Dawn's Reading Nook: Discover Cursed by Cate Masters

Welcome to my Reading Nook, Cate Masters. Please make yourself at home and let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink.

Thanks so much for having me as a guest, Dawn! And oh, cabana boys - what a treat! ;) An iced coffee would be wonderful.

Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

I’m always happy to talk about my stories. :) I’m finishing up edits for Decadent on three stories: Claimed, the last in the Vitruvian Man series, two 1NS contemporaries. Another contemporary novella, Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake, should release around the holidays, and starts another series I’m very excited about. These characters really popped. I’ve subbed the second, A Wedding at the Blue Moon Cafe, and have started the third. I can’t wait to get them out to readers!

If we asked your muse to describe you using five words, what do you think they would say?

It depends on what kind of a mood she’s in, lol. But I think she’d say:

Stubborn (to counter my muse’s constant nagging to start yet another new story)

Persistent (try, try again should be my motto)

Slow (because she throws waaay more ideas at me than I can possibly finish)

Dissatisfied (I always want to improve)

Scatterbrained (too many things going on at once. Always!)

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.

It’s probably not a real shocker that I’m an introvert. I’m the quiet one who stands apart from the crowd at parties because I’m terrible (and hate) small talk. Online social activity’s much easier for me than face to face.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d move closer to my hometown of Lambertville, NJ, where I grew up. I miss my family!

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

It would depend on what genre they prefer, since I write paranormal/fantasy, contemporary and historical. Cursed mashes a little contemporary with science, history and a fun Carnevale setting, so it might be the best intro to my work. And I’m hoping it will hook you so you’ll read the next two: Charmed and Claimed, lol

Where do you find the inspirations for your stories?

So many places – news articles, sometimes just a name will tease at my brain and a character will take shape. I never dream about a story, but daydreaming’s always an important part of the process. :)

Are your characters able to love or do they need to be taught?

Great question! Yes, all of them are able to, but most of them don’t know it. They need a reminder of why it’s worth the risk.

Do you have a book that was easiest to write or one that was the hardest?

Sometimes the stories feel like a gift that come from somewhere beyond me, and the first draft will flow. But the second pass-through is like the great equalizer – revision is always tough. Having to decide what to cut and what to change can be painful as losing a body part sometimes! Luckily we writers are like superheroes and can regenerate, lol.

If you could collaborate with one author who would it be?

J.R. Ward would be great :D Any veteran writer like her who I could learn from. That would be amazing!

Coffee, tea or other drink to get you moving in the morning?

I start with hot tea, but switch to coffee for an extra kick.

What is coming up from you in 2013? Anything you want to tease us with?

I’m very excited about the Vitruvian Man series. Decadent Publishing chose Cursed to launch its Tease line in April, and the second book, Charmed, just came out last month. I’m in edits for Claimed, the last (so far, anyway) and it should release sometime this year.

Decadent also will release two more 1NS stories, both contemporaries – Sweet Revenge and The Ex Factor. As mentioned, Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake should release around the holidays – a wonderful present, and a great way to end 2013. :)

Anything else you want to add?

Thanks again for the fun interview Dawn! I’d love for readers to catch up to me at any or all of these sites:

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/105560752271686579982/about?cfem=1

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CateMasters

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2944596.Cate_Masters

Coffee Time Romance: http://coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=1752

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Masters/e/B002OBQ98A/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1331753999

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CateMasters

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/catemasters

Cursed (The Vitruvian Man #1) by Cate Masters

Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Categories: Action/Adventure

Publisher: Decadent Publishing (new TEASE line)

Release Date: April 21, 2013

Heat Level: Steamy

Word Count: 30,000

Available at:

Amazon / ARe / B&N /Coffee Time Romance /

Decadent Publishing /Smashwords

Description:

Ten days of freedom. That’s all Fate had allotted me each year. In the streets of Venice, I could walk among them. Mingle. Belong.

During Carnevale, they had no idea who I was. What I was.

For ten days, it didn’t matter.

Until I met her.

Bruno diCesare lives alone by necessity, not choice. An experiment performed by Leonardo da Vinci, who believed having a dual DNA would grant a person immortality, used magic to render Bruno a chimera – the head of a lion, body of a dragon. The only time he can mingle with people is during Carnevale, ten glorious days of masked anonymity, frivolity and intimacy.

Melina Weaver learned fire dancing to enliven her dull existence. A scientist, her long hours at the lab leave no time for a social life. For ten days at Carnevale, she can pretend to be someone else. Someone sexy and daring, who lives on the edge.

Once she meets Bruno, her wish comes true, but everything goes terribly wrong. Beneath Bruno’s costume lurks an alpha male, but is he dangerous? Worse, can she return to an employer who sells her research to the military to make an army of efficient killers? Her only hope may lie with the man she’s just met and never seen.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Teaser Excerpt:

Light danced in his dark eyes. “I must admit, your fire dancing fascinated me. What made you choose such a dangerous skill to master?”

“The thrill of the challenge, I suppose.” It balanced the rest of her mundane life, to a degree. Mastering each new level gave her a sense of achievement, where work couldn’t.

Something flashed through his dark eyes. “Mistakes must be very painful.”

“I practiced a long time before I worked up the nerve to actually light the wands. I found the fire great incentive to focus, however.” God, her grin must be goofy, the way he stared. Such gorgeous eyes, such a deep brown they almost appeared black. He probably had rugged features, if his large hands provided any indication. Too bad he wore gloves, another barrier between them.

“Yes,” he said, “I imagine so.”

“What about you? What other magic do you know?” Oh please, can you get any more ridiculous? It sounded like a line from a bad chick flick.

The crinkle around his eyes was the only evidence of his smile, but enough to charm her.

“Lifetimes of studying the dark arts have provided me with many tricks.”

“Lifetimes?” she blurted.

He stiffened in her arms. “Pardon?”

She watched him carefully. “You said ‘lifetimes’. Plural.” And what the hell did he mean by ‘dark arts’?

Rigidity masked the grace of his movements. “I’m sure you’re mistaken.” He stared over her head as they whirled to the song’s rhythm.

Mistaken my ass. How very strange. More strange that the question upset him. He’d clammed up, and his muscles were so tense, she expected him to bolt. Better to drop it. For now. “Must have been a slip of the tongue.”

“Yes.” Relief sounded in his tone, though guarded.

This man had something to hide. How intriguing.

About the Author

Multi-published, award-winning author Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, 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. Cate loves to hear from readers! Email her at cate.masters@gmail.com.

Connect with Cate Masters

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CateMasters

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2944596.Cate_Masters

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/catemasters

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Masters/e/B002OBQ98A/