Cate Masters's Blog, page 51

Simon Andrew Stirling: Why Valentine?

Simon Andrew Stirling
Today, something a little different. Mr. Stirling shares a sentiment dear to my heart: that every woman is a goddess (or should be treated like one). Please give Simon a warm welcome!   Why Valentine?  He's not a very well known saint.  There's no obvious link at all between Valentinus, a Christian martyr of the third century, and the feast day of lovers.

This question bugged me for a long time.  You can put that down to my interest in history, which is really about asking what happened, and why it happened, and how has it affected things since?  Weird little questions like "Why do we make such a big deal of Valentine's Day?" tend to pop into my head, demanding an answer.  There must be some reason.  It couldn't all be down to the greetings card industry looking to make a profit.

The odd thing is, when you try to find out what made the feast day of St Valentine (who died, supposedly, on February 14th) so special, you run up against a wall.  Some have suggested that it all goes back to the Roman feast of Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February, which was held partly in honour of Lupa, the she-wolf who suckled the founders of Rome.  But ancient Roman festivals don't bother us much these days.

Maybe it was the 14th-century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer who started it all.  In his Parlement of Fowles, Chaucer noted that birds tend to choose their mates "on seynt Volantynys day".  And yes, that's quite a nice idea.  Why do we send gifts to our true loves on Valentine's Day?  We're just imitating the birds.

It wasn't until I was researching the man who became known as King Arthur - the historical prince who gave rise to the legends - that things fell into place.

There were eight major festivals back in Arthur's day.  They divided the Celtic year evenly.  Four festivals devoted to the Sun took place at the solstices (midwinter and midsummer) and the equinoxes (spring and autumn).  Between those Sun festivals, there were four more festivals timed in relation to the Moon.  These festivals marked the changing of the seasons.  The great fire-and-fertility festival of Beltane, held around the beginning of May, welcomed in the summer.  The games of Lughnasadh (beginning of August) anticipated the fall.  Samhain - or Hallowe'en, as we now think of it - saw the year's ending and beginning on the edge of winter.  And at Imbolc, the first signs of spring were celebrated.

Imbolc (pronounced "Im-bole") took place in early February, traditionally on the 2nd day of the month.  The snowdrops were appearing, giving the first signs that the frozen earth was returning to life.  Ewes started lactating.  The Goddess, as the Celts thought of her, was spreading her green mantle over the land.

Just as the Goddess was seen to age as the year wore on - a Sacred Bride at Beltane, a nurturing Mother at harvest time, a wizened old Crone at Samhain - so she was rejuvenated at the beginning of spring.  At Imbolc, she presented herself in her virginal aspect.  She was the Maiden, symbolising youth, innocence, and the promise of fertility to come.  The Christian Church called her Imbolc festival Candlemas or - tellingly - the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin.

Now, here's the thing.  The Catholic Church adopted a new calendar in the 1580s.  But England, being Protestant, refused to recognised the new Gregorian calendar, which was named after the Pope.  The English held onto the much older Julian calendar (named after Julius Caesar) for another 170 years.

By 1752, the difference in dates between Britain and most of Europe was 12 days.  It was in that year that Britain decided to abandon the Julian calendar and take up the Gregorian one, which meant dropping eleven days altogether.  Wednesday, September 2nd 1752 was immediately followed by Thursday, September 14th.  The English weren't happy, believing that twelve days of their lives had been taken from them.  Riots broke out.  But the change had finally brought Britain in line with her European neighbours.

The implications of the change in the calendar aren't often appreciated.  Valentine's Day is a good example of what happened.  When eleven days were lost, the old pagan festival of Imbolc slipped.  What would have fallen on February 2nd now fell on February 14th - which just happened to be the feast day of an obscure Roman martyr called Valentinus.

The researches which led me to write my book The King Arthur Conspiracy had convinced me that Arthur was conceived during the May Day festivities of Beltane in the year 558.  This made sense for a number of reasons.  First, the birthday given for his half-sister Muirgein is January 27th, roughly nine months on from Beltane, and birthdays tend to cluster in families.  Secondly, bringing a child into the world in early spring was good practice: the warm summer months of plenty lay ahead.  And Beltane symbolised the sacred marriage of Sun and Moon, a moment when illicit couplings were positively encouraged.  A time for heroes to be conceived.

