I am super excited! Not only is today the day that The Wild Rose Press releases Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy, but it's also the day that Margaret Atwood is holding a booksigning in Carlisle! If Mother Nature tries anything today, she'll have to answer to me, lol. Ms. Atwood's my literary hero, a goddess of speculative literary fiction. I'll be there with bells on, come hell or high water.
And oh yeah, I'm also excited that Ground Rules is here! It always feels like release day will never come. Wish the excitement could last as long as the anticipation!
I can't wait for you to read Ground Rules. If you do, I hope you'll let me know what you think! Is Luke a lovable snarky angel? :)
I am so excited to share this cover! It's gorgeous, don't you think? :)
I'm so grateful to The Wild Rose Press, and to Diana Carlile, who designed this beautiful image.
Now I'm eagerly awaiting a release date, but in the mean time, here's the story blurb for Romancing the Hero:
For romance writer Jody Feather, love is wonderful—on the page.Her books are instant bestsellers and readers love her delectable hero, Jake Emerson. He’s the kind of man who knows exactly how to please a woman. The kind of man who doesn’t really exist.Or at least not for Jody—she’s too busy writing about delicious heroes to find one of her own.
When a man shows up on her doorstep claiming to be Jake Emerson, Jody’s hormones shoot sky high.This would-be hero is everything she imagined him to be, and when Jody takes him to her book signing, readers swoon.But Jake only has eyes—and compliments—for her.Before long, Jody stops doubting his story and starts doubting her sanity.
When Jake convinces her she is overdue for love, Jody begins to wonder—instead of just writing about adventures, has she conjured one?
Once the party ends, there's always something going on in the TWRP Garden. Learn about new releases, giveaways and great blog posts by TWRP authors. Come on over and join in the fun!
Yay! I'm so excited that The Wild Rose Press contracted my Christmas fantasy novella, The Ground Rules. It's a really fun story.
Here's the unofficial blurb:
Can a Christmas wish change Alice’s life? Her agent’s threatening to quit because Alice can’t finish the illustrations for a children’s book. When Luke, a Watcher Angel, crash lands his Harley on her roof, he’s reluctant to take on his new assignment, and to return to earth at Christmas. It reminds him his fiance broke his heart one Christmas Eve, and ruined the holiday for him. Luke brings Alice more than inspiration. He reawakens Alice’s heart. Now she has to convince him he’s her greatest wish. With a little Christmas magic, she wishes he’ll break the Ground Rules and stay.
And an unofficial excerpt:
Rankled by her doubt, Luke heaved a sharp breath. “You don’t believe me? Do you really need the flash? The special effects?” He hadn’t yet mastered those.
Her frustration apparently equaled his. “You don’t look like… you look more like a rock star.”
“You were expecting Clarence from It’s A Wonderful Life? I don’t go in for theatrics. And don’t get any ideas about jumping into a freezing river. I don’t do cold water rescues either. Or rescues in general.” Though Peter would love the reenactment.
Sarcasm tainted her tone. “That’s not helpful, is it?”
“You’re the one who called. And at the last minute, mind you. Most people put their requests in much earlier.” If she had, Peter would undoubtedly have sent someone else, someone more qualified. Though he had to admit, she was quite adorable, especially when angry.
“I see. If I wanted the best, I should have asked earlier?” She huffed.
“Hey, I’m here. Not willingly, rest assured. But everyone else had already been dispatched.”
Nudging the carpet with her toes, she took an unusual interest in the floor. Stepping back, triumph lit her glare. “How, exactly, did I ask?”
Heaving a sigh, he straightened to a stand. “If we must go through this futile exercise… you stood by the tree.” To appease her, he traveled in a whoosh through a tunnel of prismatic light to stand beside it. “Here. You said you couldn’t take one more night alone, too much work, yadda yadda yadda.”
“Save the sarcasm. It’s not very angelic.”
The label sounded preposterous, he had to admit, especially applied to him. “Have I left anything out?”
She pouted. “Yes. Your sensitivity.”
“Eons ago, babycakes.” He wouldn’t tell her his fiancé had murdered it.
It will make Christmas even more wonderful this year!
I'm excited that my contemporary romance, Going with Gravity, is now available on Amazon! Note that it now has a different cover. I requested the rights back because they expired this year, and have republished it on my own. I'll likely soon make it available on Smashwords also, but for now, it's here on Amazon. I'm pretty excited that the cover came out so well too.
Cate Masters packs a lot of action, emotion and romance onto 57 pages. A wonderful writing style paints vivid images for the reader and encourages faster and faster page flipping until before you know it the wild ride is over and you're left wanting to read another one of her stories.
