Piracy

Well, I think three weeks is actually the longest it's taken for my books to go up on pirate sites -- they used to go up on the day of release, which was fun -- but I knew I'd need to make this post sooner or later.

If you're going to pirate books anyway, this isn't for you. You already don't care, which is absolutely your prerogative, but I still hope you understand how damaging it is.

If you wouldn't do a day's work if you employer proceeded to turn around and go "Yeeeeah, we're just not gonna pay you for your labor or time," at the end of your shift, then please consider not doing it to artists either. We're not some magical, mythical entitled race of beings -- we're human beings, with bills, and families, and need to survive just like you. If you value your own time and hard work (and everyone should) then maybe take a second to think about why you don't value a writer's the same way.

Let's be real, at the end of the day, a book about two guys shagging isn't exactly a necessity for anyone. It's not food, or shelter, or an education. It's not, as is often conflated in the "information should be free!" argument, enabling you to live a life of peace, democracy, free from corruption and with all your human rights intact. Entertainment of this kind is more akin to a treat, a luxury. And most of us, when we legitimately can't afford treats and luxuries, we either save up and savor them, go without, or in the case of books, lend from a library (which is NOT an equivalence to piracy; that's one of the most pernicious myths of all, right up there along with "If they pirate your new book, they'll go out and buy the others!" Like, no, Jan, they'll just ask their pirating buddies for the rest of your back-catalog, which is precisely what they did with me). We don't just take because it's not in the budget this month.

On the other hand, If you're someone who would genuinely buy a book if it was available in your country, or can't access it for some other reason, then I'd much prefer it if you guys contacted me before you grab my books from pirate sites. It's not only that adding to piracy site statistics is bad for me (by bumping up pirate site results in Google searches over legit retail outlets), they suck for you, too. They're often sketchy, either demanding credit card information for books they don't actually have (i.e. phishing scams), or they're infested with malware and spyware.

Everything I self-publish is going as wide as it can on Amazon. If that still doesn't cover your location etc. then like I said, drop me a line -- catkanewrites@gmail.com

Ten Years and One Rewrite

"The House on Sheridan Street" was originally written in 2008. It came out in December, but in the way of things in publishing, it had been finished and sent in much earlier in the year. By the time of its release, it was probably already an inaccurate reflection of the property market.

Ten years and one rewrite later, I'm realizing that global financial crises aren't the only unforeseen event that's turned this story into something very different to the original.

I can't remember where the idea initially came from -- I do remember that, at the time, I was deeply fascinated by urban exploration, in particular people who explored abandoned places. The eerie, hauntingly beautiful photos they'd post of disused buildings, vacant houses and derelict theme parks stirred something in me that was unsettled and mesmerized all at once. There was such a profound wrongness to these places, locations that should've been teeming with the mundanity of everyday human life -- offices, hotels, shopping malls, schools, hospitals -- standing hollowed out and empty, their ordinary contents left exactly where they'd been when the last person turned out the lights and closed the door. Waiting, it seemed to me. Like someone was going to step through the door any second, and the normal world would kick right back in. The idea for the eponymous 'house' came from that, from the sense that these silent, forgotten places held stories and secrets of their own.

Gale and Nathan came afterwards (names I picked up, as an aside, from my spam mail folder!), but with a hard word limit of 20k, they never really had the chance to come alive in the way I'd wanted. They were almost metaphors for the house themselves, waiting for some life to be breathed into them.

I've had much more leeway to do that in the re-write. And, in exploring and expanding the characters' backstories in more depth -- and their uneasy, messy relationships with their respective families -- I find I'm tapping into things I never, ever expected I'd use for my writing. Things that, ten years ago, hadn't even been on my radar. Things that, two years ago, I never wanted to touch, things I was perfectly happy to shove to the back of my mind and leave there. I was treating memories and emotions the same way people treated those abandoned places -- shut off the light, close the door, pretend it doesn't exist anymore. But writing, stories, are how I process and understand my world, so I shouldn't be surprised those things refused to stay there. I'm still not okay with writing about them -- I don't think I ever will be -- but maybe this way I can process a little tangentially anyway. Maybe I can at least give Gale and Nathan a truthfulness their story deserves.

And it's made me realize how true it is that sometimes, a story just isn't ready for us, or we're not ready for it. We don't have the experience, or the understanding necessary to quite do it justice, to give it honesty. I've always been a proponent of that reading of "Write what you know" -- as in, write the things you know you feel -- and I think that's just an extension of it.

