QUIZ: How Well Do YOU Know Werewolves?

Test your shape-shifter knowledge and comment for a chance to win an e-copy of my werewolf novel "Despite the Fangs," (see book video here)! Then, enter the fun Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop drawing for a $100 Amazon/B&N giftcard!

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW WEREWOLVES?

QUESTION 1: What herbs will ward off werewolves?
A. Frankincense and myrrh
B. Rye, mistletoe and wolfsbane
C. Rosemary, parsley and sage
D. All of the above
ANSWER: B--Rye, mistletoe and wolfsbane

QUESTION 2: According to folklore, what are ways people can become a werewolf?
A. Drinking rainwater from a wolf's footprint
B. Sleep outside with the full moon shining in your face
C. Be bitten by a werewolf
D. All of the above
ANSWER: D--All of the above.

QUESTION 3: In "Despite the Fangs" my werewolf heroine, Aribella, possesses some of the same qualities as a 'regular' wolf. Which quality does Aribella possess?
A. Her saliva has antibacterial and tissue regeneration properties.
B. She is better at chasing and tracking prey than her male counterparts.
C. Estrus (or breeding time) occurs only once per year and lasts almost two weeks.
D. All of the above.
ANSWER: D--My werewolf heroine, Aribella, possesses all of these qualities, just like her genetically distant wolf cousins. See the book video trailer here.

QUESTION 4: In Warren Zevon's hit, "Werewolves of London" what did the werewolf have in hand, while walking the streets of SOHO in the rain?
A. An umbrella.
B. A Chinese menu
C. A mutilated lady.
D. All of the above.
ANSWER: B--Chinese menu. Want to listen to the whole song? Click here.

QUESTION 5: What is the name of the rare medical condition nicknamed 'Werewolf Syndrome' that causes an abnormal amount of hair growth all over the body?
A. Hypertrichosis
B. Wingardium Leviosa
C. Sectumsempra
D. Protego Horribilis
ANSWER: A--Hypertrichosis, a genetic anomaly you can read about here or see pictures of here. The rest of the answers are all spells from the Harry Potter series. :)

How did you do?? Comment on my blog below, and on November 1, a random commenter will win an electronic version of "Despite the Fangs" from me!

WANT MORE PRIZES?

You're in luck! I'm participating in the Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop, with tons of prizes, PLUS...a grand prize of a $100 Amazon/Barnes & Noble giftcard! Check out the other spook-tacular authors on this blog hop:


ENTER HERE for a chance at a $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble giftcard and more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PLUS ONE LAST PRIZE...

On November 1, one lucky NEWTON NATION VIP MEMBER will win this gorgeous 8x10 print designed by the talented Tracy Hetzel, of Long Blue Straw Illustrations,  for "Despite the Fangs." 

Isn't it amazing??? But to be in THAT drawing, you have to belong to my NEWTON NATION VIP CLUB by Oct. 31! (signup with your email at the top, right-hand side of the static bar where it says "Subscribe to Dylan's NEWTON NATION VIP CLUB").

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Before you leave, don't forget to COMMENT BELOW for your chance to win an electronic copy of "DESPITE THE FANGS"!!

Happily My Ever After,
Dylan

Dayana Knight interview with her wickedly good "Witch Familiar" release!

I'm so excited to have Dayana Knight as a guest today, as she's announcing her newest work, Witch Familiar-a novella I had the pleasure of reading, and blurbing! 

Welcome Dayana! Can you tell my readers a little bit about your newest book, Witch Familiar, and the inspiration for it? 

I am thrilled to be here with you Dylan. I am actually a big fan of yours. I loved Despite the Fangs and Despite the Ghosts! 

(*blushing*) Awww...thanks! You're so sweet!!

Well...actually Witch Familiar came about as a dare to myself.  What I mean by that is I am so not a write-on-demand type of girl.  So when this opportunity came up, I decided to toss the negative to the wind and see what I could do. With three words in mind--witch, wolf, and raven--the story was born. The story is about a hedge(green) witch, Brianna McShae, who suddenly finds herself cauldron-deep in danger. Since this is a short, I don't want to give too much away so allow me to share the blurb:

Breanna McShae is a practicing green witch—harm to none, do as you will is the mantra she lives by. She must seek a familiar as her powers have reached peak and grounding does not pull enough of her magick back.  After performing a ritual asking the Goddess to provide her with her given familiar, she finds she has two animals vying for her attentions—a wolf and a raven.  The catch is one of them is the love of life and the other devastating trouble—a sikkqui—a creature that can assume any shape and sucks the very essence of human spirit and soul out leaving none but death and destruction behind.  The only way to destroy it is too perform a dark ritual, which is taboo for a green witch.  Her biggest problem is to figure out which animal is the sikkqui and then go against her very nature to destroy it without destroying herself and the shifter who has captured her heart.