Thanks so much Emma! I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much I enjoyed writing it.
I also want to thank The Wild Rose Press for first publishing this story. The TWRP publisher and editors are all wonderful to work with, and I look forward to more releases with them. In fact, TWRP will release my short fantasy romance, Romancing the Hero - check back for details!
Read the updated excerpt, reviews and more for Going with Gravity here (I still have to update the trailer though - time's too short these days).
This is the first of several ebooks I'll self-publish after rights revert to me. Watch for more!
...for all things sweet and festive. To help you plan your holiday festivities, The Wild Rose Press is offering a free download of its 2010 cookbook, Holiday Sweets and Treats. Comprised of recipes contributed by TWRP authors, the PDF also contains a cookie recipe from me, handed down from my father's sister to my mom.
Mom made a wicked good cookie. Unfortunately, most of the cooking genes in our family passed to my sister, but this recipe's as near to foolproof as they come.
Prior to the loss of her vision, author Sharon Donovan was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream rose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words. Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. She is a published author with The Wild Rose Press, White Rose Publishing, Whimsical Publications and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Echo of a Raven is a CTRR recipient, and The Claddagh Ring is a CAPA nominee. To read excerpts and reviews of Sharon’s books and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.sharonadonovan.com. You can also keep up with Sharon on her blog: http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com
The Wild Rose Press just released Sharon's latest, Her Biggest Fan, as part of its Men in Uniform series. Her Biggest Fan is available in ebook and print. Please give Sharon a warm welcome!
Here's the blurb: From the shadows of the woods, he keeps vigil. The stage is set to drive the pretty little princess insane. He’s coming for her. And when he catches her, he’ll pounce on her like the big bad wolf. After receiving a disturbing fan letter, New York Times best-selling author Tess Kincaid flees to the New England home she’s inherited following her father’s death. The manor has been tainted, every room staged to resemble the way it was in its glory days. However when Tess calls the police, the chilling props vanish into thin air. Ruggedly handsome Sheriff Mike Andretti is called to investigate the reported burning candles, dancing gargoyles and otherworldly events. When he discovers no trace of the eerie setting, he finds himself caught between duty and desire. Is the woman with the bewitching green eyes delusional or is this a trap of twisted wit set by a demented fan?
And an excerpt: Cool air drifted out of the ballroom, carrying the scent of burning candles and cigarettes. Music floated through the corridor, the seductive undertone hauntingly familiar. The music was hypnotic, mesmerizing. Tess could barely think over the loud beat of her heart. Every sense screamed to beware. She was about to come face-to-face with her stalker, her biggest fan. But over the hammering of her heart and accelerated senses, her will to put an end to this deadly game prevailed. She had to face him, find out who was behind this bizarre masquerade. Anticipation mounting, she made the turn at the end of the corridor and came to a riveting halt. A female wax gargoyle stood in the doorway, long blonde hair billowing in the breeze. Her glass eyes shimmered with madness, an eerie smile on her face. In one hand, she held a mission bell, the other reaching out for a candle. Music played from the old phonograph, the plucking of guitar strings laced with seduction. A breeze blew in through open terrace doors, stirring the sweet scent of jasmine from the candelabras. Two wax nymphs stood at the bar, glass eyes shining bright in the candlelight, pliable fingers wrapped around flutes of pink champagne. Lit cigarettes burned in ashtrays. From behind the bar, a winged monster served drinks. In the center of the ballroom, two gargoyles held a pose as if they were dancing, their waxy bodies closely pressed together, their reflections glowing in the mirrored ceiling. From the old phonograph in the corner, the hypnotic music played. Tess gasped, her hand clasping her mouth. “Oh, my God!” Mike raised his gun, circled the room. “Come out with your hands up. Hancock County Sheriff. Put your hands where I can see them.”
Design for Life has garnered some wonderful reviews. In its 4-book review, Long and Short Reviews said: "I love a story with an artsy angle. Real people who remind me of my friends fill this story. Cate Masters’ novella brings in characters I felt like I knew all along and a sense of being in the small town with them. When I sat down to read this story, I found myself transported to Almendra and the Flower Basket. If you want a story that will stick with you long after the last page, then you need to read Design For Life."
Sweetly Reviewed said: "Ok, So I'm a softy and I love a story that gets me a warm and mushy inside and this one totally did it. I LOVE Ms Master's ability to make me feel the ups and downs along with the characters. It makes for a really good read."
Two Lips Reviews said in its 4-lips review: "Ms. Masters created a heroine that was determined to see her dreams come true. Ms. Masters also gave the heroine a wonderful value system combined with supportive friends. Overall, Design For Life was a delightful read."
Cate: Please welcome Rachel Brimble. Rachel, will you please share a short bio with us? Rachel: I am married with two daughters and live in the UK, very near the famous Georgian town of Bath. I started writing toward publication when I became pregnant with my second daughter, eight years ago. My journey started with short stories and articles before moving on to novels in 2006. When I’m not writing I enjoy reading (everything from the back of cereal boxes to huge biographies according to my husband!), watching TV and spending time walking and talking with my family and our beloved black Labrador, Max.
Cate: Tell us about your latest release and where it's available. Rachel: My latest release is called ‘The Arrival of Lily Curtis’ and it is published by The Wild Rose Press. It is available directly from their website at www.thewildrosepress.com or www.amazon.com. It is a Victorian historical romance between a young girl desperate to escape the constraints of an arranged marriage and a Viscount who has an embedded fear of breaking a promise even if that promise is a figment of his imagination…
Cate: Love the title - and the cover's wonderful too. Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt. Rachel: This is a scene the hero and heroine share near the beginning of the story – the tension between them is palpable… The clock ticked like a heartbeat behind him, the fire crackled and spat. Andrew unconsciously held his breath waiting to see what this unpredictable woman would do next. One minute she seemed so full of grace and intellect, the next full of fire and resentment. The two distinctions in her personality shouldn’t have fit but they did— inexplicitly so. “Well, what do you say?” he pressed. She dropped her gaze and curtsied, throwing him off-guard once again. He felt his jaw tighten as he looked at her bowed head. “I thank you, sir,” she said. “But I know my place and to sit with you and your guests would be most unacceptable.” He stared at her. “Unacceptable?” “Yes, sir.” Andrew watched her for a moment longer before slowly crossing his arms. “You have a very genteel way about you,” he said. “One would almost suspect you have been educated.” She snapped her head up, another flash of color darkening her cheeks. “Not at all, sir. I…I try to better myself and the way I speak, that is all.” He smiled. “Really?” “Yes, sir.” She paused, a sudden glint in her eyes. “Of course, if it is not to your liking, I can always revert to common speech and bad manners. It comes easily to me either way.” Andrew felt the burst of laughter bubbling beneath his diaphragm and could do nothing to stop it erupting. It burst from his mouth and reverberated around the room. Uneasy laughter rippled around the table, joining him in his amusement. He ignored them, not caring about anything else but this enigma in front of him. His friends clearly laughed because of who he was rather than their shared delight, Lily on the other hand didn’t seem to care who he was and would say just what she pleased. “You are quite agreeable just the way you are.” He grinned. “If you wish to continue with your duties, then I will not stop you.” He walked back to his chair and sat down. “Nicholas, another bottle of wine if you please. I have the distinct feeling a long night is ahead.” “Of course, sir.” Andrew tried and failed to wipe the smile from his face as Lily threw him a look of satisfaction before obediently following Nicholas from the room. He picked up his glass and took a long mouthful. Lily Curtis may be just what Cotswold Manor needed right now.
Cate: Wonderful! Can you tell us why we're going to love your hero? Rachel: Oooh, because Viscount Andrew Westrop is dark and brooding but also has a deep and naughty sense of humor. With his strong, athletic physique, he is a man easily capable of controlling a sixteen hand horse or lying gently with a fragile woman before he takes her over the edge… Sorry….yes, he’s quite a nice man. I’m sure you’d like him ;)
Cate: Ooh, I love a naughty sense of humor. :) Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others. Rachel: It’s different because it’s Victorian, it’s different because my hero and heroine are different kinds of people living in a time when everything had its place. The are both rebels of opposite kinds – she doesn’t want to be dragged into an arranged marriage, he wants to run his aristocratic home in an alternative way. Together, they would be fantastic, innovative and exciting…if only they could see it that way, of course!
Cate: What's next for you? Rachel: I have my fourth contemporary romance being released in January 2011 by Lyrical Press but this one isn’t suspense, although it does have a couple of pretty villainous characters in it! Set in the fictional town of Foxton, England, ‘Getting It Right This Time’ is a story of a mother of a young child and the man who has always loved her. This is their second chance at love but will they blow it like they did the first time? Pride is a deadly sin for a reason…
Cate: Congrats! What inspired you to draft your first story? Rachel: I’ve wanted to write since I was a child but life took over and I never put pen to paper until I was at home with my eldest daughter. I enrolled in a distance learning course and that was it, I haven’t stopped writing since. And now I couldn’t stop if even I wanted to! My need to write is a compulsion and I truly believe I will never stop now – EVER!
