Interview: Diane Moat of The Supernatural Pet Sitter with Giveaway

The Supernatural Pet Sitter

The Magic Thief #1

by Diane Moat

Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery

140 pages

Every animal can talk to you. You just have to know how to listen.

Pepper Neely is better at this than most, especially because she is in charge of pet sitting all the familiars in her neighborhood. A familiar is a pet magically linked to a witch or warlock. As a gnome, Pepper is no stranger to spells and sorcery. She also knows that, despite their special name, familiars aren’t all that different from regular animals. They get anxious when separated from their people, so Pepper uses her special gnome powers to calm them down. She watches Cranky the high-strung ferret, Frank the laid-back parrot, King Arthur the elderly tortoise, and many others.

Then, something terrible begins happening to the familiars. Someone is stealing their magic! It not only prevents Pepper from communicating with them but breaks their magical connection with their people. When King Arthur’s magic is stolen, his owner’s powers stop working too. Pepper can sense that the tortoise is very scared.

In order to protect the animal's magic, Pepper decides to track down the culprit. With the help of her best friend, Luna, and her brother, Jax, Pepper fights to protect all of the special pets.

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Interview

When did you start writing?

I have always had a strong imagination but thought you had to be “trained” to be a writer. Last year I was about to turn 50 when I heard an author speak on how easy it was to create a cookbook of her favorite family recipes. It struck me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn’t get the thought of writing a novel out of my mind. I bought an electronic notebook and wrote a few sentences. Then a chapter. By the end of the second chapter I was hooked, and I haven’t stopped since!

Other than writing, what are you passionate about?

Animal rescue. I volunteer every chance I get, and I currently have six rescues dogs. Everyone can make a difference in the lives of animals. Adopt, don’t shop. Spay or neuter your pets. Volunteer. Donate. Spread the word. Every bit helps.

What are some of your pet peeves?

People who are negative about something new without even trying it. Also, people who talk on their cellphone while they are walking.

What can we expect from you in the future?

There will hopefully be more Supernatural Pet Sitter installments. Pepper has been very busy, and is currently at my house trying to lift a curse off of the werewolves.

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?

I’d get a huge mocha coffee and a gigantic bag of dog treats, then plop myself down in the middle of the nearest dog park!

Diane is a Tennessee transplant, animal rescuer, and nurse. The Supernatural Pet Sitter is her debut children's novel. Diane is assisted by her many rescue dogs.

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Review: Inheritance by Joan Cleveland and Marisa Cleveland

INHERITANCE

by Joan Cleveland and Marisa Cleveland

Simeris Alliance, LLC

Middle Grade Paranormal

183 pages

His destiny is to save humankind. But first he must survive middle school...

The descendants of the fallen angels never had it so good. At twelve, Grayson Lahash is thrust into an unfamiliar world where battle lines balance precariously in favor of good over evil, and his unexpected arrival and fallen heritage may be just enough to tip the scales.

But as Grayson uncovers the secrets of his past, he must decide if he's willing to risk everything for the destiny that is his to inherit. 

MY TIDBITS

This book is written by a mother/daughter team, and in the acknowledgements, Joan Cleveland states that it was done so middle graders would have more books 'to read with passion and depth and imagination'. The authors achieved exactly this.

After watching his mother die in front of him, 12-year-old Grayson's father orders a giant to carry him off to a boarding school, where Grayson isn't sure what's going on and would give anything to get his mother back. He soon realizes that the students in the school aren't exactly what they appear to be. He's involved in something much larger and more dangerous than the normal human world he's known up to now.

The story starts off with a gripping scene and puts Grayson in a situation where it's impossible not to sympathize with him. His confusion is felt in the first couple of chapters and soon starts to gain clarity as the pieces start to fall together. The authors do a great job of drawing the reader into the story, and just when it appears as if things are making sense, the plot turns in a new, unpredictable direction, keeping the tension and mystery high until the last page.

Although Grayson is the main character, there's a rich cast of side characters, each with their very own story. Some are easy to love or hate from the beginning, where others are struggling to discover who they are and what they stand for. Especially middle graders will understand how difficult decisions can be, and how things aren't always black and white but often sit in a unclear grey.

There are so many wonderful messages in this book, none of which feel like they're being held up like a flag. The characters learn about themselves, friendship, sacrifice and forgiveness. The strong, Christian aspects of the story are refreshing. They blend seamlessly into the plot without playing down the danger, tension, and fantastical aspects of the story. There are a few violent scenes, but nothing inappropriate for the age group.

Summed up: This is a story fantasy/paranormal friends, especially Christian ones, will enjoy diving into. There are fight scenes, mystery, hints of magic, twists and turns, and battles of good versus evil, all of which can keep a reader at the edge of there seat. I especially recommend this for readers ages 10+. 

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.