Katalina Leon is in the house!

Please give a warm welcome to my dear friend and fellow EC author Katalina Leon. She was kind enough to allow me to delve into her world for a bit. Enjoy her interview. :)

Q: Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

Katalina: I’m still having a love affair with my latest Hero “Atellus” from “Owned By Rome”. I was able to really get inside that character’s head and he’s lingering with me.

Q: Does travel play in the writing of your books?

Katalina: Does time travel and short excursions to other dimensions count? The WIPs I’m currently working on go all over the place! Lol

Q: Tell us about your current release.

Katalina: My latest release is “Owned By Rome” it’s part of Ellora’s Cave Legend Line. It takes place in Western Gaul 64 AD. I chose that time period because Rome had reached the height of its technical achievements but was beginning to loose its political grip on its empire. I chose one disillusioned Roman magistrate and one disenfranchised Celtic woman to represent two clashing forces that eventually learn to love and respect each other.

Q: Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

Katalina: I don’t mean this to sound spooky but several loved ones who have passed on have been very active in helping me find stories. They literally hand over the goods-especially abuela Katalina!

Q: Does your significant other read your stuff?

Katalina: Yes, but I don’t let my husband read anything until the story is completely finished. We do talk about work in progress and it’s always a big help to get a male point of view.

Q: Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Katalina: The real question is how can a writer AVOID critique partners. Once friends and family know you write everyone becomes a critique partner whither you want the critique or not lol My sister is my beta reader-she’s pretty tough to please…

Q: Who are your books published with?

Katalina: I’m exclusively with Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

Q: Do you hear from your readers? Tell us about your favorite fan letter you’ve received?

Katalina: When my first ebook “Blue Apples” was published last spring a very sweet fan sent me a necklace with a tiny blue apple covered in crystals. I was so touched. It felt like the best good charm in the world. Other readers have sent personal video-messages through YouTube, which I treasure. “Noblesword” brought me some male fans that were convinced I had written about them in the bacchanal scene…Naughty boys. “Adult Education” brought me a wonderful video request for a sequel from a young lady dressed in a fuzzy college mascot costume! I absolutely love hearing from readers. I’m always surprised by what details catch a reader’s attention.

Q: What do you think makes a good story?

Katalina: Emotional involvement and a learning experience. We read and reach out to the world to learn something about ourselves.

Q: Plotter or Pantser? Why?

Katalina: I try so hard to plot! I really do have good intentions and I always start off with a structured plot line but as I write the wild horses run away with me and soon I’m lost and at the mercy of the muses…lol

Q: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Katalina: I take a long walk everyday-if possible with my husband, son and dog. It’s part of our family time together.
Amber: Very nice. My hubby and I do the same.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?

Katalina: Yes, be tough with yourself, be loving toward yourself and invest the necessary time and effort in yourself-you’ll be glad you did.

Q: What would we find under your bed?

Katalina: Medieval looking fur-lined leather wrist-cuffs strapped to the headboard (They’re hidden from kid’s view, just knowing they’re there makes me happy!) and a beautiful old-fashioned leather suitcase covered in travel stamps and filled with toys and erotic goodies to play with.
Amber: Hmmm ;)

Q: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Katalina: Thank you for your love and support, I’m so grateful!

Thanks for being here today Kat! I had fun.

Happy Birthday "Blue Apples"!

Today is a special day for me. May 12^th marks the first anniversary of my first ebook “Blue Apples” release. In many ways it feels like it was a million years ago because the e-industry moves so fast and I move so slowly. lol

This year has been challenging and the learning curve steep but I’ve loved having goals and other motivated friends and fellow authors to share them with. I’ll never forget the elation of getting that first book contract and I’m so grateful I didn’t know at the time what lay ahead… Harsh edits, rushed revisions, e-pirates, putting your ego aside for reviews and the looming reality that if you don’t promote your own ebook no one else will do it for you. The single biggest surprise was I thought I would get to choose my own book covers. Not so… At best e-authors are allowed to make suggestions and cross our fingers for luck.

I soon learned the truth that when you become an e-author you take on three daunting jobs: You’re a writer, you’re a PR firm and you’re a manager and creative director of your “brand”… and in your “spare” time you can work another job, run a household and take care of others. The glamour never ends. lol

“Blue Apples” was part of Ellora’s Cave “Succulent” series, which was themed on fruit and juicy succulent things. I chose to write a Sci-fi ménage featuring a highly intoxicating, aphrodisiac fruit “Azurpomia” aka “Blue Apples”. The story takes place in another galaxy on a desert planet with mountainous sand dunes, underground rivers and also on a wet misty planet inhabited solely by males that’s reminiscent of Scotland. The heroine is a redheaded warrioress and the heroes are a platinum-haired aristocratic Dom and his younger black-haired lover. All characters are big beautiful swords for hire. Was any of that on my book cover? No. I got a wholesome looking guy lying in a grassy city park in his underwear with a pick-nick basket full of fruit stacked in front of him… Oh well.

Blurb for Blue Apples:

Gala is an elite Captain of Dianndra’s guard and proud owner of a male harem. When she volunteers to go on a treacherous mission into enemy territory to steal aphrodisiac fruit and defy an ancient foe, she has no idea what this act of trespass will cost her.

Fate is calling. Lord Veren and his lover, Markeen, are gorgeous swords for hire, and warriors supreme. Like all Vertanians they are bigger, stronger, braver, and brighter, but they spawn only male children, and face a culture in decline. They need female companions. How fortunate for them when they discover a beautiful lust-intoxicated Dianndra wandering in their orchard.

 The warriors capture Gala and carry her into their fortress palace for a night of shared lust that may change two ancient cultures forever…

As many of you know by now I can’t resist a bad pun. I’ve got a Mac and I have a little blue apple icon on my computer screen-hence the story title. Gala is of course is one of my favorite varieties of apple and Gala sounded nice. I just couldn’t bring myself to name my heroine “Pink Lady”, “Fuji” or “Granny Smith”!

Happy Birthday Blue Apples, and thank you Ellora’s Cave!

XXOO Kat

"Beautiful Stranger" is available today

Beautiful Stranger

It’s been too long since my last book “Adult Education” was released and I’m delighted to finally have a new book to offer.

“Beautiful Stranger” is set in New Orleans and bayou La Fourche. This story was fun to write and very close to my heart because my husband grew-up in New Orleans and we still have lots of friends and family there. Our friends have a “Shack out back” that’s very close to the Cajun fishing cottage described in the story… That screened-in, semi-outdoor shower where my character’s Lily and David spend so much time is a real thing and it’s lovely to stand in during miserably hot nights. I can assure you the big iron bed with the mosquito net and the ghosts that drift through the bayou are real as well.

While I was putting the finishing touches on the first draft of “Beautiful Stranger” the Saints won the Super Bowl and as my character Lily’s confidence grew and her heart healed, the city of New Orleans seemed to experience a similar healing. The joyful emotion in our home during that time is difficult to describe.

“Beautiful Stranger” is part of Ellora’s Cave Sophisticate Line and that aspect is also close to my heart. I’m the child of an older woman-younger man marriage. My mother was a very beautiful, glamorous woman ahead of her time. She fearlessly entered into a love relationship with a man eleven years her junior who was mixed- race and from another culture entirely. She did it when it simply was not the thing to do and she had zero support for doing it but I’m so glad she did… Thank god for shamelessly defiant women! R.I.P. —M.

I’ll end by saying “Beautiful Stranger” is really about letting go of fear and truly enjoying the unexpected surprises life can offer.

XXOO Kat

“Beautiful Stranger” Katalina Leon Ellora’s Cave Sophisticate Line. Available now!