CHATTING WITH CATHERINE RICHMOND

Author Cathy Richmond stopped by Everything Writerly today.  Cathy, for those readers who aren't familiar with you and your books, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was busy raising a family, working as an occupational therapist, and trying to remember where I hid the chocolate, when a song sparked a story within me. The journey to publication has been long, but full of blessings. I couldn’t have done it without ACFW, RWA, andFHL, the inspirational chapter of RWA, and Nebraska Novelists critique group.

Support is important in this business. Sometimes writers can feel very much alone. Please tell us about your new book.

With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Underhill agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister’s homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn’t see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.

AND NOW FOR THE CHAT WITH CATHY...

1. What genre do you write in? (Historical, contemporary, romance, etc.) Historical romance.
2. What motivates you? A story that won't let go.
3. How does your faith affect your daily life? I'm a work in progress. Often my characters' struggles mirror my own.
4.  How much spirituality do you weave into your story? With every thread!
5. What is your general purpose as an author? To tell a story so well a reader will forget she's reading!
6. Do you believe there is evil in the world and, if you do, how do you portray it in your novels (or do you portray evil in your novels? I'm my own worst enemy and I think that's true for many people. Showing that in a story is difficult - it's much easier to show an external villain.
7.  As an author, what are your goals for the future? To do my best with whatever opportunities God brings my way.
8. How do you deal with rejection letters or an irate reader? A few readers complained Spring for Susannah showed too much intimacy - it's the story of a marriage. I apologized and asked them to give me another chance - my next book is less explicit.
9. What’s next for you as an author? Any books in the hopper? Through Rushing Water releases July 2012. Sophia has been proposed to so many times, she doesn't recognize true love when it hits her.

Cathy, thanks so much for dropping in. I know you're busy writing! And to my readers...please check out Cathy's web site: http://catherinerichmond.com/ From there you can find Cathy on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.