Guest blog & Giveaway: Vicki Lewis Thompson

When I heard the title of Vicki Lewis Thompson’s new series, Babes on Brooms, and then the the first two books in the series, Blond with a Wand & Chick with a Charm, I was sold.  I immediately invited Vicki for a visit, and not only did agree…she brought prizes! Check the end of this post for the giveaway details.

New York Times bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson believes love makes the world go around and laughter makes the trip worth taking. An eight-time RITA nominee, the 2008 recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award , and author of more than ninety books, Vicki pioneered a new kind of romance hero with Nerd in Shining Armor, Kelly Ripa’s book club pick in 2003. Following the success of her nerd stories, Vicki launched a boisterous paranormal series in 2007. Over Hexed appeared in October, 2007, Wild & Hexy in June of 2008, and Casual Hex in March, 2009.

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I MIGHT BE A WITCH
by
Vicki Lewis Thompson

Many thanks to Abigail for inviting me to blog today!  To show my appreciation for being here, I’m giving away both Babes on Brooms novels, autographed, of course!.  One commenter will get BLONDE WITH A WAND and another will get CHICK WITH A CHARM.  Good luck on this almost-St. Paddy’s Day!

As I thought about a blog topic, I decided this would be the perfect place to talk about my ancestors.  You see, one of them was hanged as a witch.  In fact, my middle name of Lewis (which is a middle name, not a maiden name) is a surname from the branch of the family that, when traced back to my New England roots, leads to this very woman.

I discovered this info in the eighties from an aunt who studied the family tree.  At the time I wrote mostly for Harlequin Temptation and didn’t even consider writing paranormal.  Sure, I thought tarot was cool, and I was constantly buying astrology books, but writing paranormal romance didn’t cross my mind.  Then in 2004, a writer named Terey daly Ramin asked me to write a chapter in Bewitched, Bothered & BeVampyred, a project where all the proceeds would go to the International Red Cross for their disaster relief fund.

I wanted to contribute, but I didn’t write paranormal.  She told me not to worry about one measly little chapter.  She assigned to one called “A Spell of C.R.A.F.T” (an acronym for Can’t Remember A F**king Thing).  So I wrote the chapter, and LOVED DOING IT.  I was in some good company in that book – PC Cast, Gena Showalter, Mary Janice Davidson, and Mary Jo Putney, to name a few – and I didn’t have sense enough to know it because I just wasn’t into paranormal.

But the seed had been planted.  Incidentally, you can’t get the book new anymore.  The publisher went out of business and used copies are selling anywhere from $33 to $200.  I have one copy, and I’m guarding it.

Fast forward to the present day, and I now have five paranormals out there and two more on the way in 2011!  I love writing them.  With straight contemporary romance you have to stick to what’s real, but in paranormal romance you can make up anything, as long as you’re consistent in the world you create.  I adore that.  I also adore researching magic and Wicca, and crystals – basically anything related to witchcraft.  I’m thinking maybe it’s in my blood.

So, anyone out there own a tarot deck?  Crystals?  Books on astrology?  I’d love to have you tell me what fascinates you about the paranormal world!

Visit Vicki on her website HERE

Thanks Vicki!  Come back anytime.

Giveaway

(1) one winner will receive a signed copy of Blond with a Wand by Vicki Lewis Thompson
&
(1) one winner will receive a signed copy of Chick with a Charm by Vicki Lewis Thompson

BLONDE WITH A WAND February 2010 Check out Chapter 1 Sexy witch Anica Revere has one absolutely unwavering rule: never, under any circumstances, get involved with a man before telling him she’s a witch. Still, what’s one silly rule? Especially when the guy in question is as cute as Jasper Danes. But when Anica and Jasper have a spat, she breaks an even bigger rule of witchcraft and turns him into a cat. Bad news for him. Worse for her. With Anica stripped of her powers for the witchy infraction, it’s up to Jasper to undo the hex—but he never expected the hardest part of the bargain would be resisting Anica. The stakes are high, and the chemistry is off the charts. But what’ll happen if Anica and Jasper both fall under the strongest spell of all—love?

CHICK WITH A CHARM March 2010 Check out Chapter 1 Lily Revere is free-spirited and fun loving—two dangerous qualities in a witch. Especially while planning her sister Anica’s engagement party, and she needs a date! She’s determined to bring hot Griffin Taylor, but he’s a divorce lawyer who claims his job has warned him off romance. He may pretend he's just not into her, but she knows better—he only needs a nudge in the right direction. Slipping a love elixir into Griffin’s drink may not be the noble thing to do—but it sure works! Lily’s dreamboat drops all defenses and the two discover they’re perfectly matched—in every way. There’s just one problem: Are Griffin’s feelings the result of some truly good witchcraft—or is he really in love?

GIVEAWAY GUIDLINES

1. Open U.S. residents only

2. Must be a follower with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) or Subscribe via Email

3. *Include your email only if it is not listed in your profile

4. Leave a comment answering one of Vicki’s questions from her post.

5. Tweet, Facebook, Blog post, Sidebar etc. for extra entries (leave links)

6. Entries must be received by Midnight MST on March 27th