Katheryn Lane's Blog, page 15

And the Award goes to . . .

Each morning when I open my emails I never know quite what to expect, but this morning I certainly didn't except to see that this blog had been awarded 'The Versatile Blogger' badge by Taslim at The Finer Things in Life .  Thank you very much, Taslim!  What a lovely surprise on a Saturday morning. 




However, there are a few 'fun' rules that come with this award and these are:

THE RULES
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this Award along to 5 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it.

I believe I've already done number 1, so now for number 2: seven things about me that not many people know (or at least they didn't until they read this!):

1.      I once met Princess Margaret.  She was very short.
2.      Stephen Hise likened me to Jessica Alba in his interview with me on Indies Unlimited However, in real life Jessica's eyes are brown, whereas mine are blue, though in the film, Fantastic Four, she appears to be wearing blue contact lens.  Was she trying to copy me?  Sadly, I doubt it.
3.      I am possibly the only person I've ever met (and maybe the only person alive today) who actually likes the play 'Waiting for Godot'.
4.      When I was a child I had ballet lessons and managed to get as far as point shoes.  They hurt, A LOT.  Now I just like to watch it.  It's much less painful that way.    
5.      When I was 11 years old I won a prize at school for an essay I wrote.  The other kids were merciless about it.  I didn't dare write anything else for years after that.
6.      I now write romance novels and work full-time as an English teacher.  I don't tell my students or the other teachers that I write romance.  I have certainly learnt my lesson from what happened when I was 11.
7.      And finally, I love dark chocolate, digestive biscuits.
And here are the 5 blogs that I think deserve to have this award as well. If you don't know these blogs already, go and pay them a visit!
Indies UnlimitedHeroines with Hearts

The Kindle and MeLili Tufel

The Giggling Truckers Wife
Wishing everyone a great festive season ahead and thank you again to Taslim for the wonderful award!

Award-Winning Romance and Suspense: An interview with Ellen Gable

I recently did a
I actually began writing in a journal 20 years ago to ease my grief during miscarriages.  That journal became my first published article in 1995 called "Five Little Souls In Heaven."  Six years later, I began writing my first book because I wanted to share the parallel stories of myself and my great-grandmother. However, I knew I would have to fictionalize the stories, amalgamate incidents and change names so that's how my first novel, Emily's Hope, was born. I couldn't wait to write more novels and my second and third novels are totally fictitious and I had a lot more fun writing them.


That is a very sad start to writing, but it has had amazing results. I believe your novels, such as

(To win a FREE copy of

When you are not writing novels, I believe you also write reviews for Catholic Fiction, a monthly column for Amazing Catechists, articles for Catholic Mom, as well as regular postings for your own blog.  How do you fit all this in with being a mother to five boys?

Some of my "boys" are not boys any longer. I have three adult sons ages 19, 22 and 24 and my two youngest sons are 15 and 12. With regard to fitting everything in . . . I don't sleep as much as I'd like to.  Seriously, I pack a lot into each day.  I make lists and try to follow them closely.

What are you working on at the moment?
I am currently working on the sequel to
When you are not writing, what do you like doing in your free time (if you have any!)?
I enjoy walking on my treadmill and, not surprisingly, I love to read (mostly fiction)!  There's nothing I like to do better than immersing myself in a great story!  I enjoy watching classic television shows (like I Love Lucy and The DickVan Dyke Show) and old movies and musicals.

What advice do you have for other authors?
Be humble, use an editor, don't give up!  Write because you love to write.

That's great advice. Where can we buy your books?

All my books are available on Amazon.com in print or Kindle and each book has its own website.

Stealing Jenny

Amazon

www.stealingjenny.com


In Name Only


Emily's Hope

Amazon

www.emilyshope.com

However, if you would like to have a FREE copy of one of Ellen's amazing books, just leave a comment below.  One lucky person will be selected to receive a FREE copy of the award-winning historical romance,

Modern Fairytales, Highland Romances and Fish Tacos: An interview with author, K. E. Saxon

The two things I love are books and food!  I am therefore thrilled to be able to combine the two in an interview with fellow romance author and cook, K. E. Saxon.  First of all, I can I ask what K. E. stands for?

Karen Elaine! (a.k.a. "pure light"--are you barfing now?  LOL!)

