CONGRATULATIONS TO CARYL K. THE WINNER OF A PRINT COPY OF HIGH AS THE HEAVENS!! ENJOY!!

I’m so privileged to have my friend, inspirational author Kate Breslin with me today for an insider’s look behind her and her writing. Stick around to the end to enter for a chance to win a print copy of her new release, High as the Heavens!!

 

It’s so great to have you here, Kate. Thanks for joining us!

Hi Cynthia! Thanks so much for inviting me to be on your blog today and have the chance to talk and share with your readers!

~ Could you tell us a bit about your background. Who/what inspired you to become a writer? 

I loved reading books and writing poems as a child, and went on to write tons of prose in my diary growing up. When I reached adulthood my book reading waned a bit, but I continued to write poems, and some song lyrics for my guitar. It was years later though, when I was working a high-stress job in construction that I rediscovered books. Once again I escaped into my fictional world and I especially loved reading historical romance. Those many authors taught me to love history, and inspired me to finally tackle novel writing! After almost two decades of learning the craft, writing, revising, and accumulating a mountain of rejection letters, my work began to gain notice. I’d reached a point in my return to faith as well, and considered writing inspirational fiction. I was introduced to novels written by Linda Nichols and Francine Rivers, and I found their edgy styled faith stories uplifting and compelling. I decided to craft my debut novel for the Christian market, and my writing career essentially took off. I am so grateful to those wonderful authors for kindling my passion to write, and hopefully to follow the plan God had for me all along!

~ It’s so wonderful to have mentors to guide us in our writing journeys. If for some reason you couldn’t have been a writer, what would you have enjoyed doing instead?

I’ve had one or two careers prior to becoming a full-time writer, including bookselling and government work overseas, but if my dream job wasn’t novel writing, I think I’d love to own a garden nursery! I enjoy digging in the dirt and watching my flowers bloom, especially African violets. I have a house full of them! 

~ Beautiful! I wish I had your green thumb! Your latest novel, High as the Heavens released in June. Thus far, all three of your novels have been set during war-time. What draws you to write about this historical time period?

I never really set out to write war-time stories, Cynthia, but I seem to be drawn to them. With my debut novel, For Such A Time, I got the idea to superimpose the Biblical story of Queen Esther into what I thought was a more modern and similarly horrendous timeline ”the Holocaust of WWII. With my second novel, I watched a pair of suffragettes hand out white feathers of cowardice to men out of uniform in an episode of Downtown Abbey and shortly after that, Not By Sight was born. Now, with the release of High As The Heavens, I admit that I’m continually fascinated by the real lives and events of war; ordinary people rising beyond themselves to accomplish the extraordinary, and heroes and heroines saving lives, even when it might mean sacrificing their own. Their stories inspire me.

~ Me too! Your writing contains a lot of intrigue and espionage. What interests as you were growing up hinted of this fascination? 

You know all of the reading I said I did growing up? Mysteries! Authors like Carolyn Keene, Agatha Christie, Phyllis Whitney, and Victoria Holt fueled my imagination and started my whodunit beginnings with writing short stories in school. Later, as an adult novelist, I discovered the spy mania of the First World War and I was hooked! 

~ How fun! Do you have a favorite character in your novels? If so, who and why? 

I actually have a favorite from each of my books. In For Such A Time, it was Joseph, the clever and courageous boy who took risks to help others despite his dangerous circumstances. In Not By Sight, it was Clare Danner, a bit hard-edged on the surface, but a loyal friend through and through once you scratched away the armor. In High As The Heavens, it’s Evelyn Marche, my crafty heroine, for her bravery and persistence and her willingness to put her own life on the line for what matters most. 

~ It’s amazing how life-like characters become to writers as well as readers. Thanks for sharing your favorites with us! Speaking of favorites, which of your novels do you consider your greatest work? Which was your favorite project to work on? 

Well, Cynthia, with three published novels, I’d have to say that my best work was my debut, For Such A Time, particularly because I had years to write, revise, tighten, and polish the story before it ever landed on an editor’s desk. The book that was most fun for me to write was my second story, Not By Sight, because it was much lighter reading compared with the Holocaust of WWII, yet I feel the story had an important message to impart. 

~ Not by Sight was a lot of fun to read too! So, what can we look forward to reading from you next? 

Speaking of fun, I’m enjoying writing my next project for Bethany House! It’s another WWI story set in 1918 Europe, and includes at least one character from Not By Sight. With more espionage, romance, and I hope a few more surprises, the novel is scheduled to release in spring of 2019.

~ Sounds wonderful! We’ll look forward to it!

Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing’s 2015 Best Award for First Time Author and her novel, For Such A Time, won the 2015 Carol award for Debut Novel. Kate’s third novel, High As The Heavens released in June 2017. When she’s not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington’s beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com.

Contact info:

Website: www.katebreslin.com

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kate_Breslin

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 High As The Heavens

A British nurse in WWI German-occupied Brussels, Evelyn Marche spends her days at the hospital and her nights working at a café . . . or so it seems. Eve’s most carefully guarded secret is that she also spends her nights carrying out dangerous missions as a spy for a Belgian resistance group. When a plane crashes as she’s en route to a rendezvous, Eve is the first to reach the downed plane and is shocked to recognize the badly injured pilot as British RFC Captain Simon Forrester. She risks her life to conceal him from the Germans, but as the secrets between them grow and the danger mounts, can they still hope to make it out of Belgium alive?

Reviews

“What a thrill ride! Breslin’s latest has non-stop action and intrigue set in the fascinating time period of World War I. The characters are detailed and realistic, reflecting emotions that speak to a broad audience in any era. The storyline is intricately plotted and filled with incredible detail that will keep readers engaged and desperate to know what will happen. The romance is tender and the historical events are captivating, making this a book that is not to be missed.” RT Book Reviews TOP PICK

 

Now’s your chance to enter to win a print copy of High As The Heavens! Choose 1 or more of the options below to be entered in the drawing! The more you do the greater your chances! You have until early July 11th. I’ll announce the winner by or before July 12th. 

 

 

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