Please welcome author Cat Grant.

Today on my blog, I’m chatting with fellow Ellora’s Cave author, Cat Grant.  She’s celebrating the release of her latest book from Ellora’s Cave and giving us a little sneak peak. It promises to be a fantastic book.

Hi Cat, thanks for joining us today. So tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a lifelong lover of romance novels, so it’s the biggest kick ever that I actually get to write them for a living. Every day when I sit down at my computer, it feels like playtime. I’m the luckiest person in the world.

Your latest book came out on December 15^th so tell us all about your new release and where we can buy it.

If you’ve read my first Ellora’s Cave title, THE FIRST REAL THING, you’ve already met Mike and Ryan, my mismatched heroes in APPEARING NIGHTLY. Mike’s a drag queen, and Ryan’s the sweet young thing he’s got an awful crush on. But Ryan’s been hurt in the past, and he needs the love of a good man to help him get over it.

That sounds fantastic. I can’t wait to see how Mike convinces Ryan to take a chance. How did you come up with the idea?

This was a case where I didn’t have to go looking for my next project. Mike’s one of those characters who jumps right off the page. As soon as I finished THE FIRST REAL THING, I knew I had to write his story next.

Is there a message in your book that you want the reader to grasp?

I hate clubbing people over the head with messages. But if this book has one, it’s all about the healing power of love.

As an author do you find yourself drawn to a certain type of hero? What kind of heroes do you like to write about?

I have a soft spot for difficult and/or unlikely heroes. The kind who might be a bit hard to love at first. Unrepentant, arrogant alphas, rent boys, temperamental musicians, drag queens… I’ve run the gamut. It’s fun. I like the challenge of delving into these characters’ hearts and psyches, finding out who they really are. Characterization’s my favorite part of writing.

What are you working on now?

I’m pondering my next project now. It’ll probably be another m/m/f ménage, but I’ve also got a m/m with a DADT theme percolating.

Do you have any specific things (or rituals) that help you to write or that inspire you?

No rituals, per se, although I do prefer having absolute peace and quiet when I work. I usually write in the afternoon, then take a break for dinner and continue on into the evening. Sometimes I’ll be up till the wee hours working.

Tell us where readers can find you.

I’m not hard to find! I’ve got a website, a blog, a Facebook page and a Twitter account. Here are the links:

www.catgrant.com

http://catgrant.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cat.grant?ref=profile#!/pages/Cat-Grant/123354784391947

http://twitter.com/CatGrant2009

You’ve written several books. Do you have a favourite and if so why?

I love my first published book, THE ARRANGEMENT, because it truly was the book of my heart, flaws and all. I also cherish THE FIRST REAL THING because I adore my heroes Cameron and Trev, and because it helped usher me along to the next big step in my career. It’s always been a dream of mine to be published with Ellora’s Cave – and now I am!

As a multi-published author do you have any advice for someone just getting started?

Beginning writers get a lot of conflicting advice from critique groups, other writers, etc. The hardest part for me was separating the good from the useless. I just had to listen to my common sense and let it guide me. So I guess that’s my advice – listen to your gut, and if it tells you the advice you’re getting is wrong, don’t take it. Keep your head up even when the rejections roll in. Don’t let the naysayers get you down. Keep focused. Keep writing!

Well since Christmas is upon us, what do you plan to do for the holidays?

I don’t make a big deal out of Christmas anymore. I’ll probably just have a nice dinner and curl up on the couch with my cat and watch movies.

Who is on your “keeper” shelf and do you have any books on your Christmas wish list?

Oh, gosh – you don’t want to know how many books I own! I’ve got three packed shelves in the bedroom, and five more in the living room. To be honest, I don’t read a lot in my own genre – I simply don’t have time. When I do read, it’s usually for research.

What are you reading now?

Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star and any number of cookbooks. At the ripe old age of fifty, I’ve finally decided to learn how to cook.

Alright, I’m itching for an excerpt.

