Over at Slip Into Something Victorian today

I'm at Slip Into Something Victorian today with another weekly excerpt from my paranormal novella, Angel of My Dreams, part of the Civil War romance anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles.

Next month we'll find out if our EPIC finalist anthology is a winner in the romance anthology category.

Excerpt from novella, Angel of My Dreams

If you like paranormal mixed with the Civil War, here's another excerpt, this one from a novella titled Angel of My Dreams, part of the Civil War romance anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles, an EPIC award finalist.

Excerpt:

A hand rested on his shoulder. He opened his eyes, expecting to see Monica.

The dark-haired woman gazed down at him.

"Kyle,” she said. "I've been so worried."

He lifted his head and looked around. He wasn't in his bedroom, but in a large canvas tent.

"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.

He woke in a sweat. The alarm blared. Six-thirty. He had to get ready for school.

As he hurriedly washed up and dressed, he tried to recall the dream about the woman from the reenactment, but only fleeting images remained.

As he waited for his coffee to brew, he racked his brain trying to remember, but it was gone. And so was she.

Northern Roses and Southern Belles available at The Wild Rose Press http://thewildrosepress.com/northern-roses-and-southern-belles-p-3578.html

I'm at Caroline Clemmen's blog today

I'm at A Writer's Life today talking about my paranormal novella, Angel of My Dreams, part of the Epic finalist Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles.

Northern Roses and Southern Belles is an Eppie finalist!

Just found out my Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles is a finalist in the Eppie's. For more info, click here.

New Review for Civil War Anthology

We just received a new review for the Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles. TwoLips Reviews gave it a 4.5 lip review.

Here's what reviewer, Sal, said about my story:

"Ms. Macatee's tale was a bittersweet morsel of a dream and a hope that Kyle and Josie will find one another in time. Angel of My Dreams stole my heart and Ms. Macatee made this story all the more real by using her knowledge of history and creating characters with deep emotions that break your heart."

Read the full review and those for the other stories at TwoLips Reviews. http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4490&Itemid=36

The reviews just keep on coming!

This time the review is for the Civil War romance anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles. Our anthology got 4.5 books from Long and Short Romance Reviews.

To quote the reviewer, "I think all of the authors did a great job with this anthology and so did the editors. I felt like I was involved in every story, I felt like I could smell the flowers and taste the crisp air. I felt the emotions the characters were feeling. It's a great anthology that any historical fan will love."

Read the full review at Long and Short Romance Reviews.

New review!!!

We just received a 4.25 rated review from Night Owl Romance for Northern Roses and Southern Belles.

Here's reviewer, Vee's, quote for my story, Angel of My Dreams:

"Kyle Dalton, an historical reenactor gets a real sense of the past when he has visions and moments when he seems to be living in another time. There is a woman there that feels like a sole mate. But why become smitten over a woman he can never hold...or can he?"

Read the full review at Night Owl Romance.

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/

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!

Feels Like I've Got a Whole Lot of Balls Up In the Air

As the release date for Erin's Rebel grows ever closer, I feel like a juggler with several balls in the air at once.

I'll be guest blogging and doing interviews on several blogs in the coming weeks. I'm also having a contest on my website for entrants to win a copy of Erin's Rebel. I'll pick the winners on Thursday and announce it on the website as well as here. If you haven't already entered, go to www.susanmacatee.com for details.

In addition, I'm also writing my post-Civil War romance, Cassidy's War, and am nearing the halfway point in that project. I'm also revising Moons of Cynara and polishing the first chapters to enter in a contest. The deadline for that is September 5th.

Also, I've got to start promoting my short story, Angel of My Dreams, part of the Northern Roses and Southern Belles anthology coming out the end of this month.

Although I've got a lot of work ahead of me, I'm loving every minute of it. Writing fiction has always been my dream and now I've found a publisher who actually wants what I write, I'm in heaven!

As an aside, Erin's Rebel, is available now in print. Scroll down and click on the cover for more details. The e-book version will be available this Friday, July 17th.

Arrrgggh!!!

Did a lot of rewriting and I'm still about 13 K short of the word goal for my sci-fi.

So, I've decided to print out what I've got, put it aside and start working on the first draft of my post-Civil War story.

I need a change of scenery, I guess. Once I get the first draft done, maybe I can go back and figure out what new scenes to add to get that sci-fi plumped out.

I plan to review my outline for the historical tomorrow, then dive into the first draft on Monday. If I can get the first 5000 words written over next week, I'll be very happy.

Is anybody starting on a first draft? If so, let me know what your word count goals are?

And by the way, Northern Roses and Southern Belles is slated for release on July 31, 2009. More on that to come.