Cate: Do you have a writing routine? Rachel: I recently started working part-time so my writing routine is no more! I fit it in around work, the house, the kids and everything else that happens during the day. My output is definitely less than it used to be but I have found that even if I make sure I do at least 500 words a day, they soon add up. That may sound like a lot to some people and nothing to others but to me it’s achievable most days, even if I have to write in 100 words stints! If you have to write, you have to write…
Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? Rachel: Yes!! Especially the ones who have read my books! I am struggling to decide what to write next…please, please, please will anyone tell me their favourite book of mine?? I’d love to get an idea of what my readers enjoy the most, that way, that will make the decision of what I write next!
Cate: Very interesting! Readers, Rachel is also giving away a book to a random commenter... so start commenting, and be sure to let her know what you'd like her to write next! She'll pick a winner on August 23rd.
Thanks for being my guest Rachel! Best of luck with all your projects. :)
If you're like me, this summer's vacation will be a staycation. But you can always escape with to an exotic locale with a fun read.
Going with Gravity is just what you need. Travel with my heroine, Allison Morris, to lush Hawai‘i, and be swept away by sexy surfer Wes Hamilton.
This is the first of a new series of posts called Story Elements. These will examine the different aspects of each story, and how I pulled the different elements together to form each story. Stay tuned for another cool new series called Casting Call, which will debut on Wednesday July 28.
A news story spurred the initial idea for Going with Gravity. A jet lost its fuselage in midair and managed to land with no injuries to any of its 350 passengers, despite a gaping hole in the plane. An amazing story in itself. But in reading it, I wondered about the people on that plane. More importantly, who could I put on such a plane?
To ratchet up the tension, the characters on that fateful flight had to be under personal pressure. So I created Allison Morris. A harried public relations expert, Allison stayed at her job out of dedicated professionalism. Her boss, Michelle McCarter, took her divorce from a famous rock star badly, and often left a PR mess for Allison to clean up. Others might kill to have an in with the rock star royalty she rubbed elbows with, but Allison would kill for a day off, and Michelle was becoming too much to handle. Allison had always dreamed of going to Hawai‘i, but when Michelle needs her there, she doesn't look forward to it. She's barely had time for her own life.
Poor Allison was so uptight, I needed to balance her out with someone laid back. Someone who didn't let anything rile him. Someone who believed in the path he was on. Wes Hamilton is just such a guy. Up for any challenge, he seems Allison's polar opposite, except that he holds the same basic values - he cares for people, for the environment. Despite his anything-goes appearance, he works hard, and not just at maintaining his status as a world-class surfer. He's also an entrepreneur.
So when that fuselage blew in mid-air, while Allison's in the rest room, she freaks. Wes rushes to her to make sure she's ok. His embrace turns into a kiss. For all Allison knows, this could be her last few minutes alive. She wants more. So she earns her entry into the Mile High Club.
Because so many of my summers consist of staycations, I love researching settings. Going with Gravity's main setting is Oahu, but the flight's emergency landing is in San Diego. I found a very cool hotel there called Hotel del Coronado. Not only is the hotel itself very unusual, its rooms - especially the bathrooms - are amazing. And they overlook the Pacific Ocean.
From there, Allison goes to the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (she's on a budget, and can't afford to stay where Michelle stays). Down after a misunderstanding with Wes, she learns about Princess Kaiulani, the crown princess of Hawaii in the 1800s. The princess's tragic story is one I'd like to write about sometime.
Hawai‘i has so many unique elements. As soon as you hear the sweet and soulful strains of a slack key guitar, it conjures images of the island beaches and sunsets, girls in grass skirts dancing with their hands and hips and feet. A slack key guitar is basically a six-string acoustic with the strings loosened to achieve that unique sound. Various theories exist about its origins, but the general consensus is that European sailors introduced the six-string guitar to Hawai‘i at the start of the nineteenth century. Around 1832, guitars were also brought to Hawai‘i by vaqueros (cowboys) from Mexico and Spain hired by King Kamehameha III to instruct the Hawaiians in managing an overpopulation of cattle. Many of the vaqueros worked on the Big Island of Hawai‘i around Waimea. According to my research, "When the hired vaqueros returned to their lands, they often left behind their guitars. Hawaiians began to tune the guitars in their own way by loosening, or slackening the keys until the six strings formed a single chord. In addition to the signature tuning, slack key guitar is distinguished by the playing technique. The bass sound is played on the lower register while the melody is played on the higher register at the same time. This unique blending of sounds results in an intricate, rich, and soulful harmony."
