Friday, August 30, 2013

Guest Post by Cate Masters, Author of Charmed, The Vitruvian Man Book 2



Charmed!

Serendipity. Gotta love it! Especially when it relates to writing.

Many times, I'll come across something that plays into the story I'm working on at the time. It might not appear related on the surface, but somehow, it fits perfectly.

For Cursed, the first book of The Vitruvian Man series, three very
First, a magazine article about Carnevale, the 10-day masquerade festival in Venice stayed with me long after I finished it. Then background information on Leonardo da Vinci kept niggling in my mind. Another article on studies of the "love drug" oxytocin added to that story line.

Charmed was no different. I don't know how I managed to find it, but an article in Nature magazine caught my eye about storing data--in human DNA. One of those off-the-wall experiments that sound like science fiction, but scientists actually performed it successfully. I don't claim to understand it, but I found it fascinating. A book, including graphics, translated into binary code and bound to DNA strings. Now that's amazing!

And too good to pass over. It made for a perfect plot twist, something the villains never saw coming but also complicated matters between Bruno and Melina, my hero and heroine.

And I sent for a few books about magic as well, so that I could wrap my head around it a little better. Did I attempt any spells? Nah. Not really. Well maybe one. :) Writers have to get inside their characters heads, don't we?

Like Cursed, Charmed mixes a little science with magic. Because as Arthur C. Clarke so aptly put it:  Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.

Today's the official release day for Charmed! Woot! You can find it at Decadent Publishing: www.decadentpublishing.com and soon at other online bookstores.

Book Trailer:

Here's the blurb:

Brought together by accident, bound by fate—and magic.  Love works its charm over Bruno diCesare and Melina Weaver during his transformation from beast to man. But love likewise blinds them to the secrets each holds. Bruno thinks his secret will devastate Melina. Melina’s afraid Bruno will hate her for what she’s become. Neither guess the greatest danger lurks outside their door – and will force them to decide between love and life itself.

About Cate

Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Cate loves to hear from readers! Email her at: cate.masters@gmail.com

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Available from
Decadent Publishing:


8 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having me today, Kirsten! I love your blog title. :)

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    1. It was my pleasure, Cate. I am quite the Lunatic! LOL!!

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    2. If you have to be a lunatic, a book lunatic is a great type to be! I have a little problem with buying books myself, lol

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    3. LOL Cate, I think everyone had a little bit of Lunatic in them.

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  2. Storing data in human DNA? That is just creepy. Yeah, I bet that made for an interesting twist in the story.

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  3. The wave of the future, Alex, lol,

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  4. Wow! Love the background - makes me want to read the book even more! Congrats Cate!

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