Monday, October 6, 2014

Animal Welfare Week: Author Guest Post and Giveaway!

Pawlease help us celebrate Animal Welfare Week (October 5-11) and National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week (November 2-8) with DOGHOUSE and the Gin & Tonic Mystery Series by L.A. Kornetsky!

Summary of Doghouse:
Amateur sleuths Ginny Mallard and Teddy Tonica and their furry partners prove in L.A. Kornetsky’s  DOGHOUSE (PocketBooks; July 22, 2014; $7.99) that twelve legs are better than four when it comes to solving a risky new case in the third novel from the “entertaining” (Library Journal) Gin & Tonic mystery series.  At her favorite Seattle bar, professional concierge Ginny Mallard can always count on a perfectly mixed gimlet and a friendly welcome for her shar-pei, Georgie, from resident cat, Penny.  On this visit, Ginny gets an unexpected bonus.  One of the regulars asks her and her sometime partner, bartender Teddy Tonica, to save an old friend who’s facing eviction.  This is no simple landlord spat.  Rumors abound of an underground dogfighting ring on the premises—a crime guaranteed to get Gin’s hackles up. Gin and Teddy want to believe the old man is innocent of all charges, thought a new piece of evidence suggests otherwise.  Penny and Georgie keep their noses to the ground as they help their humans investigate the vicious animal rights case.  But the truth is buried deep, and digging it up will unearth dangerous complications for owners and animals alike.

Praise for the third Gin & Tonic Mystery, Doghouse:

“Infamously nosy Ginny Mallard may be unlicensed as an investigator, but she has begun to make a name for herself as the unofficial champion of the tongue-tied. In the third installment of L.A. Kornetsky’s Gin & Tonic Mystery series, Doghouse finds Ginny getting herself tied up in a possible underground dogfighting ring. With help from her bartender friend Teddy Tonica, his tabby cat and Ginny’s Shar Pei puppy, they have to figure out what’s going on before someone else gets hurt.”
—Cat Fancy Magazine, November 2014 issue

“Human and animal characters are equally appealing. A thoroughly enjoyable read.” I Love a Mystery

Doghouse is a crafty mystery with engaging characters and countless unknowns…L.A. Kornetsky makes mysteries inventively delightful, and Doghouse entertains with wit and cleverness.” Single Titles

“I recommend it to those that really like animals and cozy mysteries.” ~Books and Things

“The third Gin & Tonic “researchtigations” is an appealing anthropomorphist amateur sleuth enhanced by life in a cheerful neighborhood bar. The lead humans and their animal owners remain fresh leads while the case proves bloody in the ring and the bar.” The Mystery Gazette

“Sniffing out clues…L.A. Kornetsky brings back Ginny Mallard and her bartender friend Teddy Tonica, along with Ginny's pet shar-pei puppy and Teddy’s tabby cat, for their third outing in Doghouse.” Library Journal

Praise for the second Gin & Tonic Mystery, Fixed:

“[Fixed] is the second foray into the lives of a very unlikely pair of investigators; unlikely and a whole lot of fun…Collared was the first title that introduced this extremely fun ‘family and friends’ grouping, and the author has come back with a sequel that will truly make Gin & Tonic a well-known duo! Very light-hearted, this is a great book. Any reader who likes the ‘cozy’ avenue will love this mystery, with a little bit of cat and dog language thrown in for fun.” Suspense Magazine

Praise for the first Gin & Tonic Mystery, Collared:

“The plot moves quickly, enhanced by smart dialog and good characterizations…Recommended for purchase where pet mysteries are popular.” Library Journal


Doghouse Excerpt

Author Guest Post: L.A. Kornesky

I’m getting ready for a move, and part of that is decluttering. Getting rid of things – objects, old paperwork – that I don’t need to haul with me any more.

But in a folder of otherwise no-longer-needed papers, there’s a sheet I’m keeping. It’s from the ASPCA, and it documents my adoption of the kitten once known as Minna, who became my beloved Pandora, gone now a little over a year.

