Cate Masters's Blog, page 56

Last day of Halloween fun with Fierce Dolan

Cate: It's the final day of the Halloween celebration! Fierce is here to close it off with a howl. :). Fierce, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Fierce:  Thanks for having me, Cate!  It’s great to be with you, today!  Did you know that fall is my favorite time of year?!  I love it!  I’m so glad it’s cool and dark after all of that hot, bright sunlight! 
Cate: I love fall too! What do you love most about Halloween? Fierce: To be honest, I don’t celebrate Halloween.  I’m pagan—animist to be specific--and we celebrate Samhain and The Dead Time.  My favorite part is skulking along the cool, foggy streets while the kids trick-or-treat.  Also, honoring those who have died this year over a cozy meal and crackling fire, soaking in that lively, crisp fall energy!  I come back to life, as odd as that sounds, when Nature’s color soften, and the sky goes grey.  What can I say—I love the creepy!
Cate: :) Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past? Fierce: All of them?  Samhain is my favorite holy day.  I have been a deathwalker since childhood, experiencing souls’ death moments, then when I was older, helping them to move on.  While interesting, that’s not something I can really converse about around the water cooler.  But for that slip of time that our culture honors the veil once a year, I get to feel like the way I have always experienced life is normal.
Cate: Wow, that's intense. Which makes this next question seem silly, lol. Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn’t explain? Fierce:  Many, and I’ve written about them extensively in my other writing.  As I said, I had them in childhood and they scared the crap out of me.  I knew by the time I was 6-7 that I was seeing and experiencing things other people weren’t, and I knew not to talk about it.  Knowing that my experiences scared other people only reinforced that I shouldn’t talk about them, which made the whole thing harder to deal with.  Eventually I realized the spirits weren’t intending to scare me, but that they needed help.  What we perceive as a spirit being aggressive or angry is the entity communicating the story of how it died, or some understanding it needs to impart before it can move on.  Once I realized that, everything changed.  It became [mostly] peaceful, and I started to work with them in earnest.  A normal day for me includes hearing voices and seeing visitors.
Cate: What frightens you the most? Fierce:  Insanity.  Seriously, people, who aren’t and possibly can’t be in control of their wills frighten me.  Mixed with things like hatred, misogyny, homophobia and that’s a scary little problem on all of our hands.
Cate: So true. Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own? Fierce:  I used to, because it somehow helped me to feel legit in my own experiences.  I don’t, now.  I can interact with the dead anytime, anywhere.  Wax On, Wax Off.  I don’t seek it out now, unless there is a healing need behind it.  And of course, sometimes souls in need find me, even if I’m Wax Off.  That’s always interesting.
Cate: Any favorite Halloween recipes you’d care to share? Fierce:  Hmm.  Well, I not a prescriptivist with cooking—I don’t measure ingredients, but I love butternut squash soup!  Roast one with some garlic and onion.  Purée it with a bit of broth, salt and pepper, a drizzle of honey and some cream.  Yum!  It’s the best by a warm fire on a cool night =)
Cate: Yum! Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Fierce:  Frankly, it’s a bit dark, even for me.  Journal of a Lycanthrophile is the diary of Jesse Hollman, a young man who has a fetish for justice and a kink for werewolves.  Together, his passions spiral him into a world of pain, shadow desires, and an even more sinister, secretive sort of shapeshifter—the kind that changes without shifting.  Definitely the darkest, grittiest erotica I’ve written, somewhere along the spectrum of paranormal horror.  This ain’t your grandma’s werewolf story.
Cate: lol Love that cover too. Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Fierce: We sat there, sizing each other up. Smaller in stature, overall, than the other werewolf had been, his fangs were every bit as huge. No doubt he killed those goats on the last moon. “I’m a safe person,” I said. I swear he cocked his head and looked at me, then sprang up, kind of bounced back on his haunches. Pointing his nose straight up at the moon he let out this piercing, shrill howl. He did it several times, and this is just crazy as fuck because, yes, my ears rang like a motherfucker, but my chest hurt. My heart ached and I wanted to bawl or fucking howl too, he seemed so sad. After a few seconds he stopped howling and his eyes bore into me. He stood on all-fours and backed down my body. When he got to my feet he sniffed and dove. I thought he was going for my leg, and I reared back to kick the shit out of him. I doubt hurting him would have gained me anything, reflex just kicked in. He grabbed my jeans cuff in his teeth and licked my ankle, down to my shoe. I stared down the length of my body watching. After a minute he looked up. His dark mane blew on the breeze, a billowing fur halo, then he ran for the trees.
Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme? Fierce:  Frankly, I’m sick of the fluffy treatment of the paranormal genre, specifically of shapeshifters.  Yet, it wasn’t enough for me to de-humanize shifters.  I wanted to demonize humans, sort of a counter-balancing measure along the spectrum of nothing is inherently good, nothing is inherently bad.  This is the first book in the series.
Follow Fierce on Facebook and/or Twitter, to learn more about Journal of a Lycanthrophile.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fiercedolan @FierceDolan http://www.twitter.com/fiercedolan Google+  https://plus.google.com/118302380096094683854/posts Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5236551.Fierce_Dolan Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007CJS3QK Fierce Dolan  http://www.fiercedolan.com Blog:  http://www.fiercedolan.com/blog  



