Please join me in welcoming Cathe Swanson in for coffee this morning!

PM: When do you find the time to write? Where is your favorite place to write?

CS: Theoretically, I can write any time I like, because I have a wonderful husband who supports me. I don’t work outside my home, and all my children are grown. But we have frequent houseguests and make trips to visit our family, and somehow time flies past too quickly, and I don’t get as much writing done as I ought.
I move around the house while I write on my laptop. In the morning, the sun comes in the family room, so I like to sit in there. I actually get most work done when I sit at the kitchen table, but I try to use the treadmill desk my husband rigged up for me. I walk very slowly, but it’s better than sitting all day.

PM: Which book would you tell a first-time reader of your to start with out of all your stories, and why?

CS: My first book is still my favorite – Snow Angels. It makes me laugh and cry.

PM: If you couldn’t be a writer, what career path do you think you’d choose to be on?

CS: I think I would be an occupational therapy assistant. That’s always interested me. Several years ago, I went to the local community college to see if I could get into the program, and the woman there let me know (kindly) that I was probably too old to start and finish it before retirement age. So, I made the hero of Baggage Claim a physical therapy assistant, in school to become a full-fledged therapist.

PM: What was the last movie you went to see/favorite movie/favorite song?

CS: I haven’t been to a movie in so long… I can’t think of a favorite one. I think my current favorite song is “Even If,” by Mercy Me, but I also love “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin. God has always revealed Himself to me through his created world.

PM: I see you live in Wisconsin – someplace I have always wanted to see since I read a book many years ago that took place in Door County! You list so many wonderful activities on the ‘about you’ page, which is your favorite out of the kayaking, hiking, birdwatching and fishing??

CS: I’d rather be kayaking than any of the others, but it’s something that requires warm weather and several hours. I have a birdfeeding station right outside my living room window, and I get a wide variety of birds there. This year, I saw my first-ever scarlet tanager!

PM: Tell us what you enjoy doing the most when you are not writing or reading?

CS: Sewing or quilting, probably. I only have a couple years left before my youngest granddaughter won’t want to wear the cute outfits, so I love to make things for her. I also enjoy gardening and papercrafting. And watching the Packers, of course. I DO live in Wisconsin, after all.

PM: What is one thing about you that your readers would be shocked to know?

CS: I haven’t been shocking in a long time, but they might be interested to know that I raised and homeschooled three sons and my favorite subject to teach was math. We all survived, and now all my grandchildren are homeschooled.

PM: What gave you your start in quilting? I have always admired this talent, but never attempted to try it myself, lol!

CS: I’ve been sewing clothing since I was seven years old, but I didn’t make my first quilt until I was pregnant with my second son. We lived in Germany at the time, and my fabric selection was limited, but I knew right away that quilting was something I would do for the rest of my life. It’s part of who I am, now. I’ve incorporated that part of my into my last two novels, designing quilts and drafting patterns to go with each book. Combining the two has been very satisfying.

PM: How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?

CS: Please sign up for my newsletter at www.catheswanson.com/newsletter. I mean to send one out monthly, but I get busy with other things, and lately it’s been every 2 or 3 months instead.
But you can find me online, and I love to connect with readers on social media.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson
Instagram: http://instagram.com/CatheSwanson
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catheswanson

PM: Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?

CS: Coffee. Just coffee, uninterrupted.