Coming Attractions

Available HERE

By Cate Masters

I love getting lost in movies almost as much as getting lost in a good book, don’t you? Actors especially fascinate me. The really good ones are like writers, the way they create their characters from the inside out.

I’m not star struck, for some reason I never have been. I see actors as real people – creative, artistic, sometimes flaky people, lol. The same as you and me. They have hopes and dreams, get hungry and sometimes lonely like we do. And want to be appreciated for who they are underneath all the glitz and glamour.

So it was fun to create two characters who’ve been in show business a long time and maybe need a little nudge to keep going. To find new passion for what they do so well. Because sometimes when we give so much of ourselves to a craft, we get a little depleted.

Madame Eve has a cure for that. :) She helps inspire a new sizzle and spark for my hero and heroine, Jared and Susan. I hope you’ll enjoy their story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Happy release day to The Ex Factor!

Book video

Excerpt:

Like something out of a horror flick, the white rose advanced. So pure and delicate, its petals caught the candlelight with a soft but brilliant glow. But how…? “How did you get that?”

Amusement flickered across his features. “I assure you, I didn’t sneak into anyone’s yard and snip it.”

She glanced around. “Was it already at the table when you sat down?”

“No, Susan.”

“You….” She must seem an idiot, but she couldn’t fathom it. “You?” Her 1Night Stand date?

“Me,” he said sheepishly.

“There’s been a mistake.” Madame Eve’s first, apparently. And wow, what a doozy. “I specified a date with a real person.”

Mirth practically bubbled up. “I am a real person.”

“No, I meant, yes, of course you’re a real person. But you’re a director. A world-famous director.” About as far from ordinary as anyone could get.

“I’m still real.” He held his arm out. “Want to pinch me?”

She gently shoved it away. “No.”

He rose to a crouch. “Maybe you’d rather pinch me somewhere else?” He swung his rear toward her.

A chuckle escaped. Great butt. Tempting offer. She gestured for him to sit. “No,” she whispered. “I’m simply explaining there’s been a mistake. I have to text Madame Eve.” She whipped out her cell.

His hand enveloped hers. “No, there hasn’t.”

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. Oh, this poor man. If she wasn’t dead set on finding someone who hated movies, she’d be tempted to—

He leaned across the table, the white rose between them. “Madame Eve’s reputation remains untarnished. She filled both our requests.”

Holy hell. He arranged a date, too. 

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.

One Night Can Last Forever

By Cate Masters

One of my favorite things about writing 1Night Stand stories is the versatility. So far, I’ve written a contemporary, Tonight You Belong to Me; a fantasy, A Hard Day’s Knight; another contemporary, Homecoming; a futuristic with time travel, Cinderella Dreams.

Two more contemporaries are coming up for release – one with a bit of humor, The Ex Factor; and another with a not-so-sweet history, Sweet Revenge.

The cool thing is, no matter which direction you take a 1NS, you can make it work. I’ve read so many paranormal, fantasy and contemporary 1NS, and loved them all. If it doesn’t have a forever ending, it might have the promise of one, and that’s just as good for me.

For Gwen, my heroine in Cinderella Dreams, one night long ago ruined her life. She arranged with Madame Eve to return to that fateful night for one shot at altering the course of her fate. Does it work? You’ll have to read Cinderella Dreams to find out. :)

Here’s a little different excerpt than usual:

I set up my tripod, and soon the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked through the flowered archway in pairs. I went rigid when Matt walked in, stiff as a cake-top figurine, mouth in a tight line as he stared into the camera, directly at me. Come to think of it, he hadn’t smiled in any of my shots. The maid of honor did, though—up at Matt. She batted her false lashes and dug her glittery long nails into his suit jacket. Fuming, my hands arched into claws, and I forced myself to take the picture.

He and his cloying partner strolled ahead. I could feel his stare as he passed. It took all I had to train my gaze on the next couple entering the hotel. I must be coming down with something. My head abuzz, I couldn’t shake the fog clouding my mind. Some distant thought nagged, but so indistinct, I had no idea what it meant. Every time I saw him, the feeling grew stronger. It would come to me later.

