Special Guest Post & Giveaway from Cat Connor

Morning, afternoon, evening - or all of the above.

I’m Cat Connor, hanging out here for the day talking about writing a series and killing people - two of my favorite things. (The first is fun, the second cathartic.)

In April, my 5th novel was released by Rebel ePublishers. (The proper launch is May 17 at the Upper Hutt City Library.)  Soundbyte is the 5th in what I call The _byte Series. (We all call it the _byte series, because that’s what it is.)

It’s a series about the life and times of a female FBI agent, Ellie Conway. She is so much fun to write that it never seems like work and it’s hard to believe there now 5-byte novels out there.

Before we get into the whole writing a series thing, let’s clarify something - I did not intend to write a series. I intended to write two books with Ellie as the protagonist. She, however, had other ideas.

There is a lot of joy to be had writing a series, the relationships between characters grow over time and change, and that alone is worth the hours of writing. It becomes a very happy place to be as an author (well for me anyway). Sliding into Ellie’s world and catching up with the team, is the best feeling ever. It’s like being surrounded with old friends.

I have no idea how long the series will be because my crystal ball is on the blink. As long as Ellie is telling me/showing me excerpts from her life, I’ll write them.

In saying that though, sometimes I don’t enjoy writing everything I see. Sometimes it sucks. Bad things happen to good people/characters.

Someone once told me (talking about my work) that she loved me but didn’t trust me. She didn’t trust me because I kill my characters. That comment stuck with me. I liked it. That might be a little screwy, but it’s nice to know people don’t quite know what to expect from me. That gives me a lot of freedom when I’m writing. It’s not all happy endings and riding into the sunset, sometimes there is pain and it takes effort and perseverance to get through it.

There are a few things that will always be in the byte novels - but the characters (apart from Ellie, of course) are not set in stone. I don’t know when I start writing a book who will still be standing at the end. So in a lot of ways it takes me by surprise when someone doesn’t make it, and because I KNOW these characters, it hurts when they die or get hurt. That’s also a product of writing first-person. It’s often hard to step back when something horrible is happening. The line blurs sometimes.

To be fair though they don’t just die, sometimes they up and leave on their own accord. Personally, I prefer characters to die rather than leave.

If you would like a chance to win either an ePub or kindle edition of soundbyte - leave a comment on this blog with two elements/things that are in every byte novel and Ms. Taylor will pick a winner on Monday.

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When you leave a comment - please make sure to leave an email address like: JET at Comcast dot com so I can notify the winner.
Until next time,
Ciao
JET

Dishing it up with Cat Connor

Welcome to another fabulous Friday! Cat Connor is back and she’s dishing about her latest novel, exacerbyte.


JET: Can you tell us a little about exacerbyte?

Cat: EXACERBYTE is the 3rd _byte book. It starts 17 months after TERRORBYTE, there is a little bit of a revenge element going on, and there’s a rock star. Have to say - creating him was a lot of fun!

Here’s the blurb:

Hawk is hunting again. SSA Conway is his nemesis – she wants justice and is determined he should keep his appointment with the electric chair.

FBI Agent SSA Ellie Conway has decided it is time to step up and stop Hawk, not only to prevent the abduction of vulnerable children, but to avenge the murder of FBI Agent Mac Connelly.

The pursuit takes the Delta A to New Zealand, where Hawk has widened his net and increased his activity.

As the FBI team track him and investigate the disappearance of more children, a far more sinister reality emerges which demands the might of the Military, CIA, NCIS and the Russian FSB.

Exploiting her quirky intuition, together with help from an unlikely source, Ellie realizes she must heed the augury ‘it is all about the music.’

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Cat: There are so many, crazy and interesting things. (Chances are they’re only interesting to me though.) I did learn a lot about rock stars and life on tour while writing exacerbyte, which was very interesting and fun. And am lucky enough to have a very cool friend who helped me out with that. (This is where y’all run off and buy the album ‘Soul Shifter’ by Lorenza Ponce – don’t question me, just do it!)

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Cat: Recently it was terrorbyte but I have to say – exacerbyte is now my favorite. Yeah, there is this rule, the most recent work is always the favorite… but exacerbyte is certainly worthy of favoritism. Let’s hope the others don’t get too jealous!

If we disregard that rule and I can choose any book I’ve written… I’d be tempted to go with my first, which very few people have ever seen and will ever see. It’s sitting on my hard drive waiting patiently for me to make a decision regarding its future. Meanwhile, two of the characters have made it into The _byte series.

