A Slice of Cake With... Cathy Skendrovich

This week I am delighted to be having a slice of cake with author Cathy Skendrovich.

Cathy has always loved a good story and spent her formative years scribbling what is now called Fan Fiction. The current heartthrob of the time featured heavily in all her stories. Unfortunately, once she went to college, her writing took the form of term papers, written on typewriters instead of computer keyboards.

Upon graduation, Cathy took a job as an English teacher in a middle school. Along the way, she married her husband of now thirty-four years, had two sons, and moved to southern Orange County, California. She chose to work part-time in the school system there.

Now she has returned to writing. Prisoner of Love is her first published novel, followed closely by The Pirate's Bride. The sequel to The Pirate's Bride, The Pirate Bride’s Holiday Masquerade, came out Oct. 1, 2017. Her next contemporary romantic suspense, entitled Undercover with the Nanny, was released April 2018, also from Entangled. 

She likes writing romance because she feels it's lacking in today's technological world. While she enjoys writing contemporary stories, creating romance in bygone times fascinates her. She hopes her ability to write in both genres will be the beginning of a long and satisfying writing career.

What kind of books do you write?

I write books that are sexy and keep you up at night. I hope readers find that they have to read “one more chapter” to see what happens next. I like creating twisty, unexpected endings that a reader doesn’t see coming. Every book is filled with snappy dialogue and laced with humor, because I think those elements reveal more in a story than straight narrative. Lastly, my heroines are smart, feisty, independent women who don’t need a man to make them complete. Consequently, my heroes are strong, independent, Alpha males who aren’t looking for a woman, but who recognize their soulmate when they meet her. My characters can solve a mystery or find the villain and fall in love, all at the same time. 

Can you describe your writing why?

I’ve wanted to write since I was ten years old. I love to read, and sometimes the stories I wanted to read just weren’t out there, so I decided to write them. Also, we are so technologically advanced now that I think romance has been shuffled to the side. There aren’t as many “chance” meetings anymore. People meet online, after responding to what is like a job questionnaire. Even if it does have results, where’s the fun, the spontaneity? So I began writing. Lastly, since I’ve read a lot of romances, I wanted to try and bring something different to the table. Enough of the perfect heroes and heroines. I wanted heroes that mirror real-life men. Heroes that have faults. Maybe they’re forgetful; perhaps not sure of themselves in certain areas of their lives. I want my heroes to be desirable despite their faults. Same goes for my heroines. I don’t want Barbie heroines. I want them strong, independent, able to rely totally on themselves but still want a man in their lives. 

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Ooo, that’s a tough one. I’d have to say it’s from The Pirate’s Bride. Pirate captain Andre Dubois is forced to marry Sophie Bellard, a young woman who also wants to be a pirate. After a wedding night that doesn’t go as planned, they part ways, only to reunite later. By now Sophie has become a prosperous pirate, and doesn’t want anything to do with her errant husband.

Revenge was a dish best served cold. 

Sophie Bellard Dubois believed in this credo with all her heart, especially when she’d been hand-delivered the opportunity this afternoon. After all, hadn’t Andre accused her of cuckolding him? Hadn’t he stormed away to parts unknown, disengaging himself from this area of the world? He bloody well should thank her for maintaining the status quo in his absence. She doubted the blackguard would see it her way. 

“What’s the plan, Sophie? We can be out of here if we turn rudder now.” 

“Hoist the colors and fire a warning shot over their bow, Limey,” she ordered without hesitation. 

He stared, as if unable to believe she would even suggest the maneuver. “Are...are you sure, Ma’am?” 

She looked down her nose at him. “Is that insubordination I detect, Limey?” 

“No, Captain. It’s just...that’s your husband’s ship.”

 “Exactly. Carry out my orders, Limey.” 

She returned to her spyglass, as Limey cried out, “Hoist the colors and ready starboard guns, you bilge rats.” He moved away to oversee the warning shot. 

She studied the approaching ship. Of course, she shouldn’t fire on her own husband. She knew that, but the cad deserved it. He deserved to find out who had taken his place in his absence, who would not be cowed by his repudiation or curse words. Who was now a pirate in her own right. 

The Jade Princess had covered more distance but still it flew no colors. With her heartbeat pounding in excitement, Sophie checked with the gunner, received a nod of readiness. She nodded in return, the fuse was lit, and...

Ka-boom! 

