October 17, 2014

Author Interview with Veronica Lynch

Please welcome Veronica Lynch (aka Kathy Cottrell) to Write with Fey as she tells us about her new release, Caper Magic, an intriguing short story with a stunning cover.


Veronica, tell us about your current release.

Caper Magic is part of Hauntings in the Garden series out of the Wild Rose Press, due for digital release on October 27th, with a print date TBA. It is about Nick Forrester, chief investigator for a high-powered law firm on the trail of a woman who has taken her minor children in violation of a court order. It is feared she will flee to Canada with them. Annunciata Doyle runs one of the local stations on the Underground Railroad, helping women and children who have nowhere else to turn. 

Genre: Romance
Length: 48 pages
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: October 27th, 2014

PRE-ORDER:

BUY LINK:

1.    Is this book part of a series?

Actually, this will be the first in a series set in the fictional town of Cape Brendan, a medium size tourist area on the eastern most edge of Lake Ontario where it bleeds into the Saint Lawrence River in northern New York State.

2.    I love a good series! Why did you choose this setting for Caper Magic?

For the past several years the hubs and I had vacationed in the Saint Lawrence area, picking a different spot  each year. Two criteria governed the choice [not counting cost]: good fishing for him, peace and quiet for me. I discovered Cape Vincent, a lovely small town known for its historic connections to the French and Indian War and later, the War of 1812. It was instant infatuation. From the first I knew I'd have to set at least one book in this area.

3.    Did you do special research for Caper Magic?

Cape Vincent [in the book it's known as Cape Brendan] has a ferry which runs several times a day back and forth to Canada. I chose this as the mechanism to transport the woman and her kids to safety. To do that, I researched how to disappear as well as interviewing the Immigration officials who run the ferry service. They gave me some great advice.

4.  Research is always important. How did you come up with the names for your hero and heroine?

     I knew the heroine had to be Irish, with a thick brogue, with a history of being raised in one of the Magdelene laundries. The name Annunciata Doyle came easy because I wanted to call her Nunie. Nick Forrester arrived out of the blue and stuck with me. It wasn't until later, after I put the names together—Nick and Nunie—that I cringed. Right out of a Frankie and Annette movie, but it was too late.

5.  Nick and Nunie...that's cute! Which actors would play your hero and heroine in a movie?

     Anthony Denison [The Closer and Major Crimes] and Minnie Driver [About a Boy and The Riches].

6.     I love Minnie Driver! How old were you when you read your first romance book?

It was 1983 so I would have been in my middle 30's. Working the night shift in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit put me at two ends of the emotional spectrum: scared spitless a patient might crash versus fighting desperately to stay awake. One night I discovered a grocery bag filled with used Harlequin-Silhouettes bearing a sign “free for the taking” and picked one by Billie Douglas. I never forgot it. In fact, I still have it on a shelf in my office. 

7.     If you could give your book to anyone in the world to read (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

My father. Because he'd get a kick out of Nunie's voice and for the pen name I chose. Veronica Lynch was a lifelong friend of him and his siblings. All of them spoke of her with great respect and affection.

8.  I love that you revealed how you got your pen name! Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?

     Part of my job as director of a victim advocacy agency included supervising interns who were criminal justice majors. One of the perks was free tuition for one course each semester. Over the years the interns raved about a course titled Terrorism and Hostage Taking. Part of the course involved being taken hostage by officers from the county sheriff's hostage negotiation team. It changed my life.

9.  That sounds fascinating...and scary! What lessons did you learn early on in your writing career?

     To listen to my gut, then my heart.




AUTHOR BIO:

Writing under the names Kat Henry Doran and Veronica Lynch, author Kathy Cottrell uses her experience as a nurse, victim advocate and insurance investigator for background in her award winning novels and novellas. Her stories are set in her favorite places to visit: the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains as well as the Saint Lawrence River in the historic Thousand Islands region of Upstate and Northern New York State.

When not writing, or chasing grandchildren, Kathy spends her time designing and making tote bags and aprons to custom order.

I love to hear from readers who can reach me at: WildWomenAuthors@yahoo.com.

Blogs:


Thank you so much for being my guest, Veronica (Kathy), and for sharing such interesting tid bits about yourself and your book!

Please leave a comment for Veronica! :)


49 comments:

  1. I loved learning about how Kathy came up with the setting for Caper Magic and I also love how this is going to be a series. Cape Vincent sounds amazing and I can see why it gave her the inspiration to write this story. It must be super intriguing.
    The cover looks awesome! Congrats Kathy and I wish you the best of luck!

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    1. I loved learning about the inspiration behind Caper Magic, too. :)

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    2. Hi, Gina
      so terribly sorry for the delay in replying. My computer died. Then the backup died. Then my M-I-L died. This is not a good month!!
      anyway, Cape Vincent is enchanting and it's been great fun tweaking it for this story and ones to come.
      thanks!

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  2. Sounds like it should be a fun series! Great interview, ladies!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Katie! :)

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    2. Thanks, Katie
      this is one of those books of the heart which had to be told--or the characters would haunt me in my dreams.
      Losing sleep is on my black list
      best
      kathy

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  3. What an interesting and diverse employment history, Kathy. Many great books should come from all that experience. Good luck and great sales for Caper Magic.

