Takeover Tuesday: Catherine Castle

Happy Tuesday, Reader Friends!

Thanks for stopping by the blog spot today. I have Catherine Hershberger, our host for today’s Takeover Tuesday spot. She’ll be talking about “Taking a Risk–What’s Your Risk Level?” Grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and join her!

Taking a Risk—What’s Your Risk Level?

Have you ever wanted something so much that you’d do whatever it took to achieve your goal?

Whatever it takes can be a pretty scary phrase, and if you’re like most people, myself included, that’s a risk that you’re not often willing to take. I wanted to be a professional singer in my youth, but I wasn’t willing to run away to Hollywood or Nashville or New York and take my chances. So I stuck with the familiar and safe and missed my opportunity at fame and fortune—in the world’s style.

I’ve become a bit more adventuresome in seeking my second career goal—becoming an author—and I’m willing to do things I might not have done years ago to achieve my goals.

When I started the project for Bidding on the Bouquet, a contemporary inspirational, I took a few risks because the lure of my third book was too much to resist. The project landed in my lap unexpectedly and was born from a news article about a bride who wanted her bridesmaids to bid on the wedding party slots. The article was a great story starter that jumpstarted my imagination from the very beginning, and I suddenly found myself with not one, but two, story ideas and an unexpected offer to collaborate with several people I had never met. I only knew their names from an email loop we are all on. The project had a very short deadline—shorter than I’d ever done—and it came in the middle of a month of promotion for A Groom for Mama, my sweet romantic comedy that had just come out. Before I even had the first few chapters of Bidding on the Bouquet written, I was facing wrinkles that I had to iron out—like totally rewriting my hero, because my critique partners didn’t like him … at all. In fact, they sorta hated him. And that’s a pretty big no-no for a romance. In the end, it all worked out. I have a likeable hero. I discovered I can write a lot faster than I knew I could. And I have now published my third book. That’s a satisfying leap of faith.

Marietta, the heroine of Bidding on the Bouquet, takes a giant leap of faith, too. In a risky move, she pawns everything of value, except her grandmother’s heirloom earrings, so she can get enough money to bid on a bridesmaid spot in the social-event wedding of the year and, hopefully, pitch herself to the bride’s father so she can get a job in his company. But trouble looms in the form of the bride’s handsome, wealthy, and very snobbish brother.

Two people from different social classes. Two different philosophies. One bridal bouquet to unite them.

What about you? Have you ever taken a big risk? Did it pay off?

About the Author

Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, theatre, and quilting. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her books The Nun and the Narc, A Groom for Mama, Bidding on the Bouquet and Trying Out for Love boxed set on Amazon.

Follow: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

About the Book

The Blurb: “The chance to catch a bridal bouquet containing a solid gold rose makes underprivileged, down-on-her-luck grad student Marietta Wilson pawn everything she owns to come up with a bid to win a bridesmaid spot in the most prestigious wedding of the season.

When he discovers his sister is auctioning off bridesmaid spots in her wedding party, wealthy, elitist Chip Vandermere is appalled. Not only is it in poor taste, but no self-respecting lady would stoop so low as to bid. Convinced Marietta is a gold digger, Chip sets out to thwart her plans.

A social climber and a social misfit. Can a bridal bouquet unite them?”

Links: Amazon, Goodreads