For the next few hours, I focused on getting the best angle and lighting for each photo. My aim kept coming back to Matt. When I didn’t hold him in the frame, I remained aware of his every movement.

I captured his toast to the happy couple, telling myself I had to get extra pictures, just in case. I zoomed in to a perfect head shot. When he glanced over at me, something electric zinged through the lens and into my nervous system.

I had to steady my hand for the standard wedding cake cutting, followed by the rough scramble during the bouquet toss, and the new couple’s first dance, a Madonna wannabe dancing a little too close with the bride’s father. Maybe I would leave that last photo out. I didn’t want this wedding to be painful for anyone else.

And holy cow, when had Matt learned to dance so well? Sexiness in motion. Trying to impress the maid of honor? It worked. She swayed her ass close to his swiveling hips. Mesmerized by his moves, I let the Nikon droop and imagined strutting right up to him, fitting myself between his pulsing legs. When I finally lifted my gaze to his face, he was singing along with Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” If he was one of the band, I was a front-row groupie. Tempted as I was to toss my panties at him, I instead raced to the ladies’ room and splashed cold water across my face and neck. Not exactly the release I needed, but I had to keep my head on straight and finish this job.

My attempt at projecting confidence broke after re-entering the reception room. Matt held a woman close, slow dancing to The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” Wow, I could relate to those lyrics tonight. Every move he made, every step he took, I was watching him. Wishing he held me instead of that—

They swiveled, and tension released from my muscles. Ray’s grandmother. What had gotten into me?

Maybe I should eat. I’d picked at my plate earlier, so I returned to it. I stabbed some wilted lettuce onto my fork. As I raised it to my mouth, Ray’s grandmother weaved through the tables to a nearby chair.

Breathless, she laughed. “That man has some moves.”

The DJ urged everyone on their feet for a conga dance, and the maid of honor grabbed Matt’s hand.

“Does he?” Too bad he wasted them on every female in the room but me.

“Oh, sweetie.” She waved me off.

How pathetic. Even Ray’s grandmother ranked ahead of me.

“Go for it, Genevieve.”

“For what?” My false nonchalance couldn’t fool a two-year-old.

“Don’t let fear hold you back.”

“No, of course not. I never do.” Or I always did.

“Then go get him.”

I fiddled with the Nikon strap while the maid of honor hung onto Matt. The night slipped away, second by second, and every passing moment filled with greater urgency.

Available from Decadent Publishing

http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=813&osCsid=1o6u2hhnvdkqcpjj5ubk6tfan6

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Dreams-1Night-Series-ebook/dp/B00E4RH9WC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374687682&sr=1-1&keywords=cinderella+dreams+cate+masters

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cinderelladreams-1251229-149.html

Coffee Time:  http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/decadent-publishing-c-93/cinderella-dreams-p-10508

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cinderella-dreams-cate-masters/1116204067?ean=2940148771555

Multipublished, 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.

Catch up to me here:

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

Author Newsletter: Sign up through my blog! Exclusive goodies for subscribers. :)

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

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

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

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

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

Do-overs

Cinderella Dreams available HERE

By Cate Masters

Most of us joke, at some point, about having a do-over. The cosmic reset button for our lives. But how many of us would actually press that button? 

I guess it all depends on how happy you are with your life choices. As the old saying goes, "Marry in haste, regret at leisure." Some people just can't get over "the one that got away." 

If you realized you made a huge mistake long ago, would you risk everything to try to fix it? Once you press that reset button, there's no going back. My heroine, Gen Fuller, knows this all too well. She's lived at least fifty years past that fateful day when she let Mr. Right slip away. Now in her 70s, she can't face another day of living in the past. She wants to return to her old life as a wedding photographer, to the Eighties decade, to that very day. The day her former love got married, but now she knows he wasn't Mr. Right after all. Someone else at that wedding was, though. 

Madame Eve can get her there, but no guarantees. Gen may have another chance at love, but if it doesn't work out, she faces another lifetime of sorrow and regret. 

I'm so excited Cinderella Dreams is now an official 1Night Stand story! Here's a little taste of it, sweeter than wedding cake:

A deep voice behind Ray said, “Hey, Gen.”

