WIP Wednesday and an Interview!!

Happy Wednesday everybody! I managed to snap a photo of my Larch Cardigan, I'm almost to the 4" mark where I start the decreases.

I had a great time at For Yarn's Sake with the trunk show. So fun to meet knitters and fans of Rachael's books! There are lots of knitters joining the KAL at FYS, never too late to join. I have an order arriving in a few days to dye up, so pick your person and place the order. I'm crazy about this yarn, really happy with how it's knitting up!

Have you had a chance to pick up Wishes & Stitches? A few people on Saturday had already finished it! I had the chance to ask Rachael a few questions about Wishes & Stitches and about future stories!

Thank you so much Rachael for stopping in and giving some background to your writing. When you wrote How to Knit a Love Song did you have the whole town planned out? Have new couples evolved as each book has been written?

Rachael Herron: Oh, yes, the town evolves as much as my own town does. People move in, and move out, and sometimes the people I write about whom I don't think will matter very much end up being so fascinating to me I can't leave them behind! (I'm thinking about writing about Betty next, a mathematician who makes a brief and ill-used appearance in How to Knit a Love Song. I just can't shake her!)

Lorajean: I totally remember Betty! She seems like she would have a great story! There was a brief mention of Lucy in the first book too. When I read How to Knit a Heart Back Home I was looking for a character I thought would be in book 3 but you tricked me on that! Each book has a knitting project, are these influenced by what you are into knitting at the time or mainly what the story dictates?

RH: They are totally dictated by the story. Luckily, I'm happy to design and knit just about anything, with the exception of lace. I love to knit it--I'm just not as confident about my design abilities for lace. I designed the first two sweaters for the first two books, but when the third bok called for a wedding shawl, I turned to Rosemary Hill of Romi Designs to design a simple, elegant shawl for the book, and I'm so glad she did. It's one of my favorite pieces.

Lj: I love all the knits so far, they're all very comforting. I know Miss Idaho makes an appearance in Wishes & Stitches, do people in your life turn into characters or just the critters?

RH: So far, I just steal the critters. My border collie Clara has a cameo in the first (and second) book, and Miss Idaho appears briefly in a doggie-CPR scene in Wishes & Stitches. I'd like to work my beloved cat Digit in at some point, but he's stubborn and fractious and hasn't wanted to be fictional yet.

Lj: I totally forgot about Clara! And I recall a bunch of readers being very concerned about her at the end of book one. You can read here about her outcome, thanks for filling in that gap! When you're stuck in a spot while writing, what's your go to for problem solving? Drink? Knit?

RH: What a good question. I try not to combine both, that's for sure! (Okay, not very often.) I love to knit in front of mindless television (my favorite shows are Project Runway and the Amazing Race), and for real relaxation, I love to spin (although I don't do enough of that lately).

Lj: I love all these things! But I can't watch Amazing Race with out spazzing out at the end. I feel like everything is timed, like brushing my teeth before I get in bed. My heart is racing a little faster just thinking about it!! I'd love to know a little more about Rig, major crush on that one! Did you have a special source for all the oil rig information?

RH: Rig, the male doctor in the book, made his appearance, and I didn't even know his name at first. He was Hank for a while, but that just didn't work--it wasn't him. I knew he was exceedingly manly but I didn't know how, until his name flashed into my mind, and I knew it was a nickname fro the oil rigs he used to helicopter in and out from. After that, it was just a question of researching in books and on the internet for oil rig info.

Lj:Have there been any story lines cut that you want to revisit? Maybe another little story like Janet and Tom's? (Can you tell I never want this to end?!)

RH: I'd love to write a little short story about Eliza and Joshua. Yep. That's percolating. I love the short stories because they're good for a drop-in, like a short visit with a friend. Yep, there will be more. Thank you for asking, and thank you for loving the books!

Lj: You are super welcome! I can't wait to read more about Eliza and Joshua. Their story has been so tender in all the books. I just about teared up thinking about it!

Please leave a comment about your favorite character from Rachael Herron's Cypress Hollow books, a random winner will be chosen. The prize? One of Rachael's books signed by the lady herself!! If you have all the books then you can pick your favorite character from the Cypress Hollow Yarn! Prizes will be mailed after Knitting Lab (when I'll see Rachael (!!) and she'll sign your book). Comments are open until October 25th. Make sure there's an email so I can get back to you! Again, thank you to Rachael for chatting me up about your books!

ETA! Rachael will be at my booth, #18, at Knitting Lab to sign books Thursday night only. Doors open at 5, be there or be with out a book signed by the lovely Rachael!