My name is Faleena Hopkins and I have a thing for supernatural creatures and love stories. For a few years now I’ve written novels and have 17 on Amazon, including 3 under the pen name I started under and then shed when I decided to have the courage to write as me. Been writing since I was five or six years old when I sold short stories to my parents for a buck. Doing that now with Werewolves of Chicago: Howard, and loving every suspenseful second of it.

Let’s Get To Know Faleena Hopkins

Q: What are the top five books that have influenced your career?

A: Little Women for the heartfelt honesty. The Secret Life of Bees for the search to find out who you really are. Independent Ed by Ed Burns because I’m a filmmaker and love all things indie. Goes with my not-a-fan-of-authority nature.

Q: What’s the funniest thing a reader has ever said/emailed to you?

A: Well, right now they’re captioning photos for a giveaway contest I’m having and I’ve been laughing at what they’re coming up with, all day. The sweetest thing one ever said was, “You got me back into reading. Your biggest fan in Africa.”

Q: If you could go back in time before you published your first book, what advice would you give yourself about publishing?

A: No need to stress out, you’re going to be successful. Enjoy the ride and have a s***-ton of fun.

Q: What fictional character would you punch if the face if you thought you could get away with it without going to jail?

A: That guy Grey. Or Gray. I hate jerks.

Q: Pick a super-power and tell us what you’d do with it.

A: Oh my Lord, give me the ability to teleport and I will be the happiest woman you’ve ever seen. I’d go to Italy for lunch, Spain for Siesta, Edinburgh for some drinks at the pub surrounded by that fantastic Scottish accent that very same night. Count me in!

Q: What’s your favorite AND least favorite thing about being a writer/author?

A: Working from home. It’s sometimes awesome, and sometimes lonely.

About Werewolves of Chicago: Howard – The Underdog by Faleena Hopkins

Blurb

Not every wolf gets a cool name. At least not until he’s earned it. An action-packed tale of courage, good vs. evil, and leaps of faith in yourself transforming you into who you really are. An action-packed tale of courage, good vs. evil, and leaps of faith in yourself, transforming you into who you really are. In the wake of taking down the Russian mafia, runt wolf Howard has finally come into his own. And now that he’s falling for a blue-haired girl, he has to discover what it means to be powerful before facing the greatest challenge of all, his past. Bonus Content: the suspense novel Werewolves of Chicago: Curragh is included in this Limited Release eBook Edition. Available in Kindle Unlimited.

Exclusive Excerpt

My jaw drops. I shut it, hard. “I think you should leave.” 
He laughs under his breath, and turns on his heel. “Your loss…Alisa.” 
At hearing my name coming from him, spikey goosebumps shoot under my skin. I shiver and throw a glance to the heavier coat hanging behind me, wishing I could put it on. It’s suddenly very cold. I consider waiting for the make-out couple to come out and decide, “Fuck it. They can get their own coats.” 
Dumping the tip jar’s generous contents into my purse, I promise myself to figure out what I really want to do with my life, as quickly as possible. What I don’t want is to be approached by skeezie men in dark places anymore. This is not a way to make a living. Not for me.
As soon as I make it to the front door, I realize that he just left, and I really don’t want to run into that guy unprotected. So I wait. My ballet-style flats tap the cement floor this time with my adrenaline pumping. I hate men who make me feel this way. Absolutely fucking hate them. I bet this is how deer feel in the forest when they sense a predator. After a few impatient minutes, I tell myself aloud, “I’m sure he’s gone. There are a ton of bars around here. He’s gotta keep that search up.” Blinking toward the floor I add, “Just in case, I’m going out the back door.” 
Jumping back behind the counter, I grab their coats and walk into the bar, straight up to the couple making out so loudly I hear slurping. “Here.” I lay their coats on the table and mumble, “Free of charge.” They don’t even see me. 
Giving a wave to Greta and Austin behind the bar, I head for the back door. Louie bars my way. “No pooping tonight?” 
“Give it a rest Louie,” I mutter and push past him. “I just hand-delivered the sloppy kissers their coats.” 
Having nothing else to say and needing all the power he can find, he calls after me, “Be on time tomorrow!” He’s a small man. Not in height. In spirit. 
“I was on time today!” I call back, raising my hand in a wave. “Goodnight Louie!” 
“But you weren’t last Monday!” he shouts. Ignoring this, I crash through the door into the back alley. Best not to get him on my bad side. I’ve been fired enough. 
Lynnie would kill me. 
I cross my arms against the chilly night. It takes several annoyed steps for me to let my irritation with Louie go. I realize that it’s after four in the morning and there is no one around. No one. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the city so silent and eerie since we moved here. Behind stores, clubs and restaurants, the buildings always look sketchy. They never put any effort into how the back of a place looks. The pothole covered, darkly lit parking lots don’t help the nervous feeling creeping into my blood. The familiar scent of Lake Michigan wafts through the air and I inhale deeply to calm my racing heart. 
Am I being watched? 
I stop walking and turn to slowly look behind me. Several old spotlights indicate no one is there, and that I’m alone. But I don’t feel like I am. Walking faster, I become positive someone is watching me right now. I break into a run. The solo echo of my ballet-style flats hitting the concrete makes me more scared. I sound panicked. God, just get me home. Help me get home! 
From the cutout entrance to a restaurant I’ve never been in jumps the man with the scars. I scream. He grabs me around the waist and covers my mouth with his hand. “Shhhhhh!” My screams won’t stop, muffled by his rough skin. He lifts me off the ground with one arm like I weigh nothing. I kick at him with all my might, but he just laughs a horrible little laugh.

Favorite Quote

My favorite quote from Werewolves of Chicago: Howard – The Underdog is:

“You found it,” Xavier says.
I pant, “What? What did I find?” smiling wide.
Draik tips his head up. “Courage.”

Werewolves of Chicago: Howard – The Underdog Faleena Hopkins
03/29/2016 –
GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble

Weekly Feature: Werewolves of Chicago: Howard – The Underdog by Faleena Hopkins was first published on Fiction Vixen