A round shot flew high and true over The Jade Princess. She got the supreme pleasure of watching the crew on the opposing deck hunch and duck, including the captain. Dubois spun about and locked eyes on her, glaring across the distance at this stranger firing upon him. She stifled a nervous giggle of anticipation. 

Confident her new pirate’s attire and braided hair camouflaged her from her husband’s recognition, she bowed low to him from across the distance, sweeping her hat off with its absurd plumage before hollering to her crew to bring them about and prepare to board. 

Within minutes, The Phoenix laid stem to stern beside The Jade Princess, a wide plank stretching between them. Dubois paced his deck like a caged tiger, his face thundercloud dark. Her pulse quadrupled at the thought of their imminent confrontation. She squared her shoulders, straightened her spine, and marched across the board after her first mate and chosen crewmembers, one hand resting on the grip of her cutlass for courage. 

“Who the bloody hell do you think you are, firing upon my ship and boarding me? Do you even know who I am?” Andre advanced on Sophie and her crew, pulling up short when her men drew their weapons. His own crew made ready behind him, the clatter of swords and cutlasses unsheathing loud on the suddenly silent deck. 

On a swift inhale, she strode forward, parting her men as Moses did the Red Sea. “Of course I know who the bloody hell you are, Captain Dubois. I am also Captain Dubois, lately of the Sargasso Sea.” She halted in front of her husband. Limey did as well, his close presence behind her bolstering her flagging courage. 

Andre’s nostrils flared, though his eyes widened as her words sank in. “Sophie? Sophie Bellard? What the devil are you doing here in that...that...get-up?” Shaking his head, he made to move forward, but once more, her crewmembers jabbed their blades at him. He pulled up short. 

“It’s Sophie Bellard Dubois, or have you forgotten that little ceremony we both participated in nearly ten months ago?” She quivered at the memory of the long-ago humiliation. 

It didn’t help that a quick once-over told her Andre Dubois was just as sinfully handsome as he’d been at the time of their marriage. Perhaps more so, with his long hair covered by a black bandana hanging down his back, kohl-lined, long-lashed, obsidian eyes snapping at her, and that slim but wiry body encased in fawn-colored, body-hugging breeches and open-necked shirt. Irritation simmered in the air between them as he studied the men holding him off. She called them back reluctantly. 

“Believe me, I have not forgotten that misbegotten night,” he drawled, allowing his gaze to rove over her, stopping at her breasts and hips before returning to her face. Her body heated as if he’d touched her. Not this time, you knave, Sophie thought. This time I’m in charge. 

Swaggering forward, she crossed her arms with a slight curl of her lip. “Then I made a better impression on you than you did for me, husband. You quite slipped my mind these past many months, until you made the unfortunate decision to cross my path today.” His eyes narrowed even as the men surrounding them elbowed each other and guffawed. 

Oh, yes, revenge was definitely a dish best served cold, and a double dose was heading his way.

    

Tell us about your latest project?

My latest release is Undercover with the Nanny, which came out last spring to some great reviews. It’s available on BookBub for .99 for a limited time right now. I loved writing it because it takes place in my native state, California, and has a subject that is relevant to current times. Creating Sawyer and Kate was so fun. I enjoyed pitting them against each other, and when I got to their mutual capitulation, it was a blast to write! Very sexy. Here’s the blurb:

DEA agent Sawyer Hayes came to California in search of a drug cartel leader who slipped through his fingers in El Paso. The link to finding him is Kate Munroe, a nanny for one of his henchmen. The problem? He didn’t expect to be so drawn to a possible suspect. How is he supposed to do his job when his growing feelings for her are clouding his judgment?

Interior designer Kate Munroe’s life is a train wreck. Her parents’ deaths left her with their mounds of debt, she can’t get a job designing even a cubicle, and she’s bunking in her best friend’s spare bedroom. To make ends meet, she’s a nanny to a lonely little boy whose rich father works all the time. Romance is not on her radar. But her hot new neighbor could change her mind, with his broad shoulders and Southern charm. Too bad his secrets could destroy her.

What is your favourite cake?

Believe it or not, it’s birthday cake! Chocolate cake with white frosting. I love the flowers and the celebration that goes with it. 

That is a very cute birthday cake! You can catch up with Cathy at her website, follow her on Facebook and Twitter and all her books are available on Amazon. 

Join me next week when I'll be having a slice of cake with Rhonda Read. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

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Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find all her books on Amazon. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.