Cathy Bryant Interview & Giveaway, Part Two

Welcome back! Cathy's full of wit and wisdom, so I hope that you will enjoy the balance of the interview. I know I did!

Click here if you happened to miss Part One.

Don't forget, Cathy has offered a copy of Texas Roads for our giveaway. Details follow the interview.


Karen: What do you think are some of the key elements for writing success?

Cathy: I can only answer based on my own experience, but for me the biggie is my relationship with God. He gives the creative spark, the spiritual lessons, the characters, the storyline. He also sends opportunities and helpers that push me along the path.

I'd also add the importance of studying the craft of writing, either through books/articles, conferences, online classes, or all of the above. While I've picked up lots of helpful information in each of these places, for my personality type, my best teachers have been books and articles. And then of course, you can't neglect the act of writing itself. You can't be a writer if you don't write, and you'll never improve unless you keep at it. Finding other writers to partner with has made a huge impact on my writing as well.


Karen: Just for fun - here are some quick and random questions:
           
Favorite color?


Cathy: Okay, I'm a design nut, from landscaping to clothing to homes, so choosing just one is impossible for me. (Sort of like asking a bibliophile to name their favorite book...) I'd have to say that I'm most partial to blue.


Karen: Favorite place to visit?


Cathy: Anywhere in the Rocky Mountains, especially when the summer heat climbs to 100+ and decides to camp out for a month or two. Second on the list would be an uncrowded beach.


Karen: Hobbies?


Cathy: Reading, Bible study, gardening, home improvement, walking/hiking, canoeing, reality TV, movies (Love to analyze them for story structure - poor hubby!), scrapbooking, painting.


Karen: Chocolate or vanilla?

Cathy: Chocolate, of course! =)


Karen: Coffee or tea?

Cathy: I once could say "no" to both equally, but since I've started writing, coffee has become a necessity.

Karen: Favorite book about writing?


Cathy:I have lots of favorites, but the two (...sorry) that have been the most helpful to me are Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon and Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass.


Karen: What's the next title in the Miller's Creek Series? Can you give us a sneak peek?

Cathy: Thanks for asking! Book Two in the series of novels is entitled A Path Less Traveled and will be out in the Fall of 2010. Dani, Steve, and Mama Beth are in this book, too, but only as minor characters (along with the old geezers and quirky residents of Miller's Creek). The heroine of the story is Steve's sister Trish, and the hero is Andy Tyler, Dani's hunky attorney friend in Texas Roads. 

Here's the back cover copy:

                                                                                                    
Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband's life, she's determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart?


Andy Tyler had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller's Creek, Texas, is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he's not prepared for falling in love - especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career.


Will Andy and Trish be able to see past their limited human understanding to a path less traveled?

Karen: A Path Less Traveled sounds interesting! I think I may need to pick up a copy. :) What do you want your readers to come away with after reading your books?


Cathy: First and foremost, I hope readers glean God's goodness and grace from every page. I'd also like them to see the characters as good friends and Miller's Creek as vaguely familiar and a place they'd like to stay for a while. I hope the spiritual thread of the story resonates with them and helps them through this crazy journey we call life, and I also want them to enjoy the story.


Karen: How can readers contact and find more about you and your books?

Cathy: My website is www.CatBryant.com and my blog is www.WordVessel.blogspot.com.
I also frequently hang out on Facebook and Twitter.

Karen: Cathy, thank you for spending time with us and sharing your thoughts! You're an inspiration.

Cathy: Thanks again, Karen! I enjoyed the interview! =)

Texas Roads Giveaway Details

To Enter:

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address like so: karenelange(at)gmail(dot)com. Entries without email address are not eligible.
• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Please be sure and comment telling me so.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a link with your comment.
• This is only open to US residents. For those of you who follow outside the US, I apologize.
• Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Saturday September 11, 2010. Winner will be announced Monday, and notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Questions?

Thanks for joining Cathy and I for this interview! We are planning another special feature later this fall when A Path Less Traveled is released. Cathy has agreed to elaborate further on her publishing journey. For those of you just joining us today, Cathy started her own publishing house to publish her books. You can read a bit about it on Monday's post.


So, will you help us out and share your questions about it? What would you like to ask Cathy regarding her publishing venture? Stay tuned, we'll share the answers in the coming weeks. Thanks and blessings to you all!

Happy weekend,
Karen