The ukelele is also strongly associated with Hawai‘i, but doesn't transport me instantly to the islands quite like the slack key guitar.
The Hawai‘ian language really amazed me. With only eight consonant phonemes, and either 5 or 25 vowel phonemes, depending on how the long vowels and diphthongs are treated. Its simplicity equals its complexity.
To get an idea, here are a few words and phrases relating to the sea: Kai; moana (open); malo, pāʻū (poetic). See sayings, pūnoni, forecast. Calm, quiet sea, kai mālie, kai malino, kai malolo, kai hoʻolulu, kai pū, kai wahine, kai kalamania, kaiolohia. Strong sea, kai koʻo, kai kāne, kai nui, kai nuʻu, ʻōkaikai. Rough or raging sea, kai pupule, kai puʻeone, kai akua, ʻōkaikai. Deep sea, kai hohonu, kai ʻau, kai hoʻēʻe, kai lū heʻe (fig.). Restless sea with undercurrent, kai kuolo, kai holo, kai lewa, lapa kai, kai kō, kai au. Dark blue sea, moana uli, moauli. Streaked sea, associated with Kona, kai māʻokiʻoki. Whispering sea, associated with Kawaihae, kai hāwanawana. Salt sea, kai paʻakai. Shallow or reef sea, kai kohola, kai koʻele. Rippled sea, kai hoʻolili. Receding or ebbing sea, kai heʻe, kai emi, kai mimiki, kai hoʻi, kai nuʻu aku. Western sea, kai lalo. High sea, kai piha, kai nuʻu. Of the sea, o kai. Towards the sea, i kai, makai. Place where sea and land meet, ʻae kai. By the sea, a kai. Sea almost surrounded by land, kai hāloko. The eight seas, nā kai ʻewalu (seas about the Hawaiian Islands, poetic). Puna with its sea rustling over pebbles, Puna i ke kai nehe i ka ʻiliʻili. My sea, concealing sarong (UL 124), kuʻu kai, pāʻū halakā. Black sea, yellow sea, Kāne's purplish-blue red-brown sea … silent sea, swinging sea (PH 237), kai ʻeleʻele, kai melemele, kai pōpolohua mea a Kāne … kai mū, kai lewa.
Of course, I had to incorporate a few of the more romantic and descriptive phrases into Going with Gravity. Wes couldn't resist the sea because of its kayani, which means “to call” or beacon. Wes taught Allison the meaning of ho`onipo: to make love, court, woo, yearn for. He also gives her a new name, Alana, which means Awakening. Unfortunately, the Hawai‘ian language is nearly extinct. As of 2000, less than 0.1 percent of the population spoke it.
I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more about how Going with Gravity came together. Here's the trailer, and an excerpt. The story's available from The Wild Rose Press.
Allison pulled her portfolio from her laptop case and set it on her lap, afraid to open it. As soon as the articles had arrived on her fax machine, she’d shoved them into her bag, then hopped in the shower. Delay tactics only worked for so long. The moment of truth had arrived. She opened it and thumbed through. Eleven pages. Eleven. And these were only the newspaper articles from the past two days. TV and online news sites surely covered more. And then there’d be the inevitable blogger. Uncontrollable, overly opinionated and accountable to no one, they were the worst. Michelle had arrived on Oahu with a bang, and then had the audacity to blame Allison for not doing her job to quell the media. She held up one photo of a topless Michelle prancing in the surf, laughing. Rumors and innuendo could be stopped with logic and tact, but to downplay this photo, she’d need a good explanation. When Michelle’s logic and tact failed her so obviously, Allison had to wonder about her mental state. A hulking figure filled the aisle, stowing his bag in the overhead compartment. Those shorts. That shirt. It was him. He checked his ticket, looked at her and smiled. His blond hair fell across his forehead as he sat next to her, his shoulder bumping hers. “Hello again.” For two years, she’d rubbed elbows with stars of all magnitudes without so much as a blink, and fended off paparazzi following the wife of megastar James McCarter. With two words, she’d been reduced to the rank of dreamy-eyed teeny bopper. He smiled, raised an eyebrow. She realized, then, she hadn’t responded. And her mouth hung open. Make that drooling dreamy-eyed teeny bopper. She flashed a smile. Think. Damage control is your business. Put it to good use for once. “Hi.” Oh, yes. Very witty. What a deft deflection of his charm. She turned back to her articles, but sensed the weight of his stare. He frowned at her reading material. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to read over your shoulder. I take it you’re a closet fan of the poor little rich girl?” “In the same way I’m a closet fan of train wrecks, I suppose. I guess you’re not a fan.” “Of hers?” He chuckled. “God, no. She’s awful. Her publicist should be shot.” Shot. Of course. Working fifty-five to sixty-five hours a week wasn’t enough to keep the spin spinning fast enough for the rest of the world. The one guy who’d interested her in the past two and a half years thought she made a good candidate for execution. Her life was in such a rut, she’d need mountain climbing gear to get out. “If you’re a fan, I didn’t mean to offend.” Sincerity had wiped the smile from his face. “Actually, I’m..” She turned and smiled, “…her publicist.”
