Tuesday, March 29, 2022

A Tenth Anniversary Post by Cathy Ace

 RHYS BOWEN: Cathy Ace is one of the most huggable people you'll ever meet. Of course as a fellow Welshwoman I have to think she's special but a lot of other people do too. So today I'm happy to host her on a momentous occasion:  I'll let her tell you about it.

CATHY ACE

Hello folks! Thanks for inviting me along today to invite all your lovely followers – and the Reds too, of course – to help me celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first Cait Morgan Mystery being published…just days before the 12th book in the series finds its way into the world. I’m feeling very grateful at the moment.




I truly cannot believe that an entire decade has whizzed by since I was launching my debut novel. Back then, I couldn’t have foreseen how the world would react to a small Canadian publisher putting out the first in a “planned” series of books featuring an older, definitely overweight, absolutely bossy, Welsh Canadian, globe-trotting professor of criminal psychology…so I’m delighted that it’s all gone so well in so many ways…though it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride at times. However, they say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so here I still am – and I’m a LOT stronger!

During ten years of ups and downs, I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled to various conventions, where I believe I’m correct in saying I’ve met all the Reds. I’ll never forget the warmth shown to me by Rhys when we sat beside each other for a signing session at my very first convention (Bouchercon, in Albany): I signed none, because there weren’t any of my books there (long story, no need to whine here!) whereas she had a queue…and she was LOVELY. As was Hallie at the Surrey International Writers Conference, where we first shared a signing table (same thing as above, though maybe I signed one book?) and she was so kind to this new author. Hank, Rhys, and Hallie have all very kindly blurbed books for me over the years, too – thank you, ladies. (I don’t mean to leave out the other Reds, but will focus on what’s happened “so far”, LOL!)

I’ll be celebrating this week with pink champagne and chocolate cake (baked by my Paul Hollywood-inspired husband – thank you Mr. Hollywood!). If you fancy raising a glass, or a forkful of something indulgent, let me provide you with this excuse! Oh, and the other thing I’m celebrating? The script for the pilot of the Cait Morgan TV series has turned out brilliantly! Originally planned as a 90-minute format, it’s been bumped up to two hours, which is fantastic. I’m not allowed to say much more, but can tell you it’s fascinating to see how a seasoned screenwriter is able to distill the essence of a novel’s story into a much shorter format – and they’ve done so without losing any of Cait’s personality, for which I’m most grateful. The casting is “in hand” (but I’m absolutely sworn to secrecy on that front) and I can confirm the settings will be authentic (Nice, France and Vancouver, Canada). It’s all so thrilling…and I’m making the most of every new experience.

When my debut novel was published, I didn’t realize it would be just as nerve-wracking every time a new book comes out, but it turns out it is…and I’m currently in knots about The Corpse with the Turquoise Toes. I plan to continue writing about Cait’s adventures; I really think there’s a place in the world for true closed circle mysteries being untangled by a not-so-amateur sleuth, and hope folks continue to enjoy reading them…and watching them, when they finally reach the screen.

Thanks for having me drop by today. I’m off to pop a cork now, and will invite you all to join me in a virtual toast: here’s to communities like JRW where – in a world that sometimes defies comprehension – we’re all able to celebrate the fact we know there are people out there like us…who enjoy a good murder mystery with clues, red herrings, denouements, and appropriate comeuppances! Cheers, Folks!

What will you be celebrating this week? And how will you do it?

 

About the book:

THE CORPSE WITH THE TURQUOISE TOES

Guests of honor at the opening of a swish new restaurant in Arizona, Welsh Canadian criminal psychologist sleuth Cait Morgan, and her retired-cop husband Bud Anderson, are looking forward to living in the lap of luxury for a week.

But an unexpected death at the desert retreat puts more than a wrinkle in their plans. Is the Faceting for Life movement, of which their host is a devotee, just a harmless framework for life-affirming activities, or a façade for a cult where no one is quite who they appear to be?

In the twelfth Cait Morgan Mystery, Cait and Bud arrive at their remote destination keen to relax and indulge, only to discover that Cait might have – for the first time in her life – truly met her match. And her adversary’s agenda? Well, it’s anything but restful…indeed, it’s both wicked, and deadly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RH4ZYNP

 

About Cathy Ace: Cathy Ace’s Cait Morgan Mysteries feature a criminal psychologist sleuth encountering traditional whodunits around the world; her WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries feature a quartet of soft-boiled female PIs solving cozy cases from a Welsh stately home. Her Welsh suspense novel, The Wrong Boy, has also been optioned for TV. Shortlisted for Canada’s Bony Blithe Award three times, winning once, she’s also won IPPY and IBA Awards; her work’s also been shortlisted for a Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, and the Crime Fiction Lover Best Indie Novel. She migrated from Wales aged 40, and now lives in Canada.

http://www.cathyace.com/

 

RHYS: We are raising a glass, dear Cathy. Long may you and Cait Morgan thrive!

