Cate Masters's Blog, page 39

Get ready for CassaStorm! And another giveaway!

I'd signed up long ago for a guest post at Night Owl Reviews, and today's the day! I'm talking about music to write stories to. Come over and chat, and enter the giveaway for an ebook of Cursed!
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Cursed-by-Cate-Masters

And the Cursed tour continues with a feature at Kristy Centeno's. Hope to see you there.

A storm's on the way...

I'm so happy to welcome Alex J. Cavanaugh today. His scifi novel CassaStorm wraps up his exciting scifi trilogy!



Comment on Alex’s blog this week for a chance to win a Cassa mug, mousepad, magnet, and swag!
CassaStormBy Alex J Cavanaugh
From the Amazon Best Selling Series!
A storm gathers across the galaxy…
Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.
After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.
Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…
“With a talent for worldbuilding and a compelling cast of characters, Alex J. Cavanaugh combines high powered space battles and the challenges of family dynamics to provide readers a space opera with heart.”
- Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the Southern Quilting and Myrtle Clover mysteries

“I thought the revelation was going to be one thing and I was completely wrong … CassaStorm pushes the limits…”
- Tyson Mauermann, Speculative Reviews

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken
$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space operaPrint ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019$4.99 EBook available in all formats
Find CassaStorm:Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastormAmazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastorm Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastorm Book trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Umm2l0XdHc&feature=youtu.be

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.
Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh   Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh



Congrats Alex! I'm thrilled for you, and wish you many sales.

What's a party without goodies?

Today I'm joining TRS for their 10th Anniversary Celebration party. Come on over and join the fun! I'm giving away an ebook of Betting It All, my historical set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

The next Cursed blog tour stop is at Musings And Ramblings for a fun interview. I hope to see you there! Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a $15 gift card.

Fall into Romance blog hop

Where did summer go? I can't believe the leaves are already turning, kids are back to school (yay!) and my favorite time of year has begun! I love everything about autumn - the vivid colors, the smells, and Halloween is coming up fast. I decorate almost as much for Halloween as for Christmas, lol.

And today launches the Fall into Romance Blog Hop! It runs from Sept. 13 through Sept. 21, a full nine days of fun and giveaways. Take your time, hop at your leisure and enjoy!

Today I'm so happy to tell you about two ebooks, both short, hot stories that will satisfy your cravings.

The first is a little gem I discovered through Decadent Publishing's 1 Night Stand series - Dominique Eastwick's Strawberry Kisses. 

Are they ready to gamble on a 1Night Stand?

Mia hides behind her computer, designing popular computer games. And though she knows just what to do to keep men coming back for more on the other end of the modem, she doesn’t seem to have the same knack in person.
Gavin hides behind numbers. Since his wife left him, the only thing he cares about is his son and his job. One failed relationship was enough, but if the right curvaceous woman came into the picture he just might manipulate the numbers a bit.
Can two meddling sisters enlist Madame Eve to bring Mia and Gavin together and show them two is always better than one?

A sumptuously delicious tale, short but with all the best ingredients! A realistic, curvy, intelligent heroine and a shy, sexy hero with a heart of gold - I loved it!

Here's an excerpt to tease you a little more:


“Do you want the next strawberry with chocolate, or champagne?” He popped the cork.

“I, um....” She slowed her breathing, trying hard to concentrate on his words. “I’ve never had champagne and strawberries.”

“Really?” As he smiled, the first real smile she’d seen on his face was breathtaking, She could only nod since somewhere between her mouth and her brain she’d lost the ability to form simple words.

Pouring one glass of the bubbly wine, he took a sip, smiled then grabbed another plump berry. He rubbed it slightly on her lower lip. “Take a bite.”

He didn’t have to tell her twice. She bit, then savored, as he raised the flute and tilted it just enough for her to get a swallow of the liquid. Her eyes widened as the tastes of the fruit and champagne fused in her mouth.

