Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Tears of Crimson Books - A World of Romance Awaits


We're in the dog days of summer and I don't know about you, but I'm ready for fall!  Some great new ideas were inspired by the muse but the heat really makes me lazy so I'm waiting for leaves to start falling before I embark on them.  2013 was a crazy year for me with three book releases.  I think there was supposed to be a break in there somewhere, but I forgot to take it!  Between those books and all the insanity with legalities I'm pretty happy to say I've managed to make it through half the year without needing a little white jacket. It's amazing how much can change in a year!

I stepped out of the paranormal romance genre after the Fifty Shades phenomenon because I'd caught the bug of erotic writing.  I don't know if others feel like I do, but I'm growing bored with the BDSM topics. For the last year all I saw were books piling out in that genre and they were almost cookie cutter.  The new trend seems to be college age love and it's really one of my favorites BUT I've felt a real calling to get back to what I originally started with, paranormal.  I'm releasing 'The One' in September, which is my offering to New Adult crowd in contemporary romance.  The ideas coming at me now though?  

Let's just say that I'm doing some research on mythological demons and really getting intrigued by the subject matter.  I've always been a geek when it comes to these creatures and over my years I've researched for my own pleasure.  A part of me will always believe there's an entire world that we as human aren't aware of consciously.  Being raised a Southern Baptist, demons were never just myths.  At several times in my life I almost gave in to the desire to become a demonologist.  Okay maybe watching Constantine a hundred times had something to do with that.

The truth is I'm fascinated with not only biblical demons, but all other cultures found throughout history that discuss this topic.  That doesn't mean I'm going out to hunt them down *grinning* I just enjoy reading about them.  I will say that there's nothing that I don't believe is possible.  I live in the now and consider myself down to earth but a part of me has always wished that there were another world where crazy things actually happen and I want to share that part of my mind.  One great thing about being a writer is it's harder to label you as a nut case!  

Big Foot, Alien's, Demons... they make great writing material and who am I to say what's really out there? I'm just some writer chick from Alabama who loves throwing down words.  All that being said, I'm going to let my brain take a little rest and mull over this paranormal idea for a few months.  I'll be sure to let you know what I decide.  I hope you folks have a great Wednesday no matter what you're doing today!


Monday, July 29, 2013

Fall is Coming - RELAX

Waking up this morning to the house looking like a tornado just flew threw it, the sounds of kids arguing about who gets the computer or who has control of the remote, all these are the sounds of summer I look forward to all year.  That feeling lasts about a week before I'm checking out the calendar checking off the days until I can have a cup of coffee without the dog trying to steal the kids breakfast or the parakeets squawking right along with the ear wracking noise the little folks are making.

As the mom of five, four who are still young enough to be at home, sometimes I question my sanity.  I'll be the first to admit my household is like a crazy house most days and just keeping the peace so my crew who ranges from age 6-16 don't destroy what's left of the house before dad gets home each night.  I still think he has the easy job and he leaves at six in the morning and returns right before seven at night.  Try getting a few minutes of writing time in with all the chaos!

See that cup of coffee up there?  Well the one I had that looked like it ended up in my lap when the pup decided to have a race with my boys around the computer because mom decided to check her email and do a little blogging before fixing breakfast.  Not how you'd probably view a sexy romance coming to life is it?  One of my teens tells me that the younger kids have shown her why she wants to remain single for the rest of her life.  The truth is though, I wouldn't have it any other way!

The insanity of my love filled house is what keeps me motivated to write about all these relationships.  Even when I'm pleading for five minutes to go to the bathroom by myself, I wouldn't trade this life for any other.   I'm not even sure I can think without some form of insanity going on.  The little people head back to school in 27 days and I know that the silence will be much more stifling than living in the zoo atmosphere that has become my norm.  Blaring the radio or television to add some background noise will be the only way I can actually concentrate.  Yep, I'm that chick!

So enough about me!  What's your quirk that no one else would understand?  

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Eric Northman Obsession (Spoiler Warning)





A Warning:  If you don't want sneak peaks into HBO's True Blood stop reading now.   For the record I do not own any rights to True Blood, Harris, or affiliate myself with HBO.  Not by choice, but because they aren't smart enough to hire me as their writer *grins* 

Watching Eric cry is just heartbreaking.  As in tears streaming down my face and I want to smack someone in the face.  Sure I know it's a 'show' but watching his is so emotional that sometimes I have to remind myself that he's probably somewhere off in LA smiling while my hearts breaking for his loss.  Tonight's episode of True Blood left me aching for the sexy vampire god.  Let me just put this out there:  While I love the show, Eric is the reason I watch.  He could be selling hair gel on television and I'd be his biggest fan.

Tonight Eric loses his sister Nora.  And while I have no emotional ties to her *grinning* the thought that it hurt Eric was just like a punch in the gut.  Everyone else in the show can disappear and they could call it the Eric show and that would be easier than watching him with blood red tears falling down his face.  Obsessed?  Yep that would be me.  If there was a Fangtasia and he existed there I'd be the chick who'd be his personal body guard and take a stake for him.  So yeah I'm way over on the other side of crazy for this vamp.

Which leads me into the rant I've been putting off for weeks with the last Southern Vampire Mystery Book.  I almost didn't read it because when I heard that Eric didn't get Sookie, Harris lost her pedestal.  I loved this writer for bringing this beautiful viking to life.  But just as she made me love Eric Northman my blood ran cold when she gave away the one thing he desired above all others, Sookie.  I have a hate/love relationship with Sookie.  I mean her fictional character has the heart of my dream lover, so you know how that goes.

