Guest Post with Suzanne Selfors, Author of Coffeehouse Angel & Contest!

Today I'd like to welcome young adult and middle grade author, Suzanne Selfors. Born in Munich, Germany in 1963, Suzanne attended Bennington College and graduated with honors from Occidental College in Documentary Film Production. She received an MA in Communications from the University of Washington. She lives with her husband on an island in Washington state where they are raising two children, a dog, a cat, and a flock of messy chickens.

Suzanne is the author of Saving Juliet, To Catch a Mermaid, Fortune's Magic Farm. Her latest novel, Coffeehouse Angel is about a girl who gives a homeless man a cup of coffee, not realizing he is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. Suzanne stopped by to talk about the rising popularity of angels and the inspiration behind Malcolm in Coffeehouse Angel.

MAKE WAY FOR ANGELS?

by Suzanne Selfors

A recent newspaper article asked the question, “Are clouds replacing coffins?” The article referred to the fact that a whole bunch of angel-themed books have been released this year, mine included, and more are on the way. So all those bookstore shelves and tables that have been crowded with vampire books had better make some room. We’re taking over.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been a vampire fan. My daughter is. She goes to sleep every night with Edward staring at her from her bedroom wall. I tend to get stuck in the gory details of having a vampire boyfriend. Like the fact that he’s UNDEAD. Kissing ice-cold lips and cuddling next to someone who feels like a Popsicle just doesn’t appeal to me. I guess I’m weird that way. And then there’s the whole drinking blood thing. How can you have a nice Thanksgiving dinner when your boyfriend’s staring at your neck and drooling?

But angels are different. They are very much alive. If it’s the dead of winter and you suffer from Seasonal Depression, like most people in my northern climate tend to do, then an angel is handy to have around because he’ll keep the house warm and bright—like a heat lamp. I’m not sure if angels need to eat—that’s up to the author to decide—but I do know that you don’t have to open a vein to enjoy a meal in his company.

In my book, Coffeehouse Angel, my angel’s name is Malcolm. Though I don’t belong to a particular religion, I have spent a great deal of time studying religion. The world’s religions are some of the best sources for story. They provide great inspiration. And when I started my research on angels, I was amazed to find that all religions have them, in one form or other. So when I went to create my angel, I drew from many different traditions. For instance, the Old Testament tells us that the angel is a messenger, sent from God to deliver a message. These angels are radiant, otherworldly beautiful but in an androgynous, non-sexual way. Some of this I could use but I was writing a teen novel and so I needed my angel to be, well, sexy. So I went to an early messenger, Hermes, the Greek Messenger God. From Hermes I took the mischievous personality, the kilt, satchel and winged sandals. And viola! I’ve got a messenger angel who’s cute, stylish and way too curious about the human world.

Once our angel books have taken over, the question arises—what will be next? What nonhuman boyfriend will arrive in the next wave of paranormal romance? Fairies have been well represented, as have werewolves and wizards. So, I’m thinking leprechauns. Hmmm. Maybe not. What do you think?

From the author of Saving Juliet comes a romantic comedy that is good to the last drop. When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .

You can purchase Coffeehouse Angel HERE.

To learn more about Suzanne, visit her Official Website.

****CONTEST****

Suzanne has graciously offered to give away one copy Coffeehouse Angel.

TO ENTER:
Comment on Suzanne's post with your thoughts

BONUS ENTRY:
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END DATE:
November 27th 2009 (US Only Please)