A Chat with Sir Sassafras & A 3 Book Giveaway, Plus A four-book Series!!!

Whenever I do an Author spotlight, I try to get creative, look to that author's style and personality. With this author and her story, I had no trouble conjuring a unique alleyway of questions. You'll see why in a moment.

Patti Larsen, Author of FAMILY MAGIC. Patti is a middle grade, young adult and adult author with a passion for the paranormal. Her YA thriller series, The Hunted, is available now. The first four books of The Hayle Coven series, Family Magic, Witch Hunt, Demon Child and The Wild are also out now. Her YA paranormal novel, Best Friends Forever, and steampunk series, Blood and Gold, are due early in 2012. She is a full time writer and a part time teacher of her Get Your Book Done program. Patti lives on the East Coast of Canada with her very patient husband and four massive cats.

Plus, Pattis is offering up juicy giveaway: 3 e-copies of Family Magic with a grand prize of the first four books from Family Magic to a 4th winner!! Fill out the form below to ENTER; winners to be announced on March 30th.

This has to be one of my favorited interviews of all time.

Alleywalkers,

Meet Sassafras, the demon cat who plays a supporting role in Patti's magical story FAMILY MAGIC.

Tell us a bit about your past, Sassafras, and what lead up to your, um...current four-legged stature. 

You’re rather forward with your questions, aren’t you? Poking at my unusual circumstance right from the get go? An individual’s physical state is not a reflection of who they are, correct? Just because I used to enjoy life as a two-legged demon teenager, only to be trapped forever in this fur ball of a body… such a miserable punishment for a very small infraction. Now I’m stuck here on your plane, judged and ridiculed for my present incarnation. It’s atrocious. You humans should be ashamed.

Was Sassafras your demon name? 

As a matter of fact, yes. I am Sassafras, Demon Lordling of the Fifth Plane, thank you very much. Would have been Fourth. Should have been. Will be someday.

You've been with the Hayle coven for some time. What's it like seeing witches come and go, being born and then passing on?

I tell you, these Hayle witches only get worse as the centuries pass. One teen girl after another, falling into mess after world shattering mess… it’s a wonder I’m able to sleep at all. I do my best to steer them in the right direction, but do you think they listen to me? Hrumph. I’d say I told you so, but I’m tired of the cliché, frankly.

And they have the nerve to leave me, all of them. Though they always supply me with a fresh daughter or two to guide.

What's it like living with Sydlynn, a sixteen-year-old teenager who has a few more challenges than the average teen?

Sydlynn. (Shakes his head) Oh, Sydlynn. That girl. The worst of the lot. At least all of the other Hayle witches I’ve molded and shaped embraced their power. But not Syd, oh no. Contrary creature. Not only is she a trouble magnet, she’s spent her entire life fighting the very magic that makes her who she is. I’ve had my hands full with that one, let me tell you. Always fighting with her mother, causing disturbance in the family, flashing her magic to normals because she can’t seem to control herself. If she would only accept she is a witch and destined to lead this coven. But no, she’d rather be ordinary. Sniff. Ordinary. Really. How very quaint.

Don’t get me wrong--she has her good qualities. For example, she gives excellent scratches and full belly rubs. I just have difficulty seeing past her stubborn nature at times.

Can you name one positive about being a cat? And the worse part of it?

Most of the family do not take me seriously, which means I’m able to participate in discussions others might miss. On the other hand, most of the family do not take me seriously.

I hate that.

Do you still hope to be a demon again?

One day the council of Lords on Demonicon will relent and allow me my true form back. They will. And then I will finally return to my plane, my home and my family, and take my place as a ruling member of our society.

Any day now.

See why I just love him??

You can find more of Sassafras and Patti:

On her website, Facebook , blog , book blog, Twitter, Amazon.com and Goodreads.
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The Write Game
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Rosewood Pencil Box
Misha Gericke (not every wk)
Fairbetty's World 
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The B.L.O.G (The Bizzare Life of One Girl)  
A Day into the Writer
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ONE ALLEY ALERT: the bulling theme from my Friday post is being carried over to The Misadventures In Candyland, where Candace has dubbed together a video about bullying. Please head over (on Wednesday) and support her efforts!! (Yes, I'm in the video. *Shivers...)