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Cathy Gillen Thacker
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Frequently Asked Questions
  • What do you love most about being a writer?
    I really love creating stories that other people can enjoy.Back to top

  • What do you like least about being a writer?
    I have more ideas than time to write them. Back to top

  • Where do you normally go for inspiration?
    Outdoors. I have a swing on my backyard deck that's great for thinking-even in winter! I also love taking long walks with my golden retriever on the lovely hike and bike trails our community provides.Back to top

  • Where do your characters come from and do they ever surprise you?
    When I begin a book, I usually start with some sort of life-altering challenge for a major character-i.e., the heroine discovers she can never have children, and is devastated, or the hero has been working for years to achieve a certain goal and suddenly finds it permanently and frustratingly out of his reach.  I'm fascinated by the strength we human beings all have within us, the way we can overcome life's toughest challenges and find bliss-even if it isn't the particular happiness we originally thought we would have.  It's the working through of problems to a satisfying solution that fascinates me, both in real life and fiction.  It's also during this transformation process that my characters tend to grow and become the people they were meant to be, as well as surprise me by their reactions to things, which aren't always what I originally envisioned.Back to top

  • What do you like most about a romantic hero?
    The way he gets-and keeps-the undivided attention of my heroine. Whether through witty dialogue or action, he's always in hot pursuit!Back to top

  • Do you have a favorite character you've created? Why?
    I have two, actually. Sam McCabe and Kate Marten in TEXAS VOWS. Sam and Kate had a lot to overcome to find their happy ending.they were both very strong, very compassionate, people who needed to find love.and ended up finding it in each other.Back to top

  • When did you start writing? Do you think you'll ever stop?
    I started writing when my oldest two children were toddlers. I was a stay at home mom and sat down to write a short story one afternoon during their naptime. Three months later I had a novel, and I knew I had found my profession. I will always write. Storytelling is as much a part of me as breathing.Back to top

  • What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?
    Finish the book, send it out to be read, and immediately begin writing another.(I wrote seven full length novels in five years before I was published, and it was that process of finishing all those novels that taught me the craft and gave me the discipline and inner grit to pursue a writing career.)Back to top

  • You've written lots of linked books around the McCabes. How do you keep track of who is related to who?
    When I start a series, I create a family tree, and keep notebooks of character descriptions organized by series. By the time I finish a book and or series, the characters are all so real and dear to me, I couldn't forget them if I tried!Back to top

  • What are you most proud of having achieved in your writing career?
    I feel very good about the fact that I have persevered through the many ups and downs of the writing business with grit, determination, and the sheer joy of doing what I love to do: tell stories that entertain and make people smile.Back to top

  • Do you have a favorite locale or setting for your novels? What is it and why is it your favorite?
    Texas. I lived there for 18 years and grew to love it. In Texas, anything and everything seems possible. Texans dream big. Back to top

Cathy Gillen Thacker is the bestselling author of witty romantic comedies and warm, family stories whose books are published in 17 languages and 35 countries.