Blogging at Slip Into Something Victorian today

I'm over at Slip Into Something Victorian today talking about women soldiers in the American Civil War.

Win a Copy of Confederate Rose!

Enter my month long contest for the chance to win a copy of my upcoming Civil War romance from The Wild Rose Press, Confederate Rose.

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O'Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she's transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.

Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he's the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

Excerpt:

"I'm hating to have to say it, since I'd accused you of being a thief, but I stole something from you." She looked away.

"What could you...?" He racked his mind trying to figure out what she could have taken.

"I went through yer pack."

"In Patrick's tent?"

"No, weeks ago back at the cabin. I went through it to try to learn more about you when you were in the stable. I found a letter and took it but didn't have time to read it until now."

Alex swallowed.

"It was a Federal dispatch. Yer a Yankee."

His chest tightened. No wonder he'd been unable to find the dispatch. She'd had it all along. "What do you intend to do?" He hoped she wouldn't discover his real motive. He could never harm her.

"You lied to me the whole time," she said, disbelief marring her delicate features.

He exhaled the breath he'd held. "I had no choice."

"If I'd known you to be a Yankee, I'd have shot you the first chance I got." Her eyes glittered in the light of the fire. "You touched me...pretended to care fer me. And all the while, you lied to me."

The raw hurt on her face broke his heart. He'd deceived her. He couldn't deny it. "What do you intend to do?" he asked again.

She shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, Alex, but 'tis me duty to turn you in."

Visit my website for information on how you can win a copy of Condederate Rose, coming September 25th from The Wild Rose Press.

Erin's Rebel is a Reviewers Top Pick at Night Owl Romance!!!

Night Owl Romance reviewer, Melinda, says, "Susan Macatee did a great job in showing the full details about the Civil War and lovers reuniting. This is definitely a book worth reading for it brings the war into real focus. Betrayal and a romance that spans all time are brought to life...
"I love historical romance and Susan Macatee did a beautiful job in this one. I loved that Erin is definitely a 21st century woman yet yearns or that all consuming love that she cannot find right now. William is all she has been searching for in a man, but he is in another century. Erin will do anything she can to find out what her part in this is even if it means her own life."

See the full review here www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=4249

Blurb:

Philadelphia newspaper reporter, Erin Branigan, is engaged to marry an up-and-coming lawyer, but dreams of a man from the change those plans and start her on a journey beyond time. After a car accident, Erin wakes to find herself living in the 1860s in a Confederate army camp.

Captain Will Montgomery, the man of her dreams, is now a flesh and blood Rebel soldier who sets her soul aflame. But the Irish beauty holds a secret he needs to unravel before he can place his trust in her.

Can she correct a mistake made long ago that caused his death and denied her the love she was meant to have? Or is she doomed to live out her life with nothing but regret?

Excerpt:

"Ma'am," someone called, startling her. "I'm mighty pleased to see you're up."

She turned in the direction of the deep voice. Am I dreaming? She licked her dry lips as she stared into the dark eyes that had haunted her dreams.

"Ma'am? You look a might peaked."

As he moved closer, her knees turned to jelly. Strong, hard-muscled arms embraced her, offering support. Her head spun. She lifted a hand to stop the motion and encountered wool, a double row of metal buttons and a rock-hard chest. The enticing aroma of sandalwood mixed with a musky, masculine scent, plus a tinge of wood smoke invaded her senses. Had she hit her head harder than she'd thought?

She gazed at his lightly tanned face. Firm lips tilted upward slightly at the corners surrounded by a thin chocolate-colored mustache curving into a neatly-trimmed beard covering only his chin. Thick, dark hair brushed his collar and curled from beneath a broad-brimmed black hat. Her pulse raced as she leaned against his long, solid frame. Night after night in her dreams she'd run her hands through those curls.

"How can you be here?" she murmured.

"Pardon me, ma'am?"

"I don't understand." She tried to wrench from his grasp, but he gathered her close, lifting her into his arms. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you back where you belong?" He carried her back to the tent entrance where Doc peered out.

