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Interview: Author Cathy M. Buchanan + Giveaway
Filed in Cathy M. Buchanan , Interview , The HEA Lover Posted on August 27, 2010 @ 6:00 am
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Today I’m very happy to welcome Cathy Buchanan on Book Lovers Inc. Cathy’s debut novel The Day The Falls Stood Still is now available in paperback. Please give Cathy a warm welcome and don’t miss our contest at the end to win one of the 2 copies of her book.
The HEA Lover: Cathy can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Cathy: The Day the Falls Stood Still is my first novel. Having completed a BSc in biochemistry and an MBA, and then working in the corporate world for many years, I came fairly late to the writing life. Born and bred in Niagara Falls, I now live in Toronto with my husband and three sons and am at work on a second work of historical fiction.
The HEA Lover: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
Cathy: Well, the way I write has changed. While writing The Day the Falls Stood Still I would describe myself as a pantser. But after the extensive rewriting−two years worth−required by that first foray, I spent much more time plotting out book number two up front and also give more thought to the structure of individual chapters.
The HEA Lover: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Cathy: Real book lovers get so entirely wrapped up in books that they laugh, commiserate and weep with the characters. Sometimes they neglect their children. Sometimes they shuffle zombie-like through the day because, the night before, they just could not put the book down the book they were reading in bed.
The HEA Lover: Your debut novel The Day the Falls Stood Still centers around Niagara Falls. I read on your website that you are a founding member of conservation organization Friends of Niagara Falls. Where does your interest for the Niagara Falls come from?
Cathy: I was born and bred in Niagara Falls, and I do think my fascination with the place is as a result of its storied past. Niagara’s lore is endless─the Maid of the Mist and her canoe, Sir Isaac Brock and the War of 1812, Blondin and his tightrope, Annie Taylor and her barrel, William “Red” Hill and his daring rescues, Sir Adam Beck and hydroelectricity… Add into the mix, the staggering beauty of the falls themselves, and I think there was little possibility of my first novel being set anywhere else.
The HEA Lover: How did you research the history part of your novel? Are you more the old fashioned book using researcher or are you venturing into the world wide web?
Cathy: When I first began researching, I turned primarily to books surveying Niagara’s history. The story of William “Red” Hill, Niagara’s most famous riverman, came up time and again, and with each telling I became more certain my main male character─Tom Cole─would be loosely based on him. To learn more about Red Hill, I spent afternoons in the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library, perusing newspaper accounts of his rescues and self-published leaflets commemorating his heroism.
Once I’d decided my riverman’s love interest─Bess Heath─would come from a privileged background, I sequestered myself in the Loretto Archives, learning all I could about Loretto Academy, the prestigious convent school at Niagara Falls.
Once I began writing, I found myself using the internet more and more often, particularly when it came to capturing the home front during the First World War. I also felt myself drawn to quiet contemplation in the places I was writing about and frequently wandered the wooded pathways of the Niagara Glen, walked the length of the Niagara Gorge or strode the streets of Silvertown, gazing up at Glenview where Bess would live upon her return from Loretto Academy. I also stood at the brink of the falls, filling with wonder and hoping I could capture that feeling on the pages of a book.
The HEA Lover: What can we expect of The Day the Falls Stood Still?
Cathy: My hope is that readers will find a compelling love story intertwined with the fascinating history of Niagara Falls between the covers of The Day the Falls Stood Still, and perhaps, be compelled to think a bit about the nature of mankind’s existence and feel a little of the awe I’ve experienced at Niagara Falls.
The HEA Lover: Your heroine Bess is confronted with a drastically changed life when she finally comes back from boarding school. The life of her family is completely altered and she has to adjust to those changes in record time. How does she cope with all this?
Cathy: At the book’s outset, Bess steps up to the challenge of her family’s reduced means but not without griping and straining her relationship with her overworked mother and despondent sister. As the story moves forward, Bess more fully embraces shaping the happiness of her family and in doing so becomes a true heroine.
The HEA Lover: Which 3 words would you use to describe Bess and why?
