Thursday, August 24, 2017

Never Say Never

Being focused on pushing forward to new and exciting story horizons, I don't like going back to revised old stories.

Usually.

But, as the blog post title says, never say never.

When a publisher put out a call and the submission guidelines specifically included previously published stories, I had two novels that fit the other specs. Well, after a few tweaks.

I've spent the past month or so revising them both. I was going to merely sub the revised versions, but liked them so much better, I published the new versions on Amazon and Smashwords. Once they go through the review process, Smashwords will release the updated version to its secondary affiliate sites such as Barnes and Noble, etc.

Fear not, I'm not going to be one of those authors stuck on their old stories, constantly updating the old with new versions. How many versions of one story can anyone read?

But I promise, these two are much better stories for the revisions.

That leaves only one more to finish. The Vitruvian Man trilogy of novellas (Cursed, Charmed and Claimed) will become one full-length novel. It's taken me forever because not only did life keep getting in the way, as so often happens, but the main character will undergo some major changes, and the story's going to go into more detail, as well. I'm hoping to finish that by the end of the year.

In the meanwhile, I hope you'll try the new and improved stories!

Surfacing is my contemporary fantasy, a 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finalist. The story follows a mermaid who meets and inspires a wannabe rock star. Set in Weeki Wachee Springs, home of the Weeki Wachee mermaids!

You can view more detail on Smashwords or Amazon.

Angels, Sinners and Madmen is my historical romance, an adventure that I couldn't resist after visiting Key West and learning about the wreckers.

More deets on Smashwords and Amazon.

The fact they're both set in Florida is a happy coincidence. Or maybe Florida is a writer's muse? I did visit Ernest Hemingway's house while in Key West... maybe his ghost followed me home!



Friday, August 18, 2017

Cate Peace: Why Worldbuilding Is the Secret Ingredient


Ever read a book and wonder how the author created such an incredible, engrossing world? Do you want to BE that author?
Writing is a lot more than just Characters + Dialogue + Action = End. For genre writers especially, worldbuilding is a critical skill that will help you create a world that jumps off the page and into your reader’s mind. 

How do you get there?

Where do you start?

Worldbuilding is one of the most intimidating aspects of the writing process, but it doesn’t have to be. In Why Worldbuilding (is the Secret Ingredient): The Complete Beginner’s Guide, Catherine Peace, author of books like Gemini—a science fiction romance featuring a universe built around giant cats, Chuck Norris facts, and aliens galore—will guide you on the journey from creating bland settings to vibrant, believable worlds for your characters and stories to inhabit. 

Starting October 16, you'll get your chance to learn about one of the hardest and most rewarding parts of the writing process: Worldbuilding. Using examples from some of science fiction and fantasy's best known worlds, you'll gain the tools and insight you need to create your own.
Once you’ve gone through the course, you should be able to:
  • Understand worldbuilding’s importance and function in your story
  • Utilize the building blocks that will guide you through building your world
  • Calculate the air speed velocity of an unladen European swallow (this is not true; I suck at math)
  • Seamlessly weave your worldbuilding elements into your story 
Over the five-week course, we’ll explore some of storytelling’s lushest worlds—from Westeros to Hogwarts with a few unexpected stops in-between—and break them down into easily digestible concepts you can use to beef up your stories and give them the punch that will set them apart. BAM!

Full syllabus is here.

Each class is $30, or you can complete the set for $130. Registration is open through September 15. Don’t miss out on your chance to take your worlds from bland to BAM!

About the crazy person running this shindig:

Catherine Peace has been telling stories for as long as she could remember. She often blames two things for her forays into speculative fiction—Syfy (when it was SciFi) channel Sundays with her dad and The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells. She graduated in 2008 from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in English and is still chasing the dream of being super rich and famous, mostly so she can sit around in her PJs all day and write stories. When not being a slave to the people in her head, she’s a slave to two adorable dogs.


Friday, June 23, 2017

Adult coloring pages for Goddess, Spellbound. Yours for the downloading!

For the past few months, I've been working on a special project. One, because I've been feeling the need to sketch, and two, because I thought it would be fun to create coloring pages based on my book, Goddess, Spellbound.

