I love Halloween

Don’t you just love Halloween?

It’s always been one of my favorite holidays.  Christmas, of course, carries with it the excitement of church and school pageants, gifts and visits to family. But when we were kids, Halloween was just for fun. For using our imaginations, trying to scare ourselves silly. For stuffing ourselves with caramel apples, popcorn balls and home made cookies.

I remember the excitement of choosing just the right plastic mask and flimsy costume (the ones that tied in the back) from the dime store. Trekking through the lamp-lit streets  of our little town with my sisters and neighbors, peering through the mask and lugging my plastic jack o’lantern for treats. I remember cutting through a pasture near our home and then running like the dickens to get away from the cows pastured there. They were just curious heifers, but in the dark they were BIG, SNORTING BEASTS.  Very different from the friendly companions of the daytime, who would come and eat from our hands. On Halloween night, shadows held monsters, witches rode the skies and anything was possible.

When my boys were little, Halloween meant trips to the fabric store to find just the right pattern and fabric to make costumes – dinosaurs with removable heads and dragging tails, alligators (same costume with a little ingenuity and a different head), Ninja turtles, cops, firemen, ninjas, Frankenstein and army rangers. All the fun of planning how to make parts move, look kind of realistic, and keep growing boys warm on a Halloween night in the Rocky Mountains. One year we held a carnival in the school – the whole town came. We played games, and the children trick-or-treated around the gym.

Now that all of us are too big to trick-or-treat and schools are too focused on surviving The Test to have time for Halloween parties and parades, I enjoy the little princesses and space-ninjas who come to my door to yell (or mumble, prompted by a parent a short distance behind) ‘Trick-or-treat!’

And I still enjoy scaring myself – just a little – with a spooky movie or story. Sometimes I even spin them myself. I think a good romance should be like a Halloween  costume – it should fit the mood you’re in this season. Do you want to be a princess this year, honey? Or a warrior who can kick the ass of any man she meets? Or how about a cowgirl ridin’ the range with a handsome cowboy? Or perhaps someone a bit edgier – a vampire, or even a demon queen?

You don’t even have to dress up, girlfriend. Just curl up with a great story, and let that new romance carry you away into a world where magic is still possible.

Trick or Treat!

Cathryn Cade

Best-selling author of red hot romance

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If Animals Could Talk ... In my World, They Can!

A famous romance writer was quoted as saying that 'the heart of every romance story is the taming of an alpha male to hearth and home'.

And when you think about it, she's right.

I believe therein lies the fascination for shape-shifters in romance. What is more fascinating to us prey than predators that stalk us in the night? We humans are brainy, but weak and slow. The great predators--wolves, lions and tigers, bears--oh my! They are not only large and powerful, they're deadly.

If only we could combine the brain-power of a man with the best attributes of a predator. And then beguile him to protect us, to stand between us and the dangers that lurk in the world.

A fantasy? Heck, yeah! That's why we read romance after all. To re-live the passionate flush of first love, first lust. And if we can experience along with it an adventure of harrowing danger and thrilling triumph, all the better, I say.

I love a good shape-shifter romance. The creatures needn't be real, either. Dragons, anyone? And what if the shifter is from another galaxy entirely ... what attributes might that endow him?

In my book Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bryght, the strange moons of the planet Bryght call to the males in one cycle, the females in the next.

In Prince of Dragons, only a few of the inhabitants of Serpentia are gifted with the ability to dragon-shift, even to fly - the royal strain of Serpentians known as the Dragolin.

Do you have a favorite fantasy shifter? If not, perhaps I've beguiled you to at least consider ... what if animals could talk and prowl among us? Which would you choose to adventure with?

See you in a great romance,
Cathryn Cade

Best-selling author of sci fi romance

... it's hot in space, red hot!

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Need New Romance? Ask A Librarian!

Librarians are quiet heroes and heroines. They don't wear dashing capes or dive off of tall buildings (although they may dart between the stacks to help someone). And they usually don't make the headlines.
No, these unassuming heroines quietly work in their hushed environs ...

Okay, let's just stop right here!

Today's librarians are NOT just within the walls of their local library. Nope, they get around.

For you? That means you can use their super talents everywhere, to help you find your next great romance.

Example: Library Journal, one of the premier book review tools for librarians AND readers everywhere. Now online!
A quick Google search will bring you ...

