Spotlight On... Kat Henry Doran

My guest today at Off the Keyboard is author Kat Henry Doran. Welcome Kat, can you tell us about yourself?

I live in Upstate New York, close to Lake Ontario, with my husband and three children. In my professional life I am a registered nurse and have been privileged to work in a number of different clinical areas of nursing: the OR, labor and delivery, clinical instructor, long term care, nursing administration, forensic nurse examiner and my last position as malpractice nurse investigator. Each job taught me something new about the human body or spirit. I am now retired. For fun, I provide child care for two of my grandchildren a couple days a week.

Wow, what a career! Tell us about the book you’re here to promote.

Embraceable You was a February 2011 release through The Wild Rose Press as part of the Class of 85 reunion series. It is the story of two people who come together for one night and discover things about themselves they previously had been quite reluctant to address. It's a honey of a story.

What was your first reaction when you got your cover art?

I have received some terrific cover art on other books; this one is very special because of the way the artist depicted the damaged, tough as nails heroine being held by the reluctant- caretaker hero. I rarely let my emotions get the better of me; this puppy brought me to tears.

It is a stunning cover. How did you start writing?

I did some writing in nursing school which received some attention from the instructors—of course I quickly and defiantly ignored their suggestions that I pursue writing. Years later I sat down to write a 'let me catch you up on my life' letter to a friend from my OR days. 27 pages later [no kidding; I used all the kids' notebook paper] I sat back and said, 'Hmm. Do I have something here?' That was 1983. My first book was published in 2004.

Which comes first, plot or characters?

The germ for a story idea which quickly evolves into the plot. I get my ideas from every day things in life, in the newspapers or on national TV. Once I know what I want the story to be about, I do preliminary research on the topics I want to cover. Then I go to work on inventing characters.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you began your writing career?

Goals. Motivation. Conflict. If I get them down, and it's not always easy, I'm set. The rest of it: POV; pacing; tight, snappy dialogue can always be fixed, but without the GMC I haven't got a prayer.


What is the most interesting comment you’ve ever received on one of your books?

This is from a well known review site, print and electronic: “. . .characters are all portrayed in brutal detail with their flaws for all to see so that you can't help but be drawn into the story. . .” To this day I'm not sure if the reviewer liked the story or not, but she got the gist of it and that's most important to me.

Who, in your life, is your biggest source of inspiration and why?

Anyone, man or woman, who experienced profound adversity, such as criminal victimization, then went on and survived well. That's the best revenge any of us can get against the bad guys.

What is something readers would be surprised you do?

I love to cook; I am a Food Network junkie. I never miss a Public Television auction if it features the Bee Gees or Gershwin music.

Thanks for visiting with us today.

Sarah, this was a lot of fun. Thank you so much for inviting me.


Where can we find you on the web? 

My website:  www.Kathenry.com

My blog:   www.wildwomanauthor.blogspot.com

EMBRACEABLE You (A Class of '85 story)
  by Kat Henry Doran

Available at The Wild Rose Press

Award winning photo-journalist Dru Horvath travels the world, documenting human rights abuses. This vocation helps her avoid risking her heart. Everyday working stiff Rory McElroy, a two-time loser when it comes to women, wants nothing to do with another relationship, thank you very much.

But when Dru comes back into his life, Rory’s not sure which poses the greater threat: protecting her from third world thugs who want to silence her permanently—or allowing the one woman who captured his heart years ago to embrace him forever. 

Suddenly, Dru remembered the back-up phone tucked inside the double zippered pocket in her satchel, right beside the extra flash cards and rolls of antacids. Hot damn. All was not lost. With a grin, she hefted the bag over her shoulder and turned toward the bathroom. “I won't be long.”

Before she made the first step, he slid in front of the door, blocking her access. “Give it up.”

Down to her last strike, she pulled the affronted female card. Granted, she used it maybe once in a decade, but Fiona was probably tearing her hair by now. “I beg your pardon?”

Leaning forward, he brought them nose to nose. “Play much poker, Horvath? Your face just lit up like the Fourth of July, which tells me you've got something more stashed in the tote. Unless you let me search it, it stays with me.”

Clutching the canvas bag to her chest, she sneered, “The only thing in here is my outfit for tonight, McElroy. If you think I'm parading around naked in front of you, one of us is a couple fries short of a happy meal.”

His response came in the form of another gimme motion with those thick, blunt fingers. “I'll close my eyes if I encounter any lacy unmentionables.”

She knew the instant he found the back-up. The screw-you look morphed into a smirk. “It's not wise to mess with Homeland Security, sweetie. Those guys eat small animals for breakfast.”

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