Behind The Words with Catherine Lanigan

I've known Catherine for many years, and it's a true pleasure to welcome her today for this in-depth conversation. She's an award-winning, multi-published author whose work spans heartfelt contemporary romances and thought-provoking spiritual books. Readers especially love her popular and engaging Shores of Indian Lake series, which has captured hearts with its small-town charm and emotional depth. Her stories resonate with authenticity, and her insights are sure to inspire. 

Catherine is the author of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile novelizations. She won Best Romance Book of the Year for The Christmas Star from Foreword Magazine and won two awards from American Best Book Awards for Magical Midnight –a Christmas novel. 

Let's get to know the author behind the words...

BEHIND THE WORDS 

Writing Journey

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was six years old and wanted to be a journalist.

2. What was the first piece you wrote that made you feel like a writer?
Bound by Love -first book published 1979/1980.

Writing Routine

1. What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I write non-stop most recently from 5 am till 5 pm

2. Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
I diffuse Sacred Frankincense; I eat a lot of nuts and dried fruits. I meditate before and after writing.

Tools & Environment

1. Are there any tools, books, or apps you rely on for your writing?
I cannot write without The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale. I have used it for 40 years.

2. Describe your writing space.
A small cubby area in my large living room with huge windows to the south and west so that I can look out on the Golf course and my garden.

Motivation & Creativity

1. How do you balance writing with the demands of everyday life?
Writing and deadlines comes first. Laundry waits till Saturday morning or later. And yes, the dust can get rather thick, but I write fast, so the house isn’t all that bad off. It’s the garden that calls to me. 

2. Do you ever dream about storylines or characters?
Most of my ideas come to me at night. My characters become real people and converse with me often.

(Catherine entertaining.)

Personal Connection

1. Has writing ever helped you process something difficult in your life?

Many times.;Sometimes, I am much wiser in my writing than I am in every day life.

2. Has there ever been a moment when a real-life event clicked into place as a story idea?
A great number of times. I put my heroines through the wringer in life---I have been down many avenues, streets, alleys and boulevards. They go where I have been.

Publishing & Career

1. What was the most surprising part of the publishing process?
The lack of marketing and advertising a writer gets. Which now, is none.

2. Has being a published author changed the way you write or approach storytelling? 

Of course. Traditional publishing includes an editor who may or may not be as wise as the author. May or may not know as much as a seasoned author. There are times when the author must stick to her/his guns and fight for the right to keep a scene or aspect of their character they feel is genuine.

Audience

1. Have readers ever interpreted your work in a way that surprised you?
Only in my non-fiction. These are angel stories, metaphysical events and spiritual revelations. I have been very surprised at these interpretations.

2. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Never, never, never quit. (Winston Churchill)

(Catherine's garden.)

Reflections

1. How has your writing style or voice evolved over time?
I have a layered depth to my writing now in that my wisdom or rather the 46 years of life experience is able to be revealed in plot and character that is not quite so “on the nose”. It is also a manner in which I can assess the depth of character and integrity of my reader by their reactions.

2. What does success look like for you as an author?
When I finish my 100th novel.

The author behind the words.

1. If your life were a novel, what would the title be?
The Best is Yet To Come

2. What hobby do you love that has absolutely nothing to do with writing?
Baking. Decorating, Gardening. Travel. Entertaining my friends.

BEHIND THE BOOK

Book Title: Magical Midnight
Tagline: An Angel comes to earth to bring an estranged father and son together before midnight Christmas Eve.
Publication Date: November 2024
Genre: Cross-Genre-Visionary Romance

Inspiration

1. What inspired the idea or theme behind this book?
An angel gave me the story.

Characters
1. What inspired the idea for the characters in this book?
This book like many others was given to me in a dream or alpha state in the middle of the night. The characters told me their story.

Structure
1. Did you plot out the story of this book, or write as the story came to you?
Plot, characters, scenes and theme were all present at once.

Reader Experience

1. What message do you hope readers take away from reading this book?
Love is forever. Just when all looks lost, if you believe in love—keep that hope---your dreams will come true.

FINAL THOUGHTS

1. If writing super-powers existed, what super-power would you want?
My brain would be infused with current marketing and advertising ideas to reach more readers.

2. What do you like most about being a writer?
I feel absolute joy when writing. It is the rush of bliss when even a paragraph comes together just the way I want it.

3. What do you like least about being a writer? 

The lack of support from upper management at publishing houses. The editors work hard to create a wonderful novel. But somewhere along the line, something falls flat.

4. What one thing would readers be surprised to learn about you?
People would be surprised that I owned a swimming pool construction company.

5. Where do you hope to see your writing career in five years?
In five years I hope to be celebrating my 85 novel… and have my Young Adult series streamed on television or whatever device we have in 5 years. Probably on a space ship.

Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your writing journey with us today!

(Catherine with her husband Bill Homann, 

the Guardian of the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull both of us adventurers.)

Learn more about Catherine and her books:

Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, as well as over half a dozen anthologies, including “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living your Dream”, “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul”, and more. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into more than twenty-four languages. Lanigan is the author of a published trilogy of non-fiction books regarding angelic intervention in human life: Angel Watch, Divine Nudges, Angel Tales Angel Timelines and Secrets of the Angels. Skyhorse published Lanigan’s craft book on writing: Writing the Great American Romance Novel. Ms. Lanigan’s YA adventure novel series The Adventures of Lilli and Zane is available in audiobooks at Sounded.com and her website with seven books in the series. The Hallmark Channel has aired The Sweetest Heart based on Lanigan's novel of reunion romance, Heart's Desire. As a cancer survivor, Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. ALL 57 novels and books are available in audio in Catherine’s voice at Sounded.com. Website link: www.catherinelanigan.com