Book Blog Tour Stop - Kathy Cano-Murillo, author of "Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing" - Q&A and GIVEAWAY!!!

Today, I'm thrilled to be hosting a book blog tour stop for Kathy Cano-Murillo, author of "Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing."

Kathy was gracious enough to take some time to answer a few questions!

Sharon: At what age did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Kathy: It was in grade school! I used to love Erma Bombeck’s newspaper columns and tried to emulate them in my own way for my 5^th grade Language Arts class. Sometimes my teacher thought they were so funny, she would let me read them out loud to the entire class.

 Sharon: Who are some of your favorite authors? Who inspires you?

Kathy:  Maria Amparo Escandon and her book, Esperanza’s Box of Saints. I remember reading it because I fell in love with the cover. I didn’t have time to read back then because I was working full-time as a reporter, plus going to school full-time at night, running my art business and being a mom and wife. But I squeezed in that book every free second I had, it was that good. It was silly, quirky, yet meaningful and simply lovely. I remember thinking, “I want to write a book like this someday!”

These days, I love Sophie Kinsella. My favorite book of hers is Twenties Girl, I also loved The Undomestic Goddess. She has such a gift for storytelling. I also love Debbie Macomber, Reyna Grande and Margo Candela, I’ve loved all their recent works!

Sharon:  What do you have coming up in the future?

Kathy: I’m currently outlining my third and fourth novels. I can hardly wait to start writing them!

Sharon:  What advice would you have for anyone wanting to break into the writing biz today?

Kathy: Not to focus on agents or advances, just on the writing and telling a good story. If you focus on the latter two, the first two will come. No one in the business will take you serious unless you have a full manuscript written and ready!

About The Book:

Sometimes to find your life's true path, you have to stray outside the lines . . .
 
Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past.

But as stitches give way to secrets and classmates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit.

About The Author:

KATHY CANO-MURILLO is an artist of all trades. The designer of the Crafty Chica product line, the author of several craft books and a forthcoming novel, a nationally syndicated columnist, and a jewelry designer featured in Target, she has conquered nearly all imaginable creative pursuits. Her work has graced the airwaves of NPR’s Weekend Edition, HGTV, the DIY network, and LifeTimeTV.com.To find out more, visit her award-winning website http://www.craftychica.com/.



GIVEAWAY:

Hachette Book Group has generously provided a copy of Kathy's new book for a giveaway!  To enter, please leave a comment here with your name and email address!  The book will be sent directly from Hachette to the lucky winner!  The winner's name will be drawn at midnight, March 9th!

Good Luck!


My thanks to Hachette Book Group/Grand Central Publishing for including me on this book blog tour and for providing a review copy of this book. I was not compensated for my opinions.