I loved the story both for its dark, spooky elements and for its romance. Great blend, Dayana! Okay, next question:  What do you believe is THE most important thing writers can do for themselves to get an agent/publisher in today's market? 

I think the most important things in today's market are: unique twists on storylines, be sure you follow publisher guidelines, know what it is they are looking for and most important on the author end is be sure you have the perfect manuscript to submit.  Always, ALWAYS proof you work. Nothing worse than sending in the WRONG version or finding a kazillion typos or mispelled, misused words after you hit send.

If you could have done anything differently with your writing career so far, what would it be? 

hmmm...well I would not have let too much time pass between projects. Unfortunately life does get in the way.  I had great momentum going with my earlier books then lost it when I had to step away from my creative side for a time.  The best advise I can give is keep writing no matter what is going on around you however hard it seems.  I, for one, need to follow my own advice:)

Hey, we all know that life happens--and I think you're going great! Who are your writing role models, and how have they influenced you? 

I love Patricia Cornwall and her knack for suspense, Janet Evanovich for her delightfully quirky and humorous characters, Laurel K Hamilton, for her outrageous world building and hunky characters, Victoria Holt for her gothic flare and old-fashion ghost stories complete with mansions and haunting imagery, JR Ward, James Patterson and so many others.

I have always loved writing. I even penned a romance novel in a spiral notebook in my early teens complete with a sketched cover of a couple walking away with fingers laced in each other jean belt loops. I would love to read it now:)  I can't say how much influence these authors have had over my personal writing. I believe as we practice the craft, we develop our own unique voice. I only hope my stories will pull at the emotions of my readers as these authors' stories have pulled at mine. 

What's one fact about you that most people don't know?  

I am actually petrified to stand up before a crowd and speak. Public speaking is so not my thing, however, at times I must and do conquer LOL albeit, shaking like the proverbial leaf with trembling voice!

:) Thanks for chatting with me today, and best of luck with your release of Witch Familiar! I know people will want to check you out online. Can you give us your website links and contact information? dayanaknight.blogspot.com 

Dayana Knight was born and raised near the legendary Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey,

home of the legendary Jersey Devil also known as the 13th Son. Dayana has always been fascinated

with all things supernatural and paranormal. She began writing at age eleven and published a poem in

her sixth grade yearbook. Dayana enjoys solitary walks in mist-covered forests, visiting century-old cemeteries, and spine-tingling ghost stories. She loves old houses and antiques, which she says breathe lives of their own. Oh, and the stories they could tell if only they could talk! And of course, her favorite holiday is Halloween/Samhain. She now lives in Southern Florida with her husband and her two beautiful dogs: a Sheltie,Bea and Collie, Shane.

Visit Dayana at: dayanaknight.blogspot.com

NaNoWriMo Veteran's Clues on Starting and Finishing Your Novel

As promised in my NaNoWriMo blog post last week, here is my first video for all of you intrepid writers joining me for the 2014 NaNoWriMo challenge (that's National Novel Writing Month, and you can find out more about it here).

Dylan Newton: Starting &Finishing Your Novel

YouTube link: http://youtu.be/a5sWDtgX9W0

It's about 45 minutes long, and filled with my tips for the following:

• What to do NOW before NaNoWriMo begins
• Tricks for Hooking Your Reader from the Start
• The 2 Most Useful Tips to Beating Writer's Block
• Useful websites I use as a writer
• And...lots of personal details about my writing process that you may or may not want to know. ;)

PLUS...I've created this handy-dandy November calendar for you to print out and use at your will. 

Join me on Wednesday, October 29 for my HUGE kickoff event here at my blog, as well as on my Author Facebook page here. 

Happily Writing My Ever After,
Dylan

P.S. Here is the link to sign up for National Novel Writing Month: www.nanowrimo.org

P.P.S. Be sure to subscribe to this blog, as well as my newsletter, for more NaNoWriMo info and writer-ly goodies!