Catherine Bybee Blogs for the PFS

 

                             

I’d like to welcome Catherine Bybee to the Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers blog today. Catherine is an incredibly talented author whom I met through The Wild Rose Press. She has a great blog herself on which she does video shorts, which are informative and very cool. Let’s give her a warm welcome and a cup of hot chocolate with the slippers we gave her.

Thanks for having me here today, Mary… and all you Fuzzy Slipper Ladies.

You’re welcome Catherine, I am thrilled to have you! Tell us about your newest book.

I’m celebrating my second release this month. Soul Mate is my werewolf novella from Red Rose Publishing.

Here is the blurb: Kari Pearce lives the life of a lone werewolf. No one knows of her affliction, not even her sister. When she hears of a missing child up in the Sequoias, Kari goes on the hunt to find the child and her abductor before tragedy can occur. Saving the child is easy, avoiding the FBI agent associated with the case, is not.

Agent Nick Murdock knows he's seen Kari before but damn if he can remember where. There's one thing he knows for sure. Kari Pearce with her blonde hair and piercing blue eyes is hiding something. And Nick is going to find out what.

Ah, a paranormal suspense! I just love shapeshifters. It takes a great author to be able to capture your audience and you Catherine had no problem grabbing my attention.

Excerpt:

As she walked away, his eyes followed the gentle sway of her hips. Damn, she was something to watch.

Once out of sight, he turned in his seat and brought the coffee cup to his lips. As he swallowed, his eyes landed on the car keys sitting next to Kari’s empty plate.
With a wicked smile, he covered them with his hand and headed toward the door.
Outside he watched her fumbling through her purse while standing in front of a four-wheel drive rental car. A strand of blonde hair slid over her face; she tossed it back in frustration and mumbled a curse.
“Looking for these?” He held up the keys and shook them with a jingle.
Her head shot up, eyes narrowed.
“You left them on the counter,” he found himself explaining.
Taking a step in his direction, she reached out to capture them from his fingers. Nick playfully pulled them out of reach. She cocked her head to the side and dropped her hand.
“Have dinner with me,” he spoke before she could say anything.
“What?” She looked at him as if he was crazy.
“You know, dinner. Kind of like breakfast, only later and with wine.”
“Are you always so forward, Mr. Murdock?”
“Nick.”
“Are you always so forward, Nick?” she emphasized his name to express her annoyance.
“I believe in being direct.”
She took another step in his direction and smoothed her hair back. Her tongue shot out and moistened her lips. The action shot heat to his groin. “I’m glad to hear that, Nick. I believe in being direct, too.” Stepping closer, she brought one hand up between them, tilted her head back to gaze into his eyes. Low lashes fluttered in a way that proved she knew her affect on him.
A small shock registered when she trailed a finger down his arm. “I think you are very attractive.”
“That’s a start.” His voice grew husky. “But...”
“But,” she sighed and walked her fingers down his arm. “I don’t like being held hostage for a date.” With that, she grabbed her keys from his hand and turned to walk away.

Now you have grabbed my attention. I love a woman who is sassy but classy.

Kari knows how to handle herself. It’s Nick that needs a few lessons from her. lol

What was your biggest moment in the publishing process?

Most people would say that their biggest high is getting “The Call” However; in the e-publishing world, we don’t receive a call so much as an e-mail. Even then, that wasn’t my favorite moment in this process. Long before I worked up the nerve to submit a manuscript to an agent or publisher, I told my BFF Sharon M. to read the beginning of Binding Vows. I printed out the first three chapters of my very rough draft and gave them to her.

Then, during a very boring PTA meeting a few days later, she leaned over and said. “Oh, my God, Cathy… This is really good.” I went on to tell her she didn’t have to say that if she didn’t like it, I’d understand. Besides I knew she didn’t even read romance novels. After her continued gushing, I worked up the nerve to sub Binding Vows. I’m happy to say that book will be out in December both in e-book and paperback.

