An Interview (and a Giveaway) With Kathy Douglass

Please welcome the fabulous Kathy Douglass to the blog today. We're talking about her new release, THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING. The paperback hit the shelves last week and the e-book is available May 1, 2019. We're talking 

Here's a little bit about the book:

Eight dogs, eight cats…and one ornery cowboy!

Megan Jennings just found the ideal temporary home for sixteen suddenly displaced pets. Too bad the farm’s owner isn’t giving the two-legged, former New York attorney the same warm welcome. A city girl broke Cade Battle’s heart and no way the gun-shy cowboy’s trusting in the feelings Megan awakens. But after being orphaned as a teenager, Megan knows she’s finally found her forever family. Can she make Cade believe it, too?

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK

https://aerbook.com/books/-212098.html?identifier=9781488041990

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1335573860/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-city-girls-homecoming-kathy-douglass/1129979153?ean=9781335573865

  

Nancy Robards Thompson: Welcome, Kathy! I’m so happy you’re here today. How often to you get lost in a story?

Kathy Douglas:  Hi Nancy. Thanks so much for having me.

I get lost in a story all the time. It’s my favorite thing to do. Sometimes I get lost in a story when I’m not supposed to. I tell myself that I’m going to just read for a minute or two. The next thing I know that two minutes has turned into twenty. And going from twenty to thirty is quite easy. I try to be disciplined, but it’s so easy to get swept up into the world of books.

NRT: Tell us about your current release.

KD: My latest book is THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING. It’s the fifth book in a multi-author continuity. The books revolve around a pet rescue in the fictional town of Spring Forest, North Carolina. Although it’s part of a series, my book stands alone.

THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING is about finding family and being willing to trust in love again. My heroine lost her family in a tragic accident as a teenager and longs to feel the love of a family again. She has an open heart whereas my hero has been burned and has closed his heart to love. He has to learn to trust again if he’s ever going to experience the joy of love again.

NRT: Why will readers fall in love with your hero?

KD: Because although Cade’s grumpy, he has a heart of gold. He’s a good guy. He’s the kind of man who cares for his neighbor. If someone is in need, he helps. He also loves his dad and is a great son. He tries to put up walls around his heart, but his true self always comes through.

NRT: Tell us something special about your heroine.

KD: Megan is a giving and loving woman. She’s a hopeful person and although life has dealt her some harsh blows, she hasn’t become bitter. She believes in family and love.

 NRT: How many books have you written? Is there a secret to writing books? Any favorite places to write?

KD: THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING is the sixth book that I’ve published. Before I was published, I filled many notebooks with stories that will never see the light of day. I recycled those notebooks and they’re now living happily as paper towels and paper cups.

If there’s a secret to writing books, I don’t know it. The only thing I know to do is to sit down and do the work. Some days are easier than others and the words just flow. Other days are more difficult and I’m lucky to get any words on the page. But little by little, the words find their way to the page until the entire story is told. I guess the closest thing to a secret I know is to keep writing. Keep showing up no matter how many or how few words you manage to write that day. Eventually you’ll get to type “THE END”.

I don’t have a favorite place to write. I have an office that I use early in the morning, about 5:00 a.m. or so while my husband is sleeping. Later in the day I might bring the laptop to my bedroom and work on the bed. Once the first draft is written, I print it out and put it in a purple three-ring binder. I tried other color binders, but they don’t work for me. Once I’m on the second draft, I can write anywhere. If the weather is good, I sit outside and work. If not, it’s the office or the bedroom.

NRT: Why do you write romance?

KD: I write romance because I love reading romance. I write the stories that I enjoy reading. This may sound a bit odd, but sometimes when I’m working on the first draft, I find myself thinking about the story and actually for a second think it’s a book I’m reading. Crazy, I know. But for that short period of time I want to pick up that book and finish reading it. Of course the only way to do that is to finish writing it.

NRT: When did you know you were a writer?

KD: Ooh. That’s a hard one. I spent many years writing and submitting before I finally sold my first book to Harlequin Special Edition. I guess I really knew I was a writer when I signed my first contract.

