Q&A with Catherine West (and a giveaway!)

ByBecky Wade
144 Comments

I’m hosting Cathy West for a Q&A today, friends! Thanks for joining us here, Cathy.  In celebration of Memorial Day I’ve created a giveaway that includes Cathy’s brand new book, Where Hope Begins.  Also included: my newest book, Falling for You, and Denise Hunter’s newest book, Honeysuckle Dreams.  Be sure to leave a comment on this post to be entered to win!  -Becky

Can you tell us a bit about your new release, Where Hope Begins?

I would love to! Where Hope Begins is really about so many things, grief and coping with loss, learning how to live through the unbearable, but it’s also about grace and love and forgiveness, and of course, hope.

The story deals with some heavy topics, adultery, loss of a child, suicide. What made you decide to tackle them all in this particular story?

Actually, this was a story I didn’t want to write. I really had little experience with any of the situations my characters have to deal with. But the story came to me one night, so clearly and vividly, that I felt very strongly it was something I had to write. And as soon as I began, the words flowed without stopping until I reached the end. It was weird. I’ve never had a writing experience like that before, and I doubt I will again. Just as I was getting near the end of the first draft, I got news that really clinched my belief that God had a purpose for this book. We found out that very close friends of ours were going to be separating. And shortly after that, another couple, same story. I knew then that I was writing this book for a reason, and any doubt I had about it fell away.

You became a “Mimi” last April! What’s it been like with this new addition to your life, juggling family and writing?

It has actually been wonderful! Daycare is expensive here, so I volunteer to look after Annabel a couple days a week. Three at the most. Admittedly, the older she gets, the busier those days are. But I’m learning to really schedule my writing time on the days I don’t have her, so things actually do get done. This is mostly discipline on my part, to not spend two hours on Facebook that could have been spent writing!! LOL! It’s been a bit tricky the past month as we’ve been leading up to release day, most of my free time has been spent doing necessary social media things. But I’m looking forward to more writing time in the future. Family is everything to me, and I love that I’m able to spend this time with Annabel now.

For anyone who may be worried that this might be a morose or depressing read, what can you say to alleviate their fears?

While it’s true that there is a lot of heartache in the story, there’s also a lot of healing. Savannah’s journey is not easy, but it’s also filled with sweet and funny moments. There is laughter here, and the people she meets along the way are well worth the extra tissues one may need!

What do you hope your readers take away from this novel?

I don’t know what readers will take away, I’ll leave that one up to them and God, but my experience in writing it was certainly eye-opening. I was really able to put myself in the position of someone who felt completely abandoned, not only by her husband, but also by God. It was a beautiful thing to be able to see Savannah’s journey unfold. She has so many questions and doubts, so much heartache and loss to bear – yet through it all, she is given constant reminders that she is never really alone, that God has not left her, and that there is peace and healing to be found when we are ready and willing. I think those are important lessons for all of us.

For those who may not know, you live on the island of Bermuda. What’s it like living on an island in the middle of the Atlantic?

It’s different. Though I was born and raised on Bermuda, so it’s really home to me. We’re just a short flight from most major cities, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Toronto, so it’s quite easy to travel, and I do, a lot. J Bermuda is a relatively peaceful place. Our roads are small and the speed limit is 20 mph, though of course one rarely drives at that speed. It is beautiful, turquoise waters, pink sand (it is actually, due to the coral reefs we have surrounding us), flowers blooming all year long. There’s a quiet pace to life here that you won’t find in many places. We have no shopping malls or chain stores like Starbucks (sadly), most people do outdoorsy stuff like tennis and sailing and other water sports. We have great golf courses. And of course, the very best thing, no snow!!

Congratulations to Linda May, winner of the below giveaway!

 

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Her most recent novel, The Memory of You, released March 2017 and Where Hope Begins releases in May 2018. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com

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Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children. She absolutely loves writing funny, heartwarming, and inspirational contemporary Christian romance.

144 Comments

  1. What a precious little girl shown in the picture! My husband and I plan to stay home on Memorial Day. We plan to have hot dogs, potato salad, and oribably the watermelon i got at the store today.

  2. We plan to attend several different historic festivals and then end the weekend with a generational family gathering.

  3. Wonderful interview, and I loved seeing real Bermuda shorts in Catherine’s family photo!

  4. We are in PA helping our daughter & family move (in anticipation of a wedding and blended family come September!). But I think we are taking a break from packing and unpacking to spend a little time around the grill for burgers and brats. Not sure what else we’ll have since I pretty much packed her kitchen in boxes yesterday. LOL. Thank you for sharing about Cathy’s new book. Hard subjects but unfortunately becoming more & more familiar in many families.

