Like urban fantasy?
Free urban fantasy?
Then definitely keep reading this post!
A few years ago I met Vicki Pettersson at the San Diego Comic Con. We have mutual friends, it turned out, but had never met. Normally I am quite intimidated by tall, gorgeous redheads but Vicki immediately put me at ease with tact and a smile, leaving me to discover what a wonderfully witty, smart, and charming young woman she is.
She is also one of the rising stars in the urban fantasy genre! So if you enjoy reading urban fantasy, read the following interview!
Cheat the Grave, the fifth book in her UF Zodiac series, has been published today to happy Vicki Pettersson fans. That is news all by itself. There is another bit of news though that might intrigue those of you who have not read Vicki’s work.
She tells you about here:
Suvudu: Cheat the Grave, the fifth book in your Zodiac series, is published today, but what freebee is being given away as well?
Vicki Pettersson: It’s the first book in the series, The Scent of Shadows. Some readers find it intimidating to jump into a series that’s already five books long, or might like to give it a try but are reluctant to jump in with the newest release. (I know I always like to start at the beginning.) So this is a way to give them a push start into the world of the Zodiac, and they can see for themselves if they’d like to move on from there. Personally, I love being able to offer this to people, and I’m grateful Harper has allowed it.
S: Why should readers download the free ebook for The Scent of Shadows? Sell it for me!
VP: The first book in the series, The Scent of Shadows, is being offered up for free in various locations like Kindle, Nook, Sony’s ReaderStore, and the iPad. Let’s talk a minute about the reader reaction to this astounding corporate generosity. Now as a rule I generally don’t read my own reviews. That way lies madness for an author and, for me in particular, generally results in a large consumption of cupcakes and hard alcohol. And that’s in response to the good reviews.
Yet the selfsame curiosity that killed the cat compelled me look at the Amazon reviews to the free book, and I’m glad I did. Because the common consensus seems to be abject surprise that the book is actually well-written. I can only come to the conclusion that these readers were told my publisher removed every third word whilst unfurling a ‘free’ sign on the e-cover. To which I say, no. All the words are still there. And years after putting them there, I still like them. So much so that I’ve decided to offer a full refund to those who are less than satisfied with their download. So if you know someone who still hasn’t read The Scent of Shadows tell them their free copy, guaranteed by the author, is waiting just for them. And millions of others.
S: Readers like reading in the same vein oftentimes. What other series are your books most closely likened to?
VP: Actually, what readers of my series comment on most is how different my books are than anything else in the genre. While I write UF, and while I’ve been offered some amazing quotes by the likes of Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, and Kelley Armstrong, my world is populated with dark, twisted superheroes instead of vampires, weres, witches and the such. So if you like the genre, but are all caught up on your favorites and are now looking for something a little different, then this series might be for you.
S: You are a fun, fiery redhead living in Las Vegas. Are you anything like your heroine, Joanna Archer?
VP: Well, she’s not fun or a redhead, so on the surface I’d have to say no. But, look, there’s a bit of me in each of my characters (which is a bit frightening to admit, given some of the beings I write about). I need to have a hook in them emotionally, a way to understand them, in order to write about their actions on the page. I just think it delivers a read with a bit more depth than it would were I to simply create Black Hats and foils. So, yeah. I’m like her. But I’m like them all in one way or another.
S: Thank you for your time, Vicki! Any famous last words?
VP: Don’t believe a word Shawn Speakman says.
She’s right. Don’t believe me! Ha! Told ya she is witty and charming. Visit Vicki at www.vickipettersson.com and download The Scent of Shadows!
I am doing so right now!
