I'm thrilled to welcome fellow author and Jersey girl Cate Masters to the mix today! It's a pleasure to have her!
Cate Masters loves stories with a dash of magic, mayhem and romance! Multipublished in contemporary to historical, sweet to erotic, fantasy/dark fantasy to speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”
When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
What motivates Cate Masters the author? Why do you write?
First, thanks so much for having me as a guest Ella! So glad to meet another Jersey girl. :) Hm, why do I write? Probably so that my family will be able to put up with me. I tend to get cranky when I have all these stories in my head clamoring to get out, lol.
When did you know you were a writer? Was it always your destiny or did you stumble upon your craft by accident?
It’s funny, I had written since turning double digits, but never really considered myself a writer even after having stories published in webzines and literary zines. Even after taking online and local workshops and classes, joining a few critique and authors groups and buying just about every how-to book on the market. I don’t think it was until I’d started a blog, exchanged my full-time job for a part-time one and devoted myself to writing full-time that I allowed myself the label of ‘writer’. It’s so important to not get hung up on whether we can find an agent or publisher – if we write, we’re writers.
How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?
Life’s thrown me some curveballs lately, so I can’t write as much as I’d like, but squeeze it in every spare minute. I don’t believe in waiting till the mood strikes. One of my favorite author quotes is from Barbara Kingsolver: Chain that muse to your desk and get the job done! My muse is hyperactive, so my biggest problem is getting her to focus on just one story at a time.
Who is your favorite author? And, if given the opportunity to meet them, what would you ask them?
I’m terrible, I can never pick one favorite anything. Especially authors! My bookshelves are overstuffed, and now so is my Kindle, with authors like T.C. Boyle, Alice Hoffman, Margaret Atwood and Michael Chabon – all my literary idols. I’m also finding so many wonderful authors through indie epresses or self-pubbed. If I had to pick just one, I guess T.C. Boyle because he’s a genius. I’d beg him to be my mentor!
Do you have any words of inspiration to aspiring authors? What advice would you offer a writer trying to publish?
Treat your writing like a serious job and continually develop your craft. Believe in yourself and the rest will come.
Tell us about your current release.
Rock Bottom’s a very fun contemporary about a rock star looking for love on his reality dating show called Rock Bottom, and a rock journalist who’s sworn off rock stars and is less than excited when she’s assigned to cover the show, though he’s the rock idol from her teens. You can find the excerpt and reviews, view the book video and Casting Call (who I imagined in these roles as I wrote) at: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2009/06/rock-bottom-contemporary-romance.html
Blurb: For rocker Jet Trently, success means playing the same platinum-selling hits over and over. Philly rock journalist Billie Prescott thrives on covering the latest releases. When her editor sends her to Malibu to cover Jet’s reality dating show, Rock Bottom, her blog’s success keeps her trapped there. Her life’s at Rock Bottom too, until she hears Jet’s new songs. They touch her heart as his music did when she was 15. When Jet touches her heart as well, will the reality show ruin the real thing?
Buy Link: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=405
Excerpt:
With a gasp, she clutched the seat as they roared away. “What do you think you’re doing? Let me out.”
He knelt in front of her and slid his hands up her thighs. “You called me ‘baby’.”
She hoped he’d missed that. He definitely seemed too clear-eyed now.
Through clenched teeth, her voice shook. “It’s an expression. I am not one of the Bimbo Brigade.”
Clasping her neck, he drew her close. “Thank God.” His lips brushed hers.
Anger melted into confusion, surged with passion. “Stop,” she whispered.
“I can’t.” He leaned between her legs, gripped her ass and slid her against him. Tender yet fierce, his lips sought hers, his tongue probed.
White static filled her brain. How could he feel so good when he was all wrong?
“No.” She broke away.
He sank onto his feet, the deepest yearning in his eyes. “Billie.” His urgent whisper sounded like a fervent prayer.
His plea awakened something fierce and tender within her. “Dammit.” Her urgent whisper matched his.
His face lit with hope.
“Jet.” An overwhelming urge hijacked her reasoning. She fought to regain it but lost ground.
He drew a ragged breath and touched her cheek.
“Don’t.” She couldn’t finish her thought. Don’t toy with me. Don’t break my heart.
“Shh.” His finger traced her lips. He eased in slowly.
Although she had every opportunity to stop him, instead she clutched his shirt. “You won’t remember this tomorrow, anyway.” She pressed her lips to his, wrapped her legs behind his.
His embrace engulfed her as he pulled her to the floor. “Oh yes, I will.” With soft, purposeful kisses, he kept his eyes open, watching as if to imprint her in his memory.
Yes, he’d remember.
And so would she. Dammit.
Do you have any upcoming projects in the works?
Always! The Wild Rose Press will release two fantasies this year – Romancing the Hero and Ground Rules, a Christmas tale. I’ll be re-releasing several stories after the rights revert to me, and have about a dozen more stories in the works, including some followups to the Goddess Connection paranormal series, which I launched this year with The Magic of Lavender.
Where can readers connect with you?
My blog’s always hopping with fun stuff and news: http://catemasters.blogspot.com
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Thanks so much for stopping by! I look forward to hanging out on your blog in September.
Ella
Morning Ella! Hope your week's off to a great start. Thanks again for having me at your cool blog!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see Chairman Maiow's name, I laugh. That is so clever.
ReplyDeleteI have a question now that I've followed you around for a while. How many hours a day do you think you dedicate to writing?
Hey Maria! Our cat's about as lovable as the real dictator, lol.
ReplyDeleteFor the past few months, my writing time's been cut to about a tenth of what it used to be. I used to spend pretty much all day at the computer, whether blogging, promo, Facebook or other writing-related activities like critiquing or revisions. Lately, it's nights and weekends for all that.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for joining me Cate! It was my pleasure:)
ReplyDelete