NRT: Are you an early bird writer or a night owl?  Do you try to keep a solid routine or is every day different?

KD:  I’m definitely not a night owl. I like to consider myself a middle of the day writer. In the early hours, I try and look at email, play around on social media, and reread the previous day’s words to kind of ease into the day. Occasionally I’m able to write good words, but most of the time not. But as the day progresses, I hit my stride. I’m generally done by late afternoon. If I’m on a roll, I might continue writing into the evening, but if not, I just shut it down. When I’m working on my second or third drafts, I might work later.

I try to keep a routine, but it might change from time to time, depending on where I am in the process. I don’t outline any more than is necessary for the proposal that’s required to sell the book, so the first draft is usually harder for me. There are times when I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen next. When that happens, I just stop writing for the day. But miraculously, the next day I know exactly what to do.

NRT: How do you celebrate when you finish a book?

KD:  I dance around the house. (I call it dancing even though others don’t agree.) Then I generally take a couple of days and clean up. The closer I get to the end of a book, the less inclined I am to clean or cook or anything. I am really focused on finishing. So, when the book is done, it’s laundry and cleaning. And I reward myself by reading.

NRT:   What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream (or whatever dessert you love)?

KD: I love Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. It is my favorite ice cream. My mother loved butter pecan ice cream and I like that, too. Whenever I eat it, I think of her.

NRT: I know exactly what you mean. Certain foods make me thing of people I love. Those are good memories. Are you ready for the Speed Round? Just say the first thing that comes to mind.

*          What’s the first book you remember reading?  I grew up in a house of readers. My mother and father were always reading. My siblings always had their noses in books as well. I recall having many books read to me before I could read. Hop on Pop, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, and Go Dog Go are some of the titles I remember. I don’t know which book is the first I read on my own, but the one that made the biggest impression on me as a kid was Frederick Douglass Freedom Fighter.

*           What's your favorite cartoon character? My favorite cartoon character is Snoopy. I am a big fan of Charlie Brown cartoons. I watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year. And I love Snoopy, Come Home, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown.

*        Where’s your favorite place to read? My favorite place to read depends on the weather. If it’s a warm, sunny day, I like to read on the front porch. When it’s cold or late, I like to read in my bedroom. But to be honest, any place I have a book and time to read is a good place.

*        What sound or noise do you love?  I love the sound of a baby laughing. Baby’s laughter is just so sweet and filled with joy.

*         What’s your favorite movie of all time? My favorite movie is Wuthering Heights. I was very young when I saw it on television for the first time. I watch it every time it comes on TCM. My dad loved that movie and whenever I watch it, I think of him.

*        What’s your favorite season? My favorite season is summer. I love the warm weather and the longer days. And all that bright sunshine.

*         Coffee or tea? Tea

*         Beach or mountains? Beach

*        Cats or dogs? Dogs

*         Savory or sweet? Sweet

NRT: Kathy, this has been such fun! Congratulations on the new release and thanks so much for being here today.

1      CONNECT WITH KATHY DOUGLASS:

Contact: https://kathydouglassbooks.com/contact/

Website: https://kathydouglassbooks.com/

Facebook: Author Kathy Douglass

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathydouglass7

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathy-douglass

Goodreads:  Kathy Douglass

Newsletter Signup: https://kathydouglassbooks.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Douglass/e/B01LXACZUE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

UP NEXT :

My next book is A BABY BETWEEN FRIENDS. It’s my sixth Sweet Briar Sweethearts book and features Joni Danielson and Lex Devlin.

PREVIOUS RELEASES: (Provide a link to your book list, if possible):

https://kathydouglassbooks.com/books/

 

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy is offering a copy of her first Sweet Briar Sweethearts book, HOW TO STEAL THE LAWMAN’S HEART. The giveaway is open  to U. S. only.

Answer the following question in the in comments below to be eligible to win Kathy's prize:

What is your favorite book?

***********************************************************

Kathy Douglass came by her love of reading naturally - both of her parents were readers. She would finish one book and pick up another. Then she attended law school and traded romances for legal opinions.

