Catherine Anne Collins

Nothing to do with writing, but...

2011-07-06T11:22:00.000-04:00

I have amazing dogs. Truly, seriously, special and amazing. Timber and Phantom are not your ordinary house pets by any means. They are livestock guardian dogs (LGD's) and unless you live in farm country you'll probably have no idea what I'm talking about. The breed is Maremma, and their roots go back in history 2000 years or more. Originating in Italy, these dogs would be sent up into the mountains for the summer, along with the herd they were responsible for, and spend months without human contact. Because of the solitary lifestyle and the responsibility of protecting an entire herd, the breed has developed the ability to think for themselves, judge situations and react accordingly.

We bought Timber because the cry of coyotes close to the barn was a constant worry. I love my goats and would be devastated if anything happened to them so I researched ways to protect them. Llamas and donkeys are regularly used for protection but my research revealed that LGD's offered the breeding and instinct that I wanted to protect my babies.

Timber

Timber was two years old and been raised with goats, so he knew exactly what to do with no training from us. When we brought him home, he entered the barnyard and lay down, belly up to the goats. The submissive action let the goats feel safe while they sniffed and stepped all over him. Within a week, Timber had the goats trained to respond to his barks. Barking a warning at nearby predators garners no reaction from the goats, a bark of curiosity or uncertainty, and the goats still ignore him...but if Timber gives his bark with that certain tone to it, the goats come running. No matter where they are or what they're doing, they race to his side and stand in a tightly-knit group until Timber releases them. Don't ask me how he lets them know it's safe because I've watched for the sign, but I have no idea. They just know when they can go back to their previous activities.

Timber is loving, intelligent, sweet-natured, gorgeous and listens to me most of the time. The thing with LGD's is they pretty much do exactly what they want. They'll obey as long as it doesn't conflict with their number one priority...protecting the herd they are responsible for. If they sense danger we don't, you can call them to come as much as you want. They won't do it. If you want to hug or play with them and they know a coyote is in the area...forget it. You no longer exist and you can't bribe them with treats or affection.

Phantom is our younger dog. I lock the goats up in the barn at night and Timber is left alone in the barnyard. Every night when I'd come back to the house and look back at Timber sitting at the fence watching me and looking so sad and forlorn, my heart would wrench. I decided he needed company, not to mention two dogs against a couple of coyotes is much better odds. The thing is that I bought Timber to protect the goats but didn't want him to get hurt, so I bought a second dog to help guard Timber.

Phantom - as a puppy

We'd been fortunate that Timber is friendly and bonded with the goats so well but from what I've seen of how some people train their LGD's, I didn't want to take the chance of bringing home a dog who wouldn't be absolutely socialised and friendly with people. So I bought a puppy. For the first couple of months it was important that he bond with the goats and not with me, so cuddling this cute, fluffy puppy was out of the question for the first while. Now, you have to understand that I've never owned outside dogs before. My dogs have always been spoiled rotten house pets. Keeping a puppy at the barn and not spending all my time there cuddling him was an extremely difficult thing for me to do. I managed, but in spite of my fortitude and period of only minor attention, Phantom decided to love me like crazy anyway. He follows me everywhere when I'm at the barn, lays at my feet, watches every move I make with adoration.

He's so cute. But I do see signs of him becoming a good LGD. For example, when I take my usual morning wheelbarrow full of manure down to the growing pile, Phantom usually stands at the fence and watches every move I make while Timber keeps an eye on the trees and fenceline around me. Just so you know, Timber's action is more correct. He should be watching the surroundings for signs of danger. Watching me doesn't do any good if there's a coyote hiding in the shadows. Anyway, I noticed that Phantom is now starting to focus on what's going on around me instead of staring at me. A step forward for sure. He's great with the goats and watches and mimics Timber. It takes about eighteen months for a dog to become a valuable, valid LGD and Phantom is now one year old, so he's getting there.

Now, what prompted this entire post..I saw a deer and fawn in the back of my neighbours hayfield, so I grabbed my camera and ran back for a photo op. When I climbed the fence, I noticed the doe was stamping, snorting and jumping. I didn't realize why until I saw a coyote. The doe ran at the coyote and then ran away, almost as if leading the coyote. That's when I heard the fawn cry. My blood literally froze. The cry of a baby deer sounds exactly like a baby goat. I screamed NOOOOOOOOOOO and without thinking, ran to the back of the barnyard, opened the gate and set the dogs loose. I yelled at them GO, GO, GO. Boy can they ever run when there's incentive. Now I know some of you are wondering what was I thinking. Trust me, these dogs would not chase the deer, their focus would be totally on the coyotes. By the time I jumped the fence and looked to the back of the hayfield, all was silent. No deer, fawn, coyotes or dogs.

It took three hours for my guys to return home and that's a long time for these dogs to be away from the herd. Timber was limping on three legs and Phantom had some scratches in his ears and on his head. Very minor stuff that healed within a day or two. I have no idea if they tangled with a coyote, or hurt themselves in the dense bush. I have no idea if they got back there quick enough to save the fawn...I'll probably never know. I do know that these dogs are amazing and I can leave my goats in their care with total assurance of safety.

I do have more photos of all my animals on my website:
http://www.catherineannecollins.com/Photos.htm

While you're on my website, why not check out my books as well. If you see something you like, maybe even purchase one. Animals are expensive to feed so look at it like this:

Buy a Book = Feed an Animal

Take care and have a great day,

Catherine

Contest Winner

2011-05-29T16:39:00.000-04:00

Drum Roll Please..and the winner is...Ginger Kenney

Ginger wins:
A cute teddy bear wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with A Witch's Lament cover
A rose quartz pendulum
An instruction book on the many uses of the pendulum.

Congratulations, Ginger.

Many thanks to all who participated in the Crescent Moon Press Blog Tour. I hope you had fun and I can't wait to see who wins the grand prize. Winner will be announced on June 4th on the Crescent Moon Press Blog.

2011-05-25T07:24:00.000-04:00

Crescent Moon Press -

Three Day Blog Tour

WIN A NOOK OR KINDLE FOR THE GRAND PRIZE

My blog prize - Teddy Bear wearing A Witch's Lament t-shirt

(cute enough to cuddle)

Rose Quartz Pendulum

Book on using the Pendulum

Welcome to the Blog Tour, or as I prefer to call it, Blog Hop. A similar idea to what we used to refer to as bar hopping. Not that I ever indulged in the infamous activity of bar hopping as a weekend event. Nope, not me. No way….Have I convinced you yet? I must admit, days when I might have bar hopped are so far in the past that I’d need a serious telescope to be able to see the speck in the distance.

