Thursday 3 October 2013

Author Interview - Kathryn Cushman

kathryn

Author Kathryn "Katie" Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the author of five novels, including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. She is also the co-author of Angel Song with Sheila Walsh. Kathryn and her family currently live in Santa Barbara, California.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I was raised in the rural south. I grew up surrounded by storytellers— which to me is one of the great things about the south. I've loved "story" for as long as I can remember.

When and why did you begin writing?
All my life I had known that I wanted to write "some day". When my husband's uncle (who I adored!) was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I begin thinking about what a diagnosis like that would mean for me, and what I would regret. Other than the fact that I obviously didn't want to leave my family, the thing that really stuck out was that I would regret never attempting to do the one thing I'd always wanted to do. I began praying about it and soon after received confirmation that it was time for me to give it a go.

When did you first know you could be a writer?
When I first started writing I knew that the chances of getting published were slim, but I believed that I was supposed to be writing, whether or not I was ever published. So, I think I really became a writer the day I started writing. I started getting some positive feedback from conferences and  contests, which boosted my confidence that maybe I could break in to the business. Honestly, though, I didn't know I could be a published writer until the day I got my first contract offer. 

What genre are you most comfortable writing? 
I like women's fiction. My writing style tends to make for quick reading, but I ALWAYS want my stories to have a deeper meaning. 

Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I'm currently in the first draft of a story about a young woman whose father has just died in a car accident. Upon going through his paperwork, she realizes that the mother and siblings that she had been told had died in a fire over twenty years ago, are still alive. The book is her journey to figure out what happened and why. I doesn't have a title yet.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I think a lot of us tend to believe that when God calls us to something, His "blessing" means it will be easy—but that is not always the case. In Chasing Hope, I use the Children of Israel as a parallel, but I could just have readily used the disciples and the hardships they faced. Sometimes, being called means remaining faithful in spite of extreme difficulty.

How much of the book is realistic?
Pretty much all of it. Sabrina, the main character, suffers from some of the same medical issues as my daughter. Every bit of her experiences were pulled from my own family. For the running part of the book, I actually took up running as research. I enjoy exercise, but do not enjoy running. That part was a challenge!

What books have most influenced your life?
20 years ago I read a book called, "The Revelation" by Jean Grant. I'd been raised in church all my life, but after reading that book, God was more real to me than He had ever been. That's when I knew I wanted to write Christian fiction, not just fiction.

What contributes to making a writer successful?
Persistance. Willingness to take critique seriously. Great friends who are willing to help get out the word about a new book. Did I mention persistence?

When you wish to end your career, stop writing, and look back on your life, what thoughts would you like to have?
I want to know that my books made people think, re-evaluate, or consider things in a new way.

Chasing Hope

Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman A Personal Drama of Shattered Dreams and Second Chances A talented runner fully committed to Olympic dreams, Sabrina Rice's future was shattered by a devastating diagnosis. One forfeited scholarship and several years later, she has new goals and dreams that have nothing to do with running--something that's become far too painful to think on. Until the day she sees Brandy Philip running across the community college campus, easily outpacing security. Sabrina immediately recognizes world-class speed, and it's all the more painful that it belongs to a teenage graffiti artist. When a chance encounter brings the two young women together, Sabrina becomes Brandy's best hope for staying out of juvenile hall. Soon, Sabrina begins to feel an uncomfortable nudge that her new life is just about to be toppled...that God may be calling her to minister to this talented but troubled girl.
 

chasing hope tour

Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/17/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Books Sold - 6 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012

Some of you have asked me for my total number of books sold to evaluate KDP Select so here it is. Bear in mind, that results will vary based on genre and author. Good luck and remember, Keep Moving Forward.

Total - 120,836

1. Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out
Amazon Kindle - 42,559
Paperback -
Smashwords -

2. Frequent Traveller
Amazon Kindle - 35277
Paperback -
Smashwords -

3. Dora's Essentials - Books, Blogs & Smiles 1
Amazon Kindle - 462
Smashwords -

4. Mirror Me Martha (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle - 281
Smashwords -

5. Drive On Hope (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle - 190
Smashwords -

6. Blog-A-Licious Directory 2012
Amazon Kindle - 1
Smashwords -

7. Pandora's Reading Room 1
Amazon Kindle -
Paperback - N/A

8. The Cat That Barked (Short Story)
Amazon Kindle -

9. Dora's Essentials - Examining Anxiety
Amazon Kindle -

10. Dora's Essentials - Books, Blogs & Smiles 2
Amazon Kindle -

11. Elevenses from Around the World
Amazon Kindle -

12. Genetically Modified Foods vs. Sustainability
Amazon Kindle -

Blog-A-Licius - Sherbet Blossom

SherbetBlossom

Blog-A-Licious

Dealightfully Frugal

Blog-A-Licious - The Few, The Proud, The Wife

Blog-A-Licious

My Soul Slippers

Blog-A-Licous - Textbook Mommy

Blog-A-Licious - Blue Frogs Legs

Blog-A-Licious - Pretty All True

Pretty All True

Blog-A-Licious - tbaoo

tbaoo

Blog-A-Licious

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Blog-A-Licious - The Invisible Art

Blog-A-Licious - Rediscovering Domesticity

Rediscovering Domesticity

Blog-A-Licious - Quiver Full

Blog-A-Licious - Cori's Big Mouth

Blog-A-Licious - Great Fun

Greatfun4kids

Blog-A-Licious - Busy Wife

Blog-A-Licious - Steps To Happiness

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Blog-A-Licious - Toby & Max


Blog-A-Licious - Amelie

Raising Amelie

Blog-A-Licious - Peas In A Pod

Blog-A-Licious - Riley

Blognostics - Poetry

BlogNostics

My Awards - September 2010

My Awards - September 2010
Awarded By Jo Frances

My Awards - May 2011

My Awards - May 2011
Awarded By Alejandro Guzman

My Awards - May 2011

My Awards - May 2011
Awarded by Kriti Mukherjee

My Awards - April 2011

My Awards - April 2011
Awarded By Roy Durham

My Awards - June 2011

My Awards - June 2011
Awarded By Sulekha Rawat

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