It would also mean that his birthday fell roundabout the start of February.  The historical Arthur, I concluded, was born on or about February 2nd 559, during the Imbolc feast which honoured the Goddess in her lovely Maiden form.  Today, his birthday would fall sometime near February 14th, the festival of true love.

Behind all the chocolate hearts, the red roses, the sparkling wine and the intimate dinners for two, the traditions of Valentine's Day stretch way back in time.  They were once a celebration of new life, fresh hope, young love and innocence.  Every girl was the goddess on that day.

And of course, every woman still is.

 
The King Arthur Conspiracy: How a Scottish Prince Became a Mythical Hero   by Simon Andrew Stirling
Published by The History Press, available from Amazon.com.  
Simon's second book, Who Killed William Shakespeare? The Murderer, The Motive, The Means, will be published in August 2013.  He is currently working on a new project, The Grail: Relic of an Ancient Religion, which is being published in monthly instalments online and can be read for free at www.moon-books.net. 
Simon also has a blog: www.artandwill.blogspot.co.uk

Day 5: Celebrate Amore

Fierce Dolan
Cate: Yay, Fierce Dolan is here to help us Celebrate Amore. Fierce, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Fierce: Thanks Cate! It’s great to be part of your festivities! I’m an author of erotica, no particular genre, just lots of characters exploring how they relate to sensuality and lust in unusual and challenging ways.
Cate: What do you love most about Valentine’s Day? Fierce: The best thing about Valentine's Day is it brings out peoples’ best attributes, for the most part. How bad can a holiday that inspires love be? Even people who aren’t partnered or aren’t feeling so great think of love on Valentine’s Day.
Cate: So true! Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Fierce: I think my favorite Valentine’s memory was the year my lover gave me a can of sweetened condensed milk. It’s nice to know when someone is that tuned into you, to give you the treat you’d never allow yourself, otherwise.
Cate: Do you have any romantic Valentine’s Day traditions? Fierce: No, we don’t celebrate it anymore, mostly out of a need to carry that passion throughout the whole year. I know it’s not very trendy not to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but there you go. I guess our tradition now is not to celebrate it!
Cate: I love your idea to carry the feeling all year. Much better than just one day! Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Fierce: Traveler Through Darkness from Decadent Publishing’s The Edge seriesis a story about expressing forbidden desires and how doing so changes us.
Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt? On Traveler Through Darkness… A lifetime of want collides with fate the night of Tarik’s bachelor party, fulfilling his deepest secret desire—only it’s not with the strippers his Arab friends hired to cater to his every whim. Uncomfortable with the debauched festivities, Tarik ducks out of the soirée, stumbling into Wo, a kind Navajo artist, who forces him to say what he really wants, then gives it to him, all night. From Traveler Through Darkness… “I am so sorry–” Tarik began. “It’s okay. It was an accident.” The words were rushed as he pulled the soaked sweatshirt from his skin and fanned the dripping tablet. Black smudges coated the fingertips and heel of his left hand. “I've ruined your work,” Tarik lamented, motioning toward the pad. “Oh, no. It's just a sketch. I was fascinated with the moonlight on the harbor.” He flashed a charcoal rendering of the midnight water. A long, shimmering black strand fell forward of the band securing his hair, lighting just at the edge of his upturned mouth. “No masterpiece here.” Piercing umber eyes met Tarik’s, and the gentle smile relaxed his shoulders. “You were in the ballroom earlier.” “Mmm. The bachelor party.” Tarik pursed his lips, nodding once. “I’m staying in the hotel. Allow me to get for you a clean shirt.” “It’s fine. I don’t have far to go.” “In this cold, with no jacket, you will freeze. Please. I insist—” “What's your name?” the younger man asked. “I am Tarik.” He bowed. “I'm Wo.” He nodded. “Thank you for your kind offer, Tarik.” ~*~*~*~ Enjoy Traveler Through Darkness along with the Reader’s Guide.
Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme? Fierce: My goal for this piece was to present someone coming from a very traditionally steeped Eastern viewpoint allowing himself to experience forbidden desires. Specifically, I wanted this awakening to occur partnered with someone of a western background, though not a personality overcultured by social expectations. Essentially, I wanted Wo to be western, but on the fringe, himself. In that light, bringing together a Muslim Arabic man and a Navajo man inspires a subtle but powerful catharsis.
Thematically, Traveler Through Darkness is a story about expressing forbidden desires and how doing so changes us.
Cate: Love that theme. :) Anything else you’d like to share? Fierce: I like to present unlikely romantic leads, whether that is a character who is intergendered or from an ethnic group lesser represented in erotica.  I also like to write stories where edges meet, sexualities, lifestyles, lovestyles, gender... I like life in the blur.
Cate: Very cool. You guys can find out more about Fierce at her website: http://www.fiercedolan.com/Fierce has a giveaway - woot! :) Be sure to leave your email address! Fierce: Readers 18+, comment to tell me about your most unlikely romantic hero, and a lucky winner will get a free ebook of Traveler Through Darkness!
Cate: Happy Valentine's, Fierce - all year. :)

