Cathy Richmond

I was busy raising a family, working as an occupational therapist, and trying to remember where I hid the chocolate, when a song sparked a story within me. The journey to publication has been long, but full of blessings. I couldn’t have done it without ACFW, RWA, and FHL, the inspirational chapter of RWA, and Nebraska Novelists critique group. I was born in Washington, DC, grew up in northern Virginia, attended Western Michigan University, and moved around a lot for my husband’s aviation career. My favorite place to write is the porch. Then I reward myself with reading time in my air chair – and chocolate, of course!

Through Rushing Waters - Sophia Makinoff is certain that 1876 is the year she’ll become the wife of a certain US Congressman, and happily plans her debut into the Capitol city. But when he proposes to her roommate instead, Sophia is stunned. Hoping to flee her humiliation, she signs up with the Board of Foreign Missions.

With dreams of a romantic posting to the Far East, Sophia is dismayed to find she’s being sent to the Ponca Indian Agency in uncivilized Dakota Territory. She can’t even run away effectively and begins to wonder how on earth she’ll be able to guide others as a missionary. But teaching the Ponca children provides her with a joy she has never known-and never expected-and ignites in her a passion for the people she’s sent to serve.

It’s a passion shared by the Agency carpenter, Willoughby Dunn, a man whose integrity and selflessness are unmatched. The Poncas are barely surviving. When U.S. policy decrees that they be uprooted from their homeland and marched hundreds of miles to bleak Indian Territory, Sophia and Will wade into rushing waters to fight for their friends, their love, and their destiny. 

Welcome to Ink Dots, Cathy. Tell us about your family. My husband and I have been married 32 years. We have a daughter in medical school who has given us grand-bunnies. And a son in New York City who is a writer.  

How did Through Rushing Waters come to be written by you? Nervous about my first deadline, I decided to stick with the same time period as Spring for Susannah - the 1870s - but look for a story closer to home to make research easier. In 1879 in Omaha, the trial of Standing Bear declared, in the eyes of the law, that an Indian was a person. Through Rushing Water shows the events leading to the trial. I love the 1870s. My own research has brought me there many times...

What’s the most fascinating thing you discovered in your research for this book? I found a Russian woman teaching on the Ponca reservation, during a time when few Russians were in the area. A woman by the same name taught at Vassar College, a fancy women's college near New York City. Why would someone leave a comfortable job to be a missionary on a poorly-supplied Indian reservation. Good question... and I can see you've put much thought into the answer.

Have you been to Australia? I have wanted to visit Australia since my Canadian friend Pene White moved to Brisbane. My next door neighbors, Cory and Kathy, are visiting your beautiful country this month - I'm coming along vicariously! That's great. Perhaps you can make the journey for yourself someday soon!

What’s on the horizon for Catherine Richmond? I have several ideas running around like untrained puppies. I'll let you know which is paper-trained first.

Where can we find you on the internet? CatherineRichmond.com, https://www.facebook.com/catherinerichmondfans, 
Twitter:  @WriterCatherine.

Here's the link to Cathy's first chapter of Through Rushing Waters. I'm sure you'll want to read more when you've had a taste of this historical romance. For your chance to win a paper back copy, tell us, if like Cathy, you too hide the chocolate. You don't have to reveal your stash's whereabouts, but I'd love to know if you keep it hidden. I'll announce the winner in the comment thread below on Friday.

Thanks for joining us today, Cathy. I loved reading your first chapters and look forward to more of Through Rushing Waters.