Author Spotlight: Count Spatula’s Guide to Baking by Andi Watson + Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on the Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula blog tour and happy release day! We have a special treat for our graphic novel lovers today. Andi Watson has whipped up (pun totally intended) and fun interview between Afterlife magazine and Count Spatula, a vampire chef! As a bonus he’s also dawn artwork for you enjoyment. Check it out below and enter for a chance to win this awesome graphic novel!

Afterlife magazine interviews Count Spatula

A: Count Spatula, we know very little about you before you began work in the palace kitchen. Tell us something of your early life.

CS: I grew up in a castle in the depths of the Black Forest. There were few playmates to be found so I spent many hours in the kitchen learning at the elbow of the cook and the baker. I copied them. Given a spare piece of dough, I’d kneed my own bread, a dollop of cake mixture, by own cupcake.

A: Did your family encourage your baking?

CS: I would say not. They had other ambitions for me. It was a great disappointment to them when I lost my fangs. Indulging in sweet treats has it’s consequences. Coming from a family who stuck to a strict diet, I was unaware of what might occur if I didn’t brush my teeth regularly

A: You flew the coop, then?

CS: I left home and was apprenticed to Monsieur Fantome at the Catafalque.

A: A promising start. Monsieur Fantome has a formidable reputation.

CS: I was very junior. Monsieur Fantome does not remember me.

A: I understand he also applied for the position of head chef at the palace?

CS: Yes.

A: And has he congratulated you on winning the top job?

CS: It may have slipped his mind. He’s very busy.

A: Indeed. Did you move directly from the Catafalque to the palace?

CS: No. I helped run a small bakery on Hangnoose Lane.

A: That doesn’t sound like a natural career progression.

CS: I wanted the freedom to stretch my wings. Somewhere I could experiment, fail and develop my own recipes.

A: And from there you went straight to the high pressure and high expectations of the palace kitchens. What prompted you to make such a drastic move?

CS: I wanted to showcase what I’d learned on Hangnoose Lane, challenge myself and see if I was good enough.

A: What gave you the edge in the interviews, as we know you were chosen over some of the best chefs in the Underworld.

CS: I have no idea. I brought cakes, perhaps that clinched it.

A: The palace kitchens must be a significant operation, lots of organisation required, a large staff to manage, many menus on the go all at the same time. Plates literally spinning. Describe your brigade, who are your lieutenants?

CS: Um, we have a … small staff at the kitchens. A tight knit team, you might say. I keep a close eye on everything that comes in and out. We work extremely hard. It was a shock at first, but I’ve settled in and now feel quite at home.

A: A shock, you say? You mean the magnificence and opulence of the meals. The sheer number of courses and variety of food?

CS: No, I wouldn’t say that. The most important skill is working quickly to order and catering to a wide range of tastes. Problem solving and inspiration are vital.

A: And the king, how is his health? He has drastically reduced the number of public appearances he’s made over recent times.

CS: The king is very well and preoccupied with matters of state.

A: And the delightful Princess Decomposia, how is she?

CS: The princess is quite wonderful. I can’t speak highly enough of her. I’ve been made to feel like a  member of the family.

A: Count Spatula, thank you for your time.

CS: My pleasure.

Interview conducted with the assistance of the Flying Skull Messaging agency.

[about-author]

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula is Out Today!

Goodreads | Indie Bound | B&N | Amazon

Princess Decomposia is overworked and underappreciated.

This princess of the underworld has plenty of her own work to do but always seems to find herself doing her layabout father’s job, as well. The king doesn’t feel quite well, you see. Ever. So the princess is left scurrying through the halls, dodging her mummy, werewolf, and ghost subjects, always running behind and always buried under a ton of paperwork. Oh, and her father just fired the chef, so now she has to hire a new cook as well.

Luckily for Princess Decomposia, she makes a good hire in Count Spatula, the vampire chef with a sweet tooth. He’s a charming go-getter of a blood-sucker, and pretty soon the two young ghouls become friends. And then…more than friends? Maybe eventually, but first Princess Decomposia has to sort out her life. And with Count Spatula at her side, you can be sure she’ll succeed.

Andi Watson (Glister, Gum Girl) brings his signature gothy-cute sensibility to this very sweet and mildly spooky tale of friendship, family, and management training for the undead.

Check Out the Rest of The Blog Tour

Visit the other blogs below for more fun including kitchen advice, recipes, comics and more!

Monday, February 16^th – Stacked http://www.stackedbooks.org/

Tuesday, February 17^th – Bumbles & Fairy Tales http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, February 18^th – Love is Not a Triangle http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/

Thursday, February 19^th – Alice Marvels http://www.alicemarvels.com/

Friday, February 20^th – Haunted Orchid http://hauntedorchid.blogspot.com/

Monday, February 23^rd – Supernatural Snark http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, February 24^th – Cuddlebuggery http://cuddlebuggery.com/

Wednesday, February 25^th – The Book Rat http://www.thebookrat.com/

Thursday, February 26^th – The Midnight Garden http://www.themidnightgarden.net/

Friday, February 27^th – The Book Smugglers http://thebooksmugglers.com/

Giveaway

We are pleased to offer a copy of Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula to one lucky reader, courtesy of First Second!

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