A Conversation with Kate James, Author of SANCTUARY COVE–with a giveaway!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Thank you for inviting me back to your blog, Becky! It’s a pleasure to be here.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Kate—we love return visitors 🙂 What 5 things should readers know about you?

1. I am grateful to everyone who has purchased one of my books. You make it possible for me to do what I love.
2. I love to hear from readers!
3. I have a passion for animals. Although I’ve mostly had dogs, that passion extends to every type of critter.
4. I enjoy travelling. Whenever I do, I always return home with lots of story ideas.
5. I have my husband and his belief in me to thank for my writing career!

A great list—I especially <3 #5!
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

The idea for this story has been around for a while. I had been exposed to an incident of corruption early in my business career, and no amount of pressure could cause me to compromise my integrity and principles. Whatever else happened, I had to be able to go home at the end of the day, look myself in the mirror, and know I had done the right thing. I’ve always found that if you do the right thing, the right things will (eventually) happen. That incident inspired me, and I wanted to write the story of a young woman principled enough not to compromise her ethics or integrity, despite the personal cost. I hope that there might be a moral in the story for young people.

I love when a less-than-positive personal experience can be turned into a story idea—truly inspiring!
How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?

Oh, I love this question, because it’s a fun story . . . at least I think so!

I always wanted to write. While I was attending university, I started two manuscripts. After graduation, my career took off and those partially finished manuscripts were relegated to a storage box in my basement. Fast forward many years. My husband and I were on vacation in the Caribbean in 2009. My husband likes to sleep in when he’s not working, but I’m always up early so I use the time to catch up on business-related e-mails, read or find other ways to occupy myself. One morning I happened on a notice for a short story writing competition. I wrote the story, entered it in the contest and placed 52 in my category. Now that might not sound like much of an accomplishment, but the contest received over 12,500 entries! Still, I put the idea of writing aside.

A few months later, it’s my birthday and I’m opening the gifts from my husband. I’m difficult to buy gifts for, because there’s not much I can think of that I want or need, yet my husband almost always finds the perfect gifts for me. On this occasion, one brightly-wrapped package contained a beautiful white laptop. I smiled graciously at my husband and thanked him profusely, all the while thinking what do I need another laptop for, when I have a perfectly good one from work that’s with me nearly 24/7?

But my husband knew better than I did! Because I did spend so much time on my work laptop, the last thing I was inclined to do was use it to write a book. The fact that my personal laptop was white instead of the normal business black made a world of difference, too. It didn’t look or feel like my work computer, and it created an entirely different mindset.

In six months, writing very early in the mornings before work and late at night after our evenings ended, I wrote my first book, Silver Linings. Six months later, I had a contract and another six months after that, my debut novel was in print and in book stores!

My husband did know best, and I owe him a big thank you! (Ultimately, the short story I entered in the contest became my first Heartwarming book, A Child’s Christmas.)

You’re right—that’s an awesome story!

 

What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?

In addition to Sanctuary Cove, I will have two more releases this year. Home to Stay, the fourth book in my award-winning San Diego K-9 Unit series releases on July 1^st, and A Priceless Find, a sequel to A Child’s Christmas, will be released on October 1^st. Home to Stay is in production now and A Priceless Find is in the editing stage.

Great! A lot to look forward to 🙂
What are you currently reading, and what are your thoughts about it so far?

I just started reading Jill Weatherholt’s debut novel, Second Chance Romance, and I’m enjoying it very much!

(Running over to Goodreads to add to TBR…)
If you had to “sell” your book in a single Tweet, what would you say?

The tweet would be: “Can Sanctuary Cove be Emma’s safe haven?” and I’d attach the following picture.

 

Awesome! You’re only the second author so far to include a picture 🙂

 

Sanctuary Cove is set in a scenic, fictitious town in the Adirondack Mountains. I would love to hear from readers what type of setting they enjoy reading about most.

 

Thank you, again, for hosting me on your blog, Becky!

You’re welcome, Kate—it was my pleasure!

 

About the Author:

Kate spent much of her childhood abroad before attending university in Canada. She built a successful business career, but her passion has always been literature. As a result, Kate turned her energy to her love of the written word. Kate’s goal is to entertain her readers with engaging stories featuring strong, likable characters. Kate has been honored with numerous awards for her writing. She and her husband, Ken, enjoy traveling and the outdoors, with their beloved Labrador Retrievers, Harley and Logan.

Kate would love to hear from you! You can connect with her by email, through her website, her Facebook page, Twitter, or mail at PO Box 446, Schomberg, ON, L0G 1T0, Canada.

 

Sanctuary Cove
by Kate James
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
March 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Can his safe haven be enough for her?

Emma Meadows never imagined that sticking to her principles against an act of corruption by a New York senator would cost her her job as VP of communications. Heartbroken, she retreats to her cottage in the Adirondacks to lick her wounds and, in the process, rescues an injured dog that only Josh Whitmore can save.

The veterinarian works diligently to bring dog and woman back to full fighting form, until allegations against the senator become more serious. Seeing Emma’s reaction to the increasing pressure, Josh realizes that inevitably she’ll find a way back to the top…and he’ll likely lose her for good.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin│iBooks│!ndigo

 
  

Tour Giveaway

US/CAN PRIZE PACK, which consists of:
– San Diego K-9 Series T-shirt (winner’s choice of size S, M or L)
– San Diego K-9 Series tote bag
– San Diego K-9 Series mug and a small pack of gourmet coffee
– Signed copy of When Love Matters Most (second book in the San Diego K-9 Series)
– Signed copy of The Truth About Hope
– When I Found You (third book in the San Diego K-9 Series) key chain
– An assortment of bookmarks and bookplates
Open to US/CAN only
Ends March 21st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

March 11th: Launch
March 12th:
Katie’s Clean Book Collection
Hearts & Scribbles
Rockin’ Book Reviews
underneath the covers
Becky on Books
March 13th:
With Love for Books
Zerina Blossom’s Books
Faithfully Bookish
deal sharing aunt
My Devotional Thoughts
March 14th:
Getting Your Read On
Thoughts of a Blonde
Christy’s Cozy Corners
Mel’s Shelves
March 15th:
A Slice of Life
The Silver Dagger Scriptorium
Hardcover Feedback
Falling Leaves
Granny Loves to Read
March 16th:
Reading Is My SuperPower
Harlie’s Books
Rosanna Leo
Heidi Reads…
March 17th: Grand Finale