Giveaway & Author Interview: Reena Jacobs, author of Shadow Cat

Shadow Cat is a paranormal romance with an exotic setting and intriguing myth that gives it an edge in this crowded genre. Reena Jacobs has kindly consented to an interview today and is generously offering Book’d Out readers the opportunity to win one of two editions of Shadow Cat. Keep reading to learn how you can win!

Welcome Reena!

Q: Who should be reading  Shadow Cat?

Reena: Not kiddies, that’s for sure. 🙂 Anyone who is fond of shape shifter romances might enjoy Shadow Cat. There’s a bit of eroticism in it, so if it’s not your thing, you might have to close your eyes during certain parts.

Q: Malaysia is an exotic setting for a novel in the paranormal romance genre, have you been there or have you relied on research to evoke Berani’s jungle?

Reena: How I would love to visit Malaysia. Alas, I was forced to rely on literature and pictures to create the atmosphere. Along with gathering information from official sites like the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks, I was a little unconventional in my research. Official sites stick to just the facts, ma’am. I wanted a feel. So, I cruised a lot of sites of those lucky enough to have vacationed in Malaysia. I read about their experiences (particularly the weather, animals, and vegetation) and drooled over the photo albums.

Q: Shadow Cat involves tiger shifters called ‘orang belang’ (translated as ‘the striped ones’) in Malay. How much of the myth in the story is based on real Malaysian legend?

Reena: The concept of ‘orang belang’ is based on Malaysian legend, but I took creative liberties and made it my own. I didn’t delve deep into the beliefs of the Malay. Berani acknowledges the humans’ folklore but counts much of it as myth. In essence, we get the “truth” from an actual wehr-tiger (Berani). Some overlapping between human beliefs and the wehr-tiger world, but readers researching the legend shouldn’t expect Shadow Cat to follow Malay folklore to a tee.

Q:  The book has a subtle theme of conservation versus progress, was this an intentional discourse or a by-product of the characters’ conflicts?

Reena: Yes and No. I’ll admit, I’m not green. We go through soda cans, used to drink gobs of bottled water before we got a filter, still use paper towels in mass, and all that other good stuff. Most of the time, I don’t even consider the resources we waste in our household. But I should. 🙂 We all should.

Shadow Cat wasn’t written with the intention of being an advocate for the rainforests. Rather it provided an opportunity to speak about a concern many ignore, so I took it. Berani gives a voice to the animals that have none.

Q: Who is your favorite character in Shadow Cat and why?

Reena: Bryan by far. I fell in love with him early. He’s the kind of guy who’d appreciate being in my household. We’re big into cheesy practical jokes. Plus, I love a guy with backbone.

Q: Can you give us any hints as to what to expect in the second book in The Striped Ones series, Chasing Shadows.

Reena: Sure. 🙂 I have a tentative blurb:

The Past Never Dies

As the runt of the litter, Kecil should have died young. The day her mother was murdered, she wished she had. Six years later, her mother’s killer resurfaces. Small, insignificant, and useless to her clan, Kecil seeks the wehr-tiger who destroyed her world. A wanderer branded as a murderer—as undeserving as he is, Mujur only wants to find a place he can call his own. Determined to atone for his past and prove his worth, he hunts the demon which threatens a wehr-tiger matriarch. When Kecil comes face to face with Mujur, she must decide how much vengeance is enough.

Q:  What other works have you published?

Reena: I have on short story called Control Freak: Brandon’s Story. It’s an erotic clip from a married couple’s life told from the husband’s point of view. I’ve been horrible about getting Regina’s Story out. Bits and pieces of it have been fermenting for months now. Really, I just need to getter dun.

Q: What are you reading right now?

Reena:  I just finished Woman Food and God by Geneen Roth. Normally, I’m not a non-fiction fan. My mother came to mind when I saw it offered in a Goodreads giveaway. Plus, when I was younger I’d heard about a program called Weigh Down where members included God in their weight loss program. I was curious, entered, and won a copy. It’s interesting. Though the focus is food obsessions, I think a reader can substitute any obsession they have. In my case, I stress over being unproductive but seldom change my ways. As for my mother, she leads a fit lifestyle; however I think she’d still enjoy this work for the spiritual benefits.

Thank you for your time Reena!

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Author Bio

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she’s known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for “just one more purchase.” Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog.

Website I Blog I Facebook I Twitter I My Space I Goodreads

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Enter to Win

Reena Jacobs is offering

One print edition of Shadow Cat to a US/CA resident

One electronic edition of Shadow Cat to a reader worldwide.

Must be aged 18 or over to enter

Total entries per person available: 5

Entries close: April 23rd 2011 {drawn via random.org}

To Enter:

+1 Leave a comment on this post that includes your name, email address and country.

For extra entries:

+1 if you tweet, blog or facebook this post (use the icons below to make it easy)

+2 if you add Shadow Cat to your to read list at Goodreads or Library Thing

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Shadow Cat is available to purchase

@ Amazon (print and Kindle)

@ Barnes and Noble

@ Smashwords