I am so happy to have Cate visiting with me today on Pen to Paper.  We have a lot to cover Cate, so lets get started.

 

 

 

Tell us something about you and your books.

 

 Thanks for inviting me to Pen to Paper, Melinda! I’ve been writing for many years, mostly for myself, although my short stories had been published with a few literary magazines and web zines. Last year, one of my critique partners told me about The Wild Rose Press. I had no experience with epubs, but as I had many stories, I submitted to several epresses, and in the space of a year and a half, had 15 stories accepted with either web zines or epubs.

 

So 2009 has been a very busy year! I write across several genres, from contemporary to fantasy/dark fantasy and historical, and a few of my web zine stories are speculative.  I’d love for you to visit me online at

www.catemasters.com
http://catemasters.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/CateMasters
www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts

 

 Are there any new authors who have grasped your attention?

 

 Too many to list! Not necessarily new, but new to me… I’m trying to catch up on amazing TWRP authors such as Margaret Tanner, Beth Trissel, Susan Macatee, Emma Lai and Kiss Carson, among others.

 

Do you have any advice for other writers?

 

  Learn as much as you can about the craft of writing through workshops, conferences, workbooks. Read the authors you love and respect. Critique partners are essential for bringing you back to earth after falling in love with your story and its characters. Revise your stories before submitting. And if a publisher rejects your story, revise and send it out again.

 

 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

 

 My muse, unfortunately, has Attention Deficit Disorder! She throws ideas at me faster than I can keep up. I wish I could say there’s some trick to inspiration, but many times it’s as simple as asking What if… and following your characters down whatever path they lead you. An idea has to make me excited before I’ll follow through, though, because if it doesn’t excite me, it certainly won’t excite a reader.

 

What promotional ideas can you give to other beginning authors?

 Hm, I’d be interested to learn those myself! Because I’m new to epublishing this year, I still have a lot to learn. The main point is to get yourself out there as much and as often as possible: a web site, a blog, fan pages, Twitter, chats, email loops… put your imagination to work!

 

What advice would you give to somebody trying to get a literary agent?

 

 Never having had an agent, I can’t speak from experience, but I’ve heard enough horror stories to caution authors to research any agent before submitting.  Unfortunately, unscrupulous agents exist.  Never ever pay a fee. And you want a pleasant working relationship, but remember it’s business, not a friendship.

 

Is there anything you would like to say to other aspiring writers? 

 

The same advice as for other writers, but also to learn to be objective about your own work.  If a publisher’s rejection contains advice on how to improve your story, set your ego aside and get back to work. At first, it’s hard to receive a critique of your work but the best writers will listen with an open mind and use it to revise. It’s all about putting the best possible story out there, so toughen up your skin a little. If you hit a rough patch and need a boost (and we all do!), read Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul—it has many inspiring stories of bestselling authors who almost gave up, but persevered and found the success they sought. So keep at it!

 

As a child what did you want to do when you grew up? 

 

The Wild West Shows had long gone out of business, and unfortunately I didn’t inherit my aunt and uncle’s powerful singing voices so didn’t go with the girl band dream. My third choice was a journalist, which eventually I experimented with, but fiction’s my first love.

 

  As a writer and published author how do you feel about e-publishing? 

 

I was so excited when I learned about epublishers! Not only are they not controlled by the few big publishing houses, but they’re open to stories of almost any length. A few of my novellas are also available in print, which is a dream come true. The publishing industry is evolving, and I believe will continue to go through a long evolutionary process. It’s very exciting to watch.

 

 

  Please give us a list of all of your books currently available. 

 Here’s the current list in backward order of their release this year:

Reflections, Dark Fantasy

Picture This, Women’s fiction novella,

Going with Gravity  www.thewildrosepress.com

The Lure of the Vine, Dark Fantasy

One Soul for Sale, Dark Fantasy novella

The Duende and The Muse,

Seventh Heaven, The Wild Rose Press

My free read:  Cinderella Dreams

 

  How long does it take you to do research on the books you write?

 

 Depends on the book, but sometimes weeks, and one novel took almost a year because I researched certain decades, astronomy and mythology. For contemporaries, I research the setting using the web, or send for visitors’ guides. For my historical novel Angels, Sinners and Madmen, I was visiting Key West when the story idea hit me, so spent a few days in the library copying old documents, plus visited maritime museums, and bought several books on the local history. The Internet’s great for providing facts (but be sure they are verifiable facts!) but it’s always great to hear from personal experience if possible.  Authenticating details make a story feel real.

