Cate Masters on Design for Life

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with Cate Masters, author of Design for Life, available from The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb: Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.

Welcome, Cate. Love the colorful cover!

Cate: Hi Emma! It’s a pleasure to be here.

Quick questions for you as a reader:

1) Where do you like to settle in for a good read?  I’m a sporadic reader. I keep a paperback or two in my purse so I can sneak in a read at work, or if I find myself waiting somewhere. In nice weather, I like to read outside on my deck, with the hummingbirds flitting by.

(Hummingbirds are such amazing creatures.)

2) What is your favorite genre?  I don’t really have favorites.  I love a great story no matter what the genre, though I tend to lean toward contemporary and paranormal/urban fantasy. But I’ll try anything at least once.

3) What length do you favor…shorts/novellas/novels?  Again, depends on the story. Not every story can be a novel. Some (like Design for Life!) call for less.  I love to dig into a long, juicy novel but time constraints sometimes allow only for shorts.

4) Whose POV do you prefer…hero/heroine/villain?  I’m easy to please – any well-rounded character can pique my interest. Someone I care about and can root for. What I don’t like to read are one-dimensional, predictable characters.

5) Do you like first/second/third person? Of the three, I’m not crazy about second. I understand it’s very difficult to write, but as a reader, it can be difficult to get into a character’s head from second.  First puts you right there, which is great if done right, but third’s the most seamless for me.

Emma: What has been your greatest fear you’ve had to overcome as a writer?

Cate: I don’t know that I’ve had fears so much as obstacles. Sometimes it’s difficult to persist in the face of rejection, but I’ve learned that one publisher’s rejection only means my work isn’t right for that particular pub at that time, and to keep submitting.

Emma: What/who has been your greatest inspiration?

Cate: Too many authors to list! Personally, my parents, who always expected the best from my siblings and me, which made me constantly strive to be better. They both loved to write, too—mostly for themselves, although my mom placed third in a writing contest before I was born.

Emma: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? Do you have a goal?

Cate: To write stories that resonate with readers long after they read the last word.

Emma: What makes your writing unique?

Cate: My overactive imagination paired with a love of language. I hope readers will find my writing fresh, and my stories engaging.

Emma: What appeals to you about your genre?

Cate: I write across a few genres – contemporary, paranormal/fantasy, historical, speculative. It’s too difficult to pick only one!

Emma: How do you deal with criticism?

Cate: Luckily, I’ve had pretty great reviews so far! My critique partners have known me for years, so I can *almost* guess what they’ll say by this point, lol. And not every reviewer’s going to love everything I write, but reviews are so subjective, it’s counterproductive to let it affect me too negatively (easy to say!).

Emma: What do you do when you hit a wall? (Can’t figure out a character’s emotions, where the plot should go next, etc.)

Cate: I write around it by moving to the next story for awhile. My theory is that a story’s trying to tell you something if you find yourself stuck. Maybe a character needs more development. Maybe the theme’s wrong, or the plot’s headed in the wrong direction. Sometimes by focusing less intently on it, it helps me get a better sense of it overall, and eventually it comes clear.

Emma: What other works have you published?

Cate: The Wild Rose Press also released Seventh Heaven (Sixties-era Vintage short), The Duende and the Muse (Faery fantasy short), and Going with Gravity (Champagne contemporary short)

Eternal Press released One Soul for Sale (dark fantasy novella) and Picture This (contemporary novella)

Freya’s Bower released Wilderness Girl (erotic humorous romance novella), and The Lure of the Vine (dark fantasy short)

Wild Child Publishing released Liberation via Pen (short chick lit/women’s fiction)

Shadowfire Press released Reflections (short dark fantasy)

These titles are coming up in 2010: 

The Bridge Between (women’s fiction novel) and Surfacing (fantasy novel) with Whiskey Creek Press

Angels, Sinners and Madmen (historical novel set in 1850s Key West) with Freya’s Bower

Fever Dreams (contemporary novel with fantasy elements), and Winning (speculative short) with Eternal Press

Another speculative short, Love and War, will be part of a charity fundraising anthology with XOXO Publishing, and Little Episodes will include my poem Invasion in their anthology to raise funds and awareness of mental illness. It’s been such a whirlwind year, I wanted to give something positive back.

(Wow! How inspiring!)

Emma: What are you working on now?

Cate: I just finished up a historical novel that I submitted to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, so fingers crossed! Three novels are circulating with pubs, so my toes are also crossed. :)  About fifteen other WIPs are in various stages, all nagging away: pick me! Pick me! My muse is somewhat ADD. And hyperactive. A good thing, when I can keep her in line.

(LOL! Do our muses know each other by chance?)

Emma: Thank you for your time, Cate, and good luck with your future books!

Cate: Thank you so much, Emma. I’m looking forward to your future offerings too.