Need a last-minute treat? Here's the kind of recipe I love - quick and easy! All you need are Keebler fudge stripe cookies, turned upside down, orange frosting topped with a Hershey's kiss to make these cute Witch Hat cookies for Halloween!

Thanks to all the authors who joined in the monthlong celebration of Halloween! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Jenna Storm's here!

Cate: Hurricane Sandy blew through yesterday and today, but Jenna's a Storm I gladly welcome! :) Jenna, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Jenna: I grew up in Pennsylvania and moved with my family to Arizona. I enjoy reading mythology, romance, paranormal and suspense. The more vampires, demons and mythical creatures the better. Throw in gloomy, cold weather, a soul shaking thunderstorm and I’m hooked.
Cate: What do you love most about Halloween? Jenna: Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the decorations and costumes. I enjoy watching horror/thriller or halloween themed movies. I guess it’s a ‘safe’ scare!
Cate: Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past? Jenna: Nothing specific. I remember how fun it was dressing up, walking through the neighborhood until my feet ached and getting a good scare from the houses that were decorated. As an adult, I’m lucky to walk around with my kids and watch them go through the same things I did. The tired feet, the excitement of dressing up and trick or treating and rallying enough courage to ring the doorbell on the ‘haunted’ houses.
Cate: Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn’t explain? Jenna: We used to joke that the house I grew up in was haunted. We could hear light switches going on and off through the night and a man and woman arguing at times.
Cate: Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own? Jenna: No I haven’t but I would love to! Ever since I read Shannon Drake’s vampire series I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans and attend some of the ghost tours.
Cate: Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Jenna: “The Burning Seal” is a paranormal romantic suspense. It is novel length and available for download through my publisher, Muse It Up Publishing along with Amazon, Barnes and Noble and several other sites (a list is provided on Muse It Up’s Bookstore page).
For an excerpt from “The Burning Seal” please follow the link... http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=341&category_id=157&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1
Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Jenna: I’m happy to share a blurb on the book.
Detective Danni Keegan is plunged into a dark, demonic world where survival depends on deciphering the connection between ritual killings, and a demon terrorizing her for a “gift” she wasn’t even aware she possessed. She must unravel her dreams of another woman who lived during ancient times and battled a bloodthirsty demon—the same demon who now hunts Danni. The loss of her body and soul looms imminent as her only chance to destroy the demon depends on changing her new partner’s convictions. He is a sinfully sexy man, who exudes power and self-assurance with the ease of breathing and has an iron-willed determination not to believe in the paranormal.
Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme? Jenna: Reading “When Darkness Falls” by Shannon Drake. From that point on I was hooked on paranormal especially vampires. Anne Rice’s series on the Mayfair Witches also pulled me into the paranormal genre.
Cate: Anything else you’d like to share? Jenna: Thank you Cate! Happy Halloween!
Cate: A spooktacular Halloween to you, Jenna!
Wow, just one more day in October, which means one more guest tomorrow.
Here's a cute recipe I found in our local shopper flyer:
Yummy Mummy Spinach Dip Ingredients1 pkg (16 oz) frozen pizza dough, thawed1 egg, beaten2 sticks mozzarella string cheese2 black olive slices (for the eyes)1 cup sour cream1/4 cup creamy ranch dressing1 pkg (10 oz.) frozen spinach, thawed, chopped and drained1 green onion, sliced1/2 cup red pepper, finely chopped1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese1/4 tsp. ground black pepper crackers for dippers
Pat dough into 12 x 6-inch oval on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Indent dough about 3 inches from one end of oval to shape the mummy's head. Let rise in a warm place 20 minutes or until dough doubles in volume.Heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush dough with egg. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped lightly. Pull apart string cheese to make about 16 strips; arrange on bread like mummy wrappings. Bake 1 to 2 minutes or just until cheese is melted atop dough. Cool slightly. Press olive slices into bread for mummy's eyes; cool completely.Separately, mix sour cream and dressing in a medium bowl until well blended. Stir in next 5 ingredients. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until ready to serve.Use a sharp knife to remove the bread from the top of the mumm's body; scoop out bread from center, leaving a thin shell on the bottom and side (as shown). Reserve bread top. Discard removed bread or reserve for another use. Fill mummy shell with spinach dip just before serving; cover with top of bread.Makes 18 servings (2 tsp each)