    1. True they are. I think it helps to be able to talk about them, even through fiction. It may open the door to opportunities for people to share with others.

  5. I’d never heard of Cathy West, so I appreciate you introducing me to this new(to me) author through your interview. I’ll add her books to my TBR list.

  7. This isn’t an entry, Becky, because I already have all three of those books! But just wanted to jump on and say how MUCH I enjoyed Where Hope Lives and to say thanks to Cathy for the great interview! I’ve loved all your books I’ve read, but this was my VERY favorite!

  8. Annabel is adorable. I love the message of hope and healing. These are vitals during this time of upheaval and unrest around the world. Knowing where we can find peace is a beacon of hope to weary souls.

  9. Catherine, your granddaughter is just precious! I popped over to Amazon to read the description of your book and check out some reviews. It sounds awesome but teary! We don’t have special plans for the weekend.

  10. Very much enjoyed the interview with Catherine West. I’d very much love to read about Savannah’s journey in “Where Hope Begins”. I have added this book to my T BR list. And may I say what an extremely generous giveaway to celebrate Memorial Day! I would be thrilled if I were the fortunate one selected. Thanks for the chance. <3

    Our Memorial Day plans are traveling 6 hours today to spend it with great friends in the St. Louis area. Honestly, they are our family not just friends. This gal was there for me numerous times when I was going through a difficult time always with love, extending a lifeline or just as a sounding board. The last time was when we were 24/7 full time caregivers to my Mom with Alzheimer. It would be weeks that I was inside with no contact to the outside world other than through Glenda's phone calls and care packages that she sent. She is my sister by choice. <3 We are going up for some fun time – going to some neat places to sight see and take photographs (both men are big into photography) and eat at some delicious restaurants and just relax and catch up with each others lives more so than our weekly phone calls. Looking forward to it.

  11. My Memorial Day plans are simple.We are having cake to celebrate my youngest daughter’s birthday which was last week on Saturday. The rest of the weekend will spend time with family just having fun.Unfortunately on Monday I have to work a half day but we will have a mini cookout when I get off.

  12. I’m hoping to spend time with our married children over the weekend. They live busy lives and we don’t see them very often. Either way, it will be a relaxing day with burgers on the grill. As the child of a broken home, your story sounds intriguing. My life was greatly affected by my parents separation and divorce. Silent Wounds often affect the children as well as the adults.

  13. No special plans! The weatherman has possible storms predicted for all three days, so we may be dodging raindrops!

  14. I am visiting my mom and we will grill hamburgers and just enjoy our time together. I enjoyed the post, Annabel is adorable! Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  15. My husband and I will be at church on Sunday and with friends on Monday for a bbq.

  16. Cathy’s book is on my to-read list. Can’t wait. My weekend will be filled with baseball, so that’s always fun. Hopefully the chance of thunderstorms will stay away!

    PS I’m halfway through Falling for You and absolutely love it!!!!

  18. It must be amazing to live on an island, especially Bermuda! This book is one my most anticipated reads and I can’t wait to dive in. I’m going to barbecue with my family on Mememorial’s Day.

  19. Becky, you and Denise Hunter are my two favorite authors. I love all of your books. Catherine West’s book sounds great, and I’ll have to put it on my TBR list. I have never read any of her books before. For Memorial Day, my family will be watching our local Memorial Day parade and service afterwards, and then grilling out with family.

  20. I have no special plans, but more than likely we will go see my parents or my husband’s parents. We need to do that more.

    I’m jealous about living in a beautiful place. I live in between Dallas and Ft Worth and there is a ton of concrete and noise. Someday I hope to live in a small, beautiful town.

  21. Catherine, your book sounds like a wonderful read! Thanks, girls, for the give-away and God bless you as you write your great books for us to enjoy!!

  22. Great interview. 🙂 Between this interview and a recent FB party, I feel like we’ve become friends, Catherine! haha I can’t wait to read your book!

  23. We are decorating graves for the second year in a row!!! We always did it every year until we moved to Florida in 1999, we have moved back home last year and are able to do this again. Then we will be going to our sons on Saturday to grill out.

    wfnren at aol dot com

  24. I loved your interview and can’t wait to pick up one of your books!they look wonderful!!!

  25. I have no big plans for this weekend. Probably clean out some closets and get rid of things we don’t need. May do a little shopping with my 16 year old daughter (who loves to shop).

