Company at Vastine's! Welcome Author Karenna Colcroft...

Hey there, folks! Welcome to my house! I'd like to visit with you, but today starts Weekend Company here at my blog which means I turn the house over to guests! 

And today's guest is Author Karenna Colcroft who just happens to be a gal I've known for quite some time. She's multi-published in both M/M and Het Genres and it just so happens April 4th marked the release of her newest book, the last in her Real Werewolves Don't Eat Meat series, Tempeh for Two with MLR Books. 

And, yep, if you guessed that 'real werewolves don't eat meat' means the series centers around a vegan werewolf, you guessed right! 

So let me leave you all alone with Ms. Colcroft so she can share what's on her mind today and tell you all about this newest book!

Karenna, have at it!

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Friendship...

Never underestimate the power of a good friend. And be open to finding friends almost anywhere.

Last year, my husband and I became more active again on the dating site where we’d met. Not so much because of dating, but because we had friends among the people in our area whom we’d lost touch with in the years since we’d met and married, and we wanted to reconnect with them and connect with new people. It is billed as a dating site, but there’s just as much non-dating socializing going on, at least in our area. 

Through that group, I met a guy who, at first, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. But then we started talking, and realized we had a lot in common, especially a love of books. He started feeding me plot bunnies. And because he’s a big fan of urban fantasy, he started reading my Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat series. He and I talk frequently, and now, less than a year after I met him, I consider him one of my closest friends. And my partner in crime, writing-wise at least. 

Friendship is a powerful force, as Tobias Rogan and Kyle Slidell have discovered throughout the Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat series. And now, in the final novel Tempeh for Two, friendship is more important than ever as Tobias and Kyle seek support for the biggest challenge of their lives: defeating the Anax, the ruler of all werewolves in the United States, who has gone senile and is attempting to either take over or destroy the werewolf world. 

One of the new friends who throws in his lot with Tobias is Paul Drake, Arkhon of the Northwest Region. Paul is based on my partner in crime, right down to sharing his first name, and the novel is in part my Christmas present to the real-life Paul. Because he knows the characters, supports my dreams, and lives up to the title I’ve given him. 

Tempeh for Two released April 4 from MLR Press, http://www.mlrbooks.com. You can find out more about Karenna Colcroft and her books on her website, http://www.karennacolcroft.com, or like her on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/karennacolcroftauthor. Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt from Tempeh for Two:

Tobias Rogan never wanted to rule anyone, but in the past several months has gone from quietly running the smallest pack in the U.S. to controlling the Northeast Region. And now, to save the werewolf world, he must challenge the Anax, ruler of all werewolves in the United States. But Tobias's mate, Kyle Slidell, is being held as blackmail, and Tobias must choose: Issue his challenge and risk Kyle's life, or allow the Anax to declare war.

EXCERPT:

Paul and Bob came over to me. “You did what you had to do, as your wolf said,” Paul said. “And I’m sorry it came to this.”

“Not as sorry as I am.” I sighed. I would have to contact the Easternmost Pack Beta and inform him he was now Alpha. I would have to find Christian’s mate, Celine, who had accompanied him to California. She was almost certainly aware of his death, but I wanted to speak to her anyway. To offer my condolences and let her know I wouldn’t have killed him if I’d seen any way to avoid it. 

I couldn’t do any of those things now. There wouldn’t be time before the meetings resumed.

Tobias, you need to act, Kyle said. 

Hearing his voice in my mind startled me so much I couldn’t hide my reaction from those around me. 

Fortunately, none of them said anything. I won the challenge, I said.

I know. Someone should really remember I’m sitting here and can hear everything that’s said in the meeting room. He paused. He wants you dead. He won’t challenge you for consequence because he knows you’d win, so he’s planning to have someone else challenge you. And he’s going to keep doing it until you die.

I won’t die. It wouldn’t matter who challenged me or how hard the Anax tried to manipulate me. I would win every challenge that was issued.

He’s going to keep doing this. He knows, Tobias. He knows what you’re planning, and he’s going to do everything he can to prevent it. 

The urgency flowing through Kyle’s words struck me more than the words themselves. He was terrified. I didn’t know what he’d overheard, but whatever it was, he meant what he was saying. He feared for my life.

I motioned Paul closer and whispered, “There’s been no declaration of wait time between challenges.”

“No, there hasn’t.” He spoke even more softly than I. 

“You know what’s next.”

“Yes.” He looked around. “Do it soon. Be careful.”

I nodded. Shifting again so soon after my fight with Christian would be a bad decision. It would take longer to recover, and I wouldn’t be on top of my game when I fought the Anax. But from what Kyle had told me, I couldn’t wait. 

One of the other arkhons, Davis Gray from Four Corners Region, approached. I couldn’t give him an opportunity to speak. Maybe he didn’t intend to challenge me. He might only intend to congratulate me on winning my fight against Christian. But I didn’t quite dare to find out. 

I hurried into the house, ignoring the voices behind me, and entered the meeting room. The Anax and two of his men were the only occupants.

He turned to face me. “Tobias, it isn’t time for the meeting to resume yet.”

“This is other business.” I took a breath. His men could serve as witnesses that the challenge had been issued, and to however the Anax chose to answer it. “Hezekiah Wheelwright, Anax of the United States—”

He held up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say, Tobias. I’ll give you one chance to change your mind.”

He gestured toward one of his men, who left the room. After a moment, I heard a yelp just outside the door.

At Kyle’s cage.

The Anax raised his upper lip in something halfway between smile and snarl. “If you challenge me, Tobias, if you fight me and win, your mate will die. How much good will killing me do if you don’t have him?”

His man reappeared in the doorway, holding Kyle by the throat.

* * * * * * *

So Ms. Colfroft has left a heft hook here! 

Since I know this has left you wanting to know more, here's the delicious cover which, if you click on it, will take you right to the purchase site:

Pssst. If you found this tease intriguing, you might just be interested in another werewolf book Ms. Colcroft has penned, titled----and, oh, baby, do I ever love this title!---Hooch and Howls. This book is also available at MLR Books, and is a cool spin on all things werewolf and bootlegging during Prohibition. 

 Click Cover to Purchase

And don't forget that Tempeh for Two is the fifth in a series of delicious contemporary werewolf books. Check them all out, also at MLR. 

Karenna, thank you so much for hanging out at Vastine's today! Congratulations on this new release and thank you for sharing it with us!