Matt. The next wave of emotion sent me reeling. I might have drowned in that wave, but the sight of him riveted me. The best man, taller than the groom by two inches. Slimmer by a few inches, too. His hazel eyes sparkled, and angels might have sung as he aimed his dazzling smile at me. I had to remind myself to breathe.

“Hey, you’re back.” Oh, witty greeting. Way to state the obvious. Better than gushing how wonderful it was to see him, how much I’d missed him and feared he’d never return. Now there he stood, hotter than Bon Jovi, and me his rabid fan.

Something nagged at me; I’d meant to tell him…what? All I could do was stand and stare more pathetic than a teenage girl high on her first hormone rush. What the hell had come over me today?

Matt locked his gaze on me. “Good to see you.” A throw-away phrase people tossed out to make conversation, but he said it with such feeling, the emotions reverberated through me. My hand went to my stomach, now performing Olympian gymnastics to rival Mary Lou Retton’s floor routine.

“You, too. So good.” Wow, I couldn’t believe I said it out loud, but I meant it. Matt had moved away a year earlier. When Ray broke up with me, it had been a double tragedy. Matt and I were buds, though we indulged in occasional flirtations. Harmless, mostly. Except for the night we split a six pack waiting for Ray to show up, and we shared something better—a kiss. One incredible, mind-blowing kiss, the kind that starts off slow and builds to the intensity of a hurricane. It turned my world upside down, but I begged him not to say a word to Ray. Then Matt was gone, and soon after, Ray dropped the breakup bomb on me.

Ray grabbed his sleeve. “We need to get in place. It’s almost time.”

“Calm down,” Matt told him, shooting me a glance as they stepped up on the altar. A worried look that said he wanted to be sure I was okay.

It sent a tingle through my nerves, but the blare of the organ playing the “Wedding March” erased it. Time to get to work, but I couldn’t shake the euphoria since Matt arrived.

Taking a deep breath, I pointed my camera at the six guys lined up, waiting for their pretty maids all in a row. Except Matt, who still watched me with a gaze so focused, it seemed to reach right through the telephoto lens. Without thinking, I clicked the shutter, a picture I’d keep for myself. Not that I’d need it. Already, his image had seared into my memory.

About Cate:

Multipublished, 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.

Catch up to Cate:

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

Author Newsletter: Sign up through my blog! Exclusive goodies for subscribers. :)

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

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

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

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

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

Writing Haunts

Buy Homecoming HERE

By Cate Masters

Since we moved from our small rancher a few years ago, I’ve been so lucky to have a writing room. I love love love it! Very cool art on the walls, a book case jammed with favorite reads and writing books, a desk and comfy chair. But home has many (many many) distractions. So I thought I’d go searching for a place away from home where my characters could tell me their stories and I could transcribe it in relative peace.

First stop, a nearby library.  In the summertime, it's not exactly a quiet place. Trucks rumbled past, the reading room filled with women with magazines, one whispering to herself almost the entire time, “This is so cute!” “Oh, look at that.” And kids—lots of them, a constant stream in and around the checkout desk with their moms. Thank goodness, they’re our future readers! And I loved hearing them gush about Myrtle the turtle and other children’s books.

I absolutely love this library too. It’s set in an old mansion, and the reading room where I worked must have been the front parlor. As you can see in the photo, its fireplace is lined with embossed tiles. The closeup shot shows the detail of a woman’s head in one corner and in the other, a man’s. Perfect atmosphere for romance writing.

The woodwork is amazing, and a large stone pillar behind the checkout desk must have been a central fireplace in the olden days.

And thankfully, they have public rest rooms. But in addition to the noise, I worried that my laptop cord would trip someone, the table being situated far enough from the outlet to have to stretch it just above the floor. And the library chairs kill my back. Such hard wood, no give whatsoever. So I tried another place.

A café in another small town seemed perfect, its outdoor patio so inviting. Directly across from a manmade lake, the geese and ducks made a pastoral scene floating serenely and calling to one another. But the seating was limited, and I felt terrible taking up a table and giving them so little business.

On to the next writing haunt. It may sound strange, but the third place worked out the best. Our local Target has a small Starbucks store inside it. Rarely do customers ever sit in the small cafe area. Not the best view, looking out over the parking lot, but when I tucked myself away in the far corner, it seemed heavenly. Far enough away from the store’s hustle and bustle, but close to a steady supply of coffee (and a nearby rest room, also essential!).