Erin's Rebel available at The Wild Rose Press. Read the opening chapters at my website www.susanmacatee.com/erinsrebel.html

Win a Copy of Confederate Rose

I'll be launching a contest on my website on Tuesday, August 25th. All you have to do is read the opening paragraphs of Confederate Rose, posted on my site and answer one easy question. I'll draw from the entrants and pick three winners on September 23rd, two days before the official release from The Wild Rose Press.

While you wait to enter, here's the blurb and exerpt from Confederate Rose.

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O'Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she's transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he's the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

Excerpt:

"What? Are you telling me you were kissing him?" His blood heated at the thought of her moving on to another man.

"I was tryin' to escape."

"By kissing him?"

"Aye." Anger flashed in her eyes. "And it was working until you came along and hit the poor lad."

He grasped her forearm and pulled her from the guardhouse. They couldn't stay here debating. "Come on, we've got to get out of camp. I fear I've compromised my cover."

"But what about Nate?" she protested. "You may have killed him."

Sighing, Alex knelt and felt for a pulse. The lad's breathing was regular, his pulse steady. "Reckon he'll be out for awhile, but aside from a nasty headache and some bruising, he should be all right." He rose and glanced into the guardhouse. "They’ll reckon you clobbered him when he came for your dinner plate." He caught her worried gaze. "Now, let’s skedaddle."

She nodded, but eyed him again. "Why are you dressed as a priest?"

"It's a disguise. I'm ministering to the Rebel soldiers." His eyes roved to the white vee of her bosom. "Button your shirt before we go. We don’t want to attract any more attention."

Read the opening chapters at http://susanmacatee.com/confederateroseone.html

Taking a few days away from book promotion

It's been both exciting and hectic having two books come out in one month. I've been trying to do all the promo I can, while not neglecting work on contracted books and new works in progress.

I'm also anxiously awaiting reviews. Each day that goes by without one just makes me worry that I won't get any at all.

So, for the next two days, I'm taking a break from promotion, so I can fully concentrate on my newest projects. My only contracted story is getting ready to go to galley, but I haven't gotten it yet.

I sent off two contest entries for the opening of my science fiction romance and want to get back to revision on that manuscript next month.

My two first draft projects, a full-length historical and short contemporary, I'm writing in tandem. I'd planned to wait until the historical was finished, but the new story just didn't want to wait. Good thing they're two different genres, so I can't possibly get them mixed up. I'd like to complete both by the end of the month, if possible.

I know a lot of writers work on multiple projects at one time, and if they can do it, so can I.

Wish me luck!

Another excerpt and an unexpected coincidence!

Thought it was time to treat you all with another excerpt from my paranormal/reenactor story, Angel of My Dreams, from the Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles.

But by strange coincidence, the hero of my story, Kyle Dalton, commented on this blog yesterday. Not only is the real Kyle a former Civil War reenactor, but he teaches history, like the character in my story.

How cool is that!

It's fun when my characters leave comments on my blog.

Here's the blurb and excerpt from Angel of My Dreams.

When Civil War reenactor, Kyle Dalton, keeps seeing a beautiful woman on the battlefield tending to soldiers, he thinks she's another reenactor. But when she disappears into thin air, he starts to believe he's seen a ghost. Did he have a past life with this woman?

Excerpt:

A chill ran down Kyle's spine. Josie, that's the name Derek said he'd been calling out last night.

"What reenactment group you with?"

She bit her lip. "I'm afraid I don’t understand your question, sir."

"You're not with a group? How about one of the civilian groups?"

"Oh, no. I'm here on my own. I want to help in whatever way I can."

Kyle decided to take a different track. "Do you live near Philadelphia?"

"I live in the city, on Chestnut Street."

He glanced at her ring finger. Empty. "Most ladies in my group come with their husbands or boyfriends."

"No. As I said, I'm here on my own."

"Well, can I walk you back to camp? Or are you staying off-site?"

She frowned again. "I stay with the other nurses."

"Great. Lead on, and I'll walk you back."