After the birth of her two children, her love of reading turned into a love of writing. Kathy now spends her days writing the small town contemporary novels she enjoys reading.

Kathy loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Facebook or her website kathydouglassbooks.com.

Learn a Secret with Kathy Douglass!

The Waitress's Secret

Harlequin Special Edition

ISBN: 978 -0-373-62373-0

THE STORY BLURB

On the run after a bad breakup, wealthy city girl Arden Wexford ends up stranded in small town Sweet Briar. When hunky chef Brandon Danielson comes to her rescue, offering shelter and a waitressing job until her car is fixed, she reluctantly accepts. But, wanting Brandon to like her for her, not for her money, she doesn’t mention her rich roots. The closer they get, the harder it is to untell the lie.

Brandon came here to start over. Things weren’t as they seemed with his ex-fiancee, and he got burned! But is it out of the frying pan, into the fire for Brandon as things heat up with this very special waitress?

MEET KATHY!

Kathy is a born reader who as a child always had her nose in a book. As she grew, that love of reading grew with her. She went from reading Bobbsey Twins to long, lush romances.  Then she attended law school and her reading was limited to legal opinions.

When her first child was born she stopped practicing law to become a stay at home mom. Her second child soon followed. With two little ones in the house, her reading was limited to children’s books. When her kids began school, Kathy renewed her relationship with romances. After a while, she felt the urge to write the love stories she enjoyed reading. After spending years learning her craft, Kathy sold to Harlequin Special Edition. She now spends her days helping her characters find their happily ever after.

Lara: How often to you get lost in a story?

Kathy: It happens quite often. I’ll tell myself “just one more chapter” over and over until the book is finished. More times than not, the night is over as well and I have to start the day. Being groggy most of the day is worth it for the pleasure of stepping into someone else’s life.

I hope to make readers experience that same feeling when they read my books.

Lara: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

Kathy: I would love to invite Trent Knight to dinner. He’s the hero of my first book, How to Steal the Lawman’s Heart. I fell a little bit in love with him while writing his story.

Lara: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

Kathy: Holding a book that I wrote in my hands.

Lara: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Kathy: Contemporary romance. I do like the occasional historical. I used to read horror stories, but when I found myself checking under my bed for monsters or worse, I knew it was time to give them up.

Lara: What do you do to unwind and relax?

Kathy: I read. I also enjoy watching tennis and baseball. When the weather is nice I enjoy riding my bike. I also like to play the piano.

Lara: What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do?

Kathy: I write the type of books I enjoy reading.

Lara: What inspires you daily?

Kathy: The desire to be able to reflect on my day every night and feel like I made good use of my time.

Lara: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Kathy: When I write my first draft I listen to smooth jazz. I create a soundtrack for each book. Generally the hero and heroine have their own songs. When I revise I listen to those songs.

Lara: Who’s your favorite villain?

Kathy: I don’t have one. I always like the good guys and gals.

Lara’s GOTTA ASK:  What are the next five books on your ‘to be read’ pile?

Kathy’s GOTTA ANSWER: There are so many. Many of them aren’t out yet which might be good since I have deadlines looming in front of me. I love Harlequin Special Edition and I read most of those books each month. I’m really excited to read A Wedding to Remember by Joanna Sims. I love amnesia stories.

Other books on my list aren’t out yet. I can’t wait to read Tempest by Beverly Jenkins. Sadly it won’t be out until next year. I’m also looking forward to reading The Heat Between Us by Cheris Hodges, A Tiara Under the Tree by Carolyn Hector, Texas Rebels: Elias by Linda Warren and The Hero’s Redemption by Janice Kay Johnson.

FIND KATHY ON THE WEB!

Contact

Website

Facebook: Author Kathy Douglass

UP NEXT: The Rancher and the City Girl (January 2018)

DON'T MISS How to Steal the Lawman’s Heart (February, 2017)

Leave a comment for your chance to win one of Kathy's books! (North America only)!

Note: Please leave an email address for notification. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.