 

What inspired you to become a writer?

 

 Self-preservation.  All those stories would have built up in my head and eventually caused my head to explode if I didn’t release them!  Okay, that’s an exaggeration to make a point, but seriously, I’m not happy unless I’m writing. I can get downright cranky if a story’s playing out in my head and I don’t get it down. Characters can get testy when I ignore them, and eventually they commandeer my brain by force. (Again, kidding—don’t send the nice men in white suits, although a padded room might serve as an excellent writer’s retreat. No cooking, no cleaning, no laundry. Hmm. Maybe some writers only pretend to go insane hoping they’ll be sent there.)

 

How did you go about getting published?

 

 After checking into publisher’s guidelines, I submitted everywhere I thought might be a good fit.

 

What is your novel about?  

 

My most recent release, Reflections, has a Halloween theme. A novelty catalog showed a beautiful crystal ball with a hand-carved scroll stand, and described the three legs as representing a beginning or birth, and the ball the universe and what is to follow. For a short story, it’s chock full of action and I love its theme—the duality of human nature. Plus there’s a fun romance.

 

Where do you do most of your writing? 

 

I love to handwrite my stories but that’s not always possible. I have a laptop with no Internet connection (less distraction that way!) that allows me to take it out on my deck in nice weather, or anywhere quiet inside. But I carry a notepad and pen everywhere because I still do write the old-fashioned way whenever possible, and it’s handy to jot notes or ideas.

 

Are you working on other things, if so what are they?

 

 Always! I just finished a contemporary novel, and am revising a historical novella with ties to Carlisle, Pa., where I recently moved from. About ten other stories are clamoring for me to finish them too.

 

What do you enjoy most about your writing?

 

 Everything, really. I love how characters will surprise me with things I hadn’t thought them capable of. I love the excitement of the initial spark of an idea. I love being able to stretch my imagination to its limits. I love writing a sentence that’s almost like poetry. I love writing that final sentence of a story. Then taking out a new sheet of blank paper waiting to be filled with a new story. And a great review’s always wonderful too.

 

 

 

Well Cate you have given us all a lot of interesting points here.  Thanks again for being here today.

 

Walk in peace and harmony,

 

Melinda

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Comments »

1. 

   Hi Cate,
   Great interview. You are certainly prolific and 2009 and has really been your year. So many published stories, so many different genres. You are amazing. I wish you continued success, and I know you will succeed because you are a talented writer. All you really need is 34 hours in a day instead of 24.

   Cheers
   Margaret

   Comment by Margaret Tanner — October 19, 2009 @ 12:17 pm

2. 

   Thanks so much, Margaret! It’s certainly been a whirlwind year. I’m just so thankful to be in such great company! I appreciate the good wishes, and wish you the same.

   Comment by Cate Masters — October 19, 2009 @ 12:34 pm

3. 

   Hi, Cate! Always fun to learn new things about writers and how they work.

   I have to agree with you in that head exploding thing. And I get cranky too, when I’m not writing or doing something writing related.

   Good luck with your new release! Halloween is such a fun holiday!

   Comment by Susan Macatee — October 19, 2009 @ 10:37 pm

4. 

   Too true, pressure’s been building up for a few weeks now… my family’s steering clear! *snicker* No, they’re mostly understanding, although they don’t quite understand it.
   Thanks for stopping by, Susan!

   Comment by Cate Masters — October 19, 2009 @ 11:27 pm

5. 

   Great interview, Cate. I enjoyed getting to know you better.

   Comment by Mona Risk — October 19, 2009 @ 11:39 pm

6. 

   Hi Cate. I enjoyed your interview. What a fantastic 2009! So many publications - how neat! I agree about the laundry, cleaning, etc. Wish it would just go away so I can write. I like the ADD muse line LOL I’ll certainly remember that one.
   Best of luck with all your releases. Sell tons

   Comment by Mickey Flagg — October 19, 2009 @ 11:44 pm

7. 

   Thanks Mickey! I watched my Mom go through years of cleaning house, only to watch it get dirty again. She was so creative, but kept it pent up, and her frustration showed. So I believe it’s healthier for all if I just follow my bliss… Let me write and no one gets hurt! Just kidding. I’m certainly much happier though.
   Thanks for stopping by!

   Comment by Cate Masters — October 19, 2009 @ 11:48 pm

8. 

   Thanks for stopping by Mona!

   Comment by Cate Masters — October 20, 2009 @ 12:28 am

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