Hi, everyone, and welcome to the debut of my blog! I'm not going to take up space with a personal intro (you can read that on my profile page). Instead, I'd like to acquaint you with some of the characters in my books, and the best way to do so is via an "interview". We're going to start with Cathy, who is the main character in all of my books ("Love, Despair and Other Heartaches"; "Wandering Towards Normal"; "My Zestful Years"; and "The Last Two Thousand Miles").

What’s your occupation? “I worked as a CPA in a large accounting firm until I retired in 2007.”

Marital status? (Laughs.) “It depends at what point in my life you’re talking about.”

What do you consider your best quality? “There were a lot of times I wondered if I had any at all, to be honest with you. But I’d have to say my stubbornness, in a good sense. Lord knows I’ve faced many challenges over the years, but I refused to give in to them. I dug in my heels and eventually overcame them all.”

What’s a relationship deal-breaker for you? “Oh, where do I begin? Lying. Being a taker rather than a giver. Financial irresponsibility. Substance abuse. Physical abuse. Lack of ambition. Lack of morals. Lack of caring about me and my needs. Lack of respect. Unreliability. You’ll probably find at least one of those reasons when figuring out why each of my prior relationships ended.” (Laughs.) “There’s probably a few of those traits in there that could be applied to me, too. Ironic, isn’t it?”

What’s the one thing you’d change about yourself? “I wish I could apply the professional skepticism required for my job to my personal affairs.”

Last question: what three words would you use to describe yourself? “Resilient, giving, and hopeful.”

Classic Cathy Quote: “I am not going to beg you for sex, and I’m not going to keep coaxing you as though you’re some 16-year-old virgin. I don’t know what your problem is, but you’d better get over it quickly.” (From “Wandering Towards Normal”.)