Today, I finally finished! And Smashwords didn't explode when I uploaded the file, lol.

So now you can download a copy of Goddess Spellbound Adult Coloring Pages for yourself! For free!

I was hoping to make a PDF myself, because the images scanned better into that format, but sadly, that was not to be. I had to rescan the sketches as JPGs, which didn't pick up as much detail as the PDF, for some reason.

But I hope you will still enjoy coloring these pages - if you're into that kind of thing. The sketches depict scenes in the book, or show other cool ancient Egyptian artifacts. Or the cover, which you see below.





If you download it, I suggest going for the PDF. Then you can print the pages as many times as you'd like to color them.

If you do download it, please let me know how you like it!

Again, I hope you enjoy this labor of love.


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Spread the love

Writing can be a discouraging business. Lately, it seems like readers are more harsh in their reviews, picking out inconsequential details to slant a review toward the negative. An author on Facebook recently said she received a complaint from a reader who’d purchased one of her books on an illegal download (I refuse to romanticize them with the term ‘pirate’) site, discovered there was only one page in the ebook, and blamed the author.


By the way, this is only one of the many reasons not to use illegal sites. Many times, the ebooks offered contain malware and viruses. Not to mention that the author is obviously not getting compensated for their hard work. And if you think writing isn’t hard work, try spending months and months – if not years - crafting your own story. It’s a labor of love, but not easy.


The industry itself can be overwhelming, with reports of overall sales declining. On social media, I’ve noticed more posts by discouraged writers who are on the verge of giving up, or have already done so.


I’m one of those writers who can’t help myself. Ideas strike me, and my mind spins with details, working out all the threads. If I’m not able to write for an extended period, I’m miserable. I NEED to write. It’s simply part of my life, and has been since I hit double digits.


In any case, bits of encouragement, scattered though they may be, are like stepping stones that keep us afloat. So if you read a book and it left you satisfied, or (better yet) wanting more, reach out to the author and say so. Believe me, you’ll make their day.


I even appreciate a nicely worded rejection. Last week, an agent responded to my query by saying that my novel wasn’t right for her, but that I was a talented writer and should keep querying other agents. Rejections can be difficult, but that’s the best kind to receive.


How else can you ensure the writers you love keep writing? Tell your friends about their books. Write an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, or other book seller sites where other readers will view it.


The author will be more grateful than you know.


Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Finette's Folly - Steampunk fairy tale


Finette’s Folly

A Steampunk fairy tale romance



About 32,860 words



Happy endings require patience, hope, and a little ingenuity. Finette Proulx puts her skills at repairing clockwork gadgetry to greater use when she bets all she has on an airship race. Her loss only steams up her desire to win the prize at the British Diamond Cup—and her freedom. After such a lonely life, love seems too much to ask... until she meets Sacha. A mysterious Romanian, “Sacha” Aleksander Dragomir Dalca, aids her in ways she doesn’t suspect. At the moment she thinks her life is falling into ruin, she finds him waiting to catch her with open arms. The handsome gypsy affirms her belief that dreaming's not for fools, and she deserves to write her happy ending her own way.



Finette's Folly is a re-imagined fairy tale based on the French version of Cinderella, Finette Cendron.



Available from





Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Once upon a time...

... is more fun mashed! My upcoming novella, Finette's Folly, is a reimagined fairy tale based on the French version of Cinderella, Finette Cendron. In steampunk!

It's been literally years in the making, but it's almost ready to release.

Here's a peek at the cover.



Happy endings require patience, hope, and a little ingenuity. Finette Proulx puts her skills at repairing clockwork gadgetry to greater use when she bets all she has on an airship race. Her loss only steams up her desire to win the prize at the British Diamond Cup—and her freedom. After such a lonely life, love seems too much to ask... until she meets Sacha. A mysterious Romanian, “Sacha” Aleksander Dragomir Dalca, aids her in ways she doesn’t suspect. At the moment she thinks her life is falling into ruin, she finds him waiting to catch her with open arms. The handsome gypsy affirms her belief that dreaming's not for fools, and she deserves to write her happy ending her own way.

I can't wait to share this story with you!