Cathie Dunn writes...

Time for a treat! Highland Arms is part of a brilliant selection in the Rogues of Winter giveaway by BookSweeps. Yes, readers have a chance to win some fabulous reads by bestselling romance authors, amongst us Glynnis Campbell, Michelle Styles and Samantha Holt, and a few other ’tasty’ treats to boot! So, hurry over to sign up to some brilliant author newsletters and get yourself into the draw for the big prizes! Just follow the link here: https://booksweeps.com/book-giveaway/medieval-scottish-old-world-romance-november-2018/  

Halloween Greetings to you all! My publisher, Crooked Cat , is having an ebook sale on Amazon over Halloween, where readers can grab some fabulous Kindle titles for just 99p / 99c ! No better way to spend crisp autumn evenings indoors than reading a good book or two. Apart from my own historical mystery romance, Dark Deceit , you can discover my fellow Cats (as we're all called) and their books. We have romantic fiction, thrillers, cosy crime, historical novels, a few clever non-fiction themes, so there's something for everyone.  If you don't know any of the Cats, simply go to your Amazon store and type in ’ Crooked Cat ’ – and our titles should appear.  In the meantime, I've also reduced Highland Arms to 99p / 99c. You can find me and all my titles here !  ~~~ Dark Deceit Murder. Betrayal. Hope. On his return from battle at Lincoln, Geoffrey de Mortagne, under-sheriff of Gloucester and spy for the Empress Matilda, assists a dying knight c...

“Reading is a form of escapism, and in Gardiner’s fiction,  we escape to places we’d never imagine journeying to.”  A.J. Kirby, ‘The New Short Review’ Today, I welcome editor and author, Jeff Gardiner. He has established a firm foothold in the writing world over the last couple of years. Apart from successful publications with Crooked Cat, Eibonvale Press and Tirgearr Publishing, he has just signed a 3-book deal with Accent Press. Many congratulations! But more about Jeff later. First of all, he talks about Love and Obsession... Love and Obsession My contemporary romance, ‘Treading On Dreams’, explores two themes: obsession and unrequited love. These two experiences are sometimes linked. Obsession can lead to the humiliation of your romantic desires being unwanted. Unreturned love can lead to an unhealthy obsession that turns into something darker: stalking, unreasonable behaviour, or worse… In ‘Treading On dreams’, Donny is a sensitive, romantic eig...

Ahh, the cold season is upon us. Lounging on the sofa by a roaring fire, with a mug of tea or glass of wine, and enjoying a good read! ;-) So, what's better than stocking up on some fantastic releases when they're on special offer. Like now! The Crooked Cats are having their annual winter ebook sale from 7th-14th December 2013 !  All their ebooks (apart from latest releases) are available on Amazon for only 77p / 99c ! So, don't hesitate to grab your copy of a 5* gripping historical romantic murder mystery! Blurb: On his return from battle at Lincoln, Geoffrey de Mortagne, under-sheriff of Gloucester and spy for the Empress Matilda, assists a dying knight caught in an ambush. Promising to look after the welfare of the knight's only daughter, Geoffrey stays at her manor, investigating the murder. Keen to join the Empress on her progress through England, he is torn between his oath and his duty. Left to defend her manor following her father's death, Alleyne ...

Is there a difference? Well, yes. Lately, I've been pondering about the types of books I write. I keep saying that my novels don't fit into a specific box - but publishers (and reviewers) love those boxes! So, how do I ensure my books find the 'right' readers? Or should that be the other way round? ;-) First of all, how do you approach historical romance as opposed to a romantic adventure? The big difference is the love story. Romance focuses predominantly (naturally!) on the love story, the development of the main characters - in my books one male, one female - often classified as category (i.e., following a certain pattern). The historical setting, background, etc, are secondary. Still important to an extent, but they don't overshadow the love story, the internal and external conflict of the couple-to-be, with all its twists and turns. It might be used to throw obstacles in the characters' path, keeping them from each other until the end, but always link...

Unbelievable! Time flies... Yes, it was six months ago that my Scottish romantic historical, Highland Arms, was released by The Wild Rose Press. I'm still excited by the fact that I can share Rory and Catriona's story. Here's the blurb again: Betrayed by her brother’s lies, Catriona MacKenzie is banished from her Edinburgh home to her godmother’s remote manor in the Highlands. While her father ponders her fate, Catriona’s insatiable curiosity leads her straight into trouble--and into the arms of a notorious Highlander. Five years after an ill-fated Jacobite rebellion, Rory Cameron works as a smuggler to raise money for the cause--until Catriona uncovers a plot against him and exposes his activities. Now Rory is faced with a decision that could save their lives or destroy them both. Highland Arms is available at Amazon US , Amazon UK , B&N and other electronic outlets. Today also marks a new era for my new publisher, Crooked Cat Publishing , who are going ...

Woohoo, it's my turn today at the Amazing Authors Event! ~bounce~ A group of wonderful authors - and I - have recently joined together to host a blog tour: enjoy almost two weeks of tempting excerpts, wonderful stories and plenty of suggestions for your personal electronic bookshelves. But you might not even need to spend your hard earned cash - on the final day you'll get a chance to win free copies! You'll just have to answer the questions on the last blog. No worries - you'll find links to all our posts there so you can double check! It's like sitting a maths test with the result book by your side... ;-) Right, so now let me tell you about Highland Arms . My Scottish romantic historical has been on the market for 6 months! Wow! But with my new historical, Dark Deceit, coming out on 10th February, I must quickly tell you about where the idea for Highland Arms came from.  My in-laws live in the Scottish Highlands. On our way to visit, we pass through the m...

The countdown is on! In just two days' time, a group of 13 fabulous authors (including me! ~pat on back~) are hosting a blog tour. But not only can you discover the works of these wonderful ladies, you can also win a great read! Sounds good, doesn't it? Every one of the authors on the tour are offering a free download - but you have to pay attention to win. Easy peasy! ;-) On the last day of the tour, Ginger Simpson is going to post up the questions. Don't worry - she'll attach a link to each author's post so you can quickly double check. Don't miss out on a chance to win a read of your choice by simply answering a question. Not rocket science, eh? :p Here's the glamorous line up: Jan. 12.   Caroline Clemmons  -  http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com   Jan. 13.  Beth Trissel  -  http://bethrissel.wordpress.com   Jan. 14.  Roseanne Dowell  -  http://roseannedowellauthor.blogspot.com  Jan. 15.   Cathie ...