What about you? Do you have a favorite writing haunt? A writing cave-away-from-home? Share! I’m still exploring my options. :)

And here’s a 1NS story for you to explore! Homecoming’s a contemporary story about second chances, one of my favorite kind of romances. The hero and heroine are both strong characters who desperately need a second chance that will alter their lives. Madame Eve, of course, is always willing to oblige. :)

Blurb

Her abusive husband finally out of her life, Jennie Mayfair arrives in her hometown to rekindle old friendships and make a new start. Jennie wants someone safe but sexy to hold her again and make her feel loved, and a surprise invitation from Madame Eve seems to be exactly what she ordered. She never expects her wish list to be filled to such sublime perfection. But how can she trust the guy who shattered her heart years ago?

Nick Spencer’s business success doesn’t keep him warm in bed, and neither did his wife, though she knew how to keep other men warm – in his own bed. When he learns his first love, Jennie, is single again, he arranges for a blind date. One night with her convinces him he’s missed too many years of happiness. He doesn’t intend to let her get away from him again. But can he convince her their past will be a solid foundation for a new future?

Buy

Available from Decadent Publishing’s 1NS http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=757&osCsid=9u8ko9967ssm1h7k91kc1n6om1

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-1Night-Stand-Series-ebook/dp/B00C6PVLEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365202995&sr=8-1&keywords=cate+masters%2C+homecoming

All Romance:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-homecoming-1151945-149.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/homecoming-cate-masters/1114987905?ean=2940016661056

Coffee Time Romance:  http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/decadent-publishing-c-93/homecoming-p-9833

Is Love Sweeter the Second Time Around?

Buy Homecoming HERE

By Cate Masters

Most of us can tell at least one story about "the one that got away." But how many of us get a second chance at first love? At finding the love we thought we'd lost forever? 

If you're like my Homecoming heroine, Jennie Mayfair, then you remember your first love a little too well. Everything in Jennie's world took a downhill turn after she let Nick Spencer slip from her life. Worst of all, she married the wrong guy, one whose verbal abuse wore down her feeling of self-worth. 

But not even her ex's mind games could tarnish the image burning bright in Jennie's head. So when she had the opportunity to ask Madame Eve for one night with a guy who'd make her feel safe and sexy again, Jennie knew exactly the type of guy she wanted.  All she had to do was list every character trait of Nick Spencer: strong, sexy, intelligent, caring, a good listener. Someone who would handle her heart with care, but also knew how to tease out her sexy side. 

Now, maybe Madame Eve is highly intuitive and Nick Spencer was the only logical choice for Jennie Mayfair's 1NS date. Or maybe something more magical comes into play when the mysterious matchmaker pairs up the perfect couple. 

 I suspect Madame Eve is actually a relative of Fate, don't you? But where Fate can sometimes leave an absolute mess, Madame Eve steps in with her cosmic broom, sweeps the mess away and voila, two people find their lives in feng shui harmony. 

So what's your theory about Madame Eve? And are you a believer in second chances? 

If I haven't convinced you, maybe Old Blue Eyes can. Here's Frank Sinatra to explain as only he can why love is lovelier the second time around:  

Homecoming: 

Her abusive husband finally out of her life, Jennie Mayfair arrives in her hometown to rekindle old friendships and make a new start. Jennie wants someone safe but sexy to hold her again and make her feel loved, and a surprise invitation from Madame Eve seems to be exactly what she ordered. She never expects her wish list to be filled to such sublime perfection. But how can she trust the guy who shattered her heart years ago?

Nick Spencer’s business success doesn’t keep him warm in bed, and neither did his wife, though she knew how to keep other men warm – in his own bed. When he learns his first love, Jennie, is single again, he arranges for a blind date. One night with her convinces him he’s missed too many years of happiness. He doesn’t intend to let her get away from him again. But can he convince her their past will be a solid foundation for a new future?

