Cathy Bryant ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Cathy Bryant is telling us about her new book, A Path Less Traveled (Miller's Creek series, book 2 -- October 2010). She has offered an autographed 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.
First and foremost, I’m a Christ-follower. In addition to that, I’m a wife, mother, Nana, church accompanist, music teacher, and writer. I enjoy Bible study, blogging, reading, gardening, home improvement projects, walking/hiking, riding my bicycle, swimming, canoeing, and camping. A Texas gal since birth, I live in a century-old Texas farmhouse with my husband and a phobia-ridden cat.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was saved at a church camp when I was twelve years old. I truly believe that my life is at least partly the result of my grandmother’s prayers for me. At the age of sixteen, I surrendered my life to special service for Christ, not having any idea at that time where God would lead. Never could I have imagined that I would one day be a minister’s wife and a writer.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Definitely scheduled, but that applies to all of my life, not just my writing. I’m a keeper of lists, and every day has an agenda! =)

Stubborn, or compliant?
A little of both. I’ve always been a people-pleaser (a disease I’m trying to overcome), so compliance is part of my genetic makeup. Having said that, I also have a lot of Irish blood in me and can be stubborn as an old mule!

Organized or completely chaotic?
Organized! (Though it’s hard to keep all my little scraps of paper for story ideas and blog posts in any order.) Hubby calls me CDO, which is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder alphabetized!

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Though I can’t think of a specific story to tell, I can be cool as a cucumber in situations where most people would be chomping their nails to the quick. But I’m also a worrier. (Another bad habit I’m trying to break).

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Interesting question, especially since the heroine in the novel I’m currently writing has made me come face-to-face with some of the unpleasant parts of my personality. My worst trait is definitely pride/defensiveness, since I’m a recovering perfectionist. My best trait is kindness, though it’s been known to land me in trouble a few times.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I feel like I’ve blabbed my whole life to cyberspace, so I’m not sure there’s anything interesting to tell that people haven’t already read. People may not know that I’m a published composer and basically self-taught on the piano. Also, I’ve been a blonde, brunette and a redhead. (It really is true that blondes have more fun!) =)

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I’ve had people compare my style to Karen Kingsbury and Jan Karon, but I’m not sure I could say the same thing. Quite honestly, I don’t have aspirations of being anyone other than who God wants me to be. I would consider my stories as G-rated, mainly because I don’t feel comfortable reading or writing anything else.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m currently working on book three in the Miller’s Creek novels, entitled “The Way of Grace.” It tells the story of a prim and proper perfectionist whose spiritual pride verges on legalism, and the lovable free-spirit who messes up her perfect world.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Website: http://www.catbryant.com/

Blog: http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cathy.england.bryant

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CathyBryant

Book blurb:

“Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband's life, she’s determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart?

Andy Tyler has had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller's Creek, Texas is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he's not prepared for falling in love--especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career.

Will Andy and Trish be able to see past their limited human understanding to take a path less traveled?”

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

I’m very visual when it comes to my characters, so I choose pics that resemble them early in the story-planning process. I would choose Sandra Bullock to play the part of Trish James, Matthew McConaughey for Andy Tyler, and Joey Lawrence (the long-ago child version) for Little Bo.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?

http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/2010/11/fwc-path-less-traveled-by-cathy-bryant.html

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?

If you’d like to read snippets from reviews for “A Path Less Traveled,” this link will help: http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/2007/11/more-reviews-of-path-less-traveled.html. I’d love to hear your thoughts about the book if you read the story. You can e-mail me at catbry1 at yahoo dot com.

~~~~~

**USA and Canada residents only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of A Path Less Traveled!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.
+2 A Path Less Traveled

+2 Read about and enter my other giveaway of The Plan. Please check this out! It is an amazing new ebook that you would certainly benefit from!

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (December 10) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (December 16). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 17th, 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.