LET’S WELCOME KATE CARLEY
AUTHOR OF:
Rad-Reader: Where did the idea for the storyline come from?
Kate: I love going to the apple orchard, and several years ago, our family took a Saturday afternoon excursion to one of the many orchards in our area. This particular family-owned orchard had a sprawling farmhouse right in the middle of the property, and as we paused to chat with the owners, I felt as if we were visiting old friends, although I’ll admit, I don’t even know their names. They’re an older couple. Their children are grown, but on that visit, they pointed toward a middle-aged guy—their oldest son—and I couldn’t help but wonder what his story was. That little kernel of an idea inspired me to write Helping Her Remember, the first book in my new Crawford Falls series.
Rad-Reader: Tell us about Kelly Anne and Dylan. Something we don’t read about in the blurb.
Kate: Dylan is incredibly athletic and outgoing. He loves baseball and coaches little league.
While Kelly Anne is quite shy, she takes pride in two things: her job as a nurse and her role as a parent.
Rad-Reader: What was her reason for returning to her hometown?
Kate: As a teenager, Kelly Anne was inspired to become a nurse, specializing in memory care for seniors, by the nurses who took care of her grandmother during her final days with Alzheimer’s. Kelly Anne always hoped that one day she could work at the same facility where her grandmother had stayed. So, when an opportunity presented itself, she jumped on it.
Rad-Reader: Why didn’t she ever tell Dylan her reason for leaving before now?
Kate: While Kelly needed to return to college for her final semester, the way she left town—without a backward glance at Dylan or any of her friends—allowed for bad feelings to fester. Initially, she was hurt by what she’d witnessed and overheard in the barn, and she was frustrated by Dylan’s drinking. But once she realized she was pregnant, she knew she couldn’t expose her child to an out of control alcoholic father.
Rad-Reader: Is Kelly sure the words she thinks she heard were spoken about her and not about someone else?
Kate: Yes, Kelly overheard Ashley and Dylan in the barn the day she left. I wanted to show that words could be just as damaging as actions, leaving a scar far deeper than Dylan’s cheating.
Rad-Reader: What made her go the words, the girl, the broken promises or the drinking?
Kate: It’s a rotten combination of all of them, isn’t it? She had to return to college. That was non-negotiable. But overhearing a drunken Dylan calling her hurtful names sent Kelly Anne scurrying home to pack her bags a couple days ahead of time.
Rad-Reader: Did Kelly Anne just feel like odd man out? With his drinking issue? Even his friends thought she was a little too hard on him.
Kate: I think that was a major issue for her. She initially moved to Crawford Falls the summer before her sophomore year of high school. She fell into their group of friends and tried to fit in. They had already established a routine of partying, something Kelly Anne never felt comfortable with.
Rad-Reader: What caused his drinking? Will we find out? At first, it was made to sound like it was her leaving that drove him to drink harder. At least that is what I thought.
Kate: Well, I don’t want to spoil the story for those who haven’t read it yet, so let me just say that yes, at the end of Helping Her Remember, Dylan shares why he drank and the emotions he attempted to numb at the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
Rad-Reader: Do you think his dad at the orchard with AJ strengthened Kelly’s case by allowing Dylan to see by the barn kittens that Kelly Anne had only been trying to protect herself and her child? Like he now had to do?
Kate: Most definitely. For Kelly Anne, she saw Dylan’s alcohol use as a major issue that she refused to expose her baby too. That protective instinct was huge for her, just like the momma cat in the barn protecting her kittens. That analogy eased the hurt for Dylan when he fully understood it.
Rad-Reader: Dylan wants to be totally angry at Kelly Anne for not letting him know that he was a father but when she had tried to get him to change his ways concerning his drinking he wouldn’t. Not to mention his friends sided with him on that issue. How was she to know she could trust him? She was to busy trying to live and raise a baby.
Kate: As a general rule of thumb, I disagree with women who keep their baby’s paternity a secret from the father. I believe that guys (of course with some exceptions) should get that opportunity to be involved. So, as I was writing Dylan’s story, I was simply crushed to find that the love of his life, Kelly Anne, had a kid she had kept secret from him. It wasn’t the story I planned to tell, but it was their story. And as I got to know more about Kelly Anne, I understood her deep need to protect her son from his alcoholic father.
Rad-Reader: Do you think Kelly should have some burden to shoulder for running out and not talking to him about what she saw and heard the next morning?
Kate: Of course. Wouldn’t all romance novels resolve themselves so much quicker if everyone just communicated a bit? For Kelly, what she saw and heard that day were the final straws on top of Dylan’s drinking. She just couldn’t live that way a moment longer. It was a personal decision to pull the plug on the relationship, which, from a self-preservation angle, made a lot of sense until she found out that she was pregnant.
Rad-Reader: How did Dylan go from being so angry that morning really all day as he was with AJ to holding Kelly Anne as she cried her eyes out that night?
Kate: Dylan has a philosophy of putting the past in the past. He works hard not to dwell on those things he can’t change. On that first day with his son, Dylan is still reeling from the fact that he’s a dad and all that he’s missed out on in AJ’s life. But he also grasps Kelly Anne’s need to protect their son. And on top of it all, it’s got this weak spot where Kelly Anne is concerned, so he holds her while she cries.
Rad-Reader: When they took that walk to the tree they each seem like they are caring a little passive aggressiveness about the past so how did Kelly Anne leap to the candlelight night being ok?
Kate: Man, that’s a good question. Runaway hormones and unchecked self-control are the only reasons I can imagine!
