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| Catherine and her Ohana |
I met Catherine Mann at the RT Booklovers' Convention in Orlando/2009. There was an instant bond as we are both Air Force spouses. Whereas I have a few awards from my military service, Catherine has may awards from her writing career:
USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann resides on a sunny Florida beach with her military flyboy husband and their four children. Although after nine moves in twenty years, she hasn’t given away her winter gear! Now a RITA Award winner, Catherine writes action-packed military suspense for Berkley and Sourcebooks, and steamy romances for Silhouette Desire. With over two million books in print in more than twenty countries, she has also celebrated five RITA finals, three Maggie Award of Excellence finals and a Bookseller’s Best win. A former theater school director and university teacher, she holds a Master’s degree in Theater from UNC-Greensboro and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (with minors in both English and Education) from the College of Charleston.
In the true spirit of the military ohana (family), Catherine writes about a wide variety of military heroes. This summer, Catherine celebrates the release of COVER ME:
It should have been a simple mission… Pararescueman Wade Rocha parachutes from the back of a helicopter into a blizzard to save a climber stranded on an Aleutian Island, but Sunny Foster insists she can take care of herself just fine…
But when it comes to passion, nothing is ever simple… With the snowstorm kicking into overdrive, Sunny and Wade hunker down in a cave and barely resist the urge to keep each other warm… until they discover the frozen remains of a horrific crime…
Unable to trust the shady local police, Sunny and Wade investigate, while their irresistible passion for each other gets them more and more dangerously entangled…
Catherine and her family also "entangle" themselves with the Humane Society,
" ... having fostered more than forty puppies and special needs dogs over the years. To see photos of her fosters and other news, check out her Facebook page."
Catherine is also a cosponsor of this year's SOS Military Mixer even though she is unable to attend the RT Booklovers' Convention. I'll just save my bear hug for when I see her at RWA in NYC!
Wingman Warriors Backlist
In honor of Catherine's commitment to her community, I am giving away one of Catherine's books from the SOS Military Mixer to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about a favorite pet - cat, dog, fish, bird, or exotic animal. Would you move it around the world with you if you were a military veteran and/or spouse?
2. This giveaway is open to US residents only (international readers can request convention bling at COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION).
3. comments are open through Saturday, April 2, 10 pm in Hawaii, to enter the giveaway. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 3, during the Weekly Winners announcement post. I also contact the winner if I have winner's email address.
4. If you are new to SOS Aloha, please make sure I know how to contact you. If your Blogger profile does not provide your email address, please send it to sos.aloha@yahoo.com. (I have several unclaimed prizes because I do know how to contact the winner).
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
Make sure you stop by COUNTDOWN TO CONVENTION to see how you can help me (questions for authors) and what I can get you (RT magazine, bookmarks, and trading cards).
My favorites - the Dark Ops series
(check out Catherine's website for all her hot covers!)
Lovely post thank you for sharing I adore her books they are always so fasinating !
ReplyDeleteTake Care
Desere
I'm a Catherine Mannn fan and I have read all of her books. Can't wait to read her new one.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite pet my cats -- sorry I can't just pick one of them and I would take them with me around the world if I had too. They each have their own personality.
Hi Kim! Thank you so much for featuring me on the blog today!! Cool!! I was thinking about you yesterday when I was talking with a military wife in my neighborhood. We were chatting about that instant kindred spirit bond military spouses get when we start chatting .... so many things in common.... :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing you in NYC this summer!! XXOO!
Desere and Danielle - Thank you so much for picking up my books! What a great way to start off my writing day seeing your comments here. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the topic of taking our pets with us, oh my, I would be a mess having to pick just one to go with me. Plus, they are so bonded to each other they would grieve being separated. We had a time we lived in temporary housing for four months and couldn't have our pets (a dog and cat.) My inlaws kept them for us. Hurricane Ivan hit a week after we moved into our house so it was another two months before we could get the animals. It helped having a family member watch them for that length of time.
BTW, as Kim mentioned, I volunteer with the Humane Society and there's a real problem with deployed military having to surrender their pets because they can't find anyone to watch them for a year. We have a doggy day care near where I live that has started offering deployed rates for boarding - the dogs don't stay in kennels - it's a doggy day care in a home on a large plot of land. I wish there were more places like that!!
Who's the West Pointer in your photo? I'm Class of '89. Although, if I squint, the buttons on his uniform look like they might be flat, which means he could be a Citadel cadet? Do tell. And Beat Navy, either way.
ReplyDeleteHi Caro - That's my oldest son in the photo - with me and my hubby. Son and hubby are Citadel grads, just like many others in my family. Younger son is heading to the Coast Guard Academy this summer. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the Dark Ops series, too. Gage is a favorite. I didn't have pets growing up, but I imagine I would try to take my pet with me if we had to move.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite pet is my cat, blackie and I would take him anywhere!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed that Catherine supports her husband's career, raises 4 children, volunteers with the Humane society and writes best selling books!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl!
Ann
Jane - Thanks for the cheers for Jimmy Gage!! I love ot hear when a hero of mine snags a reader's heart. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJohanna - Your cat is surely blessed to have someone adore him as much as you obviously do! Wish all pet owners were as committed!
Ann - XXXOOO Thank you!! XXXOO!! I appreciate the compliment! I have a great family - they all really pitch in to help and work together. And my hubby is every bit as supportive of my career as I hope I've been of his. I'm a lucky lady!!
Thanks for stopping by to comment!!