Print Book Reviews  http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/08/books/genre-fiction/romance/romance-reviews-august-2013/

AND Ebook Reviews
 http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/08/books/genre-fiction/romance/xpress-reviews-e-originals-first-look-at-new-books-august-2-2013/

Yes, each month this prestigious journal features Romance Book Reviews. A great place to find the best new books of the month. These reviewers have been kind enough to give my Hawaiian Heroes their stamp of approval--a pat on the back this author will always remember.

Your local public library is also a great place to find new romance. Most public libraries have a dedicated romance section. Those that don't, probably have romance shelved with general fiction. But you can still search romance -- and you don't have to be in the library. Library catalogs are now are online, just like their journals. You can look for the latest books by a favorite author or the newest romance by subject.

And then ... you can reserve a copy without ever setting foot in the library. Some of the big libraries will even mail you the book, although budget cuts have made this less likely. But they'll let you know when it's available, and that's all part of their free service.

If you do visit your library, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised to find a friendly staff who are tickled to share their favorite new reads. Gone are the old days of the 'shushing' librarian with the frown. These days it's all about public service--with a smile and some help with technology if you need it.

Also, the big book sales sites like Amazon, BN.com and Kobo are organized much like libraries, with subject categories for romance and the genres within. And you can use them in your library search. Say you want to read the latest book by Cathryn Cade, but you've spent your book budget for the month. Look up her latest book in print, which on Amazon you'll find is Orion Rising.

Take this title to your public library, and request a copy of the book. Hmmm, they don't have it? How about this--did you know that if 2-3 library patrons request the same book, the library will do their utmost to buy that book? If you have a favorite author you think your library really ought to carry, get your friends or relatives to help. Request those books!

And what do I know about all this? Well, I am a librarian.

Happy Romance Reading,
Cathryn Cade

Best-selling author of sci fi romance

... it's hot in space, red hot!

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And sign up for My Newsletter for a chance to win goodies! 

What's Sexy? What's NOT?

What's sexy? What's not?

It depends, of course, on YOU. It can be a look, a word, a touch of hands. Doesn't have to be a connection of bodies. It can happen between two people, or in one of my sci fi romances it's quite likely to be between sexy aliens who share some characteristics of humans but are enhanced in other ways. They may even be half-human, half-alien. That makes for some great, angst-y conflict! I read a review of one of my books that really made me think. The reviewer first mentioned the things she liked about the story and then the things she didn't. She liked the story and the characters, and especially the way the heroine set the arrogant alpha hero back a few paces by standing up to him and letting him know she would accept nothing less than his respect and love. But she did not like one of the erotic plot devices; the heroine appeared naked in front of others, without her express consent. I hit one of this reader's hot buttons. We all have them, just as we all have our own private fantasies, both romantic and sensual. The story was written, I may as well admit, as a private fantasy of mine. One (do I really need to say it?) that I would never want to actually experience, but enjoyed imagining. It was one of those 'What if you had to …' fantasies. What if you had to placate an incredibly sexy, alpha shifter … by having sex with him? What if he was barely in control, and you, a smaller, more fragile female, were the only creature capable of keeping him from going mad in the grip of his male passions? What if you discovered that the episode was all your wildest dreams come true? Yep, it's a fantasy, all right. I'm a real woman. Touch me when I'm not in the mood? Nope, sorry. Expect me to cater to every male mood, and don't hold your breath. I love my husband, but there are limits, right, ladies? But my private fantasies are a different bottle of wine. Romantic and sexy are different for every woman and man on the earth. We've all read stories that we loved, until … that particular thing happened in the story, and we didn't enjoy it anymore. As a romance writer, I hope readers who enjoy getting lost in a sexy adventure, will discover that I've unleashed a fantasy you never even knew you had until my heroines and heroes show it to you. The story I mentioned has done this for many, many readers, I'm happy to say. It just keeps selling. Readers have sent me personal notes, and posted reviews. Of course those folks with the hot button? They've let everyone know too! But that's all right with me. I'd rather someone got steaming mad and hated my hero, hated 'that moment' than to have them shrug and say 'Eh, it was okay. Probably won't read any more of what's-her-name's books.' A review of my newest book, Stark Pleasure, includes the words that 'I've read all of Cathryn's books'. It also includes the opinion that my newest hero (who admittedly needs to do a lot of personal work) verges on being a socio-path. Ouch! But that's honesty for you. And since the reviewer smacked the hero upside the head, and not me as a writer or human being taking up too much space on the planet, I'm fine with that. She's gonna love his eventual smack-down, which believe me, is coming. Hang on through the series, and Logan Stark will be schooled by a small woman! If you love the romances you read, of course the writer hopes you'll say so. If you don't … can I send you some chocolate, and we'll keep it between us? No, seriously, I hope you'll try another, one that will give you just the experience you're looking for. I'm currently spinning another personal fantasy series, one that I hope will resonate with readers. For now … I'd love to know, what do YOU look for in a romance? What do you LOVE in a story? What are your personal hot buttons?