That's not a bad name!  However, before I digress off into awful names I've heard of, could you tell us instead about your new book, Love is the Drug?
It's a sometimes humorous, sometimes touching, most times steamy contemporary romance (sorry, no fairy magic in this one!) about a man, Jason Jörgensen, who is dealing with the trauma of learning that the father who raised him is not the father who made him: he's actually the product of a violent rape. Because he feels that his DNA is tainted, he never wants to have children. Unfortunately (but we know it's really fortunately, he falls for a woman who does. Highlights are a match-maker father, a drugged-drink Vegas wedding, and malfunctioning condoms. A person who read it recently, told me that at different places in the book, it made her laugh, it made her angry and it made her cry. I took that as a compliment!
Your first book was Diamonds and Toads and I absolutely love the book cover!  Who designed it?

Dara England. I found the basic photo on iStock about a year or so ago and thought it fit the feel of the story, but needed diamonds and toads to somehow be incorporated in the photograph as well. I also needed a fairy in there--and Dara, bless her, was able to manipulate the picture of the butterfly, making it into a fairy instead, which I absolutely adore. I had her change the eye color to blue, and also asked her to split the hair color--one side black, the other red, to represent the sisters. I found the font, Romance Fatal Serif (isn't the name great?) by the incredibly talented lettering artist Juan Casco and fell in love with it, so requested his permission to use it for my book.


What are you working on at the moment?
I'm working on final edits on the second book in a family saga trilogy. They are medieval highland romances, and the second one is entitled HIGHLAND GRACE. The three book plots are so complicated and intertwined that I won't release any of them until I have all three just right. The second book is about a half-breed (Chinese/Scot) whose mother was the slave of his father in the holy lands. His father sells his son into the flesh trade in Perth when he is ten years old. (This is his backstory) The story begins years later, when the hero is in his late twenties, and centers around his journey to overcome his PTSD in regard to his molestation as a child. Of course, it's a romance, so the heroine plays a huge role in helping him learn/grow/change!

As a point of possible interest, I just uploaded the prologue to the first book, HIGHLAND VENGEANCE, on Wattpad, if any of your readers would like to take a look at it.

When you are not writing, I believe you like gardening and cooking. Have you got any favourite recipes you could share with us?
Yes! Here in Houston, there is a restaurant that serves the "Best Fish Taco Ever" (Zagats National Survey), BerryHill Baja Grill. I loved them so much—and fish is so good for you—that I decided to try to figure out their recipe.  I don't know how close I've come, but I will tell you, these are delicious. I've mixed ideas from several different recipes for fish tacos that I found on the web, plus got as close to the sauce Berryhill uses as I could. (Berryhill keeps their recipe close to the vest).


FISH TACOS

Ingredients

·         1 1/4 cups Lawry baja chipotle marinade, with lime juice ®

·         1 capful tequila per filet

·         1 1/2 lbs tilapia, catfish, or cod

·         12 soft taco-size corn tortillas, warmed

Sauce

·         1/4 cup mayonnaise

·         1/4 cup sour cream

·         2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (or to taste)

·         2-4 Tbsp Lawry baja chipotle marinade (or to taste)      
Condiments

·         Mild giardiniera (you can find this on the international aisle in the grocery store—Italian section, or possibly also in the condiment section)

·         Your favourite tomato salsa

·         Your favourite black bean and corn salsa (or the recipe I use follows)

Directions

1.      Place fish in a large baking dish or resealable plastic bag; pour 3/4 cup Lawry's Baja ® Chipotle Marinade with Lime Juice and capfuls of tequila over the fish.

2.      Marinate in refrigerator about 30 minutes (or longer, if you wish) in covered dish or sealed plastic bag.

NOTE: To save even more time, I have marinated for 30 minutes then frozen these filets in a freezer bag for future use. (Keep in mind that you cannot defrost fish or meat and then refreeze it. This would only work if the fish was not frozen when you bought it.)

3.      Remove fish from dish or bag.

4.      Grill or broil fish and baste with the chipotle/tequila marinade you used for the fish. Turn fish once and cook until fish flakes easily with a fork.

5.      While fish is cooking, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and 2-4 tablespoons of Lawry marinade in a small bowl.

6.      To serve, place fish in tortillas, using two tortillas for each taco, drizzle with sauce and top with shredded cabbage, mild giardiniera and salsas.

Ingredients for homemade Black Bean and Corn Salsa

·         1 12 to15-oz. can of whole kernel corn

·         1 15-oz. can of black beans

·         1 medium tomato, finely diced

·         1 small red onion, finely diced

·         1/4 cup lime juice

·         1 tsp cumin powder

Directions

1.    Drain and rinse beans and corn.

2.    Combine in medium bowl with diced tomato and onion

3.    Mix and add lime juice and cumin

Refrigerate leftovers

Enjoy!