  26. Great interview. I look forward to reading Cathy’s book. Since we’ve just moved to GA, on Sunday after church, we are making our first trip to Dollywood with several church families. It should be a fun 2 days and great opportunity to make new friends.

  27. My weekend plans…My youngest graduates from High School (home schooling) on Saturday. Big ceremony, lots of celebrating, lots of tears, and food! Then Sunday is my husband’s BIG family reunion. Over 100 people show up each year. THEN Monday..Nothing planned! Yay! Just a celebration of our countries freedom by honoring our Vets!

  28. I usually don’t get Memorial Day off, so we’ll probably just be low-key. Grill out and relax outside. And, of course, I hope to use part of my long weekend to read! 🙂

    1. That is to say, I usually don’t get that day off, but this year, I do! So very grateful for that.

  29. I’m really looking forward to reading your book, Cathy. And Bermuda sounds lovely.

    I’m cleaning the house real good Memorial Day weekend. We have my baby’s high school graduation the following weekend. Hard to believe.

  30. I have no plans so far, before my husband passed away 18 months ago from Kidney Cancer we would always be calling friends & family for a cookout on our deck. My husband love to cook & entertain & we would be preparing stuff days ahead of time, I so miss that. I hear people say your grief gets easier as time goes by, sometimes I don’t agree with them. Have a great weekend ahead & Thanks for this amazingly generous giveaway.

  31. We will probably have a quiet and relaxing Memorial Day weekend. We don’t have any plans so anything we will do will be impromptu and that’s fine with us. Your little Annabel is adorable!

  32. We plan on having a relaxing weekend spending time with family and grilling!

  33. I will be having a quiet weekend at home. I hope to get some good reading done. I enjoyed the description of Cathy ‘s book and would love to win your giveaway.

  34. Thank you for the fun interview! I have heard wonderful things about Catherine West’s book Where Hope Begins. She is a new-to-me author and I will be adding this to me “want to read” shelf on Goodreads! I love her family photo 🙂 We live in Minnesota and for Memorial weekend we always head up north for the weekend. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. I will be enjoying family time and reading! Thank you so much for the chance to win.

  35. Great interview. I enjoyed reading the story of how God brought this book narrative to, and through, Catherine’s writing.

    Memorial weekend in the Lunsford home involves my husband going fishing with a veteran friend of his. Which means I get to use the time alone to recharge introverted batteries with some reading or movie watching.

  36. My husband and I will be staying home on Memorial Day. We’ll be flying our flag and grilling steaks.

  37. Thanks for sharing about your book. Sounds like a good read. Super cute granddaughter! Becky, I love your books and your book covers are some of my favorites! I have to work some of Memorial weekend, but the rest, I am spending time with my family. Have a great weekend!

  38. I’m really looking forward to reading this book! I love when Christian authors really tackle hard issues and infuse grace, hope, and love into the worst circumstances. Surprisingly, this is my first time heading about Catherine West, so I’m glad I’ve got a new author to as to my collection.

    This Memorial Day weekend, I’ll be doing a lot of reading, blogging, and packing for a trip to Oregon for my sister’s wedding. Hubs and I also get to go see one of our friends in a stand-up comedy show. Looks like a great weekend. Thanks for the interview and giveaway, Becky!

  39. My Memorial Day plans this year are not very exciting. I’ll be picking strawberries and hanging out with a friend who is visiting from Ohio. 🙂 And I’ll probably be in charge of fixing supper that night.

  41. Memorial Day plans … relax, I guess. My husband – a combat veteran – should be home from work, so I am planning to spend the day with him and our kids, read a good book, sew a little, go for a walk. Yes, I have plenty to be thankful for – a peaceful, quiet life.

  43. I really enjoy spending what little spare time I have reading your books.
    My Memorial Day plans concist of lots of college school work and a small picnic with my mom, dad, brother, and grandparents. Nothing too exciting. 🙂

  46. I feel like Where Hope Begins will give me a serious book hangover in the best way. I love the theme of trusting God to give us hope and healing in our hopeless situations. I can’t wait to read.

    On Memorial Day, I plan to eat BBQ, soak up the sun, and watch the Hallmark movie marathon. And, read, of course.

