Regular readers of the Magical Cats mysteries have learned that Kathleen Paulson’s parents are actors. Kathleen’s mother, Thea, has a devoted fan base thanks to her appearances on the fictional daytime drama the Wild and the Wonderful, while her father, John’s dancing raisin commercial has become a cult classic. In THE CATS CAME BACK, Kathleen learns that singer Emme Finley, who is in town for the Wild Rose summer music festival, has a connection to Thea. They were both in the musical, Mamma Mia. I confess that I have a soft spot for movie musicals, which, in part, is why I decided Thea had to have acted in at least one. So here in no particular order, and subject to change at any time, are my top ten movie musicals. Mamma Mia. I can sing all the songs. And Meryl Streep. (What else is there to say?) Singing in the Rain Gene Kelly dancing in the rain. Magical. The Sound of Music I know this one is a little dated but it has Julie Andrews whom I’ve loved since Mary Poppins. And Do-Ra-Mi is so much fun to sing. (Kathleen and Hercules are both fans, too.) West Side Story In…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Erin Nicholas. Writes:  Playfully sexy, fun and flirty contemporary romance with heroes who are laid-back, dirty-talking charmers, heroines who know exactly how to handle them (and wrap them around their little fingers), and secondary characters that often threaten to steal the scene. Going Down Easy is the first of a hot new series set in New Orleans and will be melting e-readers on August 28th. About: Hopeless romantic who uses naughty words (in her writing and real life) seeking other avid readers who are okay with that and who love a dirty-talking hero with a sexy, southern drawl and a panty-melting grin and who want to see him fall absolutely head over heels for a woman who   …well, also loves all of that but has some pretty high walls for him to bring down before she’ll let him too close. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Someone who finds single dads especially sexy. Someone who has had, or is atleast willing…

WRITES: Strong women, in first person present tense so that you are in their head the whole time life is unfolding. Romantic suspense with high heat level and a lot of action to pump up the intensity, in and out of the bedroom. ABOUT AUTHOR: Born in Poland, but growing up in Canada, Hannah moved to Southern California to pursue her love of single-engine airplanes. Hard Trigger is an action-packed adventure with a female James Bond–type character that is sexy, savvy, intense, and unapologetic. S.L. Hannah lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband, her garden of succulents, and her feisty little dog-boss. When she’s not writing fiction, she continues to solve the aviation problems of the world. WHAT IM LOOKING FOR IN MY IDEAL READER MATCH: A reader that is not looking for a “typical” romance. My relationships are complex and my heroes have issues that I dare explore and day jobs that I am often uncomfortable exploring. Loves James Bond and has always wondered why there was never a Jane Bond… WHAT TO EXPECT IF COMPATIBLE: A telenovela-style pacing that is full of twists and turns and hot sex. A heroine that is complex and doesn’t “need” a man. An author that will always push…

Hands down one of the most romantic places on earth is a rocky coastal shore or the never-ending line of a sandy beach with white capped ocean waves as far as the eye can see. Add in a sexy as sin hero, working to win over the woman of his dreams, and you have the makings of a happy ever after that will stick with you long after…well…the after. Not that you need convincing, but just in case you haven’t pondered it, here are my 5 top reasons for dallying in a seaside romance! The call of seagulls. The song of these birds has always been an iconic coastal melody for me. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about the sound, but their call leaves me feeling renewed, content, and full of wonder. A feeling of hope and curiosity about what is around the next bend, a feeling that each new day will be filled once again with beauty. I know, I know…it sounds a bit hopelessly romantic, but these are my 5 top reasons. So hopelessly romantic is what you get. Romantic walks along the rocky cliffs. I would say midnight walks…like you might think on…

Conventional wisdom tells storytellers to write what we know. I prefer to write what I want to know more about. For fiction to be compelling, it must be grounded in fact. Since I spend about 50 percent of my writer’s life doing research, I’d prefer to invest that time in learning about things that interest me. That was part of the impetus behind my Sister Lou Mystery cozy mystery series featuring a Catholic sister as the amateur sleuth. [Note: She’s a sister, not a nun. Sisters work in and with the community whereas nuns are cloistered.] I was born and raised Catholic, which means there are things that I know that I don’t understand. There are things that I do, but don’t know why I do them. And I can’t help thinking there are things I should know and should do, but am ignorant of. Writing my Sister Lou Mystery series gives me an outlet for my research into Catholicism. This research is embodied in my amateur sleuth heroine, 63-year-old Sister Louise “Lou” LaSalle. She’s a Catholic sister with a doctorate in Philosophy who left higher education to serve as a member of the congregation’s leadership team. My Sister Lou…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with Allison B. Collins, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. In FALLING FOR THE REBEL COWBOY, Wyatt Sullivan falls big time for New York heiress Francine Wentworth and her adorable four-year-old son, and finds that a family might just be possible after all. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? Hunter Sullivan, from my Cowboys to Grooms series. He has been the most fun to write. He’s a charmer, a jokester, and loves his family. Oh, and the fact that he looks just like Jensen Ackles (Dean on Supernatural!) doesn’t hurt. Hunter loves pie, so I’d bake him his favorite, cherry pie, then just sit and talk with him under the Montana stars. What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? The possibilities, getting to try out the best way to torture my characters…and then…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with Jess Bryant, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. A Modern Day M/M Cinderella Story. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? I’d like to meet Zoey from UNBREAKABLE BOND. I want to hear in her own words what it was like growing up knowing about the supernatural but not being supernatural. What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? Time alone. Once I get to thinking, I can’t shut my brain off, but being in a large group of people is impossible. I need to shut myself away and just bask in it. Which part of Readers & ‘ritas are you most excited about?  Getting to meet readers! I can’t wait to host a lunch or dinner table and give away all the goodies I have in store. We’re all romantics here, so…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with Nicola Cameron, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. BEHIND THE IRON CROSS (coming soon): In 1925 Berlin, an American heiress, a frustrated songwriter, and a German army officer will have their lives changed when they meet at a decadent nightclub. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? I’d probably want to hang out with Lily Nayar from TO MY MUSE because she’s hilarious and we could trade tech writing nightmare stories over Starbucks. What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? Any sort of crafting helps me with brainstorming a new story—making sterling silver jewelry has actually become part of my writing process. Which part of Readers & ‘ritas are you most excited about?  Meeting and having a ball with all the attendees—I can’t pick just one event! We’re all romantics here, so…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with C.A. Szarek, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. HIGHLAND OATH: The doctor’s oath versus the Highlander’s vow. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? Oh Gosh, this is like picking your favorite kid! I feel like all of my characters draw me in some way, since they came to me in my head (they don’t like when I say I made them up, LOL) so I guess I couldn’t pick just one. I would love to meet them all and talk to them. What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? I guess just throwing things out there to see if they stick. This is super fun in a group of authors, when everyone has ideas, and we all just toss them out to see what sounds good. And you can play off…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with USA Today bestselling author Donna Kauffman, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. A bar fight after a Christmas Day wedding leads to an unexpected romance. (CHRISTMAS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS, part of the A SEASON TO CELEBRATE anthology, on sale October 30th.) If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? So many to choose from! But I think Ford Maddox, from SANDPIPER ISLAND. I want to hang out in his treehouse home and help him rescue puffins on his remote island off the coast of Maine. Sigh… What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? For me it’s driving and hiking. I live in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trial. Depending on the day/weather/mood, a drive down the Parkway or a hike on the…