Amanda Cabot writes classic and entertaining romance
novels. Her most recent novel, In Firefly Valley (Revell), expands her Texas
Crossroads series, which according to Amanda is unlike anything she’s ever
written.
This novel begins as a classic love story. Boy meets girl.
But then something happens. Can you give us a hint at what it is that turns
this love story on its head?
I don’t want to give away too much of the story, because that
would spoil the fun of reading it, but I will say that Marisa has a lot of
healing to do as a result of events from her childhood. That’s created some
deep-seated fears, and unfortunately, one aspect of Blake’s life triggers those
fears.
In Firefly Valley is the second book in your Texas
Crossroads series. What inspired the series? And why did you want to set it in
Texas?
I’ve been known to say that inspiration can come from
anywhere, and in the case of this series, that proved to be true. The immediate
inspiration came from a vacation my husband and I took to what was supposed to
be a wonderful resort in the Adirondack Mountains. The setting was gorgeous,
but the resort itself was run down. Picture leaking roofs and paddle boats,
undependable electricity and uninspired meals. It was far from a perfect week,
and yet I could see the potential in the resort. That started my brain whirling.Eventually, my game of “what if?” resulted in
the creation of the fictional Rainbow’s End and the people who would turn it
from failing to fabulous.
As for the Texas setting, I spent my early childhood in a
small town in Texas and have never forgotten how beautiful the state is and
what a warm welcome visitors find there. A visit to the Hill Country cemented
my love for the Lone Star State and resulted in not only this series but my
historical trilogy, Texas Dreams.
What makes your characters interesting or lovable?
Dare I say that it’s because they’re human? Though Marisa and
Blake have been successful professionally, like most of us, they have insecurities
and obstacles to overcome. For me, the appeal of a love story is watching the
characters grow and seeing how love can heal their hurts and strengthen
them.
Why do you think readers will connect with this book?
While I hope that very few of my readers will have
experienced the heartache that Marisa has endured, I believe they’ll be able to
identify with some of her and Blake’s problems and will root for them to find
their happily-ever-after.
How was this book different from your previous projects?
The biggest difference is that it’s a contemporary romance,
whereas my previous books (with the obvious exception of At Bluebonnet Lake, the first of the Texas Crossroads trilogy) have
been historicals. Writing about modern times has given me the opportunity to
address challenges that nineteenth century women would never have experienced,
such as being downsized. At the same time, the overall themes—love, forgiveness
and the healing that comes from God’s love—remain constant.