Thanks, everyone, for helping launch my new website and your fabulous comments on Friday’s post. I’ve drawn a winner: Her comment:
Wow, after reading the few paragraphs – it has whet my appetite for the entire book . . .
CONGRATULATIONS to Judy Abbott! I’ll be sending autographed copies of Lisa Wingate’s books, A Dandelion Summer and Blue Moon Bay, to you this week. Enjoy!
Today, I have another fantastic treat in store for you. Courtney Walsh is also a multi-talented writing friend, a terrific critique partner, and the author of A Sweethaven Summer – her debut novel. I could go on and on about this book, but instead, I’m going to let Courtney talk. Recently I had the opportunity to chat with her. We happen to share a love of coffee, so after you’ve read the interview, check at the bottom for today’s special giveaway.
Carla: Thanks, Courtney, for being my guest here today. First of all, HUGE congrats on your debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer. There’s nothing like releasing that first fledgling out into the world, so let’s talk about that.
Courtney: Thanks for having me, Carla! Everyone tells me you only get the debut ONCE so enjoy it! I’m trying!!
Carla: Tell my readers a bit about your writing journey. How long have you been writing, and what’s been the biggest surprise?
Courtney: Well, I’ve been writing forever. I used to write stories in grade school—I even asked for a typewriter for Christmas in the 8th grade. (I got it.) But I NEVER thought I’d do this as a career. I planned to be in the theatre in some capacity, so the very fact that this is what I’m doing is a surprise.
In high school, I was the editor of our school paper and in college I wrote plays. After college my first job was as a reporter for a newspaper, so you’d think I’d have gotten used to this by now, but it took me a long time to call myself “a writer.”
I’m also surprised by how very much work it is to write a novel. This profession is not for the faint of heart…though I do feel like it’s all worth it in the end!
Carla: I know you’re the author of two Scrapbooking books – Congrats! How was writing a novel different than writing a craft book?
Courtney: It’s worlds different. With the crafting books, I was writing text to go along with the artwork, so in many ways, the artwork WAS the focus. You also write very concise, instruction-oriented chunks that are easy to digest. With a novel, you have to develop the characters and story…and you don’t get visuals to go along with any of it! It’s quite a challenge!
Carla: How did you come up with the idea for A Sweethaven Summer? Is there a part of the story that comes from your personal experience?
Courtney: The scrapbooking aspect is certainly from personal experience, which I loved adding in. I feel strongly about preserving my memories and telling our stories, so that was a very natural fit. I also created Sweethaven after some very generous friends gifted us a weekend in their cottage on Lake Michigan. That’s where the idea for the town—a place where people pass down their cottages through the generations—came from. (I’m so thankful to our friends for that weekend!)
Carla: What do you want the reader to gain from reading A Sweethaven Summer? Is there a particular take away you have in mind? 
Courtney: The main thread of this book is about friendship and forgiveness. I think these are two of life’s most precious gifts. Female friendships are so unique, but they’re often filled with emotions and hormones and misunderstandings. It’s my hope that readers will walk away with a greater appreciation for the friends they’ve loved through the years…and forgive those they’ve perhaps had a falling out with. There’s such freedom in forgiveness…though it’s sometimes a very hard thing to give.
Carla: Which character in A Sweethaven Summer are you most like? What have you learned about yourself in writing this story about these women?
Courtney: There are certainly parts of me in all of them. I think there’s a dryness about Campbell that is me all day long. I tend to be a little sarcastic. In fact, I had to really tone that down to keep her likable, which has me wondering if I am unlikable for it. Ha. But I think I probably most identify with Jane. She is the pastor’s wife who has struggled with body image issues and insecurities, and also the one who has perhaps tapped into the importance of scrapbooking/journaling through her pain.
It’s funny, as I wrote, I really found myself thinking about my own friendships and family relationships and being so thankful for them…I learned not to take those for granted, which I sometimes do simply because I get busy.
Women do friendship different than men. In my experience, women are drawn together by common interests (like writing or scrapbooking) and they can easily build on that. It’s funny how I’ll meet friends through something and find myself in conversations with them that have nothing to do with that original thing at all. I think we’re often bound together by emotion too, which is what makes female friendships so unique and sometimes volatile.
Carla: I know this is the first book in a three-book series. Will your endearing characters return or is it just the town of Sweethaven that remains the same?
Courtney: The characters will all be back, along with a few new characters. The second book is Meghan’s story…and Meghan has some serious baggage. I LOVE Meghan’s story so I hope readers will too!
Carla: Coffee? Tea? Sparkling mineral water? Or . . .
Courtney: Oh Carla…this from a woman who bought me coffee creamer to carry around in my purse at our last conference?! COFFEE!!! I can’t have cream or milk so I use Hazelnut Coffee Creamer. And yes, I’m an addict. But only in the mornings. One of my favorite lines in the book is “It’s a whipped cream kind of day…” Because you know, some days just are.
Courtney, you know I’m your biggest fan and have endorsed your debut novel. I’m rooting for you all the way, kiddo!
Thank you SO much for having me! I’m a huge fan of your books and it’s such a honor to be on your blog today!
Here are the places Courtney hangs out:
Telling Stories – her amazing blog
Can’t wait to get a copy of Courtney’s book???? I know you want one. To be entered in the drawing, leave a comment and tell me 
about your most memorable vacation. Was it a place like Sweethaven? Also, because Courtney and I share a mutual addiction love for coffee, the winner of A Sweethaven Summer will also get a Starbucks card!
Same rules as last time: Tweet or FaceBook this post and get a second entry – you’ll have to comment twice to let me know to throw your name in the hat twice.
Deadline to enter: this Thursday, 8 pm Central.
Thanks to Wynn/Wynn Media for providing the book and Starbucks card for the giveaway.