Author Interview, Excerpt & Giveaway ~ A SPIDER IN THE GARDEN by Courtney Davis

A Spider in the Garden
by: Courtney Davis
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy/Romance
Release Date: February 8, 2022
Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing
Amazon | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords | Goodreads

Two perfect species were created in the garden, but they didn't stay there.

Aranha is the last of her kind, a spider shifter who preys upon the dregs of society in an attempt to validate her existence and feed her hunger. She’s lived alone for two hundred years, no family and no friends; always watchful for those who would kill her.

Dag is one of a dying species, vampires who can walk in the day. They have lost their companions and live in dread of the day that they too will become extinct; leaving the earth to the vile creatures who prey upon humans without mercy.

Aranha sees danger in Dag’s face, Dag sees the future in hers. Neither can believe the other exists and their lives are about to get very complicated. Together they embark on a mission to save a young human from the vampires and learn the reality of what their two species were doing in The Garden of Eden.

Hello Courtney. Welcome to Read Your Writes Book Reviews. How are you?
Wonderful! So excited to be able to share a bit about myself on your blog. Thank you so much for having me.

You’re welcome. Congratulations on the release of A Spider in the Garden. Tell me about the story.
A Spider in the Garden is about a woman, a spider shifter, Aranha, who must kill to eat, but only kills those she decides deserve to die. Her webs help her figure that out. She struggles with her life however, alone and unsure about existing. She saves a young werewolf, Jonah, meets a daywalking vampire, Dag, who she didn’t think existed, and realizes that what she thought about her world might be a little different, perhaps a little brighter.

She decides to help Dag with his mission to disrupt the vampire clan’s plans and save a young human girl, Evelyn.

She doesn’t expect to find that she’s attracted to Dag, or that he may not be the vicious killer she grew up thinking his kind was. In fact they might be a perfect match.

I’ve never considered or heard of spider shifters before. What can you tell me about them?
She looks pretty normal most of the time, but can change into any size or type of spider at will, which makes getting in and out of small spaces unseen very easy. She can spin a web between her fingers, even in human form, and leave them around to catch thoughts of those who pass by. If she really wants to scare someone, she can flash her black fangs in human form, discouraging unwanted suitors on the street.

I would say she is far cooler than Spiderman, but I may be biased and my 5 year old would certainly disagree.

I gotta be honest, Aranha sounds really interesting. Tell me what draws Aranha and Dag to each other?
When they meet the first time, they are both shocked by the existence of each other, both having believed that the other’s species was extinct. That surprise alone is something that attracts them, but Dag knows something that Aranha doesn’t, their species weren’t meant to be enemies. Aranha is attracted to him against her better judgment but is soon convinced to buy into his rescue mission for the greater good and finds out he isn’t what her mother told her daywalkers were.

Can you tell me about Evelyn, the human girl, Aranha and Dag team up to help? And why do they feel the need to do so?
She is a young woman being held captive by the vampires. There isn’t much of her background revealed in the book, but she plays an important role and might get her own story down the road.

They feel the need to help her because neither Dag, nor Aranha, like to see humans suffering unnecessarily and they both think that the vampires are up to something dangerous.

What was your favorite part of A Spider in the Garden to write?
There’s a part where Dag, Aranha and Jonah go to a mall, and although it’s kind of a simple thing, it really was a fun scene to imagine and write. It did a lot of character development for them all and what happens in the parking lot afterward made me giggle.

Can you please tell me about one of your favorite scenes and why it’s considered a favorite?
Without revealing too much, I would say it is when Aranha returns to her apartment and Jonah, a young werewolf, is so excited by her return. He’s a great character! And his story will get told too someday.

I can only imagine what happens. And, if I’m right, I can see it being a little funny and weird. Do you see this story/series continuing?
I will write at least one more, not about Dag and Aranha centrally, but about Jonah and Evelyn.

I don’t even know about it, but that story sounds like it could be interesting. Courtney, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me.
Thank you for having me!

You’re welcome.

She didn’t like the idea of being in his space, but the public was no place for this conversation. She didn’t trust him, but she was curious as to what he could possibly think she needed his help with, and how did he even exist? She had as many questions as he did, she was sure. She couldn’t keep Jonah and herself safe if she didn’t know what was out there; maybe he wasn’t the only one and she needed to be aware of them as a danger too. She decided she had no better option. “I will follow you,” she agreed.

He nodded and held the door open for her gallantly. She didn’t move. “I said I’ll follow you.”

“You should trust me,” he said quietly.

His blue eyes stared straight into hers, it touched her soul and she had to steel herself against the threat of feelings she had no use for. “Why?” she hissed.

“I don’t think you have anyone else,” he said quietly, then went out the door and up the stairs.

She bristled at the truth in his words. Other than Jonah, she didn’t have anyone, but she didn’t have to trust him, she had no reason to think he meant her anything other than harm. She tucked her knives away and locked the door behind them. Three brown spiders crept out of the dark and looked up at her. “Cover the door, make sure it looks unused and unwelcoming.”

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Courtney Davis is an author of urban fantasy, paranormal, supernatural fiction with a little romance and humor thrown in. She loves creating worlds and exploring human, and inhuman, interaction. She lives in North Idaho with her husband and children where she teaches and enjoys time spent relaxing in the summer sun and winters by the fire. She has always had an affinity for reading and writing and a goal to make a career of it. There is no greater joy than to know her words took a reader out of reality for a time and into another world.

Places to find Courtney Davis:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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