Cate: Please welcome Paty Jager. Paty, will you please share a short bio with us? Paty: I've been writing for years. Actually took it serious when my children were small writing stories for their classes. Then I tried my hand at a couple mysteries and ended up writing historical romance and joining RWA(Romance Writers of America). The fifth historical romance I wrote was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2006 and I've since published five western historical romances, one contemporary western romance, and have a historical paranormal and another contemporary romance coming out later this year.
Cate: Tell us about Doctor in Petticoats and where it's available. Paty: Doctor in Petticoats is the fourth book in the Halsey brother series. Clay was blinded in an accident in the previous book and is sent to a blind school on the other side of the state to learn how to deal with his new situation. While there he learns his fate isn't as bad as he thought, and he finds a woman who shows him he is still a virile man who can take charge of situations. Rachel is a woman in a man's world. She finds it hard be taken seriously as a doctor and with her father's influence is given the job of physician for the blind school. When Clay breaks his leg, she not only gets to prove her worth as a doctor she also learns there just might be a man out there strong enough to not be put off by her education and her scars. It's available at: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/doctor-in-petticoats-paperback-p-4105.html
Cate: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt. Paty: “I’m going to look in your other eye now.” Rachel again placed a hand on his face and opened the eyelid, stilling her fluttering heart as she pressed close. His clean-shaven face had a couple small nicks on the edges of his angular cheeks. The spice of his shave soap lingered on his skin. She resisted the urge to rub her cheek against his. The heat of his face under her palm and his breath moving wisps of wayward hair fluttered her eyes closed. She pretended for a few seconds he could be her husband. A man who loved her and wouldn’t be threatened by her occupation or sickened by her hideous scar. His breathing quickened, and his hand settled on her waist, slid around to her back, and drew her forward. Her hand, holding the lens, dropped to his shoulder, and she opened her eyes. This behavior on both their parts was unconscionable, but her constricted throat wouldn’t allow her to utter the rebuke. Clay sensed the moment the doctor slid from professional to aroused woman. The hand on his cheek caressed rather than held, her breathing quickened, and her scent invaded his senses like a warm summer rain.
Cate: Can you tell us why we're going to love your hero? Paty: Clay starts off the book feeling sorry for himself and being self-centered. He has a lot of growing to do and it takes a boy who has shouldered the burdens of his mother and sister to help him grow. And the faith of a strong woman to help him see his potential. But even with these flaws, Clay has a heart of gold and genuinely cares for others.
Cate: Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others. Paty: I don't think they had such a thing as the "mile high club" back in the days of train travel, but my hero and heroine, have their own version going on in the Pullman car's washroom.
Cate: What's next for you? Paty: I have a historical paranormal set among the Nez Perce releasing in August, and a contemporary western releasing, hopefully, later in the year.
Cate: What inspired you to draft your first story? Paty: The desire to put a story that was in my head on paper.
Cate: Do you have a writing routine? Paty: I've recently begun a routine of not opening the internet until I've written at least 2000 words or finished a project- i.e. edits or galley proofs. That is helping my productivity immensely! But I write in the mornings, do freelance editing in the afternoons, and spend one day a week on promotion.
Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? Paty: What keeps you reading series books? How many books in a series is too much?
This post is part of a blog tour. Go to my blog at http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com You'll see the list of places I've been. Visit them and leave a comment. The person who comments on the most blogs will receive an autographed book, a gift card to B&N, and other goodies.
Cate: You heard Paty! Click and comment for a chance to win these goodies! Thanks for being my guest, Paty, and best of luck with Doctor in Petticoats.
This week, Long and Short Reviews emailed me their wonderful review of Design for Life.
It said, in part: I love a story with an artsy angle. Real people who remind me of my friends fill this story. Cate Masters’ novella brings in characters I felt like I knew all along and a sense of being in the small town with them. When I sat down to read this story, I found myself transported to Almendra and the Flower Basket.
And: If you want a story that will stick with you long after the last page, then you need to read Design For Life.
Cate: I’m so happy to have Margaret Tanner back in the Author Spotlight. Margaret, Please tell us something about you and your books. Margaret: I am an author who loves delving into the pages of history as I carry out research for my historical romance novels. I take pride in being historically correct. No history book is too old or tattered for me to trawl through. I have tramped through cemeteries, spent hours in museums. I visited an old jail once and went into the little stone cell, and although it was a hot day, inside the cell it was bone chillingly cold. I wanted to know what it was like to be incarcerated in such a place, as the heroine in one of my novels, was thrown in jail for a crime she did not commit, and yet another heroine was sent to Australia as a convict. I am a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, the Melbourne Romance Writers Group (MRWG) and EPIC. I live in Australia and I am married and have three grown up sons and a gorgeous little grand-daughter.
Cate: Are there any new authors who have grasped your attention? Margaret: I love reading Ginger Simpson's books, she is a great writer and multi-published now. I also read your novels, Cate, and they are incredibly exciting and well written.
Cate: Thanks so much for your kind words! It's an honor, coming from such a well-respected author as you. Do you have any advice for other writers? Margaret: Yes. Follow your dream of publication and never give up and you will eventually succeed.
Cate: Wonderful advice. What’s your latest book about? Margaret: My latest release from TWRP is called “Wild Oats” which is the prequel to The Trouble with Playboys.” Both published in the Vintage section of TWRP.
Cate: What a great idea, writing a prequel! I love that they're interconnected. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? Margaret: Anywhere and everywhere. The Trouble With Playboys was inspired by my late father’s war time experiences in Malaya and Singapore. He was engaged to my mother at the time, and wrote many letters to her, and she kept all of these, so I had access to first-hand information so to speak. Shattered Dreams (TWRP), Wild Oats (TWRP) and Devil’s Ridge (WCP), which are set against a background of the 1st World War were also inspired by the deeds of my forebears. Hard to reconcile the frail old men, who told us kids stories of their time in France in 1916, to brave young soldiers who sailed halfway across the world to fight for England. I also had access to a diary written by one of them. I also used the local library extensively. Also, most importantly, I had the honour of visiting the battlefields in France and Belgium. A truly poignant experience. I couldn’t believe I was walking on the ground that these old men (old when I was a child, and long deceased by the time I made it to France), had fought over more than 90 years ago.
Cate: What promotional ideas can you give to other beginning authors? Margaret: My flippant answer to this question, and I use it quite often is – I’d do anything, that isn’t criminal. I’d strip if I had to, (anyone who knows me, knows this is a barefaced lie). With a figure like mine, fat legs, big bum and hips and saggy boobs, I mean come on, I’d frightened any potential buyers away. The real answer is – do whatever, and however much, you are comfortable with.
Cate: What advice would you give to somebody trying to get a literary agent? Margaret: The same as with getting a publisher, check out their credentials, make sure they handle your type of writing, then send them your best manuscript, polished to within an inch of its life, and keep your fingers crossed.
Cate: Is there anything you would like to say to other aspiring writers? Margaret: Yes, follow your dream. Work hard at it and never give up until you reach your goal.
Cate: Excellent advice! As a child what did you want to do when you grew up? Margaret: An author.
Cate: As a reader, I’m so glad you followed your dream! As a writer and published author how do you feel about e-publishing? Margaret: Well, being an e-pub author, I really believe it is the way of the future. And I think it is going to grow. I do worry that the smaller publishers who started this phenomenon might get pushed aside, now that the big publishers, who ridiculed e-books in the beginning, are starting to jump on the bandwagon and have their books electronically published as well.
Cate: Wow, what an incredible lineup. How long does it take you to do research on the books you write? Margaret: A few weeks. Depends on which era I am writing about.
Cate: How do you give credit to any research you do? Margaret: I don’t, because I only use the information as a general background and to check historical dates, so it isn’t necessary, my stories are all romances, which is the major part of the book, so the historical research I do is mainly for me to get a feel for the era.
Cate: What inspired you to become a writer? Margaret: I read many stories as a child from two Australian authors, Ethel Turner and Mary Grant Bruce and I wanted to write the same kind of stories as they did. Their stories weren’t particularly romantic, but they were set in the Australian bush and they based their stories on things that had happened to them in the younger days – 1880’s onwards. I was hooked.
Cate: How did you go about getting published? Margaret: Now that was hard. It took me many years, heaps of rejections and buckets of tears, I thought I wanted to write for Harlequin Mills & Boon, but after a time, I realized that they didn’t publish the kind of books I wrote. I tried some of the large publishers, who didn’t want me boo hoo, then I started researching the small press/e-pubs who published the kind of stories I wrote, and after that it didn’t take long for me to get an acceptance.
