9th Life is about the crossed paths of a zookeeper and one of the Ailuro, a race of feline shapeshifters. Being around Skyler is something Bastian isn’t willing to give up after three years of living alone. But the same reasons that keep him in exile are the very reasons he should stay away from her. His initiation at 17 into his unique abilities also brought on his inability to feel anger without endangering those around him. It’s a little hard not to trip across that anger when another group of Ailuro take an interest in the animal caretaker he’s fallen for. But then, for Bastian and Sky, very little is what it seems.

You’ve thrown some names about; tell us who they are.
Skyler Ashcraft not only works at the small town local zoo, she lives there. Her everyday would rank as a thing to remember (or run from) for anyone else. It’s just the skillset she needs when a wild lynx stumbles across her path. Shapeshifters don’t even footnote in her zookeeper manual. Unfortunately, Bastian’s hiding so much more than simply his ability to wear whiskers.

What genre is this?
Paranormal new adult.

That’s a mash-up of two genres. We hear you’ve got a great description for it.
Colleen Hoover with shapeshifters.

Brilliant.
How much of you is in Skyler?
Way too much. I didn’t write it with the thought of publishing so I wrote the story I wanted to read. As a zookeeper, it was a question of what would you do if that lynx you rescued was anything but?

You’re a zookeeper? How did you come to write this book?
Well, I suppose it’s not everyday that a zookeeper turns to writing about shapeshifters. The writing only came to me fairly recently. I’m still more familiar with snakes than sentences. Now if I’m not writing, I’m probably neck deep in Legos or fondant for my latest cake creation.

Do you have a website?
Absolutely! www.wendymbeck.com.

How can we follow you on Twitter and/or Facebook?
www.facebook.com/authorwendybeck
@wendymbeck.

What’s next?
Right now, I’d like to get the entire Naming of Legends trilogy available online. I’ve almost completed a novella to go along with the series. After that, it’s likely a book for that one side character everyone can’t get enough of…