Rad-Reader: It seems like all Dylan wants is his end game which is to get her into bed again. Am I reading him all wrong? Horny Teenager much?
Kate: Dylan is a man who knows exactly what he wants. And he wants Kelly Anne. Always has. Always will.
Rad-Reader: Kelly Anne wanted to hold back letting AJ know they were a couple yet the second time going with his dad she goes. Why?
Kate: Kelly Anne senses her son’s trepidation about being away for an entire weekend. She meets Dylan and AJ at the orchard for a walk out to the falls. I wanted to show the three of them beginning to build memories together. And later that night, when AJ is fast asleep, Kelly Anne sneaks back into Dylan’s house for a little rendezvous as she reclaims her sexuality with Dylan.
Rad-Reader: Dylan was used to instant gratification and now so does, AJ. That didn’t worry Kelly Anne with, his father’s history? Or did she not see the pattern?
Kate: Dylan definitely hates to wait! And just like his daddy, AJ has a hard time resisting a wrapped gift with his name on the tag. But I think a lot of AJ’s sass is related more to him pressing the limits with his new dad.
Rad-Reader: He didn’t seem to have a sponsor or did he walk past some of his bad decisions cold turkey and is now going to meetings to maintain?
Kate: No, Dylan participated in a twelve-step program to get sober, and now going to meetings is still a huge part of his life. Rather than show him speaking with his sponsor, I opted to show him leaning on his friends and family. For me, writing about a recovering alcoholic meant that I needed to show the daily struggle he faced. Just because Dylan is no longer drinking doesn’t mean that he’s never tempted. I wanted that urge to feel authentic to my readers.
Rad-Reader: If your book was made into a movie who would you want to play…
Kelly Anne: Maiara Walsh
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/772156298584390147/
Dylan: Kellan Lutz
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/359795457724491695/
AJ: Boden Johnston
Jake: Chuck Hittinger
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/450922981421074333/
Jesse: Chris Wood
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/555772410260176134/
Lacey: Melissa Benoist
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/223209725265065298/
Olivia: Zooey Deschanel
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387168899190490299/
Hawk: Mark Sanchez
Grady: Vladimir Ivanov
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/683562049662183452/
Talia: Jessica Lowndes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/163677767685716894/
Talia: Jessica Lowndes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/163677767685716894/
Brynn: Emma Stone
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/555561304016261162/
Ras: Brad Pitt
https://as.com/tikitakas/2018/01/09/portada/1515520184_754833.html
Iva: Anna Gunn
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/670191988271800929/
Kate: Wow! Love your selection of characters. You’re spot on for a couple of them. And you selected Maiara Walsh for Kelly Anne, but she’s definitely my pick for Claire Bronstad who makes her debut in book 2, Giving Her Promise!
Talia: Marie Avgeropoulos
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/232498399497542394/
Rad-Reader: What song or songs best describes your couple or your book as a whole?
“Hey Whiskey – Smithfield”
When He Was Drinking
“Bittersweet Company – Kip Moore”
Kelly Anne leaves when he wanted the booze Moore than her. Betrayal.
“Every Little Thing – Carly Pearce”
When Kelly Anne caught Dylan with someone else before she left town.
“Different for Girls – Dierks Bentley (ft. Elle King)”
When her heart was broken by Dylan 6+ yrs. ago.
“Forever Girl – Jon Langston”
When Kelly Anne Comes Back into Town.
“You Are the Reason – Calum Scott, Leona Lewis (Duet)”
When they figure out what their future will look like.
Kate: I don’t have a playlist for my stories like many authors do, but here are a few of the songs that remind me of Helping Her Remember
Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake
(featuring Majid Jordan)
Breathe – Taylor Swift
Your Arms Feel Like Home - 3 Doors Down
Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
Rad-Reader: What did you want to be when you were a young girl or has writing always been your dream?
Kate: No, I never dreamed of writing a book. As a kid, I always figured I’d be a teacher. I loved math! I know that’s weird. But I went on to get my degree in mathematics and computer science. I worked in the industry for almost 8 years as a computer system designer. So yeah, that’s about as far away from romance author as you can get!
Rad-Reader: What is your dream vacation?
Kate: Well, I’ve always wanted to take a Mediterranean cruise, so that’s one on my bucket list. And over the years, hubby and I have hauled the kids on numerous driving vacations to many of the National Parks, but we haven’t made it to any of the West coast ones yet.
Rad-Reader: What is your method of writing your books? Are you a pantser or an organizer, etc.….
Kate: I’m organized. I like lists and charts and spreadsheets. Oh, and an outline is great too. Although I try to stick to the plan, my characters wander off course sometimes. For the most part, I indulge them. It’s always fun to see where they take me!
Rad-Reader: What is your favorite genre to read?
Kate: Romance, for sure! I like contemporary, suspense, and some paranormal. I love a great Scottish Highland romance, too.
Rad-Reader: What is your next project and when is it coming out?
Kate: Giving Her Promise is book 2 in my Crawford Falls series. It’s Jesse and Claire’s story. You can pre-order it now for release June 8, 2018.
Rad-Reader: Where can our readers buy your books?
Kate:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Carley/e/B01AOPS4TE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1523496891&sr=1-1
or any other online retailer including Barnes & Noble and Nook
Rad-Reader: Where can our readers find you on the Web?
Kate: All My Links:
My website: http://www.katecarley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.carley.9
Twitter: @KateCarleyBooks
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/carley2113/boards/
Books2Read: https://www.books2read.com/ap/x2Erv8/Kate-Carley
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