Taryn Kincaid stirs up a Halloween storm!

Cate: Yay, Taryn’s here for my special Halloween celebration. Taryn, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Taryn: Well, I live and work in spooooooooky Sleepy Hollow, which is Holiday Central this time of year. It’s the setting of my new sexy paranormal releases, LIGHTNING and THUNDER, for Decadent Publishing’s fun 1Night Stand series. I also set my first erotic paranormal, SLEEPY HOLLOW DREAMS there.  SLEEPY HOLLOW sort of lends itself to spooktacular stories this time of year!
Cate: Whoa, so cool. What do you love most about Halloween? Taryn:  The leaves, the nip in the air, the smells of apples and cider and cinnamon, the eager faces on the kids who come to your door in their costumes.
Cate: Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past? Taryn:  Too many! When I was a kid my mom, whose birthday was a few days before Halloween, loved to dress us up in costumes she would whip up out of old clothes and things she had around the house. One year, she tricked my younger brother and I out as Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. Before going out to trick or treat, we stopped off at a new store that had just opened. They took a picture of us and we won a TV!
Cate: Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn’t explain? Taryn:  Yes, and this one is a little creepy.  One night years ago, I had a very vivid dream that I was in an elevator with my grandparents, and the elevator car suddenly zoomed upward. I cracked my head on the ceiling of the car. My grandparents had vanished. When I woke up, the dream stayed with me, very unsettling. My dad was packing to go to Florida; his father had passed away during the night. (My grandmother lived to 90!)
Cate: That would be unsettling. What frightens you the most? Taryn:  Horror movies!
Cate: Me too! lol Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own? Taryn:  My first career was as a newspaper reporter and columnist and a college professor in the area claimed he lived in an old haunted house. Around Halloween, he would trick it out even more eerily and invite his students and the neighborhood kids. He invited me in a few days before Halloween for a grand tour and yes, creaks, and unexplained noises and moans and eeriness galore. He was a Catholic priest, so it was even more spooky. (I don’t think his superiors at the college were too pleased about his tours or my story!)
Cate: I bet! Any favorite Halloween recipes you’d care to share? Taryn:  Yes! Caramel apples are the easiest: Open the bag of Kraft caramels (14 oz. package). Take each caramel out of its cellophane wrapper. Melt in a pot with 2 tbs milk (or 2 minutes in the microwave). Insert sticks in 6 apples. Butter a baking sheet or wax paper.Swirl the apples in the melted caramel.  Rest them stick up on wax paper! (You can sprinkle them with crushed nuts or chocolate chips, if you like!) 
And here’s another, that’s also fun and quick: 
Fluffy Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Dip 1 (16 oz) tub of Cool Whip, thawed 1 (5 oz) box of instant vanilla pudding mix 15 oz. can, solid pack pumpkin 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1 hollowed-out pumpkin shell (optional) Ginger snaps, graham crackers, apple slices Mix the pudding mix, solid pack pumpkin and pumpkin spice together in a large bowl. Fold in the Cool Whip. Chip in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Spoon the Fluffy Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Dip into the hollowed up pumpkin or a serving bowl. Dip cookies and fruit in the fluff.