Giving her to Sam was the biggest slap to the face for any Eric Northman lover.  Add to that he ends up looking like a wussy for not kicking ass and facing the true death to prove his love and you've got one angry obsessed fan.  Now as far as taking things into the real world and being an idiot?  Books, movies and any other art form belongs in fantasy world.  The only real world fact for me is that I will never read Harris again.  Did I mention I was obsessed?

I have mixed feelings concerning this because I actually decided to write my own books after falling under the trance of Harris's world.  She was my hero and it breaks my heart that those characters she crafted with such loving care were destroyed with one inconsiderate ending.   The argument from other's is that Eric was her character and it was her choice.  I agree with that.  Just as it's my choice to walk away from her writing.  Nothing personal except that she did the one thing no book series has every managed to do:  Make me angry enough to refuse to read her work again.  So I guess it was personal?

True Blood was given another season next Summer and my only hope is that the writers of that show realize that screwing with the viking god will make many people angry enough not to ever watch anything they write again.  Just saying!  Obviously, I would be one of those viewers.  Kudo's to the fan fiction writers who are rewriting the last book and giving us the closure we wanted.  The invitation at Tears of Crimson is open to share your views of how the book should have ended.

I don't visit Comic Con or any other event to seek out a true meeting with the person that portrays Eric.  That to me would be too stalkerish and even though I admit crying over a lost opportunity in meeting him New Orleans, I realize that some things are better left in fiction.  Besides Eric is much hotter in my dreams than Alexander could be in real life.  That vampire sex appeal is what makes him so amazing.  That's one fantasy I'd like to keep in my dreams and not destroy with real life meetings.  

Friday, July 26, 2013

Searching for Tomorrow Cover Reveal






Blurb:

What happens when you find the one person who completes you, and then life conspires against you? How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on?

Katie and Tripp met on the playground the first day of third grade when Tripp tried to rescue Katie from Zack, her twin brother. A lifelong friendship that later blossomed into love began that day.

Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Katie boxes her grief up and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Katie relives her times with Tripp while struggling most days to even get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn.

Zack is Katie's twin brother and was Tripp's best friend. Having lost his own love, he dedicates himself to helping Katie put her life back together. Throw in a mother-in-law who torments at every turn and poor Katie can't even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for tomorrow. 




Author Interview:

Tell us 5 surprising things about yourself.
  • 1.     I am a PK. If you know what that means, then you know what that means.
    2.     I have always wanted to be a red head with long, beautiful corkscrew curls.
    3.     No matter what I’m doing, I would rather be outside, day or night, hot or cold, rain or shine.
    4.     I was awarded two separate scholarships when I graduated high school. One was a teaching fellowship and the other was for writing.
    5.     I love to cook, almost as much as I like to eat. I spent a couple of years as a private cook for a local family and loved every minute of it

    What is your writing environment?


At the moment, I have a makeshift office in my pantry! If need be, I can shut the door and cut off part of the noise. I hope to have a more permanent space soon.


One of your favorite quotes.

                  To whom much is given, much is required.          


Random things about my novel.

Just a bit of nonsense. I am Kathryn Anne, and my two sisters are Rebekah Elizabeth and Sarah Margaret. My husband is Channing, and my son is Zachary. One of my daughters is Elizabeth, and I still have to work my daughter Brittany into the book. Highlands is my most favorite place in the world to go when my soul need refreshing. Last, but not least, I actually had a great-grandma Tiddy!


Flirting Questions

What does love feel like? 

Warm, fuzzy, secure, safe, sheltered

How did you meet your significant other? 

In the lobby of the bank that I worked in. I was on all fours under a Christmas tree tightening the screws in the base. What can I say? Baby got back!

If you could take a romantic trip, where would it be? 

Any trip I take with Hubs is romantic. One of his favorite things to do is to whisk me away to wine and dine me.

Do you believe in love at first sight? 

Absolutely! Ask me how I feel about my grandson Grayson!





Author Links

Bio:

About this author If you are reading this, I think you should know that "About me" sounds so very pretentious to me. I guess that is what I am supposed to write about, so here it goes!

Katie Mac is a simple country girl who likes to spend time with her hubba, hunka hubby, her three kids and her friends. She loves to cook and really loves to eat! During the spring and summer, you will more than likely find her outside puttering around in her garden. When the veggies start coming in, she will probably be sweating over a hot canner in the kitchen, canning all the goodies she is blessed with. Katie likes to hike and go camping, and as a Girl Scout leader, she gets to do this pretty often! On cold winter nights, you will probably find her wrapped in a warm blanket, lost in a good book, while sitting in her rocking chair on the front porch!
Katie was born and raised in North Carolina, and while she loves to travel, she can't imagine ever leaving the mountains that she has come to call home. Not a day goes by that Katie doesn't thank God for abundantly blessing her. He has been so good to her, and she is very grateful. She holds Jeremiah 29:11 very close to her heart and believes it with every fiber of her being. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Katie loves flip flops, chocolate, sweet tea and dirt between her toes. As far back as she can remember, she's had a book in her hand. Reading has carried her to places she will never go. It has introduced her to people that she will never meet. When life is great and when it is rough, she's always been able to find a book to carry her through. She finally decided to write down some of the stories in her head (yes, be scared) and heart after dawdling around and wasting years dreaming. She hopes you enjoy reading those stories as much as she loves writing them!


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