Hi guys! Today I am very excited to welcome author Cat Grant to the blog. She is here to chat with us about her new book Once a Marine as well, as to share a great giveaway!
Cat, welcome to Joyfully Jay! I am so excited to have you here at my blog today to talk about your new release Once a Marine.
Thanks for inviting me, Jay! I’m glad to be here.
I reviewed the book earlier this week and really enjoyed it [review]. One thing I particularly liked is that Marc is a writer of m/m romance novels. I am curious what it was like as an author to write a story about another author in this same genre. Were there any parallels with your own experiences?
Marc is basically me if I were a 30-year-old gay man. We share a lot of the same background – I went to Berkeley too (way back in the 80’s, when they still let in underachievers like me!), graduated with an English degree, then spent the next few years working in sub-par service industry jobs. I even have a black and white tuxedo kitty! Except for the fact that I didn’t grow up near Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Marc is pretty close to who I’d be if I had a dick.
This book takes place under the backdrop of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and its eventual repeal. What made you decide to tackle this topic? Was the repeal under consideration while you were writing?
Oh, I’d been dying to write a book with a DADT theme for a couple of years, but I had to wait for it to be officially repealed before I could give the story a happy ending. I’d been following Rachel Maddow’s series on DADT, and I was impressed by one Army captain (sorry, I can’t recall his name right now) who said he’d decided to put his personal life on hold while he finished serving out his stint, because it wasn’t fair to any potential partners to have to go back in the closet for his sake. That interview stuck with me, and formed the basis for my characterization of my Marine hero, Cole Hammond.
I really enjoyed the dichotomy of Marc on one hand being so drawn to military guys, but at the same time being scared of entering a relationship with one again after previous heartache. And you presented him with such delicious temptation with Cole!Â
Well, who wouldn’t fall for Cole? Strong, sweet and hot – just the way I like ‘em!
At one point Marc mentions that his books, music and movies provide his muses for his writing. Do you have certain things that inspire you when working on a story? Were there any particular inspirations for this book?
I usually model my characters physically on actors I find attractive. In this case, I modeled Cole after Alexander Skarsgard (who actually did play a Marine in Generation Kill) and Marc after Darren Criss (pre-Glee, before they made him cut his gorgeous mop of dark curls!). I printed out pics of both of them and taped them up on the wall above my desk. It helped keep me focused! [see I would think that would make it harder to focus! 😉 ]
I know you have some other projects on the way with Riptide. Can you tell us more about what else you are working on right now?
I just finished a story for their rentboy submissions call. This one has Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy-shaped characters. They’re my current obsession, btw. I’ve been madly in love with them both (with a slight leaning toward Fassbender) ever since I saw the new X-Men movies this past summer. If you haven’t seen it yet, you seriously need to. The sexual tension between their characters jumps right off the screen.
And my editor/publisher/partner-in-stalking-Fassbender Rachel Haimowitz is coming to stay with me for a couple weeks while we start writing a seriously twisted, kinky m/m story. Also with Fassbender and McAvoy-shaped characters. Do we sense a theme here? LOL!
If readers want to find out you or your books, how can they find you?
You can catch me on:
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cat-Grant/123354784391947
- Twitter:Â http://twitter.com/#!/CatGrant2009
- Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1912055.Cat_Grant
- My website:Â http://www.catgrant.com/
What’s your current book list and where can we buy them?Â
Check out my Amazon author page:
http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Grant/e/B003ASUGUS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Or my book list over on Are:Â http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cat+Grant
Thank you again for taking the time to stop by Joyfully Jay! It was so much fun having you here!
It was a pleasure, Jay.
And now, one lucky commenter will win a choice of one of the following Cat Grant books: Allegro Vivace, Sonata Appassionata, The First Real Thing (Icon Men #1), Appearing Nightly (Icon Men #2), A Fool for You (Icon Men #3), or Entangled Trio. The contest will remain open until Monday November 21 at 11:59 EST. As always, the usual fine print:
- By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay and leave your email address if it is not in your profile.
So be sure to leave a comment and good luck!
>Please count me in. I've read Once a Marine and really enjoyed it so I would love to try another of her books.
Thanks
diannakay@gmail.com
>Count me in as well! I've never read this author before, but I loved the interview and I'd definitely like to!
>Who is this Fassbender, I am really curious. McAvoy I know, this Fassbender No Idea ( don't kill me)LOL
Great Interview!!
>Please count me in too. Cat Grant is a new author to me and the interview was great – can't wait to read her books.
booksforalleternity at gmail dot com
>Thanks for dropping by, everyone!