Cate: Yum. Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Taryn:  Why, yes! So happy you asked. This is the blurb and excerpt from THUNDER which released from Decadent Publishing on Oct. 26. (LIGHTNING released on Oct. 19).
BLURB: Lonely young witch, Veronica Hardwicke, has struggled to get on with her life after the death of the elderly husband who’d left her a fortune and a sprawling estate in mystical Sleepy Hollow. When frightening things go bump in the night on a stormy Fourth of July, who better to call than the sexy developer and contractor, Sean Jones, who's been renovating her mansion for months? Sean may grace the tabloid pages with a different supermodel on his arm every night, but it's Veronica who drives him nuts. Ignoring his instinct to stay away, he answers her summons. Will the thundering passion of their 1Night Stand tear down the barriers between them?
Veronica paced back and forth in the grand entry foyer of the Belmont mansion, the kitten heels of her Prada mules clacking on the marble floors. The rest of the place might not be finished, but she’d insisted on having a few rooms completed, so at least she felt like she was living in a home, rather than a massive, never-ending construction project. Well, her contractor had insisted, even though working around the main entrance and central hallway created more work for him and his crew. But she was forced to admit he was right. Her cell phone chimed on top of the antique credenza shoved flush against one wall. She leaped for it. Probably Geneviève, to regale her with all the fun she was having in Paris. Or Sean, to advise her he couldn’t make it after all. She sighed and read the text message on the small screen. Congratulations, Veronica. 1Night Stand has found your date. Have a good time. With both anxiety and mounting excitement, she stared at the screen and waited. No other info. Outside in the night, thunder boomed. She jumped then laughed at herself. Ghosts are one thing, but freaking out at the weather now? Cripes, you really do need this date! She let her imagination run wild, then texted back for more details: When? Where? Who? An insistent pounding at the front door jarred her out of her fantasy. She swung the door open on another explosive crack of thunder. Sean stood on her doorstep, his soaked T-shirt molding sculpted pecs and abs, his drenched hair flattened over his brow. Rain poured down as he fiddled with his iPhone, a bemused expression on his face. Behind him, jagged arrows of lightning tore the dark sky. He glared at the screen, glanced at her in confusion, then back at the screen. Veronica’s own phone pinged again. Thunder roared. She read the message in disbelief. You’re looking at him.
Cate: I'm hooked. :) What inspired you to write about the theme? Taryn:  Love Sleepy Hollow. When LIGHTNING was accepted by Decadent, my editor hinted that, since the heroine had three sisters and since the hero had a brother…Yep, you guessed it. Sean Jones, the hunky studmuffin hero of THUNDER is the brother of Campbell Jones, the sexy hero of LIGHTNING.
Cate: Love interrelated stories like that! Anything else you’d like to share? Taryn:  Come visit me at my web site, on Twitter, Facebook, the Amazon author page, and pretty much all over the web. Except Pinterest.
Cate: You guys are in for a treat! Taryn has a giveaway! Taryn:  I’ll give away one copy of one of my books (reader’s choice). I’ll include some swag, if the winner wants to send me a snail mail address (by email).
Cate: Thanks for sharing the Halloween fun, Taryn! Only two more days left!
Meanwhile, here's a peek into the real Sleepy Hollow:

Apologies in advance...

... to my guests this week. As a rude guest named Sandy has barged in and will likely overstay her welcome, I may not be able to get online much this week. Officials warn power outages may last days. Good thing I have plenty of reading material! :)

I will catch up to you all later! Stay safe, all.

Last Halloween giveaway from me! And a TBR blurb fest

It's treat time again! This weekend, I'm giving your Christmas spirit a boost a little early. Must be seeing all those decorated trees in department stores since September. :)

One commenter will win an ebook of Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy. Comment before Monday, and be sure to leave your email address.

You can find the blurb and excerpt, book video, Casting Call and more here.

Reviews for Ground Rules


A perfect love story with a little hint of Christmas...This was such a short, sweet, light-hearted story about finding love, even if you're not looking. Alice and Luke were both strong-willed and not easily intimidated. They had both been heartbroken and not looking to be hurt again. Ms. Masters took a simple love story and made it magical, drawing the reader into the world where angels can make your dreams come true. And the fact that Luke could make a mean margarita certainly didn't hurt, either. I'm a sucker for a Christmas story - throw in a hot angel on a Harley and we've got a party! The Romance Reviews - 4 Luke is the Harley, hunky not-like-you’ve-seen-before Angel. Had his heart broken and doesn’t want to listen to his heart. In Ground Rules he shows Alice that others have worse circumstances.
I really enjoyed Ground Rules. It reminded me of It’s a Wonderful Life with a love twist. If you want a good book to get you into the spirit of Christmas and miracles I recommend Ground Rules.
- Sizzlin' Hot Book Reviews - 4

Ms. Masters has written a wonderfully magical story that is refreshing to read. This creative story gives us a new take on the Christmas guardian angel. Complete with romance and snow.
- Romancing the Book - Lovely Rose

 Halloween Blurb Fest at TBR

This weekend at TBR, writers of Halloween-themed stories are invited to share their blurbs in the first Halloween Blurb Fest! If you have a story about Halloween, or with a Halloween scene, I hope you'll share your blurb.

I still haven't come up with two themes for November - any suggestions?

Carlene Rae Dater brings thrills to the Halloween fun

Cate: Please welcome Carlene to my special Halloween celebration. Carlene, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Carlene: I began my writing career as a journalist writing hard news, feature articles and humorous essays. I have sold short stories to magazines in the horror, mystery, confession, religious and humor markets. To date I have published nine novels, three novellas and a non-fiction book about my adventures as a volunteer at the San Diego Sheriff’s department. I have two more books coming out in 2013, both mysteries, and one is the beginning of a series. I teach a “Write it – Publish it!”class Southwestern Community College where I live in Coos Bay, Oregon with my husband and two huge Labrador Retrievers.
Cate: What do you love most about Halloween? Carlene: Seeing the really little kids dressed up! Most of them don’t have a clue what Halloween is all about, but they know candy is involved so they’re all for it!
Cate: Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past? Carlene: Yes! I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and every Halloween we find JUST the right costume to wear, usually something we made, and then….it would be so darn cold, we’d have to wear our winter coats over it! Dad took us out anyhow and we got our booty.
Cate: Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn’t explain? Carlene: Yes, the first man I dated seriously, died tragically in a motorcycle accident. He was 10 years older than me, and had always been very protective. After he died, I used to wake, in that murky time between dark and day, when shadows fill the bedroom, to find him standing at the end of the bed. I knew he was watching out for me. After I met and married my husband, he came once more, stood at the end of the bed, nodded once and then disappeared. I believe he watched over me until he knew I was happy and that my husband was a good man who would care for me.
Cate: What frightens you the most? Carlene: Taking a shower, alone in the house, especially at night! Yes it’s true – I never got over Psycho !
Cate: Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own? Carlene No, but I always wished I would have gone to Fall River, when I lived in Massachusetts, to visit Lizzie Borden’s house. It’s a B&B now and supposed to be haunted.
Cate: Any favorite Halloween recipes you’d care to share? Carlene: No, I’m afraid I don’t. After cooking for my husband for over 43 years, my favorite thing to make now is reservations!
Cate: Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online. Carlene: My paranormal romantic suspense novel is titled, LEGACY, and it’s available at: www.nobleromance.com
Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt? Carlene:When Jane Sullivan finds a mysterious envelope containing a birth certificate and a note telling her it’s time to claim her legacy and to look for the mark, she believes she’s finally found a clue to her true identity. With the help of investigative reporter, Tony Ackerman, Jane follows the clues and, as her 30thbirthday on Halloween approaches discovers her true legacy, and it’s not at all what she expected – it’s much, much worse.
Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme? Carlene: I started out to write a Halloween themed short story for a contest but….the story kept growing until it became a novel.
Cate: Anything else you’d like to share? Carlene: I have two more novels coming out early in 2013. Both are mysteries. Deadly Deception is a standalone book and Not for Sale is the beginning of a series that takes place in a small town on the southern Oregon coast!
Cate: Thanks for being part of the Halloween fun, Carlene!
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Howloween Blog Hop!

