Wednesday, June 5, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Novelist found her muse in Sisters
By Carol Statton
Correspondent
Life can be redirected in
a split second. For Catherine
Cowles, a horseback riding
injury sent her on a road trip
to find a quiet, peaceful place
to recover. When the journey
of exploration led to Sisters,
she knew she had found the
perfect spot. What she didn9t
know at the time was that it
would also birth her life as a
published romance novelist.
Being a lifelong voracious
reader, it almost seemed nat-
ural that this new chapter in
a new place would lead to
a new career that included
books. It wasn9t long before
Catherine funneled her love
of the written word into a
brand-new quest. Shortly
after arriving, Catherine
began creating a strategy and
equipping herself to attain
the ultimate goal. It was time
to enter the world that she
loved; it was time to become
an author.
Catherine knows that her
readers often experience their
own tragedy, grief, heartache
and challenges. When escap-
ing into romance novels,
they all want to feel hope
and a guaranteed <happily
ever after.=
It was this awareness that
directed Catherine to choose
the romance genre for her
writing focus. Quite differ-
ent from a <love story,= a
romance novel can still take
you through the rough parts
of life, but there will always
be a happy ending.
A happy ending and some
spicy elements along the way.
As she settled into her
new life in Sisters, Catherine
found inspiration. Her first
book, <Further to Fall,= was
already underway when
she started to formulate the
<Sutter Lake= series. And for
those who know Sisters, the
parallels are quite noticeable.
Although, Catherine didn9t
craft her series literally about
Sisters, her readers will feel
all that has inspired her.
A writer often draws
from life experiences, per-
sonal reflections and what
they themselves are drawn
to. Cowles has always been
someone who appreciates the
opportunity books provide
as a portal to other worlds,
lives and experiences. As she
works on each book, her per-
sonal connections broaden as
she has been welcomed and
affirmed by the romance-
writing community.
Friendsh
Friendships have
blossom
blossomed, sup-
port syst
systems have
develop
developed, and
Catherin
Catherine has truly
found a new world
inside the one she
lives e every day.
Life ha
has become
deepe
deeper, richer
and e even more
creat
creative than
ever before.
W
Writing a
nov
novel is not
e a s y, a n d
Ca therine
co mmits
a l m o s t
e every wak-
i ing hour
to the pro-
cess. Self-
imposed
an
and intense
9
Sisters
salutes...
deadlines keep her
" The membership of
on track, few distrac-
Sisters
Rodeo has spent
tions are allowed, and
their
weekends
and many
extensive research and
weekdays
for
the
last two
connectedness to those
months
to
make
President
who have already
Glenn Miller proud of the
found success have
rodeo he has ramrodded so
been vital to attain-
well for so many years.
ing her goals. Within
From pasting 1,200
the romance-writing
numbers
on new bleacher
community, <up-and-
seats
to
repairing
corrals
coming= authors unite
and
creating
a
scene
of
as well, sharing their
beauty,
Rodeo
members
experiences in a way
were determined to not let
that provides valuable
Miller down as he recovers
tools. The camarade-
from a dangerous illness.
rie is exhilarating and
They9ve succeeded
encouraging.
beyond
expectation.
Finding inspira-
PHOTO BY CAROL STATTON
"
The
Board of Directors
tion from the town she
A horseback riding injury led Catherine
of
Circle
of Friends would
calls home, as well
Cowles to Sisters — and a career as a
like
to
extend
a HUGE
as the beautiful sur-
novelist.
thank-you
for
the
gener-
rounding landscape,
ous
donation
of
Wade
Catherine has all that
Underwood
and
the
Three
she needs to finish all four romance novelist.
Creeks
staff
and
Greg
The first book in the Sutter
books in the Sutter Lake
Willitts
and
the
FivePine
series. After hours and hours Lake series, <Beautifully
staff for making our fund-
at her computer, being able Broken Pieces,= has been
raising event so successful!
to step outside and absorb very well received. It is
We could not have done it
the beauty of this place refu- available locally at Paulina
without their very generous
els her spirit. This refueling Springs Books, 541-549-
sponsorships.
ensures that the stories she so 0866. Cowles9 second install-
In addition, we are
beautifully creates will carry ment, <Beautifully Broken
thrilled
with the community
her readers into a special Life,= will be published and
response.
It takes a village,
town filled with memorable released in late June.
and
the
village
showed up.
characters and challenging
life experiences.
When life changes in a
split second, what comes
next can be transformational.
For Catherine Cowles, an
unfortunate riding experience
which required time and a
quiet place to heal led to a life
beyond anything she could
have imagined. It led her to
Sisters and to her new and
Open 7 days a week, 12-9 p.m. | 541-595-6420
rewarding life as a published