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Interview and Giveaway with Cate Lord author of Lucky Girl

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are taking part in a blog tour to celebrate the release of Cate Lord’s newest book – Lucky Girl.  Lucky Girl is being released today – Yay!!  Cate has agreed to not only share some information about her and her books, but to also offer a copy of her book to a lucky winner!  To be entered into this contest, just leave a comment below with an e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.

Sit back and read about this very interesting sounding book:

Barb –  Tell us about your new release without using the blurb?

Cate – Thanks so much to Sugarbeat’s Books for inviting me to do an interview! J  I’m delighted to be here to talk about Lucky Girl, a quirky, funny, lighthearted romantic comedy that’s a September release from Entangled Publishing.  Jessica Devlin, the twenty-nine-year-old heroine, is the beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine and she takes a long overdue vacation to be maid-of-honor in her English cousin’s wedding.  Jess is a bit uneasy about the trip, however, after recently being dumped by her fiancé while planning her own wedding, and an embarrassing episode two years ago after her beloved grandfather’s funeral that involved an English pub, too many drinks, and a handsome Brit who held her in his arms and soothed her while she cried.

Of course, Jess believes there’s a one in a gazillion chance of her running into James Bond gorgeous Nick Mondinello again—but guess who is at the wedding?  Jess firmly believes marketing exec Nick isn’t right for her, since he’s a playboy like her dad who left when she was twelve.  Fate, though, keeps throwing her and Nick together in ways she never expected.  He couldn’t possibly be Mr. Right.  Could he?  J  Lucky Girl is a story that I hope will keep readers entertained and smiling until the very last page.


Barb – How would your friends describe you in 20 words or less?

Cate – A creative, shy, loyal, family-oriented kitchen goddess and cosmetics junkie who adores cats.


Barb – If you couldn’t be a writer, what you would be?
Cate – An antiques collector.  My husband will say I’m already pursuing this career, with the number of books, antiques, and collectibles collecting dust around our house.
J

Barb – When you made your first sale, how did you celebrate and with whom?

Cate – I was very, very thrilled to get that first sale.  I shrieked, did a crazy little dance by my computer, then called my husband.  He was excited for me, and took my daughter and me out to dinner at a nice restaurant that evening.  It’s a time I will never forget.


Barb – What is it you love most about writing? What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
Cate – I love finding that creative zone where the words flow and the story seems to unfold all on its own.  It’s the most amazing, exhilarating state of inspiration.  This doesn’t happen every time I sit down at the computer, though.  Some days, I’m tired or I have other things sapping my focus, and I struggle to write two or three solid pages.  That’s the hardest part of writing—producing when the words don’t come easily.  I make myself write even when it’s difficult, because I can always go back to what I’ve written and revise it.


Barb – Which character do you most relate to – or like the most?
Cate – I really adore Jess.  She’s not “perfect,” and that appeals to me, because it makes her fun, sympathetic, and interesting.  In Lucky Girl, she deals with insecurities that most women experience.  She stresses about her weight, appearance, work performance, being embarrassed, saying the wrong thing, being inadequate in the dating scene, and more.  I think of her as a close girlfriend.

Barb – What is your favorite scene?

Cate – I have many favorites in this book! J  However, I especially like the scene where Jess and Nick end up together on the nightclub’s dance floor. Whew!  Hot stuff. J


Barb – Did you know the title before you started writing?

Cate – Yes!  This book was definitely called Lucky Girl from the very beginning.  I love the title; I think it’s perfect for Jess’s story.

Barb – Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?
Cate – It’s a tough market right now.  To increase your chances of getting published, it’s important to keep writing, refining your craft, and submitting manuscripts, including to contests that offer finalists the chance of having material read by an acquiring editor. Also, don’t just write a partial manuscript and move onto a new project; I recommend finishing the whole book. That way you’ve got a completed project to shop.


Barb – Where do you get your inspiration?

Cate – I get my ideas from conversations with my friends and family, magazine articles, traveling, even shopping days with my teenage daughter.  Lucky Girl was inspired by the year I spend studying in England—the year I met the charming, witty Brit who later became my husband.  I lived with my uncle and aunt in Hertfordshire and traveled by train down to London every day.  On weekends, I partied with a great group of friends I met through my English cousins.  Jess’s love of gin and tonics is definitely something she got from me! J


Barb – Are there any particular books and/or authors that inspired you and continue to do so?
Cate – There are too many to list!
J  Just about every author I’ve met has been an inspiration in some way.


Barb – If you could write with anyone who would that be and why?
Cate – I’d love to write a novel with my daughter.  She has terrific ideas and an amazing author voice, and I think we’d make a great team.