Read the excerpt and reviews, view the book video, Casting Call and more at: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2013/04/homecoming-short-contemporary-romance.html

Available from Decadent Publishing’s 1NS http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=757&osCsid=9u8ko9967ssm1h7k91kc1n6om1

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-1Night-Stand-Series-ebook/dp/B00C6PVLEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365202995&sr=8-1&keywords=cate+masters%2C+homecoming

All Romance:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-homecoming-1151945-149.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/homecoming-cate-masters/1114987905?ean=2940016661056

Coffee Time Romance:  http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/decadent-publishing-c-93/homecoming-p-9833

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302928

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

Catch up to Cate

Blog     Facebook     Goodreads   Amazon

You Can Go Home Again

By Cate Masters

I love stories about people who’ve moved away from their hometowns and finally return, for whatever reason. Maybe it’s because my husband’s job forced us to move to the next state over when our kids were little. Both hubby’s family and mine still lived in or near Lambertville, NJ, and still do. In the 20 years we’ve been away, we moved once – making the trip 15 minutes longer. Since our parents died, we visit less often, tied to central Pennslvania by our kids’ lives, though they’re now grown. In the past four years, we’ve been blessed with three grandboys, making travel that much more complicated with the entourage.

It doesn’t mean I don’t miss Lambertville. I do. I love going there, and think about it often. I sometimes meet old friends there, a few I’ve been friends with since third grade. And I miss seeing my three sisters and three brothers. I cherish every visit with our remaining aunts and uncles.

No matter how long I stay in Pennsylvania, or anywhere else for that matter, I’ll always think of Lambertville as home. Whether I’m physically there or not, my heart will always be there.

So you’ve probably guessed this is a theme dear to me. The hero and heroine in Homecoming each have very different reasons for returning to their hometown, but like me, their hearts remained rooted there and with each other.

Happy release day for Homecoming, available now from Decadent’s 1NS series! http://www.decadentpublishing.com/

I hope you’ll check out the book video:

Here’s an excerpt, too:

“Unbelievable.” Had Madame Eve divined Jennie’s vision of Nick to conjure him for her? A better version of the boy she knew; wow, he looked incredible.

He slowly scrutinized her. “It’s been a long time.”

Had she changed so much? The way he stared made her self-conscious. “I thought you were married?”

“Divorced last year.” He dropped his gaze, but pierced her again with those intense dark eyes. “I thought you were married?”

“I left him last year. The divorce was final six months ago.” She sounded as if someone had punched her. So much for her brave front.

“So. Is this your first time using Madame Eve’s 1 Night Stand?”

“Yes.” And the last. No more blind dates. “What about you?” She could only imagine the women dying to share his bed. Why would he need a matchmaking service?

He flashed a grin. “I thought I’d long ago run out of firsts, but yes.”

How sad. As a teenager, she’d dreamed about sharing all those firsts with him, every new experience a new bond between them.

She took it all in: the cheery fire in the stone hearth, the candles lining the mantle and atop the small round table set with a white linen tablecloth, the champagne chilling in the tall ice bucket, the immense leather sectional sofa with an ottoman large enough for two people to...

Imagining herself and Nick entangled atop it, a flash flood of heat singed her.

As if sensing her apprehension, he advanced slowly toward her. “I ordered dinner for us.”

“I’ve lost my appetite.” Something about this felt too much like a setup.

“Then let’s start with a drink. We have a lot to catch up on.”

Cate Masters  - Magic, mayhem and a little romance

Catch up to Cate at:

Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

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

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

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

Giving thanks!

Buy A Hard Day's Knight HERE

By Cate Masters

It’s Turkey Day! Normally a day of family traditions, great food and – giving thanks for all our blessings.

Personally, I have so much to be thankful for, I couldn’t possibly list everything in this post. So I’ll keep it to the basics – my hubby, who’s been my best friend for 35 years, three great kids and three wonderful grandkids who give me an excuse to act silly and best of all, give the best hugs, and last but not least, I’m living the dream I’ve waited my whole life for: seeing my stories published.

Decadent’s been so amazing to work with this year. Last February, they released my first two 1NS stories: A HardDay’s Knight, a fantasy with an Arthurian twist, and Tonight You Belong to Me, a light contemporary. In March came Dead to Rights, an urban fantasy/paranormal novel, then in August, another paranormal, Death Is A Bitch.

