Angels, Sinners and Madmen
by
Cate Masters
Angels, Sinners and Madmen, available July 27 from Freya’s Bower:
What happens in Key West, stays in Key West. Especially in 1856, when men outnumber women by ten to one. Wrecker Sam Langhorne came to Key West eight years earlier to forget his ruined engagement. When he rescues Livvie Collins from a watery grave, he’s swept away by her beauty and spirit. He’s sworn off love, but is soon captivated by Livvie’s wit–and her determination to remain single.
The death of Livvie’s father leaves her no other option than to sail to New Orleans to live with her brother Wendell. Though she hopes to support herself by writing novels, she’s sure Wendell will try to soon marry her off, and is determined to experience life to its fullest before reaching New Orleans.
Sam is handsome and attentive, constantly surprising her with his intelligence and his interest in current literature and happenings. She gives herself to him in a night of passion so she can know the true emotion at least once in her life. But can she save herself after she arrives in New Orleans?
Taking a page from Oprah’s O Magazine, instead of 5 Things I Know for Sure (always a dangerous statement, because someone’s sure to prove me wrong), here are 5 Things I’ve Learned in my half-century (plus) of life. Note: these are subject to change, as I am continually learning, and open to change.
1. Circumstances will not always sway in your favor. My husband’s grandfather had a saying: Sometimes you’re the bug, and sometimes you’re the windshield. There’s no getting around it. On those days you’re the bug, roll with it as best you can. Even if you find yourself splat flat against the glass, scrape yourself up and move on. Until you do, you'll never find out what good things await you down the road.

2. There’s no substitute for hard work. As a writer, hope springs eternal for that lucky break. Do I sit around waiting for it? Hell no. I write every day. As bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver said: Chain that muse to your desk and get the job done! Another great quote, from David Armstrong, author of How Not to Write a Novel: The harder you work, the luckier you get. Makes a lot of sense.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CateMasters
Website: http://www.catemasters.com/
Other books by Cate Masters: Follow the Stars Home to be released on August 7th and Winning on July 7th