With so many ideas whirling about in my mind for today’s blog, I decided to focus on shameless self-promotion. After all, that’s what this tour is about. Introducing the books of Crescent Moon Press authors to the public. Take a look at our covers.

http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/

Have you ever seen a publisher with such consistently gorgeous covers? I haven’t. I love my latest for A Witch's Legacy. (thanks to Jeannie Ruesch) You can see the cover over on the sidebar. It pulses with otherworldly, mystical energy that makes a person want to pick up the book and find out what’s happening. At least, I hope it does.

A Witch’s Legacy is sequel to A Witch’s Lament, a story about the infamous witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts. You can read it as a standalone but to get the full benefit of the story and timeline, I would suggest reading the first one. As a special treat for visiting my blog today, here is an excerpt of A Witch’s Legacy:

Cold prickles rushed through Cassandra and she froze with mortification. Years of guilt burned in her stomach. Her limbs weakened. Then the anger struck. She slammed her hands to her hips and glared at Samson.

“How dare you say such a thing?” Damn Samson for being an instigator. How dare he resurrect her pain! She wanted to scream at him and demand he apologize for invading her life.

Hot blood rose to her face and without thinking she raised a hand and slapped him. The resounding crack echoed in the still of the late afternoon and Cassandra immediately recoiled from the uncharacteristic violent act.

She waited for him to yell at her, or make a retaliatory move, but he only flared his nostrils and lifted a hand to touch his cheek. When he spoke, his voice rumbled low and he forced words through clenched teeth.

“I dare because people are dying.” Aloof and distant, he continued as if reciting a speech. “There was another dog slaughtered today, so I’m guessing there’ll be another murder tonight.”

He stared at her. Waiting.

A Witch’s Legacy is available as e-book or print and you can find it here:
http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/Authors/CACollins.html
www.catherineannecollins.com/books.html

Now, it’s time for you to do some work.

Nothing difficult because you’re not even halfway through the blog hop yet and I don’t want to wear you out.

1. Email your answer to a simple question (below) to merlinsmuse@xplornet.com This will automatically enter you to win the contest on my blog.

***Question: Where do my books, A Witch’s Lament and A Witch’s Legacy take place.***

I will be awarding a prize to someone who sends me the correct answer. Prize consists of teddy bear wearing t-shirt with A Witch's Lament cover image, a rose quartz pendulum, and a book on using the pendulum.

2. Go to my website: http://www.catherineannecollins.com/ and sign up for the mailing list for my newsletter. The blue and green link at the bottom of the home page says “Join my mailing list”

3. Continue on to the next blog and see what author Kinley Baker has in store for you. I'm sure it'll be something fun. http://authorkinleybaker.blogspot.com/

Note: Crescent Moon Press authors live sea to shining sea. If the next blog has not yet posted for the tour, please check back. The time difference may have created a speed bump. Don't miss out on a chance to win valuable prizes~!

If you get lost, visit CMP blog to find your way back again!

Take care, have fun and GOOD LUCK!

Contest. You could win a Kindle or Nook and e-books from Crescent Moon Press Authors.

2011-05-16T11:05:00.001-04:00

This is such a cool contest, I wish I could participate. Since I can't then good luck to everyone who does. Instructions below, make sure to check back to my blog on Wednesday, May 25 when I post my blog and skill-testing question.

Crescent Moon Press

Memorial Day Weekend Bash~!

Three Day Blog Tour

May 24th, 25th & 26th

Prizes at every stop

Grand Prize Nook or Kindle, Your Choice

Every stop along the way will have a posted quest

Email your quest answer to the author to enter for great prizes.

Complete all blog tour stops to enter into the grand prize drawing

A Nook or Kindle, Your Choice

BONUS a dozen digital books

Full itinerary will soon be posted on the CMP blog.

All stops must be completed to qualify for the Grand Prize.

You can join the games late. All quests must be completed by May 26th end of day.

All Winners Posted on CMP blog by June 4th.

New Releases

2011-05-16T10:46:00.000-04:00

Hello, people. Thanks for visiting my blog. Again, it's been awhile since my last post. *hangs head in shame* There's so much news I don't know where to begin. I'll start with the best news...I have 2 new releases. Yayyy! It's taken longer than I would have liked getting them to this point, but they are finally available in print and e-book.

A Witch's Legacy, sequel to A Witch's Lament, is the first sequel I've written and I found it difficult to stay focused on the story. With so many other characters and idea racing around in my mind, I don't think I'll be writing another sequel. But, hey, who knows.

I recently visited Salem, Massachussetts for a writers conference. Since this is the setting for both books and A Witch's Legacy is just released, the timing was perfect. If you'd like to read about my ghostly encounters check Hannah Howell's blog on June 6th and you'll get the lowdown.

Solitary Cove is my one and only contemporary novel. No ghosts, magic, paranormal wanderings into another realm. Nope. Just romantic suspense. Again, not something I'm sure I'll attempt again, but it was a story I wanted to write...so I did. :-) For those who have heard of, or read, Barbara Bretton (a wonderful writer) she was gracious enough to give me an author blurb for Solitary Cove. And because I love what she said so much, I'll post it below for you to read.

If you love fast-paced romantic suspense novels peopled with characters you'll cheer for, SOLITARY COVE is the book for you. A seaside village in Nova Scotia, a movie hero with a daughter he barely knows, and a woman on the run from danger equal the perfect formula for a terrific read. Catherine Anne Collins has a winner on her hands!

So how's that for a great blurb from a USA Today Bestselling Author. I'm happy. See me smiling :-)

If you'd like to join the mailing list for my newsletter, you can do so HERE.

Keep checking back, there's more news and great stuff to come.

Talk soon,
Catherine

Seasons Greetings!

2009-12-23T22:36:00.001-05:00

Do you ever have a song play itself in your mind over and over again? It's actually a regular occurrence for me, some kind of OCD I'm sure. :-) I can remember the words for songs I haven't heard in years and my husband can always get me going by repeating two or three words of a song and then I have no choice but to finish the sentence. Then I'm stuck for the day repeating the song in my mind.

Anyway, today's song went like this:

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle-belling
And everyone telling you, Be of Good Cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all...

Well, you get the idea. I know the reason for the season has historically been to celebrate the birth of Christ, but with today's varied belief systems, that is not always the case. I think that no matter what you believe it's not a bad thing to take a portion of the year to celebrate the spirit of giving to others, and caring, not only for loved ones, but for strangers as well. Smile at your waitress, open a door for someone, pay for someone's coffee at the coffeeshop when they realize they don't have any money and the debit machine isn't working. Small things, maybe, but if you do it for a few weeks over the holiday season, who knows, it might become a part of your daily routine. Wouldn't that be a nice world to live in?

