“Hi! I’m Kathryn Cushman, but my friends call me Katie. I hope you will too. (I’ve reserved “Kathryn” for my Mom when she’s mad… and those pesky telemarketers.)” Join her below and get to know “Katie” a little better.
How was one of your book heroines, “A Lady in Defiance” of the times or circumstances in which she lived?
Charlotte Montgomery from Fading Starlight was a woman of defiance. She was shunned from the Hollywood Glamour crowd back in the early 50’s. In spite of the fact that she moved into seclusion and mostly lived the life of a hermit, she continues to live her own “glamour” life, wearing exquisite gowns and jewels that were designed just for her. Sadly, her defiance worked against her healing and moving forward with her life. However she does live her life on her own terms— at least until she realizes that perhaps there is something better.
I see that your novel Chasing Hope touches on “when dreams die.” Do you have an example of maybe where one dream died and another one began?
Chasing Hope is very closely based on my daughter’s struggle with illness and physical pain. While she never dreamed of being an Olympic athlete like my protagonist, her dreams always involved a pain free life. Now, as a young adult, her dream is to help others with their own pain. She is currently in the Philippines doing just that. While I still pray that she will one day be pain free, the struggle has caused her to become the person she is meant to be. I believe many, many people will reap the benefits of the death of that dream.
I see you are a fellow book lover! What are some of the latest books you’ve crushed on?
“The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah has been my favorite book so far this year. I also really enjoyed “The Kitchen House” by Kathleen Grissom.
A lot of people select “one word” for the upcoming year to reflect upon and live by. Do you have one word that you continually turn to, or a word or phrase that brings you excitement?
The word for me this year is “faith.” I have really struggled in the past few years with feelings of inadequacy. This year I am trying to focus on my belief that God has a purpose for me, and I need to stop worrying so much about outcomes and just keep putting one foot in front of the other in the direction I feel called to go.
Can you give us a sneak peak of what you are working on next?
I’m in the very early stages of my next book. All I can say at this point is that it involves eating for comfort and social media perceptions. I’ll find out the rest as I write it.
A Tale of Unexpected Friendship and Old Hollywood Glamour
Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging–a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she’s surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingénue who lives in the nearby mansion.
Kendall Joiner wants Lauren’s help uncovering the old woman’s secrets. In return, she’ll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren’s tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.
The Giveaway
Thank you so much Katie, and as a bonus, she has offered to giveaway a copy of Fading Starlight to one lucky winner. Due to shipping costs, the winner must have a US address. Enter through the Rafflecopter below:
The giveaway will run through May 20, 2016 and the winner will be announced on May 21.