Author Interview

1. Here at Kat’s Corner Books, we’re fans of cats, but love all pets. Do you have a pet? If yes, what?

C: Hello, Katherine.  I am a longtime pet lover. At the current second, I do not have a pet and there’s a reason for that. I’m gone a lot from home for my day job and after having several cats in my life and ten Golden Retrievers…I couldn’t stand to leave my pet alone for 11 hours a day while I’m gone. I also travel a lot for my film and book businesses and so I’m gone many weekends. That’s not fair to a furry family member.

K: I agree. We would love to have a dog, or chickens, or goats, but alas our apartment is most suited for a cat. I love Sasha, but I wish she could have more friends.

2. Open your text message app. What are the first ten words that come up automatically?

C: “Lovely. Maybe she’ll follow in your footsteps.”

K: Wow! I think that’s the first time I’ve had an answer make send. Grins.

3. When you are not writing, what other “hats” do you wear?

C: I am the financial manager for my brother-in-law’s dental office. We have one dentist, ten operatories, nine assistants and hygienists. The days are long for me as I mentioned above. I also have a film company that I’ve been running for years. As many of you may know, or not, THE SWEETEST HEART, based on my book, HEART’S DESIRE, was made into a Hallmark Channel film last year. I write screenplays, proposals and books.

K: I’ve never understood why people are afraid of the dentist. I love the people in my dentist’s office!

4. What is the one thing you would like readers to take away from your story?

C: Because this story is a Christmas story, there is the magic of Christmas in just about every scene. But it is also the test of two hearts to learn to TRUST their hearts again. Adam is a widower. His son is a gifted, genius child, which makes parenting a greater challenge than usual. Joy has never come to grips with her anger, resentment of the towns people of Indian Lake over the car accident of her parents. She has blamed everyone in town and even Adam and she ran from her grief after high school. Not until she comes back to Indian Lake again must she confront her demons and fears.

Though it is Christmas, sometimes, it is the time of year of deep reflection. And change. Sometimes, during the happiest times, we are challenged to meet ourselves and deal with what we have made of our lives. Do we go back? Or move forward—to love?

K: I don’t think you can get through the holidays without reflection, no matter which holiday you celebrate. The ending of one year brings the hope of the new.

5. What is your favorite thing about having a “story world” that you can return to in new books?

C: For my series set in Indian Lake, I truly cherish the ability to go back with each story and see what mysterious, elegant and tight-lipped Mrs. Beabots is up to. Though she is the doyenne of the community, she is the wise sage. The giver of all gifts. The mirror for every heroine or hero to face at one point during the story.

K: I love being able to absorb into story worlds. I prefer stand along, but somehow related novels, so towns like Indian Lake are my favorite!

6. For readers who are unfamiliar with Indian Lake, what’s the one thing you want them to know about the town/people?

C: I would like them to know, that even though our world has become isolated, fearful and distrusting of their fellow man, that sense of community that exists in Indian Lake does exist if only we extend the Best parts of ourselves. When we stop thinking of “ME” all the time, and think of others, we grow. We are all in this life together. We can choose happiness or misery.

My favorite Christmas story is STILL, the Christmas Carol, which taught us to care, really care about our fellow man. To share our hearts and love with others. It doesn’t take money to make another happy—most times it’s a small compliment or a hand on a shoulder. A smile. A nod of the head to acknowledge that the other person is valued.

Every man is our concern.

God Bless Us Everyone! Merry Christmas

K: Thank you for joining us today, Catherine ! Merry Christmas to you as well.

My Thoughts

This was my first book by Catherine but it won’t be my last. Beside sharing a name, and thus automatically qualifying as awesome, she has a talent for weaving a sweet story with just enough depth to keep the characters growing throughout.

While I wish Joy would’ve come around more quickly, I also think that so radically changing her life wouldn’t come easily, making the timeline of the book more realistic. I was also frustrated by how long she held onto her anger, but it provides some necessary tension for the story. I was glad to see her slowly open up to her friends, Titus, and Adam.

At times I loved Adam, and at Times I wanted to shake him. I can’t imagine being a single parent and balancing it with a demanding job, but growing up with an engineer father, I know they can sometimes get stuck in their engineer brain. But, I loved how he made an effort to support his gifted son and to not belittle his intelligence at such a young age nor to push him to be older than what he was.

I look forward to returning to Indian Lake and getting to know the residents better.

I received a copy of this story for the purpose of this tour. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and HERS TO PROTECT (2019).

Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

– One winner will receive a $100 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally) – Two winners will each receive a signed copy of Home for Christmas with a bookmark (US only) – Ends November 27, 2019

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