Cate Rowan's Blog
July 18, 2022
June 2022 Newsletter (part)
Here's a pasted snippet from my newsletter full of GIFs, memes, personal news, and book goodies. I publish every few weeks.
Join my fantasy romance crew at https://caterowan.com/free-book/ to get immediate access to exclusive stories available only to my V.I.P. readers… & ALL the news. [image error]
It all started when my back was turned.Just like most horror movies.
The setting was my horse's stall on a lovely afternoon. I was grooming Dorkgoober in preparation for a ride, he was chilling out during what amounts to a nice equine massage, and I was happily enjoying some bonding time with him.
It was going to be a warm day (yay, at long last, here high up in the Rockies!), so I was wearing ankle-high paddock boots with my lightweight riding tights.
That was mistake #1.
I'd haltered the Goobs and tied him with a safety clip to the stall bars. His tack was in the room next door, so I had the stall door open for convenience.
Mistake #2.
I had my back to the open door, perfectly content and practically whistling, minding my own business.
Mistake #3.
Da-dum… Da-dum… Da-dum… Da-dum…
Bam. I felt a blow to the back of my calf and a sharp pain at my knee. The hell?!?
I whipped around and saw this little monster running at me to attack me again with his wicked little claws, spurs, and beak:
Y'all, that rooster's beady little eyes are definitely related to these from Jurassic Park:
Now what? I thought. How am I supposed to fend off this murder bird?
I have no experience with chicken wrangling. I grew up in the suburbs.
The curry comb and brush in my hands became my defensive weapons:
Every time he rushed toward me, I'd try to aim his beak into the brush and push him backward, out the door. My leg hurt and there was some yellin' and cussin' involved, no lie. Glad I was alone. I finally got him out and that stall door closed.
I turned around and kept grooming my horse, albeit stripped of the nice mood I'd been in before, and Murder Bird wandered off to the other end of the barn. And every time “Chicken” (who's a rooster, but that's literally his name) made a noise like he was the boss, I'd growl back.
Meanwhile, Dorkgoober just eyed me like he was amused. Notice who didn't even flick an ear to warn me of the pending ambush? The Goober. There are good reasons his other nickname is Stinkerbelle.
That night I went home to find I had a big bruise on my calf and a hole poked into the side of my knee. It's been ten days and the hole still isn't fully healed.
Anyway, that was pretty much that for a few days. Chicken and I just kept a healthy distance from each other.
And then the owner of the barn where I board my horse went on a trip. As we'd agreed, during that trip it would be up to me to feed the three horses, two big goats, one medium goat, one sheep… and Chicken.
The non-horse menagerie shares a single stall with attached covered pen, and there's a sliding stall door to get in there to feed them. The horses, who each have their own stall + pen, are excited you're bringing them food and are delighted that you're going to come in and give it to them. Besides, they know you're the boss. (Okay, one Hussy mare likes to slam her hoof against the door impatiently if she doesn't get fed immediately, but she and I have had a couple of come-to-Jesus moments about that, and so far, so good.)
The menagerie, bless their *^$ hearts, couldn't care less about silly virtues like politeness. They are vying like the Three Four Stooges to get out the door, and the instant I start sliding the stall door open while trying to block the egress, they are like this:
Multiply this by four.
Lemme enhance the mental image with a few more specifics. The big goats are… leviathans. I don't know goat breeds (again, ‘burbs girl here), but I'm going to say easily 200 pounds each. In fact, the big boy is named Tyson, very appropriately. He variously head-butts his stallmates, tries to shove me out of the way, or stands on his hind legs to climb me like a wall. The four shoats (sheep + goats) managed to squeeze past me yesterday and proceeded to run around the (closed-up) barn like a gang of hooligans on a meth bender.
Meanwhile, Murder Bird was just waiting for me to enter his primary domain.
I finally persuaded the shoats to get back into the stall, squeezed in somehow to dump their sweet feed and hay, and crossed the stall to shut the door to the outside pen so they'd be safe at night from the coyotes and mountain lions.
