If you came for fashionista Friday, scroll on down, but why not enjoy this post first?
Readers, please help me welcome Catherine Castle to the blog. Catherine, I wanted to do your blog tour because I loved the premise of your story. I can't wait to read it.
1. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to
pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?
I have
written all my life, but never considered I could do it as a career until I began
writing for the local newspaper as a stringer. Prior to freelancing for the
newspaper, I’d tried to get some of my short stories published, but had no
success. While reading the local newspaper I thought, “I could write something
like that.” But writing and figuring out what to write were two different
things. Then our church built a new sanctuary and I pitched the idea for an
article to the paper. They liked the idea. I wrote the article, and soon afterwards
I got up the courage to ask for a job as a stringer.
As for the
inspiration to create characters that capture the imagination, I have to credit
Leah, a character from the Old Testament, for that inspiration. She has always
fascinated me. Her story, which was my first (currently unpublished) novel, not
counting the angst-riddled teen romance I wrote in high school, was probably
the book that started me on the journey as a fiction author. The 600 plus
articles I’d written as a freelancer gave me the courage and polish I needed to
begin writing fiction.
2. How long did it take for your first book to get
published?
I
started The Nun and the Narc, which is
my first published book, in 2003. After the first rejection it sat on the shelf
for a while and then in 2007 I started sending it out again. It had a lot of
rejections because it was outside the norm for an inspirational romance. The
book was published in ebook format the spring of 2013 and came out in print
format October 2013. Wow, that’s 10 years! In all honesty, I have to say the
book did go through a major rewrite in 2007, I wasn’t pushing it out there all
the time, and I completed a couple of other books in that time frame.
3. What does your writing day look like?
I
don’t have a set schedule. I tend to work on a tyranny of the urgent basis
according to my deadlines, editorially imposed or self-imposed. I also work for
long periods at a time. But I have to stop by 7pm because if I don’t I end up pulling all nighters. I have
been known to write all night, too, when I’m at the end of a book. I can’t stop
with the words THE END in sight.
4. How do you handle family and your writing career? Is
your family understanding of the time that you have to give your career? Is it
sometimes difficult for you? How did they react to fact that you’re an author?
My family
is very understanding and even proud of the fact that I’m a writer and
published author. I started writing for the newspaper when my daughter was a
teenager. She bragged to her middle school writing teacher that her mom was a
writer and had written a book. The
teacher invited me to speak to the class and as a result we became fast
friends. My husband is more than understanding as he is a writer, too.
5. Do you feel each of your characters lives with you as you
write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life?
My characters
definitely live with me during the writing process. I think that in order to make
them real on the page, they have to come alive for you. You have to know who
they are. As for taking over a part of my life—my husband has accused me of
talking like my characters, and he was right.
Catherine, thanks for answering my questions. Now let's find out a little more about The Nun and the Narc.
The Nun & the Narc
Catherine
Castle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Where
novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug
deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on
undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but
when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous
than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her
decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but
life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the
same.
Nuns
shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least
that’s what
Jed
Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and
compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years
of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible,
Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her
away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.
Another row of pottery shattered, sending fragments into the
car like tiny projectile rockets. Sending up a quick prayer, she covered her
head.
Slamming the door shut as he passed, the man leapt over the
trunk. He jerked open the driver’s door then jumped behind the wheel. Jamming
the car into gear, he roared out into the market street. Shoppers and vendors
screamed, leaping out of the car’s path.
Margaret scrambled into the passenger seat. “Stop this car
immediately!”
“Keep down,” he ordered, “unless you want to get shot.”
The rear window glass erupted into the car’s interior,
punctuating his words. The man fired at the attackers through the shattered
back window.
“Shot?” Her voice rose an octave. “Oh, dear Lord in Heaven,
what have I gotten into?”
“Trouble, Lady.” He fired off another round. “Big trouble.”
Margaret slid deeper into the front passenger seat, grabbing
the door handle as the car careened around a corner.
I’m going to die. In a car crash. With a strange man. Heart
pumping madly, she let go of the door handle just long enough to cross herself
then grabbed it again as the car swerved. A guardian angel would be good here,
Lord. And make it Dale Earnhardt! They swerved around another corner and she
held on for dear life.
Oh, Mother Superior, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not good
nun material after all. Who else in the convent could get themselves into a
mess like this?
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Catherine
Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance
writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles
and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and
secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband,
singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot
of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite
place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a
“Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.
Her debut
inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing was an ACFW Genesis
Finalist and is a 2013 EPIC finalist.
Buy links:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Nun-Narc-ebook/dp/B00CHU9DH2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368652543&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Nun+and+the+Narc
Print
version:
http://www.amazon.com/Nun-Narc-Catherine-Castle/dp/1619352966/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380639013&sr=1-1&keywords=the+nun+and+the+narc
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-nun-and-the-narc-catherine-castle/1116942061?ean=9781619352964
Catherine’s
website: http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com
Catherine’s
blog: http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/
Catherine’s
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catherinecastle
Catherine’s
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085414.Catherine_Castle
Twitter:
@AuthorCCastle
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/catherinecastleauthor
Catherine will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter between this tour and her Virtual Book tour.Readers, follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
Catherine, thanks so much for coming to my blog.
I agree about the premise. Grabs me too.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks, Mary. I'd love to know how you like it when you're finished. Thanks for stopping by.
Deletegreat interview...and interesting blurb!!
ReplyDeletekittensinclair@gmail.com
Kitten, so glad you stopped by today. Here's an intetresting tidbit about me and blurbs. I tend to write them before I start the book. I hope yopu get a chance to read the book.
DeleteThis sounds like a really good story. I loved the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThe book has received a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews so I think readers agree with you, MomJane. Thanks for the love on the excerpt and for stopping by today.
DeleteElaine,
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting me today. I hope you'll love the story as much as the premise. Looking forward to chatting with your visitors today.
Great excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Glad you enjoyed the excerpt, Rita. I appreciate all your comments. Hope you enjoy the book, too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting inspiration
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
It's amazing where we find our inspiration. Sometimes an idea just gnaws at you, like Leah's story did we me. Someday I hope that story makes it to publication, too. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Engaging interview. I love the premise of this book, it looks like such a fun read!
ReplyDeleteElise-Marie, Readers have called this a fun read. I hope you get a chance to decide for yourself. Thanks for commenting
ReplyDelete