Cathy: Resourceful. Despite an upbringing that does not prepare Bess for work, she becomes an entrepreneur and singlehandedly keeps her family afloat during the war years.
Pensive. When tragedy strikes, Bess loses her faith. Readers follow her grief-ridden struggle with determining what it is she believes, an aspect of the story that many readers tell me they find deep moving.
Independent-minded. Throughout the story Bess defies her parents, convention and the society of her childhood.
The HEA Lover: Your hero Tom lives in a different social class. He always had to work hard to earn his living. This stands in stark contrast to what Bess is used to. How do you think it influenced him as a character?
Cathy: Tom is soulful and finds contentment not in material things but in nature. In my mind, the richness of his spirit has more to do with the deep reverence for nature his grandfather instilled in him than with growing up with few material comforts.
The HEA Lover: These two experience love at first sight. Do you personally believe in it?Cathy: I believe in lust at first sight and that lust or physical attraction is an integral part of romantic love. True love, though, I think, can only come with time.
The HEA Lover: Your novel handles a classic topic: The rift between rich and poor and the way it influences the life of someone, romantically or generally. What is the appeal of this topic in your eyes?
Cathy: I think we all want to believe in true love and when someone crosses a class divide in choosing a partner, it is pretty compelling evidence that true love exists.
The HEA Lover: What’s next on your schedule? We heard something about a book set in France? *looks innocent* Can you tell us a bit more about this one?
Cathy: The novel is set in and around the Paris Opéra in 1880 but it focuses more on the underbelly of Paris than its glamorous side.
The HEA Lover: Now the mean questions:
Can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your book?
Cathy: I’ll let the authorities tell you why…
“A wonderful love story…Buchanan weaves Niagara Falls’ history and her storytelling together masterfully.”—Elle
“Few first novels exhibit the mastery, maturity and majesty of Buchanan’s riveting fictional debut, a heart-wrenching, soul-racking, spell-binding tale interwoven with guts, anguish and glory guaranteed to remain in readers’ minds.”—The Globe and Mail
“Set against the resounding backdrop of the falls, Cathy Marie Buchanan’s carefully researched, capaciously imagined debut novel entwines the romantic trials of a young couple with the historical drama of the exploitation of the river’s natural resources. . . . a transporting novel that captures both the majesty of nature and the mystery of love.”—Barnes & Noble Recommends Selection citation
The HEA Lover: If you were forced to only read books by ONE author for the rest of your life whose books would it be?
Cathy: Easy. Margaret Atwood.~
The HEA Lover: Thank you Cathy for answering all our questions =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*~Giveaway~*
Thanks to Cathy and her publisher, we have two (2) copies of The Day the Falls Stood Still to give away. Woooot!
All you have to do is ask Cathy a question or just leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
Please leave us a way to contact you
(email in blogger profile or twitter name is okay).
This giveaway is International!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, September 4th and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Bonne chance everyone!
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Hi Cathy!
I agree ! Margaret Atwood is more than a genius! She is like a goddess in the world of literary fiction!! Every one of her books are amazing . My personal favorite is the Blind Assassin.
I want to ask , which is your favorite novel by Margaret Atwood?
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com
Hi!
I don't think I ever read a historical romance that wasn't in Europe, so that'd be interesting… But for some reason this sounds like Gone with the Wind (even though I never watched that one)…
Of course I'm interested in the book, as the history junkie I am, congratulations to Cathy for making a different story and not just the usual, aparently american publishers unlike brazilian ones, still publish historical romances and non YA-Paranormal books too (here you can BARELY find one or two that aren't)…
I'd like to be entered on the giveaway please: mayarend (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) br
Hi Cathy! That was a very interesting interview. What made you choose Paris for your next story? Are you as familiar with Paris as you are with Niagara Falls?
zita (at) dal (dot) ca
Hello! 🙂
I like to read books and to find nice quotes in them. So I have a question – what is your favorite quote ever?
xlacrimax at gmail dot com
I really like how you were interested in writing about where you grew up and the history of it. What is your favorite time period in history and what stands out in it that makes it your favorite?