Day 4: Celebrate Amore

 Lorrie Struiff
Cate: Yay, Lorrie is here to help us Celebrate Amore. Lorrie, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Lorrie: I live near Pittsburgh, Pa., a city with many rivers and bridges. I’m an author that delves into many genres, depending on the mood I’m in when I write. Lol, one of these days I may even delve into erotica. You think?
Cate: Follow that muse! What do you love most about Valentine’s Day? Lorrie: Chocolate Candy in a heart-shaped box. Yum.
Cate: I agree. :) Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Lorrie: I have a lot of memories, Cate, but let’s go back to middle school for my first one. Twelve years old and a heart shaped box of candy appeared in my school locker. No name attached. Well, it drove me crazy until this cute red-headed boy fessed up. I imagine it took a lot of nerve on his part to confess--he was the shy type. He hemmed and hawed and finally asked me to go to the movies with him. Mom and Dad said I couldn’t go unless someone else went with us. We used buses for transportation at the time. He lived further up the line than I did, and we were to meet on the bus. Well, none of my friends wanted to miss my first date, so they all gathered at the bus stop and teased me no end. Lol. Next thing I knew, they all got on the bus with me and planned on going to the same movie. What a bummer. At the movie the group sat behind us. The only thing my first date and I managed to do was hold hands in the theater. And he slipped me those little heart shaped candies with the sayings on them. Do you remember them? Two weeks after my first date, his dad’s company transferred his dad to another state and they moved. Alas, there went my first love and It hurt. As I remember it now, I think it was so cute. My first Valentine and date.
Cate: Such a cute story! Do you have any romantic Valentine’s Day traditions? Lorre: None really. Hubby and I used to go out for dinner, but his illness the past years and his passing away, of course that tradition is over.
Cate: So sorry. *hugs* Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Lorrie: Since it’s February and with Valentine’s Day so near, I would like to tell the readers about a short story I have out with BooksToGoNow. To me, it fits the first crush theme of high school days. I went way back in time to the 50’s. The story is about the shattering of a young girl’s naïveté.   
Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Lorrie: Bren' and Rip have been friends since they met. Now that they are in high school, Brenda finds herself in love with Rip. Growing up in the fifties seems idyllic but in this short story about love and loss, relationships can be more than simple crushes and sometimes young love isn't enough.

Cate: Anything else you’d like to share? Lorrie: The fiction story is based loosely on a true story that sparked my imagination and drove it into overtime.
Cate: Oo, Lorrie has a giveaway! Be sure to leave your email address for her. Lorrie. To one commenter, I will give this short story of “The Last Dance.” as a pdf download. Buy link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Dance-ebook/dp/B004O6MUNG/ More links. All my published material listed at  http://lorriejuly.blogspot.com/p/published-works.html Also at my page on Amazon, FB and Pintrest. I hope you will all take a peek. Readers, tell me a little about your very first crush. I’d very much like to hear about it. It’s the one you never forget. Thank you for reading, and thank you, Cate, for having me today.
Cate: Thanks for being part of the Valentine's party, Lorrie!