I guess what I'm saying is whether you're celebrating the birth of Christ, or just into the whole gift-giving, holiday visiting routine, why not let Christmas be the happiest season of all, the most wonderful time of the year? What's wrong with that? You shouldn't have to believe in Christ to want to be cheerful and help others.

Spread the joy. Love your neighbor. Be Happy.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas!
Catherine

This is just too funny!

2009-11-23T10:22:00.000-05:00

Small Beer Press makes a great parody of the whole Harlequin Horizons fiasco. I laughed so hard that I decided to post a link for others to follow and have a good laugh for the day.

Enjoy!
http://smallbeerpress.com/not-a-journal/2009/11/22/small-beer-press-horizons/

Harlequin Causes Industry Stir

2009-11-21T10:41:00.002-05:00

Okay, I couldn't say it any better than the sites listed below. Check out the whole Harlequin self-publishing fiasco and let me know what you think.

http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2009/11/trouble-on-the-harlequin-horizon.html

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/11/harlequin-hacks.html

http://www.sfwa.org/2009/11/sfwa-statement-on-harlequins-self-publishing-imprint/

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/want-to-self-publish-how-about-harlequin/P300/

Velicicon 2010

2009-11-19T11:51:00.002-05:00

Okay, this is unprecedented...two blog entries in one day. But this subject matter warrants an extra entry. Please read the following:

Velocicon developed from the need for new tools in the paranormal, fantasy and science fiction writing industry. Velocicon will give you the means to take your story ideas out of this world and to the next level.
Dr. Dave Goldberg, keynote speaker for Velocicon 2010, is an Astrophysicist and associate professor from Princeton and Drexel. He will discuss the scientific reality of time travel. He’ll also be available for panel questions later in the day. What an awesome way to get your time travel off the ground and give it a new twist. What an awesome way to fire up you imagination.
We’ll have ghost hunters from TV with all their equipment. They go over a point by point explanation of their technique and equipment. Everything you ever wanted to know and had nowhere to go with your questions.
Barbara E. Szafranski, a celebrated medium and aura specialist will give a workshop explaining her science and customizing her presentation to your questions.
Finally we have a host of multi Award Winning Authors; Judy McCoy, John Grant, Isabo Kelly, Leanna Renee Hieber, who will bring it all together for you. Show you how to take all this new information, build on it and weave it into your story.
This is a conference like no other. This is Velocicon and we hope you can join us, March 6th at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank New Jersey.

Velocicon
www.velocicon.com

Marketing-What works for you?

2009-11-19T11:08:00.002-05:00

I love to write. I hate to market.

I admit it, I could easily be a hermit. Heck, I'm already half-way there as it is. The best day is one where I don't have to leave home. I can write, spend time with my animals, go for a walk in the woods, clean the barn, lug some straw and hay...there's always something to do on a farm. When I do go to work, it's part-time on a goat farm where I spend more time with the animals than the people. Ahhh, the good life. :-)

So, what I'm getting at is that for me writing is the easy part of the equation. When it comes to marketing my books..."What do you mean I have to talk to people? Interact with them on a regular basis. Oh, no." (picture me clutching my head in my hands and shaking it).

Okay, I'm exaggerating slightly, but the truth is just as hard to take. Where do you begin? What even works these days. So many avenues are available that it's mind boggling to even figure out where to spend your time and money. EVERYONE seems to be sending out e-mail blasts, newsletters, etc. I think it's been overdone to death and people are fed up with receiving so many e-mails in the course of a day that they end up deleting a lot of them unread. Newspaper advertising might work locally, but that's not where you'll make your money. Google ads, facebook ads, social sites everywhere you look. Yahoo and google writing groups, but from what I can see everyone else is there to sell their books, as well. Yikes, it's mind boggling.

As every other published author who'd like to see their book sales soar, I've spent money, time, energy, and done a ton of research with minor results. So what really works?

Here is a very interesting link that deals quite succinctly with marketing and promotion

www.freepublicitygroup.com/marketing_manifesto.html

So, why not share what works for you and your books.

Have a great day,
Catherine

Free Short Story

2009-10-22T21:26:00.002-04:00

Just a short note to let you know that my publisher, Crescent Moon Press, has posted one of my short stories on their website as a free read. The story is titled, A Lifetime to Love
and is my take on the Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot love story...with a twist. :-)

This is the link that will take you directly to the story:
http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/Glade/ALifetimeToLove.html

While there, why not browse some of the books offered in the Shoppe. If you haven't read my latest, A Witch's Lament, you'll find it offered for sale as well.

Have a great day,
Catherine

What to write?

2009-09-22T20:02:00.002-04:00

That is the question. You'd think that being a writer, I'd find it easy to write a blog entry. The thing is, I can never think of anything to write. I open my blog, look at the blank page and have nothing to say.

Isn't that awful?

The thing is, I have a million stories rolling around in my mind and not nearly enough time to write them, so why can't I write a simple blog entry? Hmmm, I suppose that I function better in a fictional world. I can create, mold, shape and bring to life characters and places, but ask me to talk (write) about something real and I can't quite seem to shift into that gear.

So, since my brain doesn't seem to want to work today and I feel the need to give you some worthy tidbit of information, I'll let someone else do the work. Check out this site for some basic and interesting mythbusting information on writing and publishing.

http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/get-real-publishing-myths-exposed-562837.html

Have a great night,
Cathy

Guest Author at Romance Junkies

2009-09-15T22:04:00.002-04:00

Take a minute to check out the link below and see what I wrote over at Romance Junkies.

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/?p=576#comments

The Wow Factor

2009-08-16T22:09:00.002-04:00

Wow. I have my first deadline.

Up until now I've written on a loose schedule, never having a reason to write other than the urge that drives me to create. Sporadic, maybe, but I managed to complete 5 manuscripts, get a good start on 2 others and write a few short stories. I lived through the drawer full (and I do mean full) of rejection slips and make it through the typical writer's lack of confidence. After the usual process of submitting my manuscripts and waiting for another rejection (or not), I've had 4 of my manuscripts published.

Well, Crescent Moon Press, publisher of my book, A Witch's Lament, loved the book so much they contracted me to write the sequel. I was expecting to write the book and submit for acceptance, but they sent me a contract to sign. How cool! They trust in me and my writing enough to give me a contract on a book that hasn't been written yet. Wow. I'm thrilled.

Now, I have no choice. If I want to finish the manuscript in time, I have to write every day and I have to say, I'm kind of enjoying the pressure. I love to write but have a terrible habit of procrastinating...the goats can be a very tempting time waster. Especially in the nice weather.

Writing every day makes it easier to keep in the mood and up to date on what's going on in the story, so I think it makes for a more even flow.

Anyway, gotta go...I've got a book to write. :-)

Barbara Bretton loves my book!