I can't imagine there would be much left over to refrigerate!  Before I get too hungry, can I ask where can we buy your books?

Diamonds and Toads is available at:

Amazon.com

B&N.com

Smashwords.com

Allromanceebooks.com
iTunes

Love Is The Drug is available at:

Amazon.com

B&N.com

Smashwords.com

Allromanceebooks.com

iTunes

Also you can connect with me at any or all of the following:

Facebook www.facebook.com/kesaxonauthorpage

Twitter @KESaxonAuthor

www.kesaxon.com

www.kesaxon.blogspot.com

Thank you so much Karen for taking the time to tell us about your beautiful books and for the great recipes.  All I need to do now is to find somewhere in the Middle East that sells Lawry baja chipotle marinade!

Vampires, Romance and New Orleans: An interview with author, Michelle Hughes

Today I'm very excited to be interviewing the author, Michelle Hughes. First of all Michelle, I can I ask you how you first became an author?

To be honest, I never planned to be an author. I had taken some Mass Communications classes in college but most of my writing was wrapped around writing lyrics. The Tears of Crimson story is actually a series of dreams that I've had since I was a young girl of fifteen and I just decided one day to get them out of my head and on to paper.

You recently published ANight at Tears of Crimson.  Could you tell us something about it?

Tears of Crimson is about a young woman that moves to New Orleans after the death of her grandmother looking to start a new life. She came to the city hoping to be discovered as a vocalist, but after months singing out in the Quarter she realized that her bills weren't being paid. She runs across the Tears of Crimson Nightclub and discovers it's a wanna-be vampire bar. Out of desperation she applies for a job there and is hired as a waitress. She's immediately attracted to the mysterious owner and the story revolves around the blooming of first love as she discovers the myths behind the vampire legends are real.
Your book is listed as being 'Volume 1', does that mean we can expect a sequel?

A Night at Tears of Crimson is the first book in the series. The second book is titled Eternal Crimson and will be released in June of 2012. I have taken on a co-author, Sarah Snyder with this second book because I felt she could really add to the project.


I understand that you have five children, how do you fit in writing as well?
I'm a full time mom first and a writer second. I was blessed to have a husband that encouraged me to stay home and fulfil my dream, even if he'd rather I was writing children's books. As far as time management, seriously I just write whenever I find the time. I can definitely say there are some nights that I just don't sleep so I can have the quiet time when they are all sleeping to write.


When you are not writing, what do you like doing in your free time (if you have any!)?
When I'm not writing we enjoy taking our boat out on the river. It's one of the few things that all the kids can agree on. My children are spread out in ages from 4 - 21 so as you can imagine each of them has different ideas of what they consider entertainment. We live in a small rural community in Alabama and the natural resources offer many opportunities for exploration. Outside of boating we do a lot of fishing and four-wheeling. We have 40 acres of wooded land surrounding our home which means there's lots of room to enjoy nature.


What advice do you have for other authors?
I think the best advice that I can give authors is the understanding that writing the book may be the easiest part of the entire experience. My average day consists of 4-5 hours of promotion. Definitely build up your twitter and facebook followings and try to get to know the people you're talking with. I've long said that people want to buy books from a person they feel they have something in common with and not just someone pushing a product.


Where can we buy your book?

My book can be ordered at any mainstream bookstore, if it isn't already on the shelf. You can also purchase it through the following sites:
Amazon

Books A Million
Barnes & Noble


Finally, do you have any parting comments that you would like to share with us?

I'd love to invite everyone to my Tears of Crimson site at www.tearsofcrimson.info, and the Tears of Crimson blog at www.tearsofcrimson.com.  We showcase entertainment there that would appear in the Tears of Crimson vampire nightclub and some great vampire related articles on the blog.
Thank you so much Michelle for taking the time to talk with me today.  I'm off now to check out those websites that you just mentioned!

Lame Excuses

For the first time ever on this blog (but hopefully not the last!) I am pleased to have the chance to play host to a guest writer, Alle Wells, author of Lame Excuses.


Forty-year-old Emily Halley sits in a wheelchair in an abandoned lot of a silent, forlorn southern town. She reflects on her life that began in a short-order café that sat on this corner lot in the early 1960's. She remembers and shares her love for the café that provided everything she needed and demanded nothing from her. As a teenager, Emily's life at the café ends abruptly with her father's untimely death.