Happy reading, Cathryn Cade Best-selling author of sci fi romance ... it's hot in space, red hot! Goodreads, My Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, My Blog, And sign up for My Newsletter for a chance to win goodies!

True Confessions ... Wish I Lived Here

Aloha! I'm so pleased to be the newest Genre-ista.

I'm just as pleased to be writing my FIRST post from
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii.

'Aue! It's 87 degrees here at the Kihei Beach Condos on Sugar Beach, but with the lovely breeze you'd never know it. The air feels like a kiss, soft and humid. Smells like the sea, warm earth and flowers. Sounds like surf  surging on the beach just off our lanai, bird calls (mostly chickens living in the brush across Kihei Road, lol), the occasional Harley roaring past and happy kids playing on the condo lawn and beach.

This vacation is a gift from my in-laws. (Thanks, folks. Love ya bunches) Otherwise I'd be in the middle of a Montana snowstorm--brrr! Rather be here, typing away in my damp swimsuit while I sip iced tea. Not quite time for mai tais, 'cause we're several hours behind you folks on da mainland.

This morning we snorkeled, got nose to nose with two big sea turtles and a number of tropical fishes. Then it was time to hit the local farm stand for pineapple and other fresh fruit and veggies, and back here for lunch.  Some careful suntanning, 'cause it's easy to fry our pale haole, Caucasian hides here in the first few days. Strenuous schedule, I know, but someone has to do it.

Wish I lived here. I mean, I could seriously do this full time. Never too hot, never cold. Always beautiful. But since that's not really in the forecast for the DH and me, I will just keep doing the next best thing! You guessed it--writing stories set here in paradise so I can relive my vacations here and on da Big Island, and YOU can pretend you live here too.

Ready? Let's drop in on the Ho'omalu ohana, family, in Nawea Bay, south Kona, Big Island. It's a small, private beach enclave that's been in the ohana for as long as there have been Ho'omalus on Hawaii. Ho'omalu means guardian in Hawaiian, so it was the perfect name for my Hawaiian Heroes, a family of powerful warriors tasked by the goddess Pele herself with keeping her island safe while she slumbers, deep beneath her volcano, Kilauea.

Book 1

Book 2

In this contemporary series, brothers David and Daniel and their cousins Bella and Leilani discover they have powers gifted to them from Pele herself. David can bring to life the fiery lava of the volcano. Daniel can call upon the denizens of the deep, from the friendly nai'a, dolphins to the not-so-friendly mano, tiger sharks.

Book 3

Bella discovers that the plants and trees of the forest obey her, while Leilani has rain, wind and lightning in her fingertips. They use their powers to battle vicious drug smugglers and ruthless land developers, both very real problems in Hawaii.

Kind of a Hawaiian mixed plate, yeah? And did I mention they're all dead sexy? Kinda goes without saying if you've ever read one of my stories. If you haven't ... pack your heat proof bikini, wahine!

Visit my website for excerpts, reviews and more @ http://www.cathryncade.com

Although the Ho'omalus are not a real ohana, they've become real to me. I fell in love with David, Daniel, Joel and Jack, heroes every one. I suffered along with Melia, Claire as they struggled to find their place in Hawaii as women in love with heroes, and Bella and Leilani as heroes themselves, wielding powers that terrify and exhilarate them. All of them living in paradise, here on Earth.

So if you could live anywhere, where would it be? The tropics, the mountains, a houseboat, the wild west, or even a desert? I'd love to know.

Leave a comment, and I'll enter you to win a FREE ebook from me. Your choice of one my 3 Hawaiian Heroes available now. Book 4, Burning up the Rain debuts next month, Jack and Leilani's story

Be sure and leave your email so I can contact you!

best,
Cathryn Cade

... red hot romance!

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