First, let me say Happy Book Birthday to my author
sisters, Karen Rock, Syndi Powell and Linda Hope Lee. It’s a glorious month for our launch. The
story timeline in my book, FEAR OF FALLING begins in the month of March, so I
love that the release date and the book coincide. Spring is just itching to pop
and I’m so ready. I’ll bet you are, too.
Here’s my super amazing cover---thank you again to
our design team. What talent! Check it out…there are even some spring flowers over there on the left.
Since the story is all about Thoroughbred racing and
our hero, Rafe Barzonni’s dream to run his prize horse in the Kentucky Derby, I
thought I’d share some inspiring snippets with you. \
Rafe’s dream nearly vanishes when his father,
Angelo, suddenly dies of a heart attack. Grief- stricken and determined to do
all he can to make his dead father proud of him, Rafe reminded me very much of the
brooding and intense Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. My inspiration was Matthew MacFayden with
those sultry, hope-filled, blazing blue eyes, much like Rafe’s.
Just then Rafe walked in, wearing old
jeans and a faded T-shirt that stretched across his broad chest like a second
skin. His cowboy boots were scuffed. His black hair was windblown and ragged,
but apparently, he didn’t notice or care because he didn’t make the first
effort to smooth it.
“Hi,” he
said, going to the refrigerator and taking out a protein shake. He popped the
top and slugged it, tilting his head back as he drank.
Olivia
watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Beads of sweat trickled down from his
temples, past his strong jaw. When he finished, he wiped his mouth with his
tanned forearm. Rafe was arrestingly handsome, yes, but there was also
something dangerous and wild in his expression. He must be hurting so much
right now, Olivia thought, remembering what Katia and Maddie had said about his
relationship with Angelo.
“Raphael,
did you wipe those boots outside?” Gina scolded him. Olivia got the impression
her comment was out of habit more than necessity.
“I did,”
he replied flatly.
“I’m
sorry, sweetheart. How was your ride?”
“Good.
Rowan really poured it on. It was as if he was running to show Pop how he could
measure up, you know?”
“I do,”
Gina replied, walking over to Rafe and putting her hand gently on his cheek. “He
loved you a great deal.”
Olivia
felt like an intruder as Rafe’s eyes filled with tears. She winced at the pain
she both saw and felt. Gina seemed to have forgotten she was there, and she
wasn’t sure Rafe had noticed her at all.
Oh,
that I were Jane Austen! We all aspire to her excellence.
Olivia
Melton has looked at the world through a camera lens since she was a child. She
has an artist’s eye and is a talented photographer, but she’s never taken the
risk to send her work out to publishers. Her father was a gambler and gambled
away the family savings and even Olivia’s college fund before he abandoned her
mother. Olivia’s mother, Julia, had no education and could not find a job, but
she was an excellent cook. Together they started the Indian Lake Deli and grew
it over the years into a catering business as well. Olivia has told herself
that she’s been too busy to pursue her dream of a career in photography. The
truth is, Olivia suffers panic attacks when she so much as thinks about gambling---especially the gamble she’d take if she
sent her work to publishers who might reject her. Now she's started falling in love with Rafe, the one man she can never be with.
My inspiration for Olivia came from Sabrina, the 1995 movie, in
which Sabrina finds her talent as a photographer.
As some of you know—if you’ve watched my Facebook
and Twitter posts, I give a Kentucky Derby Party every year, first Saturday in
May. On my Heartwarming Blog March1, I posted my mother’s mint Julep
recipe. All the ladies at my party wear
hats, just like they do at Churchill Downs and we bet on the horses to win,
place and show. It’s just a dollar a bet, but it’s amazing how excited everyone
gets cheering for their horse. You’d think they’d bet a hundred bucks on their
horse!
So, here’s a couple photos for fun.
On Monday, March 7th, my Prism Book Tour
begins. “Looking Through The Lens Tour” we’ve titled it in honor of Olivia. Free books, giveaways and Amazon Gift Card
through Rafflecopter.
The book is available at www.amazon.com. BN.com. kobo. eHarlequin. Goodreads.
Have I enticed you to celebrate Kentucky Derby Day? Stop over for a mint julep!
