Interview with Cait Lavender, Excerpt and a Giveaway!

Cait, welcome to Hardcover Feedback! Would you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a stay-at-home mom of one very busy toddler in Central California. My husband and I ranch Angus cattle and I read and write like a madwoman whenever I get a spare minute. I’ve always loved the written word and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was in Jr. High, I attended Fresno State for English Literature, so this has been a dream come true!

What or who made the biggest influence on you wanting to become a writer?
I love books. Period. It’s not much of a leap from loving books to wanting to write them. I had a couple really awesome English teachers, but they really only fanned the flame that was already burning.

What was the first book you ever wrote about and was it ever published?
The first book I ever tried to write was this awful miss-mash of Robin Hood and Ivanhoe. I wrote about half of it before calling it quits and it was never published. No one ever read it but myself, for which I’m infinitely grateful!

Do you have any writing habits that people might find unusual?
I can’t really think of any besides the fact I usually write until the wee hours of the morning. The only real time I have to write is after my daughter goes to sleep, so when I get on a roll it’s usually two or three in the morning before I stagger to bed.

Do you have a favorite character or one that is especially close to your heart?
Shelby is my girl. She’s everything I’d like to be, but the funny thing about being a writer is you utilize characters to fill a gap, but then those minor characters grow on you. Jack really did that to me in Hunter Moon. I just felt like his story wasn’t over yet, that’s why he’s the center of a short I wrote and published in an anthology. I’m still debating on whether I’m going to take his story further, as several of my readers have asked me. We’ll see.

What is the best gift you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Well, besides my daughter? LOL I know this sounds trite following that but my sister bought me a Kindle two Christmases ago and it set off a domino effect launching me into writing. Without that I don’t think I would have ever gotten the courage to publish.

What is something that you have always wanted to do, but just haven't gotten around to it yet?
I’ve always wanted to go to Europe. Great Britain, Italy, Germany, the works. There is so much history there, I just haven’t had the time or the money to be able to go. Maybe if I do well enough in my writing career it would happen.

What is your all-time favorite book?
That is such a hard question! I really can’t choose. So much depends on my mood, if I need inspiration, or if I just need to relax and let my brain go on vacation.


Other than yourself, who is your favorite author?
Again, so hard to choose. Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Terry Pratchett, Patricia Briggs. All of them are so talented, I can only aspire to be as good as they are.

If a TV show was based on your life, what would the theme song be and why?
Wow...good one. Probably the closest one I could get would be Only Prettier from Miranda Lambert.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like reading, of course, but I also like shooting, riding horses and listening to music.


Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl. Like I said, I’m staying up until 2-3 am writing and being chipper after that is not really an option. I think my husband counts himself fortunate he’s at work when I wake up so he doesn’t get mauled.

What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
I watch Bones religiously. I love me some David Boreanaz! I’m also a big Castle fan since Nathan Fillion is one of the lead characters. He’s so charming and he’s a writer!

If you had the opportunity to go anywhere you wanted, at any time in history, where would you go and why?
I’d really love to go to the Globe in London and watch a play when Shakespeare was alive and acting. I’m pretty sure that would be the most amazing thing in the world.

If you were throwing a dinner party and you could invite five people (fictional or real, dead or alive) who would you invite?
Ha! Shakespeare, because he’s got a naughty sense of humor. Simon Pegg, because he’s my favorite Brit and he’s amazing. Christopher Moore, because he’d be a riot. Karen Marie Moning, because I have so many questions for her! And finally, my great grandmother, because I never got to meet her, but she was a great woman.

What are you currently working on?
I’m working on the first book in a new series, based in the same world as Hunter Moon and involving vampires and Knights Templar. I’m really excited about it because it’s a little darker and more intense, but the characters are really coming to life.

Where can people connect with you online?
I’m on Twitter, @caitlavender and on Facebook. I also have a website, www.caitlavender.com. Please do contact me and let me know your thoughts!

Thank you so much Cait for being on Hardcover Feedback!

EXCERPT:

“You got a death wish, now? What, finding dead bodies isn’t exciting enough for you, you have to try and get mauled by a wild animal?” Her voice had raised several octaves during the course of our conversation, and I was afraid the old guys would start listening in. I switched tactics.
“Well, getting the life kissed out of me by the hot warden was pretty exciting, I guess.”
She looked like she was going to have a stroke. “YOU WHAT?” Sure if Jesse’s voice went any higher, Reggie would start howling, I motioned with my hands for her to quiet down.
“Sheesh, Jess. Shut up! I don’t want the whole town to know!” Her eyes narrowed as she slammed her hands on the counter and leaned over.
“If you don’t tell me everything that happened right this second, I’m going to tell Matt that you secretly have been in love with him!” She hissed.
I swallowed and nodded. “Well, it was after you and Ty left. We were just standing there, and one second he was all sweet and quiet and then he said some really stupid thing about me just calling him next time and not needing to find a body if I wanted to see him.”
Jesse took in a sharp breath and I knew she thought about how well that must have gone over. My reputation was well founded; I had a temper.
“I started to say this really wicked comeback,” Liar. “When all the sudden he was just kissing me.” Jesse stood back up, eyes wide and grinned. I continued before she could say anything. “It wasn’t a really big deal. I think he did it just to shut me up. And then he just left. Personally, I thought it was kind of rude to just invade my personal space like that. I’m sure Cash could tell I didn’t want him to kiss me.”
Jesse laughed and looked over my shoulder. I frowned.
“Oh, I don’t know,” a rich baritone voice behind me said. Oh crap! “It seemed like you enjoyed it to me. In fact, I’m pretty sure I heard you moan.”
Jesse nearly doubled over with laughter. I was paralyzed with horror.
There he was, in all his glory, standing right behind me. I opened and shut my mouth, knowing I must have looked like a fish, floundering at what to say. Ba dum, ching! Cash just stood there, all self-satisfied hotness. Finally my brain kicked back into gear.
“I did not moan. I tried to tell you to stop, but you took that as encouragement and kept on fumbling around,” I said in my best haughty voice. “You might have heard me moan if you practiced kissing a little more.” I heard Jesse gasp for air behind me as she struggled to breathe.
I glared at her. “A little warning might have been nice, best friend!” I hissed.

GIVEAWAY:

To be entered to win an e-copy of Hunter Moon, complete the mandatory entry and then fill in all the applicable entries on the Rafflecopter form. There will be ONE winner. This giveaway is OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway