Monday, September 23, 2013

Guest Blogger: Chris T. Kat and Hunter's Hunt

Please welcome my good friend and fellow author Chris T. Kat once again! She has her first release with Torquere Press, Hunter's Hunt, and she's going to talk about that, and about ten things she didn't know about being a published author. Chris, I made us some pfeffernusse. Here, help yourself, I'll go get some coffee to go with them.


10 Things I Didn't Know About Becoming a Published Author

Julie, thank you very much for having me on your blog! Torquere Press published my new release Hunter's Hunt on September 18th. (Well, you knew that already, because, dear readers, Julie was so kind as to beta Hunter's Hunt for me. ^_^)
Even though Hunter's Hunt is my 8th published book, it's the first with Torquere Press and I'm very excited about it. I also still feel like a newbie in the business. After all, I’ve only been published for 18 months.
Here are my Top Ten Things I Didn't Know About Becoming a Published Author:

1.      All the forms I had to fill out for taxes! OMG! I don't like paperwork at all and then I had to figure out how to apply for an ITIN number (since I'm not a US resident). Well, I didn't figure it out, but I found someone who did all the work for me. ;-)
2.      Edits come with a deadline. How inconsiderate of them!
3.      You need a thick skin. If you're not born with one, you better develop some.
4.      There are actually people buying my books! How awesome is that?
5.      Believe it or not, but some people like my books. :)
6.      Describing the cover for any of my titles and then receiving the first draft and / or the finished cover. It's my favorite part of publishing. It was especially fun to search for an image for Hunter's Hunt. What can I say—I got to look through zillions of pictures with naked or half-naked men. Yum! :)
7.      You have to promote your book. Sure, I thought when my first book came out. I'll make a post on my blog. Wow! I'm the promoting queen! Oops!
8.      It took me months to figure out how to go about creating a blog tour or what else I could do for promoting. I'm still not sure what works and what doesn’t.
9.      Other authors are only people too. I've made some good friends since my first steps into the publishing world.
10.  So many people told me how I feel about writing would change when I'm published but that's not how it works for me. The writing process might feel different but foremost it is still fun!


[COVER HERE]
Buy links:

Blurb:
Wanted: one bear. Must be burly and hairy, and strong enough to paddle. Hunter Bell is on the prowl, and he knows just where to find his prey: at the Bear Trap, a gay leather bar he’s more than a little familiar with. So many men, so little time. He’s just about to pounce on his choice of the evening when a newcomer enters the bar, turning everyone’s head. Adrian Michaels is everything Hunter despises in a man. He’s lean and boyish looking, and he has the deepest dimples Hunter’s ever seen.
And yet there is an immediate attraction, one that neither man can deny. They’re both too astonished to do anything about this apparent interest in one another, and they waste their opportunity. Now it’s up to Hunter to forget about his stereotypical preference and go for the guy that’s just entered his dreams. If only he can admit to himself that Adrian’s what he really wants...


Excerpt:
It took a moment for the newcomer to absorb his surroundings and, when he did, he flinched. A few men chuckled upon discovering the baffled look on the guy's face, which proved that he indeed hadn't known about the nature of the Bear's Trap. Hunter watched him shift from one foot to the other while most men turned back and resumed their conversations. The new guy remained rooted to the spot, dripping water all over the floor, before he squared his shoulders and pushed through the mass of bodies. At last he reached the bar, where Hunter was still standing, for some unknown reason interested in this guy.

The newcomer waved at the bartender. "Is there a phone anywhere?"

"You don't have a cell phone?" another guy asked, perplexed.

The newcomer shot him a 'drop-dead' look, startling Hunter into a laugh. The new guy turned toward him with a quizzical look. Hunter was face-to-face with an irritated man, whose dark blue eyes were blazing.

"Bad day?" Hunter heard himself ask.

"Craptastic."

Hunter pulled his cell phone from his pocket and held it out to him. "You might better go to the back. Otherwise, you won't be able to understand anything."

Baffled, the other man took the phone. "Thank you, uh, what's your name?"

"Hunter." He held out his hand for the other man to shake.

"Last name or first name?"

"First."

"Thanks, Hunter. I'm Adrian."

"Hey, Adrian."

Adrian gestured with the phone toward the end of the bar and raised one delicate eyebrow. "This way?"

Hunter nodded and beckoned Adrian to go past him. Adrian only made it a few feet before one of the other men groped him, drawing out a surprised yelp from Adrian. He shoved the guy aside then proceeded farther into the back. On his way, he struggled with advances from more guys than Hunter could count. At some point, Adrian whirled around and, even from that distance Hunter could see the fast heaving of his chest, the free hand balled into a fist, and the stressed look on his face.

With a sigh, Hunter pushed away from the bar and strolled after Adrian. He caught up with him right when another man, a regular customer called Dean, made a pass at him.

"Hey, knock it off. He's with me, Dean."

"With you? Since when are you going for his type, Hunter?" Dean asked with a sneer.

Hunter shrugged while he sent a dark glower toward Dean, which caused the other man to drop his eyes and inspect the contents of his glass thoroughly. Hunter laid a hand on Adrian's shoulder and pushed him ahead. Adrian cast him a worried look but walked where Hunter steered him. After opening a door to a private room at the end, he ushered Adrian through and switched on the light.

"Go ahead."

Adrian clutched the cell phone in his hands, staring at Hunter with an apprehensive look. Hunter noticed that Adrian's eyes were of a dark, almost navy, blue. He swallowed. Even behind the glasses, Adrian's eyes seemed large and expressive. He had to concentrate on listening to Adrian's question. "Is this... is this some kind of leather bar?"

"Yeah. Never been in one before, have you?" Hunter asked.

"No. No offense and all, but I'm not very fond of it."

"Scared?"

"Yes."

"Need a bodyguard?"

Adrian eyed him before he obviously came to some kind of decision. "You free for bodyguard duty for maybe an hour?"

"Sure." Hunter grinned. "I won't even try to molest you."



Chris T. Kat
Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there's any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.


Links:



Thanks for stopping by, Chris, come back any time!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

5 comments:

  1. Julie,

    thanks for having me!

    ~ Chris

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  2. What a great post. :) Becoming a publisher author is like stepping into Wonderland because at times it's downright crazy! Glad you're keeping that sunny perspective about it all.

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    1. Thanks so much, Tali! Although writing and publishing is work I want it foremost to be fun and enjoyable. :)

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  3. You left out that you'd be stalked by crazy fans boys who heart you forever. :P

    Congrats again.

    -AQG

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    1. LOL Stalked by crazy fan boys? Not sure about that but the hearting me part sounds good. ^_^

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