As for short stories, a story titled “Into the Daylight.” It’s the newest story on my blog, and I just like it. Can’t tell you why, because the others are good too – but that one just does it for me. (And no it’s nothing to do with the latest work rule!)

JET: What’s on your ‘to read’ list right now?

Cat: Absolutely nothing! How awful is that? Mostly because I’m smack in the middle of writing and don’t need the distraction. At the moment my waking hours are consumed by writing and music, it’s simultaneous arrangement. I do have plans to read a lot while I am away. (Presuming there will be some down time!)

JET: I understand you will be visiting stateside this year. Do you have any book tour plans for your visit?

Cat: My editor is working on that right now! We’ll see. It will be an awesome trip, and there will be filming for upcoming trailers. Everything is all done now – I even have my authorization to travel from Homeland Security. (That wasn’t at all scary…. Does anyone seriously ever answer yes to the espionage and terrorist question? I had to speak to myself severely and remind my mouse hand that it would not funny to check yes!)

Roll on April!

JET: All right – since you’ve been here before, you know what’s coming next. Yes it’s the geeky quick ten of mine. . . starting with: Leather or Lace?

Cat: Both

JET: Angels or Demons?

Cat: Angels

JET: Paper or Digital?

Cat: oh tricky… I’m going with both

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Cat: cheesy B rated horror

JET: Twilight or True Blood?

Cat: NEITHER – I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Cat: Both. Although I do love the joy of discovering those unknown books.

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Cat: Ain’t gonna happen – and if it does will probably be my birthday 12/12/12 (I kid you not)

JET: Sword wielding ninja or Gun toting momma?

Cat: Not a fan of blades. Going with Gun toting momma.

JET: Chocolate bar or Ice cream cone?

Cat: Chocolate

JET: Classic werewolf or Modern werewolf?

Cat: Classic

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Cat: Flashbyte - my publisher is looking forward to it. This is the same woman who told me I out did myself with exacerbyte – no pressure, right? (and a new _byte book has just emerged… it’s got diamonds and thievery.)

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog.

Cat: Thank you for having me over!


Folks, you can find out more about Cat Connor and her work at the following places:

Blog http://catconnor.blogspot.com/

Website http://catconnor.wordpress.com/

Publisher http://www.rebelepublishers.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cat-Connor/76140493745


Thanks for joining us today. Next week I have Thea Atkinson on my blog. Swing by and say hello!

Until then,

Ciao.

JET

Dishing it up with Cat Connor - comment and win a free Mobipocket copy of killerbyte or terrorbyte!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Well, not quite yet since it’s very early on Friday - New York time - but close enough. After all, it IS already Friday for today’s guest.

I’m thrilled to have fabulous crime thriller writer and fellow Backspace member Cat Connor on my blog for a little Q & A. Cat has been wonderful enough to offer an electronic copy of each of her books to those that comment today.

I’ll draw two names over the weekend and let everyone know who the winners are and then we’ll get you a Mobipocket copy of either killerbyte (first name drawn) or terrorbyte (second name drawn)! If you don’t have a Kindle - you can download the software onto your computer for free like I did when I bought her books!

Before I get into my questions, here’s a little information about Cat. She lives in Upper Hutt, New Zealand (slightly north of Wellington), with her husband and children.


In the last few years her short stories have appeared in ThrillerUK, Mystericale, Bewildering stories, T-zero, The Writers Post Journal and Conceit Magazine.

The idea for her first Conway novel, killerbyte, came about after Cat received a string of death threats while co-running a poetry chat room, back in the days of MSN chat. The thought that people could get so nasty online fascinated her - and it still does.

I really had fun dreaming up questions for Cat and without further babbling - here they are:

[JET] Being in New Zealand, you're more than half a day ahead of us New Englanders, which is kind of cool - you get to celebrate New Years before most of the world.

Has that had any effect on communications and US based marketing of your books?

[Cat] We actually get to celebrate New Year before anyone else. Down here in NZ we are first! This is nice, because a lot of the time this feels like the end of the earth not the beginning.

It does effect marketing etc, simply because I am in the future. Interviews, reviews etc are always a day late for me! When killerbyte was released it was Northern Hemisphere April 10th 2009 – we had the party on April 10th but no one could buy the book yet down here!! Mostly I remind people I’m dealing with that I will be asleep when they’re trying to email me and that it is a day ahead for me.

Of course there’s always one who can’t figure out the time zone thing, or can’t use a cell phone correctly. 

[JET] What kinds of guns have you had the opportunity to shoot? Favorites?