I had a female Yorkshire Terrier-Lady Cinnamon Swirl. I lost her to kidney failure about 2 years ago. She was 15 years old.
ReplyDeleteOf course I would have moved her around the world with me.
I'm a huge Catherine Mann fan, haven't read them all but close.
ReplyDeleteAs for pets - I am now down to 3 cats (had 5 but the two oldest died within a week of each other several years ago. The vet said the second one missed his littermate). ::using tissue to wipe eyes:: The ones I have now were all adopted from shelters, and from people that had to give them up. It broke my heart to be honest - to find out that these woderful animals had to leave their homes and loved ones, so I took them home with me, I couldn't give them up.
Suzie, our 17-year-old mixed-breed dog, is an integral part of the family. She had been abused and abandoned when we adopted her 16 years ago. Now, I can’t imagine life without my happy Suzie. I’d bring her with us anywhere we had to go! Thanks for sponsoring the giveaway. (Email in profile.)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teenager we had a Himilayan cat, Sylvester. That cat went everywhere with us, on all our family vacations. At rest stops we put him on a leash and walked him.
ReplyDeleteI currently don't have a pet and never grew up with any "real" pets (dang allergies!) but I did have an aquarium. It would be a little difficult to take along with me if I had a military spouse -- which I don't -- but if it was possible to carry an 8-gallon-tank with facility, I'd do it in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Great interview Kim, I have not Read any of Cathrine's books I will have to give her a try they do sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful but Silly Dog growing up ... Can dogs be Dyslexic ?
He was very protective of me would wait at the bottom of street when I went &came home from school.
Have a good one Ladies.
Ann/alba
I grew up with a dog and many other pets. It'd be really complicated what with quarantine laws to move abroad with pets (dogs or even fish). Still, the dog was an integral part of the family. When I ended up being allergic to the dog, my brother stated his preference that they get rid of me instead of the dog (we both stayed).
ReplyDeleteCatherine, the covers of your books are stunning :D
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to beautiful, wonderful dogs that I would never leave behind.
Estella - Hugs on the loss of your yorkie! We lost our beagle Trooper two years ago this month and I still find myself calling for him. Pets sure are a special part of the family.
ReplyDeleteTammy, how wonderful that you've given the cats such a loving home and second chance at having a full life!!
LSUReader - 17 years!! Wow! That's awesome - and how truly wonderful that you showed Suzie how humans CAN be trusted!!!
Jill, what a cute image of your family walking the cat at rest stops - love it!
Stephanie, hugs to you on the allergies!! My sister's family deals with that. My niece adores her fish LaLa (given to her by Aunt Cathy ;)
Alba, how special to have your dog waiting for you after school each day - that brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful childhood memory to have!
Sheree, I had to giggle over what your brother said! I have two sons and two daughters and I can so imagine the same sort of conversation going on here!
Casey, thank you for the kudos on my covers - My publishers' art departments deserve all the credit. I have truly been blessed by their great work!!
Thanks again, Kim, for having me here today!! It's been a blast!!
I have 2 cats, both rescues, and they have already crossed state lines with me once. And would of course need to go with me wherever I ended up. They are both large cats, one is pretty sure hes part dog and both are pretty rotten.
ReplyDeleteI just finished her 3 Dark Ops books, so please dont enter me. But I have to say I highly highly recommend them to anyone that loves romantic suspense.
love Catherine's books. Our dog Lily has been with us for 12 years...still going strong. I wouldn't let her go for anything in the world.
ReplyDeleteI love your books! My favorite pet was my dog Jessie, he got cancer when I was a child so we had to put him down.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - LOL about your large cat (who thinks he's a dog!) Is he a Maine Coon cat? Those are HUGE! And gorgeous. :) Thanks for the cheers for my "Dark Ops" novels - so very happy to know you enjoyed them!
ReplyDeleteIzzy - Thank you!! XXOO! Give Izzy an extra belly rub from me.
Heather - So glad you enjoy my books - thanks!! And hugs over losing your pet as a child. Your note made me think of my cat Muffin than died when I was in the first grade.
Wow, there sure are a lot of pet memories posted here today. Warms my heart as I sit on the sofa with my laptop, my cat and two dogs!!
I had a puppy growing up...well shes not a puppy now but my parents have her ever since I started going to PSU...and of course I would take her with me!
ReplyDeleteI have two dogs & two cats. All are rescues and a big part of my life. I love them all and would take them with me anywhere.
ReplyDeletemarieimy (at) gmail (dot) com
I have a cat that I would take with me. She is quite the talker. JodiT
ReplyDeleteNo pets...=( always wanted a puppy or a kitten or something cute which I would both definitely take with my military spouse!
ReplyDeleteEmily - There's just something so sweet about puppy breath. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMariee - Yay! Love hearing great pet rescue stories!!
Jodi - LOL about your "talker" cat! Too cute! They do have the most interesting ways of vocalizing.
Jessica - I'm sure when the time is right, you'll have that special pet.
BTW, for those looking for a new pet, if you search a website called Petfinder.com then type in your zip code it will show you all the animal shelter and pet rescue animals available for adoption in your area. Even if you're looking for a particular breed, approx 25% of pets in shelters are purebreds.
Thanks again, Kim, for letting me share about my puppy fosters and about my books!!!!
I don't have any pets because two of the kids had allergies. But I had many growing up.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing about your Dark Ops books I have to check them out as well. Thanks for the post Catherine.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
Thank you, Carol L.!! Happy reading! :)
ReplyDelete