2009-07-18T22:07:00.002-04:00

Yep, it's the truth. I was fortunate enough to win a critique from Barbara Bretton at an auction a few years ago. At the time, my manuscript was titled Sweet Dreams in a Small Town, and upon reading the first 3 chapters, Barbara sent me the most amazing critique. It was a time when her encouragement and positive comments were appreciated and needed.

It took awhile and a couple of other manuscripts written before I was able to find a publisher for the manuscript. With a new title of Solitary Cove, my book is soon to be published by Treble Heart Books and Barbara Bretton agreed to write a blurb for the book. This is what she wrote about Solitary Cove:

If you love fast-paced romantic suspense novels peopled withcharacters you’ll cheer for, SOLITARY COVE is the bookfor you. A seaside village in Nova Scotia, a movie hero witha daughter he barely knows, and a woman on the run fromdanger equal the perfect formula for a terrific read. Catherine Anne Collins has a winner on her hands!

Award Winning Author
Barbara Bretton

For anyone who hasn't read any of Barbara's book...what are you waiting for? She's a great writer and I especially love her new series that takes place in a magical town populated with an interesting assortment of characters. Casting Spells is the first book in the series while the second one, Laced with Magic, will be released very soon.

Have a great day,
Cathy

Solitary Cove Cover

2009-07-08T22:24:00.004-04:00

My soon too be released book now has a cover and I love it. Solitary Cove is a romantic suspense that takes place in a small (mythical) town in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will be released by Treble Heart Books. I've posted a blurb and the cover below.

Solitary Cove

Stalked relentlessly by her husband's killer, Nicole changes her name and moves to Solitary Cove, a small town on the coast of Nova Scotia. Aware that danger lurks in the shadows for anyone she cares about, Nicole rents the local lighthouse and spends her time writing and avoiding people.
An aging movie star, Ian has a life filled with fame, fortune, and women. He loves the fame and fortune, but the constant women have worn thin. Cynicism and boredom creep into his life, and he develops a problem that chips away at his self-confidence—he can no longer perform sexually.
Coming together during the filming of Ian's latest movie in Solitary Cove, Ian and Nicole's uncertain relationship is tested by the appearance of Ian's daughter, Vanessa, who has fled her abusive marriage, as well as Nicole's stalker who appears in town renewing his death threats against Nicole.
Throw into the mix, a crusty fisherman, a flaky new age storeowner and a heroic dog, and Solitary Cove weaves a tale of love, self-discovery, suspense, and self-sacrifice.

Where's the summer?

2009-07-02T20:29:00.003-04:00

Yep. That's the question. It's now July and I'm still waiting for some summer weather. Oh, well. Always think of the positive side of everything...sitting inside and writing on a rainy day is ALOT easier than it is on a sunny day and I managed to complete a scene that has been giving me nothing but trouble, so I'm happy.

Here's a photo of one of my guys. I thought since the weather is almost wintery out...Actually, he's just so cute, I couldn't resist.

Have a great day,

Cathy

Summer Plans

2009-06-30T21:39:00.001-04:00

Good day, and what a beautiful day it's been. A bit of rain, but warm enough temps and some sun to brighten the day. I love the sun. I love being warm. I do love summer.

Does it sound as if I'm in a good mood? I am. I've spent the last 6 months working 2 part-time jobs as well as helping my husband run our business and trying to find time to market my two newest releases and do some work on my current WIP. On top of that, I have some very demanding goats who need ALOT of attention. Anyway, both part-time jobs have come to an end. One for reasons of retirement and the other, because the kidding season (goats) has come to an end, thusly ending my job. Now, I'll miss the extra money, no doubt about it, but having the free time to write is thrilling.

I've set myself a goal; by the end of the summer I'll have completed the sequel to one of my latest releases, A Witch's Lament. My publisher, Crescent Moon Press, has expressed an interest, (they seem to love A Witch's Lament), and I did leave the story at the end with the possibility of a sequel.

So, it's time to do some serious writing. Lucky for me, I'm able to take my laptop and write outside in the gorgeous weather. I just need to stay away from the goats or they'll be all over my laptop...just helping, you understand. One of their most endearing characteristics is their willingness to...ahem...help.

Have a great day,Catherine

I didn't remember writing this!

2009-06-11T20:07:00.005-04:00

I was clearing some files off my computer and came across this page of ramblings that I wrote about 4 years ago. Until I read the words, I'd totally forgotten even writing them. Since this reflects my state of mind at that moment, I've left it unedited and unchanged. As you read, please keep in mind that I wasn't worried about grammar, spelling...nothing but putting my thoughts and feelings onto paper...er, I mean, onto a computer.

Now, if I could only look through some old files and find a manuscript I forgot about that's brilliantly written and becomes a NY Times bestseller. :-)

Enjoy!

I AM A HUMAN BEING
I DESERVE RESPECT

I am not a guinea pig.
So don't use me as one to test unsafe products, not caring what effect it may have on my health, caring only about how many millions of dollars the product might bring you. Stop poisoning the air I breathe, the water I drink and the food I eat.

I am not a receptacle.
So don't fill my body with insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, chemicals and toxins that will shorten my life and degrade the quality of that shorter life. Stop poisoning the air I breathe, the water I drink and the food I eat.

I am not a drug addict.
So stop prescribing drugs for EVERYTHING and telling me that they are safe when we all know that ten or fifteen years down the road my organs will suffer and the side-effects will probably harm me more than the original health problem would have. When appropriate, advocate the use of natural herbs and remedies that have been around (and worked) for thousands of years. Stop poisoning me.

I AM A HUMAN BEING
I DESERVE RESPECT

I am environmentally concerned.
So stop letting the oil companies have a say in governmental decisions. Allow the knowledge of alternative fuels and ways to power vehicles into the public forum so that people can HAVE A CHOICE.

I am spiritual.
No, not religious, spiritual. Religion is a man-made concept with limitations and prejudices. At the root of each religion are the values of love, respect, peace and harmony. This is a Universal law. This is the foundation of mankind. Assigning a name, gender and physical attributes are a human concept placed on an energy force we do not even begin to understand. I say we do not understand because of the world-wide religious based hate and killing. If we truly understood what we call God, and allowed for various interpretations of this Universal energy, there would be no hate. No killing. No war. We have a long way to go. The essence of man is the essence of God, Buddha, Allah, the Goddess…however you refer to your Supreme Being. This energy force is in all of us, everywhere, and as energy is able to change form, so is this Universal energy that binds us all together. Don't limit what you don't understand. Love. Respect. Peace. Harmony. Live by those laws and your god will flourish. Mankind will flourish.

