Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. Today we have an interview with paranormal romance and time-travel fantasy author, Catherine Bybee, about her paranormal romance novella, Soul Mate. If you'd like to read the back-cover-blurb for Soul Mate click the following link and scroll down to product description: Soul Mate Description. And make sure you check back Wednesday for my review of Soul Mate. Enjoy!Welcome to Nocturnal Readings, Catherine! Let's go ahead and get started.
Soul Mate is not your first published novella and you’ve had other novels published previously, how did it feel to find out you would be published for the very first time?
The very first time you hear your work is going to be published is a combination of ‘about damn time’ and ‘Whoo to the Hoo, baby’. There is a validation that only happens when a publisher nods. You can have everyone and their brother read your work, but when a bonifide editor from a real publishing house says ‘yes’ there’s nothing like it in the world for an author. At least for me anyway.
The MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy, your first three novels and several other novellas, released before Soul Mate. Which were you most excited about?
First of all… this is true, and not so true. This is actually the second release of Soul Mate. The first publisher that had this novella and I had a falling out. *Always search the preditors and editors bad publisher list* - So the first version of Soul Mate was one of my first books out. I’ve made several changes to the book between publishers… but it was one of my first books finished and published.
As for what I’m most excited about… Wow, that’s like asking which of my kids I like more. It’s hard for me to do. I like them all but for different reasons. Binding Vows, my first full length time travel was also my first print book. And no matter how amazing it is to see people read my book in whatever format they like, holding my book in my hand was a dream realized. I grew up with print books and think they will always have a place on my shelf. Sadly, I think the future will phase them out.
What was your inspiration and how long did it take you to write Soul Mate?
My family and I were camping up in the Sequoias a few years back and a full moon started peaking over the mountain. The opening scene to Soul Mate unfolded in my head and off I went. I liked the idea of a female were and a human hero. For me it all worked.
Tell us a little about your main characters. Who did you create first?
Kari is smart, cunning and resourceful. She’s one step ahead of the bad guys and the cops which makes her the perfect heroine. Nick is smart, cunning and resourceful, but always a tiny step behind Kari and it drives him crazy. I created Kari first and needed to mold the perfect hero for her with Nick.
Which characters were the hardest/easiest to write and why?
No one in Soul Mate was hard to write. Because this is a novella length read, the history of the characters isn’t shoved into the mind of the reader. This is actually harder for a writer to do.
What was the biggest challenge for you in writing Soul Mate?
Keeping Soul Mate a novella length book was probably the biggest challenge. If there is one thing I hear about this story is that the readers wish it was longer. I did add a couple of scenes to this book between publishers to help ease that, but still readers wanted more. Sometimes as a writer, the story unfolds fast and the characters drive it to be a longer read, or a shorter read. When a writer forces a book to be longer, the book feels forced. We’ve all read books with a sagging middle. I think Soul Mate might have become that had I forced myself to add more to it.
If you could tell us one fun fact about any of your characters, who and what would it be?
One of my best friends growing up is named Kari. She loved wolves as a teenager… long before the werewolf craze. She’s all grown up now and does carry a 9mm for her day job. Although Nick is the Fed in this book, Kari was my inspiration for him.
Can you tell us about what you’re currently working on?
I’m working on a couple of things. Highland Shifter, is the 4th book in my time travel series. Simon, the son of the heroine in the 3rd book is all grown up and in need of his HEA (Happily Ever After). Like the title suggests, he’s a shifter. Those of you who’ve read the series already know this about him. I have the amazing job of combining time travel with shifters placed in a sometimes highland setting. Yeah me.
I’m also working on the complete opposite of the spectrum with a contemporary I’m self publishing titled Wife by Wednesday. There isn’t one paranormal bone in this story. It’s all in the 21st century with a rich man and the woman he loves.
Without giving too much away, what’s your favorite scene in the novella? How did you feel when you completed that scene?
I love the tease scene… where Nick is trying to get Kari to go out with him. He says all the right things and she plays him so well he’s like a string about to pop. I love it.
What’s your favorite line from the story?
“…dinner you know kind of like breakfast only later and with wine.”
If you could go back to when you were writing your first novel, what advice would you give yourself?
Be prepared to revise, revise, revise!
Which authors have most influenced your writing?
Nora Roberts has an amazing diversity in her writing. Paranormal, contemporary, suspense. I like that. It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up one of her books, but I love that she hasn’t been stuck in a rut and unable to write different things.
Favorite book?
Oh, man… so hard to pick one. For paranormal romance, I’m going to pick Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher. I have to pick something recent, so I’ll go with that. The books that guided me were much older though.
Favorite author?
Kathleen Woodwiss will go down as my favorite.
What are you currently reading?
The Lost by Caridad Pinero
Favorite Soul Mate character and why?
Kari – She’s strong and willing to go the extra mile to right the wrongs of this world.
Thanks again for stopping by, Catherine! We're glad to have you any time!
For more information on Catherine and her work, or where you can purchase a copy of her novella/novels, you can find her at the following places:
Website: www.catherinebybee.com
Twitter: @catherinebybee
Publisher Website e-book: www.thewildrosepress.com
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/catherine-bybee?store=book
Hope you all enjoyed the interview! Make sure you check back on Wednesday for the review! Til then! ;-)
Thanks again for having me here today, Kat.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! Glad to have you. =)
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Catherine! Soul Mate sounds like an awesome story. I love the twist of the heroine being the were instead of the hero.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with it!
Thanks for stopping by, Susan.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Catherine. And kudos to you for writing a novella! I know that sounds strange to a lot of people, but I don't know that I could do it. Every time I begin to write, the book just gets longer and longer. :-)
ReplyDeleteSoul Mate sounds like a wonderful read! Adding it to my TBR list right now.
Susan and Sarah--Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed Catherine's interview =)
ReplyDeleteI've written books like that too, Sarah. Thanks for coming by.
ReplyDelete