INTERVIEWER: Today I’m hosting Emma Fitzpatrick from A Reason to Stay. Good morning, Emma, and welcome to the blog.
(Actress Alicia Witt) Deposit Photos Editorial Use Only
EMMA: Thanks for having me.
INTERVIEWER: Let’s start with why you’re in Whispering Pines, Colorado in the first place. It’s a small mountain town, and you come from LA. That’s a huge change.
EMMA: Well, I was actually born and raised in a suburb of Chicago, but yes, I’ve been in California for quite a few years now, first attending Stanford and then working in a large marketing firm. She pauses and runs a hand down her face with a sigh.
As to why I’m here, I just discovered I have a little brother I didn’t even know existed, since I cut all ties with my parents the day I turned eighteen for reasons I won’t go into. That’s a whole other story.
But right now, Aidan—that’s my brother—and I are hanging out with our Nan, who lives here in town. My dad never let us get to know her, so that’s a blessing.
INTERVIEWER: Wow. It sounds as if you’ve been through a lot.
EMMA: Ha! That’s not even the half of it. My parents died and appointed me Aidan’s guardian. Can you imagine? I didn’t even know about him, and now I’m in charge of him.
So we’re just doing the best we can. But I have a lot of major life decisions to make—and soon.
INTERVIEWER: Sounds like you could use some help.
EMMA: For sure. I have Nan, of course. But then there’s this cowboy Sharpe who is as edgy as his name. For some reason he’s taken a liking to Aidan and is acting as his mentor. It’s a great experience for my brother…but not so much for me. Sharpe and I tangle horns on a regular basis. And whenever he’s around, these annoying feelings start surfacing…But I’m definitely not going there.
INTERVIEWER: It sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate. We wish you the very best and will be praying for you.
EMMA: I appreciate it.
Do you have any questions for Emma? One commenter will win an autographed copy of The Texas Soldier’s Match (US only) and some fun swag. Drawing will take place August 24th.
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
I love the idea of interviewing a character, what a fun intro to a book. I haven’t read ‘AReason to Stay’ but I’m intrigued now!
I would want to ask Emma more about how it feels to suddenly be responsible for a young boy out of the blue, it’s scary enough becoming a mom but at least you get none months to prepare for that!
Such an intriguing interview! I can’t imagine imagine being made the guardian to a sibling I didn’t know I had. Emma, how did you feel when you found that out?
I would ask how u felt when u found out u had a Younger sibling that u didn’t know about. Can’t wait to see this book I have it on hold at my library.
Sounds like a great book!! I don’t know how I’d deal with a sibling I didn’t know about. It’s hard enough dealing with the ones I grew up with! I’d like to know more about Sharpe!!! He can’t be all bad if he’s taken an interest in Aidan!! Plus, he’s a cowboy!!
New author for me.
Hi Emma,
Wow, talk about going through a rough patch. I was wondering, how old is Aidan? And was it hard making the switch to a new city (especially work-wise)? What’s the best advice Nan’s shared so far? Sorry for all the questions. I hope everything works out in the end.
Deb,
Thanks for sharing this interview. It’s definitely got me wondering about the rest of the story. :)
Emma, can you tell us about one of those life decisions you have to make?
Why did you cut ties with your parents??
“I’ve never had to think about anyone other than myself, so becoming Aidan’s guardian is a huge paradigm shift for me. It’s hard to know how to handle him when I don’t even know what he’s like.”
~Emma
“I was shocked beyond belief. On one hand, it was my choice to cut myself off from my parents when I left home and moved to California. On the other hand, having a brother is a huge thing to keep from me. I know we weren’t speaking, but I still think I should have been given notice, especially since they named me Aidan’s guardian.”
~Emma
My parents didn’t treat me well. They were both narcissists who I wouldn’t wish on an enemy, much less a sibling. But I always wondered what it would be like to have a brother or sister.
“What to say about Sharpe? He’s super intimidating and cuts right to the chase, but Aidan really looks up to him and respects him. Sharpe has become a mentor of sorts to my brother, which I appreciate, even if I always feel awkward around him.”
~Emma
Hi Kim! If you’re a fan of dogs (well, animals of all sorts) and/or cowboys, I’ll be right up your alley.
“Aidan is nine. I’m sure he went through some of the same things as my parents because he has moments where he’s really grouchy and angry, and I don’t blame him. I started out in a suburb of Chicago, so the biggest change wasn’t the size of the city so much as the weather. I love LA weather, though I miss the snow. I like what I do for work at a major marketing agency, but I’m not sure if it’s my dream job.
I love living with Nan, who I was never allowed to see before. She’s a riot. And I’ve learned so much from her, like that it’s never too late to make changes or follow your heart.
“The biggest decision I have to make is in regard to taking Aidan back to LA with me. I have a tiny studio apartment that would be way too small for the two of us. They have good schools there, but Aidan appears to enjoy mountain life working at the Christmas tree farm.”
~Emma
“My parents were both malignant narcissists who acted one way out in public and entirely different within the home. They didn’t want a child and they let me know it often. After spending eighteen years being emotionally and spiritually abused, I left the moment I graduated from high school.”
~Emma
Thank you for sharing your story. Mine is a little similar. When my mother passed with found a half sister on ancestery.com that she had put up for adoption, so I now have a big sister. She is the most amazing person and the family has just embraced her and her husband with open arms. The two of us are more like twins than just sisters!
Character interviews are so much fun!!!
Love the interview my prayers coming for Emma for all the decisions she has had to make
Emma, did your parents ever call you after you left home, and do you have any other siblings the then the little guy you just found out was your brother? I loved the interview with the characters, thank you so much Deb. Thank you for the chance. Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
What a fun interview! The books sounds really interesting.
I enjoyed the interview. I’m not good at coming up with questions, but maybe “Do you think you might stay in Whispering Pines?”
my question was answered as in how old Aiden was I see 9. Emma have you had much experience with 9 year old boys before?
I liked the interview.
This was such a fun post to read! I really enjoy reading character interviews.
Are you planning on going back to LA? Are you looking for a place to live near Nan? Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
fun interview
I enjoyed the interview and look forward to reading.
Great interview. I can’t imagine finding out you have a sibling you never knew about and then becoming his guardian too.
“Wow! That is so exciting. I had no idea I had a little brother, but I always wanted a sibling. It’s hard learning how to be a guardian, but it’s totally worth it.”
~Emma
(From Deb) I really enjoyed this as a different way to present my book!
“It was difficult at first and I made a lot of mistakes. I was blessed to have Sharpe there to give Aidan a male perspective on things and help keep him in line.” ~Emma
“I was the one who cut off contact. They didn’t really want a child to begin with, which is why learning about Aidan was such a surprise. I’d been hurt enough growing up that I needed to create space between me and my parents. It took many years of therapy before I started to heal.” ~Emma
(From Deb) Thank you! It was a different way to present the story and I really enjoyed it.
“I had zero experience with children before Aidan came along. He was such a broody, angry young man, but I got it. He’d had to grow up in the same unhealthy circumstances as I had. But it’s giving me pause for thought, because I chose to live a single life in the big city and Aidan really responds to mountain living and helping Sharpe around the Christmas Tree farm.” ~Emma
(From Deb) Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
“I’m really struggling to figure out what to do. My studio apartment in LA won’t hold the two of us, and Aidan is really growing into himself here in the mountains. And of course there’s Nan, whom we both love. It’s a tough call as to what would be best.” ~Emma
(From Deb) Thank you!
(From Deb) Thanks! I hope you really enjoy Emma, Sharpe and Aidan’s story.
Emma, What about Sharpe bugs you or gets under your skin the most?