Sunday, December 27, 2015

Sale! Love, Lattes, and Mutants by Sandra Cox

LOVE, LATTES. AND MUTANTS 
is currently on sale for ninety-nine cents. 

Blurb: Finding love is hard, even when you aren’t a mutant.

Like most seventeen-year-olds, Piper Dunn wants to blend in with the crowd. Having a blowhole is a definite handicap. A product of a lab-engineered mother with dolphin DNA, Piper spends her school days hiding her brilliant ocean-colored eyes and sea siren voice behind baggy clothing and ugly glasses. When Tyler, the new boy in school, zeroes in on her, ignoring every other girl vying for his attention, no one, including Piper, understands why...

Then Piper is captured on one of her secret missions rescuing endangered sea creatures and ends up in the same test center where her mother was engineered. There she discovers she isn’t the only one of her kind. Joel is someone she doesn’t have to hide from, and she finds herself drawn to the dolph-boy who shares her secrets. Talking to him is almost as easy as escaping from the lab. Deciding which boy has captured her heart is another story...

Warning: Mutants, dolphins and hottie boys

Bio
Multi-published author Sandra Cox writes YA Fantasy, Paranormal and Historical Romance, and Metaphysical Nonfiction. She lives in sunny North Carolina with her husband, a brood of critters and an occasional foster cat. Although shopping is high on the list, her greatest pleasure is sitting on her screened in porch, listening to the birds, sipping coffee and enjoying a good book. She's a vegetarian and a Muay Thai enthusiast.

Links

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Happy holidays!


Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday!


Wednesday, December 2, 2015

What's that sound?

Ahhh, there is none. The house is quiet (except for the occasional gunshot outdoors, as hunting season began yesterday with many bangs). The grandboys are FINALLY back in school today, and it's a lovely cold, rainy day.

Why is that lovely? Because it's the perfect day to write.

As of Nov. 30, I'd barely reached 38k on my new story, so no NaNoWriMo badge for me. But on Nov. 20, we left for New York City for a weekend anniversary celebration that was long overdue (we were supposed to go last year, in fact). And I knew if I hadn't written 45k by then, my chances of hitting 50k by month's end was small. And after returning home from that weekend, I lost momentum in writing it because I'd added some new elements that threw off the timeline, then I realized it would be so much better in first person, so started rewriting that tedious rewrite. And the grandboys were home for Thanksgiving break, which sapped me. But I'm going to keep writing until it's done. I don't consider it a NaNoWriMo fail, because I love the story so much.

And we had a wonderful time in New York City. Hubs had been wanting to see the play Jersey Boys since last year, and we both loved it. Having Jersey roots ourselves helped, but it's gotten great reviews too, lol.

So now it's back to work for me!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Going for 50k


I wasn't going to do NaNoWriMo this year, but writing's been a bit slow recently. Over the summer, I completed a 90k futuristic novel (under a different pen name) and revising it and shopping it around has taken up some time.

But I've been itching to write again. My WIP list is more than a dozen stories long, and a few of them have been niggling at my brain. All at the same time. Like a school of fish in a feeding frenzy! I don't know how many times I started to write one, and then moved to another. I couldn't seem to quite dig in, with too many wanting attention at once.

So I wrote a couple of short stories. And then started yet another new story.

I knew I needed to commit to just one, so I signed up for NaNo with the tentative title of Bad Moon on the Rise. Then, the next day, I changed the story to An Ill Wind.

Yes, I was having a commitment problem. But I spent last week in prep mode, focusing on An Ill Wind. After sharing the story idea with a crit partner years ago, she urged me to write this story. We were out for dinner one night, and she even chose a man at a nearby table for one of the characters for the story, lol. I kept her email encouraging me to write it. And now it's time. The story's lolly-gagged in my head long enough, taking up room that I need for new stories.

I'm waiting on word for five different submissions (three are under other pen names, all three different!) so if I get good news for the two Cate Masters stories, I'll be sharing that here. :)

Otherwise, it will be a quiet month. I'm always open to guests, though, so if you have news you want to share on my blog - new or old news, either is fine - shoot me an email and we can set up a date.

Wish me luck!

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Hauntings in central Pennsylvania


It's well known that a visit to Gettysburg might be your best chance of bumping into a spirit in Pennsylvania, but not all ghosts haunt the Civil War town. In central Pennsylvania, some are closer than you think!

Several sites in Carlisle have fairly active ghosts. On the Army War College campus sits the Hessian Powder Magazine, the guard house built in 1777 by captured Hessian, who were then imprisoned inside it.

Since 9/11, you must go through inspection at the outside gate to gain access to the campus - sad, because I used to freely ride my bike through there.

But the guards were very nice, and gave me a map to find the building.

I didn't realize it was a museum that you could go inside. This door marked "Open" doesn't look creepy, does it?

Once you're inside, there are displays such as this one.

I was the only person visiting the museum that day, so being inside alone made these statues a little creepy, too!

Farther back sits this creepy, narrow hallway.

