Cate Masters's Blog, page 15

Casting Call: Twice In A Blue Moon

I couldn't wait to show you this Casting Call! I've had these characters in my head for too long. :)



Melanie's a walking contradiction. She's tough but fragile, worn out though she perseveres, putting up a front though she's very down to earth, and she avoids love though she desperately needs it - it's the one thing that can heal her after the loss of her fiancee. She thought Pete was her forever guy, her Once In A Blue Moon guy. Then he died. Since then, she's been flirting a bit closely with death with her extreme sports show, No Boundaries.

Emilia Clarke is the perfect Melanie. Minus the dragons, of course.

Buck is also hiding from his painful past. When Melanie and crew show up, he realizes he can't hide any longer - not from his screw-ups, or from love. A leap of faith is the most difficult kind of leap for him, but some people are worth it.

I have to admit, I owe a big debt to Nathan Fillion. He was in my head as Buck from the story's inception, and influenced how I wrote Buck - from his looks to dialogue. So thank you, Nathan. :)


Hayden was a complex character. A bit arrogant, a professional who puts his job first but makes time for fun, and who cares deeply but might not show it well. Not necessarily likable, but very important to the story. Without him, Melanie might not have had the strength to move on with her life.

Alex Pettyfer would make an excellent Hayden.



Vivacious and energetic, Gina doesn't mind multitasking. She shoots video but is ready to step behind Melanie to follow her on stunts, or step up and fill in for the reality star if necessary. Jumping off a cliff in a wingsuit? No problem.

Jessica Alba would rock the role of Gina.



Anakarina may have a small part to play in this story, but she was very vivid. Her character didn't just play dead while she wasn't on the page. She went out and raised hell.

Eva Green would steal the show as Anakarina.

There were other secondary characters, but these were the most important to the story line.

I hope you enjoyed this Casting Call! You can check out more about Twice In A Blue Moon here.



Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kensington

All is lost

Not for me. I'm talking about my characters. Come on over to Just Contemporary Romance and find out!

Happy book birthday to Juliette Cross' Forged in Fire!

