Contest & Giveaway with MATE CLAIMED'S New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Ashley

MATE CLAIMED

Shifters Unbound Novel Series #4

Interview with

New York Bestselling

Author

Jennifer Ashley

I am so thrilled once again be bringing you one of my favorite authors...New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ashley.  Today it is all about the deliciously hot wildcat shifter, Eric and his mate Iona Duncan from Jennifer’s latest MATE CLAIMED.

Jennifer. I’m so psyched you’ve stopped by.  I know you’re in the thick of your scrumptious Shifters Unbound series.  For those not familiar with the series would you explain a bit more about it.

JA: In the Shifters world, Shifters “came out” twenty years ago, and humans were both fascinated and terrified (I mean, what would you really do if you found out your next-door neighbor could turn into a lion?) So humans rounded up Shifters, made them live in Shiftertowns, and put collars on them (half Fae-magic, half tech) to spike them with pain if they turn violent.

The humans think they have the Shifters under control, but the Shifters know better.

Each book in the series is about a Shifter and how he finds his mate. I started in Pride Mates with a sexy Irishman, Liam Morrissey, and his brother, father, and nephew, all living in the same house in Shiftertown in Austin, Texas. A human lawyer has been assigned to defend a Shifter, and she goes to see Liam, the leader to see if he can help her. And things ensue...

I wanted to write a series that wasn’t about the end of the world, or a legion of baddies trying to destroy a species, or anything of that nature. I wanted to explore how the Shifters interact in the world and how they survive. There’s plenty of action in these books, but plenty of heartwarming moments too, as the Shifters turn to their families in order to survive.

The series is about families, mates, and real life (well, real life if you’re a shape-shifter). I very much enjoy writing in the world I’ve created.

Do you remember where you were when you first thought up the Shifter’s Unbound series?

JA: Indeed I do! I was driving to the airport to go to a convention. On the side of the road were four guys working construction. I thought “What if they were shape-shifters?” Then I thought. “What if they were shape-shifters, all bachelors, all living in the same house, all related? Two brothers, grown-up nephew of a deceased brother, and a father?”

The Morrissey family came to me in a flash, and I spent the airplane ride and the convention thinking about them and their life in Shiftertown. And so it went. 

You write a few different genres under a couple different names.  Is there one genre that you like writing more than the other? Which one? Why?

JA: I have to say I like them all. I rotate through each series (historical, paranormal, urban fantasy, mystery, erotic romance), and enjoy something about each of them. It’s refreshing to move from one to the other. Some of the series contain a heavy dose of magic, others none at all. My erotic series tend to be futuristic (I love scifi), so that gives me a chance to write about cool technology.

I know that you put your own blood, sweat and tears into ever page.  So, I’m curious to know if your characters have any of your own traits.  Is there one character you think is more like you than any other?

JA: My heroines, I’m happy to say, aren’t much like me at all. I can be crabby and lazy, and they’re always energetic and interested in everything around them (I’d rather go back to bed and read a book). My heroes get some of my drive and determination (and my bad language), but they aren’t really me either. If I think about it, I’m most like the Shareem men (in my erotic romances). They’re laidback “whatever” kind of guys, which I tend to be most of the time. I work very hard, but I’m very good at sitting around with my feet up enjoying the world or laughing with friends. The Shareem do that too.

When you began the Shifters Unbound series did you have Eric’s arc figured out?  Did you know that Eric’s story would end the way it did?

Actually, no. When I began Shifters Unbound I had Liam’s and Sean’s stories, then Eric walked onstage during Sean’s book (Primal Bonds). Eric started talking about his sister Cassidy, and I wanted to do her story (Wild Cat) and then Eric’s. I got the idea for the next book (Tiger’s story, Tiger Magic), when Tiger walked onstage in Eric’s book.

Often, I have no idea that these characters are going to appear. They just do, and then I start spinning a story about them.

For some series, I know all the characters and their stories up front. For some series, the characters and books come to me one at a time. I can never predict what will happen!

Jennifer, would you share with us a bit more about Eric and Iona’s story, MATE CLAIMED?

Eric Warden knows that half-Shifter wildcat Iona is passing for human, living without a Collar in the human world. He also knows that if she does not acknowledge her Shifter nature and her mating hunger, it could kill her.

Eric has much on his plate, though. Another Shiftertown (all wolf Shifters) has closed, and the Shifters are forced into Eric’s Shiftertown. The leader, Graham, isn’t pleased, and he lets it be known that he’s after Eric’s leadership position. Add to that, Eric’s experiencing episodes of pain he’s not known since humans did experiments on him twenty years ago. Into all this, comes Iona, uncollared, unclaimed—fair game.

Iona finds the mysterious and dangerous Eric, a wildcat and leader of his Shiftertown, haunting her dreams, but she vows never to take the Collar, fearing backlash against her mother and sister for hiding the fact that she's Shifter. But Eric is a compelling Shifter male, and Iona's hunger calls to him.

What was your premise for writing this story?

I wanted to explore what would happen if a Shifter was “passing” for human. How would she be able to hide her nature when Shifters age much more slowly than humans, and their metabolism is vastly different. How will a woman who’s lived as human give up that life for the restrictions of Shiftertown?

