Guest Author: Katie Reus (+Contest)

Katie ReusIn August, a group of authors and readers will converge on New Orleans for the annual Authors After Dark convention. One of those authors will be Katie Reus who recently started a brand new series called Moon Shifters with the novel, Alpha Instinct.

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the few remaining lupine shifters in her pack. But with no pack males, they’re vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection as the Alpha male, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future-but the existence of the entire pack.

Make sure you stick around to the end. We’ll be giving away an ecopy of Destined Mate & Protector’s Mate to one lucky reader.
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Five Favorite Places to Visit in New Orleans

Thanks so much to Jackie for having me here today! I can’t believe how fast this year is flying by. I live in the South (only an hour and a half away from lovely New Orleans) so even though it’s May, the humidity has already struck and in a few short months, it will be August and time for Authors After Dark. I’ve never been to AAD before, but there was no way I could pass up a con in such a historical, amazing city. Even though I’ve never been to AAD, I have been to NOLA many times. Whenever I go there are so many things I look forward to but I’m narrowing down five of my favorite places to visit.

BeignetsCafé du Monde, or more specifically, I’m looking forward to having a café au lait with beignets covered in powdered sugar on the side. Absolutely delicious. See the picture attached? That’s actually one of mine from a trip I took last year. Even though it will be summer, I don’t care. Gotta have my café to go with my beignets or it just doesn’t taste right.

The French Quarter. I’m a big fan of anything supernatural and if it’s your first time visiting New Orleans I recommend taking a ghost tour at night through the French Quarter. You’ll get to see a lot of historic areas and basically get a giant history lesson on everything cool that’s ever happened in New Orleans. And oh boy, that’s a lot of stuff! I’ve been on a few tours and they’re always wildly entertaining. Some of the tours meet at Reverend Zombie’s House of Voodoo as a starting point so that’s fun in itself.

RevZombie Voodoo shopThe cemeteries! In New Orleans, most graves are in above ground vaults and some are more ornate than others. Supposedly the voodoo queen Marie Laveau was buried in St. Louis Cemetery #1 but according to my husband (and many others) that’s just not true. That certainly doesn’t stop people from flocking to see her tomb. All around it there are markings of three XXXs in a row from people hoping she’ll grant them a wish. Whether it’s actually her grave or not, I think it’s well worth seeing. Even though the cemetery houses close to 100,000 it only covers one square block and it’s hard to get lost in! Just don’t go at night.

The Garden District. Okay, this covers a lot of ground, but the Garden District is filled with so many gorgeous homes it would be remiss of me not to suggest seeing it. Anne Rice has a couple homes there and yes, I once sort of attempted to climb her fence. And…that’s all I’ll say about that. I also swear I had a Peyton Manning sighting in front of his parent’s house once. The ladies I was with deny it but I’m fairly certain I saw him (maybe). There’s a ton of history there, including the house where Jefferson Davis died so if you’re not into modern ‘celebrities’, the history and architecture of the majority of the homes should be a huge draw.

Jackson SquareJackson Square. On weekends there’s so much going on there. Live music, a plethora of artists, psychics and street performers abound. I’m attaching a picture of the Square but it’s hard to do it justice without seeing it. Last time I was there with the lovely Cynthia Eden I was accused by a homeless man of being with the CIA when I was taking pictures. Um, yeah, because I totally look like a super spy. I did stop taking pictures though because the guy scared me a little! This is definitely one place you have to go to when you’re there.

Seriously, there’s so much to do in New Orleans it’s not even funny. I love the Audubon Zoo (and just took my son there for the first time a couple weeks ago), the Riverwalk, Faubourg Treme, the Aquarium of the Americas, soooo many museums (historical, religious, some centering around Mardi Gras), Jackson Brewery, Bourbon Street, jazz clubs, and pretty much any locally owned restaurant (nothing corporate!) are awesome…I could go on for a while, but if you’re going to AAD you have so much to look forward to in addition to the conference. I’m very much looking forward to August and appreciate Jackie letting me ramble on about how wonderful the city is. If you’re going to the conference, please leave a comment and let me know! I’m so excited about meeting so many authors and readers. Stella picked the perfect city for this con. ;)

Thanks again for having me!
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Meet Katie Reus!

