Sandi Ward's Blog, page 3

Authors With Cats: Meet Princess and Ptolemy

 Princess and Ptolemy by Cass Morris

I've got two cats, Princess and Ptolemy. Princess, a calico, is almost nineteen years old, and I've had her for all but the first few weeks of her life. So, she's been my best friend pretty much forever. Being the grand dame that she is, she spends most of her time sleeping these days -- even more than is usual for a cat. She has a super-comfy bed, but she also loves nuzzling up in the blankets with me at night.

Princess

Ptolemy recently turned seven, and he has exactly two modes: majestic splendor and utter maniac. He's a goober prone to tearing about the apartment when he gets a message from the cat planet. He's a purebred Abyssinian that I rescued from the shelter, where his previous family had inexplicably dumped him because they were getting a divorce and "couldn't keep all their pets" -- something I find inexcusable. Did they keep all their children? Whatever. Their loss, my awesome gain. He's hilarious and so affectionate.

Ptolemy

Ptolemy and Princess with their human

They're both wonderful companions and don't tend to be terribly distracting while I'm writing. They both pretty much always want to be in whatever room I'm in, but they don't tend to be prowlers or knockers-over-of-desk-items. The biggest problem is that they have a documented soporific effect. They look so sweet and peaceful while they're asleep! And it just makes me want to curl up and nap with them, which is not terribly conducive to productivity.

Cass Morris and her royal felines live and work in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Cass completed her Master of Letters at Mary Baldwin University in 2010, and she earned her undergraduate degree, a BA in English with a minor in history, from the College of William and Mary in 2007. She reads voraciously, wears corsets voluntarily, and will beat you at MarioKart. From Unseen Fire is her debut novel, a historical fantasy set in an alternate version of ancient Rome. Find her at cassmorriswrites.com or on Twitter at @CassRMorris.

You can find From Unseen Fire on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at other fine booksellers! 

 

February Early Look at Something Worth Saving

February early lookSomething Worth SavingMeet Gretel!

 

Every month leading up to publication of my next novel, Something Worth Saving, I’m giving readers a little early look at the story. Last month, I introduced the main character: my cat narrator, Lily.

This month, I’d like to tell you about another very important character, Gretel. She’s a German Shepherd.

You may recall from The Astonishing Thing that Boo lived with a little yappy dog named Jasper (named after my own maltese). But Jasper didn’t play a big role in that story. Boo basically ignored him. She really didn’t care too much for dogs!

In Something Worth Saving, I wanted to incorporate a big, active dog who would be capable of heroic acts. Gretel is a retired police dog who was injured on the job, and comes to live with the Anderson family.

In all of my books, cats and dogs cannot “talk” to each other. But in this story, Lily and Gretel share the same goal: to keep their family safe and happy. Lily likes to joke that she isn't sure how smart Gretel is, but she knows Gretel is fast, strong, protective of her humans and extremely loyal.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will say that Gretel ends up playing a big role in Something Worth Saving, and Lily is very grateful for her actions.

Authors With Cats: Meet Odin, Athena and Holly

 

On the blog today, author Adriana Arrington shares a little about her three beautiful cats: Odin, Athena and Holly. Can you imagine, not one but three gorgeous cats? I don't think my cat Winnie would be so generous as to share the house with another cat... she has enough to deal with (namely, our dog). Our maltese Jasper doesn't always understand why Winnie doesn't want to join his pack and run around the house with him.

Odin, Athena and Holly by Adriana Arrington

Some of my friends call me a cat lady. I suppose that’s what getting three cats in three years will do to a woman’s reputation. I never intended to co-habitat with three of the furry critters, but it was a bit of a “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” situation, except you replace “mouse” with “author” and “cookie” with “cat.”

Odin doesn't quite fit in this box.

