I’m super excited to have Kate Meader stopping by the blog today. If you haven’t read her before, I suggest that you don’t read her books, while you’re drinking anything. My tablets have been sprayed with drinks far too many times. Her stories are funny and at times a little emotional.
Hi Kate. Welcome back to Read Your Writes Book Reviews. I’m SO excited you could stop by today.
And I’m SO excited to be here. Thanks for having me, Kim.
(Squealing) Okay. (Composing myself) Let’ get to the questions. How do you write your books? Do you start in the middle or end or do you write down scenes and then try to figure out how to put them all together?
I’m not a plotter but I’m trying to be better. I usually know a little bit about the characters and the set up (enemies-to-lovers, workplace dynamic, meet-awkward, etc.). Sometimes, if it’s part of a series, a later book will be pretty clear by the time I get to it. But for the most part, I write a really rough beginning, then about 30K words in, a moment occurs where I figure out who the characters are and where they’re going. If I don’t get that moment (agh!), then I write scenes I know I want to happen later. I don’t really have a problem with writing out of order because everything good happens in the rewrite. As long as I have two characters and a conflict, I can make the magic happen!
How do you handle writer’s block?
Mope. Eat chocolate. Procrastinate. Mope some more. Generally, I just write another scene later in the book. Sometimes I’ll know how I want a book to end, so I’ll start writing that and it triggers something in how the characters are supposed to get there. No time to wait for that muse, she must be dragged in kicking and screaming!
Lol. If I’m not mistaken, you have a full time non-writing job. When and where you do you find time to write?
I do! I’m a librarian, which I love but working full-time does make it difficult to find the time to write. Usually I try to work on promo stuff during my lunch hour and once I’m home and fed, it’s bye bye husband, and off to my home office to put in 3-4 hours. On the weekends, I usually spend 8 hours writing on Saturday and try to leave Sundays free to spend with my guy. He’s super supportive of my writing, but does feel neglected on occasion.
Flirting with Fire marks the official beginning of your new Hot in Chicago series. Beck Rivera and Darcy Cochrane had their story told in the Christmas anthology, Baby, It's Cold Outside. What can readers expect from this series?
Like my previous series, Hot in the Kitchen, this will be a very family-focused affair, except this time we have a family linked as foster siblings. The Dempseys are not blood-related but were fostered by Mary and Sean Dempsey, and they’ve all followed in Sean’s footsteps and become firefighters. Sean’s mantra was: fire is stronger than blood, and defend the people you love until the last ember. And each of the Dempseys lives that every day, with family and on the job. Of course, there’s the usual family dynamics where these people you love are also the people who know which of your buttons to push. And they’re also a funny, sexy bunch!
Tell us a little about Kinsey Taylor and Luke Almeida.
Kinsey is a woman who’s the consummate professional and since being dumped by her fiancé, she’s been feeling a touch fragile. All she wants to do is lose herself in her job and she’s not going to take any flak from a Neanderthal streetfighting fireman! “Compromise” is off the table—from here on out, she’s thinking of her own needs. Luke’s been burned by love also, but the bond he feels with his family has been the balm that gets him through. He’s ready to commit again but a woman like Kinsey – too bossy, opinionated, and career-focused – is not what he has in mind. But what feels good as a rebound starts to feel right as the real thing…
What makes their relationship complicated?
They’ve both vowed they’re looking for something else in their ideal mate. Luke wants easy and uncomplicated, a woman who likes kids and puppies. Kinsey wants a guy who respects her and all her professional goals, and won’t make her play the supporting role in their relationship. She compromised for a guy before and thinks, never again, but she realizes that she might have to give a little to gain a lot.
Gage Simpson aka Baby Thor has some time in this book. I have to say, I'm loving this guy. How was it writing your first M/M romance?
It was awesome! Having Gage and his guy as a secondary romance meant I could get my toes wet in the M/M genre and not have to worry too much about if they could support an entire book. As it stands, Gage’s story will arc over the three full-length books that are planned right now. P.S. Gage is my favorite character, but I also have a soft spot for stoic Wyatt.
Ugh. I have to wait a year for Gage to get his HEA? (Heavy sigh) Oh Wyatt! He definitely has a story I want to get my hands on. Wait, did that come out right? I don't want to give a lot away about the book, but Gage has a love interest. The object of Gage's attraction is a man of very few words. What makes their relationship complicated?
Gage is a cocky guy, all swagger, and used to getting anyone he wants. So when he meets Brady, a guy who refuses to fall at his feet, he doesn’t get it. There’s a bit of cat-and-mouse about their relationship and Gage is not used to playing games. Gage Simpson does not chase guys down! It’s going to take more than the promise of mind-blowing sex to win over Brady.
What’s next for you?
I’ve just turned in Book 2 in the Hot in Chicago series, PLAYING WITH FIRE, which features Eli Cooper, Chicago mayor and all-round asshat, and Alex Dempsey, the only female Dempsey with a hot temper. These two really challenge each other and it makes for great banter and even better sexytimes. I also have a Brazen book about a tortured Texan tycoon coming out this summer from Entangled. So plenty of work to keep my busy—and keep my husband grumbling about neglect. (smiles)
Eli and Alex’s story is going to be interesting. Of course you know I’m an Entangled Bliss fan. I’ll be waiting on pins and needles to read the books. Thank you so much Kate for taking the time with talk me.
Thank you for all your support, Kim. It was great talking to you.
But that all changes when she meets Luke Almeida, a firefighter as searingly sexy as he is quick-tempered. He’s also the second oldest of the Firefightin’ Dempseys, a family of foster siblings who have committed their lives to the service—if Luke’s antics don’t get him fired first. When Luke goes one step too far and gets into a bar brawl with the Chicago Police Department, Kinsey marches into Luke’s firehouse and lays down the law on orders from the mayor. But at Engine Co. 6, Luke Almeida is the law. And he’s not about to let Kinsey make the rules.
Purchase Flirting with Fire from:
The Hot in Chicago Series:
Places to find Kate Meader:
To celebrate the release of Flirting with Fire, Kate has a couple of awesome giveaways.
For US residents only, she’s offering up:
- A Chicago Fire Department t-shirt
- A Chicago mug and stickers
- Books by Jennifer Probst, Christina Lauren, Beck Anderson, Melody Anne, Kristen Proby, Emma Chase, and J.S. Cooper
- A signed-by-all-the-authors copy of BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE, the awesome holiday anthology containing the prequel novella to the Hot in Chicago series, REKINDLE THE FLAME (Beck and Darcy’s story)
- A $25 Amazon gift card
For International Readers, she’s offering up:
A separate giveaway for an ebook of the BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE anthology and an Amazon gift card for international readers only. Ends 3/29/2015.
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