GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ What I’ve been up to…Kate Douglas + giveaway | I Smell Sheep

Monday, May 18, 2015

What I’ve been up to…Kate Douglas + giveaway

What I’ve been up to… Kate Douglas

First of all, thanks to Sharon Stogner for her invite, and those wonderful stinky little sheep who are letting me play in their pasture today. I love the name of this blog—I Smell Sheep is so perfectly graphic, especially for those of us who have ever spent nights during lambing season helping ewes deliver their new babies. (You’d think they’d have figured it out on their own by now, but Nooooooo….


They’re so cute and tiny and they fluff up really fast, though they don’t always come out all that easily. Because my hands are small, I was often the one who had to reach inside Mama Ewe and turn a baby or even pull its little legs to get it through the birth canal. My sister-in-law actually lost her wedding ring inside a ewe one time. She went back in and found it after the baby was born, but I digress…

I’ve been working on copy edits for Intimate, the first novel in my new romantic suspense series, Intimate Relations, from St. Martin’s Press. I just finished those this morning in time to start gearing up for the release of the prequel to the series, Tangled. The novella releases Tuesday, May 19 in the Hot Alphas anthology.

This first story is set in the Sonoma County, California wine country town of Healdsburg where we live now, with much of it taking place in Dry Creek Valley where my husband and I lived on a 160 acre vineyard with our two kids for over sixteen years. I’ve never set a story where I’ve lived before, and it’s been fun to have a reason to be back out in the beautiful vineyards and tasting premium wines—all in the name of research, of course!

Tangled’s winemaker, Cassie Phillips, has always known the family vineyards and winery would be hers—until her father’s poor business decisions due to his advancing dementia result in Cassie working as the winemaker for a new, absentee owner. Vineyard manager Nate Dunagan is brought in to oversee the vines, but the beautiful winemaker is keeping his mind on everything but the grapes. Chemistry notwithstanding, when Nate and Cassie disagree on one too many aspects of vineyard management, it’s obvious something or someone has to give.

But there’s another issue that has Cassie and Nate concerned, and it’s tied to a very persistent stranger intent on getting inside the wine cave where the barrels of premium wine are aging. By the time Cassie realizes her father is somehow involved, the situation has turned from irritating to deadly, and it’s all more than a little bit tangled. I’ve got a first chapter up at http://www.katedouglas.com/hot-alphas.html

The first novel, Intimate, comes out December 1, followed by Redemption, on December 29. I’m just getting ready to start writing Awakened, the third and final story, which is tentatively scheduled for June 2016.
And I guess, my publisher doesn’t think I have enough to do, so they’ve contracted me for three erotic werewolf stories featuring ménage relationships and big, beautiful women. The first one, Feral Passions, releases as part of a digital “duet” on September 15, paired with a story by A.C. Arthur. The combo release is titled Claimed by the Mate. It will be out in trade paperback in January with a third story by Eve Langlais, but the print version is going to be called Growl.

These are not the angsty, sometimes violent tales like my Chanku stories—Feral Passions is the name of a resort a bunch of lonely werewolves have built in order to entice women to their community in the hope of finding a mate.

It’s not like the old days when a lonely guy could just haul off a sexy wench from the closest village…modern women expect more from a man, and it’s really tough when you can’t tell them what you are until after you’ve bitten them and turned them into a werewolf.

It can get real ugly if they’re not into the furry stuff. Needless to say, I’m having way too much fun with this series—the stories are short and sexy, and the first one is done with two more to write. There’s an excerpt up at http://www.katedouglas.com/feral-passions.html

But, after I finish Awakened I fully intend to write the next Spirit Wild story I promised five months ago. Really. This is what happens when life gets in the way and contracts have to be dealt with and deadlines met. And no, I’m not complaining a bit. Who wouldn’t love this job? I go to work in my jammies, write about kick-ass women and hot guys all day, and it’s my frickin’ JOB!