And well, you know there’s a follow up book to that one, Mary. One I’m very excited about. Proving to my self that I could carry characters through a full-length novel and then onto a trilogy, has been huge for me.

Writing a full-length novel takes a lot more effort.

I actually feel that writing a full length is easier. You have more time to develop your characters and more time to make everything believable.

What is the biggest help to your writing process?

There are two things that come to mind. You may think I’m crazy when I say this but, the biggest help has been all those rejections in the beginning. If it wasn’t for those, I wouldn’t have sought after a critique partner. And in doing that, my writing has grown enormously. Without a CP’s set of looking over my work, I’d have received even more rejections.

I know that a critique partner or two is one of the biggest helps an author can have. They see things you cannot see. Sometimes just a word or two of help from your critique partners and your story comes alive!

Was there a moment when you realized you really were an author?

The first time an agent asked to see an entire manuscript. It didn’t pan out at the time, but I knew then that I had some talent for this business.

When I write, it has to be totally quiet, for some reason I am easily distracted.

Do you need quiet when you write, or can you write through anything?

I can listen to music when I write, but if my kids are harping on me to do something for them my brain turns to mush. I’d love to be able to block them out and write… but I can’t. This isn’t always a bad thing. They’ll only be young for so many years and I don’t want to miss any of them. Well, the teenage thing is a bit overrated. I could skip the attitude and hormones without loosing sleep. LOL

I just entered a contest where the prize is $100,000. I’ve been dreaming about what I’d do with it.

If you won $100,000 dollars, what would you do with it?

I’m not going to say pay bills or invest… That would be beyond boring! I’d buy that lil’ Mercedes convertible. Take an all-inclusive trip to Scotland and buy some clothes. LOL. And a few books for the plane ride.

A trip to Scotland, wow what a thrill that would be! I’ve never been any further then

Canada. It could end up being very romantic for you and your DH.

So when you figured out your talent was with words you decided to write a book.

What made you want to write romance books?

Romance is my first love of reading. I gobbled them up at 16 and learned more about sex from a book then I ever did my parents. And thank God for that. My family tree is full on step this and step that. The 60’s & 70’s were great for my gene pool. Even grandma was married seven or eight times. The last time she married, she was pushing 88 and she married a man in his early 40’s… No shit! I’m not making that up. I told her on the phone, “Don’t expect me to call him grandpa when he’s younger than my husband.”

Boy didn’t I get scorned for that sassy comment. But you have to admit, it was funny.

Romance novels and their ever present happily ever after is all I need to escape.

Grandma was married eight times. And the last one was in his 40’s, she must be one hot grandmother!

I agree the happily ever after is a big appeal, and so are the hunky hero’s you write about.

We all spent a good part of our childhoods thinking and dreaming about the future.

When you were growing up did you have a dream? And did it ever come true?

I wanted to find a wonderful, stable and awe inspiring husband. And I did. My lovely hubby and I have been married for 16 years and together for 21. I live a Diva’s life and I have time to enjoy my children. I am living the dream and loving it.

Thanks again for having me here today. To download your copy of Soul Mate step on over to Red Rose Publishing: http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/

To find out more about me, and my future books visit my website at: www.catherinebybee.com

Don’t forget to catch Catherine’s unique blog. When she does the videos, I just can’t pass it up! Romance By Catherine at www.catherinebybee.blogspot.com.

Thanks Catherine for taking the time to blog with us and for a look into the mind of a great author. Anyone who can come up with the title ‘Kilt Worthy’ has a great imagination. Your August 5^th blog had a short video commercial on it which I loved. It sure shows the reason we all love a ‘Kilt Worthy’ man. I sincerely wish you great success with your newest release. I expect to see it on the bestseller list at TWRP for a long time to come.

The last thing I’d like to say Catherine, with a big sincere smile on my face is that I am so glad to call you my friend. What better accolade could a person get?