And that's when your neck hairs start to tingle. Because down that hallway are the prison cells where Hessians were locked up.

And that's where the sounds come from at night. Moaning, groaning and clanging echo across the War College grounds.

Some claim to have seen a soldier outside.

But one man got an unexpected shock when he went down that hallway to investigate, and looked through the window of the door. Looking back at him were the Hessian prisoners from 1777.

I have to admit, I'd read this story before, and jumped when I looked inside the last cell and saw this.

Don't laugh - you'd have been startled too! lol

On the way out, there was a locked door with an opening high in the door, so I raised my camera and shot inside.

Nothing there but a few stored items, but it gives you an idea of how small those cells are.

I was hoping to capture an orb, too, but no luck.
On the square in Carlisle, the old Cumberland County Courthouse is a pretty sight.

Those who work inside have some scary stories to tell.

One woman says she'll never work late by herself again after hearing slamming doors up and down the hallway.

You can hear other stories about this building on the Nov. 4 episode of SyFy's "Ghost Hunters."

That same "Ghost Hunters" episode will also feature stories about the old Cumberland County Prison.

The grandboys like the place because it resembles a castle. But the prisoners who were locked up there didn't like it much, but apparently some still hang around.

One worker reports seeing a pair of boots walk down the hall, with no body attached.

There are many more such spine-tingling tales in the midstate, so if you're up for a ghost hunt, come and visit!

For now, that wraps up this year's Halloween party. Thanks to all the authors who've shared their spooky tales, tasty treat recipes and their own books! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.

Happy Halloween!



Friday, October 30, 2015

Treats in a hurry


If you need some Halloween treats fast, this recipe will come in handy.




Thursday, October 29, 2015

Erzabet Bishop brings plenty of treats to the party


Cate: Today, Erzabet Bishop’s joining the party. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Erzabet: Hi. I’m Erzabet Bishop and I write all manner of erotic romance.

Cate: Welcome, Erzabet! What do you love most about Halloween?
Erzabet: I love the shivery reads and spooky movies.

Cate: Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past?
Erzabet: It’s more of a funny one. I dressed up as Elvira one year for my shift at a mall bookstore I worked at. The dress got hooked on the gate and I ended up flashing every single person in the mall space when the gate went up.

Cate: Oh no! I bet you made their day. :) Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn’t explain?
Erzabet: Yes. When I was very young, I lived in a house in Virginia. Something woke me from sleep and I stumbled into the living room and felt like I was surrounded by some kind of presence. It was disconcerting and I remember running to my mother’s room.

Cate: Scary! What frightens you the most?
Erzabet: Clowns. *shudders*

Cate: Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own?
Erzabet: Yes. It was fun.

Cate: Any favorite Halloween recipes you’d care to share?
Erzabet: I don’t bake nearly as much as I used to. But I do enjoy a pumpkin cupcake at work on occasion.

Cate: Yum. Now a treat for readers... tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online.
Erzabet: My latest release is Pomegranate, a twisted myth tale about Persephone and her girlfriend Hayden.

Buy Links
Decadent Publishing: http://goo.gl/a2DfDi

Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt?
Erzabet:

Blurb
What if everything you thought you knew was a lie?
Crafting spells, running her shop, and hanging with her lover, Hayden, was all Persephone Carraway wanted out of life. The future was filled with endless possibilities as long as it was with the girl of her dreams. But Hayden has a secret and, it turns out, so does Persephone.
One night in the Underworld will change things forever…
Demi, Persephone’s mother has developed a designer pomegranate, infusing it with her daughter’s blood. A single act of betrayal will craft war with the old gods and the Fae, leaving destruction in its wake. Persephone is drawn into a web of myth and magick where nothing is as it seems, even herself.
Myth. Magic. Pomegranates…

Excerpt
Persephone took a breath. Her mouth was dry and her skin slick with sweat. She was thirsty. So thirsty. Her eyes wouldn’t focus, and her heart was racing.
“You look like you could use this.” A woman in a black mask and unbuttoned tux jacket approached, holding out a bottle of water. The white dress shirt was halfway open, straining against her breasts. Every movement tugged against the soft flesh, hinting at the bounty buried beneath the fabric. Vest unbuttoned over leather pants and kickass boots, she made Persephone’s breath catch in her throat. The woman’s black hair was slicked back into a tight bun, her red lips plump and succulent.
Hands shaking, Persephone took the bottle. “Thank you.” What is wrong with me?”
“This is your first rave, I take it?”
“Yes.” She drank the cool water, each swallow bringing her more clarity. Soon the bottle was drained and dangled empty in her grasp.
“It can be a little much when they turn on the purple wave. Here. Sit.” The masked woman led her to a chair. Large and white, it faced an enormous fireplace. Green fire burned within. Persephone fell into the chair, her dress spilling around her. She watched the green fire dance, marveling at the images unfolding. Her mind was still muzzy but she saw...no....
“Faces...there are faces,” she gasped, trying to push herself up from the chair.

Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Erzabet: I wanted to write a twisted myth and this one is my favorite. I have done a couple of spins on it.

