Real-life heroes and heroines

My husband’s addiction to The History Channel can be a good or bad thing. Bad when it’s a seeming replay of war and all its related weapons (in much too much gory detail) but good when it sparks a story idea. Some time ago, a feature about the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco caught both our attentions.

Like most story ideas, it gelled in my brain awhile, niggling at me to learn more. Being the research addict I am, I trolled the Web and found a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told. Stories of real-life heroes and heroines who overcame immense odds to rebuild the city after its worst tragedy to date.

Before the great quake, San Francisco was one hot city. The ninth largest in the U.S., it was home to 400,000 people, and rife with crime, prostitution, opium dives and most any vice you can imagine, mostly concentrated in the Barbary District. There, the city’s Vice Squad – for a price, of course – turned a blind eye to the scandalous dance halls, peep shows and whorehouses. More tame fun awaited at the Chutes and Zoo, an amusement park, or the Golden Gate Donkey Rides, where children could ride in goat carts or on donkeys.

Ragtime music was in its heyday, and Enrico Caruso enjoyed immense popularity – he was actually in town during the quake, having performed the night before at the Grand Operahouse.

While Enrico survived the earthquake, not much else in the city did. The Richter Scale had not yet been invented, but geologists estimate the quake to be equal to 7.8, and more than 270 miles of the San Andreas Fault ruptured. More than 3000 people lost their lives, either during the quake or in the resulting fires that destroyed what the quake had left.

The Golden Gate Bridge had not yet been constructed, so residents used the ferry to get back and forth to outlying islands. Trying to crowd onto that ferry to escape the devasation, more lost their lives.

How the survivors managed to carry on, I don’t know. But they did, in an incredible, roll-up-your-sleeves and get-down-to-business way. After President Teddy Roosevelt sent the military with wagonloads of rations, people set up tent cities, food lines and began cleanup efforts. Businesses reopened within days, as shopkeepers were determined to rebuild. Again, every single story told of actual heroes, many who never found recognition for their amazing courage.

In real life, such disaster is heartwrenching. In fiction, it’s fodder for a great story, especially when it has such a hopeful aftermath. I loved placing my heroine and hero in these circumstances. Already down and out, Norah Hawkins and Gerard “Mac” MacKenzie are looking for a better life in San Francisco. Do they find it? Well, you’ll have to read the story to find out. :)

And as of today, you can! It's release day for my historical novella Betting It All! Woot! :)

Here’s the blurb:

Norah Hawkins wants a new life as far from her old one as possible, but where can she ever find that chance? When a letter arrives promising her the deed to property in San Francisco, Norah packs her bags and flees the broken shards of her troubled past.

With its anything-goes atmosphere, 1906 San Francisco suits Irishman Gerard MacKenzie just fine. He loves tending bar in Norah’s saloon, and verbally sparring with the shrewd businesswoman for more privileges and work. Her beauty, wit and sass make his blood boil with need.

But disaster looms over their promising new lives when a terrible earthquake buries their dreams and threatens to shatter their future. Norah and Mac must rebuild their lives from the ruins and they’ll need each other more than ever, but can their ties to each other save them or tear them apart? 

  

Available from:

Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=823&osCsid=hdmana51khc0lq5rr15a5sl3i5  

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Betting-it-All-ebook/dp/B00EJQDMHY/ref=sr_1_34?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376520296&sr=1-3

All Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bettingitall-1268390-340.html

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116477095?ean=2940148442585

About Cate

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

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Book birthday party on Saturday, Aug. 3

Lisa's post below was a great lead-in for the Facebook party I planned for tomorrow. :) Thanks Lisa!

Hard to believe it, but my paranormal, Death Is A Bitch, was published one year ago tomorrow. To celebrate, I'm throwing a Facebook party. You're invited!

Even though my Death isn't a scary skeleton in a hood carrying a scythe, they have such cute stuff with skeleton designs, I couldn't resist grabbing a few for giveaways.

One party attendee each who correctly answers trivia about Death and her cohorts will receive these super cute items:

Change purse (sorry to make you tilt your head lol)

Socks - girls' size up to 10, so would fit a small woman's foot :)

Scarf

Book swag - 1 oversized magnet and bookmarks

And 1 ebook of Death Is A Bitch! This giveaway is international. Those shown above are U.S. only, sorry.

Even if you don't want them for yourself (or already have a copy of Death Is A Bitch, in which case thank you very much!), it's never too early to stock up on presents for Christmas. :)

Sign up for Saturday's event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/417270428391691/
and invite your friends to do the same! Don't miss out on a chance to party with Death.

