A Booksigning Event and the Indie Author

I recently attended a book signing event to promote my latest Redcliffe novel, Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). I returned to the Waterstones bookshop in Warrington, Cheshire. When I last visited this venue, it was in the run-up to Christmas and we had expected a busy day. At the time it was disappointingly quiet and I felt very disillusioned about the whole process. This time I swallowed my pride, and decided that I had to keep trying and get myself and my books out there.

It was good to see that many people still visit their local bookshop just to browse and buy something new. When I first entered the store it was vibrant and lively, with families filling up the children’s book section, couples of all ages wandering in and out, and groups of friends checking out the new releases and popular books in the charts. Despite all the doom and gloom in the media about the eBook revolution and the demise of the old-fashioned paperback, it seems that people do still enjoy the feel, smell, and texture of a good solid book in their hands. That said, I didn’t see very many hardback books in the shop. I believe these formats are now almost obsolete.

My table was set up at the front of the shop, near the door, where people could not fail to see me as they walked in and out. I had a low table on which to display my books, and I sat in a comfortable faux-leather armchair. Actually, it was quite nice to have the opportunity to sit still for a while and not be distracted by demanding children and pets (fellow parents, you know what I mean!) I sat back, settled comfortably in my chair, and watched the shoppers going about their business.

The first thing I noticed was that I was surrounded by piles of the current popular book: the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E.L. James. This book has exploded into the public sphere within a year it seems, and I am intrigued about how and why this has happened. All accounts I have heard from friends, colleagues and press attention do not exactly paint the books in a good picture. Yet here it is, now released by a large publishing house, and being bought by many thousands of people. I believe it is one of those stories that you simply have to try out for yourself…

After glancing at the book Fifty Shades of Grey, I am not compelled to read it myself. I have downloaded the free sample on my Kindle from Amazon, and I will give it a try just to be fair. I feel like I should read the book more for research purposes. It might help me with my own personal marketing campaign, since the genre is the same as that of my own Redcliffe novels. I am not immediately sure that I like the style of writing for Fifty Shades of Grey. It is presented in the first person present tense, and usually I find this irritating. However, I am currently reading another novel written in the same way and I am enjoying that one, so maybe I should get past that particular hump.

Books and authors are still perceived as glamorous, I think. People love the excitement and exhilaration they feel from discovering and reading a good book. It elicits all sorts of emotional responses, and allows us the freedom to push our boundaries, step outside our cultural and societal norms, or simply to try a new experience through a work of fiction. That said, I don’t think people are quite so concerned about having autographed, paperback copies of books these days. I noticed several customers pick up Fifty Shades of Grey and glance quickly at the back cover, before replacing it on the shelf and walking off. I suspect these people will be searching for the book at a cheaper price on the internet, or they will order an eBook version.

I think that the technological revolution is not to be feared or disliked. Yes, it is easier to get published nowadays. We have a much larger platform on which to sell our work. But that platform is also far more crowded, and we have to fight to be heard above the clamour. EBooks have intensified the game of publishing and selling books. We have stepped up a level, we must be strong, we must not back down. Let’s hear it for the Indie authors! Ding, ding!

Catherine Green Author Interview on Redshift Radio

I did it! My very first actual studio appearance on a radio station, and here is the finished product. Enjoy!

http://www.mixcloud.com/ManInTheRain/catherine-green-guest-on-something-different-with-tim-prevett-on-redshift-radio-12th-july-2012/

We talked about books, Tarot, new age beliefs and random music. It was fun!

Live Author Interview on RedShift Radio

I will be a guest at Red Shift Radio in Crewe, Cheshire tomorrow evening (Thursday 12th July) from 7:00pm - 9:00pm GMT (2:00pm - 4:00pm EST) and will be interviewed by local historian and ghost tour guide Tim Previtt.

We will discuss my adult paranormal romance series The Redcliffe Novels and my opinions on popular media including the Twilight saga, Being Human, True Blood and whatever else comes up in the conversation...

