Welcome to Stuff & Nonsense, Kathy! I am thrilled to
have you here today and know my readers enjoy getting to know you.
Hi, Anne! Thank you so much for welcoming me to your lovely
blog home. I’m excited to be here
and look forward to interacting with your
readers.
Tell us a little about
yourself and your writing journey.
I’m a caffeine addicted introvert, which means I get really
brave when I’ve had a few cups of coffee and make social commitments that later
make me want to hide. LOL But being a
writer is perfect, because most of my social engagements are fictional.
I started this journey when I was in middle school and full
of romantic ideas of how my life would be, and how the world works. Naivete and
growing pains are close cousins, and I believe my stories have benefited from lessons
learned. It has taken me decades to realize my dream of publication, but the
long and winding road has been indispensable to understanding God’s ways,
character growth arcs (mainly mine) and happily-ever-after endings.
Tell us about your
book and why you wrote it?
My novella “Love Brick by Brick” is essentially every little
girl’s fantasy of marrying a rich, handsome international man of mystery. No,
not Austin Powers, but the hero is British. The collection features stories of
Christmas during the Victorian Age, but I set mine stateside, in my hometown in
upstate NY. Rufus Sedgwick is the grandson of an earl, a” veteran” of the
Crimean War, as in a lay-chaplain to the soldiers. He has moved his mother and
his entire estate—brick by brick—to relocate after certain events have left
them devastated. Perhaps the new start will lead to happiness for his poor Mum,
and if the fates allow, for him too…
The heroine, SarahAnn Winnifred, has never taken time to
dream of anything but what her academic skills can achieve for her, least of
all marrying a handsome gentleman of pedigree. She’s a real worker bee, a
no-nonsense doctor in training. But when her favorite little orphan friend
wishes for a King and Queen to adopt her for Christmas, SarahAnn sneaks in a secret
wish, too. Will her longings be the Christmas dream come true for everyone?
This story sort of wrote itself, as I sought to combine
several elements of Victorian Christmas lore and local history. It surprised
and delighted me as it unfolded, seat-of-the-pantster writer that I am. I hope
my readers feel the same.
What do you think
makes a good story?
I love to read romances where the characters are fleshed
out, and not cookie cutter figures stuck into a predictable plot. I like
surprise twists, a splash of humor, a tug on the heartstrings, and a deep sigh
with the happily ever after. I also love secondary characters who steal scenes.
For historical fiction, a strong and authentic sense of setting is a must.
Where is your
favorite place to write?
In my husband’s recliner, surrounded by cats and with
Pandora radio playing. Yes, I am the crazy cat lady of Breesport. Thanks for
asking. 😉
Do you ever wake up
in the middle of the night and just have to write down a thought? If so, do you
keep a tablet on your bedside table or go to the computer?
I have in the past, but I always woke up my poor
long-suffering saint of a husband, so I abandoned the practice. But inspiration
ALWAYS strikes at night, doesn’t it? If I get a really good thought, I open my
phone on the dimmest light setting and jot a reminder in notes. And hold my
breath so I don’t wake up my husband.
Do you talk to your
characters? Keep story boards or boards on Pinterest?
Hi, my name is KATHY and I’m a Pinterest Addict. I have
boards for everything from period clothing to the kind of animals my characters
have loved. My characters are so real to me I could talk to them, but that
would just be crazy, right? (haha crazy. Who, Me?)
Can you give us a
glimpse into your next book or story idea?
I have two books out right now (is this a theme about crazy
or what?) and my next project is the sequel to the Civil War romance that
launched Aug 2. Book Two in Sons of the Shenandoah series is already written,
so it is in the edit and cover selection process. I hope to have it out in
January.