“Another bite then?” He didn’t wait for her answer, giving her another piece and let her enjoy the fruit for what it was, savoring and treasuring as some of the best she’d ever had.

She opened her eyes just in time to see his close, and his mouth settle over hers. Her lips parted and a rush of champagne from his mouth filled her own. The fizzy liquid overwhelmed her senses. If she could have let out an ooh, she would have. But all she could think about was his tongue dancing with hers. His left hand still holding the flute, he wrapped it around her waist, pulling her closer.
Find out more about Dominique on her website, blog or Facebook!

Eva LeFoy's Sweet Cravings was another delectable read. Another realistic heroine, complete with insecurities about her weight, and it will leave you hungry for um, cream puffs. :)

Riding the waves of a sugar high, Violet Cunningham seduces the town’s newest pastry chef, slathering him with whipped cream in his secret kitchen. But all that is made of sugar melts, and her brazenness vanishes soon after their tryst, leaving her battling old insecurities about her waistline and appetites, courtesy of her mother. Positive she’s only made a fool of herself, she’s mortified when her boss sends her back to sexy Chef Max’s kitchen and into the proverbial frying pan.
After a red-hot date, her chef disappears, and Violet’s emotions simmer to a boil, forcing her to confront the awful truth: there’s more to life than pastry.

Excerpt
I ducked into the kitchen before the bored-looking maître d’ could accost me and found myself heating up at the sight of a stainless steel table. Sous-chefs in white hats and dishwashers with racks of clean plates bustled back and forth down the aisle in front of me, but I didn’t spot the pastry chef in their midst. I almost gave up and left before noticing the light was on in the “secret kitchen.” I gulped. My knees went weak, and I stood frozen to the spot. Inside me, determination, embarrassment, and heady desire warred. I wanted so bad to turn and walk out, find another caterer, and be done with it. But I couldn’t. There’d be questions. Chuck would want to know why he wasn’t getting the best French-trained chef in town, and I’d be up shit creek without a paddle. What could I say? Sorry, I didn’t mean to have hot, sweaty sex with the guy—if I’d known you’d need him the next week, I would have waited?  See what else Violet and her sexy chef Max do in his secret kitchen, and if you have time, whip up a batch of cream puffs to eat while you read! (Recipe included in book). 
Decadent Publishing
Amazon Eva Lefoy writes and reads all kinds of romance, and is a certified Trekkie. She’s also terribly addicted to chocolate, tea, and hiking. One of these days, she’ll figure out the meaning of life, quit her job, and go travel the galaxy. Until then, she’s writing down all her dirty thoughts for the sake of future explorers.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eva-Lefoy/344907072265234 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eva_Lefoy Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656950.Eva_LeFoyAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Eva-Lefoy/e/B00CE0EY0GBlog: http://writery.wordpress.com/

GIVEAWAY (open internationally)

Two commenters will win!

1 ebook of Dominique Eastwick's Strawberry Kisses (readers aged 18+)

1 ebook of Eva LeFoy's Sweet Cravings (readers aged 18+)

State your preference in your comment, and please be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you.

Psst! You can also enter to win a $16 gift card on my blog tour for my paranormal, Cursed: The Vitruvian Man 1. Visit here: http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/vbt-cursed-by-cate-masters.html



HOP ON!

To follow the blog hop, just click on the logo below to see the full list of participants - more than 100 blogs! You have nine days to check them all out, so have fun!

Celebration! And Cursed tour stop today

On Sept. 24, 2011, I signed my first two contracts with Decadent Publishing, both on the same day. One was for A Hard Day's Knight and the other for Tonight You Belong to Me.

This week, I signed another contract! This one's for A Wedding at the Blue Moon Cafe, a contemporary and the second in the Blue Moon series. As I was filling out the paperwork, I realized this makes my 14th contract with Decadent. In two years!

As you might have guessed, I'm very happy to be a Decadent author. And yep, I've been happy dancing.