Partying on Facebook

Last night, I attended a Facebook Book Launch Party for Michelle Weidenbenner's debut novel, Cache a Predator. I'd never been to an event like this before, and I had no idea what to expect.

Michelle had hired the Release Day Diva to put the party together for her and these two ladies made quite a team. Michelle was the hostess, chatting with her guests and sparking conversation, and Jessi (Release Day Diva) was the party planner who kept things moving.

And move they did! It was a four-hour event, and my circumstances dictated that I pop in and out, but even then it was easy to follow what was going on. During those four hours, Michelle gave away 12 prizes, ranging from gift certificates to a signed copy and an opportunity to be a character in her next book. Guests interacted a la Facebook, answering questions, commenting on posts and liking comments posted by other attendees. It didn't matter in the least that guests didn't all know each other. There was no awkwardness, and the atmosphere was festive and celebratory.

Pretty cool way to launch a book.

As authors, we wear many hats, something I've written about on this blog before. Many of us are introverts and find it anywhere from uncomfortable to downright difficult to blow our own horns and promote our own work. But in this rapid, ever-changing publishing climate, she who does not publicize is lost. Dead in the water, her book adrift in a sea of other works.

That was what I found so intriguing about this Facebook Book Launch. It was a book launch without the BUY MY BOOK! frenzy that can turn off both authors and potential readers. It was fun.

Admittedly, it could have been an entirely different scenario in the hands of a loudly self-promoting author. But in the hands of these two ladies, it was a wonderful experience. So wonderful, in fact, that I contacted Jessi and asked for her information because when my book comes out later this year, you can bet I want her in my corner.

Thanks, ladies. Who says Facebook can't be fun?

Muse lightning

I've always liked to joke that my muse has ADD. She never lets me finish one project before tossing more story ideas at me. Sometimes, the stories come out of the blue. Muse lightning. The idea strikes fast, and I have to capture it before it disappears.

Wild Life was like that. The news accounts of the private zoo owner in Ohio committing suicide in 2011 caught my attention - and my muse's. According to the online articles I read, a few animals escaped before authorities could reach the zoo, but most hovered near the fence, afraid and confused. Imminent nightfall forced the hard decision not to risk use of tranquilizer, but to shoot to kill. One person described this real-life tragedy as “Noah’s ark wrecked.” But what if the opposite had occurred, and most of the animals had escaped to invade the town?

In Wild Life, the fictional residents of Tarryville, Ohio, find out. As each person comes face to face with an exotic animal, hidden truths are revealed, and each likewise comes face to face with the harsh reality of their own lives. Perspectives, and priorities, can alter in an instant during unexpected events.

Written under my mainstream pen name of C.A. Masterson, Wild Life releases today from Sunbury Press.

Learn more about my mainstream, literary and speculative fiction at http://paintingfirewithwords.blogspot.com/

One week from today!

Every release day is exciting! Bringing a new story into the world is a bit of a nail biting experience, but also a thrill. Decadent Publishing moved up the release date from Aug. 2 to July 26 for Cinderella Dreams!

This short story was actually one of my first to get published with The Wild Rose Press, back in 2009. The rights returned to me, and I revised it with a time travel twist for Decadent Publishing's 1Night Stand series. A very popular series, perhaps because Madame Evangeline, the matchmaker, is so mysterious. She's arranged dates as early as the 1800s, and in this story, helps my heroine, Gen Fuller, return to her past. One date with "the one who got away" - but it's up to Gen to make sure she gets her happy ending.

I hope you'll take a trip back in time with her! Watch my blog for release details: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

Looking for a Great Summer Read?

So excited to see that Susan Gabriel's wonderful, lyrical book, The Secret Sense of Wildflower, is now available as an audio book.

I'm posting Susan's announcement here, along with some super reviews for the print book, including a Kirkus Reviews’  Best Books.

So here's Susan's latest news:

Do you enjoy HEARING a great story? I know I do – it’s the original form of receiving stories, after all, from our parents, teachers and even our cavemen and women ancestors. Stories are how we connect.

So I’m very excited to announce that the audio book of The Secret Sense of Wildflower is finally ready to download to your computer or MP3 devices! What I enjoyed most about the process was literally breathing life into the characters and falling in love with them once again.

