Ask Five with...Dakota Cassidy...and a giveaway!

Meet an author who will definitely entertain you...

Dakota Cassidy

She's smart, funny and totally a cool babe.

And she's going to not only spend the weekend chatting with you, but she is giving away a cool prize:

A Summer Pack, a prize package with Yankee Candles, booze mix and books!

Just post a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing to win this fabulous prize. Entering should be easy, since Dakota will be popping in to chat with us!

In the meantime, meet Dakota:


1. What is the title of your latest release and what is it about?


My latest release won't be out until Feb 08 from Berkley Sensation and it's called The Accidental Werewolf. It's about Marty Andrews, a multi-level cosmetic saleswoman (think Mary Kay-but I called it Bobbie-Sue). She's a wee bit rabid about cosmetic color wheels of life and her color aura. Marty's uber-ambitious a little self-absorbed and she's managed to work her way up the color ladder to the esteemed color of lavender when her dreams of cosmetic greatness come to a screeching halt.


One night, while Marty and her two pathetic Bobbie-Sue recruits Wanda and Nina are out walking Marty's teacup poodle, Muffin, the girls spot a big dog. So does Muffin, who, being territorial like small dogs can be, violently attacks what she clearly feels is a threat to Marty.

In the melee, Marty manages to drag Muffin off the poor, unsuspecting beast. However, in the process, she's "accidentally" bitten by what she assumes is a dog. It really is just a little nip

A week later and some crazy stuff is goin' down in her world. Marty's hair is changing color by the day. Immersing herself in a vat of wax wouldn't be enough to control the hair growth on her legs and her anger management skills have gone the way of the Doh-Doh Bird. Her emotions are out of control, something Marty isn't used to.

Enter Keegan Flaherty--The dog who accidentally bit Marty, but really isn't just any old dog. He's a shape shifter. A shape shifter who's delish, by the way. He offers apologies and guidance to the ways of a the lycanthropic. Marty wants nothing to do with the smokin' hunk and his crazy stories about her now being a werewolf. In fact, she doesn't believe any of her troubles can't be cleared up with a bottle of Miss Clairol and a gallon of wax.

That is until she's kidnapped and her emotions, her anger especially leave her with the strength of the Bionic Woman. Oh, and a fuzzy nub of a tail poking out from her backside...


2. How do your stories come to you? Complete with just the details to fill in, or is it a character who starts the whole thing rolling?


Usually it's a title that comes to me first--or an idea/concept. I love, love, love the ironic. My favorite path is the path of the outrageous. Once I have those elements, then I decide what kind of characters would best handle my insanity. LOL



3. Which authors have influenced you over the years, whether for their writing or for their friendship?

Oh, wow--a bunch of them. Mostly they're authors who've sort of taken me under their wings and guided me through this writing thing. Primarily, Sahara Kelly, who encouraged me to send my first book in to an e-pub. Kate Douglas, Angela Knight, Margaret Riley, Michelle Hoppe, Isabella Jordon and Renee George, are just a few who've been supportive beyond words and kept encouraging me.



4. You write such a variety of genres...which is your favorite?

I think it's the one I'm in at the time. LOL. I want to dabble in them ALL and I think I'm pretty close. Though I'd really love to write some pirates, demons and mermaids. Not all in one book (though that could be a real freak-fest, huh?), mind you. LOL



5. Looking in your crystal ball, what can readers look forward to from you?


The Accidental Immortal comes out in July 08 from Berkley Sensation. This book is based on Marty's friend, Nina Blackman. An ex-Bobbie-Sue recruit who goes off to become a hygienist in a government sponsored re-training program. Nina's first day on the job leaves her bitten by a vampire. While Nina knows the paranormal exist because of her friend Marty, she refuses to take the path of denial Marty took and there's no way she's staying a vampire. S she goers on a quest to find the patient that bit her so he can turn her back into a human...

And he's hawt.

And then, all HELL breaks loose.

You can visit Dakota's website at www.dakotacassidy.com


Thanks, Dakota! The winner will be chosen Sunday evening!