Life is good. But, I was thinking of something I wanted to ask you, and it has to do with heroes in books—I’ve reached the point where I’ve written so many stories now with so many guys that I have trouble remembering their names. The one who is always in my mind, the one I can’t forget, is Anton Cheval, my uber alpha from the Wolf Tales series.

What heroes have stuck with you? And no, not from my books, from any books. Who are the guys whose names are always easy to recall, the ones you’ve thought about long after the book ended. I’m really curious, and wondering if any of them are the same ones I tend to recall. (Kate will be stopping by through out the day to comment)

Leave a comment and you will automatically be entered into a contest for a copy of any of my Wolf Tales books from Wolf Tales VI to 12. I had hoped to give away a copy of Hot Alphas, but I don’t have my author copies yet and have no idea when they’ll show up.

And thank you for stopping by!


About the Author:
My husband is still putting up with me after well over four decades, though I'm convinced it's got to be hell living with me when I'm on deadline...which is most of the time. We've got two grown kids and a total of six perfect grandchildren. Doug and I have recently moved out of the mountains and are now back in the small wine country town of Healdsburg, California. And, as always, I'm usually in my office, working on the next book.
http://www.katedouglas.com/feral-passions.html
http://www.katedouglas.com/hot-alphas.html
http://www.katedouglas.com/intimate.html

GIVEAWAY
international 
Print copy of any of my Wolf Tales books from Wolf Tales VI to 12.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

61 comments:

  1. Bones from the night huntress series and jean Lafitte from the Sentinels of new orleans series hard not to think of them even months after reading the book^^;;

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never read either of those series, but have been interested in the Night Huntress stories for a long time. Need more hours in the day! Have not heard of the Sentinels. One of these days I really need to catch up!

      Delete
    2. The sentinels of new Orleans are a urban fantasy series, Suzanne really is a master ta describing new orleans and there are humour and a lot of action ( book 1 is set during Katrina so not as funny of course)
      really i recommend it to you^^

      Night huntress series is complete now and it's an excellent one you will see when you start it Bones is unforgettable^^ so honest it can become frightening and loyal just perfect^^

      Delete
    3. Suzanne? What's the author's full name? Sounds interesting!

      Delete
  2. Roarke from the Eve Dallas series by J.D. Robb for his unconditional love and support.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another series on my "I gotta read those books" list. That whole series sounds fascinating!

      Delete
  3. Curran and Kate from the Kate Daniels series. They are just so cool, I'd love to live in their world. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Obviously, I don't get out much. Have not read these books, either, though have heard a lot of good things about them. (kate...busy making up a new list of books to check out!)

      Delete
    2. ^^i like those as well!! but i was not sure we could put 3 choice^^;; Curran is definitively one you want to meet on teh good side

      Delete
    3. As many as you like--I'm just asking because I'm curious !!

      Delete
  4. Jamie Fraser is # 1. Then the gorgeous Irishman Rosrke from the In Death series by JD Robb.Also unforgettable Ian MacKenzie from Jennifer Ashleys MacKenzie series. So many gorgeous Heroes. Thanks for the post and the giveaway chance.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'm the only reader in America who never could get into the Outlander series. I ended up giving all the books to my daughter, who loves them. I think, in my own defense, I was so busy writing at the time I started the first book that I didn't have time to relax enough to get into the series. May have to borrow them back from Sarah.

      Delete
  5. Roarke from the In Death and Brodick

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ian MacKenzie from The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've seen Jennifer's books and have never picked one up--must check these out as well.

      Delete
  7. I will always love Rain from C.L.Wilson's Tairen Soul Series! He is such a complex character.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have not heard of this one--thank you. I do love a complex character because they always seem so much more real to me. The more you feel you know about them, the more of an impression they're going to make.

      Delete
  8. Acheron, Bones, Curran, Jamie Fraser, and Reyes Farrow are some of the heroes that have stuck with me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

      Delete
    2. Thank you! I'm guessing that you guys have figured me out by now--I'm shamelessly using you to add to my TBR list! Thanks so much for the suggestions. At some point, I'm fully intending to get back to my four or five books a week reading schedule. Hopefully in this lifetime...

