How I Got Started

My writing career began on a rainy autumn afternoon in Texas 26 years ago when I sat down at the kitchen table to write a "short story" while my toddlers napped. Writing that first short story proved much more involving and difficult than I had imagined, but the characters stayed with me and the more I wrote the more I wanted to know. By the time I had finished months later, I had given my hero and heroine the happy ending they deserved and I had a book-length work!

That first love story was never published, nor were the six books that followed as I painstakingly taught myself the writer's craft. But with my eighth book I struck gold and my first novel, ISLAND OF DESIRE, was published in July, 1982.

The past twenty six years have brought about many changes in my writing career. I abandoned writing longhand in favor of a typewriter, then abandoned that in favor of a computer. I moved from the kitchen table to a spacious office above the garage. To date I've published seventy novels of romantic suspense, warm family drama, and romantic comedy. My novels have been published in seventeen languages and thirty-five countries.

For aspiring writers, my best word of advice is to write as often as possible, and finish whatever you are writing, whether it be short-story or novel, before moving on to the next project. You learn a lot by taking a project through from beginning to end.

Classes are available at local writing guilds, community colleges, and universities. Some writer's groups--like The Romance Writers of America, of which I am a Charter Member, do not require you to be published when you join, and they have lots and lots of information on the how-to's as well as the business of writing, available to their members.

If you aren't interested in joining a group, or do not have one near you, you can still teach yourself the writing craft, just as I did, by reading everything you can get your hands on. Writer's Digest Books publishes many books on all different topics. I have many of them in my personal library. TECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER, by Dwight V. Swain, University of Oklahoma press, is perhaps my favorite how-to-write book. You should also read as much as possible in the genree you wish to be published--romance, mystery, western, etc.

When you have a project ready to submit for possible publication, the reference librarian at your local library can help you find the names and addresses of publishers in The Literary Marketplace. The most important piece of advice I have is to keep going. If you are a writer, if the stories keep coming, even when you try and shut them off, then keep writing, keep submitting, keep learning, and don't stop believing in yourself. Writing is a craft, like any other art. It takes time to develop it, but it's well worth the effort, the first time you see your work in print.

Introducing McCabes: The Next Generation

For all of you who loved the McCabe men and the Lockhart women of Laramie, Texas, I am happy to announce that I am writing more stories about these two wonderful families, centered on the next generation.

First up are stories about Sam and Kate McCabe's lively brood of five boys and one girl, from my single title romance, TEXAS VOWS. This new series debuts with Brad McCabe's story, THE ULTIMATE TEXAS BACHELOR (August, '05). Brad has always been drop-dead handsome, and chased by all the girls, but nothing prepared this former Casanova for an appearance on a reality tv show. Burned by his experience, he returns to Laramie, Texas, to start the ranch he has always dreamed of having, never suspecting that the temporary housekeeper/professional organizer hired to get his home in order, Lainey Carrington, has an agenda of her own.

SANTA'S TEXAS LULLABY, (December '05) features lifelong prankster Riley McCabe. Now a family physician, Riley returns to Laramie just in time for Christmas, only to find three tiny tykes inexplicably left in his care! Thinking this a joke engineered by fellow prankster, nurse Amanda Witherspoon, Riley administers much deserved payback by claiming the three adorable children are hers, too, and daring her to make an "honest man" out of him, never imagining she will call his bluff….

A TEXAS WEDDING VOW (April '06) features Laurel McCabe and Cade Dunnigan. As the maid of honor in Cade's wedding to her best friend, Laurel promises she will get the jittery bride to the wedding on time, so Cade can marry and claim his inheritance-- or marry him herself. Laurel never dreams that the bride will be a no-show, and Cade will hold her to her promise…

BLAME IT ON TEXAS (August '06) features Lewis McCabe and Alexandra (Lexie) Remington. CEO of McCabe Computer Games, once nerdy Lewis McCabe aces every business dilemma, but can't figure out how to get the attention of Jake Remington's daughter, Lexie (from the Lockharts of Texas). The famous celebrity stylist is only in Laramie, Texas on a brief vacation but Lewis is determined to spend time with her, even if it means hiring Lexie for a "makeover" he never intended to request….

A LARAMIE, TEXAS CHRISTMAS (December '06) features Laramie County sheriff's deputy/detective Kevin McCabe. Kevin finds himself investigating beautiful event planner, Noelle Kringle, as a possible suspect in a case of identity theft. He realizes, even as he is falling in love with Noelle that she isn't telling him everything, and in fact, may be deceiving him and everyone else about who she really is….

Last but not least, Will McCabe's story-still being written at this point-will be published in April '07.

I hope you enjoy the return to Laramie Texas as much as I am.

Good Luck to you all and happy reading!

Sincerely,
Cathy Gillen Thacker