Chat With Author Kathy M. Howard + Review + Mom Giveaway

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Do I have a treat for you today, dear friend?!   Why yes, I do.

 

KATHY M HOWARDI am thrilled to invite you to a chat with one amazing Author, Kathy M. Howard.  She resides in Georgia with her hubby and two kiddos. She has been involved in education since 1998 as an elementary school teacher, a private school principal, and presently as a homeschooling mom.   Ironically, she despised reading as a child but as an adult, Kathy finally learned to appreciate the written word.  Kathy has always enjoyed putting her own words to paper and loves the Lord and wants to share Jesus where she can, using words – written and spoken. By God’s goodness and with the support and love of her family, she completed her first novel, FROM DISHES TO SNOW in 2014.

 

I recently read this wonderful story and then sat in on Kathy’s book signing where she talked briefly.  So many have found her debut book to be very unique and intriguing {including me} so I’m dying to ask some questions.  

 

Let’s get to it, shall we?

 

Welcome Kathy!  Tell us in your words the synopsis of Dishes to Snow?  

From Dishes to Snow tells the story of a woman’s journey out of a dark pit of depression caused by the deaths of her husband and two children.  What makes matters worse is the fact that she is the reason for their deaths.  The book opens a year after the accident, finding Bayne Harris at her lowest point.  She decides she needs to get away, to escape the reminders of her family and the well-meaning visitors.  She feels she deserves complete loneliness.  As a result, Bayne rents a little, red house on View Top Mountain, NC where she thinks she will be left alone, and where God ultimately reveals His many attributes in an unsuspecting way.  He uses a real estate agent and his quirky daughter, an elderly couple in the house next door, and an unlikely mother/daughter duo to shake her world even more.
 
The cover of the book is stunning with the red mountain cabin against the perfect, white snow.  I’d love to know where you got the story line that revolves around this beautiful red cabin?

I couldn’t agree more, Shan.  They did a beautiful job on the cover.  I was thrilled when I saw it!  🙂   The setting, especially the red house, is based on my time as a child vacationing at our family’s red house in the mountains of western North Carolina.  The majority of the descriptions of the house, even the need to boil water for cooking,  are inspired by those experiences.  There is a beautiful drawing of our actual house in the back of the book, compliments of my brother, Chuck.  As for where it fit in the storyline… I just thought it would make for a fun setting, a great ‘escape,’ and one I felt I could understand as I wrote.

 

Did you know the entire plot and ending when you began writing your book?

Haha! Uh, no. It’s not something I’d have imagined would happen, but now know that’s how I write longer stories.  I only knew the problem, the fact that the main character had lost her whole family, and that I wanted God to help her through it.  Everything else, the other characters and storyline, that was as much a surprise to me as I hope it is to the readers.  I sat down every day, prayed over it, and wrote.

 

Dishes to Snow had so many fundamental truths interlaced throughout about Faith.   What do you feel God was teaching you as you allowed Him to write this novel?

Trust! Trust! Trust!  The fact that I had no idea, from one day to the next, what would ultimately unfold, reminded me to trust Him completely.  Finding a publisher reminded me to trust Him completely.  Marketing the book, which is the hardest for this introvert, reminds me to trust Him completely.  I want the whole process, one that I am so grateful He has allowed to happen, to be His, to be on His timetable.  Trusting Him with that is easier some days than others.  The lesson is on-going, life-long.

 

Do you have more work coming?  We want details!

Yes, excitedly, I do.  The sequel to From Dishes to Snow is, last I heard, due out this summer, under the working title of From Driftwood to Sapphire.  It follows the real estate’s daughter, Samantha Jordan during her senior year of college, introducing other characters and surprises.  It is written through her eyes, so it is from a different point of view, adding a bit more spunk.  As more details are available, I will post them on my author Facebook page, Kathy M Howard.
 
Here’s what The How-to Guru wrote an Amazon review of From Dishes to Snow:
I’m a hard critic when it comes to fiction because I don’t want to waste my time past the first chapter if the book can’t draw me in. From Dishes to Snow’s characters pulled me into their world immediately, especially the main character. Even though I have not experienced the loss of a spouse or child, my friends have and I grieved right along with her as if I were there. That’s good writing!
I fell in love with the red mountain cabin, Bayne, and her charming friends. I love being caught off-guard with the surprising plot that unfolded. All thumbs up from this avid reader and writer. I will be reading all that Kathy M. Howard creates in the future!

A Great Giveaway for Mama from Author Kathy M. Howard & Me

Kathy has graciously agreed to send our giveaway winner a complimentary book.   WARNING: If you haven’t already read it, I must warn you:  Once you read the first page, you won’t be able to put it down.

Along with the book, our winner will receive a jar candle, teacup with green tea, and a gorgeous journal.  Winner will be announced April 13th.

author-kathy-m.-howard-01

Kathy’s Book can be found at Amazon, Ambassador International, or anywhere awesome books are sold.

 

To enter the giveaway, simply comment below what your favorite reading genre is AND like our Facebook pages.Winner of the giveaway will be chosen randomly from those who comment AND like The How to Guru Facebook page and Author Kathy M. Howard page.

 

UPDATE:

We have a winner!  The Mom Giveaway winner is Susan H.    

Thanks for all who took the time to join ~ this was fun.   And thank you Kathy M. Howard for hanging out with us and providing a book prize.

 

 So what is your favorite genre to read?  

 

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Shan

Published on HuffPost, Okefenokee Living Magazine, and more, Shan is a Family Travel Journalist with a passion for helping women lose the overwhelm of planning family-friendly trips in the south. She shares travel reviews & insider secrets that Women REALLY want to know about Georgia, Florida, & the Carolinas vacations.

☕️ It’s THE REAL DEAL around here ☕️

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9 Comments

  1. Susan
    March 30, 2015 / 11:11 pm

    I enjoyed reading your interview with Kathy! It is an awesome book!!

    • Shan
      Author
      April 1, 2015 / 11:14 pm

      Thank you so much. Kathy is a very talented girl for sure.

      blessings,
      Shan

  2. Mayra - Estilo Familiar
    April 3, 2015 / 8:59 am

    Great interview and it seems that the book is very interesting.

    • Shan
      Author
      April 3, 2015 / 9:48 am

      Thank you Mayra. It is reallllly good stuff. ;O

      blessings,
      Shan

  3. Starla J @ Pressing In and Pressing On
    April 3, 2015 / 3:45 pm

    I like several genres. Christian history, suspense, romance, plus a good devotional. Thank you for this review and giveaway.

    • Shan
      Author
      April 4, 2015 / 5:17 pm

      Thank you Starla! WE are very similar in our genre choices. A good book is such a blessing.

      blessings,
      Shan

  4. Lisa Herrin
    April 12, 2015 / 4:28 am

    I absolutely loved Kathy’s book!! Can’t wait for the next one. Loved reading the chat with Kathy!! She is a special person!!!

    • Shan
      Author
      April 12, 2015 / 7:09 am

      Thanks Lisa for hanging out! Kathy IS very special.

      blessings,
      Shan

  5. Kathy
    April 14, 2015 / 9:16 pm

    Thanks for having me, Shan. And thank you to all who left a comment. It was great ‘chatting’ with you! 🙂

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