  47. Tomorrow is my daughter Rylee’s 5th birthday so we are headed to Springfield (the nearest big town) to play! The park, the library, Steak and Shake and maybe the toy store(Toys R Us has a closing sale going on). Sunday and Monday we plan to just chill. Maybe spend some time at my in-laws…. Yay for relaxed family time!

  48. My Memorial Weekend plans consists of a family picnic and some fishing….although I will be reading more than fishing :).

  49. I am planning to spend to with my family. We will go out to eat and just enjoy each others company. I would love to win these books!

  50. Probably a ball game/picnic with our sister church. My daughter has an out of town friend coming in…😊

  51. Been wanting to read these books!! For memorial day weekend we going to be working a little outside but also do some family things. We going to memorial day service and then to get ice cream. Over all a good weekend!

  52. I am planning to spend to with my family. We will go out to eat and just enjoy each others company. I would love to win these books! I have read some of Becky’s books, but have not read books of the other two author’s.

  53. What an adorable picture and interesting interview! It is always fun to learn more about our favorite authors and stories. We plan a fairly quiet weekend with some outdoor activity.

  54. My plans are to stay home, relax and read Since Of Time by Lilly Gayle, a time travel novel so I will be traveling in my mind enjoying this read!

  55. Wow! I got chills just reading that interview! I’ll be adding that book to my TBR list for sure. I plan to spend my weekend reading (after I attend a wedding tomorrow). It appears the weather is going to support that decision by offering up rain.

  56. This is an AWESOME giveaway & all of these books look incredible! As of right now, 3 out of my 6 family members are sick. Unfortunately, I’m one of the 3 and I don’t like being sick🤒Our plans are just for my dad to grill for our family. We may just have to eat something small and later have steak & potatoes when everyone’s better.😊💖

  58. We are having memorial day weekend at home, my husband, me and our 4 kids because everyone is sick with a cold right now! We usually do a big meal cooking on the grill and invite our whole family.

  59. I love all these authors! I played the piano for an elementary school choir this morning for our city Memorial Day program. This weekend I will be cleaning out weeds in my flower beds and reading! I was away on vacation the week before this past one and am still suffering from reading withdrawal, so of course I must remedy that!

  60. This book sounds amazing! What a neat experience as a writer to have the story come like that. On Memorial Day we go to the cemetery and help place flags on the headstones.

  62. My kiddos and I will be walking in the community Memorial Day parade and spending time with family and friends as we get ready to finish the last three weeks of school.

  64. What a beautiful family! 😀 I have no plans for the holiday. 🙂 I might choose that day to make cookies for some police officers…not sure. I have to work on their cards this weekend though! 😀

  65. My birthday is actually this Sunday, but we’ll be celebrating it on Memorial Day.
    Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

  66. Thanks for the interview. I always love to know the background and inspiration for a story. And how lovely to live in Bermuda.

    We are relaxing and having a bbq this weekend!

  67. We are staying close to home because we are taking care of an ill relative’s pets. I will get in some reading time!
    Love Catherine’s books…can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for your giveaway!

  68. I <3 Cathy and her latest release! Thanks for sharing this great interview and giveaway, ladies. We are taking a little road trip to Waco this weekend, and we're looking forward to all the fun it has to offer!

  69. Our Memorial Day weekend plans include kayaking, getting together with friends and family for a cookout and games, and relaxing! Thanks for this wonderful 3 book giveaway!!!

  70. I love this blog because it tells me about authors and novels I have yet to discover. West’s book sounds like an excellent read. Thank you!

  71. I enjoyed the interview as well as the picture of her darling granddaughter! I am house-sitting this weekend for friends whose mother has Alzheimer’s and lives with them. Even though she is always positive and a joy to be around, it is good for my friends to get away for a break.
    Thank you for entering me in the giveaway! 🙂

  72. No big plans for the memorial day weekend… We need to get some yardwork done, But it’s been raining daily for about two weeks straight it seems. And it doesn’t seem to be letting up. Hopefully will get a dry patch in the morning and can get some stuff done in the yard. It’s looking a bit like a jungle out there.

  74. We don’t have plans for Memorial Day due to a Tropical Storm named Alberto.
    It is raining here now and we will be getting rain until the middle part of next week.
    Our local weather man said to make sure that your NetFlix subscription is up to date because all out-door activities will be a “wash-out”.

  75. I have never read a Catherine West book but I certainly will now! Thank you for sharing. My Memorial Day will be spent with my best friend’s who are hosting the first summer BBQ at their new house. Yay!