Day 3: Celebrate Amore

Susan Gourley
Cate: Yay, Susan Gourley is here to help us Celebrate Amore. Susan, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Susan: I’m a school teacher by day and a writer all the time. I’m published in epic fantasy and fantasy romance.
Cate: What do you love most about Valentine’s Day? Susan: I always enjoy the goodwill. My husband usually sends me flowers at work or has them waiting by the coffee machine in the morning. Love does make the world go around.
Cate: Aw, he's a keeper. :) Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Susan: I really loved those days in elementary school when we would exchange valentines and sometimes I would get an unsigned card declaring love and admiration. It was such fun trying to figure out what boy was brave enough to admit he loved a girl. And of course, the cards that included candy were great.
Cate: Oh I used to love those too. :) Do you have any romantic Valentine’s Day traditions? Susan: At school, the kids can buy carnations and send them to someone with a message. I usually get a few from some of my students, but I always make sure to send a few anonymous carnations to a few students I think could use a happy thought.
Cate: That's so sweet! Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Susan: Beneath the Mountain is book #3 in The Futhark Chronicles. It was released in December and the fourth and final book will be out later this month. It is an epic fantasy with the continuing character leads of half-elf Cage Stone and sorceress, Sabelline Shelton, as they battle a god-like entity bringing murder and chaos in the kingdom of Futhark. This volume will reveal more of the history of the land and how the long ago evil is once again awake.
Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Susan: Here’s a short excerpt: Sabelline glared at Bonnet. “Now tell us who assigned you to do in my Marshal, or you’ll find out if the silver buttons on the front of your pretty pants heat to the same glowing temperature as the ones on your belly.” Bonnet struggled to move back from her, but Berton shoved him forward. “Do it, Lady Sabelline. He’ll have no use for those body parts where he’s headed. Burn them off.” Cage could tell the others in the room thought Berton spoke to frighten Bonnet. Cage knew it wasn’t so. Berton would level the torture himself if it would protect his family. Cage’s throat tightened with a fierce surge of love for the man. And followed on that was his own anger that fate should take Berton’s unborn child from him. The baby had been the one bright shining thing to come of the last months. And now the child was dead. Cage slipped out his knife and leaped on Bonnet. He could do nothing against fate or even capture Valans, but this son of a bitch was in his hands. He had Bonnet flat on his back and the knife in the man’s mouth before anyone else in the room moved. William cursed, but Berton laughed. Darrellon watched in his curious way while Jonared pulled Sabelline out of the way of Bonnet’s flailing legs. Berton knelt down on the other side of Bonnet. “Cut his tongue out, Cage. If he’s not going use it to answer our questions then he at least won’t be able to use it to spread lies.” Bonnet struggled but his soft, city man strength was nothing to Cage. He tried to talk around the blade kissing his tongue but made only whimpering sounds. Tears ran from the corners of his eyes and tracked damp paths into his bright hair. “Maybe he’s ready to say something, son,” Berton said. “I don’t know if we can trust anything he spouts.” “Let’s hear him and if we think he’s making a tale to us, we can take a slice of that ghastly thing. He can still talk with half a tongue.” “The last time we tried that the sorry fool drowned in his own blood. You know how much tongues