Guest Blog- A Cat for Troy by Allie McCormack #PNR

 

There Is no one right way to write. Let me repeat that: THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE. If you want to write with pen and paper, or dictate into your phone, or peck at a manual typewriter, then do it if that’s what works for you. You may be a “plotter” who outlines your book then sits down to write it from start to finish; or you may be a “panters” who writes “ by the seat of your pants,” that is, you write scenes as they occur to you, regardless of their placement in the story, and connect everything in between as you go. You may need absolute quiet to write; you may do your best writing in a busy mall (hey, I do!). There is no right or wrong, there is only what is right for you… and don’t let anyone tell you different!

I’d suggest investing in a few good reference books. There are plenty out there, but if you need grounding in punctuation, for instance, or grammar, get a good grammar book. A good thesaurus is also a good investment, although thesaurus.com is my preferred go-to. Some of my favorite books are:

• The Emotional Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi

• Master Lists for Writers by Bryn Donovan

• Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami Cowden, Caro LaFever& Sue Viders

Don’t over-think things. Don’t get bogged down in trying to learn everything about the publishing industry at once. There’s plenty of time for that. First, you have to get your book written, because everything else hinges on having a finished manuscript. Keep in mind this: While writing is an art form, publishing is a professional industry. When you get to the point where you are looking at publication, whether you’re talking agent and traditional publishing, or self publishing, you have to approach it as a professional. But again.. time enough for that later. Write!

Critique partners versus beta readers. In the early stages, what you want is a critique partner; someone who will read your work as it’s in progress and give you feedback. Usually you swap chapters at a time. A beta reader comes after you have finished your manuscript, and revised and polished it, until you *think* it’s about ready. Then you send it to beta readers, who read it with an eye to content, characterization, plot continuity. They are usually volunteers, and it’s a good idea to have them be readers of the genre in which you’re writing.

All other advice aside, it always comes back to this: Just write. There’s no easy way, it doesn’t happen on its own. So sit down and start writing!

A Cat for Troy

Wishes and Dreams 

Book Three

Allie McCormack

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication:  March 4, 2021

ISBN: 9798580580678

ASIN: B08P2SMY52 

Number of pages: 400 

Word Count: 107,000

Cover Artist:  Dar Albert

Tagline:  Troy’s new roommate was loving, demanding ,possessive, sometimes even bad tempered. But he loved her anyway. After all, she was just a cat. Wasn’t she?

Book Description:  

Veterinarian Troy Shelton has no idea what he's letting himself in for when he rescues a friend's cat from the shelter after a dog attack. The friendly but demanding calico soon has Troy and his pregnant collie wrapped around her furry paw. But strange things begin happening in Troy's home when he’s away, and he could almost think someone else was living there besides him.

Torn and hurting, Katerina appreciates Troy's gentle care. She also appreciates his strong form and handsome face as much as the way he cuddles her. She's trapped in her cat form until her wounds heal, but once she's well again she finds herself oddly reluctant to resume her human form and life away from Troy. But someone else is interested in Troy, and that someone else has already tried to kill Cat once.

Amazon

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/8gcUrz7YLPQ

EXCERPT #2

Troy paused, standing stock still, watching in amazement as Cherie greeted Katerina with the enthusiasm of an old friend, her whole hind end wagging along with her plumed tail.

“Well, I’ll be darned.”

Katerina leaned down to pet the collie’s head. Cherie took advantage of the moment, and swiped at Katerina’s cheek with her tongue.

Oh, yuck! She’d swear Cherie was grinning at her. She was so going to get that dog.

“That’s amazing,” Troy told her. “I never saw Cherie take to someone so quickly.”

Katerina hid a smile, fondling the collie. “She knows an animal person when she sees one, don’t you, Cherie?”

Jacinth seemed to be having spasms in the background, and as Troy turned away to unlatch the door of the horse trailer, Katerina crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the unrepentant Djinn.

Benny came bouncing up to them, wide-eyed with excitement.

“Hi, Miss Kat,” he said respectfully.

He then stood staring at her until she sighed, leaning down close to the boy's ear.

“Stop that,” she whispered. “Or I’ll sharpen my claws on your pool raft next time I’m at your house.”

His eyes rounded, impressed at the awesomeness of the threat. “Would you really?”

Katerina ruffled his hair. “No, but you have to be good and keep my secret, okay?”

“Yeah, I know. I won’t tell anyone, Miss Kat. I promise.”

“There’s a good boy. Now, Troy’s got the ramp down, why don’t you go help get Ladybug out of the trailer?”

“Oh, yeah!” He ran off.

A small hand slipped into Katerina’s. Surprised, she looked down to see Molly at her side.

“Well, hi, sweetie,” she said.

“I like you,” Molly announced, the innocent blue eyes solemn as she gazed at Katerina.

“Umm... thank you.” Katerina looked at the little girl helplessly. She’d never had anything to do with children before, except in her cat form. And then she’d never had to do anything but let them pet her, and purr.

“Up?” Molly lifted chubby little arms.

“Sure.” She bent down, and the arms wound themselves around her neck, and a somewhat wet kiss was placed on her cheek as she straightened, the little girl carefully balanced on one hip. “Shall we go see them put Firefly and Ladybug in their new home?”

“Uh-huh. I’m going to ride Ladybug.”

“Are you? How nice. Not today, I hope.”

“No. She’s too little,” Molly informed her. “I have to wait til she grows up.”

About the Author:

A former career medical transcriptionist and disabled Veteran, Allie McCormack is now writing from home full-time. Allie has traveled quite a bit and lived many places all over the U.S., and also a year in Cairo, Egypt as an exchange student, and a year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia under contract to a hospital there, plus a short stint with NATO while she was in the Army. Allie now lives in the beautiful southern California with her family and her two rescue cats.

Allie says: "A writer is who and what I am... a romance writer. I write what I know, and what I know is romance. Dozens of story lines and literally hundreds of characters live and breathe within the not-so-narrow confines of my imagination, and it is my joy and privilege to bring them to life, to share them with others by writing their stories." 

Website: http://www.alliemccormack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllieMcCormackK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllieMcCormackK

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/alliemccormack

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