Diane’s Book Blog: Snow Blood Season 1 by Carol McKibben: Interview & Giveaway

Snow Blood Season 1

Snow Blood Series

Episodes 1-6

Carol McKibben

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Troll River Publications

Date of Publication: February 14, 2014

Print ISBN: 978-1939564368

eBook ISBN: B00JOWG05O

Number of pages: 240 pages

Word Count: 56,025

Cover Artist: Truenot Dreams

Book Description:

Snow Blood Season 1 by Carol McKibben is the first in a series of short novels retelling the modern day adventures of the first vampire.

When Brogio must turn Snow, a beautiful white husky, in order to save the dog, a series of events is unleashed that reveal a sinister plot against the father of all vampires.

As life and true death experiences bond the master vampire and his newly transformed vampire canine together, they unravel a conspiracy that when resolved may return Selene, the love of Brogio’s life, back to him and set him free from the lonely existence that has plagued him for thousands of years! From the author of Luke’s Tale, follow Snow Blood, an epic story of the first vampire as told through the eyes of his kindred dog.

Episode One - reveals how Snow first meets Brogio, the original vampire, and follows the white husky through his transformation to the Kindred world.

Episode Two - uncovers a sinister plot to destroy the father of all vampires, and we meet Kane, Brogio’s first blood child. This episode traces Snow’s efforts to discover Brogio’s history.

Episode Three - introduces Selene, a nurse who is identical to the love of Brogio’s existence. Is she merely a doppelganger or his love returned to him? Is she part of the threat to his destruction? More threats are made not just against the lives of Brogio and Snow but against Selene, forcing them to reveal their true identities to her. Struggling with her acceptance of Brogio, Snow and Kane, Selene is brought into their fold for her protection.

Episode Four and Five - let the reader know more about Brogio and the original Selene’s past while Brogio attempts to protect those he loves from inevitable destruction by leading the threatening dark forces away from them. Snow intercedes after Selene’s plea for help to reunite her to Brogio. United again, destruction follows the four of them wherever they go. Hounded by ancient gods and goddesses, monsters, werewolves and a number of disasters, they battle to protect each other. In his effort to protect his master and those he loves, Snow must make a promise that will end his life as he knows it. The true source bent on destroying Brogio is finally revealed and culminates in an epic battle where Snow offers up his life to save Brogio, Selene and Kane.

Episode Six – Snow prepares to keep the promise that he made, but Kane intervenes for his “blood brother,” leaving us to wonder about both their fates. Tension grows between Brogio and Selene as he attempts to make her his wife for eternity and defy the gods. The reader discovers if Selene is his love returned to him.

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“A real surprise find for me. Being a dog person I was tempted but I only reluctantly ventured out to read this book about a white husky who becomes vampire. To my relief and joy the concept really worked! … The drama, the suspense and the perspective are excellent, and I no doubt will make my way through this canine paranormal series. Well done!” ~Christoph Fischer

Author Bio

Carol McKibben graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Secondary Education and a minor in Journalism. She went on to earn a Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Rollins College. After teaching English and Journalism for a decade, she was offered the opportunity to join Miramar Communications, the 8th largest publishing house west of the Mississippi in Los Angeles.

Working her way up from editorial and then as Director of Market Development, she became the publisher of Special Events magazine (a trade publication for all those working in the events industry) that she helped launch in 1984. In addition, she created a companion trade show, The Special Event, for which she was also the director for a decade, planning every aspect – from exhibits to educational conferences and events.

During that time, she earned her Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation and helped found the International Special Events Society (ISES) of which she was international president from 1999-2000. She co-authored The Dictionary of Event Management for ISES and helped write the study guides for the CSEP exam.

She was a magazine publisher for both consumer and trade magazines for 20+ years. She has written numerous articles and conducted a myriad of seminars, often speaking to large audiences for both The Special Event and ISES. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the special events industry in 1999.

In 2007, she began a freelance writing and editing career, working with other authors to help them realize their dreams. She has published Luke’s Tale, Riding Through It and Snow Blood Season 1. Luke’s Tale and Snow Blood are targeted to a YA market. Luke’s Tale was included in the Summer Solstice Top 12 Book Pick List. Carol writes from the heart of a dog’s eyes. Her books help support her dog rescue efforts and focus on unconditional love.