She smiled, and he reached for her arm. His hand closed on air.

"What the hell?"

She gazed at him. "I can't stay."

She dissolved before his eyes.

Northern Roses and Southern Belles, available now from The Wild Rose Press.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/northern-roses-and-southern-belles-p-3578.html

For more info on this anthology visit www.nrandsb.wordpress.com/

At Slip Into Something Victorian today

I'm over at Slip Into Something Victorian today continuing my series on Victorian travel. Today, I'm talking about where the mid-19th century traveler would stay.

Is it Christmas?

I was googling my name and look what popped up. I got a review from Sherri at Goodreads for my Civil War Christmas story, A Kiss Under the Mistletoe.


And if you're inclined to read a Christmas story in August, you can download this one for free right here.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/a-kiss-under-the-mistletoe-p-1091.html?zenid=f9cdcaeb606c81d5208d2fa88ef7cdc1

Opening Chapters for Confederate Rose Now Up

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O'Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she's transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.

Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he's the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

If the blurb intriques you, you can now read the opening chapters on my website. Go to http://susanmacatee.com/confederateroseone.html

Confederate Rose will be available this September from The Wild Rose Press.

Prize Winner

The winner of my prize over at Love Romance Passion yesterday is Mary Ricksen. I've already sent Mary notification, but it's not too late to win more prizes.

The blog tour continues over at Slip Into Something Victorian, where you can learn more about Caroline Clemmens' story and have a chance at more giveaways!

Our Anthology Blog Tour Continues

Our blog tour is already underway, and today's my turn to talk about my story, Angel of My Dreams, part of the Northern Roses and Southern Belles anthology.

And all comments on this post will be entered in a drawing to win a prize!

Join me at Love Romance Passion to learn about my story and see what prize I'm giving away today.

Winner of pdf copy of the Anthology!

Thanks for all the great comments yesterday! It's convinced me there is a market for Civil War romance despite what some publishers say.

And the winner of the pdf download of Northern Roses and Southern Belles is... Celia Yeary!!

Congratulations! Contact me at susanmacatee@aol.com so I can send out your prize!

And for the chance to win even more prizes, including a grand prize of a print copy of the anthology signed by all six authors, follow our blog tour all this week!

Visit the first stop today at http://nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/not-your-mothers-civil-war-romance.html

And you can follow the remainder of the tour here http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/release-day/

We hope you have a great time learning all about us and our stories and hopefully, win a few prizes along the way.

Win a Copy of Civil War Anthology!

My story, Angel of My Dreams, is part of an American Civil War romance anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles, coming July31st to The Wild Rose Press, along with authors Caroline Clemmens, Isabel Roman, Jeanmarie Hamilton, Jennifer Ross and Mary Ann Webber.

And if you leave a comment on my blog today, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a copy!

In a country torn asunder--from the Canadian border to Texas, from Maryland to Arkansas, from the battlefield of Antietam to the Red River Campaign, brave men and loyal women see their lives turned upside down.

Peril lurks behind every tree and near every homestead, but the hard-fought love of a man and a woman surpasses all.

Six talented writers provide stories of romance and danger centering on Union and Confederate soldiers, spies, blockade runners, renegades, and battlefield nurses during a period of corsets, hoopskirts and gentlemen callers.

To give you a taste of the stories in this anthology, here's the blurb and a short excerpt from my story, Angel of My Dreams.

Civil War reenactor, Kyle Dalton, keeps seeing a beautiful woman on the battlefield tending to soldiers, he thinks she's another reenactor. But when she disappears into thin air, he starts to believe he's seen a ghost. Did he have a past life with this woman?

Exceprt:

"Where am I?"

"Shh." She placed a finger on his lips. The scent of lavender invaded his senses.

He frowned when he realized he was lying on a cot wearing his reenactor clothing. Had he dreamed he’d come home?

"The doctor says you'll be fine. He dug out the bullet and stitched up your leg."

"My leg?" Kyle reached down. His pant's leg had been cut apart at the seam. Heavy bandages wrapped around his thigh."This doesn't make any sense. I twisted my ankle. It's fine now."

She took his hand and stroked his forehead. Her touch sent warmth and desire through his body.

"I have to know..." He swallowed. "...your name."

She smiled. "You haven't forgotten me already?"

"I...you never told me."

"Of course I did." She leaned away.

He held tightly to her hand, fearing she'd leave again."Don't go."

Her hand dissolved. He couldn't hold her.

To purchase go to www.thewildrosepress.com/

And if you leave a comment here today, July 31st, you'll be entered for a chance to win a pdf copy. Winner will be announced tomorrow, August 1st.

For more information on this anthology go to www.susanmacatee.com/americancivilwaranthology.html or www.nrandsb.wordpress.com/

Promo Mania

I'm only two days away from my second book release from The Wild Rose Press. Erin's Rebel has been out less than two weeks and my short story in Northern Roses and Southern Belles, debuts on Friday.

I'm finding it hard to keep up with all the necessary promo and still make headway on my newer projects.

What I've had to do is compartmentalize my day. I try to fit in any necessary morning promo between my workout, errands and household tasks. After my lunch break, I reserve at least one hour for the first draft of my newest WIP. My daily goal is at least 1000 new words, and at least 5000 per week.

I'm also polishing up the opening chapters of my sci-fi WIP in the revision stage to enter in two separate contests. The deadlines are late August and early September, so I can't allow this to lapse.

And since I'll have two new releases out so close together, I've decided to promo each on alternate weeks. I've already gotten promo in for Erin's Rebel and now I'll concentrate on the anthology for the coming week. I'm so new at this book promo stuff as I only have one short story that was released over a year ago.

For all you promotion pro's out there who've had books out or have dealt with mutliple releases, I'd appreciate any advice you can give me. And my money flow is tight right now, so I'm looking for lost cost or free promo suggestions.

Thanks!

One Lovely Blog Award

I received my very first blog award from Jaime, who writes as J. A. Saare. You can view her beautiful blog, Random Musings, at http://www.jasaare.blogspot.com/

Jaime, I'm thrilled you chose my blog for this honor and now, the rules are for me to pass it along to three blogs I find deserving of this award.

The trick is to choose between all the lovely blogs I frequently visit. What helped me along is, a few of them have already been bestowed the award.

So, I'd like to pass it along to these three writers who's blogs I visit often and who are all great friends.

1) Isabel Roman - http://www.authorisabelroman.blogspot.com/
Isabel is a long time member of my writing group, the Scandalous Victorians. As I've struggled to implant an online presence prior to receiving books contracts, she's been a big help along the way. She was an active member of the critique group that helped me polish my stories enough to sell and is one of the authors in the anthology Northern Roses and Southern Belles that my story is a part of. She's also the big push behind our upcoming anthology blog tour the first week of August, just after our July 31st release.

2) Romancing America's Past - http://www.maymeholcombe.wordpress.com/
Mary Ann Webber posts this lovely blog. She's also a member of the Scandalous Victorians, is a great friend and was the one who suggested we all write a Civil War anthology in the first place. She's a driving force behind our group and is always looking for ways to promote the Victorian era romances that we all write.

3) Christina Phillips - http://www.christinaphillips.blogspot.com/
Christina is a friend I met online through my writing loops. When I announced the sale of my time travel romance, Erin's Rebel, she invited me to do an interview on her lovely blog. Unfortunately, I learned my release date wouldn't be until this July. So, she graciously offered to hold the interview until the book's release, about a week ago.

So, there you have it. For the three I chose the rules are simple. Copy the award image above and choose three blogs you enjoy! Write a blog post to let everyone know who they are and why you enjoy them. Then let the lucky bloggers know you've chosen their blogs as "One Lovely Blog".

And a big thanks to all of you for your wonderful support!!

Another Gorgeous Cover to Show Off

Look at the beautiful cover Nicola Martinez designed for the American historical Christmas anthology, An American Rose Christmas!!

