Today on Life Bites we have Cathryn Hein, whose latest release, Heart of the Valley is available now where ever good books are sold. Cathryn’s weekly blog feature Friday Feasts is one my auto reads.
Cathryn was born in South Australia’s rural south-east. With three generations of jockeys in the family it was little wonder she grew up horse mad, finally obtaining her first horse at age 10. So began years of pony club, eventing, dressage and showjumping until university beckoned.
Armed with a shiny Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) from Roseworthy College she moved to Melbourne and later Newcastle, working in the agricultural and turf seeds industry. Her partner’s posting to France took Cathryn overseas for three years in Provence where she finally gave in to her life-long desire to write. Her short fiction has been recognised in numerous contests, and published in Woman’s Day.
Now living in Melbourne, Cathryn writes full-time. Take it away Cathryn!
What’s on top of your to-be-read pile?
Err, not sure. The rotten thing’s too tall for me to see the top of it. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration but that’s what it feels like.
I’m currently reading Kate Morton’s The Distant Hours. Then I plan to read either Iain Pears’ Stone’s Fall or Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman. I’m also very tempted by Josephine Pennicott’s Poet’s Cottage. It will all depend on my mood, but I’m in the middle of writing a book and that’s a time I tend to get really choosy about my reading.
What do you feel when you contemplate your to-be-read pile?
Half scared! It’s so huuuuuge. My TBR pile contains so many books that I’m eager to read that it makes me a little depressed when I think how long it’ll be before I get to them. I also feel quite guilty that I don’t read author friends’ books straight away, even though I would dearly love to.
Of course, knowing all this doesn’t stop me buying more!
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Oh, without doubt food and wine. Food I don’t feel guilty about so much… except maybe when we roast spuds in goose fat, which is seriously naughty. Amazing though. If you haven’t done it then you must try. Best roast spuds you’ll ever eat. Wine I feel guilty over but I do so adore the stuff – red, white and everything in between.
Delicious food and gorgeous wine shared with wonderful company is one of life’s great delights. How can anyone feel guilty about that?
How often do you exercise?
I used to exercise 6 days a week without fail – a combination of weights, walking, cycling and golf – but since January, when we moved to Melbourne, I’ve been slack and haven’t managed to settle into a consistent exercise routine. But that’s all about to change. The weights and yoga mat are set out, the bike tyres pumped and the trainers at the ready. Expect much achy-muscled hobbling to follow.
At least I didn’t stop swinging those golf clubs. Golf’s a sometimes infuriating way to get exercise, but definitely good for you.
Where was your last holiday?
North Queensland, but it was more a working holiday as we combined it with some business matters.
This question made me think though, and I’m disappointed to admit that we haven’t managed a proper, dedicated holiday for years now. Either Jim is too busy with his work or I’m on one deadline or another, but we do compensate with mini-breaks. They’re great fun.
What do you like to cook?
Ahh, cooking! One of my favourite things in the world. As to what I like to cook, everything and anything. Except for offal. That’s a bit of a struggle.
I’m a complete recipe bowerbird. I have piles of them torn from magazines and newspapers, and my recipe book collection is enormous. I just bought another today, in fact. Poor Jim groans when I say we’re having something experimental for dinner. I do try to choose wisely, and often discover some wonderful recipes that make it into my keeper scrapbook, but I have been known to produce the occasional shocker.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would that be?
France or Italy. Probably Italy. The food is amazing, the people gorgeous, generous and welcoming, the history, culture and art fascinating, and the landscape varied and beautiful. Oh, and I could listen to the language forever.
What time of day do you write?
Mornings. I’m definitely a morning person. I don’t have much choice because Jim’s an early riser and after 20 years together you tend to fall into a rhythm. I was always a night person at uni, but I was also much younger then!
Can you write on demand?
Yes and no. I can write on demand, and I know this to be true because I’ve had deadlines where I’ve been forced to, but I’ve also had days where I simply haven’t been able to produce any words. Not words that I consider usable. That only tends to happen when I’m really upset about something though, which is fortunately not often.
What are three words to describe your relationship with the world wide web?
Chained. Curious. Cautious.
Windows or Mac?
Windows.
What’s the last sentence you wrote from your work in progress?
‘I should have realised. Nothing is ever easy around here.’
Cathryn’s latest book Heart of the Valley is available now from major retailers.
HEART OF THE VALLEY
Brooke Kingston is smart, capable and strongwilled some might even say stubborn and lives in the beautiful Hunter Valley on her family property. More at home on horseback than in heels, her life revolves around her beloved ‘boys’ showjumpers Poddy, Oddy and Sod.
Then a tragic accident leaves Brooke a mess. Newcomer Lachie Cambridge is hired to manage the farm, and Brooke finds herself out of a job and out of luck. But she won’t go without a fight.
What she doesn’t expect is Lachie himself a handsome, gentle giant with a will to match her own. But with every day that Lachie stays, Brooke’s future on the farm is more uncertain. Will she be forced to choose between her home and the man she’s falling for?
A vivid, moving and passionate story of love and redemption from the author of Promises.
Today on Life Bites is the wonderful and mutli-tasking Shannon Curtis! Marketing supremo by day and romantic suspense author the rest of the time. Here’s a little excerpt from her bio.
Shannon’s latest Guarding Jess is out now! You can get it from Carina Press, and major online bookshops.
I would imagine you’re having some lovely autumn weather about now? (Momentarily – as I write it’s pouring outside! Keziah)