Set in Cornwall, England, the Redcliffe novels follow the adventures of bookshop owner Jessica Stone as she unwittingly falls in love with a vampire, becomes entangled with his identical twin brother's werewolf pack, and then discovers she is a witch.

In the newly released sequel Love Kills (ARedcliffe Novel) Jessica Stone recovers from an horrific werewolf attack and comes to terms with revelations that her lover, Jack Mason, is a vampire, his brother, Danny, the werewolf pack leader, and her best friend, Simon, is a werewolf.  Add to that her discovery that she is a witch, and life is suddenly a whole lot harder than it used to be. Jessica has to fight for her own life and Jack’s when faced with his jealous vampire master who wants her old lover back. But things are never easy, and a vampire master is not so easy to defeat…

A Redcliffe Short Story: It’s Complicated

Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will bite!) 

“Sally, would you take bloods from Mr Kelner in bed 3 please?” asked Sister Bond, my supervisor,  “and then assist Doctor Wayne with the patient in bed 1.” she added in her clipped, efficient tone.   

 I nodded and hurried away to fulfill my tasks, several in an everlasting list at this busy city hospital in the English Riviera.  Well, that’s what people call Devon and Cornwall isn’t it?  No matter, I love this place, even if it is work.  I love my job, I love my home, and I love my friends.  Life is good.

But life isn’t perfect, not by a long shot.  I’m still single, despite my best attempts to seduce my boss.  And I don’t mean my boss at the hospital.  Nope, I have two jobs.  By day I’m a mild-mannered, efficient, NHS nurse at my local hospital.  But in my personal life, I am third in command to the Redcliffe werewolf pack.  Yes, that’s right, we do exist!  And that is where my life becomes complicated.  Not because I’m a werewolf, although that can be confusing at times.  Especially around the full moon when I have to work with sick and wounded patients, and their blood smells so good, and all I can see is food when I’m supposed to care for them. 

No, being a werewolf is easy.  I’m powerful and strong, which is why I am a deputy pack leader.  The complicated part is my alpha male, Danny Mason, and his lieutenant, Simon Bunce.  You see, I am in love with Danny, and so is Simon.  I am certain that Danny loves me too, but he won’t commit to a relationship because he cares deeply for Simon.  Danny isn’t gay, but he and Simon share a special relationship, and for that he makes exceptions.  And this is where the complications arise. 

Danny has only recently returned to Redcliffe after a long mission working undercover for the police in Scotland.  That is a whole different story.  While he was gone, Simon and I commanded the pack.  Simon took over as alpha male, and I was alpha female.  I still am in some ways, since Danny won’t choose a mate, but I still fall in line behind Simon because he is stronger than me, and Danny defers everything to him. 

“Nurse Frost, did you hear me?” asked Doctor Wayne, rousing me from my thoughts.  I shook my head, cleared my throat, and ducked my head in an embarrassed gesture. 

“Sorry, Doctor Wayne, what did you say?” I asked politely.  But it was too late. 

Doctor Marianne Wayne couldn’t stand dreamers, and she especially couldn’t stand me.  Here in the hospital she was a successful cardio surgeon, with a track record of success and a skill with new medical techniques.  At five feet and ten inches tall she dwarfed my petite frame.  I knew she was jealous of my naturally blond hair, but what really upset her was my superiority outside of work.  Doctor Wayne is a member of our pack, and she wants the job of alpha female.  But in wolf form, I overpower her in every way.  She could never challenge me because I would win, and she knows that.  So at work, in the hospital, she makes my life a living hell.

Book Signing Event – Waterstones, Warrington

Join me in Waterstones, Warrington on Saturday 14^th July 2012 from 11:00 – 3:00pm.

I will be on hand to sign copies of my adult paranormal romance novels Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) and the newly released Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel).

 Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) is book 2 in the developing Redcliffe series. In the quiet Cornish seaside town of Redcliffe, Jessica Stone recovers from an horrific werewolf attack and comes to terms with revelations that her lover, Jack Mason, is a vampire, his brother, Danny, the werewolf pack leader, and her best friend, Simon, is a werewolf.  Add to that her discovery that she is a witch, and life is suddenly a whole lot harder than it used to be. Jessica has to fight for her own life and Jack’s when faced with his jealous vampire master who wants her old lover back. But things are never easy, and a vampire master is not so easy to defeat…

If you are interested I will also tell you about my work as a spiritual advisor for Spirit Sisters, and my training as a shaman… See you there!

My Muse has Spoken - Redcliffe needs more Murder!

You might have seen a recent post on my Facebook page in which I asked for readers' opinions on the growing sexual tension between my heroine Jessica Stone, and the alpha werewolf Danny Mason in my Redcliffe novels. Jessica is in love with Danny's identical twin brother, the vampire Jack Mason, so she is understandably very confused right now.

Anyway, I digress. My Muse has been very bossy this week, and has had me furiously typing away on the manuscript whenever I found time. I am very excited about our progress with the third book Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) but now I am faced with another dilemma. My books seem to favour rather violent endings, and poor old Jessica is feeling the brunt of it.

So far I have managed to keep the body count to a minimum, killing a few werewolves and one vampire in Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) and Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). There were plenty of near-death experiences for Jessica, the Mason brothers, and their close friends. But that's not enough apparently. My Muse (who, by the way insists that she be known to all as Suri Sans) is demanding more bloodshed. It means I now have to rewrite the ending of Love Redeems, because the one we have is too soft.

I am just slightly unnerved, but I will do as I am told. It is the way of the writer and her Muse of infinite wisdom...

The Redcliffe Novels - Meet Jessica Stone

I would like you to meet my Redcliffe heroine, Jessica Stone. She would have liked to be here for an interview, but unfortunately she is currently dealing with a few personal issues. Whoever knew a girl's love life could get so complicated? It wasn't something Jessica planned, and she is not too impressed about the whole situation. Here is her brief introduction:

Jessica Marie Stone is 29 years old at the time of writing this. She has recently begun telling her story in the Redcliffe Novels, kindly written by Catherine Green. Jessica owns and runs a bookshop with her best friend, Elizabeth Gormond. Liz recently had a baby with her husband, Rob, so she is out of action for a while. Jessica was going to run the bookshop alone for a few months, but with her current dramas, she needs a little help. She is recruiting an assistant manager to take some of the stress away on a temporary basis, just until Liz is ready to put her daughter into nursery for a few days a week.

Jessica was just your average single woman up until she met Detective Jack Mason. She lived alone in her apartment above the bookshop. She enjoyed socializing in the local pub, the Ship, on Redcliffe promenade. Her other best friend, Simon Bunce, manages the pub on behalf of its owner, Detective Danny Mason. Yep, you guessed it, that's where the complications arose! Danny is Jack's identical twin brother. Jessica met Jack first, fell in love, and then met Danny. Now she is totally confused.

That isn't the half of it. Jack is a vampire. Danny is a werewolf, and alpha for the Redcliffe wolf pack. It turns out that Simon Bunce is his lieutenant, and he hid the secret of his identity to Jessica for almost five years. Needless to say she is a little angry about that. But she has bigger problems. Around the time that she met Jack, she was having crazy dreams about monsters. Then an older woman started visiting her. The woman is Jessica's deceased mother, Lillian.

Jessica's parents died in a car accident when Jessica was six years old. She grew up in foster homes, and got used to being alone and self sufficient. Now her mother has returned, albeit as a ghost, and is helping Jessica come to terms with the truth about the man she loves. Her revelations were not accidental. Jessica Stone is a witch, born of an ancient line, and her mother wants her to embrace her true abilities and make use of her natural powers. Jessica is very uncertain about all of this. Then again, it might help her deal with the vampires and werewolves a little better.

Would you like to know more? Read her novels, Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) and Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). Jessica is currently continuing her story in the third book, Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel), but it seems I just can't type fast enough for her...