Katya

by Kathryn Mattingly

Katya creates etchings and silkscreens from sketches drawn above a vineyard, when not busy as a micro farmer growing produce behind her Napa home. Both are a distraction from her unhappy marriage. A series of unpredictable events turn her world upside down, landing her in a coma. While unconscious Katya lives in an alternate state, which depicts her ideal life. If she can solve the meaning of her 'dream world' it might reveal the answers to everything that matters.

238 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2022

About the author

Kat Mattingly is an award winning author, public speaker, and college educator. She has taught numerous writing courses at several private colleges. Her debut novel, Benjamin (2013) was a New Century Publishing finalist and her short story collection, Fractured Hearts (2014) includes five award winning stories. Here newest release, Finley's Song, (2025) and her fifth novel, Katya (2023) are award winning novels. Other titles include Journey (2015) Olivia's Ghost (2016) and The Tutor (2018) Kat lives on the high desert in Central Oregon with her husband, Dennis, and a Maine Coon cat named Atticus. You can find her work at these links:

Website: https://kathrynmattingly.com/

Amazon: https://a.co/d/53q799e

FB: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynmatti...

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Winter Goose Publishing: https://wintergoosepublishing.com/aut...

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katya by Kathryn Mattingly centers around the life of an artist who appears to have an idyllic life on a small vineyard and farm, though there are layers of unhappiness and regret. The story follows Katya, the people in and around her life, and how she navigates through heartbreak and disappointment. As she strives to find joy, unexpected circumstances send her into a number of challenges. During this experience, she encounters another world, where she’s faced with what her life could’ve become. In this alternate dream world, Katya discovers what she could have had but must also face the realities of her existence and whether she can resolve them or return to another timeline of her life.

The author grabbed my attention from the beginning with an well-paced story, engaging narration and intriguing characters. Each chapter delves into different perspectives, situations, and scenarios that readers will find relatable as they are thoughtful explorations of the human experience. This is a thought-provoking book with great plot twists and unexpected events that keep readers turning from one page to the next. I enjoyed the interesting and sharp descriptions of the characters, their personalities, and their dilemmas.

If you are looking for a book that weaves elements of fantasy into a dramatic romance, you will enjoy this incredible romantic thriller. It’s a provocative tale about how we must face the consequences of our life decisions and what could have resulted if another path or journey was taken. I really found Katya’s journey enjoyable as she tries to find another way to consolidate what she truly wants with her dreams.

Katya is a gripping novel that follows an artist's delicate but intriguing life and her quest to find true love and happiness. It’s an excellent read that readers will have a hard time putting down, and I strongly recommend it.