bleed when you slice them.” “We’ll sit him up after you take a piece so it doesn’t all run down his throat.” Cage listened to Bonnet’s gurgling sobs as he considered Berton’s suggestion. “It would still mean a lot of blood on the king’s floor. It might ruin it.” “I give my permission. This is an old rug taken out of storage to replace the ones Borak sold off,” Jonared said, trying for nonchalance. The king would have no experience in this sort of game. “One chance then, Bonnet. You better convince us you’re speaking the truth or you’ll be learning a new way to talk. If you survive.” Cage pulled the knife from Bonnet’s mouth. The sobbing man took a few deep ragged breaths. His hair looked like flames surrounding his white face. Tears ran freely down his cheeks as he swung his frantic gaze from Cage to Berton and back. “Who gave you the coin to see Cage dead?” Berton barked. Bonnet took another deep gulp of air before answering. “Twas your wife’s kin. Count Thrum.” “There is no Count Thrum,” Jonared snapped. “I stripped Witbier of his title and lands.” Bonnet eagerly corrected the king. “No one knows outside the city, your highness. Thrum collects his rents and taxes as ever he did and then some. He gave me enough gold to see Stone dead and then after the uproar calmed down, I was to hire the death of Sir Berton also. You believe me, don’t you?” “Was there anyone else involved? A stranger who might have advised Witbier?” Jonared asked. Bonnet looked confused. “Thrum takes guidance from no one, your highness.” “Sir William, see this traitor to a cell beside Borak Rosmer.” Jonared glared at Bonnet. “Should his words prove untrue, I’ll nail his tongue to the castle gate.” Sir William lifted the defeated man to his feet and dragged him out the door to where other guards waited in the hall. “That was a damned convincing ruse,” Jonared said after the door closed. “Your highness, there was nothing of trickery in it,” Berton said. Jonared laughed. “Come now. You weren’t really going to cut out his tongue.” Cage laid his hand on Berton’s arm, but it was too late. Berton corrected Jonared. “Just a piece of it. Loosens their lips every time, doesn’t it, Cage?” Horrid comprehension replaced Jonared’s amusement. Cage dreaded seeing Sabelline’s similar reaction to the barbarism of his life as an outlaw hunter. But she only raised an eyebrow.
Cate: Ha! Love that Sabelline surprised him. She sounds like a feisty heroine - my favorite kind. What inspired you to write about the theme? Susan: I’ve loved epic fantasy since my 9th grade English teacher made us read The Hobbit. There are so many great fantasy authors out there today and the genre if very popular in books and other media. I can’t get enough of it.
Cate: I'm a huge Hobbit fan as well! Anything else you’d like to share? Susan: I think epic fantasy, sometimes called sword and sorcery, will always be around even though civilization has long moved beyond medieval times. Something about mere men using archaic weapons like swords against magic and great evil will appeal to the love of heroes in all of us. The genre may wax and grow in popularity but it will never go away.
Cate: Oo, you lucky readers! Susan has a surprise for you. Susan: I would love to give away a print copy of the first book in The Futhark Chronicles, The Keepers of Sulbreth to one commenter. I will also include some other sweet goodies to the winner. Open only to people in the US. Visit my blog also and earn another entry into the giveaway. You can find Beneath the Mountain on Amazon. Or at any online retailer. Learn more about my book on my blog: Susan Says Thanks so much for having me, Cate. Remember every great story is actually a love story. I hope everyone finds their story this Valentine’s Day. Cate: Thanks for joining the party, Susan!