Okay! Here’s a snippet from APPEARING NIGHTLY, now available from Ellora’s Cave!

Ryan spent Saturday afternoon dropping off flyers for that night’s show at every
shop and restaurant within a five-block radius, then rushed back to help Cameron
with final preparations behind the bar. Business started to pick up around
seven. By eight thirty, there was a line trailing out the door. He and Cam could
barely keep up with all the drink orders.

“What the hell happened?” he wondered aloud, shooting Cam a bewildered glance as
he topped off the fifth pitcher of beer he’d sold in as many minutes. “I didn’t
think we’d get this kind of a turnout.”

“Word’s probably gotten out about last night’s floor show. I’ll bet they’re
hoping for a repeat performance.”

“Something tells me they’re gonna be disappointed.”

Cameron grinned. “Not when they see what Mike’s wearing tonight. It might just
cause another riot.”

His curiosity now cranked into overdrive, Ryan slipped away a few minutes before
show time and poked his head in the office door. He couldn’t see Mike’s face
from this angle, but he caught a glimpse of something white and billowy in the
bathroom mirror. Something making a soft, rustling sound.

It was too damn tantalizing. He couldn’t resist. Ducking inside, he tiptoed a
few steps closer until the mirror came into view. One peek, then he’d go.

But he hadn’t counted on his breath being stolen away. He had no idea who that
was standing not five feet away from him, but it wasn’t Mike. It couldn’t be. It
was a woman. The most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen.

She wore a white halter dress and strappy white sandals with bright red polish
on her toes. Matching lipstick. Platinum blonde wig. The dress ended right below
the knee, showing off nice, shapely calves. Really nice. So nice Ryan couldn’t
stop staring.

The skirt flared out as she twirled from side to side, inspecting herself. She
adjusted a bra strap, smoothed down an imaginary bulge. Then she swung all the
way around-and stopped short the moment she saw Ryan, letting out a gasp.

“God, sugar, don’t sneak up on me like that! You just took five years off my
life!”

“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to-” Jesus, now he was out of breath-or rather, he
was still out of breath. It was starting to make him light-headed. “I-I just
wanted to get a sneak preview of your new outfit.”

“You like it?” She did a pirouette, giving him the full effect. Once Ryan came
closer, he could see she’d dabbed makeup on her arms to cover all the scratches
left over from last night’s brawl. The bruise on her jaw was barely detectable
under a skillful application of foundation and blush. The audience would never
even know it was there.

“You look amazing. But what made you decide to go blonde all of a sudden?”

“Oh, I figured it was time to trade in my Rita Hayworth for something a little
more Marilyn Monroe. I’ve had this dress in my closet for ages. High time for it
to come out, no pun intended.” She turned back to the mirror to fuss with her
hair and give her makeup the once-over. “It’s as perfect as it’s gonna get, I’m
afraid. Better go give our customers their money’s worth.”

Ryan had just turned toward the door when her red-nailed fingers closed over his
wrist. A hot little zing! surged through him. “You might want to wait a couple
minutes before you go back out there, sweetheart.” Then her gaze dropped to his
crotch, and he realized why.

“O-Oh.” Immediate, crushing humiliation washed over him, making him sway on his
feet. He stared at the floor, wishing it would swallow him up. What the hell was
the matter with him? “Sorry, I-I don’t know what-”

“No need for apologies, sugar. In fact, I consider it a compliment.” She reached
out to stroke his cheek, tipping his face up to meet her eyes. No, Mike’s eyes.
This was Mike, and yet it wasn’t. A change took place when he put on the wig and
the dress. Ryan’s brain understood the distinction, even if his body was still
struggling to catch up.

“You really are too adorable,” she murmured, leaning in closer, those ripe red
lips barely an inch from his. She was going to kiss him-and surprisingly, he
actually wanted her to. He closed his eyes and waited for it.

Buy Link

Thanks for being a guest on my blog today, Cat.