Forged in Fire The Vessel Trilogy Book One Juliette Cross
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Samhain Publishing, Ltd
Date of Publication:  January 27, 2015
ISBN: 9781619224919 ASIN: B00MHL2UR6
Number of pages: 318 pages Word Count: 98,000
Cover Artist: Kanaxa
She never knew this demon world existed. Now she just wants to survive it.
Genevieve Drake never needed a man to come to her rescue. Not until the night of her twentieth birthday, when some dude nearly chokes her to death in an alley behind a New Orleans Goth club. And a hot stranger splits the guy in half, rips a monster from inside, and incinerates it into ash.
The hunky rescuer? Jude Delacroix—Dominus Daemonum, Master of Demons, now her guardian, whether she likes it or not. But she’s seriously beginning to like it.
Her would-be murderer turns out to be only the first of many minions of the demon prince, Danté, who has all kinds of lascivious and sadistic plans. Which means when the formidably beautiful Jude offers his protection, Genevieve has no problem accepting it.
For Jude and his fellow demon hunters tell her she is a Vessel, one who is born to serve the Light, but can be corrupted into a weapon of darkness. And to survive, she must trust a man whose unearthly eyes promise heaven…but whose powers unleash hell.
Warning: Contains a dark and brooding demon hunter who harbors even darker secrets, a snarky heroine who’s being hunted by every demon in the underworld, and a sadistic demon prince with a fancy for violent sexual encounters.
Available at Amazon  BN  Kobo
Excerpt I’d parked illegally on the street, knowing full well I’d probably have a ticket on the windshield when I returned. Campus cops were like sharks in bloody waters, sniffing out offenders with notorious stealth. You never saw them but sure as hell felt bitten when they got you. Dreading to see that I’d been attacked by one of these predators, I rounded the corner, and my heart stopped. Propped beautifully against my silver 350ZX was my rescuer, R-and-B from last night. Faded jeans fit snugly on his hips, and a gray T-shirt accentuated a perfect upper body. His black hair fell just right across lovely dark eyes. With casually crossed arms, he watched me approach. Heart, please stop pounding that way before he notices. This was no accident. He’d found me somehow. Should I be afraid? He didn’t look dangerous. Well, not in a serial-killer sort of way. Hell, he looked good enough to eat. Totally faking bravado, I stopped in front of him with one hand on my waist. “Are you stalking me?” He didn’t answer, eyeing me from bottom to top. His gaze paused at my throat, then finally made its way to my eyes. Still mute. I hated awkward silences. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you it’s not polite to stare?” That seemed to jar him a bit. He straightened, his expression grim at best. “I apologize. I was—” “Checking me out. Yeah, I got that loud and clear.” Damn, I was brave. He cleared his throat, hiding a smile now. “I was going to say, examining you.” He gestured to my neck. “Examining? Why? Are you a doctor?” “Of sorts.” “What sort of sort?” “I have a doctorate.” No way. He seemed too young to have a PhD. “A doctorate in what?” I asked skeptically. “Philosophy.” “Your expertise?” I asked, noting the rather sarcastic lilt in my voice. He didn’t bat an eye. “My thesis was on how weapons reflect the savagery and sophistication of a culture.” That accent again. Definitely European. But what country? “Well, a PhD in weaponry may give you some idea how to inflict injuries, but it doesn’t qualify you to examine and diagnose them.” “True.” Ha! One point for me. “So…” I let the word hang. “How could you possibly have a PhD in anything at your age?” “I’m older than I appear.” A slow, slow devastating smile. A fluttering in my stomach felt like a frantic flock of blind birds. Re-lax, Gen. Thank God he spoke, because for the moment, my lips had completely forgotten how to form words. “I simply wanted to determine whether you’d recovered from last night’s attack,” he said, pushing off my car and coming closer. Oh no. He was going to touch me. Genevieve Elizabeth Drake, do NOT faint. He reached out and gently folded back my hoodie. He lifted my chin and angled it so that he could see the marks I knew were purpled along the left side. Why was I letting this stranger get so close? Even if he was picture-book gorgeous. I pushed his hand away and stepped around him to my car. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, pulling the keys from the front pocket of my backpack. “What I want to know is how you knew where to find me. And why are you following me? It’s a bit creepy, even if you did save my life last night.” We’d now switched places. I leaned back against my car. He stood there, examining me again, thumbs hooked in the front pockets of those yummy jeans. “Yesterday was your twentieth birthday, wasn’t it?” Okay. Double creepy. “How did you know?” My question confirmed whatever idea he had in his head. I could see it in the nod and drop of his perfect cleft chin. Two girls flitted by, engrossed in a conversation. One nudged the other when they caught sight of him, ogling shamelessly. They giggled. Couldn’t blame them, but it pissed me off for some reason. R-and-B gave them no real notice, turning back to me. “I think we should go somewhere private to talk.” Said the creepy man to the little girl with a lollipop and a white van waiting around the corner. “Um, I don’t think so.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t know you. And no matter what you did for me last night, at this point, I don’t trust you.” He shifted weight to his other leg. “As you wish. We’ll talk here.” “Not that I’m ungrateful, but why were you following me last night? Into the alley?” “I wasn’t following you. I was following the demon.” “Fair enough. How did you know it was my birthday?” “Last night, I wondered but thought it impossible. I had not thought to meet another like you in all my time as a…” He paused, glancing around and lowering his voice. “As a Dominus Daemonum.” I shook my head. “Okay, hold up. Met one what before? And what the hell is a dominus da-whatever-you-said?” Dark enchanting eyes kept me still, even with my saucy attitude. A face chiseled in stone regarded me with care. I would never admit it, but I was afraid to move. Something in those almost-black depths warned me what he spoke of now would change my life forever. What’s more, I knew those words. They were Latin. But the translation in my head didn’t make sense. “The what is a Vessel,” he finally said. “And a Dominus Daemonum is a Master of Demons.” “Do you mean like a…a demon hunter?” He nodded. No smile. “That is what I am,” he said. “And what’s a Vessel?” “That is what you are.”

