Books By Jo Cattell

Books By Jo Cattell

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday "Autumn Wind"

He watched her brush out her hair and then get into bed with him.  She looked tired and really all he had wanted to do was hold her.  He remembered being a teenager and wishing for these moments, to lay in their bed with her and hold her in his arms.  He was looking forward in going away with them for a few days. To get away and reconnect with his little family.  “I love you, my beautiful angel.” He whispered running his hand down her body.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

My New Adoption Process

In October of 2005 my husband daughter and I started an incredible journey. Our paperwork reached China on August 14, 2006.  Three years later on September 11, 2008 we flew to China and after 2 ½ weeks we brought home our baby girl.  At the time we started our adoption we were told it would or could take about 12 to 18 months.  If you do the math, it didn’t take what they said and if all reality if we would have waited and not chosen our daughter from a Special Needs list (Minor special need that put her on this list mind you) we would have just gotten our referral for our non-special needs baby.  Actually China reached out date in January. So as you can see it took a lot longer than 12- 18 months.

Soo why did I bring this info up.  It is simple really.  I decided to take the easy way out so to speak and get my name out there when I decided to choose a company to publish my book.  I called this post live and learn.  It is about what questions I failed to ask and the reality of what is now happening.  Before I go further, in no way am I going to blast or rant in this post, merely just give someone else who decides to go this way questions you should keep in mind.  I will do this all along this process so if you’re going to take notes on my blind leap start in a few minutes.

I got an email from my publisher this week which gave me the prospective release date.  Imagine my surprise when it is slated for June 2013.  I cried.  Called and got the answer I didn’t want to hear.  75% of the book had to be paid off before they will release it.  Mind you I did ask but if the book would still be published while I was paying my monthly payments and was told yes.  *****Note time***** I should have asked how much of the book needed to be paid before it was released.  It’s done now, I can’t change it unless I suddenly win the lottery (as she put it, ha ha) and can pay it off sooner.  My publisher was trying to cheer me up at the time and was trying to help me get through the process faster. If I was a bitter person I would have freaked, but I was just devastated at the time so oh well.

I have chalked this up to “You Live and Learn”

Okay so why did I mention my adoption process, I feel like I have started it again.  I spent a year doing the paper work, dotting the “I”s crossing the “T”s so to speak.  Making sure it was perfect and sent it in. (In the adoption world-making your dossier) (In the writing world-writing my MS).  In both worlds it is the hurry up and wait thing I have come to love soo much! (Can you see the sarcasm here?)  The only plus side to this part of my new “adoption process” is that along the way, I will get pictures of my “Baby” (proof pages) along the way.  With my daughter we got her picture in our referral and then I was lucky to get 5 new pictures of her 2 months before we left.

So June 2013 is 15 months away, and I will go through the same emotions I went through with my Mei Mei, in the end, I will be the proud owner of my first published novel who I have lovely named “Summer Rain”.  And I will hold it in my arms and cry and think “God, this was so worth the wait.”  But right now….Waiting…..SUCKS!

Peace, Love, Hope, & WAITING~JC
                                           What my first Adoption brought me then and now

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday "Autumn Wind"

Instead of the normal dry expressions and look, there was life.  The girl’s cheeks were rosy and their expressions were playful.  He sneered and looked at Kevin. Straighten his back and shaking what little hair he had left. “Tomorrow, 1 pm to review your shots and conclude the interview.” He snapped, and then clicking his heels like something out of the Wizard of Oz, he clicked out of the room in a huff.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Getting back to work...


Okay since “Summer Rain” is out of my hands so to speak, it is time to get back to my new WIP “Autumn Wind” which is the next book in the series. I spent last night rereading what I had and new ideas came to play.  I’m really excited to get back to work now.  As you may notice I have also been working on my blog, still trying to get it to where I want it to be.  Not sure if I am keeping it this way but for now it will do. 
It’s funny how when I was writing “Summer Rain” I had sort of a soundtrack for it that I would play as I wrote.  True to form I’m doing it again with “Autumn Wind” which leads me to wonder, do other authors have soundtracks to their books while they write?  It’s funny as I sit here and put my ear buds in, turn on the old iPod and get to work.  I drowned out the noise around me and the idea’s flow.  The only time I find that it really doesn’t help was with my editing. I need to concentrate there and it just doesn’t let me.
 So I decided to put down just a few of the songs that make up my Autumn Wind soundtrack, I would love to hear from anyone else what they listen to as they write or create.
So here is some of my “Autumn Wind” Soundtrack:
This love This heart~Phil Collins
Miss You Nights~Rick Springfield
It will Rain~Bruno Mars
Stronger (Back on the ground)~Nick Jonas
All That You Are~Goo Goo Dolls
Black Keys~Jonas Brothers
I Won’t Give Up~Jason Mraz  (but that is pretty much a given since I wrote a blog post on it)

Just a few that I listen to the whole playlist has like 78 tracks on it.  It really helps get me into the mood I need to be in for the scenes I am working on.  Hope to see some comments and here what everyone else is listening too.  But for now…
Peace, Love, & Hope~JC