Forced to find a new life, Emily enrolls in a culinary arts school in a rural farming community. She thrives as a culinary artist and finds a mentor, a lover and a new life in the Sand Fort community. Emily's life is sprinkled with pleasant surprises, southern humor, disappointments and drama. Her passion for food remains constant and comforts her through the good times and the bad. Emily's lifestyle begins to take its toll on her at an early age. A medical condition misdiagnosed by a country doctor and ignored by Emily leads her to a tragic and unsatisfied end as she tries to piece her life back together.Emily's story in Lame Excuses is relevant to the obesity epidemic still prevalent in many areas of the United States. Most of us relate to the love of food. But, like Emily, many people still ignore the signs of declining health that come from choosing an unhealthy lifestyle. In 2010, CNN Health reported an obesity rate of thirty percent among the overall population in ten southern states in the US. Since the end of World War II, the rising trend toward fast and convenient foods has become the daily routine for many Americans. That's two generations of kids relying on French fried potatoes, a piece of iceberg lettuce and a thin slice of tomato for their daily vegetable intake. Unfortunately, studies show that poorer families are more likely to rely on foods that lead to life-threatening diseases which, in turn, have an affect on the cost of healthcare.

Today, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle which begins with proper nutrition. We are hearing words like vegan and whole foods more often. Doctors are speaking out about the
My first novel, Lame Excuses , is available on Amazon and Smashwords for only $0.99.


About the author:Alle Wells presents a new twist on Southern Fiction based on down-home inspiration. Her first published novel, Lame Excuses , illustrates the parody in life found only in the rural South. She also enjoys reading, writing book reviews, supporting the work of other Indie Authors, vegetarian cooking and yoga. Alle lives in North Carolina, USA.

Romance and the Writer: An interview with author, Regina Puckett

I am so pleased to be interviewing Regina Puckett today, the author several great romance novels.  First of all Regina, can I ask you how you became an author?  

I believe most writers are born to write.   I can't remember a time when I didn't enjoy putting the written word down onto paper.  I seriously begin writing my first full length novel in my early twenties.  Back then I thought the book was a masterpiece.  I received a few rejection letters on it and reading it now I can see just how bad it really was.  Fortunately I discovered along the way that the more I wrote the better my writing became. It took many years but finally Publish America and Whimsical Publications gave me the opportunity to share my books with other people.

You have published several romance novels; could you tell us something about your books?
My first published romance was Concealed in My Heart .  This book was written because of a dream I had about raising someone else's child.  After that dream I spent the next two years thinking of how to make a story out of that situation.  Both of my main characters in Concealed in My Heart are married to other people at the beginning of the story, so the tale is about how Charity and David have to overcome betrayal and tragedy to rebuild their lives and learn to trust in love again.
Songs That I Whisper is the second book in the series.  This is Suzette and Seth's love story.  Suzette is David's daughter and Charity's adopted daughter.  She meets an up-and-rising country music star that comes from a horrible home where he has only seen the worst of human nature. Before they can fall in love they have to overcome groupies, a murder attempt, suspicious police and their own doubts about falling in love.
What the Heart Knows is book three and is about Suzette's best friend and her baby sister.  Emily and Gregory have both been in love for many years, but without the other knowing it.  On her way to her car one night after a going-away party Emily is attacked.  She feels very fortunate to escape before too much harm is done to her, but then the attacker begins to threaten and stalk her.  Because the stalker is threatening her family, Emily tries to handle the situation without going to the police. 
Soon after learning that Emily is trying to hide away from the world, Gregory works hard to convince her to tell him why she is so spooked and along the way he tries to show her that despite their many differences they are meant to be together.

Love's Great Plan is book four and is Coty's and Amanda's story.  Their love story is almost doomed from the beginning. It is well known among the small town of Murfreesboro that three years before Amanda's brother tried to rape and murder Coty's sister, Emily.  Ever since that awful day, Amanda has been trying to convince everyone she's nothing like her brother.  What she doesn't know is that Coty can see the purity of her heart and soul, and loves everything about her. 

[image error] Waiting for MaryElizabeth is book five and is about Emily and Gregory's daughter, Mary Elizabeth.  Mary Elizabeth meets Gregory in the middle of a national forest.  She's only four years old and she believes when he finds her that she has met her saviour.  Unfortunately twelve year old Gregory is just as lost as her.  By the end of the night she makes him promise to wait for her to grow up so they can be married.  To their parents' surprise he agrees.  While no one but Mary Elizabeth believes he will keep that promise, Gregory proves them all wrong and returns for her.  It is only then their struggles begin, because there is someone who will do anything with her power to keep them apart.


