Author Archives: Cathy

Pack and Coven by Jody Wallace


Happy release week to my pal and crit partner Jody Wallace! Her Carina Press novel Pack and Coven is out right now!

Harry Smith is a lone wolf, and he likes it that way. When he’s targeted to be co-alpha of the local pack, there is only one thing he can do to maintain his freedom: flee. But it’ll take a miracle to stay a step ahead of shifters in their own territory.

June Travis has been in love with Harry for years, but he doesn’t know her real identity. He sees her as the sweet owner of the local tearoom—the facade June presents to humans and werewolves to keep them from finding out she’s a witch. She may not be able to offer Harry a miracle, but she can help him escape.

Harry is drawn to this new side of June, and not just because he’s grateful for her help. With her magic temporarily hiding Harry from his pursuers, the witch and the wolf explore their mutual attraction. But there are consequences for witches who bed down with wolves…

Harry is not your typical alpha male shape shifter. He just wants to be left alone to do his thing. This doesn’t mean he’s a beta, not by any means. He is the definition of “lone wolf” who reluctantly accepts June’s help. Despite her genteel manners, June is a strong heroine who shouldn’t be underestimated. Both are refreshing characters in a genre where alpha-asshats and TSTL or uber bitches seem to dominate. Kudos to Jody for that and for creating a fully-realized paranormal world.

Oh! And Jody is having a contest! Go comment and win something yummy : )

Pick up Pack and Coven here:
Carina Press
Amazon
B&N
Audible

Posted in books out, Carina, contest, paranormal, win stuff | 3 Comments

#Rom4All–End ALL Discrimination in Romance

Recently, it was brought to the attention of the Rainbow Romance Writers chapter of the RWA that another chapter’s published works contest (scroll down to Rules, under #1) would no longer be accepting same-sex romances for any of their categories.

So, like several of my RRW co-members, I wrote to the contest coordinator. This is what I said: “I’ve noticed that your More Than Magic contest for published authors no longer accepts entries that have same-sex relations. The contest accepted such stories in the past and, from what I understand, they did well. Could you please tell me what changed? Thank you very much for your time.”

Here is the reply I received: “It was a difficult decision, but after a month-long discussion, it was voted by the chapter to no longer accept same-sex. The majority of our members were just uncomfortable with it.”

That’s it. That was the whole of the response.

They were uncomfortable. Fine. I can understand being uncomfortable with certain aspects of stories. Everyone has their own tastes. Simple solution: Find judges outside of your chapter who ARE comfortable–nay! HAPPY–to read same-sex romances. There’s a whole chapter of us willing to do so.

But to outright deny entry based on orientation of the characters? Replace “same-sex” with “people of color” or “people of different abilities” or “people of different beliefs” and tell me you don’t feel the ick factor here.

RRW chapter president Heidi Cullinan wrote to the RWA National organization and asked about the discriminatory language. The RWA was extremely supportive in getting the Rainbow Romance Writers chapter off the ground; we know they aren’t opposed to LGBT romance. RWA’s response, however, was less than encouraging. Basically, the RWA is saying it can’t tell its affiliated chapters how to run their contests. If they want to exclude a category, then it’s their right to do so.

But LGBTQ is NOT a romance category. Paranormal, Suspense, Historical, Inspirational, Erotica. THOSE are categories. Categories indicate a certain plot and storyline. Categories have NOTHING to do with who the characters love.

If a judge, like any reader, is uncomfortable with reading paranormal, it is up to the coordinator to find a judge who will do so. No one freaks out. No one gets upset. Everyone is happy. Why is that so difficult to do and understand in this day and age?

There are other folks who have addressed the issue much more eloquently than I, and I encourage you to read the blogs, get the facts, and make your opinion heard. Write to RWA (the addy is info@rwa.org ); leave comments on blogs; make a <140 character Twitter statement using the #Rom4All hashtag, and include #RWA and/or #LGBT. Thank you! Blogs supporting anti-discrimination and #Rom4All:

http://heidicullinan.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/rwa-shouldnt-be-in-the-business-of-discrimination/


www.karigregg.com/?p=1226

http://www.courtneymilan.com/ramblings/2012/02/04/dont-enter-more-than-magic/

http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2012/02/wtfckery-factor-romance-writers-of.html

