A HomeSchooling Virtuous Writer Mom! Come Read About Katy Lee!

Even wonderful home-schooling moms, who love to write, can find  that spare time to author a book if her heart is into it, and Katy Lee's is one of those!

Katy Lee writes higher purpose stories in high speed worlds. As an inspirational author, speaker, home-schooling mom, and children’s ministry director, she has dedicated her life to sharing tales of love, from the greatest love story ever told to those sweet romantic stories of falling in love. Her fresh and unique voice brings a fast-paced and modern feel to her romances that are sure to resonate with readers long after the last page. Her debut novel Real Virtue is a finalist in many writing contests, and took second place in the 2011 Georgia Maggie Award of Excellence. Katy lives in Connecticut with her husband, three children, and two cats.

SKC:  Welcome, Katy. I think this is the first time I’ve had you over here at A Pen for Your Thoughts. What gave you the urge to write?

Katy:  I am excited to be here! Thank you for having me in your virtual home, Shirley! As for what gives me the urge to write, I think I will have to say my characters. I don’t write about characters that have it all together. (Even if they think they do.) Their conflicts are both internal and external. They have a journey in front of them to figure things out and need to if they are going to grow as people. So, it is when they find the key to understanding that they want to shout it from the rooftops.

And that is when I start writing, and not a moment before.

SKC:  Who has been the biggest influence in your life with your writing?

Katy: I have a wonderful writers group through my local Romance Writers of America chapter, and they give me encouragement and tools for my craft daily, but my biggest influencer is God’s hand in my life. I can’t tell you how many times I have written myself into a corner with no idea on how I will get out, (or get my characters out) and it is He who comes to my rescue. Whether through His Word or putting exactly what I need in my path when I need it, He shows His faithfulness in numerous ways. I could not write without Him. In fact, He is the one who gives me the desire to write in the first place.

SKC:  Do you place your settings often from the area in which you live, or do you venture out to other areas? And if so, how do you do research on different areas for setting purposes?

Katy: For the most part I write what I know and about the places I know.  So most of my stories are set in New England, Maine, and New York, however, I am finishing up one right now that ends in Romania. I have never been there, so I hope I do the Romanian people justice. Although, I’ve told my husband that I might have to take a trip just to be sure. Oh, the hardships of being an author.

SKC:   I have Victorian style decorations and pictures in my parlor to inspire me when I go in there and put me in the mood for writing my 19^th century stories. Perhaps it’s because I'll use anything that gets my creative juices flowing. Where do you go to get inspired and why?

Katy: I think I might need to get me one those places. Your room looks beautiful and what a great idea for inspiration. I write suspense, though, so I would need to fill the room with some pretty scary stuff. (grin) But for now, I write in my rocking chair looking out a window onto my garden and white picket fence. Pretty tranquil whether there are flowers blooming or the yard is snow-covered.

SDC:  I think I prefer your tranquil idea to that pretty scary stuff. :) What is the last book you read and what did you learn from reading it?

Katy:  Lucky Penny by Catherine Anderson.  A writer can learn so much from this woman. Her characters seem real and her prose flows like music. Such beautiful writing. And I think she breaks the mold of what the typical “romance” follows. I like that.

SDC: Where do you go from here and where can our readers find you and your books?

Katy:  Well, since I just returned from the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Chicago, which could make a person go a little crazy, I’m hoping to stay homebound for a few weeks. But then it is off to more conventions and book signings and guest blogs where I hope to meet lots and lots of readers and talk about lots and lots of books.

But even if I don’t get to meet you in person, you can always find me in one of my virtual homes.

www.KatyLeeBooks.com
www.Facebook.com/katyleewriter
www.Twitter @KatyLeeBooks

Let’s connect and get to know each other!

SDC: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US Katy.  What is the one subject you would like to talk about with your authors today? Do fill us in on the book you have to offer one of these fortunate guests this week.

Katy: Thank you for having me! I am having loads of fun with you all! Here is a little more about my story Real Virtue. And, yes, I will be giving away a free ecopy of the book, OR the winner can opt to receive a paperback copy, which will be out this coming fall.

SDC: Here's a little about REAL VIRTUE. If you are interested in getting your name in my basket for a random drawing a bit later, drop Katy a line this week. Let's welcome her to A Pen for Your Thoughts together!

                   Real Virtue

In a virtual reality game where she can fly,

someone’s aiming to take her down.

 Mel Mesini is a New York City restaurateur and an avid, virtual reality world traveler. But her successful life—both online and in reality—takes a swerve the night her father is seriously injured in a hit-and-run. To make matters worse, Officer Jeremy Stiles, the man who had once cut her deep with his harsh, rejecting words, is heading the investigation.

When Jeremy realizes Mel is the actual target, his plan is to protect her—whether she wants him to or not. What he wants is answers, especially about this online game she plays. Is it a harmless pastime as she says? Or is she using it to cover something up? As a faceless predator destroys the things that matter to her, Jeremy knows he’s running out of time before she loses the one thing that matters most—her real life.

 Real Virtue is available now in ebook from www.Amazon.com and www.BN.com. Paperback in the fall.