It all started with Odin. We got him as an adorable twelve-week-old kitten. He had what might kindly be called a “strong play drive,” or if one is to speak plainly, a mean streak. He quickly decided that my children were his equals (or competitors?) and stalked them around the house. We decided he needed a feline playmate, which brought about Athena. As cantankerous and aggressive as Odin can be, Athena is nothing but sweetness. She mellowed out Odin considerably (as far as his interactions with us humans go, at any rate). However, Athena is way more into Odin than he is into her. (Sometimes I’m a bit embarrassed for her. I wish I could explain to her that Odin will never feel for her what she feels for him, but alas, she refuses to listen.) Much to our chagrin, Athena began meowing in the middle of the night for Odin to come play. Being the selfish bastard he is, he never responded. After many weeks of interrupted sleep, we decided that Athena also needed a friend. So in came Holly. We’ve had Holly for about a month now, and she has indeed satiated Athena’s need for a midnight buddy.

Athena and Holly.

My husband has proclaimed that the parade of getting cats has ended, and I agree that’s only reasonable. However, I think we’ll have to wait about six more months to see what Holly has to say about that idea. Something tells me she might have a way of convincing us otherwise.

Adriana Arrington writes psychological suspense with a paranormal element. Her debut novel, Bleed Through, features a high-spirited cat with special powers. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three boys, and three cats. You can find more information about her on AdrianaArrington.com.

You can find Bleed Through on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at other fine booksellers! 

 

Hollywood Homicide by Kellye Garrett

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The writing is clever (hilarious at times) and the story offers a sensational peek into life in Hollywood. Murder mystery isn’t a genre I know a lot about, but when I read that Kellye is a “recovering TV writer” who wrote for the CBS drama Cold Case, I was intrigued. (Sometimes I fantasize about that as a possible next writing venture for me—creating a TV series. But then I remember that I’m already pretty busy with my full-time job as an advertising copywriter, and writing novels on the side. There just aren’t enough hours in the day!)

Sure enough, this book was fantastically entertaining. It offers not just the excitement of solving a murder, but also a fun ride through the streets of the rich and famous in L.A.—and a look into the lives of the show biz wannabes who outnumber them. The whole time I was reading, I was casting the characters in my head with movie and TV stars. Our lead, Dayna, is friendly and very funny when everything doesn’t quite go as planned. The secondary characters are quirky and amusing. I didn’t know who the murderer was until the end, enjoying the final twists that led to the reveal.

You can learn more about Kellye Garrett on her web site: www.kellyegarrett.com. The second book in her Detective by Day series, Hollywood Ending, is also now available.

Authors With Cats: Meet Kitten

 

Thanks to our next author, Meghan Masterson, who shared a little about her cat here. As you'll read, her cat has had more than one name. That happens sometimes! When we adopted our cat Winnie, the SPCA had another name for her: Betty. But when we took her home, my daughter and I really felt she was more of a Winnie. I'm sure Winnie doesn't remember her first name. She knows that when she hears "Hey, Win!" that means it's time for dinner or bed. 

Kitten by Meghan Masterson

My cat was born under a shed at my parent’s house. Her mother was a stray who must have decided it looked like a good place to start her family – and it was, since they adopted her and found homes for all the kittens. There were six kittens altogether, all orange and nearly impossible to tell apart. My sister and I gave them all names that started with ‘F’, and Fifi was my favourite, and the most recognizable because of her charming habit of squinting one eye.

Cute and sweet! Meet Fifi!

We bonded right away, and now she’s been living with me for eight years, sleeping at the foot of my bed and supervising my writing from a blanket on top of a dresser near my desk. As she grew out of her squint, she also left behind the silly name of Fifi, and mostly responds to her affectionate, if not creative, nickname of ‘Kitten’.

Now, her name is Kitten.

Kitten is not fond of visitors, and my husband and I are the only people she allows to touch her, but she often tries to sit in my lap to keep me company while I write. Luckily, she rarely walks across the keyboard!

Meghan Masterson is the author of The Wardrobe Mistress, a novel about one of Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe women who spies on the queen during the French Revolution. Visit her website at: meghanmastersonauthor.com  

You can find The Wardrobe Mistress on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at other fine booksellers!

