Cathy M. Lindberg tells us about her new novel, “Casey Cooper”!

Cathy M. Lindberg discusses new novel, Casey Cooper, along with her inspirations.

Please describe your book . . .

This book is centered around a successful Realtor named Casey Cooper. Her story evolves with characters who are in the real estate profession which includes a mixture of very loyal friends and staff at her own brokerage. She struggles through heartache, disappointment, and ultimate betrayals and finds hope with a stranger in an open market while vacationing in Hungary. It is a story of love, betrayal, passion, and recovery from a heart that has been broken too many times.

And can you tell us a little about yourself?

I have been in the real estate profession for thirty years. Initially, I worked as a Realtor then loan officer then settlement officer. Subsequently, I obtained a law degree at the University of Baltimore School of Law to improve my knowledge of property and real estate issues. My family is a race track family and I wrote my first book, Jockey Daughter, based on the race track and familial happenings in my childhood home while growing up in Maryland.

I reside in both Leesburg, Virginia and Saratoga Springs, New York. I have a son and daughter and happily reside with my loving better half.

Do you have any particular literary influences? What inspired you to write your book?

Our law office encompasses many divorce cases. My inspiration comes from the men and women who walk into our office emotionally crippled and then somehow find the spirit to heal. From these clients I have heard some of the worst betrayals by their spouses or partners. It has always bewildered me that the individuals who are loved the most are those that create the greatest heartache. Their lies and actions beguile all sensitivity. The book is based on all true situations — from the young child dying of Neuroblastoma to the shopping in the sex toy shop. I have taken episodes from my friendships and work environment — both the fun and the sadness and wrapped it around my main character, Casey Cooper.

Aside from reading Constitutional Law books or Contract Law books I have enjoyed books that are loaded with passion. John Walsh’s book, Tears of Rage, is one of my favorites. From the murder of his six-year-old son and the darkness and despair that he and his wife endured, he found a way to put one foot in front of the other to move forward. The strength he has as well as the strength of others who endure such sadness always amazes me.

What is the one message you would like to convey to your readers?

There is always hope after heartache. Betrayal and sadness can add to one’s strength of character. Looking forward and not back is the correct path to a new chapter. Folks just have to get through the bad episodes in order to find the glory of the present.

Are you working on a sequel?

I have left the readers hanging at the end of the book so there is a huge possibility for a sequel.

Are there any events, marketing ideas, or promotions planned for your book?

I am a big one for marketing on social media – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram to name a few. I also bring along one of my books wherever I go. If I notice that a hotel has a library, I ask to place a book on its shelf. Additionally, I mail the book to libraries and visit book stores to see if there is some interest. My first book is featured on Amazon which has found a good source of readers, so I hope to place this second book on Amazon also. Since my first book was about child abuse, I found a medium for that topic in speaking before law students who will primarily be working with children and family issues. I also was a featured guest speaker on a national radio show for adult victims of child abuse.

Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Start writing!  Move your book along. I bump into so many people who say: “One day I am going to write a book” but never get going. Whether you enjoy writing on a laptop or paper notepad, get going! Jot down ideas so that you can refer to them. Once completed and your manuscript is with iUniverse, create a new email just for the staff of iUniverse. I found during my first submission, that some of the iUniverse emails were lost in the shuffle of my personal and business email messages. Keep everything in separate folders (paper or computer). Take the process seriously and let the staff at iUniverse critique your manuscript from a professional’s perspective. Avoid taking the constructive criticism as a personal attack. The criticisms or suggestions are helpful. Just move forward with improving your thoughts and story. For me, it was a great learning experience to watch the book evolve. You will feel the same with your book. So…get going and happy writing!

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