"Dark" & "Paranormal"...Two Awesome Words! (& "Giveaway"...That Makes Three!)

It's official. There's just something about dark paranormal that gets the juices pumping. (Maybe that's just me, but I don't think so. C'mon...you know you're with me on this one!)

Today, we have author Cate Masters who is here to tell us about her new book Dead to Rights. This sounds like a fantastic one, folks, so read the interview; follow the links; and, for the love of things that go bump in the night, COMMENT TO WIN!!!

And now, allow me to present, Cate Masters!

LC: Hi Cate, and welcome! It's nice to have you on my blog this time. Why don't you start us off with a brief synopsis of your new book?

CM: Happy to! Dead to Rights, a dark paranormal, is available on Amazon  and Smashwords.

The heroine’s snarky voice haunted me until I finished this book! For a little while I thought she possessed me, lol. I turned a bit snarky myself, getting into her head and following her through her strange and wonderful journey.

Here’s the blurb:

Identity theft sucks. But it’s worse when someone steals your life -- body included. All memory of her life before waking up in a mental facility has vanished. Or was erased. Now she has to figure out how to get it all back.

Her only hope of learning the truth lies with one man, the sole person familiar to her now. Problem is, he’s the leader of a cult. Her only choice is to follow him into his sordid world, where a darker evil lurks.

With a little help from an archangel hellbent on revenge, she might have a chance to learn the truth. But it will force her to make the hardest decision of her life – or death.

LC: Wow! I love the identity theft angle! Way to incorporate a real "modern day" issue. It also sounds as though there's real mystery surrounding your characters.

I know you have other books too, so how long have you been writing? Have you always known that you wanted to to be an author?

CM: In third grade or so, my friends and I used to write poetry and swap poems. We were weird little kids! But it was a great childhood, in an amazingly artistically enriching environment. I never consciously thought about writing or whether I wanted to be one, I just did it. Journals, stories, working on the school newspaper, even writing essays for assignments – I loved it all. In my 20s, I turned to fiction and that, as they say, was that.

LC: A very good thing for your readers! What, would you say, has been your greatest triumph as an author?

CM: Um, tough question. Every day feels like a triumph – to be able to continue doing what I love best. Great reviews and writing awards are wonderful, but honestly, I feel so lucky just to be able to write stories that touch others.

LC: I agree! The nice compliments certainly make it all worth while! Okay -- just for fun -- if you were stuck on a desert island with one of your characters (from any book), who would you want it to be, and why?

CM: An even tougher question! I fall in love with my characters as I write them. But if I absolutely have to pick just one, then Jet Trently, the hero of my latest contemporary, Rock Bottom. Not only is he gorgeous, but writes great songs, has a singing voice that makes women hurl their panties at him, and plays a mean guitar. Jet’s a bit snarky but charming, someone who’d keep me on my toes (and off! lol) and make island life a dream.

LC: Where do I sign up? Heehee! Sounds like paradise. Speaking of which, where is the most exotic or strange place you've ever traveled to?

CM: I might put you to sleep on this one. I haven’t traveled much, though my destination bucket list is exotic: Belize, Hawaii, Egypt, India, Morocco, Italy, Ireland… pretty much anywhere, I’d love to go. The farthest I’ve been is Key West, which is so hot, it feels tropical at least! And while there, I discovered the history of the island wreckers, which intrigued me so much I spent two days in the library. The result was my historical, Angels, Sinners and Madmen, and of course, the hero is a wrecker (one who salvages sunken ships). 

LC: Very cool! Here's a random question, (that I've asked every author I've interviewed on the Authorpalooza *grin*). What is your favorite movie of all time, and why?

CM: Of all time? Wow. I have a tough time choosing favorites in anything, but if I have to just pick one, then It’s A Wonderful Life. It has every great element: drama, comedy, romance, fantasy, a little Christmas magic, a villain, and Jimmy Stewart. When I was young, I had a huge crush on Jimmy, and the scene with him and Donna Reed talking together on the same phone - *sigh* - it gets me every time.

LC: Indeed a classic! And while we're on the subject of movies, if a big-shot Hollywood producer offered to turn Dead to Rights into a motion picture, who would you want to play the lead roles?

CM: Oo, this one’s easy. :) Awhile ago, I began a series on my blog called Casting Call to depict this very thing. Here’s the Casting Call for Dead to Rights: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2011/07/casting-call-dead-to-rights.html

It’s somewhat complicated to explain due to the complex plot, so it’s better if I just show you there.

LC: Oh yeah...you guys need to click that link! So, Cate, do you have any strange habits or rituals when you write?

CM: Other than ignoring my domestic duties and family in general? Not really. Luckily, my family’s very patient, especially my husband, bless his understanding soul. My only requirement while writing is hot black tea, no matter what season. I need lots of caffeine to keep up with my muse, who’s a little too energetic.

LC: Fortunately, I've been blessed with one of those "understanding souls", too! They're good to have around, to be sure! What do you like to do when you're not writing?

CM: Not writing? You mean I’m supposed to have a life too? Actually I try to make it up to my family for all the time spent ignoring them while writing! Photography’s a hobby, one of the few that have survived since writing took first priority. Gardening’s a loss I’m sorry about – the weeds are laughing at me even now.

LC: Okay, Cate...here's the deal: I'll do the gardening at your house if you'll take the pictures at mine! It's not that I don't like to do it, it's simply that I suck!  Well, we've come to the end, (almost), but I have one final assignment for you. Channel your inner pitch man, and SELL IT! Tell us why we should read Dead to Rights! Aaaaaand ACTION!

CM: Dead to Rights has it all too! A snarky, if confused, heroine searching for her true identity through a maze of impossible circumstances; a hunky hero who turns out to be a warrior angel assigned to protect her; and unexpected plot twists that will keep you turning pages to see what’s coming next! As I mentioned above, the plot’s somewhat complex, so I can’t explain too much without ending up with a spoiler.

You can read an excerpt and see the book video (which I’m proud of, it turned out so cool!) here: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2009/06/dead-to-rights-contemporary-paranormal.html

Extras

Friend me!
Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CateMasters
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2944596.Cate_Masters
Coffee Time Romance (still working on this one!): http://coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=1752
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3ACate+Masters&keywords=Cate+Masters&ie=UTF8&qid=1292425612&sr=1-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B002OBQ98A
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CateMasters

Wanna win your own ecopy of Dead to Rights?

Leave your comments for Cate Masters, and on or around September 12, she will choose one lucky commenter to receive a FREE ecopy of this awesome book! Don't forget to leave an email address so we can contact you if you're the winner! Entries must be posted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 11, and although you're invited to shower Ms. Masters with comments, only one per person will be entered in the giveaway. Alright...those are the rules...now GET TO IT!

     Multipublished, award-winning author Cate Masters loves stories with a dash of magic, mayhem and romance! 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.