Bestselling author Kathleen Shoop, PhD writes historical fiction, women’s fiction, and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and more. You can find Kathleen in person at various venues. She’s on the board of the Kerr Memorial Museum, teaches at writing/reader conferences, co-coordinates Mindful Writers Retreats and writing conferences, and gives talks at various book clubs, libraries, and historical societies.
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Cinder Bella is available at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble & Kobo.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where there was an
interesting blend of gritty ambition and humble overachievers. Many of my
stories are set there or in communities close by because there is sooooo much
wonderful material to churn into plot and character.
What do you remember about the Christmases of your past?
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. As a child, my
parents and extended family made the celebration magical, always somehow
getting us things we wanted and surprises we hadn't thought of until they
landed under the tree. Then, as an adult, my husband, Bill, and I hosted
Christmas Eve, and part of our gathering was for people to bring coats and
winter things that they didn't need, and we would drop them at the halfway house
down the street for people who we knew needed them. THEN... my daughter, Beth,
was born on Christmas Eve and every celebration since has taken the magic to
new levels. My son, Jake, was born the year before Beth and has always been her
biggest birthday fan.
What is your favorite part of the holiday season?
My favorite part is finding a meaningful and
"perfect" gift for those I love. Nothing makes me happier than
someone getting something important to them. Christmas morning, when I'm
the first one up, and I put on the lights and have quiet coffee is just another
layer of pure holiday magic. But now that my kids are grown and out of the
house, having them back is the absolute best.
When did you first realize you wanted to write Christmas
stories or stories set during the holiday season?
As I mentioned above, Christmas and Christmas Eve were always
my favorite holidays, and I spent so much time watching Christmas movies and
reading Christmas stories that after years of having books published, it occurred
to me that I was missing an opportunity to make literary magic for others. Once
I started writing short holiday tales (contemporary and historical), I put out a
book a year for readers to love. Although they tell me that they revisit many
year after year.
What is your latest book about?
The latest book is A Waltz for Christmas, and it's
inspired by my grandparents on my father's side. Depression era young adults,
dancing was one of the biggest forms of entertainment. And when my grandmother
(who was a tremendous dancer) discovered my grandfather was not only not a good
dancer, but he had no interest in it, the fun began. Their backstories are
compelling and impacted their personalities and circumstances in such a way
that they never failed to help deliver us the biggest, best Christmas
ever. It will be book 6 in the 'Tis the Season collection. These are
standalones, so reading in any order will do.
What is your favorite Christmas story or who is your
favorite Christmas story character? Why?
I love all the classics, including A Christmas
Memory by Truman Capote. My kids think his holiday stories are too glum,
but I adore the gritty depiction of life when things are hard, everyone is
trying to make do, and somehow, make holiday magic. I also love things like A
Christmas Carol (my The Christmas Coat ended up being a modern
rendition of the story without me even planning it that way. A real life event
inspired it and off I went with the writing.). I adore irreverent holiday
movies like The Family Stone and Surviving Christmas and Seven
Fishes because they remind me so much of my family holiday gatherings.
Everyone does their best to bring their best selves, but complicated families
can make that hard. But at their heart, these stories (and real life) have the
love of family and the holidays, and I adore them. The movies mentioned here
inspired my Christmas in Eagle Bend (contemporary), and it remains one of
my favorites. Hope you enjoy it if you pick it up!
Where can readers buy your book?
Readers can find my books anywhere books are sold. Online
sources carry my books year-round (I've written 23 books, so many are not
specifically Christmas stories) but brick and mortar stores like Mystery Lovers
Bookshop will mail my books to you!
What is up next for you?
As I finish up A Waltz for Christmas and the new year
begins, I'll be finishing up my novel, Imperial Girl. It's a story set
in St. Petersburg, Russia 1909-1917 about a dancer studying at the Imperial
Ballet School. It's magical, wonderful, fairytaleish and eventually Mila will
have a book set in the Donora Story Collection as she emigrates to America to
escape a dire situation. More on this story to come!!!
Is there anything you would like to add?
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more!!!