Cate: What stories do you like to write about? Margaret: All my novels, except for Holly And The Millionaire, are historical. The main part of my stories are always set in Australia. We have a dark and bloody history, having been founded as a penal colony for English convicts. We overcame the convict stain when free settlers started to pour in, and these people tamed the savage wilderness, gold was discovered and the country prospered. This is what I like to write about, ordinary people, doing extra-ordinary things and in the process finding their soul-mate.
Cate: Please welcome Colleen Love. Colleen, will you please share a short bio with us? Colleen: Sure! I live in NW Washington, in a small farming community. My nest is here, my roots are here, and I have no desire to be anywhere else. For fun, we hike mountain trails, go to the beach, bird watch, or just stay home and play with our own critters. I assist with eight horses, when needed (by them or their owner) and find no greater satisfaction then gaining the trust of these fine animals. I am still new to publishing, my first release was in 2007, and I find the whole industry exciting and fascinating. Writing is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last at night. It has become something I live and breathe for. Thank you for having me to your blog, Cate! I look forward to meeting your readers and having some fun today!
Cate: Tell us about your latest release and where it's available. Colleen: My last release was Eden at Twilight available through The Wild Rose Press. It’s in both e-book and print and can be found here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/colleen-love-m-262.html
Cate: Such a lovely cover. Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt. Colleen: Would love to! EDEN AT TWILIGHT is the story of Lily, a woman who wants love, and Leaf, the man who risks it all to love her. Lily Moore is an ordinary accountant who works long hard hours, leaving room for little else. After strange occurrences begin haunting her, she’s convinced by a motherly friend to take a vacation in Scotland. While there, she meets the man of her dreams, a handsome stranger with shifting hazel eyes. Leaf falls for Lily the moment he sees her, love at first sight. Never has a woman taken his heart so quickly. When trouble stirs and threatens her, he stands by her side, traveling through time and dimension to reclaim her from a deadly Drow leader. Lily has no choice but to trust him and hope his strength will pull them through. But is his strength alone enough?
Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme? Colleen: Viggo Mortenson… lol… This book is affectionately called my Viggo book. :) This man fascinates me to no end. He has this Zen exterior and raging passion inside that really shows in his acting. I love it and find it inspiring.
Cate: I'm a Viggo fan also. How do you develop your plots and characters? Colleen: My Notebook! And I do mean a notebook with paper and a pen. :) I use rough outlines to sketch out the story and plot the path it will take. I also use astrology to make my characters. From there, the story just falls into place and I move forward. Sometimes it seems to be a chain reaction, or a movie that plays out. I call myself a plotting pantser. :)
Cate: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams? Colleen: Yes, I feel like the characters are completely alive and think maybe they are, in my own little twisted dimension. Hehe I’ve lost many a night’s sleep over my characters goading me up to write. It’s such a bittersweet thing to be the victim of your own Muse.
Cate: What's next for you? Colleen: I have three finished works now, just deciding where to put them. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of story ideas. My imagination is much too active for that.
Cate: Any other published works? Colleen: Yes, I have three others. Thief of a Goddess’ Heart, and Hearts Afire: June, with Liquid Silver Books. Autumn Windsong with The Wild Rose Press Also free read stories in two anthology’s on my website.
Cate: Describe your writing in three words. Colleen: energetic, descriptive, fantasy
Cate: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding? Colleen: The most challenging would be finding the time I want. Mundane life wreaks havoc with my fantasy world at times. The most rewarding is when a reader/reviewer tells you how much they enjoyed escaping into your world.
Cate: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books? Colleen: I’ve gotten some good and bad, like any author, I guess. One good one I really liked was that Eden at Twilight appealed to a reviewer, because after reading so many erotic stories, she enjoyed the break with something a little sweeter. On the other hand, I had a reviewer say I’d ruined an entire anthology with my one little story. That’s a lot of power there, my friends!! :) hehe The same story got glowing reviews elsewhere, so it’s all just a matter of opinion. :)
Cate: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now? Colleen: Right now, I’m reading, and studying Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. I love and savor every word. Some of my others are Denyse Bridger, who can’t write a bad sentence if she tried. Bridget Aine’s Torrent series, Antonia Tiranth’s dragon stories, and R.L. Stuemke’s paranormal tales are very well told. Just love them all! :)
Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers? Colleen: I would love to know what readers love to read and why.
Cate: Readers, Colleen is giving away a book to a random commenter... so start commenting. She'll pick a winner on the evening of Thursday, 4/29. Thanks again for being my guest, Colleen! Best of luck.
Prior to the loss of her vision, author Sharon Donovan was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream rose. 
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