Kate Douglas

I'm wife to one terrific guy, mother of two really neat adults, and grandmother of three with a fourth on the way, but when asked to describe myself, I say I am a writer. Writing defines me--I'm the sum total of my wild ideas and what eventually makes it from warped brain to page. That, of course, allows me to reinvent myself on occasion which comes in handy when you're a woman 'of a certain age'.

An Interview with Kate Douglas

PNR: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to choose writing as a career?

Kate D.: I had a poem published when I was in the fourth grade and decided then that I would be a writer. I think that poem taught me the power of words, the fact I could create something out of my own stew of knowledge and emotions that others would enjoy. When I graduated from college in 1972 I went to work writing copy for a small country western radio station in Turlock, CA. I went on to write public information materials for a worldwide health organization, then became a newspaper reporter on a small weekly paper. After that I finally made the leap to fiction.

PNR: Have you ever suffered from "writer's block"?  And what did you do to get past it?

Kate D.: I rarely run out of ideas. My only problems with writers block have all been health related. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985 and dealt with that for twenty years. I'm one of the lucky ones, though, as the disease has gone into a complete remission and most of my symptoms went with it. It affected me cognitively, including my vocabulary, as well as my memory, which made it difficult to work on stories of any length. I wrote when my mind was clear, but learned not to push the issue when I was having trouble with word retrieval or memory. My memory is still bad, but now it's probably just part of OBS. <Old broad syndrome...>

PNR: What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story? How do you generate your story ideas?

Kate D.: I think the characters make the story. If the reader can't empathize with the characters, can't love the hero and root for the heroine, you're not going to have a good story. When I’m working on a new book, I spend days just thinking about my characters and getting to know them. Often I will interview them and write down traits that make them special. By the time I sit down to write, I know them well enough to turn the story over to them. I truly believe my characters tell my stories. I don’t always know what's going to happen, but they always figure it out.

PNR: Most authors are avid readers; what is your favorite genre to read? Favorite authors? Which books are currently in your TBR pile?

Kate D.: I read everything, but I do have my 'auto-buy' authors: Angela Knight, Christine Feehan, Diane Whiteside, Susan Grant, MaryJanice Davidson, Lori Foster, Anne Stuart, Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Can you tell I'm reading the titles on my bookshelf?) but that’s just the short list! My TBR pile is in the closet so I won’t be tempted while I’m working.

PNR: Why do you think the "shifter" is such a popular character in the paranormal romance genre?         

Kate D.: I think it's the fantasy of a hero who is more than human, more than 'just a man'. One capable of love on many levels, and yet he chooses the heroine over all other women. Since many readers identify with the heroines in their stories, it's really all about a very special man choosing them. Wanting them and willing to risk everything to have them. It's a different issue when the woman is the shifter. I really believe those stories are empowering for women--a woman who can become a large predator is suddenly stronger, more capable, totally unafraid. There's nothing meek about a snarling she-wolf in a battle.

PNR: How do you feel the sensual/erotic genre has affected the paranormal romance genre? In your opinion, how much erotic content can a book have and still be considered romance?

Kate D.: Paranormal romance is a perfect fit for erotic content, as far as I'm concerned. First of all, when you’re writing paranormals you’re thumbing your nose at convention anyway. You can give your heroes all kinds of special powers, and it’s very easy to have those powers slide over into his bedroom technique and abilities. There are no limits, no rules--even my Kensington editor has said that if it's not illegal, I'm free to write it. We first saw ebook publishing pushing the boundaries with erotic romances and erotic paranormal because they were small enough to take a chance. Plus, there is the anonymity factor--a woman who wouldn't have been caught dead buying a sexy book in a public bookstore could order them online and read them in private. That's changed, part of the empowerment factor I mentioned earlier. Women realize now they can read whatever pleases them. New York caught on faster than I expected. Once they embraced the genre, the books began to gain even wider acceptance. Face it, now that they're displayed on the front tables of most bookstores, it's not a shameful thing to buy them! Look at the media coverage our books are getting. Geraldo Rivera did a segment on erotic romance awhile back and held up my book as an example...even CNN ran a special on one of their business programs about the growing popularity of the genre...and the reporter was holding a copy of Sexy Beast for a large part of the interview with my editor, Audrey LaFehr, and Kathryn Falk of Romantic Times Magazine. In my mind, there is no limit to the erotic content of a story, but it had better have a reason to be there, it has to fit within the established parameters of the story, and it better be filled with emotion and very romantic...or it ain't gonna work!

PNR: Your Wolf Tales series has been extremely popular in eBook format; they are now available in print from Kensington’s new Aphrodisia line. Can you tell us how this came about?

Kate D.: My agent wondered what I was writing and asked if I had anything sexy because she knew NY was beginning to take notice of the success of Ellora’s Cave and other epubs. All I could show her were my Wolf Tales, which were beginning to get such fantastic reviews at Changeling Press I was in absolute shock. You have to realize, this series started out as a freebie 1000 word story on a reader's list. When Margaret Riley started Changeling Press, she asked me if I had something sexy to help her launch the new company. I told her about my freebie and said I could lengthen it. When I wrote the first one, I really wasn't planning to write a shapeshifter story, but that's what Stefan (the hero) said he was. (I really do let my characters run the show.) I wrote the first one without a clue what the second would be, but I did some research on wolves, discovered a Tibetan wolf called the Chanku and realized I had my 'mythology'. Anyway, I sent the first five parts of the story to my agent who sent them to Audrey LaFehr at Kensington. Kensington was just starting to put together their Aphrodisia line and Audrey chose Wolf Tales as one of the launch titles for the new line. It's all been so serendipitous...after so many years trying to break into New York, then to do it with a book that began as a free story. It's truly a rush!!!

PNR: From an author's perspective, how does print publishing differ from ePublishing? Do you plan to continue ePublishing?

Kate D.: Print is bigger than epublishing. Definitely a business with more layers between the author and the process, but the distribution is huge and there's that nice advance when you sign on the dotted line. Plus, I've been extremely lucky with my editor at Kensington as she lets me write my stories without interference...I truly have more freedom than I ever expected.

Epublishing is much more intimate -- I work closely with my editor, I have input on the cover art, I know all the people I work with as fellow authors and friends...and of course, there's that monthly paycheck with many of the epubs! That can spoil you really fast. There are good and bad points about both, but I hope to continue writing for my epublishers. I want to finish my StarQuest series at Ellora's Cave and I'm currently writing a sequel to my Changeling Press story, Finding Magic. Chasing Dragons has the same characters as the first one, and they’re really a hoot to write.

PNR: Could you tell us about your plans for the Wolf Tales Series? What are the challenges you face in keeping a long running series’ characters and plotline fresh for readers?

Kate D.: Kensington wants six more stories--three novellas and three single titles--in the Wolf Tales series which will bring me to a total of twelve. I've written six so far and I can't see myself running out of ideas any time soon. While the same characters return occasionally in the various books, the central theme is the species--Chanku. They exist all over the world, but because they've been away from their ancestral birthplace on the steppes of the Himalayas, they've not had the right nutrients that give them the power to shift. Only those who know what foods they need are able to become wolves. With that mythology in mind, my story lines are endless. There's a whole world of men and women out there carrying the DNA, unhappy and unfulfilled with their lives but not certain what is missing.

PNR: You are known for your sexy alphas and strong heroines, which are your favorite to write?

Kate D.: Can I say both? I fall in love with my characters in each book I write. The men are amazing, even when they’re being too alpha for words, and I admire the women. They may be victimized at some point, but they all fight back and always emerge from the story stronger than when it begins. I want my characters to grow, to learn things about themselves that will make them not just better people, but stronger as well.

PNR: The intensity of the sexual scenes is quite hot in your books, is it challenging to write love/sex scenes?

Kate D.: LOL! In order to keep my reputation intact, I should probably say it’s terribly difficult to write the scenes, but it's not at all. Once I'm in my character's head, I write the sex scenes from their perspective. I have to become the hero or heroine, experience what they feel both physically and emotionally...writing a really graphic sex scene is a very intimate experience, but once you let yourself go and just feel, then it's easy. If you don't write the scenes with emotion and feeling, they're mechanical and the reader will know that in an instant. The emotions and actions have to be real. (It helps that I have a really bizarre imagination.)

PNR: Besides your Wolf Tales series, you write in several romance genres including contemporary, paranormal and futuristic; which is your favorite to write? Is there a genre you would like to try but haven’t?

Kate D.: I definitely prefer what I'm writing now. Erotic paranormal romance is just plain fun to write. I sit down to work, knowing I can give my imagination free rein and it doesn't get any better than that. I can't even think of a genre I'd like to try but haven't...I've written s/f, futuristics, time travel, contemporary, humor, dark paranormal, romantic suspense...everything but historical which I rarely read. I've been very lucky in my profession to get a chance to try just about everything.

PNR: Please tell us about the projects you are currently working on; what can readers look forward to in the coming months?

Kate D.: Wolf Tales II comes out in a month, and it introduces an entirely new group of Chanku living in San Francisco, but they end up calling on the characters from the first book when they need help. I just finished copy edits on Camille's Dawn, the next Wolf Tales story in the Wild Nights anthology coming in September. Wolf Tales III is with my editor--it was a lot of fun to write and, as with all my stories, brings back other characters from the series. That one is scheduled for January 2007. I just mailed Fallen to Kensington. It's the novella for the Sexy Beast II anthology coming out in March of 2007 and has two gay guys as the heroes and a prostitute as the heroine. Definitely a different approach for my characters, but I do believe it's one of the sexiest stories I've ever written, and one of the most romantic. I'm currently finishing up Chasing Dragons for Changeling Press and just proofed the manuscript for my next print book from Changeling -- Volume 1 of the Agency of Extraordinary Mates. My story, Finding Magic, is in this one. I'm also getting to know my characters for Wolf Tales IV which I need to have with my editor in a couple months. The hero in this one is wonderful but I'm still getting a feel for the heroine. He's black, she's white -- he's Chanku, but she's clueless as to her heritage. I'm still not certain what;s going to happen, but I do know it will be hot.

PNR: Thank you Kate, for taking time out to speak with us. Where can readers find out what's new, and how can they contact you?

Kate D.: Thanks for the opportunity. Actually, your terrific questions helped me get my thoughts organized for the four panels I'll be on at the Romantic Times convention in Florida. Many of the things you've asked are topics for the panels! I try to keep all my upcoming titles listed on my web site at www.katedouglas.com and I've just posted new excerpts of some of my upcoming books at www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance if anyone is interested. Readers can write to me at kate@katedouglas.com and I always answer my mail. Readers who would like a chance at winning a book or some other prize each month should join my newsletter. Just email KateDouglas-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Thanks again. I do appreciate your time and effort in putting this together.

Featured in this issue:

Interviews with:

Kate Douglas

Website

 Books

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Kensington Publishing
January 14, 2006
ISBN: 0758213867
Paperback
Read the Reviews!

WOLF TALES
Part 1~Stefan:
Xandi awakens, naked, in the arms of an unknown, very aroused male. She should be terrified, but she's not-he's saved her from certain death, and shows her passion like none she's experienced. Morning only adds to the mystery of Stefan Aragat, a creature straddling the fine line between man and beast. Xandi knows Stefan has saved her life. Now it's time for her to save his.

Part 2~Alexandria:
A wolf who is really a man. A man with the heart of a wolf. A woman who is more than even she suspects... Three members of an ancient race-- And the powerful love that unites them.

Part 3~Anton:
Anton discovers a new member of the pack, a traumatized and frightened young woman. Taming the wolf is easy. Is the love of the pack enough to help her heal?

Part 4~Keisha:
Keisha Rialto is a woman in crisis--once Alexandria breaks through her barriers, will the powerful love of Chanku shapeshifter Anton Cheval be enough to save her?

Part 5~The Gift:
The steadfast love of her fellow Chanku and the power of the pack have given Keisha back her strength, but painful memories continue to cloud her ability to participate fully in pack life. While Anton and Alexandria are away, Stefan discovers Keisha's greatest fear. Is Stefan's love for his pack-mate strong enough to help her become one with the pack?

Kensington Publishing
March 1, 2006
ISBN: 0758214855
265 pages
Trade Size
Read the Reviews!

SEXY BEAST - Some men are more than meets the eye...much, much more. And when they unleash a woman's wildest desires—her deepest, animal hunger—the results are primal, magical, and undeniably hot...

"Chanku Rising" by Kate Douglas
Xandi, Keisha, Stefan and Anton share a powerful secret: they are shapeshifters whose primal power and heightened senses bring an added ecstasy to their lovemaking that is beyond all words. Now, one of their own is threatened by a danger from the outside, from one determined to expose their sexy secrets, and the friends will go to any lengths to save her and their clan...

"Night Of The Jaguar" by Vivi Anna
 
Open yourself to pleasure and indulge the beast within...

Coming Soon!

Kensington Publishing
July 6, 2006
ISBN; 0758213875
304 pages
Paperback
Read the Reviews!

Tia Mason is an alluring--and very experienced--young woman. But she is naive of her heritage as Chanku, an ancient, highly sensual race of shapeshifters. It will be up to Luc Stone to introduce her to her feral birthright--and its thrilling rituals. For Luc is also Chanku, and a special agent in their cadre, the Pack. And Tia is everything Luc wants in a mate...

Kensington Publishing
September 1, 2006
ISBN #0758214898
Paperback
Read the Reviews!

"My Valentine" by Kate Douglas

The Legend:
Third Century Rome
Believing single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, Emperor Claudius II outlaws marriage for his soldiers. A priest by the name of Valentine defies Claudius, performing marriages in secret for young lovers. For his bravery and his belief in love, Valentine, the priest, is put to death... but the legend of St. Valentine lives on.

Imagine...
North Dakota, 1918
St. Valentine. Dead since the 3rd century, he's never experienced the love he's made possible for so many young couples. God takes pity on Valentine and sends him to earth, and a woman who needs him, a woman he has to rescue before her grief and despair lead her to ending her own life.

No longer a saint, or a legend, he's just a man. Can the man do what the legend could not?

and nine other novellas from today's most popular erotic writers

There's a small glitch... Lorcan and Amanda.

Lorcan, Crown Prince of the Northern Realm, has a problem. He doesn't want a wife, but if he doesn't find one on his own, his mother's going to choose one for him -- the last thing any self-respecting Dragon wants. He might be willing to change his mind, now that he's found his "Chosen One" -- but the last thing Amanda, a successful but unhappy Hollywood star, wants is a man -- or a Dragon -- with attitude. Lester and Tady have their work cut out for them, but on the magical island of Chimera, miracles can -- and do -- happen!

STARQUEST: Books 1, 2 & 3

Lionheart begins the StarQuest series with the first peaceful contact between the empath Mara Armand and the Miratan starship captain, Sander. The peace, however, is short-lived as the World Federation's attempts to arrest Sander escalate into war. The Rebellion continues in Night of the Cat when Jenna Lange, a woman of our time, is pulled forward to the twenty-second century where she matches wits with Garan, the Miratan lieutenant working with the rebels. Garan's litter mate, Sheyna, is the focus of the hunt in Pride of Imar, when she and human healer Malachi Franklin are kidnapped by a sadistic rogue colonel of the World Federation.

STARQUEST: Books 4 & 5

The StarQuest saga continues with Tim Riley's story in Synergy. Once more the powerful young kinetic is charged with bringing a woman forward in time. Carly Harris is beautiful and her unique powers have an amazing effect on Tim, but will their twenty year age difference keep them apart? Bold Journey takes the StarQuest story off world, to the primitive planet where Bolden, the half-breed son of Garan and Jenna, has been marrooned. Bold finds his match in Cene, a young priestess who becomes much more than a mere woman.

"Just A Little Magic" by Kate Douglas

Beth Adams expected a proposal of marriage on Christmas Eve. What she gets is a wanna-be Santa Claus who's just gotten pink-slipped. Dominic Claus isn't merely good looking - he's perfect—he's just not Santa material. Beth could care less, especially once she discovers that Dom is a lot more than a good looking guy in a Santa suit - he's the lover of her dreams, toys included. Unfortunately, he actually thinks he's an elf. Differences aside, Beth discovers that all it takes is Just a Little Magic to find true love.

and five other novellas from today's most popular erotic writers.

Captain Bryony McKenzie has captured the man she believes is responsible for selling young girls into sexual slavery across the universe. Her late sister was a victim of the slavery ring and Bry wants vengeance. The man she knows only as Barbarian has handled her torture remarkably well, but she will break him. Then she finds out that she has captured and tortured an innocent man... Two years later, turnabout is fair play as the Barbarian, Federation secret agent Jacob Hart, tries to regain his manhood from the woman who stole it from him.

Barbarian is not for the faint of heart. The torture scenes are very graphic, so squeamish readers may want to pass. Ms. Douglas has written a powerful chronicle of two wounded warriors fighting for their very sense of self. I have no doubts that Jacob and Bry have a good foundation for their future partnership.

Three men and a leprechaun? When Dermot, Greg and Zev meet at the wedding of a past lover, the little green guy offers each man a golden opportunity to possess his greatest desire. Unfortunately, figuring out what that greatest desire amounts to isn't as easy as it sounds...

"Sticks and Stone" by Jennifer Dunne

"A Wolf By Any Other Name" by Kate Douglas: When computer nerd Zevulan Cable awakens in a dungeon, bare-ass naked, chained to a bed as gorgeous identical twin witches have their sensual way with his body, he figures he's found his greatest desire, just as the leprechaun promised. Then why is the tiny, sexless woodsprite the one who captures his heart? And how can he explain his growing need to howl at the moon...?

"The Public Eye" by Chris Tanglen

Nita Franklin's dreams have gone from sensual to wildly erotic. It might be the change, but this intrepid reporter is convinced it's something more. When she meets the object of her nightly passion in person, she learns the truth-Martin Hawley, wealthy, sexy San Francisco aristocrat, wants Nita to help him find his kidnapped daughter. And he's well aware of the sensual dreams. He's having them, too...

Kat Malone doesn't want to be pregnant. Seamus O'Rourke is not a hero. Thrown together by the death of Kat's adulterous lover and the threat of a sadistic stalker, Kat and Seamus discover unexpected truths about themselves and each other in LAST OF THE O'ROURKES, the long-awaited sequel to HONEYSUCKLE ROSE.

Photographer Andy Petersen's dream assignment assisting noted ornithologist Nathan Murdock quickly becomes a nightmare. Professor Murdock is expecting the senior Mr. Petersen at his remote mountain camp, not the absolutely gorgeous--and irritating--Ms. Petersen. Sparks--and feathers--fly as Nate and Andy are forced to deal with each other, a group of murderous smugglers, and the preservation of an eyrie of magnificent but threatened peregrine falcons. The question is: can two avowed 'control freaks' find love and common ground amid the cliffs and caverns of northern California's beautiful Trinity Alps?

Also available in trade paperback (ISBN 0-7599-0124-4).

If you like your cowboys sexy, your heroines forgetful and your marriages convenient, this gentle parody of cowboy romances will leave you with a smile on your face and a sigh on your lips. Discover romantic comedy at its best in this captivating tale of a woman who finds her one true love and the cowboy hero afraid to give his heart.

Also available as trade paperback (ISBN 0-75990123-6).