 

Authors With Cats: Meet Winnie

 

I'm happy to bring you the first in a series of blog posts on Authors With Cats. Yes, you'll meet some amazing authors...but, most importantly, you'll meet their cats!

Here you'll meet Winnie, the cat who lives with author Karen Sargent. Winnie is also the name of MY cat. As it just so happens, both Karen's Winnie and my Winnie are black cats with white paws, so these girls just might be soul sisters.

Thanks!
Sandi

Winnie by Karen Sargent

I'm an author with a cat, which doesn't make sense. First, I'm allergic to cats. I never met a cat that didn't inflict me with watery eyes, swollen sinuses, and sneezing fits—until a certain tiny, irresistible kitten was left on our doorstep five years ago. (Are strays hypoallergenic?)

Winnie next to the laptop

Second, she is my daughter's cat, not mine. But last fall my daughter moved to college, leaving her one-person cat without a person. Somehow I became a cat's person; therefore, I'm an author with a cat. Her name is Winnie.

There's nothing especially special about Winnie. She reinforces every cat stereotype that exists. Our home, our family, in fact, the entire world was created for her existence, so she thinks. But that's okay. I'm starting to agree with her. 

When my daughter moved to college, Winnie moved from her favorite pillow in my daughter's room to the top of the sofa above the cushion where I sit when I write. She pretends to clean herself or nap, but I suspect she's actually reading over my shoulder. Occasionally, she meows her disapproval, but I haven't learned to speak cat yet, so she's not a very dependable editor.

Winnie and Karen's daughter Randi over Christmas break

Sometimes I move from the sofa and write at the kitchen table. Winnie is not allowed on the table, has never been allowed on the table, but lately...she perches on the kitchen table next to my laptop. She likes to watch the cursor move across the screen when I write. Sometimes she tries to help me, but she doesn't realize four paws walking across the keyboard isn't actually writing—and she's a terrible speller. 

So, I'm an author with a cat. Who'd have thought that a little black ball of fuzz abandoned at my front door would one day make my nest feel less empty? She's become the object of my affection and my therapy when I need a distraction from my laptop. And sometimes, when she feels like it, I get to pet her.

 

Karen Sargent is the author of Waiting for Butterflies, the 2017 IAN Book of the Year. Visit her at: karensargentbooks.com.

You can find Waiting For Butterflies on Amazon , Barnes & Noble, and at other fine booksellers!

 

Author Cats: Meet Winnie

I'm happy to bring you the first in a series of blog posts on Author Cats. No, not cats who are authors. (Although that would be interesting...) I'm talking about cats who live with authors!

Here you'll meet Winnie, the cat who lives with author Karen Sargent. Winnie is also the name of MY cat. As it just so happens, both Karen's Winnie and my Winnie are black cats with white paws, so these girls just might be soul sisters.

Thanks!
Sandi

Winnie by Karen Sargent

I'm an author with a cat, which doesn't make sense. First, I'm allergic to cats. I never met a cat that didn't inflict me with watery eyes, swollen sinuses, and sneezing fits—until a certain tiny, irresistible kitten was left on our doorstep five years ago. (Are strays hypoallergenic?)

Winnie next to the laptop

Second, she is my daughter's cat, not mine. But last fall my daughter moved to college, leaving her one-person cat without a person. Somehow I became a cat's person; therefore, I'm an author with a cat. Her name is Winnie.

There's nothing especially special about Winnie. She reinforces every cat stereotype that exists. Our home, our family, in fact, the entire world was created for her existence, so she thinks. But that's okay. I'm starting to agree with her. 

When my daughter moved to college, Winnie moved from her favorite pillow in my daughter's room to the top of the sofa above the cushion where I sit when I write. She pretends to clean herself or nap, but I suspect she's actually reading over my shoulder. Occasionally, she meows her disapproval, but I haven't learned to speak cat yet, so she's not a very dependable editor.

Winnie and Karen's daughter Randi over Christmas break

Sometimes I move from the sofa and write at the kitchen table. Winnie is not allowed on the table, has never been allowed on the table, but lately...she perches on the kitchen table next to my laptop. She likes to watch the cursor move across the screen when I write. Sometimes she tries to help me, but she doesn't realize four paws walking across the keyboard isn't actually writing—and she's a terrible speller. 

So, I'm an author with a cat. Who'd have thought that a little black ball of fuzz abandoned at my front door would one day make my nest feel less empty? She's become the object of my affection and my therapy when I need a distraction from my laptop. And sometimes, when she feels like it, I get to pet her.

 

 

Karen Sargent is the author of Waiting for Butterflies, the 2017 IAN Book of the Year. Visit her at: karensargentbooks.com.

You can find Waiting For Butterflies on Amazon , Barnes & Noble, and at other fine booksellers!

January Sneak Peek at Something Worth Saving

JANUARY SNEAK PEEK Something Worth Saving Meet Lily!

Every month leading up to publication of my new novel SOMETHING WORTH SAVING (Kensington Books, November 2018), I’ll be giving readers a sneak peak of what’s to come.

This month I’d like to tell you about Lily. Lily is the cat narrator of Something Worth Saving. She has a different personality from Boo, the narrator of The Astonishing Thing. Here is the “Personality Board” I created when I was brainstorming the second book and trying to determine how Lily was different from Boo:

BOO (The Astonishing Thing)

Sassy, snippy, sarcasticFunny (not always intentionally)FussyEasily offendedLoving, trustingNaïve and childish at timesA little spoiledThinks of herself as small and helpless, but is determined to help her family 

 

LILY (Something Worth Saving)

Bossy and confident, but kindExperienced hunter, athletic, outdoorsyMouthy (meows until humans pay attention)Active: gives head butts, loves tummy rubs, stands on back legs and gazes upCurious, gets into trouble, wants to know how things workBeautiful and knows it, a show-offWants to be heroic, but knows she may not be the true hero of this story

 

Despite their differences, both cats care tremendously for their humans!

Is your cat a Boo or a Lily?

Photo by MassimoCattaneo/iStock / Getty Images



























Photo by Andypott/iStock / Getty Images

An Interview with Author Kari Lemor

Kari Lemor is an author of romantic suspense for the Lyrical Underground line of Kensington Publishing. Today I have an interview with her about her LOVE ON THE LINE series of books. 

She recently launched Book 3 in the series, titled Fatal Evidence. Read more in the interview below to learn more about this book and the entire series! 

 

Thanks for agreeing to answer some questions, Kari!

Thanks for having me here, Sandi. 

Tell us a little about your LOVE ON THE LINE series. Why did you decide to write about ex-military men?

Military men have always fascinated me and I love reading about them. I know how much it takes to get through basic training and be successful as a soldier. This makes for one tough character. Add in the respect, integrity and responsibility that these people get ingrained in them daily, hourly, I can’t think of any hero who would be better than that. I have such respect for our military and all they do and sacrifice for the people of our country.

What are the keys to writing a compelling suspenseful romance?

I never set out to write suspense specifically so not sure about any keys.  But I do love adding angst, both physical and emotional to each of my stories.  Just ask my CP, I always demand more of it from her. And I have beta readers who make sure I throw in plenty. I’m not much for adding the mystery element to a book, but I do love putting my characters in jeopardy. My middle daughter and I always joke that each of my black moments are… ‘and they both almost die.’  And since the main characters are in love at this point, the physical and emotional angst appear.

Did you do research on organized crime for this series?

I’m not one for a ton of research, which is why I will never write historicals, but my husband is a huge follower of Whitey Bulger and the Boston mob (as we live in New England) and has shared so many stories regarding them and their activities. Like the fact his father installed carpet for some of them and they wanted to pay in stolen furs. My father-in-law politely declined and didn’t take on any more jobs with them. 