Sometimes we don't know what we feel until we can look back at it and see. Sometimes the door's not closed as firmly as we like to imagine.

Happy Release Day

...to me! *throws confetti*

Seriously though, it's been such a long time since I've had one of these I'd forgotten just how exciting they can be. When I was releasing via small publishers, it was easy to feel somewhat distant from the whole process, and while self-publishing is certainly not for the faint-hearted, there's a very gratifying sense of hands-on engagement involved. I've already learned a great deal from the process, and hopefully I'll continue to do so as I work through revising and re-releasing the out-of-print works in my back catalog.

I'm currently working on a re-write of "The House on Sheridan Street", which was always one of my favourites to write (it definitely features one of my all-time favourite scenes!) but likely suffered from being crammed into the 20k word limit required of the original Torquere Press Arcana line (waaaay back in 2008, which is... terrifying, frankly!). With the freedom to extend and expand, I can get a little deeper into Gale and Nathan's backstories and hopefully make the whole story richer. We shall see!

Thank you so much to those of you who have already picked up a copy of "Hung Up"!

If you're still curious, you can check it out here!

Hung Up -- Excerpt

It's 10 days until the release of "Hung Up", so to whet your appetite for cocky cowboys and grouchy veterinarians, here's a sneak peek at an excerpt from Chapter One!

He arrived in town five minutes shy of a thunderstorm, and, all things considered, Billy Valentine figured that was the story of his life.

After pitching up the trailer at the fairground, he took refuge from the deluge in the cab of his truck, where the heater and the radio blared, and the letter he’d picked up that morning sat on the pile of junk in the passenger seat. He glared at it through three songs straight, as though that might influence the contents.

Get a fucking grip, Billy…

Despite the soothing drum of the rain on the windshield, the sound of paper tearing jangled his nerves. Unfolding the neat, letter-headed paper inside the envelope, he scanned the impersonally polite letter until he got to the part that began, "Unfortunately, your application was not successful."

Of course it wasn’t. Crumpling up the letter and the envelope, he shoved both into the pocket of his jacket.

New Release -- Hung Up

"Hung Up" is now available for pre-order!

Pick up your copy here!

When dissatisfied rodeo cowboy Billy Valentine walks into a small-town bar, he just wants to forget his problems with some good company and a little no-strings fun. Strait-laced veterinarian Spence Quinn might be very good company, but he brings with him complications – and feelings – Billy doesn't need.

Spence is looking for some redemption of his own, running from a scandal that almost wrecked his career. He's got a fresh start, working for a rodeo stock contractor miles away from the racing world he left behind, and a hot, cocky cowboy doesn't figure anywhere in his plans. Until he does.

But when Billy's desperate attempt at salvaging his career tangles with the ghost of Spence's troubled past, they'll have to decide whether the connection they've forged is worth the ride.

Chasing Butterflies Release Date

Just as summer actually seems to be starting over here in the UK, my "Summer Lovin'" novella, Chasing Butterflies, will be released on Monday June 28th, from Liquid Silver Books!

Blurb and excerpt this-a-way...!

Human Nature Review

Christina at Romance Junkies Reviews had this to say about "Human Nature":

"The atmosphere in HUMAN NATURE is very tense and feels very antiquated. It pulled me into the story right away. I found myself forgetting that the novel has a contemporary setting. Gage is a mysterious and intriguing character. Throughout the story I found myself wanting to know more about him. I was filled with questions and I couldn’t wait to discover the answers. Randall is also a very interesting and surprising character. Despite his life long service to Gage, he is an independent person. I admired his determination to do what is right even if it means going against the man he loves. The relationship between the three heroes is strong and felt very believable to me. HUMAN NATURE by Cat Kane is a compelling paranormal romance."

Read the whole review here!

Coming Soon -- "Chasing Butterflies"

"Chasing Butterflies", a contemporary m/m romance, will be out soon from Liquid Silver Books as part of their `Summer Lovin'` theme. Stay tuned for more details, or keep up to date on the LSB forum. Meanwhile, here's the blurb!

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When a heat-wave wrecks Nolan Brooks' rental car, leaving him stranded in a sleepy little Tennessee town, the goal of spending the summer running his best friend's beach-side bar begins to flutter out of reach. He's trying to be responsible and ambitious for the first time in his life, and spending the weekend at a local festival celebrating the migration of the Purple Lacewing butterfly doesn't fit into those plans.

