Interview
With Cathy Bryant,
author of
A BRIDGE UNBROKEN
(& Giveaways)
An E-book copy of A Bridge Unbroken
and you can also R.S.V.P. for the launch party where Cathy's giving away a $100 visa card!
Please
tell us a little about yourself (your Bio):
I'm
a country gal from Texas who enjoys spinning tales set in the
fictional town of Miller's Creek, Texas. When I'm not writing
heart-stirring
stories of God's amazing grace,
you'll find me rummaging through thrift stores, feeding my reality TV
addiction, or up to my elbows in yet another home improvement project
in the mountain cabin I share with my minister husband of over thirty
years. You can find out more about me and the Miller's
Creek Novels
at my website, CatBryant.com.
What
is your favorite Bible verse?
I
have lots of favorites, but my absolute favorite is 2 Corinthians
5:21: "He
made Him who knew no sin to
be
sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God
in Him." The
absolute best bargain of all time! He took our sin and gave us His
righteousness. That just blows me away!
What
fun thing can you tell us about yourself that we don't know?
My
mother tells me I was born with a head full of black hair. As a girl
growing up, it was brown. When I started to turn gray, I colored it
red. Then when it got really gray, I went blond. So I can say that
I've had every hair color. (By the way, it is true that blonds have
more fun!) ;)
What
do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
Honestly,
hardly a day goes by when I'm not writing, but as mentioned in
question one, I enjoy shopping at thrift stores. The home improvement
projects, while I do enjoy them, are more of a necessity than a
hobby. As for reality TV? Well, let's just say it makes excellent
writer research! I also enjoy hiking, gardening, and spending time
with my family.
How
did you become involved in writing?
My
love affair with writing started at a young age. During my youth, I
won several writing contests, on both the regional and state levels.
I even worked at the local newspaper for my after-school job. While
my kids were young, I probably started at least one new novel every
year, but never finished a one. About the same time that the empty
nest hit, I was diagnosed with several rare medical conditions and
lost a friend to cancer. I realized that if I were ever going to
pursue my writing dream, I'd better get started!
I
studied books on writing as if I were back in college, and began
writing Texas
Roads.
The book was a 2009 ACFW Genesis contest finalist. I've just kept at
it since then, adding four more titles to the Miller's Creek Novels.
Other than motherhood, it's the hardest and most rewarding work I've
ever done.
Can
you use 3 words that describe you?
Hard-working,
introverted, and family-oriented.
Do
you always know the title of your books before you write them?
Most
of the time, I have at least an inkling of an idea, since the
Miller's Creek titles all have a journey-theme: roads, path, way,
pilgrimage, bridge. The only book title that changed over the course
of writing the story was Texas
Roads.
It started off as This
Road Leads Home.
Please
tell us about A
Bridge Unbroken.
A
Bridge Unbroken
tells the story of a frightened runaway who wants
her painful past to disappear. Her plan to start afresh is derailed
when she co-inherits her late grandfather’s farm with the man
responsible for the scars on her heart. But he isn’t the only ghost
from the past. Someone else is out to get her and will stop at
nothing to get what he wants. The story question is: "Will
Chance and Dakota lay aside their grudges to restore the old
farmhouse and bridge, or will evil forces sabotage their attempt at
forgiveness?"
The
books is Christian Romantic suspense with a spiritual theme of
forgiveness.
What
do you hope readers take away after reading this book?
I
hope they come away from the story with a fresh understanding of what
forgiveness is. The world has really affected our definition of
forgiveness, so that believers often don't fully understand it from a
Biblical worldview. A scriptural understanding of forgiveness is
vital to our faith! I have to favorite quotes on forgiveness. The
first is from Mark Twain, who said: "Forgiveness
is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."
The other is from C. S. Lewis: "To
be a Christian means to excuse the inexcusable because God has
forgiven the inexcusable in you."
What
are you working on now?
I'm
working on the launch
party and blog tour
for A
Bridge Unbroken.
I hope everyone will take a minute to click the launch party banner
and sign up for the party. The main prize for the night is a $100
Visa Card,
but I'll also be giving away books (both print and digital),
t-shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, Amazon gift cards, and bookmarks.
In
addition, I'm trying to complete a few unfinished home improvement
projects that took a backseat while I wrote the book. I'm also
writing a companion Bible study on the topic of forgiveness.
Please
tell our readers where they can get your book.
All
the Miller's Creek novels are available at Amazon.com.
The
Other Miller’s Creek Novels
“Miller’s
Creek, Texas…where folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and
Mama Beth’s front porch beckons…”
Where
can our readers find you?
Besides
my website, CatBryant.com,
here are a few other places around cyberspace where you'll find me:
Reader
friends on Facebook
may want to visit the following groups, the first for book
bargains
and the second to discuss all things Miller’s Creek.
Thank you Cathy for answering my questions and giving away an E-copy of A Bridge Unbroken!!!
Giveaway!!! (Ends May 15th)
Cathy has graciously offered an E-Book copy of A Bridge Unbroken to one winner!
To Enter leave a comment for Cathy
and your email address
(Example: name{AT}yahoo{DOT}com)!!!
If you like Cathy on Facebook you'll get a bonus entry just put CF on the bottom of your comment!
And if you want a third entry follow my blog with either the "Join this site" button to your left or NetworkBlogs! Just let me know in your comment that you follow and how! :)
Make sure you leave your email address or we won't have a way to contact you if you win!
When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn't satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn't lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby's position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn't the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances. 
Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book 
The story:
About the author:
