Blog Tour: TASTE by Kate Evangelista

 Kate stopped by the blog today to tells us a little about her writing cave! Make sure you enter the giveaway below and check out my review of TASTE.

Every writer should have a writing cave—a place they could call their own where they are at their most creative. As someone who loves to travel, I think of myself as being able to write anywhere. So long as I have my trusty Elvis (my silver Acer Notebook) and headphones blasting out the current mix I’ve put together that inspires me to write whatever it is I’m putting together at the time, I’m happy.

When I was starting out as a writer, I found myself drawn to my local Starbucks. Their table to chair height ratio was optimal for writing. The atmosphere, though often crowded, worked well for me. Like I said, if I had my headphones on I could tune out a natural disaster or the zombie apocalypse.

One day, I was talking to my mother about made asking Starbucks where they get their tables and chairs from. I wanted to maybe purchase one table and chair for the house so I could continue writing without having to leave. Instead, my mother went to Starbucks with a tape measure and began taking down the measurements of the table and chairs. Next thing I know, she’s moving a huge ceramic vase to my room’s balcony, a marble tabletop, and a couple of iron chairs.

I stared at the set up bemused. No way was I going to be comfortable writing on my balcony on a makeshift table and an iron chair. But I never should have bet against my mother. I should have known from years of experience that she’s never wrong. But being the rebellious daughter, it was expected of me to balk, and I did. So, she said try it just once, if I didn’t like the experience, she would march right back to Starbucks and not leave without a table and a chair. Knowing my mother, I knew she was serious.

Not one to back down from a challenge, I wiped the table down, set up Elvis, put my headphones on, and started writing. The next time I looked up from the screen was four hours later, and only after my wrists started to complain from the abuse I was giving them. My mother had been right. The table was just the right height. And the most surprising thing of all? The iron chair was actually so comfortable. My JLo ass didn’t complain once.

Ever since then, I’d officially moved my writing cave to my balcony. I know, how can it be a cave when it’s outside? In my opinion, a writing cave can be anywhere. Despite what Patricia Dunker says about writing being done behind closed doors inside darkened rooms, wherever you are most comfortable that’s where your writing cave is. Mine just happens to be on a balcony overlooking a pool and lots of mango trees. I sit on a surprisingly comfortable iron chair and my table is a marble countertop over a white vase.

So far, I had written five novels and edited two for publication in my outdoor writing cave. And when it rains, I don’t need to go to Starbucks. I move my cave to my bed. Who knew breakfast-in-bed tables are just the right height while sitting on a bed?

At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

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I received a copy of TASTE for the blog tour hosted by Author's Angels. 

This is a very unique story. It took me a little while to get into the storyline, but once I did it was hard to put it down. The world building is well done and Kate's take on the supernatural will certainly hold your attention. One of the things I most enjoyed about the book was the suspense. She does a great job of providing you with just enough information that you want to keep going. Sometimes when I read a paranormal or urban fantasy book it's like once you discover the "others" than an info dump. Kate doesn't do that at all. She intersperses little tidbits here and there.

Phoenix was an interesting character. Her personality was very much along the lines of "curiosity killed the cat." It's hard to get used to because you want to shake her as she continues to get in trouble. At the heart of Phoenix is a girl that just wants to help. Seeing a glimpse of that helps make her character easier to relate to and understand.

Luca and Demitri are like two sides of a coin. This is a love-triangle, but there are some differences. Her feelings for one are definitely stronger than the other. Of course it's always kind of refreshing, in my opinion, to watch a guy chase the girl. I think if I had to pick one of the two I'd want someone in the middle. Demitri is very reserved and loyal. Committed to his perceived duty. He's fighting himself because while he knows what he has to do, it's not what he WANTS to do. I enjoyed watching as Phoenix did what she could to help him out. Luca is the free-spirit on the outside and dedicated behind closed doors. Which works, because he couldn't do what he needed to do if the public saw the real Luca.

I really want to talk about the take on the paranormal that Kate took with this book, but it's pretty much a spoiler for everything. However, I will say this...no vampires or werewolves.

If you like New Adult and you like a twist on paranormal...then this is a book I'd recommend!

Song Credits: “Hunger” © Noelle Pico.

Full Download available at http://sheisnoelle.bandcamp.com

GIVEAWAY
Kate is giving away 5 digital copies and one print copy of TASTE at the end of the tour.  The winners will be selected using rafflecopter on January 17.
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master’s courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Author Website: www.kateevangelista.com

Twitter: @KateEvangelista

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Evangelista/165693410143202

Find Taste on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13484226-taste

Crescent Moon Press page for Taste: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Taste.html

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