But he's stuck for the duration, and making the best of a bad situation doesn't seem so difficult when a shortage of hotel rooms means he's spending it with the charming, if mysterious, Gray Ashton. Gray isn't too fond of tourists, but despite his misgivings, it seems he'll make an exception for Nolan.

When Nolan succumbs to the charms of the town, the butterflies, and Gray, he has to re-evaluate what he really wants. But the secrets in Gray's past and the obligations in Nolan's future won't make that any easier than chasing butterflies

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New Review

Just Erotic Romance Reviews (you can find their Yahoo Group here) gave "Afterthought" 4 Stars and said:

"The idea of Paths and Empaths is not a new thing but this story uses it in a very interesting way. The language is beautifully descriptive and I enjoyed just reading the words. The growth of the relationship between Vance and Ayan seems very natural, they settle into a rhythm that just seemed real. Ayan appears to be the sweet naïve innocent in need of protection but as the story goes on, you see an inherent strength in the character that even he seems unaware of. Vance is a self-centered idiot, only out for himself until Ayan starts to make an impact on his life. Small changes that are hardly noticeable unless you are looking for them end up bringing Vance’s character to a more well-rounded place. The intimate scenes between Ayan and Vance were hot and sexy and the Empath/Path relationship added an extra dimension of feeling. The book took awhile to get going, but the set up was necessary for the plot. The author did manage to surprise me with the twists and turns the story took and I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary plot of the story. Afterthought is a well written, hot paranormal with very interesting ideas and theories."

A Couple Of New Reviews...

...and news that "Human Nature" made the Top 20 Liquid Silver Books of 2009! Check out the list in full here. Congrats to everyone on the list, and thank you for reading!

In the meantime, a couple of new reviews have been posted for Human Nature and Afterthought.

Rainbow Reviews gave "Human Nature" four stars, and said:

"Cat Kane delivers a m/m/m love story crackling with sexual tension, but also the tensions of power dynamics. All three vie to learn their place in relation to the others, while keeping their dignity and having their deepest needs met. It's an uneasy balancing act. Given Gage's and Dominic's need to dominate, the sex in this novel has the ring of BDSM to it. The balance of pleasure and pain sharpens the story's climax."

Read the review in full here.


Joyfully Reviewed had this to say about "Afterthought":

"Afterthought is an intriguing, sexy tale with unexpected twists and turns along the way. Clever, fascinating characters – heroes and villains alike make Afterthought more than your average fantasy tale. There is a somewhat dark, moody gothic flavor to this modern day story that stands out which I liked. Afterthought has an intense vibe revolving around a relationship, trust and fate. This isn’t ‘lite’ entertainment, but it is definitely entertaining."

Read the review in full here.

Human Nature Reviews

Human Nature is a Top Pick over at Night Owl Romance, who gave it 4.5 Stars.

"Human Nature is a story of cynicism, world-weariness, and of trying to do your best while staying true to yourself. It is also a story of what looks like betrayal - and is up to a point - but is nothing more than a man trying to stay true to himself, even knowing that he might lose the trust of someone he loves. It is about finding love in spite of, or maybe even because of, differences that seem insurmountable at first sight. Good reading!"

Literary Nymphs Reviews gave it 4.5 Nymphs, and said:

"Cat Kane’s release Human Nature is definitely going to keep you enthralled. I will admit, between the three characters, Dominic drew me into the storyline more. His inability to completely back down and allow Gage to be the master of his territory kept the story interesting. Randall wore his heart on his sleeve, and I believe he was a bit too much of a pushover for Gage. While it wasn’t ingrained in him to challenge Gage, for some reason I think Gage would have enjoyed the opportunity to put him firmly back in his place. The story takes place in a beautiful wooded area far enough from civilization to create a cocoon around the men. Cat Kane builds the romance in this story at a moderate pace, and adds a dash of action to keep the story flowing. I enjoyed reading Human Nature."

Human Nature -- Out Now!

Human Nature is out now from Liquid Silver Books!


Left for dead by hunters, werewolf Dominic finds refuge at the isolated home of reclusive demon Gage and his human servant Randall. Healing from the attack, physically and mentally, Dominic has no choice but to rely on his grudging host and his enigmatic assistant.

Hidden away from humans for decades, the last thing Gage wants is a werewolf bringing trouble to his doorstep. Keeping Randall at arm's length is problematic enough, but allowing Dominic to stay seems like the safest option–at least until Gage finds himself drawn to Dominic as much as he is to Randall.