You published your latest novel, 'Waiting for Mary Elizabeth', as both a paperback and as an ebook.  Why did you decide to do this and are your planning to publish your previous books as ebooks sometime in the future?
Whimsical Publications gave me the choice of whether I wanted Waiting for Mary Elizabeth to be published in print, ebook, or both.  I know ebooks are really taking off, but I personally love holding a book and know that other people still do as well.  I think having the book available in both forms makes good business sense.

My first four books were published by Publish America. At the time I signed those contracts the publisher didn't offer me the option of having them available in ebooks.  That publisher has since given me the option of having them published as ebooks, but has not offered to change my contract to reflect this change.


What are you working on at the moment? 

I have three novels in different stages of development.  One is the sixth book in my series.  I'm in the middle of chapter eight with it.  The second book is a fun book about two writers falling in love, but I'm stuck at chapter five.  Book three is really the most different style of writing for me because it is about a woman vampire trying to let go of her old life and facing the reality that she's never going to be human again.  I'm not certain this book will ever get beyond chapter one, but I like making plans for it.  I have at least three other stories floating around in my head trying to take form.  Time will only tell which book gets finished first.


I believe that your daughter is also an author. What's it like having two writers in the family? 
I like having someone I can discuss all of the ups and downs about the writing world.  Not everyone understands how much hard work is involved in getting published and then trying to get readers to notice that the books are out there to be read.  We share ideas about how to generate interest in our books, and we are very fortunate that we both don't get discouraged about this long, difficult process at the same time. It's good to know someone has my back at all times and I hope she knows I will always have hers.


When you are not writing, what do you like doing in your free time?

My problem is that I love doing too many different things.  I love to read anything and everything.  I enjoy painting landscapes and like buying beads to make necklaces and earrings.  I never get bored but I do find myself too scattered and unorganized at times.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Never give up.  You are going to be rejected and you will probably be rejected many times.  The difference between someone who is meant to be a writer and someone who isn't is the real writer never lets anyone else tell them that they can't do it.  Not every writer will become famous or rich, but if that's why you're writing than you're writing for the wrong reason to begin with.  Love what you do and it will show up in the finished work.

Where can we buy your books?
Whimsical Publications

Amazon

Publish American


Finally, do you have any parting comments that you would like to share with us?

Every writer writes with the hope that others will read what they have created.  I hope people choose to read my books and love my characters as much as I do.

I hope they do too!  Thank you so much Regina for taking the time to tell us about your beautiful books.

The Royal Sheikh - The Facts Behind the Fiction

[image error] My contemporary romance, The Royal Sheikh, is based in a fictitious country in the Middle East and in the words of a recent review on Readers Favorite, it mixes 'fantasy and fiction'.  But what is life really like in the Middle East?  Rather than write about it myself, as I might slip back into the realms of fantasy, I asked Chris Combe, an experienced expat author, if he could give my readers a glimpse into life out here and he kindly provided me with this excerpt from his best-selling guide to living in Dubai, 'One Year in Wonderland':

"Saturday, September 23, 2006Private helicopters?  Fact not ficiton in the Middle East.  I wish I had included one when I wrote my romance. It's just the sort of thing that the hero, Sheikh Raqif, would have owned.

In Name Only - 5 Star Romance by Ellen Gable

I recently interviewed author, Philip Catshill, who talked about what inspired him to write the Mike Newman mystery stories.  In his interview he also mentioned the amazing power of prayer in his life.  Although Philip's murder mysteries don't have a Christian message, his comments did make me think that I should read more faith-based novels.  As a huge romance fan, I naturally went searching for some Christian romance and while I was doing so, I came across
This is what the product description from
1876, Philadelphia. Caroline Martin's life has finally taken a turn for the better. After years of hard work, she has met a virtuous and wealthy man whose love seems to promise the kind of life realized only within the comforting novels she keeps on her night table. Tragedy, however, will teach Caroline of the complexity with which God Himself authors the lives of those who turn toward Him.But what about the 5 Star reviews?  Well, here's a brief selection from a few of them:
'This is the the best book I've read in a long time. It has all the qualities that make for an outstanding, memorable novel--and it's Catholic as well! I highly recommend it!'