Barb – Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
Cate – I have several new writing projects in the works, including two paranormal novels.  I’d also love to write a follow-on book to Lucky Girl.  I can’t say much more right at the moment.
J

Barb – How can readers stay in touch?

Cate – Readers are welcome to visit my website: www.catelord.com.  I also love to connect with readers and new friends via Facebook and Goodreads.


Barb – Where is your work available?

Cate – Lucky Girl is available in print and ebook formats and can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all major ebook retailers.

Thanks again, Sugarbeat’s Books!  I enjoyed the interview. J

 

We’d like to thank Cate for stopping by and sharing some information with us about her new release.  I’ve included the blurb for this book as well as an excerpt.  Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of Lucky Girl.

 

Jessica Devlin isn’t looking for love. Heartbroken after being dumped by  her unfaithful ex-fiancé, she’s  determined to have a fabulous time during her  vacation in England where she’ll be maid-of-honor at her 
cousin’s wedding. After working overtime as beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine, avoiding dating, and putting on ten pounds, Jess is ready  to toss her past like an empty lipstick tube and party like a single gal.
But when she steps into the church on her cousin’s wedding day, she sees the one man who could sabotage  her plan—James Bond gorgeous  Nick Mondinello. She’s never forgotten the London marketing exec who held her in his arms after her beloved grandfather’s funeral two years 
ago. Ambitious, and lusted after by women everywhere, Nick is completely wrong for guarded, Plain Jane Jess. 
Could Spy Man Nick ever fall for her? Nope. Not unless Jess is one lucky girl.

Cate Lord is the contemporary pen name of multi-award-winning historical 
romance author Catherine Kean.  Her novels have garnered numerous  accolades,  including two Reviewer’s Choice Awards and the GayleWilson  Award of Excellence.  Her books also finaled in the 2008 Next Generation  Indie Book Awards and the 2008 National Readers’ Choice Awards. 
Grateful for her wildly active imagination and plenty of story ideas, Cate  is 
busy working on her next book.  She lives in Central Florida with her husband, 
daughter, and a very spoiled cat.

Excerpt:

Cate Lord, Lucky Girl  (End of Chapter Two)
A boisterous rendition of Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring started up inside the church. I glanced in. The pews were almost filled. I recognized Aunt Prim. She was impossible to miss, even from behind, her curly gray hair poking out from beneath her enormous white hat spattered with fuchsia, yellow, and pink flowers.
The groom, Andrew Castleton, a handsome guy with wavy blond hair, stood with his best man near the altar. Andrew clasped and unclasped his hands as if he couldn’t keep them still.
Yup, I’d say he was nervous.
Anna and Charlotte moved to my side. When Andrew saw them, relief softened his features. He grinned, and I knew exactly what he was thinking: “Tilly, the woman I love, is here.”
My cousins giggled and nodded.
My attention shifted to the best man. Mmm. Tall, broad-shouldered—
Oh. My. God!
My heart jolted like I’d just stuck my pinkie into an electrical outlet.
Nick Mondinello. The man my cousins had whispered about years ago. Sex God.
Playboy. Heartbreaker.
Spy Man.
He still looked like a younger version of Pierce Brosnan, the actor who’d starred in a couple of James Bond movies. Nick wore his dark hair shorter now and spiked with gel. He filled out his tailored gray suit very, very nicely.
Memories whooshed through my mind. The day after Grandpa George’s funeral. The Creaky Wicket Pub. The potted plant. Heat flooded my face, hotter than if I had yanked open an oven set to ‘broil.’
Aaahhh! How could my mind torture me at a time like this?
Nick glanced at me. Vines seemed to have snaked up from the carpet and locked aroundmy ankles. The heels of my sandals felt rooted to the floor. The murmurs and music around me faded into a weird, Twilight-Zone buzz.
Doo-dee-doo-doo, Doo-dee-doo-doo.
I forced my lips into a stiff, polite smile and adjusted my sweaty-handed hold on my bouquet. It would be just my luck to drop the pretty arrangement on the floor and turn it into a mangled hodgepodge.
Nick looked at someone on the other side of the church, and I exhaled noisily.
Then he looked at me again. He squinted, as though he was trying to place me. Maybe he was wondering why I was blushing so fiercely.
Severe sunburn. Hot flushes. Woman’s stuff.
I hadn’t blushed like this on my first date.
I held the roses tighter to my chest. Thank goodness the big bouquet would draw attention away from my boobs.
My face burned. Scorched, more like it. Embarrassing now, but not quite as mortifying as what I’d done two years ago.
Glancing away from Nick, I watched one of the ushers escort Aunt Cleo to a front pew, where she sat beside Aunt Prim. I felt acutely alert, as if I was a taut spring, about to uncoil with a loud poing like a Jack-In-The-Box.
Was Nick still looking at me?
I struggled to quiet the desperate squeak rising in my throat. Maybe I was worrying for nothing. Maybe Nick didn’t even remember what had happened. He’d been drinking that night. We all had. Some of us—specifically moi—a lot more than others.  I dared a glance. Nick nodded in response to something Andrew said. A smile curved Nick’s mouth.
Hushed voices along with the whisper of silk came from behind me. Valerie, Tilly, and my uncle had entered the church.
My belly squeezed tight. Any moment now, the ceremony would begin.  Dread shivered through me.
A countdown began ticking in my head.
Ten. . . nine. . .
Oh no. In the recessional, I would have to walk arm in arm with Nick. Help!
Seven. . . six. . .
Butterflies swooped in my stomach. My hands felt coated in olive oil. The ushers led the last of the guests to their pews.
Three. . . two. . .
When the guys returned, the organist paused for a moment then struck up a vibrant march.
The Wedding March.
Ping. The moment of truth was upon me.
I hadn’t prayed in months. But as the ushers began a slow walk up the aisle, I prayed I didn’t trip, stumble, or make a fool of myself.
Not in front of Tilly and my relatives.
Not in front of gorgeous Nick Mondinello.
Again.
Anna, Charlotte, and Valerie lined up ahead of me to begin their graceful stroll up the
aisle. As I drew a deep breath, Nick’s gaze locked with mine.
He was still smiling.
In that moment, I knew without the teeniest bit of doubt.
He remembered.

