Pooka in My Pantry
Monster Haven, Book Two
R.L. Naquin
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 978-14268-9524-1
ASIN: B00APEYAOI
Word Count: 89,000
Cover Artist: Croco Designs
Book Description:
Zoey
Donovan—empath, wedding planner, go-to girl for monsters with personal
problems—has been marked twice for pickup by Death. On both occasions, Riley
the smoking-hot reaper has refused to follow through. For his breach of
protocol, Riley is now on probation. For her refusal to die on schedule, Zoey's
right to live is challenged. She will have to undergo a life-or-death trial,
but she won't know when or where it will happen…
Staying
alive might not be so difficult if the Leprechaun Mafia hadn't strolled into
town. Now every business owner with the slightest connection to the
supernatural community is being threatened with the most appalling bad luck if
they don't pay up. Mirrors are smashed, bodies are dropping, and Zoey's still
got clients waiting for fabric samples.
With
a little luck, she might be able to save everyone and still have time for a
second attempt at a decent first date with her favorite reaper.
INTERVIEW:
Check this super fun interview with author R. L. Naquin
For people who haven’t heard of "Pooka in My Pantry", make a brief description.
Pooka in My Pantry is book two in the Monster Haven Stories. The series is about an empathic wedding planner who has monsters coming to her with their personal problems. In Pooka, Zoey’s got a bad luck curse on her, and the Leprechaun Mafia want her to pay them protection money. Also, there are crazed goats, a shark attack, and an escaped polar bear. And muffins baked by her live-in closet monster, Maurice.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I always made up stories, and I pretty much always wanted the glamorous life of an author. I’m still waiting for the glamour part to kick in.
What does your family think of your works?
I’ve got a wonderful, supportive family. They think I’m awesome. I’ve decided to keep them.
Do you have specific habits when you write?
I have a huge white board that acts as a guide through the different events and chapters of each book. It’s propped up against the wall in the living room, so I see it all day. I sit on the couch. I sit at the kitchen table. I write in coffee shops, both alone and with friends. I write at weird hours. I eat. I don’t eat. I have no real habits, except for that white board. I really need some habits.
Are you an early bird or night owl?
If I could, I’d be up all night and sleep during the day. Life doesn’t work that way, though. So, I get up early and stumble around pretending to be productive. My brain doesn’t really kick in until around eleven. At least.
Where do you get your inspiration?
The voices in my head tell me what to write. Sometimes they wait until I’m asleep, but sometimes they do it right there in the produce department while I’m buying nectarines. It’s okay, though. I don’t answer them until I get home. Not anymore, anyway.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Just one? Ack. After writing three books with him, I kind of feel like Maurice, the closet monster, is one of my best friends. Phil, the gargoyle, is the most fun to write. Iris, the skunk-ape, and Milo, the fennec fox, give me the warm fuzzies.
Nope. Can’t do it. I’m not playing favorites.
Would you like your book turned into a movie? Do you have any actors in
mind?
Are you offering? Oh, I see. Sure. I would love that. But in all honesty, I think it would make a better television show. I don’t have any actors in mind, but I’d like to formally request right now that I be allowed to sit in on the auditions. Also, we’ll need to rely heavily on CGI to get most of the non-human characters right, so let me know when we do the auditions for the voice actors, too.
What do you do, besides writing?
For work? This is it. I’m incredibly lucky that I get to concentrate 100% on writing.
Do you have any hobbies?
I like to half-make stuff and then forget I started it. I’ve got a half-crocheted blanket, several cross-stitch projects, a really awesome thing I’ve been working toward doing to the coffee table with Modge Podge and printouts of comic book frames. A box of Sculpey clay I might use to redo all the drawer pulls in the bathroom. I’m thinking of repainting my desk. I might spend the next few hours looking at paint samples that will be out of style by the time I get around to buying the paint.
Guilty pleasures?
Lego sets. Disney music. Not wearing pants most days when I’m working.
What are you reading right now?
Honestly, I’ve got a pile of manuscripts my friends have written. I promised to read them all, and I’m way behind. I’ve bought a lot of books lately. Someday. Someday.
Best reward as a writer?
I had a perfect stranger write to me and tell me that one of my books helped her get through one of the worst days of her life. That’s it, right there. The reason I write. I’m not trying to change the world or say something deep and meaningful. I just want to help distract you when you need to step away from your life for a little while. Hearing that I did that for her made me incredibly happy.
How do you react to a bad review?
I’ve been so fortunate where reviews are concerned. The majority have been wonderful, and I had quite a few great ones before the first not so great ones came in. By that time, the mean stuff didn’t matter so much. So, somebody didn’t like my book. Okay. No book is going to please everyone, and the majority seemed to like it.
Well, there was this one time where somebody had written a comment after a review. It said “I hated this book so much.”
I swear to God, I could not stop laughing. There was no explanation attached. Just those six words. For some reason, rather than sting, it struck me as hilarious, as if Grumpy Cat had jumped in with his opinion or something. So weird.
Do you review others’ books? Are you nice or are you mean? :P
Nope. Now that I’ve got books out, I feel really weird about reviewing other people’s books. And then other writers review my books and I feel bad for not reviewing theirs, but maybe I haven’t read theirs yet. And what if I don’t like it, but I know them? I overthink the entire thing and freak myself out. So, no. I don’t.
Do you like singing or dancing? Does music inspire you?
Only when nobody is listening or watching. I don’t listen to music when I write. I’m way too easily distracted, especially if the music has words. Squirrel.
What are your favorite TV shows?
Once Upon a Time, Warehouse 13, How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, and a bunch more, because I watch way too much television.
Favorite movies?
My number one favorite movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark. I love all Disney movies, animated or not.
Favorite food? Do you cook?
Popcorn or fettuccine Alfredo. Yes, but the older I get, the less I do from scratch.
What thing do you wish you could stop doing and you can’t?
Procrastinating. If I could stop doing that one thing, I’d be thin, rich, and live in a clean house.
Rhomy, thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog. I had a lot of fun!
About the Author:
Rachel’s head is
packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of
thunder, but not of lightning, and tends to recite the Disneyland
dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling
that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.
Originally from
Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a
total of seven different states and a six-year stint in
She doesn’t have
time for a real dog.
TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:
PRIZES:
- One set of Monster Haven ebooks (Both, Monster in My Closet and Pooka in my Pantry)
- 5 ebook copies, winner's choice among "Monster in my Closet" or "Pooka in my Pantry"
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What scared you the most about writing?
ReplyDelete"So, I get up early and stumble around pretending to be productive. My brain doesn’t really kick in until around eleven. At least." - LOL, R.L.! That is me exactly.
ReplyDeletelol and me!
DeleteGood question! For most of my life, I was afraid of finishing. I never finished anything. In fact, I worked on the same book for about 20 years, starting over a million times. Deep down, I figured, if I didn't finish, I couldn't fail. Then I realized one day that not finishing WAS failing. So, I scrapped the horrible book that never got past chapter three and wrote Monster in My Closet.
ReplyDeleteRhomy, thanks again for having me on your lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a night owl myself.
ReplyDelete