Novels Alive and Be My Bard. Com are extraordinarily pleased to have with us this week for a special edition of “10 Questions With…”, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author…Catherine Bybee.
Be sure to stay tuned until the end. Catherine is offering a fabulous giveaway as part of this Book Blog Tour. See below on how you can enter to win a Kindle Fire and more!
We’ve all pondered the age old question of which came first the CHICKEN or the EGG? As a writer, when creating a new story, which tends to come first for you—the CHARACTERS or the PLOT?
The title. Then the Characters…then the plot.
It’s inevitable that small bits and pieces of a writer’s own personality will make their way into the characters they create. But if you had to write yourself into one of your books, would your character most likely be the hero/heroine, the steadfast best friend, the comedy relief or the villainous mastermind?
YES, yes, absolutely yes, and most certainly.
Part of me is in many characters in my books. One of the comments I get a lot from readers who know me on a personal level is, “I knew YOU wrote this.” I’d love the be the heroine, but most likely be the BFF with comedy relief mixed in. And if I’m having a crap day, bring on the villain.
Speaking of villains…do you prefer writing characters that are clearly evil from the second they appear on the page or the surprise villain that no one would ever expect?
Both. With my contemporary romances, most of my villain’s are a little hidden. Or in the case of TAKEN BY TUESDAY, completely in the dark until I want them to come out and play. My time travel romances, however, are much more ‘out there’ with the bad guys/girls.
If you had the power to step inside the pages of any book for 24 hours, which one would you choose and why?
One of my time travels, mainly because of the fantasy/magic factor. In terms of my contemporary books…I’d like to step into Blake and Sam’s life, if for no other reason than to use their private plane.
If you could use that same power to jump through the screen into the world of your favorite television show or movie, which would it be and why?
TV and Movies…that’s those things people do when they’re not writing…right? Yeah, can’t answer that because my job keeps me busy in my fantasy worlds.
Over the last few years, books of an erotic nature or with taboo subject matter have become more acceptable—even popular—in the mainstream marketplace. How, if at all, has this change affected the way that you write your own “love scenes”?
I don’t know if it’s changed them. I always wrote with a sexy lean to it. I believe that each character and couple have completely different sexual experiences. The heat and intensity is unique to each book. IMHO.
There was once a time when authors had to rely almost solely on mainstream media like newspapers and magazines to find reviews written on their latest book. Now that the internet has made it possible for anyone with a keyboard to become an armchair critic, has the sheer number of reviews available for your books made it easier or harder to deal with criticism?
You HAVE to have a thick skin in this business. I’m not going to win over every reader with every book. If people want to tell me, ‘no way that would have happened that way.’ Go for it. I’m not going to correct you. Even if we’re talking on a subject that I know firsthand happens the way I’ve spelled it out in my work. We live in a society where people complain more than compliment. I do have some amazing reviews and wonderful readers who take time out of their busy lives to pat me on the back. For them, I’m very grateful.
That isn’t to say that I don’t mind a helpful, ‘this could have been better’ review. I want every book to get better. I hope my writing becomes better with each one…and if I never get less than positive feedback, I’m not sure where to grow. But writers are people too. So be kind and constructive. And for the love…if you don’t like romance, don’t read mine and then tell me how you don’t read romance and mine was okay…you guess. Life is too short to read books in a genre you don’t like.
Many authors have branched out into multiple genres over the years. Is there a particular genre of fiction that you have always wanted to tackle but, haven’t tried yet?
Nope… my hand is in many pots. If I have a desire to write in a genre, I do.
If you could choose one historical/contemporary romance from your own or another author’s library of work to be made into a feature film which would it be and why?
I think my Not Quite series is perfect for Lifetime television. I’d love my time travels to hit the big screen…and I think my brides are a concept for a series of some sort.
Tell us a little bit about the project you are working on now or share something about your newest or upcoming release(s).
NOT QUITE FOREVER is coming in November. I’m working on the sixth book in my bride series as we speak. Then I’ll jump on the last book in the bride books. After that, I’ll be working on another time travel for a break in genres.
Thank you very much to Catherine for joining us this week!
The Weekday Bride Series, Book Five
Montlake Romance, Contemporary
August 12, 2014, First Edition
Paperback & Kindle
JUDY GARDNER:
College graduate Judy stands ready to conquer the world…if she can find a job. Hoping to transition from aspiring architect to famous architect as quickly as possible, the dark-haired beauty moves to LA, staying in the home of her celebrity brother, Michael Wolfe. But it’s hard for Judy to focus on work when the sexy bodyguard she fell for last summer keeps showing up in her life and leaving her breathless.
RICK EVANS:
With his hard body, green eyes, and easy smile, Rick could have any woman he wants. But the Marine-turned-bodyguard only has eyes for Judy and her spitfire attitude. When a faceless villain attacks Judy, Rick will stop at nothing to protect the woman who opened his heart from the monster hunting her.
“Readers will fall in love with Rick, who is the ultimate book boyfriend with his good looks and bad-ass attitude.” –RT BOOK REVIEWS, TOP PICK!, 4 ½ STARS
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Southern California. www.catherinebybee.com
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Thanks for having me on your blog.