Interview with Katt Anderson with giveaway of Callie's Mountain, ends Nov 12

Welcome, Katt Anderson! Congratulations on your new book, Callie’s Mountain. We are so happy to have you here this week, and that you have agreed to share a bit about yourself.

Q: brownies, broccoli, tofu (gack!) or strawberries?

Broccoli! Love broccoli. Can’t eat strawberries and brownies makes my middle larger. I’ve never tasted tofu. Broccoli is safe.

Q: When did you first know you were a writer?

Probably in elementary school. I’ve always had an imagination. Definitely in high school.

Q: How do your roles of mother, wife, hobbyist, daughter of Christ, resident of Kentucky, play into your writing?

Everything I do spills into my writing. In Callie’s Mountain, I have a death scene. I took so much of it from my daughter’s death. I had to dig deep into my soul and remember the way I felt when they told us she had passed away. I knew I had to do it for therapy and for the book. Christianity plays a big role in this book. I don’t think I could not write a book and not show Christ’s love for mankind. This book is about a lot of difficulties of a different race, and how people treated them because they were different.

My hobbies are so widespread. I knit, sew, paint, and just about anything I can think of to do. I’ve narrowed it down a lot lately. One thing my husband and I love to do is go back to the old ways, the way our forefather’s did something. We make apple butter every year like our grandparents did. Outside in a brass kettle. It takes all day, but it is so much fun. We have several couples who help us, and it is so good when it’s finished. My grandchildren have all participated in it.

I’ve put a picture and description on my blog, http://www.kattscribbles.blogspot.com/. My website is http://www.kattanderson.com/.

Q: You love history and literature, as do I. If you could sit down and interview any author from any time, who would that be and what is the first question you would ask?

I would have to interview the Apostle Paul. My first question, “What is your thorn in the flesh?”

Q: Who have been your mentors, and how did they help you most?

Several authors have inspired and encouraged me. Back when I first started, DiAnn Mills and Mindy Starns Clark encouraged me to tell my story, because it needed to be told. Right now, I depend on Sandi Rog and Susan Paige Davis. They have helped me so much during the writing process. Not only have then encouraged me with my story, but taught me writing skills. They are both wonderful authors and wonderful friends.

Q:  What do you hope your readers will take away from your book?

I like to write about the person who is looked down upon. The person who has faults and failures, but doesn’t understand why they can’t be treated equal. I want people to realize that God made us all different, but we all have a purpose. The next book in the Melungeon Series will be more about the Melungeon people and their problems. It’s pronounced Me-lung-eon. The third one includes the Melungeons and the Trail of Tears. I wept when I visited the Trail of Tears monuments in Hopkinsville, KY. It is a very moving experience and the Cherokee Indians were treated so unfairly.

Q: Do you have a question you would like our blog readers to answer?

Of course, my first question would be: Have you bought my book? The second would be: Did you like it? I would like to invite your readers to ask me questions about the Melungeons or any other question they might have. I love talking to people, or writing to them.

Thanks Kathy for inviting me to be a guest on your blog. I will be giving away a book, and I wish everyone could receive one. It’s been a pleasure.

Katt, it is my pleasure to have you here and to get to know a little more about you. Thank you for agreeing to spend time with our readers this week, and for offering a copy of your book as a giveaway.

Okay, for a chance to win, leave a question or answer for Katt, and be sure to include your email addy. For extra chances to win, follow this blog or Katt’s, and post this blog entry to twitter or facebook. That means you have five possible ways to enter. Drawing will be on Monday November 12 at noon ET, where I select a name from random.org from among all the entries. Good luck!