Day 2: Celebrate Amore

 Jessica E. Subject
Cate: Yay, Jessica's here to help us Celebrate Amore. Jessica, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Jessica: Hello Cate! Thanks for having me back during the month of love! Hello everyone! For those who don’t know me, I write science fiction romance and contemporary romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. I may throw in a sexy clone, or an alien or two. My stories are set both on Earth and in space, present day, and in the future. Besides being an author, I’m also a wife, and a mother of two chatty kids who love to read. I love to read, and I dance to music in my kitchen when I’m supposed to be doing other things.
Cate: What do you love most about Valentine’s Day? Jessica: I absolutely love the color red. And it’s everywhere during Valentine’s day. JAnd it’s also a wonderful time to show the person you love just how much they mean to you.
Cate: Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Jessica: I can’t say that I have a favorite one. They have all been special.
Cate: Do you have any romantic Valentine’s Day traditions? Jessica: It depends on what day of the week Valentine’s Day fall on. My hubby always brings me roses, which are my absolute favorite. Always have been. And then when the kids are in bed, we have special time to ourselves. ;)
Cate: Aw, so sweet! Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Jessica: Accidental Romance is part of the new The Challenge series at Decadent Publishing. Here’s a little bit more about the series: Challenge: A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking. In every life, there are challenges, boulders in the flowing stream of existence. From the physical, to the psychological or emotional, nobody is immune. No one gets through life intact, but the challenge is not to avoid damage, but to work through, past or around the things that make life so difficult.  We all know people who do this—live fulfilling lives in spite of the difficulties they are forced to deal with.  The Challenge series is about characters who do just this—and the people who love them. Challenge is a romance series with a twist. The “challenge” takes a central role in the characters’ romance.
It is available here:Amazon (Canada/US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | Barnes&Noble| more
Cate: Such a great theme for a series! Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Jessica: Thank you! Here’s the blurb and an excerpt:
At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true?
Excerpt:
A million needles pierced her wrist. She had to get away from the fire. Leanne flicked open her eyes, screaming, longing for the agony to stop. [image error] White walls surrounded her. Machines beeped. Taking in the new scenery, she closed her mouth, the pain forgotten. Bags filled with clear liquids as well as blood hung from a metal pole. She followed the tubes from the bags into her left hand. Was that where the burn came from? She glanced at the other arm, the end of which was wrapped in thick bandages. The image of spinning blades and her mangled flesh flashed before her eyes. She screamed again, tears falling down her cheeks. This can’t be happening. Bodies rushed into the room, many in scrubs. With her vision blurred, she didn’t recognize anyone. All strangers. She was in the foreign place by herself. A nightmare. Has to be. “Shh, calm down, sweetie. You’ll be okay.” A familiar voice. She glanced to her other side to see her mom standing beside her, her eyes glassy. She held her hand, but Leanne couldn’t feel it, only the throbbing which had returned to her other one, the one that was…gone? She groaned, turning on her side, and pulled her knees up to her chest. “Mom, is it really…?” She brushed her fingers over her forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. You need to rest.” “It hurts so bad.” “I know.” Her mother stroked her face again. “But the nurses will help it go away.” “Leanne,” one of the nurses hovering around her said. “I want you to take deep breaths and count backward from ten.” “Ten.” She sucked in air and cried out in agony. Between clenched teeth, she continued. Anything to stop the pain. “Nine.” Ice traveled through her veins. “Eight.” The throbbing slowly ebbed away. Seven. Darkness swept over her and pulled her down with it.
Cate: Whew, intense. What inspired you to write about the theme? Jessica: After being asked to write for this new series, it took me and my muse some time to come up with a story that would work. I was talking about accidents with my husband (who used to work on a farm as a teen) and he mentioned a farmer he knew who had lost his fingers when a bull stepped on them. From there, I asked what other types of accidents can happen on farms. And Accidental Romance was born.
Cate: Love the idea of finding something positive in a tragedy. Anything else you’d like to share? Jessica: Thank you again, Cate, for having me back on your blog! It’s always a pleasure to visit. Readers who want to know more about me and my books can find me here:
Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph
Cate: Jessica's going to make your Valentine's Day extra special! Be sure to leave your email address. Jessica: Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about Valentine’s Day for a chance to WIN an ebook copy of any one of my backlist titles, plus swag from my new releases. Contest is international. Winner will be notified by email February 5, 2013. Good luck!
Cate: Thanks for joining in the party, Jessica! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.
 