61 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Cathy, on your newest Cait Morgan book and on the exciting television series for your stories . . . definitely reasons to celebrate!

    What am I celebrating this week? A grandbaby’s birthday. Sadly, they’re far enough away that we won’t be there in person to clap and cheer, but we’re definitely sharing in the celebrating . . . .

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    1. Hello Joan - oh enjoy that celebration...but sorry the hugs and snuggles will have to be virtual. Have cake anyway!!! :-)

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  2. Congrats on your upcoming book release and the TV series. Not much to celebrate this week, but next week I'll be at LCC.

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    1. Hello Dru Ann - being at LCC will be a HUGE celebration in itself. Enjoy every moment - sending hugs! Cathy :-)

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  3. Yay, Cathy! Ten years is a big milestone (my own comes in September, squee), and a television series is another. I'm terribly behind on your books but vow to catch up, ASAP.

    This week I hope to celebrate typing The End on the first draft of my 32nd mystery. Pink champagne sounds like a great way to do it.

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  4. CATHY! Yay for your 10th anniversary and a TV series!! I have enjoyed reading your Cait Morgan & WISE mysteries.

    Like Dru, there's not much to celebrate this week except I am in pre-travel mode.
    But I will cheer when I get a negative RAPID antigen test on Friday that is needed to take the 3 flights on Saturday for my first international vacation (since March 2020). Headed to Santa Fe & Albuquerque to attend LCC2022.

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    1. Wishing you a safe trip. GRACE. Enjoy every one of those three flights -- it's been soooo long since you've been able to get on even one plane!

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    2. AMANDA: Thanks! I will breathe a sigh of relief when I enter my Santa Fe hotel room late Saturday night (Sunday morning Ontario time).

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    3. Safe travels, Grace, and have fun at LCC!

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    4. Grace, have a wonderful time at LCC!

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    5. Safe journey, Grace! And best of luck for a negative Covid test. I know how anxiety-making that part is.

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    6. Thanks everyone! And yes, the negative COVID test is on my mind as wastewater COVID rates in Ottawa have steeply risen to as high as the January omicron peak. And the numerous (new) online vaccination proof & other attestation forms that need to be uploaded to US Customs/Air Canada beforehand.

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    7. At least you are only traveling between two countries, Grace, which should make it a little easier. When we went to Kenya last summer we had to provide testing results and forms to two other countries in between, the Netherlands and France. And stand in the interminable lines to proffer our proof. Like the trip wasn't long enough already.

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    8. Hello Grace - good luck with all those tests - and here's to you being able to enjoy a fabulous time at LCC. Thanks so much for all your support! Cathy :-)

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  5. Congratulations on your first decade of published writing success, Cathy. A TV series is definitely something to celebrate. Yahoo!

    Here on the Manitoba prairie, we hope to be celebrating above-zero temperatures by week's end...

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    1. Oh Amanda - yes, celebrating above zero is a worthy one -enjoy that! And thanks for your congrats! :-)

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  6. Cathy, welcome to JRW and congratulations on your latest book release! I am jumping into your books ASAP! There is a Kindle deal on A Welsh Murder Mystery Box Set Books 1 - 4, that Kindle readers should grab right now, yes Hank, right now! I did. I will begin your Cait Morgan Mysteries with Book 1. I am sensing a long and happy catching up with Cait and her many adventures!

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    1. Hello Judy, and thanks for the shout out about the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries - yes, all four books in that series are available for an unbelievable 99cents/pence...and I'm really hoping folks take the chance to download and enjoy them. That's my cozier series, set in my Homeland of Wales, so they're very dear to me :-) And thanks for deciding to start with the first Cait Morgan Mystery - that one's set in the south of France, so readers get more of a chance to feel the warmth of the sun on their faces with that one :-)

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  7. Congratulations and happy travels! Looking forward to your latest AND the TV series based on your books.

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  8. Cathy, I have really enjoyed both your Cait Morgan and the WISE Lady Detectives series. But like Edith, I need to catch up! I have at least four of the Cait books in book and ebook format to read. Happy 10th!