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/2045978-same-sex-pairing-is-not-romance-since-when

http://annetenino.com/2012/02/04/personal-taste-public-responsibilities-discrimination-rom4all-lgbt-rwa/


http://jswayne.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/an-open-letter-to-rwa/

http://stephanihechtauthor.blogspot.com/2012/02/uncomfortable-discrimination.html?zx=cf4f15550ff0b8b9

http://amydenim.blogspot.com/2012/02/hey-rwa-discrimination-censorship-are.html

http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/blog/romance-writers-ink-contest-an-exercise-in-discrimination

http://stacia-seaman.livejournal.com/160347.html

http://museampoule.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/letter-to-rwi-contest-about-their-discrimination/

http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2012/02/04/less-than-magic/

http://heidicullinan.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/bigotry-is-a-transitive-noun/


http://stacia-seaman.livejournal.com/160732.html?view=302556#t302556

Posted in helping out, on my mind, romance | 7 Comments

Cover Reveal: Fortune’s Hero

Coming in August from Entangled Publishing: Fortune’s Hero, a science fiction romance by Jenna Bennett.

Isn’t it gorgeous? Heather Howland is the artist.

And the story sound amazing too. Check it out:

Last year, space smuggler Quinn Conlan was on top of the world. He had everything a man could want: a fast ship, a great crew, a gorgeous girlfriend, lots of money, and adventure and excitement around every corner.

That all changed when he agreed to ferry a shipload of weapons to the beleaguered planet Marica, currently under siege by Rhenian forces. Now he’s stuck in a prison camp on the moon Marica-3, subjected to weekly sessions with the camp’s “medical team,” and praying for a quick death before he breaks under the torture and spills everything he knows about the Marican resistance.

When the opportunity presents itself, Quinn takes a Rhenian med tech hostage and heads into the inhospitable interior of the small moon. There, he has to keep himself and Doctor Elsa Brandeis safe from the deadly flora and fauna, as well as hidden from the prison guards searching for them, all while formulating a plan for getting his crew out of prison, his ship out of impound, and everyone out of orbit.

But when Elsa professes her love, can Quinn take the beautiful doctor at her word, or will trusting her—and his heart—condemn him and his crew to an eternity on Marica-3?

Cool, huh? I can’t wait to read it! : )

Congratulations on the great cover and the upcoming release, Jenna!

Posted in book coming out, romance, SF, SFR | 2 Comments

Release Day for Priestess of the Nile by Veronica Scott


I’m honored to have my friend and fellow Carina Press author Veronica Scott here on her Release Day! Isn’t that a gorgeous cover?

I’m so pleased to be visiting today at Cathy’s blog, not only because today is Release Day for my debut novella, a paranormal romance set in 1500 BC Ancient Egypt (squee!!!!!) Priestess of the Nile from Carina Press, but also because I figure Cathy could use some hot sunshine after being virtually snowbound up there in the frozen tundra! So close your eyes and let me transport you back to a warmer time and place, when all the clothing you needed was a sheer little white linen sheath and sandals. No snowboots! Oh and maybe an amulet to protect yourself from being eaten by the Nile crocodiles. If the Crocodile God Sobek was in a good mood! (Never said Ancient Egypt was perfect, just not frozen under snow and ice 18’ deep!)

Picture yourself standing on the banks of the river Nile late on a hot Egyptian afternoon. There’s an abandoned temple up on the bluff, where Sobek was worshipped in days gone by. He’s not much regarded nowadays as the newer gods like Isis and Osiris have risen. His primary responsibility is to keep the river flowing smoothly. But one person still tries to keep the traditions alive, sings the old songs in her beautiful voice – Merys, a descendant of the last priestess, whose pendant she wears on a black leather thong as she sings and wades in the shallows to fish….

Drawn to his old temple by the enchanting song, Sobek is even more captivated by the sight of the singer herself. Appearing to her as a man, he enjoys conversing with her. Though he desires her greatly, Sobek believes Merys deserves to be more than just his mistress. Merys is attracted to the handsome stranger, who arouses passions in her that no man ever has. But with no dowry and no hope of ever leaving her village, she dares not dream of the future—or love.

Sobek takes every opportunity to visit Merys, taxing his resolve not to take her as his mistress. When he saves her life, their mutual desire must be sated. But of course in the world of paranormal romance nothing can be uncomplicated, the gods have rules about such romances, the goddess Isis is very unhappy and so the couple faces many challenges along the way.

OOPS, ding ding ding, time’s UP, turn in your sheath, sandals and amulet and you’re back to the land of icicles and snow shovels! (Just like a Disney ride, no?)