2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist

2009-05-16T19:23:00.002-04:00

Woohoo! Good news for me. I entered The Crystal of Light and A Witch's Lament in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Publishers Awards and they both finished as finalists. In fact, A Witch's Lament was a finalist in two categories. It's a great feeling to have my writing recognized in such a way...of course, mega sales of my books would be kind of nice as well. :-)

Have a great day--I am,
Cathy

Spring Has Arrived

2009-04-07T15:31:00.012-04:00

But it certainly doesn't look like spring as I look out my window at a winter wonderland. Oh, well, I know it can't last. A few more days and the rain will send all the snow into the netherworld where it will dwell until next winter. In the meantime, I can pretend that it's sunny and warm.

While waiting for the first brush of spring to turn the grass green and push the shoots of young flowers through the soil, I'm busy promoting my two newest books. Check out this link to the books page on my website to see what I've got for you to read. I'm sure you'll find something to suit your taste. www.catherineannecollins.com/books.html

I'd also like to introduce you to the newest members of our growing animal farm. Pixie, Lightning and Timber.

Pixie was the tiniest kid I'd seen of the over 800 born during the first weeks on the goat farm where I work. He used to stare at me constantly and I just couldn't imagine the poor guy going to the auction to be bought for meat, soooooo, I brought him home. Of course, I couldn't bring him home alone, all my other goats are too big for him to be with for awhile. I decided that Lightning with his airplane ears would make a great buddy for Pixie. I didn't realize until I saw them together that if Pixie was the smallest kid, Lightning had to be one of the biggest. He stood twice as tall and weighed twice as much as little Pixie. Oh, well, they get along great.

Now, raising my goat herd to 7 goats means I have more to worry about when it comes to coyotes. That's where Timber comes in. A Livestock Guardian Dog, Timber's job is to guard all my guys against predators. He lives with the goats and has been amazing at pushing all coyotes back from our home and barn. Where once we would see coyote tracks in our front yard, we now can only hear them howling way off in the distance. Poor Timber spends half the night barking and patrolling the property to keep the coyotes away, which means he spends a good part of the day sleeping. I guarantee I won't be without one of these LGD's ever again.

See you later,

Cathy

2009-03-17T21:52:00.004-04:00

It's official. My newest novel is now available for purchase. That makes two in the last month. Five years have passed since my last book was published so it seems strange to have 2 published so close together. And a 3rd one coming later this year. I can now claim to be a multi-published author. I like the sounds of that, but I think a NY Times best-selling author has a nice ring to it as well. I'll have to work on that one.

Even though these two books are quite different, I enjoyed writing them both and hope my readers will enjoy them as well.

The Crystal of Light is a fantasy, while A Witch's Lament is a paranormal romance. I'm showing the covers for both of them below and information as well as links to buy them can be found on my website http://www.catherineannecollins.com/

The Crystal of Light

A Witch's Lament

I love the covers on both these books. The cover artist for The Crystal of Light is Richard Stroud and the cover artist for A Witch's Lament is Kendra Egert.

Now comes the marketing and promoting aspect of the whole writing process. Living way out here in the country means I'll have to build a strong on-line presence, so if anyone has any ideas don't hesitate to pass them on. I'll take any help or advice I can get when it comes to the promotion of my books.

Talk to you later,

Cathy

I'm baaaaack

2009-02-04T18:36:00.005-05:00

Yes, looking at the date of my last post, you'll see that it's been a very long time since I've posted. Life has been...well, hectic, crazy, in a state of flux. Some good, some not so good. Suffice it to say that right now, things are very good. My life long dream of living on a farm finally became a reality. We now live on a 50 acre farm with a bungalow type house that sits in the middle of a cedar grove. Our long, winding driveway is lined on both sides with hayfields and there is a huge barn and smaller barn out the back that I can see from my kitchen window.

As a house-warming gift someone gave us a couple of baby goats. Goats, you say...why the heck would anyone want a goat. I would have thought the same thing, but now I'm totally hooked and in love. They were only a week old, cute and so very tiny. After bottle-feeding and loving them like crazy, they've become great pets. When given affection, goats are lovable, cuddly, affectionate and smarter than you'd give them credit for. They have the reasoning ability of a 7 year old and they are trainable. My guys come when they're called better than my dog does. You should see them come running at full speed when I call them. Anyway, I started with 2 and now have 5. Moonbeam, Joey, Merlin, Rebel and Snowflake. I'll post some photos of them.

On to business. Writing business. Drum roll, please. I have three books being published this year. Yaaaayyyy!!!

The Crystal of Light - Published by Wings ePress
A Witch's Lament - Coming soon with Crescent Moon Press (anytime now)
Solitary Cove - Coming soon with Treble Heart Books

If you check my website you can find out more about each of the books.
http://www.catherineannecollins.com/

It seems strange that so much time has passed since my first book was published and suddenly things are getting shaken up. I guess the important thing to do is to keep writing and keep the positive energy moving the right direction.

That's just a quick update, but I'll start posting on a more regular basis with any news, updates, or interesting tidbits of information to share.

Talk to you soon,
Cathy

2006-10-17T12:54:00.000-04:00

Sorry, my blog is closed for now. Check back later when I have more time and can return to posting. In the meantime, best wishes to all aspiring authors looking to get published.

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You

2006-03-23T21:01:00.000-05:00

Check out this interesting new quiz. Find out what kind of kiss works for you. I think I like how mine turned out.

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Spiderman

"I have always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life?"

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

Happy New Year

2006-01-23T22:15:00.000-05:00

Once again, I've been away for too long. Christmas has come and gone and it's now the end of January. With a couple of weeks off over the holidays, I found that I didn't do as much writing as I'd have liked, but I did start a new book, which involved a fair amount of research. It's called Cries of the Innocent and involves a past/present timeline that takes place in Salem, Ma. Gee, guess what the focus is of the story? Next step is to talk my husband into a trip to Salem so I can do some research.

The New Year started great with all kinds of phone calls from potential new students for the dojo. I don't understand it, last year we advertised and had the lowest membership we've ever had, this year we haven't advertised at all, and we have more than two dozen new members already.

I'm looking forward to the Ad-Astra conference taking place the last weekend in March. Finally, a conference worth going to that takes place close to home. The list of people attending this event is amazing. Check out the link here: http://www.ad-astra.org/

I sent out some more queries on both my manuscripts over the holidays, and I sit here waiting patiently as always. I figure something's going to happen for me this year. How can it not...It's the Chinese Year of the Dog after all.

How is everyone elses New Year starting off?

Cathy

Another Quiz

2005-11-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

I found another cool quiz, so I thought I'd share my results as well as the link. Have fun with it and let me know your results.