I would really like to read this book, it sounds quite good.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I went to Niagra Falls once and it was amazing. I would love to read this book and learn more about it's history. I love books that intertwine a story with a bit of learning. This sounds like the perfect read!
autumn.crochet@gmail.com
Hi Cathy!
Wow! Great interview! The novel looks really interesting, I'm not reading these stories and yet you left me intrigued. Now, I want to read your book!
I want to ask: which character was the most difficult to write? or Who is your favorite character of your book and why?
itzel_library (AT)hotmail (DOT) com
Thanks for the opportunity.
Take care,
~Yelania
Your book sound like a wonderful historical romance and I'm looking forward to reading it. I love it when an author chooses a unique setting and I get a chance to learn more about that place and time period.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your thoughtful questions and comments.
Sry: The love story is purely fictional. While Tom Cole is loosely based on Niagara’s most famous riverman, William “Red” Hill, Bess is truly the product of my imagination. That said, I did recently have the opportunity to meet Red Hill’s 94-year-old daughter, and she told me, eyes filling with tears, just how much Bess reminded her of her mother.
Misha1989: Blind Assassin is my favourite, too, followed by Alias Grace and Handmaid’s Tale.
Zita: I saw a television documentary on the girl who modelled for a piece of art, and I knew that model, a Parisian, had to narrate part of my story. I have been to Paris twice and expect to travel there in the fall but am nowhere near as familiar with it as I am Niagara Falls. A real challenge. Daunting at times.
Xlacrimax: I think I share this favourite quote with many: “Be the change that you want to see”-Gandi
Debbie: My formal education in history ended in grade nine, and so I hardly feel qualified to have a favourite era. That said, I did fall in love with the WWI period as I researched The Day the Falls Stood Still. The way communities pulled together, the way everyone was doing their bit really struck me. People gave up driving and meat and started war gardens and, if they had a free moment, rolled bandages and wrote letters to buoy the spirits of soldiers they’d never met. It seemed the crisis brought out the best in people, that sacrifice was widespread. It made me feel hopeful that at some point, hopefully not too far off, all of mankind will take up the fight against our own looming crisis–climate change.
The Itzel Library: Likely Isabel, the main heroine’s sister, was the most difficult to write. She is also my favourite. One moment she is confident and ready to shape her world and the next, she is crippled with self doubt.
Good luck to everyone. I do hope you all get to read the book. I'll check back later, to see if there are more questions.
Cathy
—
http://cathymariebuchanan.com/
http://www.facebook.com/CathyMarieBuchanan
Hi Cathy,
I think this a great setting for your book. I remember seeing Falls when I was a child. I was really impressed with what seemed the magnetic power of the falls, it seemed to pull you forward. The museum was great and I loved the rapids. I remember that Father would not let us go on the Maid of the Mist because he thought we would drown!
Gee I forgot to add my e-mail address to the one just above. I am the one whose father wouldn't let use take the Maid of the Midst trip because he thought we would drown.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This book sounds really great! I'm especially intrigued by the setting since I don't know anything about the Falls.
sowickedlovely@live.com
Niagara Falls has always seemed like a romantic spot to me but I know so little about it that this book has me quite intrigued. What a fabulous interview. Cathy you've really expressed your passion for the locale and I find myself getting caught up in that.
Cathy – I am a BIG fan of your book. We have a single copy at our town library where I work part-time; it is hardly ever on the shelf because once it comes back and is on the book cart I pull it and sending it home with another avid reader. What a wonderful story!
Thanks, everyone. The Niagara setting is an integral part of the book. Several bloggers/reviewers have called it a character.
Carol: Next time you must go on the Maid of the Mist. Fantastic!
Julie: Oh, I adore you librarians. Thanks for talking the book up. Happy for my book not to be on the shelf.
Cathy
—
http://cathymariebuchanan.com/
http://www.facebook.com/CathyMarieBuchanan
Hi Cathy!