Katie fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After graduating summa cum laude with a degree in psychology and working too many jobs she hated, she finally figured things out.

She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Her publishers include Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, Ellora’s Cave and NAL/Signet Eclipse (Penguin). Regardless of genre, she always includes a happy ending. When she’s not creating stories she loves spending time with her husband and family.

KReus-Primal PossessionContact Info
Website: website
Blog: Blog
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Want to purchase Katie’s novels?
Moon Shifter

  1. Alpha Instinct at Amazon | Book Depository
  2. Primal Possession at Amazon | Book Depository (September 4, 2012)
  3. Lover’s Instinct at Amazon (August 7, 2012)

Protector’s Mate at Amazon
Destined Mate at Amazon
No One to Trust at Amazon | Book Depository
His Secret Past at Amazon
Danger in Paradise at Amazon
Deadly Obsession at Amazon
Killer Secrets at Amazon
Dangerous Secrets at Amazon
Dangerous Deception at Amazon
Running From the Past at Amazon
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Contest Time!

Thank you Katie for taking the time to stop by Literary Escapism!

Katie is giving away an ecopy of Destined Mate & Protector’s Mate to one lucky reader.. To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: What would be your top five places to visit while in New Orleans? Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered.

Even though I’m not giving the additional entries any more, you can still help support the author by sharing their article, and this contest, on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere you can. After all, the more people who are aware of this fabulous author ensures we get more fabulous stories.

The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.

The contest will stay open until May 24th at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have.

I have not been contacting winners, so you will need to check back to see if you’ve won.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

12 Comments

  1. I would like to go on a jazz cruise on a steamboat, see the bayou, go on an airboat ride, see the French Quarter, and because I love anything to do with the ocean, go to the aquarium.

  2. I will only be able to go to the book signing on Saturday. My daughter and I live about an hour away and we are so excited to be able to meet several of our favorite authors.
    I always have to visit the Aquarium, The RiverWalk, The French Market, St.Louis Cathedral, and Jackson Square when I get to go to New Orleans.
    Thanks for the interview and giveaway.

  3. Sounds like alot of fun. I would probably start off with a walk around the Garden District thru the Cemeteries & Jackson Square. Then my daughter & I would stroll the Audubon Zoo & finish the trip with the Aquarium of the Americas. And last but not least..dinner in the French Quarter. I’d have to have atleast a weeks vacation to possibly get all of this done. Love your book ‘Alpha Instinct’, looking forward to more great reads! :-) leann

  4. Sounds like so much fun. I would so love to visit there. I would love to see the French Quarter, the garden district, the cemeteries and I would love to go on a Plantation tour and I would love to visit during Mardi Gras :)

  5. I’ve never been there but I’d go to Boubon Street, The French Quarter, the garden district, the cemeteries, and on a ghost tour

  6. I’m not that familiar with New Orleans, but I think I’d start the day at Cafe du Monde, then take a tour of some of the cemeteries, then come back the the French quarter to wander around a bit, and after that, I don’t know – maybe scope out some of the nightclubs for later.

  7. I would like to see the French Quarter, the cemeteries, the Garden District, go on a ghost tour and eat some great food and hear some jazz! Thanks for the chance to read these!

  8. Thanks again to Jackie for having me and thank you everyone who has stopped by today! I’ve enjoyed reading your comments of where you’d go in New Orleans. All so great! :)

  9. Take me with you!!! You know how much I love NOLA, and plus I’ve got fond memories of the place because it’s where I finally met you *g*.

    I hope you have a great time, and please have some sort of bread pudding for me in my honor. I’ll be with you in spirit!

    xo

  10. Thanks for a great post and giveaway! As I’ve never been to NO, I would have to defer to your expertise :) Can I say that I would love to visit all 5 places that you mentioned :)

  11. LaFayette Cemetary, Cafe du Monde, The French Quarter, New Orleans French Market, NOLA Museum of Art. I thought about listing only restaurants but I thought that would be a bit much. I love Cajun/Creole food. NOLA would be Mecca to me.

  12. Take a vampire tour, garden district, french quarter, cemetery and a ghost tour. This contest is pretty cool thanks!

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