More Halloween fun! Today the Howloween Blog Hop kicks off, with tons of treats up for grabs.
My giveaway
I have a spooky, ghost-filled story for you! In The Midnight Hour is set in Gettysburg, one of the most haunted towns in America, on the one night when the veil between worlds opens and anything can happen - Halloween.
Here's the blurb: Buried things have a bad habit of resurfacing, often when Josie least wants to deal with them. Nothing like a dead person to lend perspective to her miserable life. When she signs on as a ghost tour guide in Gettysburg, Josie gets a fresh glimpse at the spirit world. Civil War soldier Nicholas Whitby is more real, and more attentive, than any living guy she knows. Until Garrett joins the tour company. He warns her against Nick, who plans to destroy The Gate between worlds on Halloween. Josie’s torn between the sweet Nick she knows, and the fear growing with each nasty encounter with Gettysburg’s ghosts. Just when she’s finally learned to feel comfortable in her tattooed skin, she must divine the truth. Will trusting a dead man unleash a legion of vicious spirits upon the earth? Trick or treat never held such deadly consequences. Will Gettysburg become a ghost town for real?
How to enter
Everyone has an equal chance. No multiple-step entry process! I'd love for you to follow my blog, or become a Facebook fan, but it's not necessary. I do hope you'll visit again, though, because you never know when you'll have an opportunity for more goodies - especially this month!
So the entry process is easy. Leave a comment and tell me what scares you most! Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you should you win.
Hop to the next blog!
There are lots more treats to be had. Check out the rest of the participants listed at The Blog Hop Spot: http://thebloghopspot.com
Thanks for hopping by! :) [image error]

Sonya Clark will cast a spell on you!

Cate: Please welcome Sonya to my special Halloween celebration. Sonya, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Sonya: I love music and magic and things that go bump in the night, so those are the things I write about. My urban fantasy titles are Bring On The Night, Mojo Queen, and it's forthcoming sequel Red House, all with Lyrical Press. I also write an online paranormal serial called The Bradbury Institute. I was raised an Army brat and now live in Tennessee with my husband and baby daughter. You can learn more at www.sonyaclark.net.


Cate: What do you love most about Halloween?
Sonya: This is my favorite time of year for many reasons. The weather is cooling, or it's supposed to at any rate, the leaves are turning, and everything just feels different. It's the time of year when I feel the change of seasons most acutely. Even in the daytime, you can feel the darkness approaching. But it's not a darkness that I find frightening. On the contrary, it feels full of possibility. There's also this wonderful sense of the unknowable in the air, especially at night. I like that mystery, the shiver and the spook of it. Halloween is the culmination of all these things.


Cate: Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own?
Sonya: No but I'd love to, especially since Roxie Mathis, the main character of Mojo Queen and Red House, uses her magical abilities to hunt and expel ghosts. She may not need an EMF reader but I'd love to have one. J


Cate: Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online.
Sonya: Hoodoo and high magic are on a collision course. 
Roxanne Mathis isn't like everyone else. Not only can she see auras and spectral entities, she can mix herbs and roots for spells to do good or ill. She can even light a candle without the benefit of a match. But when she’s hired to exorcise a demon from a young girl, she discovers the limits of her powers. 
With her vampire cousin at her side and a sexy sorcerer chasing her on the rebound, Roxie sets out to send that evil entity back to where she came from. 
Nothing is as it seems and Roxie’s in over her head. It’s not going to be enough for her to just be a paranormal investigator and old school root worker – to defeat this demon, she’s going to have to be the Mojo Queen.
Mojo Queen can be found at Lyrical Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.


Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt?
Sonya: Here's an excerpt:


I sat in the chair opposite the loveseat, placing the candles on the coffee table. Glanced at him to make sure I still had his attention, which of course I did. One side of his mouth still curled up in a smirk, eyebrow quirked. I sat back, let myself sink into the comfy chair and relax as much as possible. First the candle on the left. Focusing on the wick, I visualized a tiny flame erupting from it--concentrating my will, pouring energy into my intention. I could feel myself sliding further into exhaustion as energy curled inside me, but after a long, agonizing moment the candle came to life. I let out a breath before I could stop myself, avoiding his gaze. I didn’t want him to know how much this was taking out of me, but I had a bad feeling it was obvious. I turned my attention to the other candle and though it took even longer this time, it too lit. I felt almost as bad as I had this afternoon.
Blake reached for a backpack on the floor I had not seen in the darkness. He opened it, fished something out, and tossed it to me. I didn’t so much catch it as let it fall in my lap. A chocolate candy bar.
It was my turn to quirk an eyebrow. Waving the bar at him I said, “What, is this to ward off dementors?”
The smirk became a genuine smile again briefly. “Something like that. You need to eat.”
I gave him a skeptical look.
“You know you’re using energy with that.” He gestured at the candles. “The energy needs to be replenished.”
I rolled my eyes but tore open the wrapper. The chocolate tasted, well, damn, like mainlining something illegal. Maybe he had a point. I was halfway through the bar when he spoke again, as if there had been no pause.
“Especially since you don’t really know what you’re doing yet.” Even in the low candlelight I had no trouble seeing the wicked amusement in his dark eyes.
I managed to finish chewing without choking, tossed the remainder of the candy bar on the coffee table and sat up straighter. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re here? Or better yet, tell me where I can find your demon lover? So I can send her back to Hell.”
“Well, actually, that’s exactly why I’m here, Roxanne.” Like we were discussing insurance or something. “I want you to find my demon lover.”
Gob-smacked, all I could manage was, “Huh?”
“And I want you to send her back to Hell.”