RAVEN EYES

You have Raven
Eyes!
Positive Traits: Intellectual,
Wise, Experienced, Honest,
Trustworthy
Negative Traits: Pompous,
Condescending, Withdrawn, Pessimistic,
Depressed

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. What type of eyes do you have?
brought to you by Quizilla

A New Time Waster

2005-11-04T19:12:00.000-05:00

I admit that I spend a lot of time at the computer and not always doing something with a purpose. Well, wouldn't you know that someone would have to invent another time wasting device to keep me at my computer even longer. I'm talking about blogs. Sure, I can fool myself into thinking that I'm searching out resources and hoping to make some new contacts, but the truth is that I kind of enjoy hearing about other people's problems, successes, and day to day lives.

Of course, when I explain the amount of time spent reading other people's blogs to my husband, I say that it's all for research. Reading from other people's points of view is a great way to help develop characters in my novels. Conflict, motivation, goals, soul-searching, it's all there. Makes sense to me and I think I've got him fooled.

I'm off to search out some new and interesting blogs.

Cathy

Rejected...again

2005-11-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

I opened my e-mail, and there it was--the dreaded reply from an agent who had asked to see my manuscript. No need to read the message, because as soon as I saw her name as the sender, I knew. But it's okay. I was asked for a full manuscript. That doesn't happen often and it means I'm one step closer to my goal. So, I keep submitting both my manuscripts and keep my fingers crossed that the day will come sooner rather than later. You know, the day when someone sees my potential and takes me on as a client. In the meantime, I keep writing.

Have a good one,
Cathy

How to stay motivated?

2005-10-23T16:44:00.000-04:00

Yes, amidst the constant stream of rejections that would be enough to cause most people to give up, I have a way to stay motivated. To give you an example:

I woke up this morning and checked my e-mail, which is usually the first thing I do every day, and I found an e-mail from someone who'd just finished reading my book, Sword Across Time. He told me how much he enjoyed it, that it was the perfect blend of adventure and romance, and he had goosebumps reading the final battle that takes place between Morganna and the other characters.

A great way to start the day, but I'm not finished yet.

Later in the day, I returned a movie my husband and I watched last night and rented another (Unleashed-last night's movie/The Interpreter-tonight's movie) and the woman who works there came over to talk with me. She bought my book a year ago and has never said a word to me about it. I figured she hadn't enjoyed it and I didn't want to bring the subject up and put her on the spot, so I said nothing. Well, it seems that she only just got around to reading the book, and, guess what, she enjoyed it immensely and has passed it on to her father who she says will love reading it.

So, what do I spend the day doing? Writing, of course. Now that I'm so pumped from praise, I'm even more determined to finish my manuscript (my fifth) and finally get an agent to take a chance on me.

The moral is that if you are a reader and you love a book by an author--Tell them! It has made all the difference to me on my uphill battle to make it in a tough business. I've been fortunate enough to have one book published, albeit with a small, independent publisher, but I'm not finished yet. No way. I'm going all the way.

Good luck to all you aspiring authors. Have a great day.
Cathy

It was bound to happen

2005-10-22T19:29:00.000-04:00

Yep. With all the books available it's near impossible to write a book that is 100% unique. Familiar plots are reworked, similar names and recognizable terminology used among particular genres. A writer is bound to have some duplication in any book they write. Well, recently I discovered an author I hadn't read before, and, besides an irritating habit of overusing the term began, I'm loving his writing. So, there I was reading away, tuning out the world, ignoring my dog, who was pestering me for attention as usual, when I came across a certain term that shook me from my reading haze.

The Ones Who Came Before.

A simple term with a self-explanatory meaning. Great. And also the exact term I used in my book, Sword Across Time to describe the people of Atlantis. My book was published a year and a half ago, and I'm only now reading this Robert Newcombe book, so there's no way I could have read it and picked up the term to use later. I know it was an original thought on my part.

Now, the question is:
A.) Great minds thinking alike
B.) Coincidence
C.) The result of a Universal consciousness at work re-creating a common memory

I know what I think, but then I write fantasy, so I tend to lean toward the unexplained and esoteric. What do you think.

Cathy

Good news and some kinda cool news

2005-10-15T19:45:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been able to attain the painfully worked for, battered ego, heartfelt desire, golden request for a full manuscript. After being summarily rejected by this agent, I immediately e-mailed her back (at my husband's suggestion) querying whether she'd be interested in another manuscript I just happened to have sitting here. Her response was not only immediate, but it was a request for the full manuscript. I had been expecting a request for a partial, not the full, so, needless to say, I was ecstatic.

That was three weeks ago and according to her website, she usually responds in four to six weeks. Whew, you can imagine I'm jumping from my seat every time the phone rings, but, *sigh*, I'm also afraid to see her name every time I open my e-mail. Please, oh, please, don't let her e-mail me. A phone call would be great.

What I need to do is let her talk to this person I met today at the Applefest. I happened to have a table set up there and was selling copies of my book. She came looking for me specifically because she'd bought my book last year and was hoping I had another published in the meantime. She raved about how Sword Across Time was the one of the best books she'd ever read and she couldn't put it down. How ego pumping is that? She wanted to know when my next one would be available. Oh, how I wish I had an answer for her.

Maybe, just maybe, it won't be too long. In the meantime, I'm sitting here with eyes, fingers, and toes crossed. I'll let you know.

Cathy

Word on the Street

2005-09-27T12:43:00.000-04:00

An annual event in Canada that takes place on the same day in five or six cities all across Canada. With publishers, editors, booksellers, authors, literacy organizations and over 200,000 people in attendance, it was a great day.

Myself, a couple of other authors, and our publicist, rented a table for the event and set up shop to sell our books for the day. The morning was rainy and discouraging, but it cleared up somewhat by noon and although rain threatened, it mercifully stayed away for the rest of the day.

I sold fewer books than last year, but made some great contacts and bought some books from Harlequin that I'd been looking forward to reading. Gena Showalter's "The Stone Prince", being one of the books.

You'd wouldn't believe the people who come to this event with suitcases, on wheels no less, and backpacks that by the end of the day are stuffed with booksmarks, handouts, and books.

I think we'll make it an annual event. Of course, we have to keep up the tradition of renting the hotel room the night before and having a girl's night out. :-)

Cathy

My husband's colour chart results

2005-09-27T12:36:00.000-04:00

Or, rather, the results based on answers I gave from my point of view of his character. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with when he takes the test for himself. :-)

you are orange
#FFA500

Your dominant hues are red and yellow... most of what you do is motivated by your need to change things and have a good time, but you've been known to settle down and think out a situation, too. You tend to surprise people just when they're starting to feel like they've got you down.

Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right.

Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Personality colour chart

2005-09-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

I found this link on Diana Peterfreund's site and thought I'd give it a try. This is how the computer, with all its cyber-wisdom, labelled me.

you are mediumorchid
#BA55D3

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be.

Your saturation level is medium - You're not the most decisive go-getter, but you can get a job done when it's required of you. You probably don't think the world can change for you and don't want to spend too much effort trying to force it.

Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Moving right along

2005-08-08T19:42:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't posted anything about my husband's progess since his heart surgery, so just a quick blurb here. He's doing amazing! As terrible of a thing that it was for him, it needed to happen so that he could start to live a healthier life again. Heck, dying for 18 minutes and being lucky enough to have two doctors become your heart and lungs for that time, then coming back to consciousness and having no damage to brain or heart, is a miracle. We both thank the fates that be for keeping him alive and strong.

Now, on to business. My fantasy, Beyond the Faerie Realm, is garnering some interest with a couple of agents. My fingers are crossed that one of them will like the partial enough to ask for the full manuscript. Just having them ask for a partial blows my mind. You know, like the Academy Awards, "It was just an honour to be nominated."

Seriously, I have no doubt I'll get an agent and publisher one day. It's like when I met my husband. It was a sure thing, 100% guaranteed that we were meant to be together, and here we are...together. I have no doubt where my career will go, it's just a matter of having the patience. Curses, it's what I was put on this earth to learn this lifetime around, I'm sure. PATIENCE. (gritting teeth and digging fingernails in palms)

In the meantime, things are moving right along (hence the title of this post). I keep writing, promoting the one book I do have published, and trying to find a home for my other two manuscripts.

Have a great summer
Cathy

The Knight Agency Blog

2005-07-25T20:09:00.000-04:00

The Knight Agency Blog

Testing

2005-07-09T19:48:00.000-04:00

Hi. Just testing the new blogger image program. Sorry, I thought I'd use my face to scare everyone with. "Say cheese."

Book Expo and other contacts

2005-06-29T19:35:00.000-04:00

Hey there. One of these days I'm positive I'll have time to spare, but in the meantime, this is my usual late update. Great news, though. The Canadian Book Expo was amazing. I wasn't sure whether to go or not, but I decided to take the time (and spend the money), and went armed with queries and other information on both my manuscripts. I figured, what the heck? Besides feeding off the energy of so many like-minded people, and loading my backpack with free books from great authors--autographed, no less, I made some contacts with publishers and am hoping something will come of my time.

Even better, when I got home that night, there was an e-mail from an agent I queried the previous week, and he was interested in seeing a partial on my romance. Later that week another agent replied to a query on my fantasy and said she was interested in seeing a partial as well. And I just found out yesterday that one of my short stories has been accepted for publication in a magazine titled, Tales of the Talisman.

Jeesh, how great can a week get? Well, I guess it could get better if someone actually decided to represent me. :-) But my time is coming. I have no doubt. In the meantime, I've started my next story and I have to say, it's turning out to be my favourite one. I'm calling it Earthsong.

Have a great week.

Cathy

Useful information for the beginning writer looking for an agent

2005-05-27T22:33:00.000-04:00

Just some helpful, interesting sites for you the check out.

http://www.sfwa.org/beware/agents.html

http://www.literaryagents.org/

http://www.everyonewhosanyone.com/agus1.html

Horrific month

2005-05-27T22:04:00.000-04:00

Hi. Yes, it's been over a month since my last post, but I have an excuse. My husband, Fred, went out to Kelowna, B.C. for a three day conference, ended up having a cardiac arrest, and then on to the hospital for a double by-pass.

That's the short version.

He actually died on the dance floor (I told him that's what he gets for dancing with another woman), and needed 18 minutes of CPR before the fire crew arrived with their defibrillator to shock his heart. Thank the fates that be that there were two doctors there who quite literally became his heart and lungs for those 18 minutes. They did the most amazing job of keeping blood and oxygen flowing so that when Fred finally gained consciousness in the hospital, there was NO brain or heart damage.

Dr. McLeod did his breathing for him, and guess what...Dr. McLeod plays the bagpipes for a hobby. Talk about having the lung ability for a job like that.

Dr. White learned how to do proper chest compressions while at Oxford in England. He made sure to touch the sternum to the backbone every time in order to keep the heart pumping. When the medics arrived, one of them spelled off the poor exhausted guy, but Fred's face took on a blueish hue, so Dr. White kicked him off and started in again.

Anytime, anywhere else and Fred wouldn't have lived, or he would have survived with a lot of damage. Whew.

What followed was three weeks of twiddling our thumbs in the hospital in Kelowna, a medivac flight to Victoria, and finally surgery. I have a sneaky suspicion that Dr. White may have pulled a few strings to get Fred to Victoria because every one else who came and went in Kelowna were transferred to Vancouver. Once there, we found out that our surgeon, cardiologist and anasthesiologist were the best of the best. A dream team.

As you can tell by my cheery, flip comments, Fred is fine and recovering quite well from his surgery. As he has been having chest pains for a number of years, he'll be a new man when fully recovered. And, yes, he did check into his chest pains about four years ago. He was given all the tests and told that there was nothing wrong with his heart, it was probably acid reflux. So, all this time, he's been treating his chest pains with pepcid AC.

So running around strange cities on the other side of the country and worrying about my husband has prevented me from posting to my blog. Hopefully it won't happen again.

To your health,
Cathy

My dream for today

2005-04-19T20:14:00.000-04:00

I have simple tastes...really. I don't need to have obscene amounts of money, or drive around in an amazing car like a BMW Z8 convertible, Viper ACR coupe, Jaguar XKR, or a...ooops, sorry I got carried away for a moment. Okay, maybe I'd like the car, but what I need, and what I've wanted since I was a child old enough to actually remember anything, is my house in the country with a horse, jersey cow, goats, and dogs. Pretty much any animal that needs a home.

I yearn for the whisper of the wind rustling the trees, the freshness of clean air, and even the woody smell of decaying leaves and trees. I live for the day I can wake up to nothing more than the birds singing outside my window instead of the noise from trucks, cars, blasting radios, sirens, lawnmowers and various other electric machines that make too much noise.

How I curse people who think it's cool to have a motorcycle that I swear rivals the blast from an exploding nuclear bomb. Haven't they heard of noise pollution? How do they figure it's okay to intrude on our peace and quiet by revving their way through our neighbourhood. Like we want to have ours ears blasted and meditation interrupted. Jeesh!

So, with visions of a log cabin nestled amidst the calming balm of nature and my phantom animals prancing about my mind, I bid you goodnight.

Catherine

There would be no science 'fantasy' genre without Tolkien's Lord of the Rings!

2005-04-17T10:56:00.000-04:00

Interesting article about Tolkien's contribution to the genre of what is being called science fantasy. Check out this link:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-03-2003/0001900379&EDATE=

Like getting root canal

2005-04-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

Remember that lost manuscript that wasn't really lost and was sitting on John Morgan's desk all the while? Well, I received a phone call from the post office yesterday and it turns out they were still looking for my manuscript. My fault, I neglected to let them know I'd been in contact with John Morgan. Anyway, this woman told me she had called his office and found out that John Morgan was no longer with ROC books.

