We’re so pleased to have author E.J. Russell stopping in today on the tour for her brand new release, Vampire With Benefits, book two in the Supernatural Selection series. E.J. is here talking Ducks and Beavers today, and there’s also a giveaway so be sure to check out those details at the end.

Welome, E.J.!

No Beavers

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Oregon institutions of higher learning, when people refer to the “Civil War” game, they’re talking about the football rivalry between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, both of which are members of the Pac 12 conference.

UO’s mascot is the Ducks.

OSU’s mascot is the Beavers.

In Vampire With Benefits, Rusty Johnson, an inactive (can’t shift) beaver shifter is an alumnus of OSU. According to Rusty, all beaver shifters on the west coast go to OSU. It’s tradition. He’s not afraid to shut down Casimir, the snarky vampire, when Cas makes a rude remark about beaver shifters at their first meeting:

“You can’t be a shifter. You don’t stink.”

Bearded Guy didn’t look up. “Thanks for that.” He turned a page. “Happens you’re wrong, though. Beaver shifter.”

“Beaver?” Cas laughed, probably forcing it a little too long. “Can you seriously say that with a straight face? Or without other people making sex jokes?”

He glared at Cas over the top of the magazine. “This is Oregon. Only assholes make rude beaver jokes here.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Well, assholes and Ducks.”

My Lovely Daughter is a Duck. She graduated from UO in 2011 with a degree in journalism. (Yes, I’m a proud mom.) During her time there, CH and I visited the campus several times for various parents’ events. During one of these visits, she took us on a tour of the publicly accessible parts of the brand-new-at-the-time student athletic complex (built primarily with donations from Phil Knight, of Nike fame).

The complex is pretty freaking impressive. Only the first floor is accessible to anybody who’s not a UO athlete. In fact, I think the athletes’ IDs actually affect what foods they can obtain from the vending machines upstairs, but that may be unsubstantiated rumor.

In any case, it’s obvious no expense was spared. LD took us into a lecture hall on the first floor where she had one of her classes. The room had a sort of amphitheater layout, and all the (very nicely) padded leather seats (“Ferrari leather,” LD informed us reverently) were bright lemon yellow. (UO’s colors are yellow and green.) There was a dynamic, color-changing mural on one wall, a bank of windows at the back of the hall, and next to the door were several large receptacles for trash and recycling.

Above the receptacles were three signs with the universal circle-diagonal-strikethrough image that means “None of this!” Inside one was an apple (e.g., no food). The second was, I believe, a cup (e.g., no drinks). The third was a small animal standing upright on its (short) hind legs, a flat tail extended behind it.

Me: I get it. No beavers. Cute.

LD: Oh. I thought it meant no squirrels.

Me: …

About the Book

A match between a vampire and shifter could be deadly—but this broken beaver doesn’t give a dam.

Silent film actor Casimir Moreau had imagined that life as a vampire would be freewheeling and glamorous. Instead, he’s plunged into a restrictive society whose rules he runs afoul of at every turn. To “rehabilitate” him, the vampire council orders him mated to an incubus with impeccable breeding who’ll mold Cas into the upstanding vampire he ought to be. Or else.

As an inactive beaver shifter, construction engineer Rusty Johnson has fought—and overcome—bias and disrespect his entire life. But when his longtime boyfriend leaves him for political reasons, Rusty is ready to call it a day. Next stop? Supernatural Selection and his guaranteed perfect mate, a bear shifter living far away from Rusty’s disapproving clan.

But then a spell snafu at Supernatural Selection robs both men of their intended husbands. Rusty can’t face returning to his clan, and Cas needs somebody on his arm to keep the council happy, so they agree to pretend to be married. Nobody needs to know their relationship is fake—especially since it’s starting to feel suspiciously like the real thing.

Now available from Riptide Publishing!

About Supernatural Selection

Are you a shifter who’s lost faith in fated mates? A vampire seeking a Second Life companion? Or perhaps you’re a demon yearning to claim a soul (mate)?

Congratulations! Your search is over!

Welcome to Supernatural Selection, where our foolproof spells guarantee your perfect match.

Until they don’t.

Check out Supernatural Selection today.

About the Author

E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.

E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

Connect with E.J.: Website || Blog || Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Vampire With Benefits one lucky person will win a $25 Riptide Publishing gift card and an ecopy of The Druid Next Door, the second title in the Fae Out of Water series, also from the Mythmatched universe! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on October 27, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!