    I would really like to be able to celebrate an end of the war in Ukraine, and the ability of the Ukrainian people to once again live their lives peacefully.

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    1. Thanks ever so much for your support, Karen. And, yes, there are many things we wish we COULD celebrate...so let's keep all those hoped-for celebrations in our hearts too :-)

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  9. Cathy, congratulations on your successes--10 years, 12 books in Cait's series, another series going strong, a tv script finished for Cait and a movie option for a standalone!! Better pop more than one cork--we've all got our glasses raised for a toast!

    Like Amanda above, I'm hoping to celebrate warmer temps tomorrow--ice tonight :-( But at least we have some sun today!

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    1. Thanks ever so much, Flora - and, yes, it's early in the year still for true warmth...but spring temperatures are just a promise of more warmth to come ;-) HUGS, Cathy :-)

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  10. Cathy, 10 years in this difficult business is definitely something to celebrate with the popping of champagne corks and the eating of cake! It's- well, I won't say easy, but doable - to write one novel; to get out 12 is a feat for anyone.

    What am I celebrating this week? Hopefully, having finished grading in time to turn in the midterm grades on Friday. If I get there, I will have a very happy and relaxed Saturday!

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    1. Good luck with the grading, Julia...my memories of that particular process is now far behind me, but it still fills me with the "UGH's" when I think of it. I spent a dozen years teaching at university, which I'd have done for no pay at all...but you couldn't pay me enough to do the grading again!!! LOL! Cathy :-)

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  11. Congratulations to you, Cathy! As for me, I am celebrating a new (to me) author! Love when that happens!

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    1. Hello Judi - indeed, that is cause for GREAT celebration (for me too!). Thanks, Cathy :-)

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  12. Cathy, I so remember hanging out with you at Surrey - Could that have been *TEN* years ago? Yikes. And reading THE CORPSE WITH THE PLATINUM HAIR (Las Vegas!)... So big congratulations on the new book. You ARE on a roll.

    One of the really smart things you do in your writing is the way you choose your settings... And then they become so important to the story. I'd love to hear more about how you've picked them.

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    1. Hello Hallie - oh thank you...and yes, it was that long ago! ;-) Oh, settings - the first thing that comes for me is the title, along with the person who's the titular corpse and (usually) the way they died PLUS the IMMEDIATE location. Yes, it's there from the very beginning...then I do my very best to tell a story that could only have happened in that specific place. Overall, I want readers to experience my books, rather than feeling they have read them - and, for me, being taken to a specific place when I read gets me to experience that story more fully. I hope that's what happens for my readers :-)

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  13. Congrats Cathy - both on the TV series and the latest book. I'm gearing up to celebrate The Girl's graduation from college, but that's not for another month. So I think I'll practice by celebrating with you. :)

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    1. Hello Liz - oh graduations are so special - that definitely calls for a big one! Meanwhile - thanks for your support :-)

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  14. CATHY:

    Welcome to Jungle Reds! Happy book birthday! I agree with Rhys. My Mom and I met you at the Left Coast Crime conference in Vancouver and she loved your Cait Morgan series. I love your W.I.S.E series set in Wales. I remember that you asked me what I thought of the Dowager and I thought that she was brave. We have all of your Cait Morgan novels except the last two books. Unfortunately, we NEVER order from Amazon so I am hoping that it will be possible to order your books from the local bookseller.

    Wales is one of my favorite places. When I was studying abroad, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Wales. It was so beautiful. We visited Chepstow Castle, Goodrich castle and Raglan Castle. We also visited Tintern (?) Abbey. I am not sure if I spelled the name of the Abbey correctly.

    And Congratulations on the movie? TV series? based on your Cait Morgan novels. Hope to see your movie on Britbox.

    Diana

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    1. Hello Diana - thanks ever so much for your support, and that of your mum! You can order my books from your local bookstore: all they need are their ISBN numbers, which are on my website (not sure which ones you need, so won't put any here). The print books aren't just available through Amazon - they are also distributed to bookstores and libraries and are "in the system" used by both types of organization to find/order books. I hope your local bookstore can do that for you!

      So pleased you love Wales too...Tintern is correct, and it's quite an ethereal space, isn't it - the hollowed-out ruin still has an atmosphere that's tangible. Fingers crossed for TV series...I do know about the international distribution stuff, but - again - I am not allowed to say a word...sorry! Cathy :-)

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    2. Oops - should have added the website address: http://www.cathyace.com/

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    3. Thank you! We will ask the bookstore to order your books and I will look up the ISBN numbers.