WHAT!!! News to me.

Any calls to his office were being directed to Anne Sowards. The post office woman had no idea the name of my manuscript and wasn't even aware she was inquiring about a parcel by using my married name rather than my maiden name, so I took it upon myself to place a phone call--just to make sure my manuscript really was bouncing around the offices somewhere.

Surprisingly, I made contact directly with Anne Sowards and let her know the situation. She was very approachable and helpful and told me that John Morgan's work had been split between herself and another editor (or two). She checked her pile while I waited on the phone (a very nice thing to do) and when she didn't find my manuscript said she'd inquire right away and let me know.

So, I waited. Only a day though. She was true to her word and e-mailed me the next day to let me know that another editor most assuredly had my manuscript. Thank goodness.

With a sigh of relief and an impatient demeanour, I now sit back, cross my fingers, say a silent prayer, and wait...and wait...

Lost manuscript???

2005-04-01T13:24:00.001-05:00

Hi and sorry. You'd think that five minutes a few times a week would be easy to find. Well, guess again. My intentions are to keep my blog updated, but, yikes, life gets in the way.

My latest news about my manuscript, Beyond the Faerie Realm, is that it got lost on the way to John Morgan's office. At least I thought it was lost. Wanting to ensure it arrived quickly and safely (ha!) I sent my manuscript express post. I then proceeded to track the package. One, two...six days later and it still hadn't been delivered. After checking with the post office and finding out that they had no idea what had become of my package, I took a deep breath and made a phone call. I needed to know if my manuscript had arrived. If not, I needed to print another and send it out.

I called John Morgan's office, fully expecting to talk with an assistant, after all, it's a big company, why should he answer his own phones, but I ended up leaving a message on his personal answering machine (service...whatever). I left a brief message asking if he could have someone check into whether my manuscript had arrived (or not), and let me know. Now, when I hung up the phone, I started thinking what a dunce I was to ask him to make a long-distance phone call. I should have said I'd call his office back the next day to see if they'd managed to find out anything. Oh, well, it was too late by that time.

Anyway, within no more than an hour or so, he called me back personally and let me know that my manuscript was right in front of him. I was struck with relief it had arrived and then nervousness at talking person to person with the editor I was trying to impress. But he was really nice. He even told me it might take a while to get to my manuscript and if I was wondering what was going on, I should feel free to call and bug him about it.

Right. Is this the planet earth? Don't these editors have assistants to screen pesky authors? Maybe it's a test. Maybe he wants to see if I will call and bother him. No way. I'm doing nothing to give him any reason to reject me. The rejection I'm sure to get will be because of my work, not anything I've done to tick off the guy in charge.

In the meantime, fingers, toes, and eyes are crossed.

Talk to you soon
Catherine

Sword Across Time update

2005-03-21T16:13:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness I have a publicist who didn't give up on my book. After a few disheartening setbacks beyond my control, I figured that Sword Across Time would flounder and become lost in the shadows of what might have been. I went on to write two other manuscripts and have been spending time trying to find a home for them, but my publicist, LeeAnn Lessard, kept plugging away promoting my one published novel. Now, finally, about time, Sword Across Time is available to order on-line and instore at Barnes and Noble, and some of the stores are actually ordering copies. Wow. We're working on Borders next, as they've assigned a catalogue number to my book so stores are able to order them.

Now if I can only convince Amazon.com to carry some in stock and stop making people wait two or three months. Jeesh! How can a person make any kind of sales that way?

For those who don't know, Sword Across Time is a mythical fantasy with an Arthurian theme. Although King Arthur is not the main focus, he is touched on briefly. If you enjoy Avalon, Merlin, the Lady of the Lake, the Sword Excalibur and enjoy a story that moves between the past and the present, why not pick up a copy of Sword Across Time?

www.catherineannecollins.com For an autographed copy
http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/CollinsSynops.html My publisher's website
www.barnesandnoble.com

Bouncing back from rejection

2005-03-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know, more about rejection. But this is good news...kind of. That same rejection letter I talked about in my previous post frustrated me enough to say, "Okay, what have I got to lose?" So, I sent a letter back to John Morgan of ROC books to thank him for his quick response and helpful advice. Both of which I really did appreciate. I then asked if he'd have a second look at my work if I edited it based on his advice and trimmed it down to one book rather than the two I had been planning? Low and behold, (I know, cliche, but it works here,) he wrote me back and said he'd be happy to have another look at my work.

AHHHHH. His reply was hand-written on an index card obviously from his desk because his name was stamped at the top. Talk about shaking hands. I was getting a second chance. Don't count on those alot or you'll be disappointed. Anyway, I worked furiously over the next few weeks--the main reason I haven't posted anything on my blog--and mailed the revised manuscript to him a few days ago.

It's in his hands now and I know chances are very good that Beyond the Faerie Realm will still get rejected, but there is an upside. My writing showed enough promise to get me that one step closer to a publisher, and I also have a better manuscript because of his helpful advice. So, even if Mr. Morgan rejects my manuscript, I have a publishable product that someone, somewhere, someday, will be interested in publishing.

Rejection

2005-02-23T12:40:00.000-05:00

Yup, it's all part of the game and unless you're that one in a million, you'll have to learn to deal with rejection. I've handled it pretty well over the years.

I've progressed from my first book, which was NOT ready to be published, to my fourth one, which IS ready for publication. My second book, Sword Across Time, was published by a small press called Treble Heart Books, but with my next two manuscripts, I'm holding out for a larger publisher. This stubborness on my part also means more rejections.

The upside of the whole process is this: My rejections have graduated from the words Not interested sprawled across the top of my query to Dear Author form letters, then on to what I consider gold--personally addressed letters signed by the editor or agent I actually mailed the query to and offerings of advice and reasons why they rejected my work. These words of advice are taken to heart and considered seriously by me before I send my work out again. I don't agree with everything said, but I don't discard it outright either. It's kind of like getting free critiques by experts in the field. By being as objective as possible (hard to do) about my writing, I can improve it by those very same rejections that make my throat close and hands shake.

A rejection, yes, but done in a way that lets me know my work has improved to the point where a little bit of respect is shown. What a nice feeling. What an affirmation. Yes, another rejection, but I'm on the uphill climb and I'm going to make it to the top in spite of all obstacles.

That's all for today. I haven't written much over the last 10 days. Mainly due to one of those rejections that brought me down low. Hey, I didn't say they didn't affect me, just that I go on in spite of them. :-) Sometimes it takes a little longer than other times.

Catherine

Photo

2005-02-22T11:55:00.000-05:00

My husband Fred and myself