'I highly recommend it to anyone who cherishes a wonderfully well-written story featuring complex and superbly-developed characters, whose challenges are universal - above all the one that calls us to love another truly, not in spite of human frailty, but in it.'

'This story is a true romance, wonderfully written and set in the Victorian time period.'

Rather than reading more reviews, why not read the actual book?  It's available as either a paperback or, for only $2.99, as an ebook from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.  Let us know what you think and watch this space as I'm currently trying to get an interview from the author, Ellen Gable.

Murder, Ballet and God: An interview with Philip Catshill, author of the Mike Newman mysteries

Last September I did a blog post called 'When Good Guys Go Bad' about the mystery novel 'Who Else IsThere?' and today I am thrilled to be interviewing the author of the Mike Newman mysteries, Philip Catshill. First of all Philip, can I ask how you become an author and what led you to write your first book, 'Who Else Is There?'

My original intention was to write a brief account of an accident and illness I had 30 years ago, and the eighteen months it took to get back to my work as a police sergeant. It was one of those serious illnesses where, at the time, the likelihood of living another 30 hours seemed pretty remote.
The accident happened simply because my head was in the way when a friend slammed the car boot lid shut. Stupidly, I ignored the dizziness and later I had a few drinks at a party. The combination of the two events brought on a massive stroke. After reading the manuscript, which I called "A Step out of Stroke," Rosie Goodwin, the author of several best sellers, (The Ribbon Weaver, etc) suggested using the experience as the basis for a novel which I did. Somewhere along the line, I thought, "What if the injury had been deliberate?" and the seeds for the first novel were sown.
"Who Else is There?" introduces Police Sergeant Mike Newman. Encouraged by an attractive policewoman, Sandra, Mike is persuaded to call an end to his disastrous marriage. After a drink and discussion with his best friend, Mike gets a blow on the head which leads to a life threatening stroke, but there, the similarity between fact and fiction comes to an end. Mike's near death experience and damaged brain have left him with some severe disabilities to deal with, but he seems to have developed an unforeseen ability. Mike refuses to believe in anything paranormal, but what other explanation is there for what he sees? As the novel progresses, the reader is made aware of a secret clique of police officers that are rapidly rewriting the rule books and enforcing only the laws relevant to their evil intentions. Corruption thrives. Once you realise that you cannot trust the police, who else is there?
You have recently published a second book, the murder mystery, 'Suffer Little Children'.  Without giving too much away, could you tell us something about it?
It is six months since Mike's wife disappeared and he is still struggling with his own health and relationship issues. His daughters Rebecca and Emmahave endured hatred and abuse in the "care" of their deranged aunt. When the aunt discovers a long forgotten priest hole in a derelict church, she interprets the inscription "Suffer Little Children" on a broken window as a direct commandment. But corrupt police officers have a more sinister and profitable plan for the children, so the children's disappearance sparks off a stream of events which involve murder, riot and arson. While his friends are content to write off the death of yet another policeman as suicide, Mike faces an uphill battle to convince them to see things differently, and his relationships suffer as a result.
What are your plans for your third novel?
I have another Mike Newman mystery in mind. By now, I think my readers will have realised that Mike's friends have individual characteristics and temperaments which I want to develop further, while at the same time not losing the essential elements of crime and the criminals who commit them.  The novel is in its early stages and as yet, hasn't got a working title.
When you are not writing, I understand that you like to paint.  Could you tell us something about that?

Just sixteen days after my second marriage, and two days after we came back from honeymoon, my car was rammed from behind and catapulted into another. I was injured of course. The head injury brought on my second stroke and brought my police career to an end. At the time, my wife's mother attended an art class at a local college and I was encouraged to give it a try. I have never regained sufficient dexterity in my right hand, so holding a paintbrush in my non-dominant hand was a challenge in itself. Hey, there is nothing clever in what I do. Some people have to hold a paint brush in their teeth or toes, now that is clever. I lost the heart for painting when my mother-in-laws life was ripped away by cancer, but one day I'll get back to it. I recently put some paintings on my website and I've been greatly encouraged by the comments I've received, so maybe I'll start painting again very soon.
I believe you are also a fan of the ballet, like me.  What first led to this interest and are there many balletomanes in the police force?
I don't know of anyone in the police who shares my passion for the ballet. I admit to being reluctant to attend that first one in 1982. Most of my colleagues were full of derision with the thought. You know the sort of thing "men in tights" and that. However, I have yet to see any macho policeman lift a 7 or 8 stone weight from the floor, and hold it for several seconds with one extended arm, and do it with grace! The first ballet I saw was Swan Lake. Wow! Every pre-conception disappeared within minutes. I have seen different versions of Swan Lake, but nothing compares to Birmingham Royal Ballet (Peter Wright choreography). We subscribe to the whole Birmingham season, and enjoy every single minute. We are also friends of the Birmingham Royal Ballet so we get to see rehearsals and classes.

