Last Friday was Military Spouses' Appreciation Day. Yesterday was Mother's Day. Today kicks off Military Appreciation Week. All three apply to Catherine Mann - writer, teacher, flyboy's spouse, and Coastie's mom.
Catherine joins me for a cozy chat to celebrate the release of UNDER FIRE - the third book in the ELITE FORCE series.
Kim: "After nine moves in twenty years" ... other than your current beachside locale, what was your favorite place to live? What would you have missed if you had not become a military spouse?
Catherine: We have fond memories from each place. But we absolutely loved living in Louisiana – Mardi Gras, the food, and most of all the people. We made amazing friends and memories during our four years my husband was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. As for what I would have missed most if our lives had taken a different path? I would have missed all the friends we made. To this day, we keep in touch with many of our military friends from around the world. While it’s exciting to live in new places, it’s the people that make anywhere special.
Kim: Where do you display your RITA award and other accolades?
Catherine: My RITA statue stays in my office and I have a few covers framed, hanging on the walls around the house. When we evacuated for Hurricane Ivan, one of my kids gave “RITA” her own seat in the car with a seatbelt.
Kim: I've enjoyed reading your current series, ELITE FORCE, with Pararescuemen (and animals). You deliver the military hero while still thinking outside the box. What inspired you to write about pararescuemen? What have learned through research about them?
Catherine: Wow! Thank you, Kim! Early in my days writing the Wingmen Warriors series, I had a heroine pilot who fell in love with a pararescueman. I was thrilled when Sourcebooks offered the opportunity to showcase these unsung heroes. The research on this career field is boundless. I learn new things every time I research a new plotline. The fact that still amazes me most? There are only approximately 350 pararescuemen. Talk about elite of the elite. That number is mind blowing to me.
Kim: Tell us about UNDER FIRE - what distinguishes the hero and heroine?
Catherine: Liam and Rachel’s story focuses on one of the most pervasive issues of military life – how to make relationships work given all the demands of the career. Liam is a three-time failure in the marriage department and Rachel lost her military fiancé. They have hefty hurdles to overcome in finding a happily ever after.
Kim: What's next for Catherine Mann?
Catherine: Thanks for asking! I have a wonderfully packed release schedule ahead, all with a military or secret agent hero.
“Dog Tags” in LOVE BITES, HQN, June 2012
AN INCONVENIENT AFFAIR, Harl Desire, Aug 2012
GUARDIAN, Berkley, September 2012
“Home for Christmas,” Harlequin, Nov 2012
ALL OR NOTHING, Harl Desire, Jan 2013
FREE FALL, Sourcebooks, March 2013
Mahalo, Catherine, for joining us at SOS Aloha! Elf reviewed UNDER FIRE and posted her review on her blog, THE READING ADDICT, at this link. Sourcebooks is giving away the entire ELITE FORCE series to one randomly selected commenter.
UNDER FIRE BY CATHERINE MANN – IN STORES MAY 2012
“Riveting action, to–die–for heroes!”—Suzanne Brockman, New York Times Bestselling Author
No Holds Barred, In Love or War...
A decorated hero, pararescueman Liam McCabe lives to serve. Six months ago, her and Rachel Flores met in the horrific aftermath of an earthquake in the Bahamas. They were tempted by an explosive attraction, but then they parted ways. Still, Liam has thought about Rachel every day—and night—since.
Now, after ignoring all his phone calls for six month, Rachel has turned up on base with a wild story about a high–ranking military traitor. She claims no one but Liam can help her—and she won't trust anyone else.
With nothing but her word and the testimony of a discharged military cop to go on, Liam would be insane to risk his career—even his life— to help a woman who left him in the dust.
"Catherine Mann is one of the hottest rising stars around!"—Lori Foster, New York Times Bestselling Author
USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann specializes in military romances and has over 45 books in print. Cathy has also won the RWA RITA© Award, the Bookseller's Best Award, and has finaled in The National's Reader's Choice Award, the RT Reviewer's Choice Award and many more. She lives in Florida with her husband, a combat veteran and an Air Force Colonel. For more information, visit:
www.catherinemann.com
www.sourcebooks.com
Follow on @CatherineMann1,
To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about which military service you have seen in action - in community events, humanitarian missions, etc.
If you have not seen them in action, what books, TV, or movies about the military have you enjoyed?
2. Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to US readers only. I will giveaway a copy of UNDER FIRE to one international reader.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, May 19, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 20.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
Check out this interview with a Pararescueman at this link.
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