Cate: I loved this book! Your writing style is incredible. What inspired you to write about the theme?
Sonya: There were a few different things that came together in the writing of Mojo Queen. One was the initial question that started my brainstorming for the story: why would someone choose to be possessed? The story I originally started writing was very different from the finished version but that question always stayed a part of the plot. The other thing was Roxie's particular type of magic, hoodoo. Not to be confused with the religion of Voodoo, hoodoo is a type of folk magic associated with parts of the South. I first learned of it from old blues songs, particularly Robert Johnson. In fact his song Hellhound On My Trail inspired one of the scenes in Mojo Queen. Blues played in a big part in the writing. I listened to a lot of RL Burnside while working on the book and my playlist for it is almost all Southern music - blues, soul, and a bit of classic country.


Cate: The musical influences really come through in the story, too. Anything else you’d like to share?
Sonya: The follow-up to Mojo Queen will be released in December. Titled Red House, here's a little about it:


There's high water everywhere and she's about to drown on dry land. 
Roxie Mathis has lost her home and her livelihood to a devastating flood. She knows she's lucky to be staying with her vampire ancestor Daniel but she wants to put the pieces of her life back together. Trouble is, Roxie's lost her mojo. The trauma of almost drowning and losing her home has left a deep mark on her. 
Blake Harvill left a mark on her too and she's been missing him in the four months since he left town. Now he's back with plans to stay. Roxie wants him like she's never wanted anyone else but can she trust the sexy sorcerer with her guarded heart? 
Hired to evict ghosts from a bed and breakfast called Maple Hill, her confidence takes another hit when she encounters a violent spirit she's crossed paths with in the past. When the spirit traps innocent people in the house Roxie's going to have to tap reservoirs of magic she's never touched before. In magic, like physics, everything has an equal and opposite reaction, and Roxie can only hope her desperate spellwork won't kill her - or conjure up something even more dangerous.


Cate: Can't wait for that one. :)  Guys, you’re in for a treat! Sonya has a giveaway~
Sonya: I'm giving away a copy of Mojo Queen to one commenter. Just leave your email and what format you'd like to have - pdf, epub, or Kindle.


Thank you for having me on your blog, Cate, and Happy Halloween!


Cate: Thanks so much for being part of the Halloween silliness, Sonya! And this is for you. :) Looks like someone put some voodoo on Jack!


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The Next Big Thing!

Thanks to Lorrie Struiff for tagging me in this fun hop!

What is the working title of your book?Death Is A Bitch

Where did the idea come from for the book?Good question! I was in the shower at the time, and the title just popped into my head. Love those inopportune writing moments, lol. I scrambled for a pen and paper, because ideas started to flow faster than the shower!

What genre does your book fall under?It's tough to categorize, but if I had to choose, then either urban fantasy or dark paranormal. The story has a lot of action and adventure, some thrills and laughs, and the immortals are not like those you've seen portrayed before.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?Easy peasy! I worked this out long ago.:)
Death. The word conjures quite a few negative images, doesn't it? Well, why? Why shouldn't Death be a gorgeous babe in gold stilettos? Intelligent and sensitive, she has a work ethic to match the relentless task of harvesting souls. Trouble is, it wreaks havoc on her personal existence.

Since I began writing this story, Claudia Black was always Death. She can portray a strong and strong-willed female, a warrior-goddess who, if crossed, will yes - become a bitch. One you don't want to cross.

Azrael, Patron Angel of the Dying and the Dead, oversees all those associated with the process of dying, from funeral home workers to grief counselors to pallbearers and yes, the grieving people left behind.

