Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
Sure!
My name is Katharine E. Hamilton. I’ve been an indie author for 11
years now… I think. Ha! I have dappled in various genres, but you
can find me mostly in the Sweet Contemporary Romance/Clean and
Wholesome Genres on Amazon. I’m a born and raised Texan and
currently live along the Texas coast with my husband and two boys. I
have a 4-year-old and a 5 month old. They keep me pretty busy these
days. I started writing in 2009 and published children’s books (3).
In 2015 I branched out and wrote an epic fantasy series called The
Unfading Lands Series. In writing that series, I found myself loving
the process of writing some of the side romances that take place
throughout and decided in 2017 to write clean romances. I’ve been
camped out in Sweet Romance ever since and I love it. Though I am
working on a historical fiction novel right now that might pop up in
the next year or so, I will mainly plant myself in Sweet Romance. I
love it.
What do you do to
unwind and relax?
I’m an avid reader and crocheter. Yes, I
said crochet. Haha. I am in the middle of an intense blanket project
that keeps me busy in the evenings. I can’t sit and relax without
keeping my hands busy, so it’s a nice hobby. I also tell my husband
it helps keep me sane. Much like Rumpelstiltskin spins gold to stay
sane, I crochet. It relaxes me. I’m able to think through some book
ideas, go over my mental to-do list, or enjoy a show on television
while being productive.
How to find time to
write as a parent?
I am an early bird. I rather work in the
mornings and go to bed at a decent hour. I just can’t hang passed
10 PM… if I do, I’m a zombie the next day. So lately my routine
has been waking up about 4 AM to give the baby his first morning
bottle and I just stay up and work while the house is quiet, which is
usually until about 6-7 AM. I’m able to knock out a lot of work in
the mornings. And if I’m feeling inspired or trying to hit a
deadline, I’ll incorporate some naptime work as well. It’s
definitely a juggling act some days, but I also love being an
independent author for the flexibility. I can always pause and step
away without stressing too much about keeping a schedule.
What inspired you to
write this book?
I’ve wanted to write a Christmas story
for a while… a couple of years at least. And this year, well, 2020
hasn’t exactly been the easiest year for anyone, and I just wanted
to make the holiday season a little more exciting and special. So I
went for it.
What can we expect
from you in the future?
I’ve got lots of projects going on
right now. For 2020, I have Mary & Bright (11/1/2020), and my
Lighthearted Collection will receive a new release on 11/30/2020
called McCarthy Road. And then I’m currently writing a cowboy
romance series called The Brothers of Hastings Ranch. Book Four,
Lawrence, is scheduled for release on December 30th. And
then January and February have a couple of books and audiobooks lined
up as well. It’s a busy time for me right now.
How did you come up
with the concept and characters for the book?
I love the
name Mary. And I have yet to use that name in any of my other books
because I KNEW I wanted to use it for a Christmas story and play off
of that name for the title. And I wanted her to be the opposite of
merry. Haha. So that sort of brought her to life for me, and I wanted
the man in the story to be named Brighten, aka Bright, and be that
little ray of sunshine that she isn’t expecting or wanting at
times.
What did you enjoy most about writing this
book?
I wrote this book in September and it has had me ready
for Christmas from the beginning. It’s just made me hopeful for the
holidays and excited about ending 2020 on a positive note. I love the
characters. I especially love Brighten. He’s a joy and he was a joy
to write.
What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
Oh man… this is a hard one.
In no particular order…
Henry James
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Susanna Kearsley
Deanna Raybourn
Sherry Thomas
Paula Brackston
Francine Rivers
Nora Roberts
Clive Cussler
What book do you think everyone should read?
Redeeming Love by
Francine Rivers or Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
How long have you
been writing?
I’ve been writing since 2007, but have been
published since 2009.
Do you see writing
as a career?
I became a full-time writer in 2015, so yes, I
do. I love what I do, and am thankful I can say it is my career.
What do you think
about the current publishing market?
There is no better time
to publish. Traditional publishing has hit a few snags lately, but
the indie market is thriving. Whichever direction you choose, now is
the time. Reading never goes out of style.
Do you read yourself
and if so what is your favorite genre?
I love to read. I’m
a big historical fiction fan. I also love epic love stories. Strong
female characters. Witty and creative mysteries… I read a variety
of different genres.
Do you prefer to
write in silence or with noise? Why?
I have a rowdy
4-year-old and a 5 month old. Oh, and a chihuahua. I’m not sure
there is such a thing as quiet in my house. Haha. But I have learned
to write with noise and without. I like the quiet when I can get
some, but usually I have noise going on all around me.
Do you write one
book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I am
constantly working on multiple projects at once. If I run into a
block or snag on one manuscript, I let it rest and move onto another
one. Usually by the time I wrap up a few scenes in another one, I
have fresh eyes to go back to the previous one and work out what I
need to. Right now I have about 5 open manuscripts that I hop
between.
Advice they would
give new authors?
Finish the manuscript. You can’t do
anything else until you FINISH what you’re working on. Don’t
worry about making it perfect. You can’t and it won’t be. Editing
and beta readers come later. Finish the story.
Describe your
writing style.
I love dialogue in my stories. I use a BUNCH
of dialogue. I feel like it propels the story forward while also
helping define the characters’ personalities.
What
are they currently reading?
I
just received a box full of books today actually! I’m so excited!
Though right now I’m in the middle of What Angels Fear by C.S.
Harris. BUT I will tell you what I just snatched from the UPS man.
Haha.
Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas (This series is
A-Mazing)
The Deadly Hours by Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris,
Anna Lee Huber, and Christine Trent
The Anatomist’s Wife by
Anna Lee Huber
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E.
Schwab
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
I’m
going to be busy for a while, but I have a couple of road trips
coming up, and if I’m not crocheting, I’ll be reading these
glorious finds!
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