Please join me in welcoming
Catherine Leggitt.
Catherine, can you tell us where
you're from?
This is actually a complicated
question for me, except to say I am a fifth generation Californian. I was born
in Oakland, and adopted at two weeks of age. My new parents took me to San Luis
Rey in southern California. I spent my childhood on a wonderful farm where my
father raised oranges. From a very stable childhood, I have moved all over
California during my adulthood (be careful what you wish for). In the
twenty-six years I’ve been married to Bob we’ve moved nine times. I truly
believe he’s part gypsy.
Nine times! That does sound
gypsyish. What inspired you to begin writing?
Although I always said I wanted
to write and wrote a few stories in college mostly for my children, I didn’t
get serious about writing until Bob retired early and moved me to his dream
house in Grass Valley, CA. We lived in a lodge-like log house on fourteen
wooded acres with a Grandma-Moses view. BUT, I was a day’s drive from my
children and grandchildren, and I had to leave my friends, too. My allergies
went insane, AND then menopause hit. Talk about a crazy sad time. I desperately
needed a diversion and found it at the keyboard. Down the hill from us was a
gray house. Although we’d lived there three years at that time, we’d never seen
the occupants. I made up a story about why those people never came out of their
house. Seven years and ten rewrites later I published that story as PAYNE &
MISERY, the first Christine Sterling Mystery.
I'm so glad to know about your
inspiration for PAYNE & MISERY. Now I have to wonder if Christine is
inspired by someone real, too. Do you have a mentor?
In the early days of my writing
journey, I attended the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference where I met
the amazing author Susanne Lakin, who writes under the name CS Lakin. I credit
her with keeping my enthusiasm for writing going during the days I knew I
didn’t know enough to write, but the desire wouldn’t go away. Many times, I’d
be teetering at the quitting place ready to jump when I’d sit down at the
computer and find an encouraging email from Susanne. We met for lunch at times
and brainstormed plot ideas. She’s truly been a godsend. I thank God that she
shared her tenacity, expertise, and friendship at a time I needed it so much.
She sounds like a wonderful
friend. Sometimes we just need that extra encouragement. What are your current
writing goals?
With three published books and
two more finished, my immediate goal is to find a publisher for the last two. I
have come so far on this writing journey. IMHO these last books could be good
sellers, maybe best sellers. I have another book plotted, but I don’t feel the
pressing urge to complete it. At this point, I’m praying and waiting on God for
direction. Another short-term goal is to attend the ACFW conference in
September of this year. Perhaps I will hook up with an agent or generate
interest in my books there.
Congrats on getting to attend the
ACFW conference this year. I can't wait to find out you've contracted with a
new publisher after you attend. How do you juggle the promotional aspect of
writing with the actual task of writing?
BLEAH! Not my cup of tea, the
promotional aspect. I do it gritting my teeth, the same way I take yucky
medicine—because I know it’s good for me. Occasionally I am called to do
inspirational speaking, which is extremely outside my comfort zone, but always
turns out to be fun and special once it’s over. I’ve sold a lot of books doing
that. I keep the local Christian bookstore supplied with my books and
participate in all the local author stuff I hear about. I spend way too many
hours on social media most every day—primarily Facebook, although I’m also on
Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads. And I try to go to a writer’s conference and
sell my books there at least once a year. This all conflicts with writing time,
of course. If I am in the midst of an inspiration, like just happened in
finishing my latest book, then writing is mostly all I get accomplished. My
husband insists I have a life outside writing.
Funny how husbands think we need
lives aside from writing! I must say I love marketing as much as you do. How
has your life changed since you wrote your first book?
I have to say I’ve never worked
so hard at anything in my life as I have on my books and the payoff has been
increased skill at writing. It’s a good feeling to write a book. Even better
when people appreciate your work or when God uses it to speak to a heart. Maybe
no one but me understands how that has changed the way I feel about myself.
Exploring themes as I write has also given me a greater understanding of who I
am and who God is. Many years ago, I prayed for creativity. God continues to
answer that prayer and for that I am very grateful.
I love how God uses the tools He
gives us to change us. Who is your most memorable character and from what
novel?
Probably Stryker from the book I
just finished, THE ROAD TO TERMINUS. She is an eleven-year-old bald homeless
child in St. Louis in 1955 when the story opens. Cars are her special passion
and she can name make, year, and model just by seeing the front or back and
sometimes just from the outline. But she cannot read. Her favorite possession
is a stuffed monkey her mother told her she must always keep with her because
it is valuable.
As one of Catherine's critique
partners, I can vouch for the endearing nature of Stryker. I love this
character.
Catherine will be giving away a
signed copy of Payne & Misery. To enter the contest, you MUST leave your
email address. You may spell it out if you'd like: someone (at) something (dot)
com.