Randall has his own reasons for driving Dominic into Gage’s arms. It’s only a matter of time until Gage discovers the secrets Randall’s been keeping—secrets that will surely destroy their fragile, undefined relationship. Still, the pull of the powerful desire that binds them all leaves him wishing there was a way to keep them both.

But as the outside world encroaches on Gage’s sanctuary, all those secrets are about to collide, unleashing a dangerous tide of betrayal, deception and love, and all three men will have to re-evaluate their priorities, their relationships, and who—or what—they are.

Pick up a copy here!

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Afterthought Reviews

A couple of recent reviews for "Afterthought" -- gotta admit I'm pleased with the reception it's had so far!

Literary Nymphs Reviews gave it 4 Nymphs

Night Owl Romance rated it a 4.5, and a Reviewer's Top Pick!

Human Nature -- Out November 9th!

Human Nature has a release date! Look for it on November 9th!

Keep up to date with info about Human Nature here, and scroll down to see the cover (though I warn you, you might be gone a while. It's cool, I'll wait. *g*)

Afterthought -- Out Now!

Afterthought is out now from Liquid Silver Books!




Click here for purchasing info!


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Human Nature -- Cover Art

Human Nature has a cover! Please excuse me, I'll be the drooling wibbly mess in the corner....

Afterthought -- Release Date: September 21st 2009

"Afterthought" will be available from Liquid Silver Books on Monday, September 21st!

When you're choosing between right and wrong, sometimes love is just an afterthought.

Telepath Vance Gregory never thought that taking down high-powered underworld Path Marcus Rose would be easy. When his enemy proves to be a far more formidable danger than Vance anticipates, he has no choice but to join forces with Ayan, a beautiful low-level Path with mysterious connections to Marcus.

Captured by Vance's organization during a bungled ambush on Marcus, Ayan had no intention of helping them achieve their ends. But Vance isn't like anyone he's known. Given a glimpse of how life with him might be beyond the uncertain society they inhabit, Ayan agrees to Vance's plans.

Neither of them expect the intense attraction, nor the explosive mental bond it forges. And when Ayan's powers begin to spike out of control, neither of them want to face the unpredictable dangers that could tear them apart.

With Ayan at his side, Vance sets out to remove the threat Marcus poses to the Path community. But Marcus isn't that easy to kill, and when Ayan turns out to be vital to Marcus's continued existence, Vance has to choose between the enemy he hates or the man he loves

Human Nature -- Coming Soon from Liquid Silver Books

Coming soon from Liquid Silver Books, "Human Nature" is a paranormal gay menage.

~

Left for dead by hunters, werewolf Dominic finds refuge at the isolated home of reclusive demon Gage and his human servant Randall. Healing from the attack, physically and mentally, Dominic has no choice but to rely on his grudging host and his enigmatic assistant.

Hidden away from humans for decades, the last thing Gage wants is a werewolf bringing trouble to his doorstep. Keeping Randall at arm's length is problematic enough, but allowing Dominic to stay seems like the safest option–at least until Gage finds himself drawn to Dominic as much as he is to Randall.

Randall has his own reasons for driving Dominic into Gage’s arms. It’s only a matter of time until Gage discovers the secrets Randall’s been keeping—secrets that will surely destroy their fragile, undefined relationship. Still, the pull of the powerful desire that binds them all leaves him wishing there was a way to keep them both.

But as the outside world encroaches on Gage’s sanctuary, all those secrets are about to collide, unleashing a dangerous tide of betrayal, deception and love, and all three men will have to re-evaluate their priorities, their relationships, and who—or what—they are.

~

To read an excerpt and keep up to date with all the info about Human Nature, check out the Liquid Silver Books forum!

Afterthought -- Cover Art and Sneak Peek

The cover for "Afterthought" is here, and I'm really pleased with it!



There's also a new short extract from "Afterthought" up at my site!

"The House on Sheridan Street" is out from Torquere Press!

Gale Solomon is a real estate developer, buying properties and renovating them for profit. The latest house has been giving him nothing but headaches, though. Protestors are picketing the old Sheridan house, demanding that it be 'saved'. On top of that, Nathan Oakley has shown up, claiming to be a long-lost grandson of the previous owner, demanding his inheritance back.

Gale knows that Nathan’s not Mrs. Oakley's grandson; no living relative was found by the estate, so Nathan must be running a scam. Too bad Gale likes Nathan. Maybe more than likes him. Will a mysterious letter help clear things up or make them worse? And what exactly is going on in the attic of the old Sheridan House?

Get your copy today!