In Book One,
The Abolitionist’s Daughter, you meet twin
brothers Ethan and Devon Sharpe, cavaliers in every sense of the word. Impulsive
Devon feels his control slipping over his brother, so he tries several tactics
to secure Ethan’s loyalties, one of which is setting Ethan up with the new
preacher’s daughter, Ellen White. Poor Ellen does not have a very happy
outcome, and I felt she deserved a chance at happiness in the sequel. The twins’
older brother, Gideon, serves as an artillery captain at the Citadel, so he can
be near his Charleston cousin Leigh Anne. Two years into war Gideon finds
himself a widower with baby girls, wounded—and landing in the care of none
other than Ellen White. Poor Ellen. She has to go through a bit more rough
handling from a cavalier Sharpe before she arrives at anything resembling
happy. But thank goodness, she’s got enough moxy to handle the most stubborn of
the bunch.
In your spare time,
do you have any hobbies you enjoy?
Did I mention Pinterest?
Oh, I did? Okay well, then there’s painting, cooking, baking, crafting,
drawing, gardening, cats, dogs, (yes, my husband and I should be building an
ark with all the pets we have) and marketing. Oh, and reading. Hmmm, when does
sleep fit into my day, anyway?
Do you have a
favorite book? What makes it stand out from others?
Burning Sky by Lori Benton. So many things… it’s set in upstate NY, which
I love because I typically set my stories in NY. It has a hero who loves his
dog, even if he does toss insults at him. (I’m sure they are affectionate and
deserved. What is a “wee little
gomeril”?) Benton handles depth in a way that’s effortless—senility,
disability, kidnapping, hardship, orphanhood, yearning, shared grief and
trauma…and still manages to write a winsome and uplifting story with a
beautiful romance. It scores a perfect ten on every level.
What’s the one food
item you can’t live without?
Ack! Only one? That’s positively spartan. I have at least
ten. Okay, coffee. But no promises that I won’t be ornery without chocolate,
Italian meatballs, quesadillas, fried whole clams from Maine…. Good bread….
Apple pie….
Where can you be
found on the internet?
Is there a question
you would like my readers to answer in order to be entered to win a copy of
your book?
***If
money and time travel were no object, what ultimate Christmas gift(s) would you
buy and for whom?***
Book blurb for “Love Brick by Brick” in the Victorian
Christmas Brides collection
Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher
1857 Elmira, New York
SarahAnn Winnifred overcomes orphanhood apprenticing with pioneering doctors.
Rufus Sedgwick, relocating his English estate, seeks help for his ailing Mum.
Christmas reveals the secret wish of both hearts—for love.
Kathleen L. Maher has had an infatuation with books and
fictional heroes ever since her preschool crush, Peter Rabbit. She has a
novella releasing with BARBOUR in the 2018 Victorian Christmas Brides
collection, featuring her hometown of Elmira, New York. Her debut historical, Bachelor
Buttons, blends her Irish heritage and love of the American Civil War. She won
the 2012 ACFW Genesis contest for her Civil War story, releasing this summer
under a new title The Abolitionist’s Daughter. Kathleen shares an old farmhouse
in upstate New York with her husband, children, and a small zoo of rescued
animals.
Thanks so much, Anne.
I just know I’m going to have fun with your readers this week. Can’t
wait to select a winner! I am giving
away a print copy of Victorian Christmas Brides Collection to one lucky commenter.
(US residents only) Winner will be announced on Monday, Oct 15 for the single paperback copy winner here on this blog post.
Please be sure to leave your email in your entry so you can
be notified if random.org selects your entry.
In addition, I am hosting a
Rafflecopter to be drawn at the
conclusion of my blog tour just before Thanksgiving, with several prizes,
including a $50 Amazon gift card, a print copy of each of my books, and a
Christmas goodie basket. Be sure to follow each stop on the tour to increase
your chances of winning!
(US residents only.)
Good luck!
Thanks, Kathy, for sharing about yourself and your writing journey! It's always fascinating to learn more about writers/authors.
Okay, Y'all!!!
DON'T FORGET to answer Kathy's question above (it's in RED, you can't miss it!) in order to be entered for a paperback copy of the book here on this blog AND leave an email address so you can be contacted if you win. If one or both of these things is missing from your comment, it will not be entered as an official entry.
You can also enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for another opportunity to win a prize pack!