Not only were the cover artists fantastic, but the editors provided tough but thoughtful, caring feedback that helped make these stories sparkle. To these wonderful professionals, I say thank you.

The Decadent staff work harder than anyone I know, and I’m always grateful for their inventive and tireless efforts to put out great stories, plus help promote them – a real bonus for Decadent authors. I can’t imagine a more supportive and fun group of writers.

So today I’m singing their praises and spreading the love. Decadent’s been so great, I recently signed a contract for two more 1NS stories, both contemporaries, plus have subbed another paranormal novella (fingers crossed!).

To all in the United States, Happy Thanksgiving! To everyone else, it’s still a good excuse to feast on turkey and all the trimmings. *grins*

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.

Cate loves to hear from readers. Email her at: cate.masters[AT]gmail.com

Where Do Story Ideas Originate?

Buy A Hard Day's Knight HERE!

by Cate Masters 

I love this question. Every author has a different answer. Why? Because the answer is as varied as the millions of stories already out there.

For me, and I suspect most authors, stories grow out of the things that interest me. I tend to take an interest in a wide variety of subjects, as you can probably tell by the range of genres I write in – from contemporary to historical, fantasy/paranormal to speculative, sweet to red hot, mainstream to women’s fiction and romance.

In fact, any photo, conversation I hear in passing, newspaper article, or whatever I happen across can make me stop and think, “Hmm. What if…” And I jot it in my notebook for later exploration.

The one thing I never do is write about friends, family or even acquaintances. You may have seen the tee shirt (which I’ve been tempted to buy just to alarm people, lol) – “Careful or I’ll make you part of my next novel.” I may borrow a name, at most a personality trait or quirk, but I don’t use my writing for ill will. I believe in karma, baby!

One of my crit partners sometimes asks if she can rub my head to see if my wild imagination will rub off on her. (She doesn’t need it; she’s a fantastic writer.)

So, my answer to the old question of where stories originate is: an inquisitive, open mind. Just scan through the many titles of the 1NS series and you’ll see what I mean. I’m always inspired by the way each author took the dating service premise and made it unique, her own take on 1NS.

I have to admit, it’s a bit addicting. I have two 1NS stories out now – A Hard Day’s Knight, a fantasy, and Tonight You Belong to Me, a contemporary. A third is in the works. I can’t wait to polish it up and submit it. Decadent’s been so wonderfully supportive of all their authors, and fantastic to work with.

I’ll leave you with a sampling of A Hard Day’s Knight, my fantasy 1NS. Growing up, I loved reading about King Arthur in The Once and Future King, and was obsessed with the Beatles. This story mixes a little Camelot with present day:

She’d rocked him, body and soul. Possessed him so that he’d forfeited his honor. The stolen nights they’d shared haunted him, and he feared she’d returned to torture him again, ever out of reach. Trying to reconcile the vision in his head with the one approaching, he licked his dry lips.

The woman who haunted him was not the one who walked toward him.

Yet they were one and the same, he’d swear an oath.

Hands full with three tall glasses of beer, Darien returned and scooted next to Kurt. “Did you tell him?”

Kurt mumbled something and slurped.

“Lighten up, Lance, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Darien’s muted squeal heightened his attention. “Oo, here she comes.”

One of the three? Dread formed a cold pit in Lance’s stomach and he took the fresh mug of beer, tempted to apply its “lite” description to all of present day. With his luck, she’d be the raven-haired girl with the overbite. He detested women with dark hair. Brought back too many bad memories.

“Gwyn!” Standing, Darien waved.

The blonde waved back. Excitement coiled in Lance’s chest. He distantly registered Darien leaning against his arm, whispering something, and Kurt adding a comment and a guffaw. But the light glinting against her golden locks gave her an angelic appearance. He imagined his fingers working the laces along the front of her bodice, unfastening them, letting the full green skirt pool around her ankles to reveal that creamy silken skin he’d so missed. Craved.

Hitching up her gown, she glided toward them like a swan across a lake. When she fixed her green eyes on him, he scrambled to his feet, dumbfounded as a peasant before a princess.

Cate Masters  - Magic, mayhem and a little romance

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