I have a fun interview today at Bunny's Book Reviews  I hope you'll stop over!

Tomorrow, I have another fun interview at Dalene's Book Reviews

Plus the Fall Into Romance blog hop start tomorrow here!

Busy? Ha, I warned you!

Are you ready to Seal the Deal?

Coming this OCTOBERContemporary bestselling author JoAnne Kenrick Isle of myth and magic. Destined Mates. One extraordinary night. SEAL THE DEAL, Isle of Man and Selkie book one. Click for more details

Cursed giveaway today

It's not an official tour stop, but today I'm interviewed at Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies Oh My! You can imagine what fun it will be, with a blog title like that. :)

Plus, I'm giving away an ebook of Cursed! So please stop over and chat me up, and enter the giveaway!

I'm thrilled that Cinderella Dreams received another lovely review! You Gotta Reads rated it You Need to Read (4 stars). Donna, the reviewer, said:

"Told in first person, Cinderella Dreams is a short and sweet, highly romantic tale of second chances. The characters are likable, the setting is interesting, and the ending is a happy ever after…finally."

Thanks so much Donna! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!


Tomorrow, the Cursed book tour continues with a feature at Rose and Beps Blog

plus I'll have a special guest here, so be sure to stop by.

Triple header today!

Two stop on the Cursed blog tour today! A feature at Cu's eBook Giveaways
and thanks to Indy Book Fairy for inviting me to guest post and especially for agreeing to review Cursed (and most of all for calling it "shockingly beautiful." :))

Plus, I'm also at the Decadent 1NS blog, talking about the mystical and amazing Madame Eve.

I hope you'll visit me so I'm not too lonely :)

Leonardo da Vinci: Genius or sorcerer?

I pose that question for your consideration today at Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess   I hope you'll join in! And thanks so much to the Scarf Princess for reviewing Cursed! I'm very grateful when reviewers include my books in their crowded lineup.

Tomorrow's a triple header! It's going to be a busy week. :)

Story rights

Next week's going to be a very busy week! So I wanted to address an issue that's come front and center for me, and should always be for any author.

Story rights.

This year, rights to four stories were returned to me by two publishers. I opted not to renew them for very different reasons, but also for one reason - I wanted to revise all those stories because in four years, I've learned a thing or two. And though I probably won't have it tattooed on my arm - or anywhere else - I am still learning, and intend to keep studying.

One publisher for various reasons didn't click for me. I had nothing but negative experiences with them. Emails went unanswered. Royalty checks - nada. Not even a statement. For years. So, adios. Other authors work with them without complaint, so they must have better experiences than mine. But after finding a publisher like Decadent that is in constant contact, always coming up with new promo ideas and their enthusiasm is nonstop, I'm in a much better place now. In the beginning, I settled. No more.

The other publisher helped give me my start and I'm very grateful to them. Two years ago, they invited me to sub for a new line, and I did. But they'd changed their contract. Now in addition to ebook, print and audio, they wanted movie rights.

Okay, so maybe there's a better chance of winning the Powerball jackpot, but still. I'm the one who took a kernel of a story idea and developed it into a story. Yes, the editors helped smooth out some flaws. But if some movie producer happened to read my story and think it worth a TV episode, a movie or even a commercial, I believe those rights should be mine.

I was lucky this publisher alerted its authors to the change. Some publishers may not be so forthcoming.

It's up to each author to decide what works for them. And to thoroughly read every contract you sign - no matter how long you've been with a publisher.

Next Cursed blog stop

Thanks to JM Stewart--Contemporary Romance Author for hosting me on the Cursed blog tour! Today's spot is an interview. I hope you'll pop over and chat me up. :)

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the $15 gift card

It's a crazy busy month, with class and as always, life intrudes. I'm lucky to get an uninterrupted five minutes on the computer. I wish I knew how to keep up with it all, but I'm doing the best that I can. If you have any tips on how to give up sleeping, let me know!