Interview/Giveaway : Cat Kalen author of Pride’s Run

Cat Kalen is a multi published author in the romance genre under two pen names, Cat is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and watermelon. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cat can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. A maritime native and former financial officer, Cat has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family. Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Hi Cat and welcome to Rabid Reads! I absolutely LOVED Pride’s Run. It was the ultimate read for a werewolf fanatic like myself. I couldn’t put it down until I was done!

Thank you sooo much!!!! I’m so thrilled that you LOVED Pride’s Run.

THE BOOK

Pride’s character is more wolf than human in this book. How did you get inside of her head? Did you lock yourself in a dark room in your basement and eat only stale bread and water for a month!? 😉

I’ve had so many people tell me that when Pride was in wolf form they could see, smell, taste, feel and experience everything as she was experiencing it. Wow, I was so happy to hear that because I worked hard to make Pride leap off the page, and this tells me I accomplished my goal!

I didn’t lock myself up and eat stale bread during the writing of this story, but I did try to put myself in her place, and to see the world as she (in animal form) would see it. I tried to set every scene using my five senses and was always aware of her surroundings and how she’d react in any given situation.

You explained how Pride got her name in your book but weren’t you a little worried it’d slip under werewolf fiction fans’ radars because the first impression screams “cat”? (it almost happened to me)

Actually, it never occurred to me that it could fly under the radar. But now that you mention it, I can see that. The name Pride was so important and fitting for her, that I had no choice but to go with it. I hope the cover, with the full moon is enough to pique readers interest enough to read the blurb and see that it’s a werewolf story.

In your upcoming book, Pride Unleashed, is the main heroine still more animal than girl or does she start to embrace her humanity with Logan’s help?

I think she’s definitely more girl in the upcoming book, but she does have to start using her size as a strength instead of a weakness and draw on all the things Logan taught her to survive.

Why did you chose to write this story from a seventeen year old girl’s POV?

I really wanted to write the story from a girl’s POV. Since I wanted a character who was innocent, vulnerable, and naive to the ways of the world, I made her seventeen, but I also gave her enough inner strength to overcome the challenges that were thrown her way. Pride is definitely a survivor.

What do you hope that readers walk away with after reading this book?

I hope Pride stays with them for awhile, and I hope they walk away wanting to know more about Pride and her struggles. I hope they question what is right and wrong, and I want them to be inspired by Pride’s strength and sacrifices.

What sets your werewolves apart from other books in the YA paranormal genre?

I realize there are many werewolf stories out there, but I didn’t want to write the same old same old. My story is about sacrifice, power, trust and discovery. It’s unique because my wolves are imprisoned, and are trained to be assassins and unlike most werewolf stories it’s told from the female POV. The story touches on humanity and really looks at the different levels of power between humans and animals.

WRITING

What challenges do you face as a Canadian author?

Sometimes our local bookstore doesn’t even carry our books because they can’t get them! Shipping is always expensive, and so is travel to conferences. Other than that, I have a fabulous writing chapter just 15 minutes away and can connect with writers and readers from all over the world through the internet every day! That’s pretty sweet!

Your bio says that you’re a dog lover! Tell us about your baby(ies):

I have an eleven year old chocolate lab. She is definitely my baby, and as I write this she is asleep beside my desk. She is my companion, my protector, never talks back, and loves me unconditionally. In turn I feed her, play Frisbee with her, love her, groom her (even though she hates to have her nails trimmed) and take her for drives in the car, (and I always stop and get her three plain Timbits at Tim Hortons!)

What does the future hold for your writing? Will there be a third installment in this series?

I’m currently plotting the third story, Pride’s Pursuit, and I have another YA series idea I’m dying to get down on paper, but I write under a few other names and have contracts to fulfill before I can dive into it.

Is Pride’s Run your first attempt at writing or are there other stories (“attempts”) that’ll never see the light of day?

Pride is my first Young Adult book. I have stories from my other pen names that will NEVER see the light of day!

Why Young Adult? What attracts you about this genre?

There is just something so real, raw and emotional in teens that make the writing and reading journey that much more satisfying to me. I love the character growth and discovery, the way teens face obstacles and how these obstacles change and shape young adults and prepare them for adulthood. I love watching them discover who they are, what they want, and what they believe in.

I love the flaws, and they way teens struggle openly and honestly. They can make mistakes that adults can’t, and we can forgive them for it because we realize they are trying to find out who they really are. Also, writing YA is less restrictive and I can explore issues in YA that I can’t in adult books.

Did you do anything special to celebrate the release of your first book (happy dance, bake a cake, get a tattoo, etc)?

The day it releases I sat at my desk chewing my nails, hoping and praying readers would like it!

Anything to add?

Thanks so much for having me here today! I really appreciate you reading Pride’s Run and saying such nice things about the story! You Rock!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I can’t wait to check out Pride Unleashed later this month!

Buy: Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine. Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price. When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run. Pride soon learns if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt. With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers. Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first?

Giveaway

Cat is giving away one eCopy of Pride’s Run to one lucky commentor (international, please include your e-mail address with your comment)! Or, if you’re a resident of the US or Canada, fill-out the form bellow for a chance to win 1 of 2 tour-wide physical copies!

Good Luck!

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If you missed my review of Pride’s Run yesterday and this interview peaked your curiosity. You can check it out HERE.

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