Author Spotlight with Kate Pavelle and her newest book Treading Water

The Author Spotlight will focus on a different author every few weeks – it may feature an experienced writer who has a long history of published books, or a new author who is destined to be a future star. Today our Author Spotlight will be on Kate Pavelle . You can keep in touch with Kate at the links following the interview!

Author Spotlight: Kate Pavelle

First off, I want to thank Kate for taking the time to answer these questions for me. Please feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comment section below!

 

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

What is the title of your newest or upcoming book?

Treading Water

What publisher is this book being published by?

Mugen Press

What is the publication date?

8/15/2015

Treading Water by Kate Pavelle

Purchase links: Amazon

THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Kate Pavelle learned to use a gas mask in first grade. She fired her first AK47 in her sixth grade civil defense class. Her first dog was a wolf hybrid stolen from the Czechoslovak border guard. Her eccentric father blew out the windows of their house with a stun grenade – on purpose. Unlike his chemical explosions —those were always by accident. Her high-stakes, high-adrenaline childhood leaves her searching for the next exciting thing. Martial arts and travel and rock climbing. Horses and cookies and toxic mushrooms. Medieval combat and children and brain-tanning deer hide in her Pittsburgh driveway. Her quest resonates through her mystery thrillers and romances, matched only by her drive to share the fun with her readers. Kate once knew the hunger of being a political refugee and the terror of being pursued by government agents. She imbues her characters with her own struggle for survival, excellence, and world domination. Only the dead bodies are imaginary.

Can you give the readers a brief summary of your latest book?

Buffeted by the winds of fate, Jesse Hightower drifted far from his Crow reservation. He survived family issues, foster homes, and living hard on the street. His computer-jockey job makes him out of shape, and a tough split with Renata threw him into depression. Even worse — to keep his job, he has to train for a mandatory, company-wide triathlon. An heir to an ice cream empire, Sebastian Gillen was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and family expectations of an executive career. A brilliant swimmer, Sebastian had given up his shot at the Olympics for the sake of business. Meeting Jesse at the pool is an exciting breath of fresh air. Inspired by Jesse’s inner strength, Sebastian resolves to make this boyfriend thing work, even if he has to stand up to his family – including his sister, Renata.

What genre does it fall in?

Contemporary Romance

Will you share a few words about your latest book, other than the usual blurb?

I started writing this book to help me train for a triathlon, which I completed with a triathlon veteran and fitness guru, author Venona Keys. Because my training meandered a good bit, so did my book. I cut out a lot of chaff about stinky bathing suits polluting the bathroom, squeaky breaks, learning how to change a tire, and so on. Thinking about my guys helped me slog through the endless swim sessions, but I found I’d rather go by the clock and lose count of my laps and think of what Jesse and Sebastian are doing, rather than wonder whether I swam 750 or 800 meters! These guys were my companions for well over a year of training and writing, as well as during the triathlon itself.

Give us a little insight into your main characters! Who are they?

Jesse and Sebastian are like light and day. Their personal histories couldn’t be more different, yet they find strength and inspiration in their friendship as they train side by side. Sebastian helps Jesse learn how to swim. Jesse, who comes from a poor background and never wastes anything, teaches the sheltered and athletic Sebastian how to ride a bicycle. Jesse, an IT tech, feels self-conscious because of his extra weight. Sebastian looks past all that and decides Jesse is the strongest person he’s ever met.

Will we be seeing these characters again any time soon? Is this book part of a series?

Yes! These two have so much to share! SwimBikeRun will cover the training and triathlon parts, and book 2 and 3 will be out by Spring 2016. There are more stories than just the trilogy, however – Jesse and Sebastian clamor for my attention even now!

Tell us a little bit about your writing style. When and where is your favorite time/place to write?

Right here, on a folding table on my front porch. The water fountain splashes in the shade and the cicadas are singing in the trees. I’ll be here until the late afternoon sun chases me out – that, or a sudden rain storm!

What sort of book do you enjoy reading in your free time? What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it?

That would be “Job Hunt” by Jackie Keswick. She makes England come alive in her books, and the strong sense of setting is almost a character alongside Jack and Gareth. It was a fantastic read full of dark crime, hot men, and their penchant for both passion and revenge.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? Have you held any interesting jobs while you worked on your books?

Yes – but I wasn’t allowed to be a writer back in Czechoslovakia. No free speech, see? Then we escaped and I worked in material science research labs for a long time. Science is amazing, and I make it a backdrop, or even the main plot point, in many books. I worked in a glass factory. I fixed my own laser on another job. I’ve done executive level work, sales, contracts… but I’d rather be writing!

What does your writing process look like?

All those ideas in my head need to take turn, and I have too many books going on at the same time! I putter along and finish, spell-check, submit – or I fuss with the publishing process myself and publish through my own imprint, Mugen Press.

Why did you choose to write GLBTQ romance? Why not another genre?

For ease of entry? (Sorry, couldn’t resist a bad pun.) I love men, and if one is good, two are even better! (Or three…) From the relationship side of things, I’m fascinated by the way men lend one another support while respecting each other’s sense of masculine pride. Or, how some guys feel free to let go of that face and admit they need help. In that way, many gay guys I know are a lot more “evolved” than the stoic straight men in my life.

One last questions…totally unrelated to books! I am a passionate foodie. Is there one thing in your pantry that you would be horrified for people to know that you eat?

Yeah! I have my guilty secrets, but they are secrets for a reason. We cook a lot, and we cook well. I, too, strive for those “5 points for presentation.” Sometimes I just have a plain old junk-food attack. The theme varies, but today there’s a Coke can in the fridge and it has my name on it. I don’t know why – I usually drink coffee, green tea, anything alcoholic… why SODA, of all things?

Thankyou so much for answering my questions. I think my readers will enjoy learning more about you! Good luck in your future writing!

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE AUTHOR:

Find out more about Kate by visiting the author’s website. You can also check out their profile on Goodreads or follow on Facebook or Twitter.