Kathy Rouser Interview

Today I am so very pleased to welcome author Kathy Rouser to Interviews & Reviews. Kathleen Rouser is the award-winning author of Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan, and its 

sequel, Secrets and Wishes. Kathleen wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She lives in Michigan with her hero and husband, Jack, and the sassy tailless cat who found a home in their empty nest. Kathleen is also giving away to one lucky winner a print copy of her latest book Secrets and Wishes. Read on to find out how you can win!

Kathy, welcome to Interviews & Reviews!

You write historical fiction. Do you travel to the places you write about?

Since my stories have all been set in Michigan so far and I’ve lived in Michigan all my life, I haven’t had to travel far, but I have gone to historical sites and museums for research. I even visited a pharmacy museum while I was in Minnesota to do research about the profession for my character, Thomas Harper, a turn-of-the-century pharmacist in my most recent release, Secrets and Wishes.

Let's talk about that. What is your latest book about?

Here’s the back-cover matter for Secrets and Wishes:

Stone Creek, Michigan, April, 1901 Maggie Galloway and Thomas Harper clash after their sons collide in a fistfight. Both widowed, they’re each doing their best as single-parents. Outgoing Maggie has dreams for a home of her own and a business to provide for her son as she searches for God’s path for her life as a widow. Reserved Thomas struggles to establish his new pharmacy and take care of his four rambunctious children, while wondering how a loving God could take his beloved wife.

When Thomas becomes deathly ill, Maggie is recruited to nurse him back to health. Taking the children in hand, as well, is more than she bargained for, but she is drawn to help the grieving family. Both nurse and patient find themselves drawn to each other but promptly deny their feelings. 

A baking contest sponsored by the Silver Leaf Flour Company brings former beau, Giles Prescott, back into Maggie’s life. When Giles offers Maggie a position at their test kitchen in Chicago, he hints that, along with assuring her a good job, it will allow them to possibly rekindle their relationship. 

But then a charlatan comes to town, and tragedy soon follows. Maggie and Thomas discover the miracle potions he hawks aren’t so harmless when an epidemic hits Stone Creek. Thomas and Maggie realize they must work together to save lives.

Maggie finds herself caught up in battles within and without—the battle to help the townsfolk in the midst of illness and chicanery, and the battle to know which man—Thomas or Giles—deserves to win her heart. 

What inspired you to write this book?

The heroine of Secrets and Wishes, Maggie Galloway, was a secondary character in my first novel, Rumors and Promises. She was the sister of its hero, Reverend Ian McCormick. I enjoyed writing the humorous brother-sister banter between them and grew quite fond of Maggie. I just knew she needed her own story. That’s where I started.

Do you have any other books in the works?​

I’m currently working on an historical romance novella focusing on Mackinac Point Lighthouse for a Barbour novella collection. That is one place I have traveled to many times and in fact, stopped there again this past summer for additional photographs and research. I went up in the tower to see the view the lighthouse keeper would have. 

I've always wanted to go there, but never had the chance. What is something most people don’t know about you?

Sometimes I have posted pictures on Facebook of jewelry that I’ve made, but I don’t think most people know that I love making jewelry with beads or wire wrapping. I find it a relaxing creative outlet and I love making things for others. It’s rewarding to create something pretty in hours and see it, while writing a novel takes months to get to a finished product. Also, I used to be a dental assistant, but now I work in a ladies’ clothing store part-time which I find to be great fun.

Writers tend to be very creative people, so it doesn't surprise me that you would have a hobby that allows your creativity to continue to flow. I'm curious - how were you saved?

My husband and I got married after knowing one another only five months, only to realize we were polar-opposites. As young people, still needing to mature, we had a lot to learn. We realized that we were going have to look to God for help to make things work in our marriage as we struggled through. My husband drove a lot for his sales job and started listening to Bible teaching on the radio, which he introduced to me.

One morning, not long before Easter, I was listening to John MacArthur teach on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I had thought you had to be good to be saved. When Pastor MacArthur shared how Jesus sacrifice was once and for all for all my sins and that no one could take me out of the Father’s hand, it was like a light went on. I trusted in Christ wholly right then and there and my life has never been the same since. My husband gave his life to the Lord around the same time and by God’s grace we are still married and happy together after 36 years!

What an awesome story! And how wonderful that you had the maturity to seek God instead of a divorce as so many people seem to rush into these days. God can make our marriages fuller if we give Him the chance. Do you volunteer in your community or church?
 
After two years away from teaching, I am back at Community Bible Study in Brighton, Michigan, where I am a co-teacher for the primary children’s age group, which are grades one through three (approximate ages six to eight). I originally started volunteering about ten years ago. I started partly because I missed homeschooling and passing on biblical truth to children once my kids were grown. I learn so much from Bible study with the other children’s teachers, and ladies’ core leaders on Tuesdays. It’s so rich! And I’m encouraged by the children as I watch them learn as I work with them on Thursdays. It’s truly a blessing.

So if you were stranded on a deserted island what three books would you want with you and why?

The Bible, because I don’t have enough of it memorized. I would need God’s word to comfort and guide me, especially if I was stranded with no one else to talk to. The second would be Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen because there is so much depth to her writing and it inspired me to want to write historical romance. It’s just a delightful read. The third would be Jan Karon’s, A Light in the Window. I think that is my favorite of her Mitford books, where Father Tim is falling in love with his future wife, Cynthia. I find Karon’s writing, and being transported to Mitford, comforting and inspirational.

Great choices! Thank you for sharing with us today.

Thank you so much, Laura, for allowing me to connect with readers on your blog today!

And now Dear Readers, if you would like to win a copy of Kathy's latest book, Secrets & Wishes, fill out the form below before December 17 and you will be entered to win!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW OVER. THE WINNER OF SECRETS & WISHES IS SUSAN PHILLIPS. CONGRATULATIONS SUSAN! LOOK FOR MY EMAIL IN YOUR INBOX.