Amazon Purchase Link for Lucky Girl

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About Barb Drozdowich

Social Media and Wordpress Consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught at University, trained technical personnel in the banking industry and, most recently, used her expertise to help dozens of authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She owns Bakerview Consulting and is the only reviewer on this blog.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Colette @ A Buckeye Girl Reads

    September 6, 2011 at 5:06 am

    I’m not entering the giveaway, but I just wante to say that this sounds like a fun book! Was it hard switching genres?

  2. Dana Burgess

    September 6, 2011 at 8:13 am

    Great interview and it looks like a great book. I love the cover. And I appreciate that she gained ten pounds and could still be desireable. I am getting a little fed up with ultra-skinny broads! If your giveaway is open to Canadians, I’d love to enter.
    danakburgess(at)gmail(dot)com

  3. LuAnn Morgan

    September 6, 2011 at 9:21 am

    I hate to admit it, but I haven’t read any of Cate’s books. This sounds like a great one to start with!

    reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

  4. Allison Gardner

    September 6, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I would love to read this

  5. Jennifer E

    September 6, 2011 at 10:23 am

    I think we should all start calling ourselves book collectors.

    jenemard(at)yahoo(dot)ca

    • Barb

      September 6, 2011 at 10:46 am

      Hi Jennifer!
      I collect books on my bedside table, on the floor beside the bedside table, in my closet, on my desk, in the living room……:)

  6. Cate Lord

    September 6, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Hi, Colette! 🙂 I’m glad LUCKY GIRL sounds like a fun book to you! 🙂 No, actually, it wasn’t hard switching genres, I think because contemporary romantic comedies and dark historical romances are so very different. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

  7. Cate Lord

    September 6, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Dana! A fellow Canuck! 🙂 I grew up on Vancouver Island, in B.C. I miss it! Thanks for your kind words about my interview and book. I adore the cover; it’s perfect for Jess’s story. 🙂 Thank you for commenting, and it’s a pleasure to “meet” you.

  8. Cate Lord

    September 6, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Hi, LuAnn! LUCKY GIRL is my very first book written under my pseudonym Cate Lord. My previous six novels, all medieval romances, were written as Catherine Kean. 🙂 I hope you enjoy reading LUCKY GIRL.

  9. Cate Lord

    September 6, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Allison, I’m glad to hear LUCKY GIRL sounds good to you! 🙂

  10. Cate Lord

    September 6, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Jennifer, I agree. 🙂 LOL! I think my to-be-read pile is a book collection in itself. 🙂

  11. Cate Lord

    September 6, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Barb, LOL! 🙂 I LOVE your comment. You sound like a serious book collector. 🙂

  12. monikarw

    September 6, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Going through the Jaunty Quills website (wich I love) last night I found out more about the heroine and just fell in love wih her! LOL
    and that excerpt just got me desperated to have it!=)
    I’d love to win this!
    thank you for sharing and for the giveaway!;)

    monika_restivow(at)yahoo(dot)com

  13. Anita Yancey

    September 7, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    I enjoyed the interview. The book sounds wonderful, and I’d love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  14. winnie

    September 12, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Thanks for the interview! It was great in getting to know Cate a bit.

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    • Barb

      September 12, 2011 at 4:02 pm

      Hi Winnie!
      It was a great interview, wasn’t it? I think the books sound pretty interesting also! Thanks for stopping by.

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