Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

Happy New Year, everyone! Our January blog theme of new beginnings immediately made me think of my next "Elite Force" book coming out in May - UNDER FIRE. While I've posted an excerpt from chapter one of UNDER FIRE in a previous blog, I have not yet posted THE beginning of the book. This blog presents the perfect opportunity! For those of you who have not yet read my "Elite Force" books, they feature Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs.) There are only approximately 350 pararescuemen in the world, and they're trained for high risk rescues, military and civilian. Land. Water. Mountains. They can hold off an opposing force if needed and stabilize a wounded individual while waiting for transport out. PJs train hard, then train even harder... Ooh-rah! And now, an advance peek at the opening of UNDER FIRE, "Elite Force" book 3, May 2012: CHAPTER ONE: Patrick Air Force Base, Florida: “Kill one. Screw one. Marry one.” Major Liam McCabe almost choked on a...

Welcome to the launch party for book two in my “Elite Force” series – HOT ZONE! This month's Casablanca blog site theme just happens to be - what I want under the Christmas tree with a greatbig bow attached! For me, I've gotten my wish already. I have a December book on shelves. And wowsa, as a bonus, the art department gifted me with an awesome cover for HOT ZONE! I have a big month of blog tour giveaways planned to celebrate both the holidays and HOT ZONE's release. My blog tour will be posted throughout December on the main page of my website: http://catherinemann.com For those of you who are new to the series, “Elite Force” features Air Force pararescue jumpers (PJs). There are only approximately 350 PJs in the world, and they are the most elite force in the U.S. military. Trained in high-risk rescue, these special ops air commandos live by the credo “That Others May Live.” It’s a thrill and honor to feature these fearless, selfless men in uniform. HOT ZONE “Elit...

My youngest son says that puppy breath is the most special, innocent scent in the world – and the one scent that cannot be replicated. I completely agree. In this month of Thanksgiving, I’m so grateful that I have the privilege of puppy breath in my life! (Photo: Banjo) For those of you who don’t know, I’m active in animal rescue. I foster puppies and special needs dogs for my local Humane Society (PAWS http://www.paws-shelter.com/index.html ) and also just started my first term on their board of directors. Currently, I have three bulldog mix puppies. (Photo: Finn/tan puppy and Buster/black & white pup) Puppies cannot be legally adopted out in Florida until they are at least 8 weeks old, but a shelter environment can be particularly dangerous with their immature immune systems. That’s where fostering kicks in. While in my care, the puppies will have had two rounds of puppy vaccinations - provided by the shelter vet clinic. And lots of socialization - provided by my family! (Ph...

Our Casablanca blog theme this month is hot and I certainly didn't have to think for more than a second on what I would post! Here's the cover for my second "Elite Force" novel to be released in December - HOT ZONE. Wowsa, is this cover smokin' or what?! Kudos to the art department on delivering a winner cover to showcase my book. HOT ZONE by Catherine Mann "Elite Force" book 2 December 2011 Days full of danger… For Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, it’s all about saving other people’s lives. Then he moves on. But when he pulls beautiful Amelia Bailey and her adopted nephew from the rubble of a catastrophic earthquake, he finds himself entangled in their lives in ways he could never have imagined… And desire-filled nights… Amelia’s trip to the Bahamas to help with an international adoption has been no vacation, but the hardest part is yet to come. As Amelia and Hugh are pulled unawares into a deadly smuggling scheme, simmer...

Oh yeah! It's "Launch Party" time! Who doesn't love a party!?! I know I'm sure happy to celebrate COVER ME landing on shelves! (Note below the details for limited time discount ebook price of $2.99!) In fact, this week has been full of celebrations as I attend the Romance Writers of America's annual convention being held in NYC. I've participated in a charity booksigning with over 400 authors. I've met with editors, my agent, fellow authors and fans. This afternoon, I'll be presenting a workshop with my sister authors. And this evening, the convention culminates with RWA's annual Golden Heart/RITA Award ceremony. Talk about life coming full circle! The last time the RWA Convention was held in NYC, I received the RITA Award for my military romantic suspense novel TAKING COVER. What a special treat it was to have my Air Force husband there to cheer me on. And tonight, as my book COVER ME lands on shelves, I'll be walking across that st...

Our Casablanca blog theme for the month: Hope. This made me think of the age old question: Is your glass half empty or half full? Yes, you are seeing a blinged-out, be-dazzled, monogrammed wine glass. It started out as a joke at a neighborhood picnic and now has become a cute tradition when we gather for cook outs. Stick on jewels are courtesy of the local craft store. :) Diet coke, straight from my fridge. But I digress. I like to think I'm a glass-half-full kind of person. Although like most folks, I have my days when it seems the glass it mighty darn empty. So, on one of those days, I posted the "glass" question on my facebook page, hoping to find either commiseration or inspiration. I actually found both in the witty answers of my facebook friends. Here are a few of the highlights. I hope they bring a smile to your face as well! Is your glass half empty or half full? *Neither. Mine is overflowing. *Depends on whether I'm drinking. *What glass??? * It...

Beginning of a Whole Year of New Books to Read! Blog By: Catherine Mann I’m an avid reader, always have been. As a kid, I devoured the Little House on the Prairie series, the Nancy Drew series, Little Women , The Secret Garden , and so on and so on. In in the sixth grade I read Gone With the Wind and was so frustrated with the ending, I rewrote my own - happier - ending to Scarlett and Rhett’s story. Then, in the seventh grade, I discovered books by Laurie McBain and Kathleen Woodiwiss – books that celebrate happily ever after! It was the beginning of a lifelong affinity for romance novels! Now that January is here, we have a whole new year of fabulous books to choose from. I’ve made my list, marking my calendar with release dates for all my favorite authors. And I adore the launch parties given here at the beginning of each month for our Casablanca Babe Authors as I find new authors to try out. I’m very much looking forward to my own Casablanca launch party this July when Cover ...

Although our December blog theme is about endings, I can't help but see beginnings all around me! My amazing kids are growing up and starting exciting, new phases of their lives... My husband and I are enjoying more time together.... And a most poignant sign of beginnings? We foster for the Humane Society and currently have a mama dachshund and her three puppies in our home for the holidays. (Peanut and her babies - Cheyenne, Buckaroo, and Cowboy.) Our foster dogs this holiday season make me think of this poem by Elise Lewis.... Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! "A Puppy's 12 Days of Christmas" On the first day of Christmas my puppy gave to me The Santa topper from the Christmas tree. On the second day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree. On the third day of Christmas my puppy gave to me Three punctured ornaments Two leaking bubble lights And the Santa topper from the Christmas tree. On the fourth...

My kids are all teens or in college now, so the days of dressing up the little ones to go trick-or-treating have passed me by. However, I’ve found there’s a wealth of Halloween activities planned in my area for pet owners. HOWL-o-ween festivals abound, with dogs and cats dolled up in the cutest costumes. And of course, we pet lovers get to hang out and party! We also discuss pet safety during the holidays… I would like to take this opportunity to share some of those tips with you: *Keep candy out of reach of your pets. Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, can be toxic. *Foil wrappers, plastic wrappers and lollipop sticks can get lodged in an animal’s digestive tract. *Be careful that pet costumes are comfy and not constricting the neck. Also be careful that they do not cover eyes and ears. Check for small part that can be choking hazards. If your pet seems stressed by the gear, ditch the costume, no matter how cute you might think it is. It’s still hot in Florida this time of year, ...

ABUNDANT LOVE THROUGH THE YEARS by Catherine Mann Today, my husband’s grandmother turns 90! Certainly that in and of itself qualifies for our September theme of abundance in years. I would also say Mamaw quantifies a person who treasures up and shares love in abundance. As a romance writer, I’m always fascinated by the many forms happily ever after can take. Today, I would like to celebrate the abundant romance of my husband’s grandparents - Mamaw and Buster. The framed photo shows that they obviously dated and married during the WWII era. The photo was taken on their wedding day (they’re the couple in the middle.) Months later, Buster shipped out just after Mamaw learned she was pregnant with their first child, my future father-in-law. She gave birth without Buster there. During the Battle of the Bulge, Buster was shot three times and was reported dead. Later, she learned he was in a prison camp where he stayed for the duration of the war. She told me once how she learned from that ex...

Hi! Catherine Mann here, welcoming you to my first blog with the Casablanca authors! My debut book with Casablanca - a military romantic suspense entitled COVER ME - will be out next July, but I look forward to visiting with you in the meantime while I count down the days. Now, on to this month's theme of abundance... When I think of the word abundant, I envision the exuberant love shared without hesitation by precious puppies. I believe we could learn so much from our canine pals about opening our hearts. Those who know me likely aren’t surprised by my take on this month’s blog theme. I’m a big advocate for adopting shelter/rescue pets, and I foster for my local Humane Society. When I foster shelter dogs, often they come to me ill or afraid or neglected. It’s my role to offer them a temporary safe haven to heal, physically and emotionally. And yet in spite of all they’ve been through, love shines so purely from their eyes as they revel in a simple belly rub or a pat on the ...