OMG, Pants Off, you've never HEARD of Michael Fassbender? Go Google some photos of him – you won't be sorry! Tall, gorgeous, ginger-haired, and enormously talented, in more ways than one! 😉
>I enjoyed the interview; it was a great read.
I love your inspirations, Cat!
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
>ohh I just googled Michael Fassbender, YUM! I remember thinking the young magneto was HOT! thanks for the giveaway. Heather K
sassycyclist at bak dot rr dot com
>Thanks for being here and bringing the sexy men with you. Lovin' the Saarsgard and Fassbender. Waaaayyyy drool-worthy.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
>Ok, since I love you al so much I just added some Fassbender/McAvoy pictures. If you still need to do your own personal, private research, I totally understand! 😉
>OMG yes! That movie had so many homoerotic undertones that I kept thinking the screenwriter should write an m/m book! I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with! May I suggest adding a little bit of Viggo Mortensen as well? Because he’s got that movie coming up about Freud and Jung, Fassbender is in it too, and the idea of Fassbender, Mortensen and McAvoy together is almost too hot to bear! I need to go take a cold shower!!
Great interview!!
>@Brie – OMG, with Fassbender and Mortenson it could be a chiseled chin fest. Hotness overload!
>OMG, Jay, I LOVE YOU!! Thanks for adding the Fass & James pics.
And as for the rest of you – if you haven't seen X-Men First Class yet, get yourself over to Netflix!
@ Brie – Damn you, woman! I just got out of the shower, & now I need another one! LOL!
>Please enter me also – Cat is a new author to me and I would love to read one of her books.
Susan R
susanmik AT gmail DOT com
>Hello Cat,
Thank you for stopping by & spending time with your Fans, I enjoyed your interview with Jay. I like your writing & can't wait to read Once a Marine.
Take Care & Happy Writing,
Renee'
paranormalromancefan@yahoo.com
>Great post! Fassbender is definitely drool-worthy 🙂
smaccall AT comcast.net
>Oh, Cat it’s a pleasure to meet you. I can wait to read Once a Marine, I got it on my self-rewarding reading list. After reading this interview, I’m really curious to find out about a character who is also a m/m author.
I’ll be looking forward for the collaboration between Rachel Haimowitz and you. Does it include some BDSM?
Thanks for recommending X-Men First Class.
I fell in love with Michael Fassbender after watching Hex, his portrait of Azazeal is the most sexiest ever. The guy is a great kisser. I blame this show for all the fallen angels books that followed, and the stalker vampires too. Here is a link to a video of it if you guys want to take a look. http://youtu.be/Zb4BTQHotBo
Jayhjay, thanks for hosting this interview.
>@ Naaju – Does it include BDSM? Only about 40K out of the 50K we've written thus far! This book's gonna be a kinkapalooza!
And yes, Fass is definitely droolworthy – and when he's paired with McAvoy, their chemistry literally jumps off the screen. There's a couple of scenes in X-Men you all will want to watch several times! 🙂
>No wonder you and Rachel have been having so much fun torturing your characters this past week. How do you go wrong with Fassbender and McAvoy shaped characters? =)
adara adaraohare com
>Aah! Cat, that sounds so good! You are taking the right approach. I can’t wait to read it. Please say hello to Rachel.
Allow me to share one of my favorite quotes, which is also a writing tip: "Torture your hero early & often; it develops his character, sort of like roasting nuts brings out the flavor." Christina Dodd
>@Cat, ok, now I really can't wait to read it!
>@ Naaju – Roasting nuts! LOL! Love it!
Glad I could pique your collective appetite about the Big Kinky Book. It probably won't be published till next spring or summer, though – so be patient! Genius takes time, y'know. 😉
>@ Cat, it’s all right, take your time, I’ll be looking forward to enjoy it, when it’s ready.
>Nice to meet you Cat. Great interview. I'm so glad that DADT is no more.
I would like to be added to the contest, please 🙂
>Cat, great to meet you!
Just when I thought my TBR list was becoming manageable… LOL
I am so looking forward to reading your work!
Please don't forget to add me to the contest..
archiesvoice (at) gmail (dot) com
>Damn! I'm a sucker for all things military.. And on top it all off, MC looks like Alexander Skarsgard! Aarrgh!
I guess I need to read this 😀
japoki at inbox dot lv
>cky15: I love your books. I read one and had to get my hands on another to read.
The interview was great.
cwall88atyahoo.com