      Delete
  9. Jackson from Christine Feehan Drake sister series. There are a lot more but he comes to mind first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read almost all of Christine's books--trying to recall which book Jackson was in!

      Delete
  10. I know many readers have hundreds of book boyfriends, the only one I ever wanted for myself, is Roarke, by JD Robb. After 40 books, I still don't know if he has a first name ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL...so far, I'm moving this series to the top of my list!

      Delete
  11. Well, that had to be a funny story to tell! You know how easy it is to lose a wedding ring? We all do it, right? Well, this time, I lost it... inside of a sheep. Yes, I said SHEEP. Lmao! That had to be interesting to realize. I'm glad she, er, got it back :P

    Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL...I know. This was a long time ago, and to be honest, I only actually worked one totally memorable lambing--my husband's family mostly had cows, but I "babysat" a flock of sheep for his cousin when they were away during lambing, and believe me, it was a wild experience! Though my husband, on occasion, was the one who would "pull calves." If a heifer was having trouble delivering, they'd wrap a line around the calves legs and literally pull them out of the mother. Makes me cringe to think about it. Doug got the job because, at 6'4", he had more leverage...at least that's the excuse the other guys used!

      Delete
  12. What a visual I got of your SIL pulling her wedding ring out of a ewe! As for my most memorable hero/alpha male, my first choice would be Anton Cheval. The second I hear anyone mention that name, I know right away who they are talking about. For a second choice, I'd have to go with Laurell K. Hamilton's Jean-Claude from her Anita Blake series. I have a vision of these two males that will never fade.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I ended the Wolf Tales series, Anton literally haunted me. It was like he sat on my shoulder and kept telling me he had more stories to tell, which is why I started the Spirit Wild stories. The only other character who ever did that to me was Kat Malone, who appeared as a secondary character in my first romantic suspense, originally titled HONEYSUCKLE ROSE and now out as LETHAL DECEPTION. She had a small role, but she wouldn't leave me alone. The whole concept of writing a series was new to me, at least at that point, (I'd only done it with the five novella series of StarQuest erotic s/f stories from Ellora's Cave) so writing Kat's story was like breaking new ground. Of course, I feel the same way now, with TANGLED, my story in HOT ALPHAS--sexy romantic suspense is new for me, but definitely fun!

      Delete
  13. I mentioned this in my comment to Harper Jewel, but it's been a strange journey, going from my uber-sexy Chanku stories to sexy (verging on erotic) romantic suspense. The biggest shift is actually writing stories set in and around the town my husband and I live in--and our daughter and her family are here as well. It's sort of nerve-wracking, mainly because it's such a small town and I keep wondering if anyone here will actually read the books! And if they do, what will they find fault with? Because believe me, there is always someone, somewhere, who will be offended or upset by something we, as authors, write.

    I'm really hoping this series does well. The first novel will release December 1 and the second one comes out on December 29, my first ever "back to back" release, so that's exciting, too! And yes, I'm more nervous about this novella in Hot Alphas than I've been about anything I've written in a long time. Readers who expect a certain type of story from me will get the same emotional romance, but if they're expecting the explicit erotic scenes, they may be disappointed. On the other hand, the first novel is about the romance between a photographer and a beautiful fashion model with numerous intimate piercings. And the things my hero manages to do with all her body jewelry definitely crosses a few thresholds...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Replies
    1. LOL...looks like we've got a winner of the most memorable guy, hands down! Thanks Pat.

      Delete
  15. I love all the alphas. Sargent Leland Keller, of Soul Rest. I have no new books to read, I need to catch up a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tracey--who's the author of Soul Rest? Haven't heard that title.

      Delete
  16. I like Christine Feehan's Carpathian alphas. I really enjoy reading these books :)
    Lori

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine's great! I like her Drake Sisters stories. We used to live just a couple of blocks from each other when she was still living up in Cobb, a tiny little mountain town north of the Napa Valley. She moved to the coast a couple years before we moved back to town, but it was fun occasionally seeing her and catching up. The thing is, as busy writers, you rarely just have time to hang out and play. Life can be really crazy!