Where can we buy your books?
My novels are published as ebooks and are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. In addition, there are free short stories on Goodreads.com.  Granddad's Treasure should make you smile.

Any parting thoughts?
Yes, I would like to share the two pieces of advice that have guided me throughout the last 30 years. When I had the first stroke, I was 30. I don't know whether you can imagine what it is like to be a fit and active policeman and then in less than a minute, to have half your mind and body ripped away, but still be there as some paralysed and lifeless appendage. As far as I was concerned at the time, my whole world had collapsed. There was little that I could remember, I couldn't speak, my eyesight had been affected and I had no feeling or movement in any part of my right side. Needless to say, I was a tad unhappy about my prospects, but then I was introduced to a physiotherapist named Angela. I have never seen her since and have been unable to trace her, but Angela took me aside during a severe bout of depression and said a few words that changed my life, prompted my rapid recovery and got me back on the road to recovery. Angela said, "Never say I can't."

The second and really, the most useful advice I have ever received came from an unexpected source and is really a story in its own right. When I was 40 and my first marriage had collapsed, I was temporarily homeless (I had shelter but believe me, it is not the same thing.) At these times, you find out who your real friends are, and there weren't many about. It seemed that everyone was able to tell me what they would have done or what I should have done, but no one could tell me what I should do.
Then a woman I worked with said, "You could always pray." Seriously, I thought that was a joke! I was a committed atheist! I retorted, "I haven't believed in God for years." And she said, "Just because you do not believe in God, it has never stopped Him believing in you." I had tried everything else from marriage guidance to psychologists, so I thought, "Okay, give it a go." So I prayed. I even went to church but it just got worse. I think God was putting me through some sort of a test. I gave up everything, but not my prayer, and believe me, prayer works. For everything I lost I have gained a thousand times over. Not in material possessions, but I have a wonderful wife, a growing supportive and loving family grandchildren and a home. Prayer works. That's it really. And thank you Katheryn, you have been very supportive and I am grateful.
You're most welcome. You are right about prayer. It really does work! Thank so much for the great interview.

Murder, Ballet and God: an interview with Philip Catshill, author of the Mike Newman mysteries

Last September I did a blog post called 'When Good Guys Go Bad' about the mystery novel 'Who Else IsThere?' and today I am thrilled to be interviewing the author of the Mike Newman mysteries, Philip Catshill. First of all Philip, can I ask how you become an author and what led you to write your first book, 'Who Else Is There?'

My original intention was to write a brief account of an accident and illness I had 30 years ago, and the eighteen months it took to get back to my work as a police sergeant. It was one of those serious illnesses where, at the time, the likelihood of living another 30 hours seemed pretty remote. The accident happened simply because my head was in the way when a friend slammed the car boot lid shut. Stupidly, I ignored the dizziness and later I had a few drinks at a party. The combination of the two events brought on a massive stroke. After reading the manuscript, which I called "A Step out of Stroke," Rosie Goodwin, the author of several best sellers, (The Ribbon Weaver, etc) suggested using the experience as the basis for a novel which I did. Somewhere along the line, I thought, "What if the injury had been deliberate?" and the seeds for the first novel were sown.
"Who Else is There?" introduces Police Sergeant Mike Newman. Encouraged by an attractive policewoman, Sandra, Mike is persuaded to call an end to his disastrous marriage. After a drink and discussion with his best friend, Mike gets a blow on the head which leads to a life threatening stroke, but there, the similarity between fact and fiction comes to an end. Mike's near death experience and damaged brain have left him with some severe disabilities to deal with, but he seems to have developed an unforeseen ability. Mike refuses to believe in anything paranormal, but what other explanation is there for what he sees? As the novel progresses, the reader is made aware of a secret clique of police officers that are rapidly rewriting the rule books and enforcing only the laws relevant to their evil intentions. Corruption thrives. Once you realise that you cannot trust the police, who else is there?
You have recently published a second book, the murder mystery, 'Suffer Little Children'.  Without giving too much away, could you tell us something about it?
It is six months since Mike's wife disappeared and he is still struggling with his own health and relationship issues. His daughters Rebecca and Emmahave endured hatred and abuse in the "care" of their deranged aunt. When the aunt discovers a long forgotten priest hole in a derelict church, she interprets the inscription "Suffer Little Children" on a broken window as a direct commandment. But corrupt police officers have a more sinister and profitable plan for the children, so the children's disappearance sparks off a stream of events which involve murder, riot and arson. While his friends are content to write off the death of yet another policeman as suicide, Mike faces an uphill battle to convince them to see things differently, and his relationships suffer as a result.
What are your plans for your third novel?
I have another Mike Newman mystery in mind. By now, I think my readers will have realised that Mike's friends have individual characteristics and temperaments which I want to develop further, while at the same time not losing the essential elements of crime and the criminals who commit them.  The novel is in its early stages and as yet, hasn't got a working title.
When you are not writing, I understand that you like to paint.  Could you tell us something about that?

