I’m pleased to share a new Wild Rose Press release from author Cat Dubie!
#AHAgrp
–Welcome, Cat. Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now?
I was born in a small town in Austria. When I was four, my family immigrated to Canada, to the lovely city of Edmonton, Alberta. Now my husband and I reside on the beautiful West Coast of British Columbia. Our three grown children and their families live nearby. And we inherited Roxy, a lovable Shih Tzu, who keeps us on our toes.
– Where did you get the idea for The Queen of Paradise Valley?
I got the idea for The Queen of Paradise Valley after watching reruns of the TV series The Big Valley, and playing the “what if” game. What if the sweet blonde daughter ran the big ranch? What if she’s the polar opposite of sweet? What will she do when she meets her match?
– What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?
The most difficult thing for me about writing is assembling required research. Luckily, I enjoy doing research. Sometimes too much – I tend to go off on tangents when something interests me. But nothing is wasted. I try to organize everything for the possibility I can use the information in the next book. For this book in particular, although I’ve done a lot of mountain wilderness camping and traveling through ranch country, I needed many specifics. I love the Internet!
– What book have you read that you wish you had written?
AWAY by Jane Urquhart, an engrossing, haunting novel filled with beautiful prose and amazing word images.
– What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
As it’s close to Christmas… I love holiday fruitcake. No one in my family or circle of friends eats fruitcake.
– What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
I dislike cinnamon anything and gingerbread anything.
– Do you collect anything?
I still have stamp and coin collections I started when I was twelve, though it’s been years since I looked at them. Lately, my family thinks I collect teddy bears and other stuffed animals, and I have shelves full of them. [Safe gifts when they don’t know what else to give!]
– What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
Having to do family accounting. And income tax. Eats up a lot of time.
– What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?
Too many favorites to decide on one. I loved Heidi when I was a child, and anything horse related.
– What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Queen of Paradise Valley?
I’d like readers to think “wow – what a ride!” And to feel satisfied.
– Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I would take a bad review over no review. I go by the saying, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. [This reasoning may change!]
– What is your favorite quote?
“You see things as they are and ask, ‘Why?’ I dream things as they never were and ask, ‘Why not?'” — George Bernard Shaw
– Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Entirely from imagination. I don’t know any real people who look or act the way my characters do.
– How did your interest in writing originate?
I started writing poetry at a young age. When still in elementary school, a friend and I collaborated on a story. I wrote and illustrated it. [My friend colored the pictures.] I wrote my first novel, a mystery, when I was eleven. I proudly showed it to my teacher and, despite its many flaws, she encouraged me to keep at it.
– Your favorite…
Movie – To Kill a Mockingbird [still resonates]
Music – I listen to all, from New Age to classical, alt rock to old country.
Place you’ve visited – San Francisco
Place you’d like to visit – Austria, Germany, and France – I have relatives there
TV show from childhood – Leave It to Beaver
TV show from adulthood – NYPD Blue – watched it from beginning to end
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? – Card games
Thank you, Cat. I enjoyed the interview, but I will say I do NOT understand your love of fruitcake and your dislike of cinnamon. 🙂 Cinnamon is one of my favorite flavors!
Readers, Cat is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenters. A name will be drawn at random this weekend.
Blurb:
Diana Rennie, daughter of a wealthy rancher, attempts to persuade mystery man Del Russell to leave his grievances behind and forgive her father for past mistakes. Her careful plan goes awry and results in a shotgun wedding and a prison sentence for Del.
Four years later, Del is back in her life with a vengeance—back for his rightful share of Diana’s ranch, back to prove he isn’t the criminal she thought he was, back to finish what the two of them started years ago in a passionate daze. And he isn’t going anywhere, no matter what beautiful, treacherous Diana does or says to try to get rid of him.
Excerpt:
“Mr. Russell, can you hear me?”
He opened his eyes and tried to focus. Falling . . . He was falling into darkness . . .
“I’m Doctor Bell.”
Doctor? Someone was hurt. Diana–
“Don’t move, Mr. Russell. The bullet entered clean. It should come out clean, too.”
Someone had been shot. He blinked to clear the fog from his vision. A grave-eyed man, cheeks red from the cold, bent over him. And then it came to Del. He was the one who had been shot. And now he lay on Diana’s bed with folded sheets forming a pad beneath him.
“Do you feel much pain?”
Del tried to laugh but the sound he made was a rasping croak. “Hell–was I trampled by stampeding cows?”
Doctor Bell looked up as Alfredo entered the room with a tray of bandages and a pair of extra lamps. “Mr. Rosetti, if you can bring some light here and help me cut his clothes away from the wound? Now, what was all that commotion downstairs?”
Alfredo glanced at Del and said in a hushed voice, “Signor Dottore, the sheriff has come. He heard there was a shooting and is here to arrest the Signora and take her to jail.”
Del raised himself on an elbow. “Alfredo.” He clutched at the servant’s sleeve. “Why–”
“We do not know why.” Alfredo’s voice fluttered with apprehension. “The sheriff asks many questions, but the Signora sits there as if she does not see him.”
“I’ll talk to the sheriff.”
“He will not leave the Signora’s side.”
“Then I’ll go down to him.” Del tried to swing his legs over the edge of the bed.
“Mr. Russell,” the doctor objected, “it must wait till we’re done.”
“Can’t wait. Help me, Doc, Alfredo.”
Buy links:
The Wild Rose Press https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/se no arch?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=Cat+Dubie&submit_search=
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queen-of-paradise-valley-cat-dubie/1127176154?ean=2940158564567
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-queen-of-paradise-valley
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36513433-the-queen-of-paradise-valley?from_search=true
Contact information:
My blog: https://catdubie.blogspot.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcat.dubie.7
twitter: @CatDubie https://twitter.com/catdubie
Author Alicia Dean 