[Cat] I’m a Glock girl. Preferring a Glock 17 to any other hand gun. Hubby will tell ya that Sig out strip Glock hands down… but he’s wrong. 

[JET] Have you ever seen a dead body? How has that influenced your writing?

[Cat] Yep. Don’t know that it influenced my writing as such, just gave me a good feel for death and how quickly the human essence leaves the body. A dead body is just like a live body but no one’s home and the whole cloudy eye thing is totally creepy.

I understand the process of grief as it affects me and those around me, which makes it easier to write scenes of that nature for Ellie and other characters. Life is fleeting. (And now I hear the Rocky Horror Picture Show sound track playing in my head!)

[JET] Was writing thrillers a conscious choice or was it just a natural affinity? Why do you think that is?

[Cat] It wasn’t a conscious choice. It just happened that way. I briefly tried to write a romance once… ended up with five plot threads including a kidnapping, oh and no romance.

Writing thrillers mostly grew from frustration. I couldn’t find a decent book I wanted to read. (Gosh never heard a writer say that before – eyes are rolling in all directions!) One with a female protagonist who wasn’t a blubbering idiot. For a while there it seemed like women were portrayed as hard-faced bitches who no one wanted to be around or were simply too stupid to live. Where were the real women? The solution for me was obvious… write the book I wanted to read. So I did. I did it a few times before I got it right. Although my early books came up in conversation just yesterday and I promised that when I have time I will dust them off and see how they measure up now.

[JET] What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

[Cat] The stupidity of others. That’s kinda harsh but it’s true. I’ve come across a lot of stupid in this business, when it’s mixed with greed and over-extension it impacts badly on authors. I was unlucky enough to be caught for over six months by the bankruptcy of a publisher. BUT – let me stress the silver lining here… they were obviously not the publisher I was supposed to go with. I learned a lot about what I didn’t want in a publisher and in editors! The thing is, if they hadn’t gone under I’d be screwed now. I would not be in the excellent position I’m in now with a publisher I love and an editor I adore. So it was a shitty situation that turned up a huge silver lining. (Golden even!)

[JET] What was your favorite moment in the journey?

[Cat] There have been quite a few. Having Rebel E Publishers accept killerbyte back in Jan 2009. HUGE excitement. Killerbyte’s release on April 10th 2009. Having terrorbyte accepted, and its subsequent release on Nov 10th. The incredible reviews both books have received. The year has been astounding.

The following happened within twenty-four hours on May 8th- May 9th 2010. My most current favorite moment was seeing the Mobipocket Best seller list for Suspense & Thrillers – with KILLERBYTE at #2. (and it didn’t hurt that Lee Child is now below me on the list!, lol)

But then someone I greatly admire tweeted that she’d bought killerbyte! (Lorenza Ponce is the most amazing musician and singer/song writer. I urge you to check out her album Soul Shifter!)

And then… later the same day… my wonderful publisher told me that we have paperbacks now. They’ll be available through Ingram’s in a week. Now that’s pretty freaking groovacious. THEN… I clicked my Amazon author page and discovered the paperbacks are there and in stock!!! No doubt you all heard me squealing over that!

Pick one? Can’t be done!!

[JET] Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

[Cat] Growing up (not sure that’s actually happened yet…) Willard Price had a huge influence on me. I loved The Adventure Series and read every one of them several times over. My favorite was The South Sea Adventure. I also loved Zane Grey, S.E. Hinton, Alexander Dumas, Sir Walter Scott’s - Ivanhoe mostly because I loved the portrayal of Robin Hood within the text. Now there’s a real man.

I wasn’t fond of girly stories, there wasn’t enough action and they all needed saving… so not my thing! Unless of course a weta is involved, then I absolutely see the need for a big strong male to save the day. You will not get me near a weta.

[JET] When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

[Cat] I can’t recall when I made a conscious decision to toss myself into the deep end. However, I do recall wanting to give up several hundred times. Those days when you get nothing but rejections are a killer in the beginning. Until of course you realize they’re not personal.

[JET] Any advice for the novices out there?

[Cat] Join Backspace. No seriously, do it. It’s the best place in the world to get the help, support, pants kickings you need throughout a writing career.

Actually I feel kinda bad lately, I’ve been so busy selling books I haven’t spent as much time at Backspace as I used to, pre-publication. But the joy of Backspace is it’s always there waiting and pleased to see you when you get back from adventures.

As for other advice, grow a thick skin. The no’s don’t stop coming once you’re published they’re just worded better.

