Literary Spotlight: Cat Johnson

Cat Johnson is an award-winning author of more than a dozen romance novels. Under a different name, she has also published in the Young Adults genre. She also plays the harp professionally.

Q: How have your novels taken the romance genre to a new level? (More erotic? More passion?)

A: Most of my novels are written in the niche genre of contemporary military romance. I like to think that I have taken this genre to a new level in that I've developed a recipe that infuses reality while at the same time maintaining a satisfying fantasy romance for the readers. I use real military details obtained from my active duty, often deployed, military muses to add realistic details to the stories, but they are woven throughout so it is neither a lesson in war, nor a downer for the reader. These details are simply part of the characters' lives, a part of what makes them who they are, and who they are, are usually extreme alpha males.

Q: What is it about a man in uniform that makes him an ideal romantic hero?

A: I think men in uniform (whether it be military, firefighter or police) know that life can be taken away at any moment, which makes them value every moment more. They tend to live hard, fight hard, love hard (when they find the right woman), and are dedicated and loyal to what they believe in. What could be more romantic than that? Besides, in this world of multi-tasking and overworked women, who doesn't fantasize about playing the damsel once in a while and letting your dream hero 'save' you and who is more heroic than a man in uniform?

Q: The covers of your books are sensual and provocative. How does this help market the book?

A: Many readers do judge a book by its cover and I strive to let the reader know exactly what they are getting at first glance. Looking at my covers, you'll see plenty of male flesh because my books contain a high level of sensuality, as well as because the hero is a major player in my books, the main part of the action (both in and out of bed), they are not just an accessory for the heroine. You also may notice a lack of faces on my books. I prefer that because I want the reader to picture the hero with the face she wants, not the one my cover dictates. If nothing else, I think the hot covers get attention.

Q: How does playing the harp professionally strike a chord in your romance novels?

A: Excellent play on words in that question! Anyway, I have written a heroine (Trilogy No. 107: True Blue) who was a harpist, and because of my experience I could add in details that a non-harpist wouldn't know. Things like: What starts to hurt first on your body when you play for too long? How do people treat you while you perform?

Q: Compare the response to your e-books vs. the real deal (print.) Different audience?

A: I know from analyzing royalty statements that my print sales are about equal to my e-Book sales. Financially, e-books are a better deal and are better for the environment. They cost about half of what my print books do mainly because Trade Paperback-sized books printed using Print-on-Demand technology (which my books are) cost more, but you get a larger book made of nicer quality paper and are printed to order so there in no waste vs. Mass Market-size books printed using large print runs that use low quality paper but cost much less because they are printing hundreds of thousands of copies that often are returned to the printer by chain stores and end up in landfills

Q: How do male readers respond to your books?
A: Really well, actually. My poor male consultants have to read my books to proof them for accuracy but they swear they enjoy them, and they must because they've even read some of my books they weren't required to! They comment how well I get into the male head. And just recently I discovered that some guy I went to high school with went online, ordered one of my books in print, read it, then sent it to another guy from our school to read. I'm going to suggest they start a book club!

Carlotta Holton is the author of Salem Pact and Touching The Dead, and is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association.

Carlotta Holton has just received her second award for Touching the Dead from the National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest. Click here to purchase the book.