Readers write

“The Secret Sense of Wildflower is a historical fiction novel that plays on themes of perseverance, kinship, grief, and the remarkable strength of Louisa May “Wildflower” . . . I am a true lover of historical fiction and I would recommend this novel for any reader looking for an inspiring, intense, and deeply thoughtful story. The Secret Sense of Wildflower is indeed a book that deserves recognition for its beautifully crafted prose, well written characters, and expertly descriptive landscapes.” — Samantha J. Moore, OneTitle Reviews

“Probably one of the best surprises this year almost slipped by me…It turned out to be one of my favorite reads this year… This is a story of family, loyalty, forgiveness and love…This is the type of book that I crave to read. It’s beautifully written in lyrical prose that I found myself slowing down to re-read. It has such a deep familial core, yet also has a darkness that makes you keep reading.. All of the characters are so true to the era and Appalachian culture and are all very believable. It is a true Southern tale. There are both great relationships and some very difficult ones that add even more layers to this story… What I really like is that Wildflower is telling the story from her own perspective. It brings such an innocent honesty that grabs your heart and doesn’t let go. I’m a sucker for a story told through a child’s eye and Ms. Gabriel interprets this protagonist beautifully. Though it has some disturbing moments, the story, as a whole, is wonderful and shouldn’t be missed. This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a long while and recommend it highly.”  - Lisa Evans, Southern Girl Reads

“…this story will move you as it twists and turns and eventually connects the dots left behind whilst developing into a work more than worth the read.  Yes…it’s THAT good… I found the story completely enveloping.  You laughed when the characters laughed, grieved when they grieved and sought happier places when the ugliness of the world presented itself front and center.  In some ways it reminded me of the infamous To Kill A Mockingbird; perhaps because of the young narrator and the strong voice with which she was blessed, perhaps because of the time and setting used, or perhaps simply because it was that striking of a work.  Whatever the reason, it left its mark on me and for that I can only extend my thanks to the author with sincerity from the bottom of my heart…a masterpiece; plain, simple, and resilient like the flowers the young lead is named for. – Gina Reba, Insatiable Readers

 "I was pretty blown away by how good this book is. I didn’t read it with any expectations, hadn’t heard anything about it really, so when I read it, I realized from page one that it is a well written, powerful book.” – Erin Beard, Quixotic Magpie

“The story is told from the point of view of Wildflower, which really makes the story even more powerful. I thought the author did a great job of capturing Wildflower. In some ways, she’s wise beyond her years, which makes her incredibly strong and resilient. In other ways, she is still very much a 14 year old girl. At that age, it’s easy to think that you’re really invincible and this is exactly what gets Wildflower into trouble, but her strength and resilience is what helps her find her way back . . . Bottom line: A great story about a strong character!” Meg, A Bookish Affair

The Secret Sense of Wildflower received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews 

Named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2012!

“In this novel, life turns toward a dark horizon for a precocious adolescent grieving for her father in 1941 Tennessee.

“It’s difficult to harbor secrets in a rural mountain town of maybe 80 souls, especially when adult siblings live within spitting distance of the family home. Most of the townsmen work at the sawmill, and most of the young women have been harassed at one time or another by creepy Johnny Monroe. But Louisa May McAllister, nicknamed Wildflower, knows that revealing her frequent forays to the cemetery, where she talks to her beloved late father, would only rile her embittered mother. She also knows to hide her “secret sense,” as it would evoke scorn from all save eccentric Aunt Sadie, who shares her tomboy niece’s gift.

“Those secrets come at a cost when, on one of her graveyard visits, Louisa May ignores her premonition of danger. The consequences—somewhat expected yet still horrific—are buffered by the visions into which the 13-year-old escapes. Sharp-witted, strong, curious and distrustful of authority figures not living up to her standards—including God—Louisa May immerses us in her world with astute observations and wonderfully turned phrases, with nary a cliché to be found. She could be an adolescent Scout Finch, had Scout’s father died unexpectedly and her life taken a bad turn.

“Though her story is full of pathos and loss, her sorrow is genuine and refreshingly free of self-pity. She accepts that she and her mother are “like vinegar and soda, always reacting,” that her best friend has grown distant, and that despite the preacher’s condemnation, a young suicide victim should be sent “to the head of heaven’s line.” Her connection to the land—a presence as vividly portrayed as any character—makes her compassionate but tough; she’s as willing to see trees as angels as she is to join her brothers-in-law in seeking revenge. By necessity, Louisa May grows up quickly, but by her secret sense, she also understands forgiveness. A quietly powerful story, at times harrowing but ultimately a joy to read.”

The worlds of family, friendship, mourning, courage and love are explored in this moving, often humorous, novel about healing and hope. A character-driven novel reminiscent of the work of Reynolds Price in its ability to create a truly original Southern voice, The Secret Sense of Wildflower is certain to be embraced by fans of Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees) and Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird).

And for those of you who prefer a printed book, you can get an autographed copy here.