About the Author
Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance--brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Juliette-Cross/e/B00MQ18Z1W/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecrossauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/crossjuliette/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7795664.Juliette_Cross
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn 

Mother Nature's a relentless party girl

I appreciate all the celebratory snow, Mother Nature, but really - two feet of it along the Eastern coast? Totally unnecessary. A really sweet gesture, but you can stop now.

I'll continue the party in the blogosphere though. Thanks to Alleigh Burrows for the fun interview! I hope you can pop over and say hi.

If you're caught in the path of this monster storm, please stay safe.

Arctic inspiration

The whirlwind is winding down - only one stop today. Thanks to Romance At Random for featuring Twice In A Blue Moon with my blog post, Arctic Inspiration: Love Under the Northern Lights.

It's worth a peek if only to view the inside of the Icehotel - sure to inspire oohs and ahhhs. Of course, I'm always grateful for comments too!

Happy Friday!

Still happy dancin' around the web

The euphoria-induced tango-pirouette-electric slide continues! Today's another whirlwind kind o'day.

Thanks to Gemma Brocato for the spotlight of Twice In A Blue Moon!

Another huge thanks to Daisy Banks for the feature. You women rule!

If you visit no other post, I'd love for you to check this one out. I may be in the minority on this subject, but I Heart Antagonists. Do you? Come weigh in at Fresh Fiction.

Happy Thursday!

Let it snow!

Mother Nature's joining the release party for Twice In A Blue Moon - she's throwing snow confetti! Okay, it's really just snowing but I can pretended, right?

I'm seriously excited that USA Today featured Twice In A Blue Moon on their site today. Check it out here.

Thanks to RomCon for joining the party with another excerpt on their site.

Readers Entertainment also shared a different excerpt on their site. I hope you'll pop over there.

Thanks, too, to Mae Clair for spotlighting TIAB on her beautiful blog too.

Doesn't that cover just make you want to cozy up by the fire with some tea and a good book?

Partying around the blogosphere

Today at Manic Readers, I'm posing the all-important and truth-revealing question: Is love a greater thrill (and risk) than extreme sports? Your answer will tip the cosmic scales into proportional balance, or send us all hurtling into deep space.

Just kidding. It would be nice to see you over there though. ;)

Romance Divas is still encountering an unfortunate glitch, but you can read the beginning of my post here. Hope things work out for you soon, Divas!

And thanks to both for hosting me, and letting me blab about Twice In A Blue Moon.

Happy book birthday, Twice In A Blue Moon!

Release day is finally here! I'm excited to finally have this unique contemporary out in the world.

I was waiting to share the news because I'm scheduled to appear on seven sites today, but can find only two of my posts. So the celebration's going on! I'll post the other links as I find them.

Thanks to Christa Maurice for spotlighting Twice In A Blue Moon on her blog.

Another big thanks to Mary Gramlich for allowing me to share a post, For the Love of Dog. Pop over to let me know if you love reading about animals in stories. For Twice In A Blue Moon, there was no getting away from them, lol.

Meanwhile, let the book birthday happy dance commence!

