New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the novels Wife by Wednesday and Married by Monday. Bybee lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Southern California.
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Waitress and single mom Jessica “Jessie” Mann is practical to a fault. Even if she had time to date, which she doesn’t, she’d be determined to provide her son with a more secure upbringing than the one she had—and that would mean a husband with big bucks. When Jack Morrison—a sexy-as-sin, seemingly broke customer with a cowboy hat and a seductive grin—tries to flirt with her, she shoots him down. She doubts a carefree dreamer like Jack can provide the financial stability she needs. Yet with Christmas just weeks away, and Jessie not wanting to spend it alone, the charming Texan is proving hard to resist.
As the heir to the Morrison luxury hotel empire, Jack is used to being fawned over. But Jack needs someone who will fall in love with him—not his wealth. He’s set his sights on Jessie, though her hardened heart just might get in the way…To be sure, he conceals his true identity and offers to help Jessie find the rich husband she seeks. But Jack’s daring charade may rob him of the holiday wish he wants most of all…
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This is a great book with a real feel. Catherine has created well developed characters. I fell in love with Jessie (no, not because we share a name) and her fierce love for her son, Danny. Jack is the kind of guy we all want to magically take interest in us and rescue us from our boring lives.
I loved the character arcs. This wasn't just another typical romance novel. Not that it isn't a romance novel. I just feel like Catherine spent more time focusing on building the story, developing the characters, and creating a great book than just thinking about the next steamy scene.
I'd recommend this book for the romance lovers out there, but then also to those that enjoy a good read with a realer take on romance- not that I've ever heard of a millionaire randomly taking it on himself to woo over the Denny's waitress.
Thank you for having me on your blog today.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not, then what?
It’s not a secret… I wanted to be an actress… ended up in Nursing School and worked for years as an ER, RN… But the creative bug never left. I knew there was something out there for me.
Do your readers contact you? If so, what do they say?
They do. All the time! They usually start with something about how they enjoyed my book. How they escaped their lives for a moment…or connected with a character. Sometimes they just say thanks.
For aspiring writers, what three pieces of good advice would you give them?
Write! Write! Write!
Honestly that’s all there is. You get better at your craft by writing. You stand a better chance at selling a book to a publisher by writing new work. You find readers by writing different books.
Do you have a favorite of your own books?
Oh… that’s like asking who my favorite child is. I might have to steel Nora Robert’s answer… My favorite is whoever is on sale now. My least favorite is whomever I’m working on. (Thank you Nora)!
How do you balance writing with your life?
Kicking and screaming! It’s so very hard to NOT work when you love it. I’m learning.
How old were you when you wrote your first book and what was it about?
Let’s start with the first scene. I was in my teens… I was babysitting my neighbor’s kids. And I couldn’t tell you what it was about. The first book I finished only a handful of years ago is still sitting under a bed…NEVER to be in print. I learned… moved on… Then I wrote Binding Vows and in 2009 it was published.
Where do your ideas come from?
Life and the people around me.
Do you have a writing quirk?
Is wine a quirk?
Pantser or Planner?
Pantser by nature… planner because publishers like it that way. LOL
Do you pick out dream casts for your books? If so, what's your favorite so far?
I should considering I wanted to be an actress. But I don’t. When the day comes that Hollywood comes knocking. I will!
Coke vs Pepsi?
Coke!
Chocolate vs Vanilla?
Both
Cake vs Ice Cream?
Good Cake over Ice Cream
Homemade Ice Cream over Lousy Cake
Do you think we dream in color or that we wake up and remember it in color?
Color. Don’t care how you spin it. Black and White is something ‘Man’ couldn’t duplicate with a picture so what… we assume our brain thinks in Black and White? *silly notion*
What's your favorite food?
Wine… Is that a food?
Pasta.
What type of food could you never live without?
Love!
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you take with you (limit 4 items)?
Let me ponder this for a moment…
A solar powered e-reader with 10K books in genres I read. (at least one book on wine making)
Grape seeds ( see above)
Yeah… I think that’s all I need! *wink*
Favorite show growing up?
GREAT QUESTION!
Ohhh, uhm… Bewitched. Yeah. I liked Samantha. Go figure.
If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
Moving objects with my mind. Myra’s power ( Silent Vows ) ~ Yeah… that would be me.
What do you think the future will hold?
Oh, now… why do you want me to depress everyone now?
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