On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Author Interview
What inspired you to write For the Love of Fiber Series?
After seventeen years in the Chicago suburbs, we moved back to my native Wisconsin. On the verge of being empty-nesters, we decided to move to the country and a more relaxed life-style. Answering an ad in the local paper I joined a ‘learn to spin group’. I’d always been a knitter and the thought of spinning my very own yarn added a whole new dimension. I soon found myself the owner of several Jacob sheep. I joined a group of local fiber artists who taught me so many things, among them being that crafting and women’s friendships are such an integral part of many women’s lives.
I was inspired to weave craft and art into my stories because to me, each craft I learned was a personal growth issue. I had to practice patience with learning to spin a good yarn, use math and dexterity with weaving and to use wool as an artist uses paint in felting. Along with learning these crafts I realized the importance of them and friendships down through generations. I’m hoping to pass this love on to my grandchildren.
If you could sum up each of the two books in one sentence, what would you say?
The Spin I’m In - When newly widowed Martha discovers her husband had been leading a double life, she determines to find the person she put aside to become the perfect wife and mother and finds friendship and help within a group of local fiber artists.
It Never Felt So Good - Struggling artist Cara Olson moves home to Wisconsin to care for her ailing grandmother and while there learns that the definition of success is totally individual to each person.
What challenged you about writing this series?
I’ve always been intrigued with stories of women starting over and finding their own place in life. I wanted my characters to be ordinary women with real, everyday problems—things we can all relate to—be it family, friends or career.
I’ve worked for years studying the craft of writing and like other crafts, it was a personal growth experience. Along the way I’ve met so many wonderful and sharing writers and I wouldn’t be here today without them. Writing can be a lonely life without friends to share the joys and frustrations.
Which character do you relate to the most to and why?
I guess it would be Carol. As the mother of five, the grandmother of seventeen, and a nurse, I can relate to most everyday problems in family life. Also, as a cancer survivor I will never forget hearing those fear-inducing words, “You have cancer.”
What do you hope readers will take with them after they’ve read the series?
I hope readers will realize the strength we women can gather from each other and always from family. Plus, a little humor goes a long way to putting joy in life.
What is something about me that is unique or we may not know?
I guess the most unique thing about me is my family background. I consider my family the original Brady Bunch, only on a gigantic scale. My father was a widower with six children and my mother a widow with four. They married and had five children—myself having the dubious honor of being number fourteen. I learned a lot about characters in that wonderful, loving family and draw on them often in my stories.
Another unique detail related to the books is that both covers are original artwork painted by my daughter, Molly Bowman Johnson, and photographed by my son. David Bowman. I’m so proud of these covers!
The Spin I'm In
(For the Love of Fiber #1)
By Kate Bowman
Women's Fiction, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 293 Pages
August 26, 2019
A determined widow faces the challenge of a new life to regain the confidence and independence of her youth, but finds that life, unlike knitting, doesn’t always follow a pattern.
After twenty-five years of being the perfect wife and mother, Martha LeBeau finds herself unexpectedly widowed and shocked to discover her husband had been living a double life, leaving her penniless and in debt. Determined to regain her lost confidence and independence, she sells her suburban Chicago home and moves to the Wisconsin countryside to forge a new life away from cheating men and smothering children. There she meets the Wool Gatherers, a group of fiber artists who teach her the art of spinning wool and raising sheep. Along with one determined Border Collie, she begins on the path to self-growth and healing.
Riley O’Connor is the single father of a child with Asperger Syndrome. The child’s mother walked out on them because she found that life too difficult to handle. Since then, he has dedicated himself to protecting his son from any further emotional damage.
Meeting Riley and his son through her new job brings love and challenges to Martha’s newly found independence. Romance blooms like a finely knit cable, entwining their lives.
Can either of them learn to trust again?
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It Never Felt So Good
(For the Love of Fiber #2)
By Kate Bowman
Women's Fiction, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 268 Pages
May 9, 2020
Cara Olson is forced to put aside her struggling art career in Chicago to care for her ailing grandmother in Wisconsin. While journeying with her beloved Gram through the diagnosis of possible Alzheimer’s disease, she loses and then rediscovers her passion for art and experiences the resurrection of a past love.
Struggling artist Cara Olson is called home to Wisconsin to care for her ailing grandmother who is showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Leaving behind her mentor//boyfriend, Stefan, she begins to look at her unsuccessful career and relationship in a new light.
Surprised to find her Gram’s doctor is her high-school crush, Peter Andreson, she fights her reignited feelings. When Chicago critics dismiss her artwork as a poor imitation of Stefan’s, she is devastated and vows to give up art.
While caring for Gram and running her small Scandinavian gift shop, the Wool Gatherers, a local group of fiber artists, help her find new outlets for her creativity, designing works of art with hand-made felt and her re-emerging love of landscape and portrait painting.
Along the way, her feelings for Peter grow, and she realizes she has once again fallen for a man only dedicated to his career. When the opportunity arises for her to return to Chicago with the promise of a new career, she seizes it. But even her success can’t fill the void she experiences without Gram, her new friends, and Peter.
Can she return to Shoreview, the place that inspires her art, and be satisfied with a life that doesn’t include him?
Tour Schedule
August 31st:
September 1st:
September 2nd:
September 3rd:
September 4th:
September 5th:
About the Author
After seventeen years in the Chicago suburbs we returned to Wisconsin and a new life of country living. After a local class in spinning, I decided it would be fun to have my own source of wool. Several years and many animals later, I found a new source of humor for my stories. I’ve always loved animals and you’ll find many of them populate my books. My stories are about real people trying to make it in this crazy, sometimes funny, sometimes sad world—but always with an ending that will renew your faith in love and life.
When I’m not writing, you’ll find me with my family or out walking in my fields, spinning wool, knitting or weaving, but always listening to the interesting stories of those characters living in my head.
For more information about me and my books, visit www.KateBowmanAuthor.com.
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $25 Etsy eGift Card
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $25 Etsy eGift Card
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