How tumultuous was your writing journey, or were you one of those lucky writers who got picked up on the first attempt?

I wrote my first book about 16 years ago, then tucked it under the bed and went on with life. After my kids hit school age, I dusted off that ‘horrendous’ book and decided it was time to try again. I joined RWA, and my local writer’s chapter. I bought numerous research books, joined critique groups, both on and off line, and six years later, after working steadily, I sold my first book to Ellora’s cave. Even though I wasn’t one of those that sold on the first attempt, it was a long, but very rewarding journey.

How different is it to write for such diverse publishers from Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Avon Red, to NAL? Who do you most enjoy writing for?

No matter what I write or who I write for I always try to create compelling sexy stories that readers will love. I currently write full length novels for NAL, and because I still love to write novellas, I enjoy creating them for the epublishing houses. I enjoy writing for all these places because the editors are different, the experience is different, and it keeps things interesting.

What’s the best part of being an author?

There are so many great things about his job. Because I’m a mom of two busy teenagers, I get to set my own hours, and I’m always here when the kids get home from school and that’s important to me. I also get to be creative, and escape into my own little world each day. Oh, and did I mention I get to work in my pajamas!

Do you ever run out of ideas and are you ever afraid that you will?

I’m absolutely terrified that I will run out of ‘good’ ideas. I have lots of ideas but they’re not always good. LOL I always like to have my next idea/plot lined up before I finish a book.

What is the most extreme sport you’ve ever done, or adventure you’ve ever taken, and what did you learn about yourself?

Hmmm, this one made me think. I’m a real homebody, and I’m not that adventurous, but a few years back, on a whim, my sister and I decided to jump on a plane and go to Boston. We had no idea where we were going, what we were going to do, or where we were going to stay. Why Boston you ask? Honestly, I’m still not sure why we picked it. At one point during the trip we ended up in a park, around nine in the morning, and a bunch of guys who were ‘hanging out’ spotted us. They approached, and circled us. I was terrified. They started taunting us, and I ‘pretended’ I wasn’t scared, pushed past one of them and we continued on our way. What did I learn? Keep out of the parks early in the morning!

I’ve noticed that several of your books involve Firemen. Is this a fetish or do you have firsthand experience?

I’d have to say fetish. LOL. There is just something about those firemen. Last summer my niece was in New York and made a special trip to get me a signed calendar. I’m quite enjoying the month of March. J

How did you come up with the concept for HOTLINE?

Have you ever heard of the Kitty Line? (my original title) Years ago, when I was in university, I heard of the Kitty Line. Women call a special number at the firehouse and men come to extinguish their fires. I never knew if it was true or not, but the idea always fascinated me. Years later when I mentioned this story idea to my hubby, he was seriously wondering how I knew about the kitty line, since he’d never heard of it.

Tell us about your book INSTINCTIVE. When does it come out and can you give us an excerpt for our readers?

Instinctive is my first Dark Paranormal for NAL HEAT which comes out October 2009. I’m so excited about this series, and I’m absolutely in love with my hero, Slyck!

Blurb:

Serene looks like a normal town, but behind the white picket fences is an adult playground where a bad girl can indulge her wild side…

Free-spirited Jaclyn Vasenty is about to inherit a cosmetic empire, yet her scandalous personal history may ruin her chances for a clean, corporate take-over. It’s time she says goodbye to her naughty ways. Her first step is moving into a quaint gated community in Serene, New Hampshire. But these gates are locked at sunset for reasons Jaclyn is soon to discover. And if she wants to stay, it may be forever…

No matter how excitingly dangerous…

The town's dark sensuality rocks Jaclyn’s insatiable appetite to the core—and stirs desires that are…inhuman. That’s because Serene is home to demons, witches, vampires, lycans, and panthers, for whom primal exploration comes naturally. Especially for shape shifter Slyck, the dangerous, cunning panther who’s pushing Jaclyn to the brink of erotic possibilities and making her feel wildly…feral. But as tension between the species rises, Jaclyn learns she must draw on all her feminine wiles and join forces with Slyck if she wants to make it out alive.

Excerpt:

In a move that took her off guard, he caught hold of her hand and hauled her into the dark alley way between buildings. Breathing ragged, and body tense, he pinned his arms on either side of her head, caging her between him and the wall. The clean scent of his freshly showered skin reached her nostrils and she pulled it into her lungs. His seductive aroma curled through her blood, reminding her she was a libidinous woman – a libidinous woman with so very many unsated needs. Slyck touched a damp lock of her hair and searched her face.