  76. Where Hope Begins sounds like an interesting book. Of course we know all three books will be good reads because the authors are just that good.
    This weekend will be reading mainly. A brief outing to the cemetery to put flowers out, to honor mother. Although we will not be there to celebrate our granddaughter will be five on Sunday. We will make the three hour drive during the week to celebrate. There is too much traffic headed that way on a long weekend for us, LOL.

  77. My Hubbie is out to town so I will spend my time reading and quilting! Thanks for the chance to win!

  78. We are having a bbq with friends and going to the pool if it doesn’t rain.

  80. I would love to win these books. My plans for the weekend are to stay home, enjoy relaxing with my hubby, and read, read, read!

  81. Thank you so much for this interview. I really enjoyed it, and I’ve always wanted to visit Bermuda! Our Memorial Day plans will probably involve sitting in the house and watching movies! We live in south Florida, and it’s going to be rainy all weekend thanks to Alberto. But we’ll enjoy the extra day off from work and school!

  83. Great interview. We don’t have big plans for the weekend as we just returned from visiting “home” where we grew up for 8 days. We planned our trip so we could have a relaxing weekend before the workweek begins again! Thanks for the opportunity to have these books. I don’t have them yet and would love to read them.

  84. A wonderful interview!!
    For Memorial Day, we always meet at the cemetery with my husbands family and have impromptu history lessons-his great grandmother is still alive and will take time at each headstone to share a fact or story about that ancestor. While we are there, the local fire department has a bagpipe “band” that comes and plays a few numbers-they always end with Amazing Grace. I love it! It’s usually a highlight of the year.

  85. We have nothing extra special planned although we’ll be going to church and Sunday school and having our daughter and her boyfriend over probably on Sunday–both regular weekend events. All our normal events on Monday are canceled, so we’ll just relax.

  86. I’ll be going to the small town where I grew up to their Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery. My dad reads the names of all the local veterans who have passed on, going back to World War I. Then we will go to the church for a potluck meal. Thanks for the chance to win these books; all are ones I really want to read.

  89. Family, family, and more family. Memorial Day weekend lands smack dab in the middle of a bunch of birthdays so we get together to celebrate as a group. A very big group 🙂

  90. No big plans for Memorial Day. Lunch with friends and time spent catching up on some reading. Would love to read “Where Hope Begins”.

  91. Always interested in new authors! Congrats on your new book! Look forward to reading it.

  92. Summer reading is the best! We’re celebrating Father’s Day early this weekend with my dad; hoping the rain holds off for grilling! =)

  94. Thanks for the great interview! We are celebrating our son turning 30 with a trip to the Columbia River. Also celebrating 2 graduations on Sunday. Busy weekend!

  95. Thanks for introducing me to an author I have not read before. Where Hope Begins sounds like a truly inspirational book. I hope I can find it in my local library!

  96. I was supposed to do a neighborhood yard sale today, but hurt my back getting stuff ready. So right now my only plan is lying out in the sun, resting my back with my feet up and a good book!

  97. No plans so far. It’s supposed to be 90* all weekend so I’m going to try to talk my husband into going to the beach with our three kids.

  98. I will be attending my seventh graduation as a teacher in my current district. Over seventy students will receive their diplomas tomorrow!

  99. We are 1/4 of the way thru our vacation & are visiting friends & family this weekend. So very thankful for those that have given their lives for our freedom!

  100. Thank you for the introduction to a new, to me, author. I look forward to reading Where Hope Begins.
    We decorated graves for my husband’s family today and spent some time with his brother and sister-in-law. I am certain there will be more family time through the holiday since we live close. I get to spend time with my family, 500 miles away, next weekend.

  101. I am going away this week so I will be doing laundry. Hopefully I will be able to encourage/thank a soldier and/or their family

  102. My sisters are getting together at the park for wonderful food and fun hamburgers and hotdogs chips baked beans

  103. Your granddaughter is so cute.

    We have no plans for the holiday weekend. Just reading and watching movies.

  104. Reading , getting an area ready for a tomato plant and reading great books. This author sounds like a good one to look for and I plan to look her up.

  105. The majority of my weekend is planning for my daughter’s graduation ceremony and open house next weekend.

  106. What a wonderful interview! It’s always great meeting “new to me” authors! Looking forward to adding Cathy’s book to my TBR list. 🙂

  107. Wow! To win these two would make my heart sing!! 🎶 It was fun getting to know you!

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