5 QUESTIONS FOR...CATHERINE SPANGLER

I'm so excited to have a guest today who was writing Paranormal Romance when Paranormal wasn't cool. Please join me in welcoming Catherine Spangler! Cathy started out writing futuristic romances and created the award-winning Shielder series. In 2005, the fifth book in the series, Shadow Fires, earned a nomination for the prestigious RITA award. Now Catherine is forging new territory with her edgy, dark, and provocative Sentinel series, paranormal romances based on Atlantis and set on current-day Earth. The third book in the series, Touched by Light, is on bookstore shelves NOW. Catherine lives in Richardson, Texas, with her husband, four cats and two thoroughly rotten dogs. She loves reading, listening to music, playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker, and eating chocolate (not necessarily in that order).

Catherine is giving away a copy of TOUCHED BY LIGHT to one lucky commenter today. I'll post the winner's name tomorrow.

1) How many manuscripts did you write before you sold one?
I wrote two books, both futuristic romances, and a young adult novella. At the time, I was convinced that the books were NYT bestsellers, but of course I had no idea how much I didn’t know about writing. In retrospect, it’s a very good thing those books are under the bed, cohabitating with the dust bunnies. I’m very glad the world didn’t have to read them. But that’s the good thing about the excitement and enthusiasm of a new writer—the thrill of writing carries you through those first rough books, and keeps you going while you’re learning the craft. From the time I began writing seriously for publication, it took me about seven years to make my first sale, which was Shielder.

2) Which book was your hardest to write and why?
Shadow Fires was the most difficult book I’ve ever written, because it was so dark and had some uncomfortable elements. I sold it on a one-page blurb, without plotting the story through (since I’m a “pantster”, I’m not big on plotting anyway). The hero was a member of a race I’d already introduced in earlier Shielder series books, so the parameters of that race were already in place and I couldn’t change them. As I wrote the book, I realized that to be true to the Leors, I couldn’t soft pedal the story. They were fierce and barbaric, and I had to address that head on. Some of the story elements were so difficult for me that I almost scrapped the project to offer a new story idea to my editor. But something inside me urged me to finish the book, and I’m so glad I did. Shadow Fires got a prestigious RITA nomination, and won numerous awards. I believe it might be one of my best books. Having to dig deep to create the book made it ring true and evoked strong emotions in the readers. There’s a lot of truth to the comment, “No pain, no gain.”

3) What do you think is the most difficult thing about being an author?
The difficult thing about being an author is the fact that every phase of a writing career has its difficulties. Getting published is tough. Selling follow-up books is tough. Writing under deadline, even if you’re not in a creative mode, is difficult. Doing promotion, trying to get publisher support is difficult. There’s plenty to discourage an author and wear her down. You have to learn to become mentally tough and cultivate unyielding tenacity.
That said, the rewards of being an author are also wonderful. We’re wired to be creative, and there’s no greater thrill than reading your work and realizing that you created it. Seeing your name in print is also an amazing experience. We have to write, because there’s nothing else we can do!

4) What authors have most inspired your work?
Many wonderful authors have inspired me over the years. One of the earliest authors was Kathleen Woodiwiss, whose first historical romances held me enthralled. Later, I discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Howard, and Jayne Ann Krentz (who had the audacity to write futuristics!). I continue to be inspired by creative and innovative authors like MaryJanice Davidson, Janet Evanovich, Charlaine Harris, JD Robb, Nalini Singh, and J.R. Ward. There are truly some amazing and mega-talented authors out there!

5) What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new paranormal series about fallen angels (and apparently angels are one of the hottest new trends in paranormal romance). I’m also dusting of my “Silly Alien” story and revisiting it, hoping to try to market it again. You can read chapters from “Cowboys and Aliens” on my website at: http://www.catherinespangler.com/fun.htm

6) Anything you’d like to add?
I’ve currently got a June contest going on my website, at http://www.catherinespangler.com/ (click on the contest link). The prize is a $25.00 Barnes & Noble gift card, so check it out.
I also have a really fun “Mr. Right Sentinel” quiz on my website. You can answer the questions, total your score and discover which of the three ultra-sexy Sentinel men (Damien, Luke, or Adam) is your perfect match. To take the quiz, go to my website (see above) and click on the large bright quiz box on the left. If you want to report your results here, we can compare notes.
Thanks so much for having me on the Sizzling Pens!

