https://youtu.be/mKjjuK7Xf5Y

January 6, 2021, a bestselling, multi-award-winning author took a chance on me. I had never done a YouTube interview and my followers? Count them, five. Still Cathy Gohlke said “Sure!” when I asked if she would be my first guest. Her episode still has the highest viewership of all my shows.

This month is Cathy’s third episode on my YouTube channel and my blog interview. And although I’ve know this amazing woman of GOD for over twenty years, she always surprises me with fascinating and inspirational insights.

If you don’t know Cathy and her thought-provoking, memorable books, then you’ll love these interviews. For those who know this dear woman, perhaps you’ll learn new things about her–definitely you’ll discover what a blessed author she is. So let’s begin with her bio.

Bestselling, Christy Hall of Fame, and Carol and INSPY Award–winning author Cathy Gohlke writes novels steeped with

Cathy in Halifax, Canada doing research for her book. Ladies of the Lake

inspirational lessons, speaking of world and life events through the lens of history. She champions the battle against oppression, celebrating the freedom found only in Christ. Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children’s and education ministries. When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband, Dan, divide their time between northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their grown children and grandchildren.

On the heels of her critically acclaimed book, A Hundred Crickets Singing, Cathy’s latest release is another deep exploration and exquisite story–this one is about friendship. Ladies of the Lake is already creating positive buzz, including a stellar review from Library Journal, and here’s why:

A brief synopsis: When she is forced to leave her beloved Prince Edward Island to attend Lakeside Ladies Academy after the death of her parents, the last thing Adelaide Rose MacNeill expects to find is three kindred spirits. The “Ladies of the Lake,” as the four girls call themselves, quickly bond like sisters, vowing that wherever life takes them, they will always be there for each other. But that is before: Before love and jealousy come between Adelaide and Dorothy, the closest of the friends. Before the dawn of World War I upends their world and casts baseless suspicion onto the German American man they both love. Before a terrible explosion in Halifax Harbor rips the sisterhood irrevocably apart.

Seventeen years later, Rosaline Murray receives an unsuspecting telephone call from Dorothy, now headmistress of Lakeside, inviting her to attend the graduation of a new generation of girls, including Rosaline’s beloved daughter. With that call, Rosaline is drawn into a past she’d determined to put behind her. To memories of a man she once loved . . . of a sisterhood she abandoned . . . and of the day she stopped being Adelaide MacNeill.

One thing I know about Cathy is that she loves digging deeper into a theme, whatever it may be. She calls it the “Story Gestation” process. And that period is worth the time because from it, a beautiful story is born.

Want to know more about Cathy? Here’s our interview:

What did you read as a child? Or, what did/do you read to your children/grandchildren?

As a girl I loved reading mysteries, like Nancy Drew, the Three Investigators, and any historical mysteries I could find.  I loved Biblical fiction, like The Prince of the House of David.  In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon, changed my life.

I read many books I discovered in my grandmother’s attic trunk—books popular when she was a girl, like the Elsie Dinsmore Series. Also, I loved Little Women, The Five Little Peppers Series, and later Grace Livingston Hill’s stories. I devoured Christy, by Catherine Marshall and as a teen loved Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place.

Anne of Green Gables Museum

I didn’t discover Anne of Green Gables or any of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books until I was older, but I absolutely fell in love with her characters.

I think I’ve read all she ever published as well as her journals.

Lucy Maud Montgomery plays a role in Ladies of the Lake. Readers, if you’re a fan of Anne of Green Gables, you’ll love Cathy’s integration of Lucy in the novel.

What is something God taught you while you wrote your featured book?

He pressed on my heart the importance of sustaining and maintaining friendships.

Life often gets so busy that we focus only on the urgent.  It’s easy to assume our friends and loved ones will always be there, that we can catch up later.

Sometimes, as the friends in Ladies of the Lake learned and as I have recently learned when dear friends passed from this life, later never comes or it comes too late.

Friendships require honesty, time, trust, nurturing, investments of time and means, and sometimes sacrifice.  Especially blessed are those who work to maintain close friendships even when distance, family, work, or life circumstances draw them far from one another.

Some friendships are forged early in life and some much later.  Each one is unique, precious, and has the potential of becoming a lifelong treasure.

Beautiful insights. It reminds me of the song we sang when I was in Girl Scouts. “Make new friends and keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”

What do you hope readers know about you and your books?

I hope readers see Jesus and the all pursuing love of God in my books.  I hope each story opens the heart of our Heavenly Father to readers and welcomes them into His all-encompassing embrace.  That is why I write, and I hope my books glorify Him.

They do indeed, my friend.

Do you have a recipe that compliments your book’s characters, setting, or time period? Please share.

Mrs. Potts’s Cherry Almond Scones.  Mrs. Potts was the beloved cook at Lakeside Ladies Academy when Addie, Dot, Ruth and Susannah were girls.  This is a recipe the girls begged her for and even Addie’s daughter, Bernadette, baked later in life.  Cherry Almond scones bake up beautifully and are delicious.

Mrs. Potts’s Cherry Almond Scones

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, at room temperature
• ½ to ¾ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cold butter
• 1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and cut into quarter, or substitute frozen cherries cut in
  quarters while frozen—do not thaw.
• 2 Tablespoons cream or unsweetened almond milk or buttermilk
• 2 Tablespoons coarse sugar (optional)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk the egg.
• Add buttermilk to the egg to make ¾ cup.
• Whisk in the almond extract.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the butter by using your fingers or a pastry blender to break up the butter until the
  pieces are the size of peas.
• Add the milk mixture and cherries to the flour mixture.
• Mix gently together until just combined (DO NOT OVERMIX). The dough will be
  rough and uneven.
• Set the dough on a lightly floured work surface.
• Pat and gently shape the dough into a round disc approximately 1 and ½ inches thick.
• Transfer to the parchment covered baking sheet.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the disc into 8 pie-shaped pieces.
• Separate the scones slightly.
• Using a pastry brush, brush each scone with cream or buttermilk or almond milk and
  sprinkle lightly with coarse sugar—like raw or Turbinado.
• Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Serve warm or can be served later at room temperature.
• Makes 8 scones.

See that photo of the two Cherry Almond scones? Yes, Cathy baked those! My mouth is watering right now!

Ready for the GIVEAWAY?

The July A2A Giveaway!

Yes! Thanks to Tyndale House Publishing, this month’s giveaway is a copy of Cathy’s, Ladies of the Lake! Thank you, Tyndale!

Isn’t this exciting! And you could be the WINNER! How? Well, by entering! Not just once, but up to SIX times!* Leave a comment below and share this blog and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of this blog and receive a free gift from me — and an extra entry.

NOTE: WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THIS INCREDIBLE GIVEAWAY?*

Check out my YouTubeA2A interview with Cathy. Because, in the video interview Cathy will read a riveting excerpt of Ladies of the Lake, answer different fun questions! Really fun! By Liking and Commenting on the video episode, you will have one more entry.* Sharing the video, another entry.* Subscribe, and you have TWO entries for a chance to win.* 

The Deadline is July 14th!

Watch our A2A interview!

That means, my friends, if you comment and subscribe -– or are already a subscriber -– to my blog, then watch the video and LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on the VIDEO, then Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, your name will be entered SIX TIMES!*

If you already have a copy of Ladies of the Lake, be sure to let you friends and family know so that they can enter!

August’s Author Highlight is the Christy Award-Winning and bestselling author DiAnn Mills.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Cathy! Until next month, God bless and KEEP READING!

*So sorry, entries from the contiguous US only.