Catherine Snodgrass

Anything Is Possible! That's Catherine Snodgrass's motto. Blessed (or cursed) with a vivid imagination, Catherine has learned to turn that "talent" inward. She grew up reading Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and others, and loves to "go places" in her writing. Readers should expect different locales and deep emotions in Catherine's books. She also believes that life is to be lived not watched, and has done some inner exploring of her own -- hiking a new path, learning a new skill, and even conquering a life-long fear of singing in public to take a turn or two on the stage of the local community theater. Her work as a paralegal in family and tax law has helped her tune in to the emotions of others and further deepen that aspect of her writing. Having set her children off in the world to explore their own paths, Catherine lives in the beautiful desert of Southern California with her husband (a genealogist) and the animals she loves.

PNR: Your romance novels show a considerable amount of variety. You've written straight historicals, contemporary military suspense, and time travel, magical, and reincarnation themed paranormals. Do you feel variety is important to keep a writer fresh?

Catherine S.: I think it's important for a writer to write what comes from the heart and soul. For me, that means writing in genres that strike a cord at that particular moment. From a professional, business standpoint, diversification is important. The book business seems to function on whims of what editors feel is the current trend. If possible, why lock yourself into historical when tomorrow paranormal could be the thing? But no one should write in a genre they are uncomfortable with.

PNR: What inspired you to write romance and paranormals in particular? What kind of books do you enjoy reading?

Catherine S.: I like to write what I like to read. The happily-ever-after story, true-love-conquers-all has always uplifted me. It's only natural that I would want to write that as well. As for the paranormal element, well, that's something I've been asking of myself lately. I've always been intrigued by that outside the norm. I thrived on The Twilight Zone, Time Tunnel, Star Trek, and The Outer Limits as a child. Now I find those unique qualities of the unknown also drifting into my writing. Seems a natural progression. I believe there is something else out there, something untapped, undiscovered. A dimension, a quality -- who knows? But it's there.

PNR: Before we discuss your latest paranormal romance ANOTHER CHANCE, ANOTHER TIME, tell us a little bit about your previous paranormals, SEVEN RINGS BINDING and FEATHER ON THE WIND.

Catherine S.: FEATHER ON THE WIND is my Mayan time travel romance. I've always been intrigued by the Mayan culture and would devour anything I could find about it. I knew I wanted to write a story about that time. Originally, I thought I would do historical. Then, one day, I was walking the dogs when an idea flashed in my mind. What if someone from 1970 when back to 850 and their presence began the end of the Mayan civilization? The story grew from there.

SEVEN RINGS BINDING came about after I watched a special on Spiritualism during the latter half of the 1800's. What if the heroine was an unwilling psychic forced to do someone's bidding for the safety of her family? What if the hero had those same abilities but didn't realize that until the heroine came into his life?

PNR: ANOTHER CHANCE, ANOTHER TIME is a tale of destiny or fate. The hero and heroine have loved many times in the past but always with a tragic ending. This story has a contemporary setting. How do the current hero and heroine meet?

Catherine S.: Alec and Dani meet when she is seriously injured during a car accident. He is in the car in front of hers and rushes to help in his capacity as a doctor. She barely hovers in consciousness, and in that state her soul recognizes his. Alec is confused because he knows he's never met her before, but an inner something compels him to help.

PNR: So, A premonition tells Alec that he is the only one who can save this woman. What is Dani's reaction to their first encounter?

Catherine S.: She is close to unconscious when she first meets him. In fact, she doesn't remember that meeting at all when she comes to. But she is drawn to Alec when she regains consciousness. On the other hand, she also fears he will
let her down and doesn't know where that feeling comes from.

PNR: Why is she so afraid to undergo surgery following the accident?

Catherine S.: As a child, she had her tonsils removed. While under anesthestic, her soul drifted back to a previous life and her death in that life.

PNR: In their previous incarnations "Alec" had failed to be there when "Dani" needed him most. This had had fatal consequences. Alec had been there this time to save her life. This isn't enough to break their curse?

Catherine S.: In the previous lives, the failure occurred deep in their relationship. As the story opens, Alec and Dani have just met in this current life. As their relationship grows, so does the threat to their happiness. History seems to be repeating itself once more. It is up to them to discover who or what this threat is or they will not have their happy ever after.

PNR: Alec's attraction to Dani poses and ethical dilemma. How does Alec deal with the fact that he is falling for one of his patients? That it's happened so fast?

Catherine S.: Alec, being a hero, justifies his actions by telling himself that once she leaves the hospital Dani will no longer be his patient. Someone else can remove her stitches. When images from past lives start to intrude in his head, he thinks he's having a nervous breakdown brought on by over
work.

PNR: Dani's recovery is going well, then she suddenly and inexplicably begins to decline. How does Alec realize that someone is trying to kill Dani?

Catherine S.: Let's just say that he discovers physical evidence that supports this.

PNR: Okay. Past life regression holds the key to their previous history and the killer's identity. This is a rather interesting concept. Have you done any research on the subject? How did you come up with the various scenarios for Alec and Dani's past lives?

Catherine S.: I have always been fascinated by reincarnation. I remember as an eight-year-old asking the neighbor lady if she believed in it. Odd, when it wasn't a topic discussed or mentioned in my home. I've read books on the subject, watched specials on it, and even gone through a past-life regression session.

As for the scenarios -- I read about the archaeological dig at Kourion. A
couple and their child were found entwined in each other's arms under the
rubble left from the earthquake that toppled their village. It touched a cord in my heart and I wanted to write about them. This seemed the only way to do so and give them a happy ever after ending. The second chapter deals with Kourion and their "lives". All aspects in there are based on archaeological evidence. As for the other lives, two friends at work decided those -- Kevin Gannon and Rick Albrecht. They wanted Rome and World War II. I added Germany and a witch hunt.

PNR: Clue's point to a number of suspects. How did you manage to keep the killer's identity hidden until the very end?

Catherine S.: I don't know. Just lucky I guess. Sometimes that's just the way a story comes out. I love being seized by the muse.

PNR: ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER CHANCE should have wide appeal. It contained mystery, suspense, scenes in the past and present, and romance. What is next for Catherine Snodgrass?

Catherine S.: Right now I'm working on a partial submission of a romantic suspense for an agent. I'm also shopping another romantic suspense around New York. I'm crossing all fingers. I have quite a list of stories I'd love to have time to work on -- paranormal, historical, and romantic suspense. So many books, so little time.

Featured in this Issue:

Interviews with
Carla Cook
Ann Lawrence
Catherine Snodgrass
Deb Stover
Special Feature:
PNR Career Achievements Award:
Nora Roberts

Catherine Snodgrass

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