Day 1: Celebrate Amore

 Heather Long
Cate: Yay, Heather Long is here to kick off Celebrate Amore. Heather, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Heather: Thanks for having me Cate, I’m a mother, a pet owner and a huge fan of cowboys and Marines.  I studied journalism, psychology and business in school. I write because I can’t not write and every book is a passionate love affair for me and every time I type “the end” it’s a bittersweet moment.
Cate: Ah, I can relate. :) What do you love most about Valentine’s Day?Heather: I’m one of those odd romance writer’s that isn’t a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but I do adore Chocolate Day—which is an annual celebration I have every year about two or three days after Valentine’s. My mini and I head out, pick up a bunch of the chocolate boxes that are on clearance and feast on chocolate truffles and decadence while watching chick flicks.
Cate: lol, great idea! Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory?Heather: I think one of my favorite’s was in first grade. Our teacher had us make bags and decorate them and then create Valentine’s Day cards for each of the kids in our class. We all got the little heart candies and pink or red heart-shaped suckers. But two of the boys in the class, named Alan and Allen, gave me actual presents—one gave me a book and the other gave me a brownie. In the book was a note asking me to go to lunch and a movie—my very first date. Yes, the guy with the brownie got the second date.
Cate: Wow, those first graders knew how to impress a girl! lol Do you have any romantic Valentine’s Day traditions?Heather:  Nope. The best one is the Chocolate Day Decadence fun.
Cate: Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Heather: My latest release is The Two and the Proud, the eighth installment in the Always a Marineseries from Decadent Publishing.
The eighth installment in the Always a Marine anthology in 1Night Stand (1NS) line for Decadent Publishing. 1Night Stand is the business name of an exclusive online dating service run by Madame Evangeline who provides her clients with a possibility of happily ever after or happily for now.
The Two and The Proud
Always a Marine #8Decadent Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks
Siren Bookstrand
Roger Michael Easton IV, better known as Rowdy, flouted the family’s Naval tradition to enlist the Marines—not as an officer, but a ground-pounding grunt. He never expected to see as much combat or valor as he did in the field, but every engagement furthered his commitment to his brothers in arms. Now, with an offer to end his contract early on the table, Rowdy has to take a long look at the life he left behind, the life he’s built, and the future he longs to have.Rowdy wants a woman who gets him.Inactive Marine, Kim Wakefield, continues to serve her country as a Naval Criminal Investigator. She’s hard on the grunts and sailors because she is one of them—and they didn’t sign up for easy.  Tired of the seedier side of military life—picking up drunk Marines, AWOL sailors, busting drug running operations, or worse, sending drug addicted servicemen to court marshal and treatment.  She longs to have her faith in her fellow Marines restored.Kim wants a man who knows what she needs.Thrown together by chance on a 1Night Stand, these two jarheads have a combustible chemistry—but do they have what it takes?

Excerpt:Not sure how those results could be a bad thing he tapped the side of the shot glass. “Put the piece in the safe. They have the kind you can program here. I’ll keep my eye on the tequila.” He wouldn’t have tried to memorize her combination anyway, but he didn’t miss the minute relaxation around her eyes when he told her he’d watch the drinks.True to his word, he kept his attention on the alcohol while she stowed the gun. When she leaned against the bar next to him, he pushed a shot glass over to her. “Let me preface this by saying I absolutely want to have sex…but I don’t want to be limited by the one night stand.”She hesitated in mid-reach for the glass and stared at it, not him. “Clarify?”“I like you. You’re smart—which is both good and bad.”“How can it be good and bad?” Her chin came up and she swung a hard gaze on him. Temper flared just beneath the surface, bright as the lightning outside, it enhanced the outrage in her eyes.Gotcha. Just one little nudge to crack the cool façade and the passionate woman beneath glared at him. Yeah, that’s more like it.  A second knock on the door interrupted and he let her think about it while he took the tray from room service and sent them away. He set the tray on the luggage stand and ignored it for now.He sprinkled salt onto the side of his hand.  “It’s good, because it’s sexy.” He bit into a lime and tossed back the tequila. He finished off the ritual with a quick lick of the salt. “It’s bad because you’re playing a game with me.”  He poured himself another shot, the first warming his gut and loosening more of the tension. He barely added the salt to his wrist when she slammed back her own drink, caught his hand and stroked her tongue over his pulse point before gliding up the side of his hand to take the salt.All the blood in his head rushed south and he let out a low whistle. “Damn.”“Courage isn’t doing something because you know you can do it.” She moistened her lips and he couldn’t look away. “It’s doing what you’re not sure you can be successful at.”  Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme?Heather: I love Marines and the Always a Marine series gives me an opportunity to explore different Marines and the different stories that each of these men and women in uniform have. This story was particularly fun for me, because Kim is so direct and bold and blunt about her wants and needs—and I think more women should be—reaching out to grasp what they want.
Cate: Anything else you’d like to share?Heather:  My next Always a Marine is titled A Marine and a Gentleman and releases on February 8th. This is a bit of a departure for me as it’s an M/M, but I had the story for it and I wanted to go there because Brenden and Liam enchanted me.
Keep up with Heather and the Always a Marine series:
Heather Long Website | Facebook | Always a Marine Series Page| Twitter
Giveaway:Tell Heather your favorite chocolate story for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Bookstrand—winner’s choice.
Cate: Thanks for kicking off the Valentine's fun, Heather! Happy Chocolate Day Decadence. :)

Pinching myself!

