Natural Attraction is a “sweet” novel (not much sex) and the one I’m working on next (with a scientist protagonist, of course) is a bit sexier. How much sexier should the next novel be?
First Titles
Here are the first two books from Penner Publishing, ready to be shipped as Advance Review Copies. If you are a blogger and want a review copy, contact me or them. I’ve learned a lot about writing and publishing since I got “the call” from Penner last October. This was my first novel but it came after nearly 20 years of free-lance science writing for a company so I was ready to be edited and accustomed to it. I’ve previously published short stories but those have rarely been edited. Only my first published short story, titled East to Ionesco,was ever edited before publication.
I enjoyed watching the editors shape Natural Attraction. If I have any advice about that process it is to leave your own ego out of it. My motivation for writing Natural Attraction was simply to entertain and to record in a fictional (and I hope funny) way, what it’s really like to be a female scientist.Being a female scientist has been very amusing–I highly recommend it. I’ve got a few more novels up my sleeve. Natural Attraction is mostly about biology (with some chemistry tossed in). I’d like to dive into chemistry (the only science where the % of female scientists is increasing) for my next novel and then perhaps, take requests from readers. One thing I enjoyed doing as a science writer was writing about whatever topic the company wanted and conforming to their 40 page book of instructions. Yes, perhaps I’m perverse, but I like to please. Look for another poll in the future.
From the Reader’s Guide for Natural Attraction
Wesley says “I have the Bible Society and hopes of a family someday after marriage. I won’t always be alone.” Is it worth it to marry someone you don’t love to avoid being alone?
Excerpt From: Catherine Haustein. “Natural Attraction.” iBooks.
From the Reader’s Guide For Natural Attraction
“How much is your own gender part of your identity? Would you be just as happy as a different gender?”
Excerpt From: Catherine Haustein. “Natural Attraction.” iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=991542C1074151586EF24B9292B54124
From the Reader’s Guide for Natural Attraction
“How much is your own gender part of your identity? Would you be just as happy as a different gender?”
Excerpt From: Catherine Haustein. “Natural Attraction.” iBooks.
Older women as characters
A male friend posted this article on his Facebook page. It concerns aging while female. After reading it, I re-read Natural Attraction, which has strong older female characters, a Granny in particular.
Stories most often concern younger characters because they get into trouble more, and a fiction writer’s mantra is “only trouble is interesting.” However, there’s a place for older women as characters. They could be saving the day!
EReader days
Happy solstice! I’m reading Natural Attraction on a mobi file to see how it will look for Kindle users. I find that I’m one of those strange people who likes ereaders (but not before bed). I get into a state of complacency when I read something in a file I’ve typed myself and I don’t see the errors so it’s refreshing to me to read it anew in a format where I’m not familiar with every page. The novel has been through two edits with two different editors. Still, I caught three typos. Next, the print version!
Release Date: May 11 Natural Attraction (Penner Publishing)
To get ahead, she’ll have to become a man. What happens when a traveling preacher who’s never been kissed inadvertently shares a love potion with a young female scientist who has, with the help of a transforming tonic, taken the guise of a man? This is the premise of Natural Attraction, set in the post Civil War United States. Natural Attraction highlights a woman’s journey to balance identity, ambition, and a rich sexual and personal life when society forbids it. from Penner Publishing.
For information on where to purchase click here. Hard copies available from the Central College bookstore soon!
Catherine Haustein 