Monday, February 13, 2012

Publishing News

Update time…….
So I have been very busy lately working out the last of the kinks to “Summer Rain” and I’m very happy to say that……I have a publisher.  I’m going to go the route of self-publishing threw a company that I feel very good about.  Now comes the fun part, so to speak.  I’m doing last minute changes, (test readers and friends that have read it done kill me) and edits so that it is just right.  I am hoping that it will be available in paperback and e-edition by September.  I’m really excited about this part of my life, because this has been something I never thought I was good enough to do.  This story just poured out of me at a time I was at one of my lowest points.  You’ll see why when you read the dedication. Honestly, the only dream I really have about this whole thing is being able to sign a book and maybe a few fan letters.  The funny thing is my family and some of my friends keep talking about it being turned into a movie for Lifetime, yeah that would be great, but I’m not going to hold my breath.  I think every author wants a book like that.  Does Summer Rain have that potential for that, who knows.  I just want to put it out there and share a story that came from my heart. 
I will say, for me, this book is away for my niece to live on even though she never had the chance.  In Chloe, I see my sweet little Chloe girl not in the life she had, but in a world I created for her.  I guess in a way you can say she has been my MUSE in this book and when it is finally done and I see it in paperback, I can finally let her go and see her little angel fly free and have the closer I need. 
So here we go on the roller coaster ride….kept checking back to see how things are going.
Peace, Love, & Hope~JC
                                                                  Sweet Angel Chloe

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday "Summer Rain"

 “Last night, when you first kissed me, it wasn’t only our first kiss, it was mine.  I know that sounds silly but it was.”
  He was taken aback by that.  “Um, okay, that’s for telling me that now and not before last night because that would have put a lot of pressure on me. It still has kind of.” He laughed and thought about it.  “How was it?”
  She giggled and then got serious.  “It was okay.” She teased him.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Death By Chocolate Blog Tour, Stop 2

Hello All and welcome to the second day of the “Death By Chocolate” Blog tour!
I was so honored to be asked to review this book and happy to finally be able to tell you all about it.  I will say that when you sit yourself down to read this, make sure you have a box of chocolates with you, because you will be craving chocolate by the time you finish! It was an amazing book and I really could not put it down once I started reading.  And I can’t really say which one was my favorite because they all were in different ways.

First and foremost I’m giving it a 5 star review because it really kept my attention with each story.  You ladies did an awesome job putting this book together!  My 14 yr old even read it over my shoulder and she loved it and told her friend to look for it when it comes out.  So let’s begin…..

Back in Time by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

This story reminded me of that movie Mr. Destiny.  While I read it the one thought that occurred was who wouldn’t want to go back and have a do over?  As the story begins we meet Aurelia Lemon, who is not happy with the way her lie had turned out.  She meets a homeless man who offers her a cell phone but also a change to go back and do it again and make changes to see if her life could have been different.  I loved the twist about her former boyfriend and how in changing her life she changed his too.  Great story with a really fun ending.  PS, I so want that cupcake now!

Sweet Witchery by Cheryl J. Carvajal

If you ever thought chocolate was magic, then you really will love this story.  When a strange old woman opens a sweet shop in a small village, miracles start to happen for everyone but Catalena Kristova.  It seems nothing can help her to escape from her arranged marriage.  Not even the man she truly loves.  I liked this story because it shows how far a woman will go to prove her independence.  It also shows that you need to be careful what you wish for.   So if a strange sweet shop opens up by you, check it out and see what magic it will hold for you.

Spellbound by Nikki Jefford

I have to say after the first paragraph it really hooked me.  The twist and turns this story took were really intense and kept me on my toes.  This one story I couldn’t put down and started reading at 1:30 in the morning.  In this story we meet twin witches Graylee and Charlene Perez.  Charlene is on a mission to get back the boyfriend she lost and Graylee interrupts her plan.  A really poignant ending.  It just goes to show you don’t cross a witch even if that witch is your sister.  If I had to pick a top three, this one would be in it.

Bloody Valentine by Lucy Swing

What can I say about this story, but WOW!  Lucy Swing is becoming one of my new favorite authors.  This story starts out in a dream and just keeps it coming.  Another ending I didn’t see coming but was awesome, love how she kept me guessing the outcome. Here we meet Bailey; whose dreams are haunting her and get even stranger as girls from school start to disappear.  Love how the characters in the story turned out to be not who you thought they were. Be prepared to the twist at the end. Another one of my top 3 stories.


Sweet Torture by Kira Saito

If you are ready for a chocolate over dose, this is the story for you.  Meet Claudia, a girl with an unhealthy addition to chocolate. We have all been this girl, the minion to the popular girl who is so stuck on herself.  Had the crush on the popular boy and just wanted to be looked at for who you are. And then when you become a blunt of the joke who hasn’t wanted to get their revenge. It had me craving hot chocolate and Belgian waffles.  I love this story because not only does she get her sweet revenge she also learns to control herself on her over doses of chocolate.  Another one I would put in the top three of this book.

The Girl with Three Heads by Suz Korb 

And last but not least was “The girl with Three heads”  New we meet Kate who takes up to s mythical battle and introduces up to her two other heads, which happen to be Greek Gods.  Along the way we are at Mt Olympus and also to Hades land. It’s the epic battle of good and evil.  Really funny and kept me on my toes.  Another really great story.  Loved the Death By Chocolate cake idea the girls came up with.  If only she could control the other two heads and keep them out of hers. 

So that’s it, Death by Chocolate is a great book to curl up with on those nights you just want to indulge yourself in a little paranormal and most of all every girls favorite, Chocolate.  Happy reading all.

Peace, love, Hope~JC

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday #Summer Rain

      She took a deep breath and slowly turned the knob.  The room was dark except for what little light could come through the closed shade. You could see the dust dancing around in the sun light disturbed by the breeze the opening of the door made. Hesitating she turned on the light and for the first time in years saw the room the way it had been just before her mother died.  There were a few boxes scattered around the room, and the bed was still covered by the quilted blanket her mother had always placed on it.  It felt cold and still, like the ghost of her mother was there waiting and knew the changes that were about to come.