Cate: Very cool. Anything else you’d like to share?
Erzabet: I have several new releases coming out and if you would like to enter to win a copy of my books, leave a comment you have signed up. Here is the link:


Follow my Amazon page for additional points toward winning. Leave a comment to let me know.


Yes. I have a new holiday box set coming out November 1 and there is a massive giveaway attached.

Put Your Ho Ho’s On

This is a saucy, sassy, fun Christmas Collection, an Anthology of Multi-Genre ErocoThrobbers from Award-Winning NYT, USA Today Bestselling Authors!


~~~~~~~~ Hot and Spicy ~ Cool and Cozy ~ Scorching to the Touch ~~~~~~~~

Buy links
Amazon Buy Links:

Cate: Readers, Erzabet’s sharing a very cool giveaway.
Erzabet:


I also have another giveaway on the blog through Halloween for a chance to win some of my titles!





Connect with me at all of my social places:


Cate: Thanks for being part of the Halloween fun, Erzabet!



Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Paxton Summers clones your Halloween fun



Cate: Today, Paxton Summers joins my special Halloween celebration. Paxton, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Paxton: Paxton writes edgy new adult dystopian, paranormal, science fiction and military stories, all with a touch of romance. As a United States Army Veteran and avid fan of all men in uniform, she naturally gravitates toward alpha males in her stories. Her goal in her books, though you may curse her for pulling an all nighter to get to the last page, is to bring you worlds that stay with you long after you've read the final word. She loves cats, iced coffee (even though most think decaf would benefit her) mixed martial arts, and good books she can get lost in. Go ahead, click that buy button. She'd love to have you join her for an adventure.
http://www.paxtonsummers.com

Cate: Very cool. And welcome! What do you love most about Halloween?
Paxton: The costumes, the trick-or-treaters and the spooky factor. Love the scary shows this time of year.

Cate: Me too. Except the scary movies, lol. Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past?
Paxton: My mother used to always make our costumes, would spend hours sewing them. We had the coolest costumes, so when I had children of my own, I did the same. My favorites were the tin man and scare crow from the Wizard of Oz and a gold lame dragon.

Cate: Your mom sounds amazing. Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn’t explain?
Paxton: Unusual, yes. Unexplained? No. I believe in ghosts and spirits so to me they’re not a mystery.

Cate: What frightens you the most?
Paxton: Sociopaths. The fact that in your lifetime, an average of 680k murders will take place in the United States, even more scary, you will more than likely walk past at least one of these killers, or worse, have an encounter with one.

Cate: Now you're really scaring me. Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own?
Paxton: Yes. My brother has the creepy hobby of photographing haunted sites and likes to drag me along when I’m home. Some of the images we’ve downloaded from the camera after visiting, are downright chilling. Not there when we snapped them.

Cate: What a cool brother. Now for the real treat! Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online.
Paxton: My latest release, and first release as Paxton Summers, is called Clone, the Book of Eva. The second book in the series has a tentative release date of February 1st. There will be five books in this series. The first book took over seven years to draft and write, and is probably the most complex story I’ve written.
Best place to get it is Amazon, but you can also pick it up at any major retailer like Smash Words.


Cate: Congrats on your series launch! I love those covers. Care to share a blurb or excerpt?
Paxton: Here you go.

Blurb: When a world leader’s daughter meets a clone, a doomed love affair begins.
In the year 2087, a great war erupts upon the face of the planet, destroying most of the earth. Mankind turns to cloning to survive. Over one hundred-fifty years later, the planet is divided into two factions. There is a shortage of food and an abundance of illness. Most live on the scraps of the wealthy, who wallow in excess.
This is the world Olivia Braun inherits. Sick from birth, she wakes up from surgery with a new heart, only to discover she is the youngest president of Aeropia, an empire that has created and used clones to maintain their position of power since the bombs dropped, but her rise to power was no accident and the fall won’t be either. Before her transplant, Olivia conspired with a clone to free those Aeropia had enslaved.
Now, enemies lie in wait, hidden among the population. Even friends can no longer be trusted, and Olivia must make a choice that will decide the fate of the free world. Before her tale of corruption, forbidden love and war ends, the mighty will be brought to their knees.
By a clone.

Cate: Love it. Anything else you’d like to share?
Paxton: The second book in the series has a tentative release date of Feb 1st, 2016 and hopefully one every four months after, until I’ve released the 5th. And if you love this series, I will say there is potentially a spin-off of the series that takes place during the Great War, which will be mostly of a near future, NA military romance/dystopian flavor, but that would be something I wouldn’t expect to start until I finish releasing this series sometime at the end of 2016 or beginning of 2017. Thank you for having me.

Cate: Glad to have you! You're in luck, readers - Paxton has more goodies for you.
Paxton: To celebrate, I’ll give away a $10.00 Gift Certificate to Amazon to one lucky commenter on this post. I will draw a winner on Halloween and announce on the post. Be sure to leave an email so I can contact you if I should pull your name from the hat.

Cate: What a great treat! Thanks for joining the party, Paxton. Happy Halloween!