Twice In A Blue Moon - contemporary romance category novel

Twice In A Blue Moon Contemporary romance novellaAbout 48,000 wordsPublish Date: 1/19/2015 


Can true love strike twice? After the death of her first love, Melanie Michaels buries her grief in the risky demands of a reality show, where her extreme stunts leave her teetering on the edge of danger. That’s exactly where she wants to be—until she arranges for her crew to traverse the Swedish Lapland in the dead of winter. It’s the one place she shouldn’t go, on the one day she should avoid—her would-be wedding anniversary. Instead of romantic nights spent in the Ice Hotel or under the Northern Lights, Melanie is stuck with Joe “Buck” Wright, a snarky loner tour guide who loves his sled dogs and nothing and no one else. But Buck is also trying to numb a painful past. Can two people skilled at pushing others away find warmth at the edge of the Arctic? 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kensington




Casting Call (coming soon)
Reviews

Excerpt Buck tried not to drool. “Perfect.” He loved making new friends, especially of the female variety. So long as they didn’t complain about his modus operandus: all fun, zero ties. Repeats happened if the girl abided the rules. And if he didn’t get too attached. Such foolishness led to all manner of drama and heartache. He’d had enough of both. His life had become about survival, and he’d taught himself not to let anyone get close. Not to make himself vulnerable to pain. To live alone and like it.Klaus set two mugs in front of them and deftly removed a bill from the stack Buck had left on the bar.Something made him glance up at the television. Maybe Kenny had implanted a subliminal suggestion during their conversation. Damn if the name at the bottom of the screen didn’t read Melanie Michaels. A man spoke into a microphone, then stepped closer to hold it near her.“No way. That’s her?” He waved at the bartender. “Turn up the volume, will you please, Klaus?”The camera zoomed in on her face. Features delicate but strong, beautiful but serious. God, that mouth—lips full and wide, and the way they moved as she spoke, he could hardly tear away his gaze. Her large eyes, dark and luminous in the way that had always struck him to the bone. Just like Poppy. She’d turned out to be anything but sweet. More like poisonous, the opium behind the flowery facade an instant addiction that took him years to overcome. He still carried the scars from her acid nectar. Anything and anyone reminding him of his former lover ranked the lowest of low on his shit list.Melanie Michaels just claimed that spot.And now he’d have to deal with her every day for almost a week. “Oh man, it’s going to be a grueling six days.” Five, technically. Tomorrow’s meet-and-greet was strictly a formality, though the preliminaries helped him size up his guests so he could better prepare.Klaus glanced from Buck to the screen and back again. “She’s taking your tour? You lucky bastard.”Lucky? No. Bastard? Yes, according to some. “Oh yeah. Skol.” He raised his mug and gulped. And gulped.The blonde assessed him. “You’re a wilderness guide? For which company?”He tried to sound proud and manly as he said, “Arctic Adventures.”“I’ve heard about them.” An arch of her brows, and her demeanor turned glacier-cold.He could only imagine what, exactly, she’d heard. Kenny insisted they stretch their expenses as far as possible. Translation: second-rate accommodations. And hey, it wasn’t his fault if the sled dogs took a dislike to certain clients. They should know better than to leave unpackaged foods unprotected and stow their backpacks away from the team. The dogs had few enough trees upon which to relieve themselves, and he didn’t blame them one bit.Klaus shot the blonde a dubious, don’t-make-trouble look.“What? They’ll be famous.” She hid a laugh behind her hand. “No Boundaries will make you a star in America.”“America.” Ah, hell. Why hadn’t it occurred to him? His family would see him, the friends he’d left behind. And Poppy. Shit. Short of them traveling to Sweden, there’d been no way for any of them to bust him on the lie he’d told. Now they’d know he didn’t work for the prestigious National Geographic tours, but a crap company based in Kiruna. In his last email, he’d boasted of almost having saved enough money to build a log resort better than the world-famous Wilderness Lodge. Fat chance, on his salary.Me, a star? More like an outcast. Buck heaved a sigh. “I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.” For drinking or anything else.He grabbed the cash from the bar, left a generous tip, and nodded goodbye to Klaus. He strode to the exit, ignoring the blonde’s taunting calls to come back. The laughter in her lilting tone churned his gut.Whether he returned to the job at all depended on how badly Melanie Michaels and crew shamed him on video. He’d spend the next six days avoiding the camera, and afterward, crawl into some isolated igloo a dismal failure. He might stay there until global warming melted away the polar ice cap.