Just sixteen days after my second marriage, and two days after we came back from honeymoon, my car was rammed from behind and catapulted into another. I was injured of course. The head injury brought on my second stroke and brought my police career to an end. At the time, my wife's mother attended an art class at a local college and I was encouraged to give it a try. I have never regained sufficient dexterity in my right hand, so holding a paintbrush in my non-dominant hand was a challenge in itself. Hey, there is nothing clever in what I do. Some people have to hold a paint brush in their teeth or toes, now that is clever. I lost the heart for painting when my mother-in-laws life was ripped away by cancer, but one day I'll get back to it. I recently put some paintings on my website and I've been greatly encouraged by the comments I've received, so maybe I'll start painting again very soon.
I believe you are also a fan of the ballet, like me.  What first led to this interest and are there many balletomanes in the police force?
I don't know of anyone in the police who shares my passion for the ballet. I admit to being reluctant to attend that first one in 1982. Most of my colleagues were full of derision with the thought. You know the sort of thing "men in tights" and that. However, I have yet to see any macho policeman lift a 7 or 8 stone weight from the floor, and hold it for several seconds with one extended arm, and do it with grace! The first ballet I saw was Swan Lake. Wow! Every pre-conception disappeared within minutes. I have seen different versions of Swan Lake, but nothing compares to Birmingham Royal Ballet (Peter Wright choreography). We subscribe to the whole Birmingham season, and enjoy every single minute. We are also friends of the Birmingham Royal Ballet so we get to see rehearsals and classes.

Where can we buy your books?
My novels are published as ebooks and are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. In addition, there are free short stories on Goodreads.com.  Granddad's Treasure should make you smile.

Any parting thoughts?
Yes, I would like to share the two pieces of advice that have guided me throughout the last 30 years. When I had the first stroke, I was 30. I don't know whether you can imagine what it is like to be a fit and active policeman and then in less than a minute, to have half your mind and body ripped away, but still be there as some paralysed and lifeless appendage. As far as I was concerned at the time, my whole world had collapsed. There was little that I could remember, I couldn't speak, my eyesight had been affected and I had no feeling or movement in any part of my right side. Needless to say, I was a tad unhappy about my prospects, but then I was introduced to a physiotherapist named Angela. I have never seen her since and have been unable to trace her, but Angela took me aside during a severe bout of depression and said a few words that changed my life, prompted my rapid recovery and got me back on the road to recovery. Angela said, "Never say I can't."

The second and really, the most useful advice I have ever received came from an unexpected source and is really a story in its own right. When I was 40 and my first marriage had collapsed, I was temporarily homeless (I had shelter but believe me, it is not the same thing.) At these times, you find out who your real friends are, and there weren't many about. It seemed that everyone was able to tell me what they would have done or what I should have done, but no one could tell me what I should do.
Then a woman I worked with said, "You could always pray." Seriously, I thought that was a joke! I was a committed atheist! I retorted, "I haven't believed in God for years." And she said, "Just because you do not believe in God, it has never stopped Him believing in you." I had tried everything else from marriage guidance to psychologists, so I thought, "Okay, give it a go." So I prayed. I even went to church but it just got worse. I think God was putting me through some sort of a test. I gave up everything, but not my prayer, and believe me, prayer works. For everything I lost I have gained a thousand times over. Not in material possessions, but I have a wonderful wife, a growing supportive and loving family grandchildren and a home. Prayer works. That's it really. And thank you Katheryn, you have been very supportive and I am grateful.
You're most welcome. You are right about prayer. It really does work! Thank so much for the great interview.