My story, The Christmas Ball, will be part of this anthology, along with stories by Tori Anne, Donna Dalton, Lauri Robinson, Carol A. Spradling and Beth Trissel.

We don't have an official blurb yet, but here's one for my own story:

Sara Brewster, a young woman disguised as a man to serve as a soldier in the Union army, is secretly in love with camp surgeon, Kirk Ellison. When Sara is wounded, the doctor discovers her secret.

Once the shock of discovering the soldier Kirk thought of as a boy is a young woman, his protective feelings evolve into a growing attraction. When he's transferred to Washington D.C., he arranges for her to be transferred as well, to keep her by his side.

At a lavish ball on Christmas Eve, Sara is transformed into a ballroom beauty, and Kirk’s passions are aroused. He has to have her for his wife. But while farm girl Sara would love to marry the handsome doctor, she doesn’t feel worthy of him, fearing he'll ultimately be ashamed of her when she can’t live up to the task of being the wife of a prominent Washington physician.

I'm Being Interviewed at Paty Jager's blog

Join me today at Paty Jager Western Romance Writer for another interview as I talk about my writing and new release.

Guest Blogging Today!

I'm guest blogging on Laura Hogg's lovely time travel blog today, talking about Erin's Rebel. Here's the link if you want to join me: www.traveltheages.blogspot.com

Winner of pdf download of Erin's Rebel

I've drawn a name from my comments yesterday and the winner of the Erin's Rebel download is Skhye!

Congratulations!!

Skhye, email me at susanmacatee@aol.com and I'll send out your download.

Win a Copy of Erin's Rebel!!

My debut romance, Erin's Rebel, hits the e-book shelves today. And in honor of American Rose month over at The Wild Rose Press, it will be discounted until the end of this month.

Also, everyone who leaves a comment to this post, will be entered in a contest to win a pdf copy of Erin's Rebel. I'll announce the winner here tomorrow.

Blurb: Philadelphia newspaper reporter, Erin Branigan, is engaged to marry an up-and-coming lawyer, but dreams of a man from the past change those plans and start her on a journey beyond time. After a car accident, Erin wakes to find herself living in the 1860s in a Confederate army camp.

Captain Will Montgomery, the man of her dreams, is now a flesh and blood Rebel soldier who sets her soul aflame. But the Irish beauty holds a secret he needs to unravel before he can place his trust in her.

Can she correct a mistake made long ago that caused his death and denied her the love she was meant to have? Or is she doomed to live out her life with nothing but regret?

Excerpt:

She gazed up into his dark eyes. Up close they were a deep, chocolate brown. He was so damned attractive in that uniform. Clearing her throat, she found her voice. "I appreciate what you did, Captain. That man's been harassing me."

"I suspected as much. Wagner doesn't seem to know how to be respectful to a woman."

She had trouble finding the words to reply. The aroma of sandalwood and his unique masculine scent that had floored her when he'd carried her into Doc’s tent left her flabbergasted.

"I'd warned Wagner to stay away from you," he said.

"He was so drunk, I don't think any warning would have stopped him."

"He didn't hurt you--"

She shook her head, noting the concern in his eyes. "All I could think to do was get out of the tent."

"That was wise, ma'am."

She glanced at the bundle he still held. "Are those for me?"

He grinned. "If you don't mind, ma'am. I have two shirts that need washing."

"My pleasure." When he handed her the clothes, their hands briefly touched. Electricity shot through her. She caught his gaze.

His eyes widened. He swallowed and backed away a few steps, then tipped his cap. "Ma'am." He turned away.

She watched him cross the camp and disappear from sight. If a reason existed for her coming to this time period, it had to be Will Montgomery. But why had this happened? Would she ever go back to her old life, or was she stuck here forever?

Although she'd tried to hold her emotions in check, the tension that had been building for the last few days caused her eyes to burn at the prospect. A sob built at the back of her throat. She dropped the clothing she’d been sorting in the basket and scurried into the privacy of her tent.

Erin's Rebel available today in both digital and print formats at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/