Rita Watch: The Measure of Katie Calloway

Hello there, Miss The Measure of Katie Calloway. Let me start by giving you a big, Craftie-Lady welcome, and thank you for interviewing with us today. It's always fun to have new books stop by. 

So Miss Measure of KC, when were you born? The Measure of Katie Calloway  was born October 1, 2011

Ah, October would be a lovely birthday month,  with all those beautiful tree leaves changing colors. Where were you born?

I was born to author Serena Miller, who’s a pastor’s wife living in southern Ohio, which makes sense, as this story is set only one state away, in Michigan.

Well, there's certainly lots of trees with colorful leaves to greet you in Michigan and Ohio. Do you have any brothers and sisters?

I do, though I’m a bit different from either of my siblings. I’m related to Love Finds You in Sugar Creek Ohio and An Uncommon Grace. Both of my siblings are contemporary Amish stories. And here I am, the lone, non-Amish historical. Maybe I was adopted at birth? 

Just kidding. I enjoy my siblings . . . um, as much as any sister can. And I similar sister will be born again this October. So won’t be the only child with a story about Michigan’s logging days any more.


What do you think made you a RITA finalist?

I’m set in an interesting time period: the logging boom that hit the Midwest, particularly Michigan and Wisconsin, after the Civil War. While my mother grew up knowing about Michigan’s logging era and the giant pine forests that were completely clear cut to fuel the Industrial Revolution, I imagine many people probably aren’t all that familiar with this part of America’s history.

Furthermore, I deal with some very real issues, like spousal abuse and fidelity, which probably resonate with a lot of readers. And then I’ve got this wonderfully delightful cast of smaller, interesting characters that make life in a Northwoods lumber camp far from boring!

Here’s the cover blurb:

The Civil War has ended, but in Katie Calloway's Georgia home conflict still rages. To protect herself and her young brother from her violent and unstable husband, she flees north, finding anonymity and sanctuary as the cook in a Northwoods lumber camp. The camp owner, Robert Foster, wonders if the lovely woman he's hired has the grit to survive the never-ending work and harsh conditions of a remote pine forest in winter. Katie wonders if she can keep her past a secret from a man she is slowly growing to love.

With grace and skill, Serena Miller brings to life a bygone era. From the ethereal, snowy forest and the warm cookstove to the rowdy shanty boys and the jagged edges of the saw, every detail is perfectly rendered, transporting the reader back to the time when pine was king, men were made of iron, and rivers were choked with logs on the way to the sawmills. Readers will have a hard time leaving the Northwoods when they turn the last page.

Thank you for being with us today, Miss The Measure of Katie Calloway. And congratulations on being a Rita Finalist. You must be thrilled!

To learn more about The Measure of Katie Calloway and her siblings, visit the author’s website at http://serenabmiller.com/