Cathy Bryant ~ Interview + Giveaway!

Today author Cathy Bryant is telling us about her new Ebook, Texas Roads. She has offered to send a copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Cathy! Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a Texas gal by birth and choice, wife of my “super” man, Mom to two amazing sons and a beautiful daughter-in-love, and Nana to the most beautiful grandson ever. Most importantly, I’m a daughter of The King!

In addition to all of the above, I’m also a teacher and writer.

How long have you been writing? How many books do you have published?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Since I’m approaching the half-a-century mark, let’s just say “a long, long time” and leave it at that. ;)

Texas Roads is my first published novel, but I have two devotions that have been published in devotional books: Spirit & HEART: A Devotional Journey and Faith & Finances: In God We Trust.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in you books?
There are so many that I want to write like, especially Francine Rivers and Susan May Warren. But I’m not there yet. I think my books have some of the witty/sassy humor of Susan May Warren’s and Mary Connealy’s books, though once again I don’t feel like I’ve quite arrived. I’d like my stories to have the community feeling of Kaye Dacus’ Brides of Bonneterre series and Jan Karon’s Mitford series (only Texas-style!)

In your own words tell us a little about Texas Roads.
Texas Roads is a contemporary love story about a disillusioned widow’s search for home. It was also a finalist in the 2009 ACFW Genesis contest.

This is book one in the Miller’s Creek, Texas series. Book Two is tentatively titled A Path Too Narrow, and Book Three will be called The Way of Grace.

Blurb:

Dani Davis longs for a place to call home. With quaint country charm, quirky characters, and loads of business potential, Miller’s Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over. . .except for the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. Dani secretly finances renovations to downtown, until malicious rumors force her to choose between keeping her involvement a secret and the home for which she’s always longed. Then a devastating discovery propels her down a road she never expected to travel.

Cowboy mayor Steve Miller is determined to rescue his dying hometown. When vandals threaten the renovation, he can’t help but suspect Dani, whose strange behavior has become fodder for local gossips. Can Steve and Dani call a truce for a higher cause, and help Dani realize the true meaning of home?

What made you want to write this story?
I’m a homebody and a nester. Home is very important to me. For years it seemed my family and I were destined to be wanderers. Just about the time we’d start to feel settled, God would move us to another small Texas town. Through the process, He taught me that home isn’t a place at all. Instead, our home is Him. Nothing else will fill that home-sized hole in our hearts.

So my journey became Dani’s spiritual journey in the story.

What research did you have to do for this book?
Most of my research took place in every town I’ve ever lived in. They say to write what you know, and I know small-town Texas (the good, the bad AND the ugly)!

My youngest son lives in Dallas, and part of the story is set there, so I did some location research. I also wanted to make sure that the legal/business aspects of the story rang true. For that my oldest son, who is an attorney, helped out.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?

I LOVE this question, because I’m very visual and had to have an idea in my head of what the characters looked like.

For Dani, Reese Witherspoon is the actress of choice, and for Steve, a younger version of Scott Bakula (think Quantum Leap years). For Mama Beth I picture a plumper version of Dame Judi Dench, even though I see some of Aunt Bea from the Andy Griffith show in her as well.

For Andy, Dani’s attorney, it’s Matthew McConaughey. I fell in love with Andy’s character; he’ll be showing up as the hero in Book Two of the Miller’s Creek, Texas series.

What are you working on now or going to write next?

I’m over halfway through with the first draft of Book Two, A Path Too Narrow. I’ve had to put it aside for the past few weeks to get Texas Roads launched, but I’m itching to get back at it (after a few days to catch up on sleep, that is)!

I also have the main characters slated for Book Three, have a couple of ideas for women’s fiction novels, and ideas for a romantic suspense, another western-style romance, a Biblical fiction novel, and an allegorical fantasy. (At this rate, I’ll be busy until I’m an octogenarian!)

How can readers get in contact with you?
I have a guestbook on my website at www.CatBryant.com where they can reach me. They can also get hold of me at my blog WordVessel (http://WordVessel.blogspot.com), or by e-mail at catbry1 (at) yahoo (dot) com. Look me up on Facebook and Twitter, too. I’m there at least once a day! =)

What are you currently reading?
I recently finished A Case For Love, book three in the Brides of Bonneterre series by Kaye Dacus, and just started Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I’m not sure how surprising it is, but I’m a published composer of several children’s songs.

What is your favorite birthday memory?
Hmmm, okay, sitting. . . thinking. . .sorry, I can’t think of one. Is it good enough to be glad that I have one every year? =)

FAVORITES:
Cake flavor/kind?
Cheesecake!

Most treasured birthday gift?
Jesus!

Disney Princess?
Cinderella

What is/was this book’s release date?
Texas Roads released in e-book format in January 2010, and in print format in March 2010.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter of this book? http://texasroadsbycathybryant.blogspot.com/2010/01/texas-roads-by-cathy-bryant-chapter-one.html

~~~~~

**Anyone can enter this giveaway!**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an ebook copy of Texas Roads!

To enter:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win).

*Please specify that you want to be included in the contest!

*If you want an extra entry, become one of my followers.

*The comment is mandatory. (Please, say in the comment if you are a follower!! It makes my job easier when you do.) You will not be entered unless you leave a comment. If you are already a follower, and then you leave a comment, you will still get two entries in the contest.

*The contest will run from today (March 5) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 11). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner on Friday the 12th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.