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    1. I agree, Sandra! Experience like hers will no doubt inspire many stories. :)

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    2. Hi, Sandra
      yep. as we say in the [retired] nursing game: been there, done that.
      kathy

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  4. Great interview, ladies. Kathy, I like your selection of Anthony to play Nick. Best of luck with this story, and with the series.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Barbara!

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    2. Hi, Barbara
      OMG Anthony Denison. If I could, I'd take his Closer/Major Crimes character and hook him up iwth a ballsy ER nurse. A match made in heaven--or hades!!
      best to you
      kathy

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  5. I like historically romantic settings myself. thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hi CottonSr
      this town is so quaint, with historic landmark signs all over the place as well as historic references. For example, the building which houses the library sits on the site of a home purchased for Napoleon by one of his sibs in hopes he'd relocate there after his release from Elba. Never happened but the French influence in the area is quite strong.
      thanks for stopping by!!
      kathy

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  6. I haven't read very many serial stories, but I've got an addictive enough personality, I'm betting I'd get sucked in. Very cool.

    Crystal's Blog

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    1. I bet I'd get sucked into her series, too. ;)

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    2. Hah!
      my current WIP is a sequel from a novella in the Class of '85 series out of TWRP. The new chief of police [significant other to one of the Caper Magic characters] is taken hostage with two 80 year-old twins nicknamed Murder and Mayhem by the locals whom he previously cited for playing bumper cars in the local Walmart as they fought over the last bottle of Metamucil.
      lots of fun
      thanks for stopping!
      kathy

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  7. "Caper Magic" sounds intriguing. I like how you discovered your setting.
    Good luck with your sales!

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    1. Thanks for leaving Kathy a comment, Judy!

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    2. thanks, Judy
      this discovering stuff comes when I least expect it--like the flu or an anterior wall MI
      sorry for the medical stuff. Another perk of a long, ugly past
      thanks for stopping by!
      kathy

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  8. This sounds like an intriguing series, Kathy. I love the idea of an underground railway. Best of luck!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Jana! :)

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    2. Hey, Jana!!
      thanks for stopping by. Hope all is well with you and your writing.
      kathy

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  9. Fun interview!

    I have to admit, I didn't see the sliver of girl off to the right in that photo, so I thought there was a creepy disembodied hand attached to Kathy's shoulder.

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    1. LOL! I hadn't even noticed. That would make a funny and creepy ghost story. haha

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    2. I didn't notice it either.
      that picture was taken almost 30 years ago and remains one of the best of myself. The hand belongs to one of my kids. We were probably celebrating a First Holy Communion or Confirmation. Hah!!
      ghost. good one
      thanks for stopping by, Loni
      kathy

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  10. Love your cover and your concept. I'm glad to see the Magdalene laundries getting "aired" in a book. That should add huge motivation to your heroine! Best wishes with your release.

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    1. Thanks for leaving Kathy a comment, Ashantay! :)

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    2. Ashantay
      thanks for stopping by.
      yep. I didn't have a lot of time to explore the Magdalenes in this story but I plan to with future works. The scandals just keep on coming out of the woodwork, don't they? Like termites or rats.
      best to you
      kathy

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  11. Interesting blog-interview and I learned a lot about YOU. Good luck with your newest work--sounds perfect for a series.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the interview, Susan!

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    2. Hey, Susan
      thanks so much for stopping by. I'm like an onion. Many layers which come off when I least expect it.
      looking forward to your next visit to my blog!!
      kathy

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  12. Nothing like the beginning of a new series. I look forward to reading it and discovering Cape Brendan.

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    1. I love the beginning of a new series, too. :)

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    2. Ally!!
      thanks for stopping by.
      you're correct about the beginning of a series. It's like marrying into a large family and meeting a new and 'different' relative at each family event--marriage, baptism, funeral, murder trial
      yuk yuk
      best to you my friend
      kathy

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  13. Chrys
    thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. This was great fun--and so many diverse comments!
    I hope we can do this again
    Kathy/Veronica/Kat Henry

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    1. You're welcome! I loved having you and would love to have you back again and again. :D

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  14. Love the cover for Caper Magic – the red makes it pop. Also, I ship Nick and Nunie! Kathy, I love the story of how your pen name of Veronica Lynch was chosen. All the best with the series (:

    Chrys, thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Have an awesome day ♥︎

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    1. You're welcome, Sherlyn! I'm following your blog now so I'll be stopping by more often. :)

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    2. Hi, Sherilyn
      the cover for Caper Magic took my breath away. It was done by RJ Morris who, besides being one of the movers and shakers at Wild Rose Press, is a very talented artist and also a talented seamstress. She does a lot of work creating period costumes. I never met Veronica Lynch but when my father spoke her in a particular tone of voice that men of Irish Catholic heritage use when speaking of women they admire and respect, I figured she was someone to emulate.
      thanks for stopping by!

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  15. Interesting interview and I love the cover and description. I also like the sound of the setting.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the interview, Medeia! :)

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    2. Hi, Medeia
      thanks for the compliment. I love the setting in real life, and the one I made it into.
      thanks for stopping by
      Veronica Lynch

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  16. LOVE that red dress on the cover. Very striking. And it makes me wish I was on the water!

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  17. Awesome cover indeed, your posts all just showed up on my blog roll, weird.

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    1. HAHA! That's because something happened to my blog feed and I had to resync it and do a bunch of other stuff on Feedburner to get it working again. Glad to know it works now!

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