I don't know about the Kentucky Derby, Catherine, but you've certainly enticed me to read your book (not that I needed more incentive)! I bet one of your Derby parties would be a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on and very best wishes with you wonderful new release, Catherine.
Thanks, Kate! I forgot to mention that the mint for the juleps is from my garden and is the mint my mother grew for years. I've had to add to it a bit but the original plants are there from when I was a kid. REALLY good stuff. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteOh, sure! Tease me some more! :-D
DeleteSwooning over Rafe!! He's handsome and tortured- just the way I like my heroes ; love the comparison of his sultry, hope-filled blue eyes... Your book is amazing and I'm so proud to share a book birthday together xo
ReplyDeleteHappy Book Birthday to you!! Isn't this great fun? And yep, Rafe is a real heartbreaker. He's the kind of guy a woman never forgets! I sure wish we'd see Matthew Macfayden in another movie soon. How about you? I loved "Ripper Street"--did you see that series?
DeleteOh, those eyes... Enjoy your new release--and your Derby Day party!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz.
DeleteI agree. This guy has it in the eyes!
I think any party you host would be fun, Catherine, and the Kentucky Derby one sounds terrific! My sister has gone to the Derby (big hat and all) several times and had a great time. Congratulations on your book release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amie! I've never been to the real Kentucky Derby but my parents went quite often and my late husband went several times in his Thoroughbred racing phase. Personally, I've heard the juleps are watered down...not like mine...but the hats and clothes are worth it. Not to mention being there with the horses!!!
DeleteCatherine, I love horses of all kinds. I had such a good time touring Churchill Downs and that entire area of Kentucky. I love that the bluegrass really looks blue, especially in the early morning. The only time I've ever had mint juleps was when touring an historic home in Louisiana. It was good, but sneaky and I almost didn't make it back to the car. LOL
ReplyDeleteRoz, you are so funny. I know JUST what you mean! They can kick your butt---I never have more than one. I have a friend who loans me her silver julep cups every year. VERY festive!
DeleteGood morning, Catherine. Love your excerpt and would so love to sit at that table! Horse - and Macfayden - are such fine examples of beautiful design! Congratulations on Fear of Falling!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Muriel!!
DeleteI hope you are having a wonderful, spring day in your world!
Catherine, your party looks like so much fun! From the looks of that table you prepare, there would be a real danger of me sampling snacks and missing the race. Love that horseshoe-shaped dip. Congratulations on Fear of Falling! Can't wait to read Rafe and Olivia's story.
ReplyDeleteHi, Carol!
DeleteThanks for stopping by! Believe me, once those dollars leave the wallets, everyone heads for a television set. The race has been called "The most dangerous two minutes in sports". This is because Thoroughbreds are high strung supposedly. THey don't like being in those gates. I am always so nervous for the handlers until that gate is opened and they're off and running. The mint julep helps calm the nerves over the whole thing. LOL!
You had me at Matthew MacFayden. The drama teacher at my school and I were swooning over him the other day and it made me watch all my favorite parts of that movie on YouTube! Your parties always look like so much fun. Can't wait to dig into Fear of Falling. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteOh, Amy! Isn't he just, sigh, the best? I didn't know about the U tube thing. I have to go see...back later...after my Matthew fix.
DeleteBTW. I wrote a book with Matthew as the hero...I haven't sold it yet, but what a Dream he is.
Love the excerpt. Your story sounds wonderful and I'm looking forward to reading it. The Kentucky Derby party looks like a lot of fun--what a great tradition.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading yours as well. It's on my nightstand!!! But first...chapter four needs to be written today. I promised myself. Have a great weekend!
I'd love to come to your Kentucky Derby party! I never miss the race. And the excerpt sent me straight to Amazon! Congrats on the book birth-day!
ReplyDeleteWow! Patricia! That is so wonderful. This year will be extra special fun because my book is about the thoroughbreds. It was always fun and different than most parties, but frankly people forget from yeR to year how good those juleps are!! Joke there!!
ReplyDeleteCome on over!!
Wowed by those photos, and can't wait to read this one, Catherine! Have a beautiful week!
ReplyDelete