in mind?"

His devilish smile hinted at a sense of humor, and Victoria seized on the opening. A ballsy gamble carried inherent risk, but her initial inept blundering had left her with no other graceful out. Her eyes rose to meet his once again.

"I am Victoria, daughter of Adair and Katherine, High Priestess of Freya, Lady Valkyrie, shaman, and healer," she said, making her boast. "I am also the Alpha of my pack, and I am seeking a mate. I have come to assess whether you would make an acceptable suitor."

"You're kidding." He registered surprise and disbelief.

Victoria arched her brow. "I am not."

Interview: 

Today, we welcome Melissa Snark to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give her a big Geeky welcome!

Thank you so much! I'm happy to be here today. :-)

I have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

Yes, let's get this show on the road!

Writing Specific
1. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I'd very much like to explore writing in other genres besides romance and paranormal. I've dabbled with the idea of writing a horror novel and even gone so far as to outline a story and write the first two-thousand words. Unfortunately, I've struggled with finding my voice as a horror fiction writer so the story remains incomplete at this time. The same is true of science fiction. I believe that eventually I'll explore sci-fi as an author, but only after I've exhausted the story ideas I've already committed time and energy to.

2. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I'm a stay at home mom to three kids, which leaves virtually no time for anything else. I do enjoy cooking and gardening a great deal, which tend to be complimentary hobbies, especially when it comes to preparing what I grow. I love to read and I'm often found with my nose buried in a book. I play games—all sorts of games—from chess to video games to roleplaying.

3. How did you choose the genres you write in?

Romance came about as a conscious choice I made regarding focusing my efforts into getting published. There are a lot of romance novels published and also a wide variety of sub-genres. It's a promising field for any would be novelist. My interest in paranormal novels was the product of years of reading and watching shows and movies within the genre, so it was a natural fit. As they say: write what you know.

4. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

There are a couple authors who really influence my development as an author. The first and earliest has to be Mark Twain. As a child, I spent hours reading and re-reading his stories, especially the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Later, I read a great deal of classic science fiction including Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. My favorite fantasy authors include Jennifer Roberson and Steven Brust. The list goes on and on. More than I could possibly discuss without putting everyone to sleep.

5. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

The toughest criticism I ever received happened right after I first started writing. Someone compared my first attempt at fiction to trash. At the time I had very little skill and a great deal of enthusiasm, so the words really hurt. It was a difficult experience for a new writer to move past.

My best compliment? I think this happens every time someone says they really enjoyed my story. It's fantastic receiving a positive review but the most meaningful feedback always comes from readers. I published because I wanted to share my stories with a receptive audience.

Fun Stuff
6. If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

I'd like to invite Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) to dinner of T-bone steaks served rare, spinach sautéed in garlic and white wine, and red potatoes roasted in olive oil and butter. A rich Cabernet Sauvignon from Marin County (CA) would accompany the meal. More than anything, I'd like to meet Samuel Clemens because I believe he'd be a fascinating person in real life. Not only was he an extremely gifted author but he was well traveled, an enlightened mind and experienced in a wide variety of subjects.

7. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

1. A drinkable water supply and sanitation system.2. A utility tool set that included a knife.3. A satellite phone with a solar charger.

8. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Dad: Kevin Bacon because the man is awesome and funny, and I'd really love to meet him.Mom: Audrey Hepburn because I'd love to be even half as gorgeous and talented.

9. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

Absolutely nothing! We have a new one coming tomorrow and I had to empty it out tonight so the old one can be hauled away. (Everything we own that requires refrigeration is currently out in the garage fridge or the cooler.) This is the first time in years it's been absolutely bare.

10. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

She Never Had a Clue...but she did it her way.

Think Fast
Summer or Winter? Winter
Coffee or Tea? Coffee!
Cake or Pie? Pie
Car or Truck? Car
Print or Electronic? Electronic

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Never give up!

Thank you so much for having me as your guest today!

I had a blast. :-)

If you would like to check out my review of Hunger Moon, it can be found here.

Giveaway: 

Melissa will be awarding a $25 GC - Amazon or B&N (winner's choice) to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

So follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

Virtual Book Tour:
September 9:
Literal Hotties Naughty Books Reviews

September 10:
Andi's Book Reviews

September 11:
The Dan O'Brien Project

September 12:
Crazy Four Books

September 13:
Susana's Parlour

September 16:
Musings and Ramblings

September 17:
Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

September 18:
Straight from the Library

September 19:
Fantasy Powered by Love

September 20:
Danita Minnis
Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

Review Tour:
September 23:
The Crafty Cauldron

September 24:
The Simple Things in Life

September 25:
Dalene's Book Reviews

September 26:
Wicked Readings by Tawania

September 27:
Reader Girls

Author Bio:

A friend asked me once how I chose my pen name. I told her the following: "Melissa, because when people mix up my first name, it's the most common goof up. Snark, because it amuses me. A) I love the word 'snarky' and B) I love Lewis Carroll."

As an individual, I'm sarcastic, stubborn and blunt to a fault. I have a strange sense of humor and I like to laugh (usually at my husband or children), but also at myself. I'm not particularly extroverted, although I do enjoy time with my family and close friends a great deal.

At the moment, I'm a stay at home mom who writes in my spare time. I've got a B.S. from Arizona State University in Business, and I've worked a variety of different jobs, including as a medical device documentation specialist, a technical writer, and an auto liability adjuster.

I live in the San Francisco East Bay of Northern California with my husband, three kids, and three cats. My hobbies include roleplaying, cooking and reading.

I maintain a blog, which I update regularly at http://melissasnark.blogspot.com/.

I enjoy hearing from my readers, so please drop me a line at MelissaSnark at gmail dot com.

To connect with the author online:

Email | Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page