Carol is married to Mark McKibben, a broadcast engineering sales professional and experienced airplane pilot, and they have two grown children, Rett and Stephanie, and three grandchildren, Lauren, Diesel and Slater. Their current “babies” are Neo, their 117-lb. Labradoodle, a trained therapy dog, and Binks, a black Labrador Retriever rescue. Together Mark and Carol work with the Los Angeles Animal Rescue and Wings of Rescue to save the precious lives of endangered dogs.

Carol is a firm believer in Maya Angelou’s quote:” I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She believes that angels were her inspiration for Luke’s Tale – a Story of Unconditional Love and feels that even though the Snow Blood Series is about the original vampire and his kindred dog, that theme carries through. “There’s a method to my madness,” she states. “The world is waiting for love to overcome hate. I feel that my purpose is to show others how to love unconditionally, just as dogs love us we should love each other.”

Carol’s other favorite quote is one that her husband taught her. “I love myself more when I am with you.”

Carol ,Neo and Binks are currently working on Snow Blood Season 2.

To learn even more about Carol, go to:

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Interview

Please welcome Snow Blood Season 1 author Carol McKibben to Diane’s Book Blog.

What is your favorite part of the story, Snow Blood Season 1?

Snow Blood Season 1 is the first in a series that I am writing. What I love best about the entire book is having the dog turned vampire tell the story. I’ve been a long-time lover of dogs, work with various dog rescues and have studied the behavior of these beloved canines for decades. I wanted to show that dogs are such examples for us to follow. They truly love us unconditionally, no matter who or what we are. In this case, here is a dog ripped from his life and made to become the eternal companion of the original vampire. Because dogs are so adaptable, Snow Blood does exactly that. He focuses his love and loyalty on his new master. All my books are currently being written through the eyes of a dog. And, I’m loving the ability to look at life through their eyes and tell my stories. Yes, readers have to suspend disbelief. But isn’t that part of the fun of it all?

How long did it take you to write Snow Blood Season 1?

I started on it in February of 2013, and it was published February 14, 2014. I’m not into slam/bam. I want my writing to be quality. That includes an outline, multiple drafts, editing, re-editing, working with a quality editor and really listening to his advice on how to make it better.

If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?

Oh, definitely Snow Blood. Kane would be a close second. In fact, many of my readers have said that besides the dog, Kane is their favorite. Just to fill in the gaps, Kane is the first human that Brogio (original vampire) “turned.”

What inspired you to write your first book?

I don’t really count my first book. It’s called Riding Through It and is a memoir. I used it as a means to leave my past behind. I see Luke’s Tale, A Story of Unconditional Love as my first “real” book. I dreamed about it before I wrote it. I received several psychic readings as birthday presents, and they all said that I was supposed to write the book about “unconditional love.” I think it was divine inspiration. What the world needs right now is for us to love each other without conditions. Don’t you think?

Who or what inspired you to be a writer?

My Daddy. Absoutely. I started writing when I was in junior high school. After he read some of the things I had written, he told me, “You are a writer.” I believed him! I’ve been writing non-fiction since I was 14. But didn’t venture into writing fiction until seven years ago.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I love John Irving. I love his play on words, his quirky characters and how he makes me laugh out loud and cry almost simultaneously. I was so proud when some of Luke’s Tale’s 86 reviewers said it made them laugh and cry at the same time!

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I am working on Snow Blood Season 2. In Season 1, I purposely made Selene a rather weak-willed character. In Season 2, she transforms into this very strong character. I love doing that. In addition, I’m adding more flavor to all the characters, more depth. And, I’m giving Snow a love interest.

Multiple reviewers said this is a vampire story … love story … mystery with lots of twists and turns. That’s still all there, but I want the characters to be even richer.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

This is a story about vampires. But, it’s also a commentary on how to unconditionally love another. If you don’t like vampire stories, you shouldn’t read it, unless you happen to be a dog lover. That should soften everything. I never put in anything just for the sake of a shock value. It’s all a part of what would happen in that world. But the overriding theme is unselfish love. It always is in all of my books.