There’s no point to keeping the sheet of paper. All it does is say that I paid x amount for a 4 month old female tiger kitten, spayed. But throwing it out isn’t an option, either. Because this was the first connection I had to Pandora, the first contract we made with each other: I would give her food, shelter, care, and a lap when she wanted it. I would give her a home. And in return, she gave me such love and companionship, letting her go at the end was no less a pain than losing a human friend.

I don’t have documentation from Indy-J, who was found on the street as a weeks-old kitten, and lived a long and adventurous life before cancer took her in 2000. But Pandora’s adoption paper will go in the current file, along with the papers for our current residents, Boomerang (aka Boomer you idiot), and Castiel the Kitten of Thursday (aka DamnitCas).

Because you keep the important moments, the documents that say “this is how you changed my life.”

(and some of you may note that I invite disaster in the renaming of my cats. You would not be wrong. But where’s the fun of living with Sir Napsalot?)

About the author:

L. A. Kornetsky is the author of two previous Gin & Tonic mysteries. She lives in New York City with two cats and a time-share dog, and also writes fantasy under the name Laura Anne Gilman. She welcomes visitors to www.lauraannegilman.net, @LAGilman and Facebook L-A-Kornetsky.


Giveaway!

There will be 2 winners of her most recent book, Doghouse. You do not have to read the other 2 books. It can be read as a standalone. My review is HERE. Since I'm sending these out myself the giveaway is open to those with US only snail mail addys. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

23 comments:

  1. I keep all documents regarding my pets too. Sad, but I even still have all my old horse registrations and stuff too. They've been dead for years now though. It's sentimental.

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  2. Oh I'm quite curious about this one, I'm in love with the cover and it sounds fun!

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  3. Not usually a fan of animal stories, I can't stand the thought of them being hurt, this does sound like a fun series. Given how curious they are I've always thought cats would make purrfect detectives.

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  4. Those covers are adorable!

    At one point I had 4 dogs and 4 cats so I had 2 huge binders for all their paperwork and health records. I'm *trying* to be more laid back about it now but I get kind of crazy when it comes to my pets :-)

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  5. Let's hear it for the puppies! Can't wait to see what all you have in store this week :) :)

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    1. Alas this is all, but it is a good way to celebrate! With a chance at a free book! LOL

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  6. Ahh this looks cute and fun. I always love everything you do to support our furry friends. My heart still isn't quite ready for a new dog, but when it is I will head down to my shelter :)

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    1. I think you would like this one. You will when you are ready. Then watch out. :)

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  7. I adore cozy mysteries, but I love that they have furry companions and investigators too! This seems to be a very cute read. As a huge dog lover, I'm pretty sure I would adore it.

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    1. I think you would enjoy the animal parts to the book. I did. :)

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  8. I do not have any papers 0_0 Just like the bill for his neutering

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  9. Ah... this makes me miss my pets that have passed. :(

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  10. I love the sound of these stories, and the covers are too cute. I wish I had a pet and your posts always make me want to run out and get a pup but of course my landlord would freak. I need to move!

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  11. Oh the cover to Doghouse is so stinking cute.I love animals in in books. Our cats passed and with a son who is allergic we never replaced them..makes me sad.

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  12. what an awesome post and subject! We've always had furbabies that we've rescued. And I totally understand how they become such an integral part of our lives that we hold on to all the memories big and small. Thanks for this fun and fantastic spotlight! This series sounds like a lot of fun!

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  13. AW!! Critters rule! Just went to the vet for a checkup for Fi and realized I rescued her four years ago! Now, she's a big butterball (we're trying to drop a couple of pounds because she's gotten *too* fat and happy).

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to get another dog. (Our other dog got attacked by a giant Possum and past away) We have to move one because it was so sudden.

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  15. This looks like a fun book. I am a huge animal lover so I'm sure I would enjoy it!

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!