Carol McKibben graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Secondary Education and a minor in Journalism. She went on to earn a Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Rollins College. After teaching English and Journalism for a decade, she was offered the opportunity to join Miramar Communications, the 8th largest publishing house west of the Mississippi in Los Angeles.
Working her way up from editorial and then as Director of Market Development, she became the publisher of Special Events magazine (a trade publication for all those working in the events industry) that she helped launch in 1984. In addition, she created a companion trade show, The Special Event, for which she was also the director for a decade, planning every aspect – from exhibits to educational conferences and events.
During that time, she earned her Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation and helped found the International Special Events Society (ISES) of which she was international president from 1999-2000. She co-authored The Dictionary of Event Management for ISES and helped write the study guides for the CSEP exam.
She was a magazine publisher for both consumer and trade magazines for 20+ years. She has written numerous articles and conducted a myriad of seminars, often speaking to large audiences for both The Special Event and ISES. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the special events industry in 1999.
In 2007, she began a freelance writing and editing career, working with other authors to help them realize their dreams. She has published Luke’s Tale, Riding Through It and Snow Blood Season 1. Luke’s Tale and Snow Blood are targeted to a YA market. Luke’s Tale was included in the Summer Solstice Top 12 Book Pick List. Carol writes from the heart of a dog’s eyes. Her books help support her dog rescue efforts and focus on unconditional love.
Carol is married to Mark McKibben, a broadcast engineering sales professional and experienced airplane pilot, and they have two grown children, Rett and Stephanie, and three grandchildren, Lauren, Diesel and Slater. Their current “babies” are Neo, their 117-lb. Labradoodle, a trained therapy dog, and Binks, a black Labrador Retriever rescue. Together Mark and Carol work with the Los Angeles Animal Rescue and Wings of Rescue to save the precious lives of endangered dogs.
Carol is a firm believer in Maya Angelou’s quote:” I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She believes that angels were her inspiration for Luke’s Tale – a Story of Unconditional Love and feels that even though the Snow Blood Series is about the original vampire and his kindred dog, that theme carries through. “There’s a method to my madness,” she states. “The world is waiting for love to overcome hate. I feel that my purpose is to show others how to love unconditionally, just as dogs love us we should love each other.”
Carol’s other favorite quote is one that her husband taught her. “I love myself more when I am with you.”
Carol, Neo and Binks are currently working on Snow Blood Season 2.
To learn even more about Carol, go to http://www.carolmckibben.com
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Luke’s Tale
Snow Blood Season 1 by Carol McKibben is the first in a series of short novels retelling the modern day adventures of the first vampire.
When Brogio must turn Snow, a beautiful white husky, in order to save the dog, a series of events is unleashed that reveal a sinister plot against the father of all vampires.
As life and true death experiences bond the master vampire and his newly transformed vampire canine together, they unravel a conspiracy that when resolved may return Selene, the love of Brogio’s life, back to him and set him free from the lonely existence that has plagued him for thousands of years! From the author of Luke’s Tale, follow Snow Blood, an epic story of the first vampire as told through the eyes of his kindred dog.
Episode One - reveals how Snow first meets Brogio, the original vampire, and follows the white husky through his transformation to the Kindred world.
Episode Two - uncovers a sinister plot to destroy the father of all vampires, and we meet Kane, Brogio’s first blood child. This episode traces Snow’s efforts to discover Brogio’s history.
Episode Three - introduces Selene, a nurse who is identical to the love of Brogio’s existence. Is she merely a doppelganger or his love returned to him? Is she part of the threat to his destruction? More threats are made not just against the lives of Brogio and Snow but against Selene, forcing them to reveal their true identities to her. Struggling with her acceptance of Brogio, Snow and Kane, Selene is brought into their fold for her protection.
Episode Four and Five - let the reader know more about Brogio and the original Selene’s past while Brogio attempts to protect those he loves from inevitable destruction by leading the threatening dark forces away from them. Snow intercedes after Selene’s plea for help to reunite her to Brogio. United again, destruction follows the four of them wherever they go. Hounded by ancient gods and goddesses, monsters, werewolves and a number of disasters, they battle to protect each other. In his effort to protect his master and those he loves, Snow must make a promise that will end his life as he knows it. The true source bent on destroying Brogio is finally revealed and culminates in an epic battle where Snow offers up his life to save Brogio, Selene and Kane.
Episode Six – Snow prepares to keep the promise that he made, but Kane intervenes for his “blood brother,” leaving us to wonder about both their fates. Tension grows between Brogio and Selene as he attempts to make her his wife for eternity and defy the gods. The reader discovers if Selene is his love returned to him.
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“A real surprise find for me. Being a dog person I was tempted but I only reluctantly ventured out to read this book about a white husky who becomes vampire. To my relief and joy the concept really worked! … The drama, the suspense and the perspective are excellent, and I no doubt will make my way through this canine paranormal series. Well done!” ~Christoph Fischer
Q) What inspired you to write this story?
I had just published Luke’s Tale – A Story of Unconditional Love. I wanted to show loyalty and unconditional love in the most dire of circumstances. I’ve always loved vampire novels. Because I write through the eyes of a dog, my publisher suggested I write a vampire novel. I decided it had to be about the first, the original vampire as told through the eyes of his kindred dog. I wanted it to be a love story and a mystery, and that was my inspiration!
Q) How long did it take you to write?
One year from the day I began writing it until it was published. So about 8 months to write and the rest editing back and forth with my editor, Lonnie, every day.
Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?
It makes me happy. I am thrilled that I love what I do for a living. I enjoy working with other authors, which I do often, In all honesty, writing is a lot of work, but, because I love it so much, it’s pure pleasure.
Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?
Disappointing my readers.
Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
Oh, I’d be John Irving. It would be wonderful to be a multi-best-selling author and just feel that glow. If I could be inside his great brain, I could memorize all of that genius and steal it away to use in my writing!
Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?
You know, my husband does all the cooking! And, he’s one of these guys who throws all the old stuff out as soon as he gets a replacement. Half the time I have to ask him what’s in the fridge because I have no idea! If I had to guess, I’d say mayo, and it wouldn’t be more than two weeks old.
Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?
Right now, I am working on Snow Blood Season 2. In Season 1, I purposely made Selene a rather weak-willed character. In Season 2, she transforms into this very strong character. I love doing that. In addition, I’m adding more flavor to all the characters, more depth. And, I’m giving Snow a love interest. Multiple reviewers said this is a vampire story … love story … mystery with lots of twists and turns. That’s still all there, but I want the characters to be even richer.
After that, my publisher is pushing for Snow Blood Season 3. Beyond that, something very quirky. I want to create a quirky, funny, unforgettable character. Am fiddling with it … but something that would make John Irving proud of me.
