Kate Hill Bio:
Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started
writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Since 1996, she has sold over one
hundred short stories, novellas, and novels.
She prefers to blend genres, and she loves horror and a
happily ever after, so her books can be a bit unusual. If you're looking for
romance with witches, aliens, vampires, angels, demons, shapeshifters and more,
there's a good chance you'll find something to your taste in her backlist.
When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading,
working out, and watching horror movies. She also writes under the name Saloni
Quinby.
Contact Info:
katehill2@yahoo.com
Author Links:
Q&A
Why do you write romance?
I write romance because it’s what I love to read.
Initially, I started writing romance because I wasn’t finding enough action and
horror elements in the romances that were popular when I was younger. Now it’s
easier to find action and blood and guts in romance.
What makes a great romance hero?
My favorite type of hero is actually the antihero or a
villain turned hero. I love heroes with flaws--ones who aren’t perfect, golden
heroes.
What is your favorite book?
That’s hard to answer because there are so many great
books. If I had to narrow it down, it would be a tie between the Three
Musketeers and the Phantom of the Opera.
What was the hardest part about writing Spirits of
Christmas?
The hardest part was writing a hero who constantly lived
with fear. Lots of romance heroes have moments of fear or find themselves in
frightening situations, but Joel has been dealing with deep fear since
childhood. Though he has gone to extremes to prove himself fearless, he still
must cope with a lot of terror resulting from childhood trauma.
What made Christa fun to write?
Christa is a self-confidant woman with a good sense of
humor. She has a lot of compassion for others, even when she’s dealing with
issues of her own. Also she’s not afraid to enjoy herself.
What did you use for inspiration when writing Spirits of
Christmas?
I listened to a lot of Christmas music when I wrote the
first draft. I also thought about what family and friends enjoy about the
holidays and included some of their favorites into the story.
by Kate Hill
(Erotic Paranormal, Holiday)
Blurb:
On Christmas Eve twenty-five years ago, a brutal murder was
committed at the house where Christa Wild works as a live-in maid. When the
other servants leave for the holiday this year she stays behind, hoping that
any spirits dwelling there will help her regain the psychic power she lost.
She’s surprised when the intriguing but disturbed owner of the house appears
several days before Christmas.
Action star Joel Connor has kept a terrible secret for most of his
life. Despite his success as an athlete and actor, he is plagued by flashbacks
of a gruesome attack that destroyed his family. This Christmas, Joel returns to
the house where it happened to face the ghosts of the past, but finds he is not
alone.
Joel and Christa are instantly
attracted, but will his psychological state prevent them from finding peace and
love?
Excerpt 1 (693
words):
In the kitchen down the hall,
Christa took her phone out of her pocket, placed it on the counter, and turned
on her favorite music app. She selected her Christmas play list and soon she
was singing along with carols while mixing cookie dough.
Before long, she had a batch in the
oven. The scent of warm chocolate filled the kitchen. Closing her eyes, she
inhaled deeply.
“Mmm. Can’t wait for those to be
finished, but in the meantime --” She sat at the table, pulled out her red
glitter pen, and wrote notes in her Christmas cards. She’d mail them tomorrow
and her family should get them in time for the holiday.
What was that?
She looked up from her cards,
paused her music, and strained to listen. Had that been a car door closing?
“You’re getting paranoid, Christa.
Get a grip, girl.”
Even if there was a car thief, in
this neighborhood they wouldn’t go for her little economy car, but one of the
pricey ones parked in front of the other huge houses down the street.
She nearly resumed the music app,
but something didn’t feel right. Instead, she pocketed her phone, reached for
the nearby frying pan, and stood. On her way to the foyer, her heart pounded.
Was this how it happened to those poor people all those years ago? Had they
heard their killer approach, or had he taken them totally by surprise?
The key turned in the door. Christa
furrowed her brow. Only other members of staff had a key. Someone must have
forgotten something and returned for it.
“Hello?” Christa tried to sound
firm. “Who’s there? I’m warning you, I’m armed.”
“Then I’m calling the cops, because
you’re trespassing on my property.”
That calm, precise male voice wasn’t
familiar to Christa, yet for some strange reason, she recognized it. She had
never met the owner of the house, but she knew that he neither lived in nor
rented it. Was it possible that he had decided to visit today? If so, he
probably hadn’t expected any servants to be here. They were supposed to be on
Christmas vacation.
“How do I know you’re the owner?”
The door burst open, slamming into
Christa and knocking her onto the wooden floor. She landed, her scream turning
to a grunt. Her frying pan flew from her hand and landed out of reach. Cold
wind and snow swirled around the slim man in a black coat and gloves who stood
over her. Ice crystals covered his sleek, dark hair. A fierce expression on his
angular face, he glanced around the foyer. Blue-gray eyes, like slivers of
crystal, glanced from Christa to the frying pan. Not only did he sound
familiar, but he looked familiar, too.
“Is that your weapon?” He didn’t
smile, but she sensed his amusement. “I think if I were in the kitchen, I’d
have picked up a knife instead, but whatever.” He held up his keys. “Like I
said, I own the house. What’s your excuse for being here?”
“I work here.”
He raised a groomed eyebrow. “Oh,
really? Then why aren’t you on vacation with the rest of the staff?”
“I --”
“Are you responsible for these
atrocious decorations?” He strode past her to glance in the living room.
“I’m sorry. I thought I’d be alone
here.”
“So did I,” he murmured before
pulling out his cell phone and taking her picture.
“What the hell are you doing?”
He held up a finger for silence
while he made a call. “Frank, yes. It’s Joel. The picture I just sent. Does
that girl work here?”
“That’s a good idea.” Christa
pulled out her cell, took his photo, and texted it to Frank -- the butler in
charge of the house -- along with a note asking for confirmation of the man’s
identity.
“You don’t know me?” A smile
flirted with his slim lips.
She lifted her chin. “Why should I
know you? I’ve worked here a month and have never met the owner of the house.”
“Do you ever go to the movies?”
Christa
curled her lip. “Are you asking for a date? Now?”
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