First, let me say the cover of your book is gorgeous…I mean, look at that! Secondly, I have a question, being this your debut novel, did you struggle a lot to have it published, or was it rather easy?
thank you;)
jen7waters(at)gmail(dot)com
I have got to say that first off this was a brilliant interview! I always love to read books that are based on personal knowledge as well as history of a specific location linked to a person's heart. I always enjoy reading about authors means of researching as well as the process of writing a book it interests me to know how you go about it and what means you push yourself towards giving the reader a fantastic read.
First off I have to say that I totally agree with your answer about how a real book lover feels when they begin to read books. I totally feel the same way that when you open your heart to a book you become those people and feel what they feel.
My question would be what was the first book that you fell in love with? and why?
Thank you for an amazing interview and also book lovers inc for a fantastic set of questions.
twitter: @izzles25
and email: izzymcteagle at hotmail . com
What a terrific interview! And I guess I'm a book lover as I stagger through many days due to being unable to put my book down the night before!
Love historical fiction, and as I've never read one set at Niagra Falls I'm really interested in reading this one.
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
Cathy – you say you came fairly late to the writing life – what inspired you to take on writing a novel?
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com
Jen7waters: I mentioned the extensive re-writing the book required. That was the “hard” part rather than having the book accepted for publication. The biggest re-writing took place with the help of my talented agent before the book was submitted to the publishers. The book finally went out on a Tuesday and by the end of the week, publication offers were in from Canada, the US, the UK and Italy. (Yes, I was dancing around the office!)
Izzy: The first book I loved was Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach. It was my first chapter book and I’m sure that is partly was I was so engaged (though I love Roald Dahl to this day.) The book was read aloud to the class by Miss Newel in grade four for a half hour at the end of each day. I remember watching the clock, waiting, wishing for time to speed up. I was absolutely desperate for more of that book. And so began my long love affair with reading…
Norma: I think my creative leanings were evident throughout my teenage years, in both my serious pursuit of classical ballet and my abilities as a seamstress. While I was working in the corporate world, I was enrolled in a string of continuing education courses, always something with an artistic bent. I suppose I was trying to find a satisfying outlet for my creativity. Eventually I hit upon a creative writing course and right from the first assignment I was smitten. I kept up the regime of full-time work by day and a writing class or bit of crammed-in scribbling in the evening for four years, all the while longing for more time to write than the tiny gap that existed between scrubbing her three young children clean and falling into bed myself. After having a handful of stories published in literary fiction magazines, I left her corporate position to take a serious stab at writing.
Cathy
—
http://cathymariebuchanan.com/
http://www.facebook.com/CathyMarieBuchanan
I love historical fiction and lately it seems to be mostly about the English Kings & Queens. It'll be a refreshing change to read one based in the USA.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
This sounds excellent! My question is 'What was the best book you have ever read?'
Please enter me, thanks.
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
I visited Niagara Falls when I was a kid with my parents. It still stands out in my memory as such a wonderful place. It is just an amazing place!
I love Margaret Atwood too!
I have been wanting to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
truebookaddict(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Cathy,
What is the most memorable piece of history that you came across during your research of Niagara Falls? Also, do you miss living there? Thanks for answering all these questions!
@Laurie_Lamb
Ruthie: A tough question but I am going to say Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin. I was bereft as I closed the book. I wanted so badly to be back inside Iris's head.
Laurie: I think the most fascinating piece of history was the day the falls stood still in 1848 when the Niagara River became chocked at its mouth with dam of ice and the for 2 days ceased to flow. According to the newspapers, when the locals woke in the morning to quiet rather than the thunder of the falls they though it was the end of the world and headed into the churches to pray. After finally breaking through the ice, the river was back like a "tidal wave." Yes, I do miss living in Niagara Falls but I still have my mom and 2 sisters there and return often.
Hm.. I don't believe in love at first sight as well. It only happens in Disney movies where the princess goes ahhh and the prince looks at her lovingly with his regal head tilted. That is so not going to happen in real life.
Can't wait to get my hands on your book, Cathy!
Thanks for the great interview. You can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com
I would LOVE to read this book. (I'm originally from Buffalo, NY.) Cathy: Have you ever been on the Maid of the Mist?
allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com