Friday, April 27, 2012

Author Interview with Cait Lavender on her new release "Hunter Moon" VBT Pit Stop Apr 28

Click on the image to visit Cait's Meet & Greet with VBT Cafe.

I'd like to introduce Cait to you today. But first a little about her passion for writing.


Cait Lavender is a twenty five year old wife and stay at home mother of one in Central California. Living on a cattle ranch and raising her daughter doesn’t afford her much leisure time, but when she has a spare minute or two she loves riding horses, baking and reading everything she can get her hands on. She grew up loving the written word and creative writing and finally decided to work on her dream of becoming a published author.
She has two short stories, Cowboy Moon and Fool Moon which is included in the Cupid Painted Blind anthology, and a full-length novel, Hunter Moon, both available on Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She’d love to hear from you on her Facebook author page, @caitlavender on Twitter or on her blog, www.caitlavender.com

Louise: Cait, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Cait: It was about a year ago. The main thing that got me started was seeing all the other indy pubbed authors that were doing so well! It was so encouraging knowing others had breached the gap and survived without the big publisher’s backing them up. With the help and encouragement from some very lovely ladies in my writer’s group, I finished my first book and published it.

Louise: Please tell us a little about your new release Hunter Moon without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Cait: It’s a paranormal romance set in a small town in Central  California. Shelby Flint is a cattle rancher, struggling to make ends meet. Her cousins are trying to take her land away, someone has set up shop and is growing pot on her land somewhere, sabotaging her property and trying to kill her. And worst? A gorgeous game warden is poking his beautiful nose into her business and getting under her skin.


Bawling cattle tore Shelby Flint from her bed. With lawyer fees to pay in her struggle to keep her ranch from the clutches of her greedy cousins, she couldn’t afford the loss of even one calf. When she sees a large wolf circling her cows, she aims and fires. While the wolf escapes, Shelby can’t seem to get away from her troubles when a marijuana grower sets up shop on her land, sabotaging her property and eventually coming after her. Adding to that, a handsome game warden is poking his nose into her business and working his way underneath her skin. Shelby will have to fight harder than she ever fought before to keep from losing her heart and everything she ever loved.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Cait: I have a rough idea of who they are, but they really do grow and evolve as the story progresses. Characters I was only using to fill a need turned into something more, making me like them and give them a more prominent role than I had intended. A few I’ve liked so well I’ve written shorts just to get more from their perspective.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Cait: I have made some great contacts with the California Game Wardens, a large animal veterinarian, a Iraq war vet. The trick about getting the dog drunk is totally true! (Read it and you’ll know what I’m talking about)

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Cait: I’m mostly a pantser. I start with a general idea of the protagonists, antagonists and basic plot and pretty much make up everything else in between. 

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Cait: I am a full time mom, part time cook and laundress and when I’m finished doing all that, if I’m lucky, I’ll have a few hours to spare for writing before I drop into my bed from exhaustion.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Cait: Not really. Like I said, I don’t get as much time for writing as I’d like, but I do have a spot on my couch that I take over when I’m writing.


Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Cait: Well, most of my day is taken up by chasing my kiddo around the house and cleaning up the trail of destruction behind her. My writing day starts at about 8 pm, her bed time. I crawl on my couch, grab my laptop and start writing until I either can’t think anymore or I start to fall asleep, which is usually around 1 or 2 am.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Cait: Well, I’m working on a book in a new series. It’s set in the same world as the lupine moon series but revolves around the more unsavory aspects of it. There’s a hot Knight, a nerdy but cute college girl and some evil witches. I’m hoping to have it out by the end of summer!

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Cait: If it’s fantasy, I love it. Always have. As for favorite author, that is just impossible to do. But I love Terry Pratchett, Karen Marie Moning, Jane Austin, Christopher Moore to name a few.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Cait: Enjoy! I wrote these books to make you laugh and I hope I’ve done that. I want to take you away from your life for a few pages and take you somewhere funny, surprising and hopefully entertaining!

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

Cait: You can find me on Facebook, Facebook Fan page, Twitter @caitlavender and my Web site.
You can buy Hunter Moon on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords


Louise: Cait, thank you again for visiting my blog. Reader's, Cait is featuring an eBook giveaway of Hunter Moon to one lucky commenter.  Comments will close 11 PM PST tonight, so be sure to let Cait know you stopped by and good luck in the drawing!


 

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