If you’d like to know how the story of Sobek and Merys turns out, or just get back into that hot Egyptian sunlight, the book is available at Carina Press Amazon Barnes & Noble.

Ooooh, you are a tease : ) Thanks for the taste of sun and sand. Congratulations, Veronica! Wishing you great success!

BIO: Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library full of books as its heart, and when she ran out of things to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart, then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one young grandson and cats. She can almost always be found on twitter at @vscotttheauthor – usually tweeting outrageous things with Cathy! Her blog is at http://veronicascott.wordpress.com

Posted in Cathy Pegau | 12 Comments

2012 Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event

I’m a bit behind in posting this, but lucky you! The great 2012 Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event is going on at Babbling About Books and More through January 21! There are some great insights into publishing, reading and discovering lesbian fiction by authors and publishers. Plus, some fab giveaways!

The F/F market isn’t as “mainstream” as the M/M market seems to be, but the following is strong and getting stronger. Which is good, considering what I have in mind for the next couple of books : )

I’ll be posting my publishing journey on the 14th, but please drop in and say hello. Even if you aren’t a reader of lesbian fiction the posts are interesting and heart-felt. Good stuff!

Posted in Elsewhere, F/F, reading | Comments Off on 2012 Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event

2012 Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event

I’m a bit behind in posting this, but lucky you! The great 2012 Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event is going on at Babbling About Books and More through January 21! There are some great insights into publishing, reading and discovering lesbian fiction by authors and publishers. Plus, some fab giveaways!

The F/F market isn’t as “mainstream” as the M/M market seems to be, but the following is strong and getting stronger. Which is good, considering what I have in mind for the next couple of books : )

I’ll be posting my publishing journey on the 14th, but please drop in and say hello. Even if you aren’t a reader of lesbian fiction the posts are interesting and heart-felt. Good stuff!

Posted in Elsewhere, F/F, reading | Comments Off on 2012 Lesbian Fiction Appreciation Event

Happy Snowy New Year!

While the rest of the country laments their woeful lack of snow, we here in the semi-frozen north are being snow hoarders. Hoarders. Not that other “H” word. For that, I apologize. Oh, God, how I apologize. We have been slammed with snow. Pretty much every day since the beginning of December, we have had some measurable amount, averaging over 6 inches. Per day. For the season, which is, mind you, only 1/3 over, we have had over 160 inches of snow. That’s 13 feet. There’s another community that is also getting buried, and we’re only getting HALF of what they’re receiving. Glad I’m not there. But I am here, and this is what “here” looks like lately:




Posted in Cathy Pegau | 10 Comments

Happy Snowy New Year!

While the rest of the country laments their woeful lack of snow, we here in the semi-frozen north are being snow hoarders. Hoarders. Not that other “H” word. For that, I apologize. Oh, God, how I apologize. We have been slammed with snow. Pretty much every day since the beginning of December, we have had some measurable amount, averaging over 6 inches. Per day. For the season, which is, mind you, only 1/3 over, we have had over 160 inches of snow. That’s 13 feet. There’s another community that is also getting buried, and we’re only getting HALF of what they’re receiving. Glad I’m not there. But I am here, and this is what “here” looks like lately:




Posted in Cathy Pegau | 10 Comments

Free Read and a Giveaway

A bit late, but there’s still time to pop on over to Jessica E. Subject’s blog for her Science Fiction Romance Holiday Festivities and read some cool short stories, get inside info about some of the worlds some great authors have created, and win things like books and such! (Note: some of the contests have closed, but there are still great reads!)

I have a free read up too! A short, sexy piece where my two heroines from Rulebreaker celebrate Founder’s Day. Also, a book and gift card giveaway.

So head on over, read some fun SFR, and maybe win a thing or two!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted in books out, contest, Elsewhere, Rulebreaker, SFR, win stuff | 1 Comment

It’s the 2011 SFR Holiday Blitz!

Yes, friends, it’s that most wonderful time of year again! The Galaxy Express is hosting a Science Fiction Romance giveaway extravaganza! Lots of different authors giving away lots of great books. All you have to do is comment. The more blogs you visit, the better your chances!

I’m giving away a copy of Rulebreaker at Contact-Infinite Futures. Come on by and see what all is being offered.

Happy Holidays, to be sure!

Posted in contest, SFR, win stuff, Woo hoo | Comments Off on It’s the 2011 SFR Holiday Blitz!