It isn’t personal. Remember that. If someone doesn’t like your work and you honestly know its good, move on. You can’t please everyone all the time. BUT, you can please yourself, and if you’re not doing that, then you should take a long hard look at what’s going on.

Be open to advice and suggestions. It’s your choice whether to follow it or not. Do not allow yourself to be bullied by well meaning friends, it’s your story!

Above all else…have fun! Writing is fun. If it wasn’t I wouldn’t do it. Because if it wasn’t fun it’d be damn hard to get through the rejection years and stick it out until the good stuff started happening. There has to be balance!

[JET] We all know you are a major Bon Jovi fan, or at least those that follow you on any of the networking sites or have read your books - so my music related question is - Have you ever met Bon Jovi?

[Cat] I have been to a concert, yes just the one. Living in New Zealand makes it kinda hard to attend concerts! It astounds me when I come across people who go to five-ten concerts each tour. (There are people that do more than that –they follow the band across Europe and the States!) Obsession springs to mind.

I would like to meet Bon Jovi, I think they’d be truly interesting people to talk to. I would love to talk writing with them .The song writing thing fascinates me. Novels and short stories are one thing but how the hell do you tell a story in a song and make it work, seriously how? Interesting stuff.( And for the sake of the new novel, really interesting. You’ll have to wait and see why.)

For me it’s the music that’s important, not so much the live act. I use music to drown the world out so I can write. Certain songs will stick with me and they become the switch that engages my brain for work. When writing Terrorbyte it was all Bon Jovi, but maybe not what most people listen too. I chose tracks mainly from 100,000,000 Fans Can’t Be Wrong. Because that’s what worked for me during the process. You can clearly see what I was listening to while writing both books by checking out the chapter titles. (There are playlists on my website)

Of course the great thing about having so much music tied up with the books is that release party music was dead easy, simply a matter of compiling a playlist from all the CD’s piled up next to my desk!

[JET] All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with Paper or Plastic?

[Cat] Paper - renewable resource.

[JET] Steak or Tofu?

[Cat] Steak – Tofu is poison. (Soy allergy and plus Soy is poison, lol)

[JET] Beach or Mountains?

[Cat] Both – I like craggy cliffs overlooking the sea and mountains. From my windows I can see mountains. It’s awesome. My favorite place is Mahau Sound, beach surrounded by Mountains and high hills!!

[JET] Country or Rock-n-Roll?

[Cat] Both – I love country music but I also love rock and heavy metal and blues and…well you get the idea!

[JET] Classics or Modern?

[Cat] Both!

[JET] Vamps or Wolves?

[Cat] Absolutely hate vampires. Can’t stand vampire books, movies, or anything mildly leaning toward vampires. Wolves I adore. Even the were variety. :-)

[JET] Zombies or Demons?

[Cat] Hard choice… I’m partial to zombies cos I know how to kill them (thank you Sir Peter Jackson). Demons are interesting, hard to kill, and downright evil. (although if it meant having Dean from Supernatural pop over…)

[JET] Horror or Comedy?

[Cat] Both. Sometimes horror is comedy, albeit unintentional. (Preferring suspense/thriller over either but there is usually comedy somewhere.)

[JET] Salty or Sweet?

[Cat] Both. I do use a lot of salt… I know, naughty, but in my defense we have no iodine occurring naturally in our soil so iodized salt is necessary. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it) Actually thinking about it… I like bitter chocolate, so sweet not so much.

[JET] Coffee or Tea?

[Cat] Both. I drink coffee all day and tea at night. Some will have you believe I prefer tequila over both, but in fact it’s Browns Brothers Dolcetto & Syrah that I find irresistible these days. But only after dark, and only on special occasions… ya know, to celebrate. The rabbit’s birthday, the cat’s birthday, anyone’s birthday, hitting number two on the Mobipocket suspense thriller best seller list!!



[JET] Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

[Cat] I’m working on a re-vamping of book three, exacabyte. This is the bit I really enjoy, the re-vamping, editing, tweaking of stories and adding/ripping out of scenes. For me it’s more fun than the initial writing. Everything’s already there now, it’s just a matter of bringing some elements closer to the surface and maybe burying some others and throwing a good measure of blood at some walls.

Thanks for having me over Jane! I rather enjoyed your questions.

Cat xx

[JET] Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Cat and her work at the following places:

Blog http://catconnor.blogspot.com/

Website http://catconnor.wordpress.com/

Publisher http://www.rebelepublishers.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cat-Connor/76140493745


Next week I'll be talking about my publishing journey and highlighting some June releases - have a great week!

Ciao.

JET