      No worries regarding movies / TV. I just hope the producers keep the story close to your book. A friend's English Inspector was changed to a sheriff in the American midwest for a movie and luckily, the author could say NO!

      Diana

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    4. Oh Diana - good for your chum! I'm fortunate enough to be able to work closely with the production company, so I'm keeping my eye on things...LOL! :-)

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  15. Congratulations Cathy on the new book and a decade of Cait. You are a new discovery for me, thanks to the Reds, actually. I've recently finished the first Cait mystery and look forward to more.

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    1. Hello there - pleased to meet you, and thanks for choosing to spend time with Cait and Bud - I hope you choose to join them on more of their adventures :-)

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  16. Congratulations on your anniversary and TV show/series. You are a new author to me so I looked at the first Cait mystery on Amazon. Started reading and couldn't stop. So count me as a new reader.

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    1. Oh my gosh - even more celebrations for me...because a new reader is a wonderful experience! Thanks for choosing to spend time with Cait and Bud :-)

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  17. Congratulations, Cathy, on the new book, the tenth anniversary, and the TV show! You certainly have a lot to celebrate. I'm so happy for you. Couldn't happen to a nicer person. I'm getting ready to read The Corpse with the Turquoise Toes, and I'm sure I'll love it.

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    1. Thanks ever so much Kathy - I hope you enjoy your trip to Arizona with Cait and Bud, Cathy :-)

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  18. Thanks to Rhys for hosting, and for all the other Reds for joining in the celebrations - raising a glass to you all, folks!

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  19. Hurray, darling Cathy! You know I am such a fan! You said above the first thing that comes to you is the title??? That is fascinating! Tell us more about that--what things have sparked that?

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    1. Hello Hank - yes, the titles...well, I decided before the first Cait Morgan Mystery came out that I wanted a title framework that would repeat. So THE CORPSE WITH THE would refer to the person who's dead at the start of the book, the death surrounding which the investigation takes place. Then I will always add a "something", which began with precious somethings (silver, gold, emerald, platinum etc) followed by a body part to which it could refer (silver tongue, golden nose, emerald thumb, platinum hair etc) and while I have allowed myself to accept "things" like granite, which aren't necessarily "precious" I have always been able to stick to a body part...LOL. THEN...the description of the "corpse" must, of course, be relevant to that character (silver tongue = man who get people to reveal their secrets in conversation; golden nose = award-winning vintner; emerald thumb - talented plants woman; platinum hair = Vegas casino owner who was once told by Frank Sinatra that she was more beautiful than Marilyn Monroe so, of course, she never changed her hairstyle after that! etc...and that's the stepping off point for the whole story. PLUS the location. I have a list of another twenty-odd titles, and for all of them I have the corpse, their backstory, whodunit, how they dunit, and the location all sorted. To be honest - that's the most fun part of the entire process. If only the rest of it all were so simple!

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  20. Ten years! Cathy, how can that be? Congratulations on your decade, and your latest release. By the way, my weird mind read that you were celebrating with chocolate champagne and pink champagne cake. Both sounded kinda good!

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    1. Hello Kait - yes, it seems that time really does pass that quickly, after all! CHEERS! :-)

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  21. Nice to meet you, Cathy. Always great to encounter the author of a interesting-sounding series that I don't know. Just bought #1 on Kindle, and I'm looking forward to it. I hope I'll get a chance to see the TV series, too. Thanks in advance for the pleasure of reading a new mystery.

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    1. Hello Kim, nice to meet you...and I really hope you enjoy meeting Cait and Bud! Happy reading, and thanks for choosing to spend time with them :-)

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  22. I'm going to dig into this series!!! How did travel restrictions hinder your work? Do you generally go to the places for research? Spa life is one of my dreams. THANK YOU!

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    1. Hello Denise - thanks for deciding to meet Cait and Bud! Everywhere in my books is a place where I've either lived, worked, or spent a fair bit of time. As luck would have it, I was actually on a cruise ship in the Caribbean when lockdown started, and got back to Canada literally ten minutes before the borders closed! Since then I've been at home in Canada, just outside Vancouver...hence book #10 being set right here, in beautiful British Columbia! Book #11 is set in London, where I (and Cait!) lived for 20 years, and book #12 set in Arizona allowed me to channel my delight at having been there back a few years back. Fortunately, I travelled extensively during my business life, working in some fascinating places (eg: Budapest is the setting for book #8, and I spent a great deal of time there for work, as I did in Amsterdam - book #7...so I'm able to revisit those places in my memory...and checking locations on Google!).

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