I had the most amazing weekend - the "writer's dream" sort. On Saturday, I signed a new contract for another 1NS story with Decadent! Yay! I filled out all the forms and returned them, along with a new 1NS sub. On Sunday, a contract popped into my email for that 1NS story. The quickest turnaround on a sub for me!

But - as they say in the cheesy commercials - wait! There's more! On Monday, Decadent contracted a historical romance novella!

Sometimes that old saying is true. Things do come in threes! Very, very good things, in this case. If you'd like to read the blurbs, check the Coming Soon page.

Now I'm kind of having little panic attacks. I'd already had three contracts with Decadent, so these additional three make six (plus the other contract for the collection of literary shorts). All those edits - yikes! I'll just be Scarlet O'Hara, and think about it tomorrow.

Promo, on the other hand, I'll have to plan out. I haven't started edits on any of them yet, so no release dates in sight. When I do, I may be begging for blog spots!

Have you had multiple releases in a short while? Any tips on marketing (without making people totally sick of me, lol)?

Historical BlurbFest at TBR this weekend

I'm holding another blurbfest this weekend at TBR - for historical fiction this time, any subgenre. Come on over and share your historical blurb!


Sorry to be MIA this week, a cold kept my head spinning, and yesterday's guest didn't show. Today, the snow is inspiring me to stay indoors and write. :)


Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Chat tonight, cover reveal and Valentine's

Chat tonight at NOR

Tonight I'm joining three authors at Night Owl Reviews to chat with readers. I scheduled this almost a year ago, so I can't remember what I promised to give away, but it'll be an ebook. :) It runs from 8:00 p.m. EST to about 9:00, each author in turn. I hope you'll join in! It's usually a very lively, fun conversation.

And.. for the big reveal...

Drum roll please! This weekend, I received my beautiful new cover for The Ex Factor, a light contemporary short that Decadent Publishing will release as part of its 1NS series. Edits haven't started yet, so stay tuned for a release date.

Ta da! The story has a playful tone, and it comes through beautifully in this cover, doesn't it? Decadent has such wonderful designers!

Valentine's dates filling up...

But I still have some slots open for my Valentine's blog celebration. If anyone wants to grab a date, just let me know!

Be my Valentine... guest?

I used to be a very organized person. These past few years, it’s been a challenge, but I’m trying! Sometimes life’s absurdities knock me off course. Everyone’s busy, I know. I wish there were some magic trick to keeping on top of everything but there’s not, so I plow ahead.   Goals for this year   I have three stories contracted with Decadent for release this year – yay! Cursed is Book 1 of The Vitruvian Man series – a paranormal with an unusual hero. Two others are contemporary 1 Night Stand shorts. Wild Life is a collection of literary short stories under my pen name of C.A. Masterson contracted with Sunbury Press that will release around mid-year.   So I don’t need a crystal ball to see edits and promo in my future. I’m really excited about them and hope readers love them as much as I do.   In the meantime, I have other projects calling me:    First up, to finish Charmed, the second novella in The Vitruvian Man series and submit to Decadent   To finish a draft of the third full-length novel in The Goddess Connection series. This one’s lighter in tone than the first two, and has been a lot of fun to work on. I started it almost a year ago, and continue to research and write. I’m juggling ideas for a title.   After ordering more print copies of my dark paranormal, Dead to Rights, I’ll be searching for local signings or book fairs. Or maybe I’ll have to plan one! Mwahahaha. Want to be my Valentine... guest?  I’m thinking Valentine’s Day would be great for a blog event – what do you think? Anyone want to join in? It will probably run February 1 through 14, and I'll throw some fun questions together. Just let me know if you want to be part of Celebrate Amore!