Q&A With Catherine Mann 

I am delighted to be doing this Q&A with USA Today Bestselling Author Catherine Mann! Catherine is the author of several contemporary romance, romantic suspense, & women’s fiction novels, some of which are standalones, series and parts of anthologies. Some of Catherines’ work include her Top Dog Dude Ranch Series, a contribution to the Montana Mavericks Series, & her upcoming standalone novel Lightning In A Mason Jar coming out this summer on July 1^st! 

Q: Catherine, would you please give a brief description of your books beginning with your upcoming release Lightning In A Mason Jar? I look forward to reading a copy! 

A: Thank you so much for the opportunity to share more about my books with readers! Lightning in a Mason Jar, my first foray into women’s fiction, debuts July 1, 2025, available in print, ebook, and audio from Lake Union Publishing.

When a woman with a mysterious past drowns suddenly, her adoptive niece’s life is thrown into dangerous chaos as she discovers her aunt was part of a secret network to help victims of domestic violence start over. Told through dual timelines as we follow the protagonist’s discovery of her aunt’s true purpose, Lightning in a Mason Jar is a Southern set saga, spanning the women’s rights era of the 1970s to present day, in which four women forced into hiding take on new identities and reinvent themselves – all while leading a secret network to aid other women in escaping a similar threat.

I also have a delightfully packed release schedule this year with Harlequin Special Edition.

A Maverick’s Road Home (“Montana Mavericks”) – available now

Charming the Cowboy (“Top Dog Dude Ranch”) – July 2025

Their Festive Forever (“Top Dog Dude Ranch”) – December 2025

Q: What drew you into writing contemporary romance & women’s fiction? Did you always know that writing was what you were called to do in life?

A: I’ve read romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction novels since my teenage years. My mind is filled with stories of my own to tell even then. I made my first attempt at a novel as thirteen-years-old. The words haven’t stopped flowing!

Q: How long does it take you to write a novel? What lessons & emotions do you want readers to learn and feel after they finish reading the last page of your novels? 

A: That’s a tough question to answer with a simple number. I have multiple books in different stages of production at any given time, with 2-4 books out a year. So sometimes I go back and forth between writing books. I do set weekly page count goals and if I meet them, then I get the weekend off. If I fall behind, I use the weekend to catch up so that I stay on track with deadlines.

As for what I want readers to carry with them after the last page, I’m a big fan of Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, which presents a writing model for creating compelling stories with a strong character growth arc. (His book is based on Joseph Campell’s Hero With a Thousand Faces.) My hope is that as readers experience the character growth of the hero/heroine in their journeys, they will feel uplifted as they face their own challenges.

Q: Catherine, do you use inspiration from real people and places to create the worlds within your novels? 

A: Most of my stories are set in the South – I grew up in South Carolina, moved around for a while as an adult, and am now back in my home state for good. As for the plot itself, that’s usually inspired by some event that sparks characters to come alive in my mind. For example, one of my earliest childhood memories is of my mother being unable to receive approval for a department store credit card without my father’s signature. (My mother was a teacher, with an employment history.) The plot for Lightning in a Mason Jar germinated from that memory. FYI, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), which took away the barriers women faced with getting credit cards in their own names, was passed in 1974.

Q: Are you allowed to discuss what you are currently writing right now? 

A: I’m currently writing my next women’s fiction novel for Lake Union Publishing, a Southern set, dual timeline story about three generations of women and one Labrador Retriever service dog fleeing a hurricane, hashing out old betrayals and confronting new anxieties while locating ADA compliant lodgings along the way. The book is due to be released in the summer of 2026.

Q: Congratulations on your books being on the USA Today Bestsellers List! Does it feel surreal knowing that your books are on the USA Today Bestsellers List?

A: I deeply enjoy losing myself in reading a book, it’s exciting to know that people are enjoying a story I wrote.

Q: If you were to experiment in writing in a different genre that wasn’t romance, which genres would you choose and why?

A: Lightning in a Mason Jar, a women’s fiction novel, is a shift from writing romance. I’ve also written numerous romantic suspense novels. Those three genres keep me plenty busy!

Q: What is your advice for any aspiring authors out there on how to deal with negative reviews, online trolls, unsupportive family and friends and self-doubt? Your wisdom may help people. 

A:   I’ve been blessed with wise mentors and supportive writer friends. Early on, mentor Sue Morgan (Kensington Precious Gems) told me when negative news came my way about a book, I could allot myself twenty-four hours for a pity party, then it was time to shake it off and get back to work. My long-time critique partner, Joanne Rock, has also been invaluable. I deeply trust her opinion, so if I’m concerned about criticism from outside sources, I check in with Joanne to see if the concerns are valid (I always want to improve). Or if the negative feedback should be chunked in the garbage. A final piece of advice, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the negative feedback. Don’t forget to celebrate the cheers, successes, and milestones along the way!