Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Cate Masters to the blog today. To talk about her new release Dead to Rights.
Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
Happy to! I’m a Jersey girl living in gorgeous central Pennsylvania, married to my best friend Gary for most of my life. He’s the inspiration for many of my heroes. 🙂 We have three grown kids, and now three grandboys who keep me on my toes. Our home used to hold more animal species than a small zoo, but now it’s just Lily, our cattle dog/terrier and Chairman Maiow, our dictator-like cat.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
There was never any aha! moment, I’ve just always written since about age 11. I think it must be in my genes. Before I was born, my mom won an honorable mention in a writing contest, and my dad always wrote for himself. My sister’s a wonderful writer, but she concentrates on genealogy. I prefer to unleash my wild imagination and let it roam whereever it will.
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers?
Who do you feel has influenced your writing? Wow, too many to name, really. Honestly, I have two floor-to-wall bookcases, another small bookcase in the bedroom, and now my Kindle’s packed with a few hundred stories I need to read by authors in many genres. I will say that as a teen, I fell in love with Tolkien’s world, and loved Arthurian stories, scifi and fantasy.
Q4) How did you get into writing in this specific genre?
Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? Labels always put me off. I’m a bit of a rebel that way, I guess. I don’t think about genre when I write, I just let the story unfold. My stories range from sweet to erotic, historical to contemporary, fantasy and paranormal to mainstream.
Q5) What are some of your writing rituals?
I wish I could say I had some! I grab writing time on the run these days, mostly on weekends.
Q6) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Dead to Rights is a dark paranormal/urban fantasy. The plot’s somewhat complex to explain, because the heroine goes through several transformations. This particular story is not a romance, although it has some romantic tension along the lines of the TV show Bones. I’d love for you to check out the blurb, an excerpt, view the book video, Casting Call (who I imagined in these roles as I wrote) and more at: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2009/06/dead-to-rights-contemporary-paranormal.html
Q7) How did you come with the idea for this story?
It began with the Eternal Transit Station of the Soul, a waystation for souls to pass through after death, which led to a villain who switched souls with an unsuspecting victim, who’s left with no memory after awakening in a mental facility. With few clues to follow she then has to figure out how to get back her life, and her body. With a little help from a warrior angel. 🙂
Q8) Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I have two more novels in mind for The Goddess Connection series, to follow Dancing With the Devil and The Magic of Lavender. I have another dozen or so WIPs waiting for me. At this writing, another dark paranormal, Death Is A Bitch is in edits with Decadent, so that should be released soon, if it hasn’t been already.
Q9) What would you be if you were not an author?
Maybe a journalist, or a photographer. I would have to tell stories of some kind, if not through fiction.
Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Did I mention my Kindle’s bulging with a few hundred stories? *grins* I seriously have dozens I can’t wait to read. All I need is a clone. A few, actually.
Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks so much for having me at Books-n-Kisses today. It’s been a real pleasure.
Want to learn more about Cate? You can find her here:
Cate Masters – Magic, mayhem and a little romance
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CateMasters
Cate Masters loves stories with a dash of magic, mayhem and romance! Multipublished in contemporary to historical, sweet to erotic, fantasy/dark fantasy to speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”
When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Cate loves to hear from readers! Friend her on Facebook or Goodreads, or email her at: cate.masters AT gmail.com
Dead to Rights – dark paranormal/urban fantasy
Available from Decadent Publishing
http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=500&osCsid=1rs5de21jcfh2ov3ikjhd26tk4
Blurb:
Identity theft sucks. But it’s worse when someone steals your life—body included. All memory of her life before waking up in a mental facility has vanished. Or was erased. Now she has to figure out how to get it all back….
Her only hope of learning the truth lies with one man. Problem is, he’s the leader of a cult. Her only choice is to follow him into his sordid world, where a darker evil lurks.
With a little help from an archangel hellbent on revenge, she may have a chance to learn the truth. But will it force her to make the hardest decision of her life…or death?
Book video
Thanks so much for having me at Books-n-Kisses!
You are very welcome. We enjoyed having you here.
Great interview, Cate! I need a clone as well. If I figure out how to accomplish that, I'll let you know.
Tap into your scifi research, Alex! I'm counting on you! 🙂
Sounds like a great story. It's on my list for next shopping date. Love the title "Death is a Bitch" 😀
Thanks Kacey! I'm really looking forward to Decadent releasing Death too. 🙂
Great interview, Cate. Looking forward to this one!
Great interview. Sounds like some great stuff coming down the pipeline.
This book has caught my attention several times just because of the cover- I love it! She looks kick-ass, and the story sounds fantastic! Happy sales!
Thanks Deb! Dead to Rights is already out, but Death Is A Bitch is coming soon. And no, I am not always so morbid, lol!
Thanks Dawn! They sure were fun to write.
Thanks so much JM – I love that cover too!
Sounds a great premise for a story, Cate and I LOVE the cover!!
Thanks Barbara! Sometimes unrelated elements come together in strange and wonderful ways, lol
You have so many good ones out,it's a wonder readers know what to grab first. I admire your writing and you are so good with dialogue, I wish some would rub off on me. lol. Dead to Rights looks like another winner for you. Congrats.
Your pile of TBR books sound like mine. Hey, if you get a clone, I want one too. I really, really need one.
I know you do, Lorrie. As soon as I figure it out, I'll let you know! Thanks for the good wishes.
Great interview! And the book sounds awesome! Can't wait to read it 😀
Thanks much Cassandra!