His gaze was so dark and intense it took two locked knees to keep herself upright. The air grew ripe with the scent of her arousal. She watched the way Slyck’s nostrils flared when he caught her excited tang as it saturated the narrow alley way. His eyes closed for the briefest of seconds.

She touched his face. “What-”

He cut her off and brought his mouth closer and she could have sworn she heard him purring. “You need to get out of here.”

“Why?”

He pulled her against him. Turmoil flashed in his green eyes. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to ravish you. And I don’t think it’s in your best interest,” he said with quiet certainty.

She gulped air. “What is in my best interest?”

His lips hovered over hers, and she got a heady whiff of aged scotch. “Leave town.”

That took her by surprise, especially after the sexy voyeur game he’d played with her. She crinkled her nose, wondering what was going on. Why was he suddenly pushing her away? “You want me to leave?”

“Yes. It’s for your own good.” He pulled her in tighter, his actions contradicting his words.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s for your good,” she said, stating the obvious as his hard cock pressed into her stomach.

His nostrils flared and he growled into her mouth. “Tonight, Jaclyn. Leave tonight.”

God, the way he held her, and touched her made her feel so edgy, so out of control. She wanted him more than she ever wanted a man, which gave credence to her logic to stay away, because sleeping with him wasn’t conducive to her new image. Then again, the phone sex hadn’t helped either. But the fire that brewed between her legs, and the way her birthmark began to burn and sizzle urged her to answer the demands of her body.

Just once.

Just tonight.

Then tomorrow she’d get back on track.

She had no idea what possessed her to say it, but without censoring her thoughts she said, “But you haven’t been properly punished yet.”

His hands fisted. His jaw clenched. She could feel his heart pounding so hard against his ribcage she was sure it was going to burst wide open.

“And I’m just the girl to do it,” she added.

“Oh, fuck, Jaclyn. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

She thrust her pelvis forward. “Maybe we should be thinking about what you could be getting into yourself.”

The invitation in her voice seemed to unleash something wild inside him. His hardened expression changed and took on a resigned look. Gone was his will to push her away.

“Come with me.” He roughly shackled her arms and pulled her deeper into the alley way. A moment later she found herself cutting through the deserted park with him, taking a shortcut back to his place.

Silence hovered in the air as he guided her through his back door. They entered into the kitchen, where he reached into his cupboard and poured them both a stiff drink of scotch. Jaclyn definitely wanted something stiff. But it wasn’t scotch.

A sliver of moonlight outside the window provided sufficient light for her to see him in the dimly lit room. She shook almost uncontrollably as she watched him recap the bottle and put it away. There was something very sensual in the way he moved, she decided. He turned back to face her and pushed the glass into her hand.

“Drink,” he said.

“Thanks.” She took a small sip. As the liquid burned a path down her throat, she watched him, noting how he never once took his dark, seductive gaze from hers as he downed his shot in one gulp.

“Thirsty?” she questioned, barely able to keep her voice from shaking and her body from quaking as she hungered for him with an intensity that both scared the hell out of her, and excited her just the same.

“Yup.” He put his glass down and stalked closer. He took her glass from her and put it aside, then he grabbed her firmly by the hips and backed her up against the wall. Slyck breathed a kiss over her mouth, and surfed his lips over her cheek. “But the only thing that is going to quench my thirst is your sweet cream, Jaclyn.”

Any parting words for our readers?

Thanks for stopping by today, and keep on reading!

As is becoming our tradition, we'll be having another contest. It will end at midnight tonight (Thursday), so the winner will be announced tomorrow. Here's what you do. Go to Cathryn's site - www.cathrynfox.com - and find out how many books she has sold (including those yet to be released). From those books which looks like something you would love to read and why? Or if you've read Cathryn, which is your favorite and why? Be sure to check her entire site to get an accurate count of books. :)

Once selected, the winner will have their choice of a backlisted book from Cathryn's bookshelf. She has eBooks and print books to offer. Now, I have the memory of a rock these days and I can't find my email where she and I talked about this contest, so I'm going to trust Cathryn to tell us if there's a particular book not available.

I hope you enjoyed the interview with Cathryn and have fun on her site. :)

Naughty Nikki D