Murder Bird was waiting.
Thanks to the hay that had accumulated in the doorway, the outer door didn't want to close. Murder Bird left the others scrabbling for the sweet feed to attack me while I was distracted with the door latch. Despite me doing my best to wield the plastic feed scoop as a shield to keep him away, he made two more holes in my legs.
I'll just mention how grateful I am that barn owner got home that day.
Also, next time I have to do Murder Bird feeding duty, I'm bringing a spray bottle.
Effin' bird.
(SNIPPAGE OF POLLS & BOOK GIVEAWAYS… SEE MY LATEST NEWSLETTER FOR CURRENT OFFERS!)My wishes for youI hope you're having a lovely June with family / friends and summer joys!
May the mermaids always find you.
P.S. Mareisa, my heroine in THE OCEAN BETWEEN US,
is getting ready for her closeup! 
And… may your July be filled with great books. 
Yours in Magically Fantastic Romance,
Cate Rowan
Email: Cate@CateRowan.com
Website: https://CateRowan.com
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September 10, 2021
September 2021 Newsletter (Part)
Here's a snippet from my newsletter full of GIFs, memes, personal news, and book goodies. I publish every few weeks. Join my fantasy romance crew at https://caterowan.com/free-book/ to get immediate access to exclusive stories available only to my V.I.P. readers & ALL the news. 
Life giving you lemons?
Let's drink lemonade & read books!
Welp, turns out the 2021 year-fairy is still drinking.
I really can't blame her. 2021 kinda calls for it. So did 2020.
I hope the booze tastes good, at least! Let's see what's been going on at Casa Cate.
The good, the bad, and the ughs
Berry Berry Good: My barn kitty adoptee Miss Strawberry (a.k.a. RiRi) is doing great! True, she and my fourteen-year-old queen bee, Kisska, are mutual nemeses… But Kisska's littermate, Tater, mostly stays out of the fray. And RiRi has gained quite a bit of confidence since her arrival last December.
Lookit dat sweet face
Dr. 4×4 is healthy, has just cut back to 2/3rds time at the hospital, and he's looking forward to the new football season. (Go Denver Broncos! Please, Broncos. Go do SOMETHING this year, Broncos.)
As of late August, we've already seen snow on our mountains and my horse is growing his winter coat. Winter, my most hated season, is on its way. Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?
winter was totally asking for it…
[snip]
Books to sip lemonade by!Did you ever read ElfQuest? It's one of the most enjoyable, beautifully illustrated fantasy adventures I've ever read… And there's a wonderful romance in there, too. I've loved ElfQuest for more than 30 years.
sexy elves? yep!
Oh, and there's an ElfQuest “audio movie” coming out, featuring some of my favorite Star Trek actors to boot!
Next up is a sea-faring memoir that kept me glued for days, experiencing ocean breezes and delicious food:
Mangoes are even better than lemons, ‘far as I'm concerned
How about paranormal women's fiction with demons, Ouija boards, and a second-chance romance?
And hey, The Ocean Between Us and its sequel are in the publishing pipeline. I'm pretty sure Mareisa, the mermaid heroine, would appreciate lemonade!
So what have you been up to this summer? Any happiness you want to share with me? Looking forward to celebrating your joys!
Yours in Magically Fantastic Romance,
[image error]
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Total website refresh coming!
In 3… 2… 1…
I'm pruning the blog (“News”), too. Don't worry, I'm leaving all the good stuff, including bits and pieces about my publishing journey. They're fun for me to re-read!
The post Total website refresh coming! appeared first on Cate Rowan.
June 22, 2020
June 2020 Newsletter (part)
Here's a snippet from my newsletter, which I publish every few weeks. Subscribe at https://caterowan.com/news to get book sneak peeks & ALL the news. 
November 24, 2019
Snuggle up with THE BROTHERS DJINN for the holidays for just 99¢!
Djinn, jinn, genies…here they come!