When you're not writing, what genre of books are your favorite to read?

I have to confess I’m a bit of a book snob. Almost exclusively I read romance. During school, college and grad school I was required to read tons of everything else but romance is something I’ve been reading since I was 12. I love the relationships and the emotion that go into these books and the fact that no matter what has happened before, these characters can overcome it to be happy together. With all the bad in the world, romance lets me escape into a world of hope!

From Fatal Evidence (Book 3), tell us a little something about character Scott Holland that readers need to know.

Scott started out as a secondary character in Running Target. Originally, he was supposed to be Jack’s brother.  But after my first book sold, with the stipulation of it being a series, I had to tweak it. That’s when I added the whole military team aspect and made Jack and Scott cousins, but with Scott having been raised by Jack’s parents after his died. So essentially they were like brothers.

My first book in this series, Wild Card Undercover, had lots of sarcasm and banter between the main characters but Running Target had a darker undertone. The hero running for his life and not being able to be with his true love and their son. Scott played a major role in helping Jack stay informed regarding his son. Heather is the best friend of Jack’s love, Callie.  Heather and Scott pretend to be a couple so Scott has a reason to be around Callie and Jack’s son.

Scott and Heather became the light heartedness in Running Target to balance the darker emotion of Callie and Jack. And then they got loud and insisted they get a story too. Their chemistry was just too strong to resist.  I worried that Scott would be too bland for his own story, but he actually surprised me with some secrets he had been hiding. I won’t tell you what they are. You’ll need to read to find out for yourself.

Thanks, Kari!

Thanks again for having me here.

READ MORE ABOUT FATAL EVIDENCE:

What you don’t know can get you killed . . .

Construction company owner Scott Holland doesn’t go looking for trouble, but he’s just stumbled on plenty. The rundown mill he’s bought is plagued with mysterious incidents, and his investment partner, heiress Heather Silva, is as stubborn as she is intriguing. Dumped by his ex because of his blue-collar job, Scott is wary of Heather’s privileged background. Yet he’s drawn to her independence and strength, especially as the “accidents” grow more terrifying.

Determined to succeed without anyone’s help—especially her wealthy parents—Heather clashes with Scott again and again. But a grisly discovery makes them both targets. Someone wants Heather and Scott silenced for good. And as a killer closes in, the only option is to trust each other—or become the next victims…

MORE INFORMATION:

You can find the links for Kari's books  (for all major retailers) at her Kensington page: 

Kensington 

If you want updates or freebies, sign up for her mailing list at: www.karilemor.com 

Or visit Kari on social media:

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The Distance Home by Orly Konig

The Distance Home is lovely book about how a difficult adolescence can shape the things we do and the choices we make later in life. Can we overcome our insecurities and needs of the past to become fully engaged adults?

For me, the heart of the story was about how the intense “best friend” bond we sometimes make as teenagers inevitably fades as people grow up and move apart. It’s hard for a teenage girl to feel left out or left behind.

For our heroine Emma, her flawed childhood ends up haunting and shaping her values and sense of self long into adulthood. It’s a relief to witness her start to break those chains and begin to better understand the past so she can fully live in the present. We also wonder if she can ever reconcile with her best friend Jillian, as they share a love of horses and a feeling of home with the farm where they rode as kids.

We also see in this story how absentee mothers (whether due to illness or neglect) can impact daughters at vulnerable times of their lives. While we never get more than a glimpse of either Emma’s mother or Jillian’s mother, their absence plays a huge role in the story.

I really enjoyed the horses in this book! I was transported back to the days (I was about 11 to 13 years old) when I loved to ride and spent time at a local stable. My daughter went through the same phase when she was the same age. While riding wasn’t ultimately for either of us, it was nice to be reminded of the smell of the hay and the feeling of bonding with a sweet animal much bigger and stronger than ourselves. Horses do seem to have a healing power for many people, and you could feel how true that was for Emma.

Learn more about author Orly Konig at her website: www.orlykonig.com.