Eric lost his mate when his son Jace was born, and he’s never been interested in taking another mate. So he has to face his own grief and acknowledge that he’s falling for Iona.

Also, I wanted to explore those experiments that people were doing on Shifters when Shifters first revealed themselves. What were the long-term repercussions? And then I wanted to shake things up by introducing Graham and his bad-boy Lupine Shifters. I enjoyed writing this book!

I want to take a moment and ask Eric and Iona a few questions, if that is alright with you two?

I always like to know what peoples’ very first thought was when they meet.  Here we go. Iona, what ran through your mind the moment you laid eyes on Eric.  Eric, when your eyes spied Iona what was your very first thought?

Iona: He was Shifter, and he had presence, and he knew I was a Shifter. Scary . . . and a little bit sexy.

Eric: Fair game. Beautiful fair game. I had to protect her.

Was it lust or love on sight?

Eric: Definitely lust. But she did things to my heart.

Iona: I admit to lust. Behind the stunned sensation, and the worry about what he’d do.

Iona, was there one thing abut Eric that claimed your heart? Or told you, “Yeah, Eric is the one.”?

Iona: He protected me. Always. He followed me, made sure I was all right. Drove me crazy, but protected me at the same time.

How about you, Eric?  Was there one thing about Iona that solidified that she was the “it girl” for you?

Eric: Besides being a hot, sexy female entering her mating heat? (smiling) The way she loved her mom and sister. The way she betrayed her concern for me when I was hurt, and made sure someone came to look after me. She said she didn’t trust me, and then when I needed her, she was there. She healed me.

Being shifters, do you find it more complicating to have a loving relationship?

Eric: Shifters love so deeply, we can’t climb out when we fall in love. The mate bond is forever. So it’s not very complicated. But it’s permanent, and we can’t run away from it.

Iona, if you could, would you change anything about Eric?

Iona: He could tell me what he’s up to instead of just springing into my life all the time. But then, if he was predictable, what fun would that be?

What about you, Eric?  If you were given the chance would you change anything that your went through to claim your mate?

Eric: Sure. She could have said, All right, Eric, I’ll be your mate, let’s get to the good stuff. (laughing) But Iona’s not a pushover. She proved that she’s strong and can handle things by herself. I need her as much as she needs me.

What is one things that humans just do not comprehend about shifters?  Should humans be scared of your species or more accepting? Why?

Iona: Humans don’t understand that they’re stubborn and will do anything—absolutely anything—to get what they want. Even live in captivity and wear Collars. But they also love with incredible strength. Their mates, cubs, parents, siblings—all get a huge dose of love.

Eric: Humans should be a little scared of Shifters. Shifters can be dangerous. We’re not human. We’re part animal, and we’re going to react like animals in certain situations. So they need to be wary. But not terrified. We’re not evil. We’re just trying to get along in the world, same as anyone.

What would you like people who are reading this interview learn about shifters?

Iona: That we’re loyal to our families and will do anything to protect them. But that we can be gentle and loving.

Eric: And we like parties. And mating. And beer.

Thanks guys for sharing.

Now lets get back to Jennifer.

Wow, Jennifer you have some really interesting characters.  When you wrapped up with them and typed THE END of MATE CLAIMED’s transcript, what did you do t celebrate.

I think I danced up and down, ate a piece of chocolate, and took a shower.

When your reader closes the cover of MATE CLAIMED what do you hope they take away from it?

I hope they enjoyed the action and also the also intense love and sensuality between Eric and Iona. And that Eric is hot. :-)

When that fleeting free time comes your way what do you like to do?  Are there any authors you would recommend to readers until we have the next Jennifer Ashley/Allison James release in our hands?

Well, I’m putting out a book or novella about every month, so there will always be something by me, LOL. But I would highly recommend the following authors:

MelJean Brook (she is an awesome writer)

Elizabeth Hoyt for historicals

Ilona Andrews for urban fantasy

Sylvia Day for sensual books

Nalini Singh for paranormal romance

There are so many fantastic authors out there that readers are sure to find dozens that they’ll love!

Where can we connect with you on the great wide web?

Website: http://www.jennifersromances.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferashleyallysonjamesashleygardner

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JennAllyson

Jennifer it is always a blast having you stopped by.  Thank you for taking dropping by and shooting the breeze about your latest paranormal romance MATE CLAIMED released by Berkley / Penguin. It was so exciting getting to know more about Eric Warden, Iona Duncan and their shifter world.  I cannot wait to visit again and again.

Thank you!!

• 
  
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: 10/2/2012
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 336
• Series: Shifters Unbound Series
• Buy Now

Overview

Collared and controlled, Shifters are outcast from humanity, forced to live in Shiftertowns. But waiting within are passions that no Collar can contain…

As a wildcat Shifter and leader of his Shiftertown, Eric Warden knows his own kind. When he sees Iona Duncan, he realizes that although she appears human she is a half-Shifter wildcat living without a Collar—and that if she doesn’t acknowledge her true nature and her mating hunger, it may kill her…

Iona finds the mysterious and powerful Eric alluring, even though she has vowed never to reveal her Shifter side, lest her mother pay the price for hiding her all these years. But her mating hunger is rising, and with Eric so close, she may not be able to resist…and her desire may lead to the very doom they are fighting to deny…

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HAPPY READING =)