And now an excerpt from TOUCHED BY LIGHT

Adam leaned back, stared out the windshield. “I’m taking you home.”
Surprise jolted through her. “Back to Houston?”
“Yes. I should never have forced you to come with me.”
“But . . . what about Matt Stevens? The fire at the IMAX?”
“I will deal with them as soon as I reach San Antonio.”
“What about the fact I’m supposed to interview Dr. Curtis for a position with the math department?”
He shrugged. “As I said, you’re very resourceful. You’ll think of something.” He started the car, adjusted the heat to a higher level.
She considered this, righteous indignation building. He was telling her what to do again. He’d jerked her around, created upheaval in both her personal and professional lives. And after everything, he was going to toss her back into the melee of her personal life, a mess that he’d created? Like hell he was.
“Wait just a damn minute. You can’t make this decision for me. I get a vote here.” She shifted toward him, poked his arm hard. “Who died and made you God?”
He started to speak, but she held up her hand. “Don’t answer that. You’re definitely not God, although you think so. Let’s get something straight. You’ve made it very clear that I have free will. Therefore, I’m choosing to exercise my right to make my own decision. I’m going to San Antonio with you.”
“Julia—”
“Adam!” she mimicked back at him. “For once, you’re not calling all the shots here. You dragged me into this. You’re not getting rid of me so easily.”
“I’m beginning to see that. What exactly has convinced you to help me?”
She wasn’t even sure herself. She picked up the crumbled newspaper, smoothed it out to study the article. “A lot of people were there for me after . . .” She shook her head, shutting off the memories. “For some reason, the attack left me with this ability to see future events. If it can assist you in helping that poor tormented Sentinel and preventing more people from being hurt, then I can only assume I’m supposed to go with you.”
He did a passable job of keeping the smugness out of his expression. “So you’re accompanying me of your own free will?”
She gave him her narrow-eyed professor look. “I just said that. But let me clarify something else. I won’t jump just because you tell me to.”
“Really? There’s another surprise. Now let me tell you something. You will agree to defer to my knowledge and experience in these matters. To listen when I give you crucial directives.”
“I’ll concede you’re the expert here. I do actually have enough good sense to listen when necessary. But I also want your word that you won’t do any of that pseudo, woo-woo crap to me. No paralyzing stuff.”
“I will not give my word on that. If I think you’re in danger, or for that matter, if I’m in imminent peril of losing a body part because of your temper, I won’t hesitate to do what I think necessary.”
“I don’t have a temper. I’m very rational and calm.”
“You’re quite capable of becoming a loose cannon.”
She gave an unladylike snort of denial.
He raised an arrogant I’m-right-and-you-know-it eyebrow.
They glared at each other a moment.
He finally inclined his head. “Shall we call a truce?”
She considered. “For now.”
A quick smile flitted across his lips. “Oh, I certainly wouldn’t expect the peace to be permanent.” He stared at her another long, unsettling moment. “You know, Professor,” he continued, “since you have made the decision to work with me, there is one other thing you need to keep in mind.”
“What’s that?” she asked warily, suspicious of the sudden glow in his eyes.
He lifted his hand to the side of her face. “This.”
Just that one touch sent tingling frissons of sensation down into her body. “Not going there,” she said firmly, trying to shove his arm away.
He didn’t move. His fingers were warm against her chilled skin, generating combustible sparks to points due south. He leaned closer. “There’s this perfect, precise conductor/Sanctioned match between us. Not to mention what I’ve seen in my visions.”
Her body went on full red alert, alarms blaring at every key nerve junction. And he was merely touching her. “I don’t want to know what you’ve seen.” She pressed back against the seat, tried to squirm sideways and create more distance between them. But there was nowhere to go.
He slid his other hand along the opposite side of her face, effectively trapping her head. Starbursts of light flared in his eyes, and the air around him glowed brighter, like a halo. God almighty!
Her heart started racing faster than sound, constricting her chest and making it impossible to say anything else. Worse, she found herself leaning toward him, as if being pushed by an invisible force. This was so not good.
“There’s no need to tell you what I’ve seen, because your body already knows,” he said, his harsh voice mesmerizing. “It recognizes a bond that goes back thousands of years. A bond that is both highly spiritual and . . .” he leaned in, brushed his lips against hers, sending a bolt of pure electricity through said body, “physical,” he murmured. “Very physical.”
Erotic need rushed through her veins like molten lava. Not good, not good, not good, her mind chanted, even as her body voted to take this further and instigate a deeper kiss. No, damn it! It took every ounce of will to turn her face away, and give a hard shove against Adam’s chest. He released her, sank back into his seat.
“I already told you in Dallas that there would be nothing physical between us. Absolutely no conductions, no sex,” she said, as soon as she could muster enough air. And why the hell wasn’t he breathing as hard as she was?
“Denial doesn’t change the truth, Julia. It won’t stop what’s already been set in motion. But don’t worry. Whatever happens between us will be completely of your own free will.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. She wanted to argue, to fiercely debate and vehemently insist that hell would freeze over before she’d become involved in any way with Adam. But he was a master at verbal sparring, and right now, she wasn’t up to stepping into the ring with him.
She needed to regroup and reorder her thoughts and what was left of her decimated routine—not to mention corralling her unruly body. She had to get her balance and find some center of calm in the storm that swirled around Adam Masters, and the turbulence from William Bennett’s release.
“Nothing to say?” Adam asked coolly. When she just glared at him, he gave her that smug smile she detested. “Good. Then we understand one another. Fasten your seatbelt.” He put the car in gear, shot her another look. “The ride could get very rough.”
Crap, she thought, as she reached for her seatbelt with shaking hands. No, make that crap to the tenth power.