Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
When social media influencer Lindy Sutton loses her job in Seattle, the last place she expects to land is Golden Valley, Montana—population 500 and shrinking fast. Her great-aunt Clara has recruited her to promote a brand-new conference center as the ultimate destination wedding venue, complete with ghost town backdrops and Rocky Mountain sunsets. It's a quirky gig with a tight deadline: document a New Year's Eve wedding that will save a dying town. But between the bride's questionable choice in grooms, a banana-yellow rental car that won't go uphill, and a frustratingly handsome sheriff who keeps pulling her over, Lindy's Montana adventure is nothing like her carefully curated Instagram feed.
Sheriff Wyatt West has his hands full keeping the peace in Gold River County, especially with his father waging a one-man war against the very conference center that represents the town's last hope for survival. The last thing Wyatt needs is a glamorous city girl with a ring light and a sports car disrupting his orderly world. Yet somehow Lindy's enthusiasm is contagious, her laughter is irresistible, and those sunset-amber eyes make him forget every reason he should keep his distance. When vandalism threatens the town's dreams and family secrets come to light, Wyatt must choose between loyalty to his father and his growing feelings for a woman who might not stay past New Year's.
As Christmas approaches and wedding plans unravel, Lindy discovers that Golden Valley isn't just a backdrop for her videos—it's becoming home. But can a small-town sheriff and a big-city influencer find common ground when their worlds are hashtag-incompatible? In a season of hope and second chances, two hearts will learn that the best gifts can't be wrapped, the truest love stories aren't scripted, and sometimes God's greatest blessings come in the most unexpected packages.
What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I love to decorate my home for Christmas with things that are special to me -- family heirloom decorations and many that are handmade by me or friends and family. I have a lot of framed photos from family Christmas celebrations over the past fifty or sixty years, and I hang them up only at Christmastime, covering most of one wall. They get packed away after the holiday, so it’s fun to see them “fresh” each Christmas. The grandchildren enjoy seeing the pictures of their parents and grandparents celebrating Christmas as children.
What’s next in writing for you?
I’m currently working on a series set in the late 1960s to early 1970s. My generation experienced dramatic political, cultural, economic, and spiritual changes in our lifetime! These books will have some romance, but they are primarily mystery/suspense. And Jesus People!
What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Maintain a “series bible” with all the details for each book, to stay consistent. Otherwise, I forget things from one book to the next. I recently had a man inherit property from an aunt he’d never met, because he was her only living relative. But I had initially introduced him as having parents and siblings! (Younger authors might not have this problem.😉)
What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Prepare to treat it like a business from the start, with separate bank and Amazon accounts. Track expenses and income closely and learn to read the data, making practical decisions based on accurate information. And keep up to date on it all year, to make tax returns less stressful.
Any last words or tips?
Write at your own “spiritual comfort level” for each story. Don’t downplay the Christianity because you’re afraid you might turn people off, and don’t try to shoehorn religion into a story just because you want to write Christian fiction. Keep it natural. My books tend to be heavy in Christian content because they are usually set in Christian ministries and communities. Scripture is quoted. Sermons are discussed. Prayer is offered aloud. The books that are set in more secular environments still have Christian characters, and they behave like Christians (you know… sinners saved by grace!), but the stories are less “saturated” in daily Christian life.
What’s your newest release that you’d like to tell my readers about?
Don’t miss this year’s Christmas Lights Collection: Lovelight Gleams
It includes contemporary Christian romance novels from Chautona Havig, Jaycee Weaver, Laina Turner, and me, Cathe Swanson!
That's all for today's interview. I love the plot for Cathe's latest Christmas book. It's a fresh and creative idea. Hope you like it, too. Here are some links to find out about this books and all the others Cathe has written.
When social media influencer Lindy Sutton loses her job in Seattle, the last place she expects to land is Golden Valley, Montana—population 500 and shrinking fast. Her great-aunt Clara has recruited her to promote a brand-new conference center as the ultimate destination wedding venue, complete with ghost town backdrops and Rocky Mountain sunsets. It's a quirky gig with a tight deadline: document a New Year's Eve wedding that will save a dying town. But between the bride's questionable choice in grooms, a banana-yellow rental car that won't go uphill, and a frustratingly handsome sheriff who keeps pulling her over, Lindy's Montana adventure is nothing like her carefully curated Instagram feed.
As Christmas approaches and wedding plans unravel, Lindy discovers that Golden Valley isn't just a backdrop for her videos—it's becoming home. But can a small-town sheriff and a big-city influencer find common ground when their worlds are hashtag-incompatible? In a season of hope and second chances, two hearts will learn that the best gifts can't be wrapped, the truest love stories aren't scripted, and sometimes God's greatest blessings come in the most unexpected packages.
I love to decorate my home for Christmas with things that are special to me -- family heirloom decorations and many that are handmade by me or friends and family. I have a lot of framed photos from family Christmas celebrations over the past fifty or sixty years, and I hang them up only at Christmastime, covering most of one wall. They get packed away after the holiday, so it’s fun to see them “fresh” each Christmas. The grandchildren enjoy seeing the pictures of their parents and grandparents celebrating Christmas as children.
What’s next in writing for you?
I’m currently working on a series set in the late 1960s to early 1970s. My generation experienced dramatic political, cultural, economic, and spiritual changes in our lifetime! These books will have some romance, but they are primarily mystery/suspense. And Jesus People!
What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Maintain a “series bible” with all the details for each book, to stay consistent. Otherwise, I forget things from one book to the next. I recently had a man inherit property from an aunt he’d never met, because he was her only living relative. But I had initially introduced him as having parents and siblings! (Younger authors might not have this problem.😉)
Prepare to treat it like a business from the start, with separate bank and Amazon accounts. Track expenses and income closely and learn to read the data, making practical decisions based on accurate information. And keep up to date on it all year, to make tax returns less stressful.
Any last words or tips?
Write at your own “spiritual comfort level” for each story. Don’t downplay the Christianity because you’re afraid you might turn people off, and don’t try to shoehorn religion into a story just because you want to write Christian fiction. Keep it natural. My books tend to be heavy in Christian content because they are usually set in Christian ministries and communities. Scripture is quoted. Sermons are discussed. Prayer is offered aloud. The books that are set in more secular environments still have Christian characters, and they behave like Christians (you know… sinners saved by grace!), but the stories are less “saturated” in daily Christian life.
What’s your newest release that you’d like to tell my readers about?
Don’t miss this year’s Christmas Lights Collection: Lovelight Gleams
It includes contemporary Christian romance novels from Chautona Havig, Jaycee Weaver, Laina Turner, and me, Cathe Swanson!
https://catheswanson.com/books/
https://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson/
https://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson/
And here's a bonus for my readers... Get a free eBook copy of Potato Flake Christmas by signing up for her newsletter. Just click on the link below. I did it and I'm looking forward to reading this story! https://catheswanson.com/newsletter/