      Delete
  17. Oooh... How VERY exciting, Kate!!! I can't wait for your new series! Squee!!! Congratulations on creating many memorable heroes, and looking forward to your new ones! A couple memorable heroes--Adrian Hawkhurst from Joanna Bourne's The Black Hawk; Archimedes Fox from Meljean Brook's Heart of Steel; and well, Han Solo :) I haven't read JD Robb yet (except for a few novellas, and Roarke does seem like a keeper) ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Finally! A hero I recognize! Love Archimedes Fox and anything that Meljean Brooks writes!!! And yes on Han Solo...big sigh coming deep from my old broad heart. One of the few "heroes" who's not like I'm lusting after my kids' friends...Harrison Ford has aged beautifully, though he's got to stop crashing airplanes...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! Yes, that is VERY true. Perhaps he's got to find a different mode of transportation ;) (Although I suppose the Millenium Falcon's out too...)

      Delete
    2. That's funny, Fedora. We have a motorhome that my spouse has dubbed the Millennium Falcon!

      Delete
  19. Rhett Butler
    Acheron
    Aslan
    Vincent (Beauty & Beast TV series)
    Barnabas Collins

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vincent was the impetus for my StarQuest series about aliens who look like lions. I loved that series!!!

      Delete
  20. I'm sorry but read 2 or 3 JD Robbs -- and you've read them all
    he's in danger -- she's in danger -- sex ---
    this is my personal opinion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting you should say that--I've heard it before. I really haven't read all that much Nora Roberts, though to be fair, I should read at least a couple of that series.

      Delete
  21. There´s so many great ones that stick with you, Kate & Curran, Mac & Barrons, Merit (Chicagoland Vampires), Laurann Dohner´s New Species Heroes, Kit Colbana - JC Daniels and so on and so fort <3 The great thing about reading is that you never know when you´ll meet your next unforgettable Hero or heroine
    Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Monday!
    //Linda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda, and you're so right! I love all the variations on the same theme of falling in love with the perfectly imperfect guy!

      Delete
  22. I love the heroes in Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series. My favorite one is Kane.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read a couple of novellas from this series and it looks really good. One I'll need to check into. thank you!

      Delete
  23. Wow there are soo many that have stuck with me over the years. Roarke from JD Robb has always been one of my faves. Bones from the Nighthuntress series, Wrath from JR Ward. Lori Foster has a ton. or if you wanna go TV route.. Angel & Spike from Buffy are 2 of my faves. There are so many that I could name.. Now I just need to find one of them for me in real life! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oo or Bishop from Kay Hoopers Special Crimes books. I was just rereading those recently.

      Delete
    2. LOL...see, that's where I have issues. So many of the "heroes" in romances are chest-thumping alphas who want to rule the roost. That would not go over well in my world. I want a smart, thinking man who appreciates the fact I have a brain. I rarely write a true alpha--the only one I can think of is Anton Cheval, and he's always screwing up and getting taken down a notch by his mate. Though, I have to admit, I do love JR Ward's BDB guys. All of them!

      Delete
  24. Jackson Savor in Savor the Danger by Lori Foster.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm reading Lori's Holding Strong right now--her hero's are a bit too alpha for my taste, but I love the books just the same! Jackson was pretty cool. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. My favorite hero is Ash from The Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a series that's been on my TBB (to be bought!) list for a long time. I keep thinking that if I ever retire, I'll finally have time to read all the books tempting me!

      Delete
  27. Reyes Farrow from Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Haven't read that series, either! I really do need to get out more!!! Thanks, Jana.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Zsadist (Lover Awakened by JR Ward), Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and Reyes from the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah (on Zsadist!) Such a wonderful character and beautifully written story. (Can you tell I'm a hard-core JR Ward fan?)

      Delete