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What a scrumptious cover, heehee!
Y'all, The Brothers Djinn — the epic fantasy novella that was part of the USA Today bestselling Shades of Fae bundle — will finally be published on its own in just a few short weeks. I'm so excited!
Three sexy brothers, two warring goddesses, and a literal trip to Hell. What could possibly go wrong…
Long ago in the bygone Middle East, a storm forces three mercenary brothers — charming scoundrels Darius, Jasper, and Valerian — to seek shelter in the castle of the sorceress Ina.
Ina's eyes promise heaven in her bed, but the brothers soon discover she knows their deepest secrets and will use them to get what she wants most: revenge against her ancient nemesis, her goddess sister.
Ina will offer each brother all he desires in this life or the next, but will the price for her magic be one simple night or an eternity of thralldom in service of her wicked plans?
> > > Let the award-winning author Cate Rowan take you on a fast-paced adventure into captivating fantasy. Buy THE BROTHERS DJINN today to ride with three sexy brothers into an exotic land of magic, treachery, and immortal trouble!
~ Preorder it now at Amazon for just 99¢! ~
(Not in the US? No problem! It's at all the Amazon stores, so click here to grab it at the Amazon Kindle store in your country.)
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July 25, 2018
USA Today Bestseller!
I have to record this for posterity, y'all. We did it — the Shades of Fae boxed set, which included my book The Brothers Djinn, was #107 on the USA Today Best-Seller Books list for July 19, 2018. Thank you sooooo much for buying this set and for your love! *HUGS ALL AROUND*
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July 14, 2018
SHADES OF FAE is here — and 99¢ for only a few more days!
So, did I mention here on my blog that I have a new book out? No? D'oh! Well, lemme fix that RIGHT NOW.
The Brothers Djinn is only available in the Shades of Fae set, which has 23 yummy novels for a mere $0.99. Grab it now before the price goes up!
AMAZON: https://tinyurl.com/amazonfae
KOBO: https://tinyurl.com/kobofae
BN: https://tinyurl.com/BNshadesoffae
IBOOKS: https://tinyurl.com/ishadesoffae
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January 17, 2018
Magical new fae books — 99¢ preorder!
THE FAE ARE COMING! (Okay, mine are djinn. “Extended Fae.” 
May 25, 2017
Giveaway fun!
Hi all! Here are TWO multi-author giveaways with fantastic prizes for the winners (including my books!). Click on the images or buttons below and follow directions for the chance to win great stuff. The BookSweeps giveaway ends May 29 and Spring Fling on May 31, so hurry!
BookSweeps
Prizes: TWO huge collections of Fantasy, SF & Paranormal novels, bookstore gift cards, PLUS a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet to the Grand Prize winner. You can win my novel THE SOURCE OF MAGIC!
Enter BookSweeps
Spring Fling
Enter to win 105 (yes, 105!) paperback romances from some of your favorite best-selling authors, including me with KISMET'S KISS!
Enter Spring Fling
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November 5, 2016
Fall fantasy romance sales (woohoo!)
I hope your autumn is going beautifully. Here high up in the Colorado Rockies, I’ve just hung up my spurs for the season. (waaah!). With luck I’ll be riding again in about 5 1/2 months… *sigh* I do prefer warmer winters, but at least here I get a helluva mountain view.
With shorter days and longer nights for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, I thought you might want some wonderful reads to cozy up with. (Yes, my inner Grammar Maven says I should instead write “some wonderful reads with which to cozy up.” But let’s not stand on ceremony when there are magical books on sale.)
You might notice one of my books up there, Kismet’s Kiss. Yep, for only a couple more days, you can grab this award-winning fan favorite at 80% off — just $0.99! (And pssst: some of my others are on sale or free for a few more days, too!)
So go discover your next fantasy romance reads: CLICK HERE. I’ve already bought a bunch of them, myself.
And now I’m going to go curl up with a warm blanket, or several warm and cuddly kitties!
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