I imagined him as somewhat shy, adorable but awkward with females. Especially Death, on whom he's had an eternal crush. :)

Paul Walker makes a wonderful Azrael.

You can see the full cast of characters here. Wish I could see them play the characters in a real movie!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?Some say Death’s a bitch, but only when she has to be.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?Decadent Publishing released it in August.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?This one was spread out over about a year, and took about another eight months to revise after critiques.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?Ugh, I hate comparisons. I like to think Death is unique! :)

Who or what inspired you to write this book?I was lucky with this one. The title came to me in that offhand way, and I immediately imagined Death as a kickass heroine, a female with great integrity and strong work ethic, but also a female you would have fun with just hanging at The Nethers (the inter-realm bar).

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?The characters are all against stereotype, and each one is unique. The worldbuilding (or other-worldbuilding, lol) was a challenge but I loved creating it. And yeah, only readers who love a to-die-for angel hero, a handsome and devilish demon and a strong heroine should read it. :)

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Halloween fun with Shirley Martin

Looking for the Halloween Spooktacular post? It's here! But don't miss out on my special guest, below. And visit all month for special guests and goodies!
Cate:: Welcome, Shirley! Tell us a little bit about yourself.Shirley: Cate, thanks for having me. I began writing over twenty years ago and started with historical romances. Since then, I've written paranormal and fantasy romances. I enjoy writing and always have ideas. I'm published now with Books We Love, Ltd. On a personal level, I'm a widow who lives in Alabama.  I have two grown children and two grandchildren.


Cate: What do you love most about Halloween?Shirley: I get to eat the leftover candy.


Cate: There's leftovers? lol Do you have a favorite memory of a Halloween past?
Shirley: No, what I remember most from growing up in Pennsylvania is that it was almost always cold on Halloween.


Cate: It can be chilly! Have you ever had an unusual experience you couldn't explain?
Shirley:: Plenty, too many to mention.

Cate: Now you have me intrigued... What frightens you the most?
Shirley: Spiders

Cate: Ever gone on a ghost tour? Or ghost hunting on your own?
Shirley: No, but it sounds like fun.

Cate: If you visit Pennsylvania again, try the Gettysburg tour. Any favorite Halloween recipes you'd like to share?Shirley: No, but I remember the Rice Krispy balls one of the neighbor women used to make for Halloween handouts. Nowadays, no one makes anything for fear parents will think they are poisoned.


Cate: Oh, I loved those. :) Tell us about your latest release and where readers can find it online.
Shirley: I've just gotten back to writing after a hiatus of over ten years. One of my favorite romances is "Night Secrets" available at Amazon, my website, and http://bookswelove.net  My website is www.shirleymartinShirley.com


Cate: Care to share a blurb or excerpt?
Shirley: This is the blurb from "Night Secrets."  Two people who fear to love each other must save the kingdom from betrayal.  (This is a fantasy romance)

Cate: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Shirley: The heroine has special powers, including the ability to spirit travel. I wondered what it would be like if someone had an out-of-body experience and overhears men planning an assassination, and the man they want to kill is her father, the king. In this scenario, the heroine, Princess Keriam, is on a spirit journey and  overhears men talking about killing her father. One of the men is her father's courier, Roric.


Cate: Very cool. Anything else you'd like to share?
Shirley: I'd love for others to join my yahoogroup, shirleysfantasies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  I have contests just for members and inform them when any of my books are free at www.amazon.com
Please check out my video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm12rlz-hbI


Cate: Readers, you're in for a treat! Shirley has a giveaway.
Shirley: One commenter will receive a pdf download of Night Secrets. Be sure to leave your email address!
Cate: Thanks for being part of the Halloween fun, Shirley!
Shirley has me hungry for some Rice Krispie treats! Here's a fun recipe for Green Monster Treats from the Rice Krispies official site:

Ingredients
(Nutrition Information) [image error] 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows - OR - 4 cups miniature marshmallows 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal - OR - 6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal Canned frosting or decorating gel Assorted candies Why use Kellogg's® Rice Krispies®? Directions
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 8 rectangles. Decorate with frosting and/or candies to make monster faces. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Note
For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Prep Time: 20 minutes • Total Time: 40 minutes • Servings: 8