Mar
How to Knit A Love Song: Interview with Rachael Herron and Giveaway!
When we were at Stitches West we got to meet a lovely knitter and local author Rachael Herron. Rachel is a long time knitter, spinner and now author of a new Knitting/Spinning Romance novel “How to Knit A Long Song“. We love that this novel has a focus on spinning and fiber retail. Having read an excerpt, both Blas and I agree it’ll be a great read for men and women alike. As long you love fiber and a good “yarn” 
Let’s find out more from Rachel herself…
Your new novel is a knitting romance. Can you tell us about the plot?
How to Knit a Love Song is about a knitter and a sheep rancher. They both need wool, but not for warmth: they generate enough heat on their own. Abigail is more than ready for a change when she inherits a cottage from her beloved mentor, knitting guru Eliza Carpenter. Leaving the oppressive city for the greener pastures of a small California beach town, she intends to turn her cozy little windfall into a knitting shop and spend her days spinning, designing, and purling. But she’s not going to be welcomed with open arms by her new neighbor. Eliza’s disgruntled nephew, the gorgeous Cade, now owns everything surrounding Abigail’s ramshackle new home, and he views this sexy city girl as an unwanted interloper. But chemistry working overtime is drawing two very different people closer than they ever thought possible. And when the past that Abigail thought she’d left behind comes calling, she’ll have to somehow learn to trust her handsome adversary with much more than just her heart.
Tell us about your background in creative writing and fiber art…
I’ve been both knitting and writing since I can remember — I honestly can’t remember what I loved first, the pen or the needles. I think I really got into both around the age of five, and I’ve never looked back. Of course, at different times in my life, I’ve given one more emphasis than the other, but neither have ever been absent. I remember being about nine years old, hiding under my blankets with a notebook and pen with a wild desire to “write a novel.” I had no idea how to do it, but I just knew I wanted to. And the knitting was always around, even when I was a teenager, and there was nothing more uncool. The spinning came much later. I’ve only been spinning for about five years, but I caught the bug and now I have three wheels of my own, all Ashfords (my mother was from Ashburton, New Zealand, where the wheels are made).
Do you think there are certain aspects of knitting and spinning that lend themselves to the romance genre?
I think ever since Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, a certain legend has been attached to spinning, but I’m not sure the opposite holds true for knitting — in fact, I think we’ve had to overcome a level of prejudice when it comes to the myth of the frigid old maid with her sixteen cats and her acrylic granny squares. But in the last ten years or so, knitting has become much sexier, from the designs to the tools to the transmission of information. I think the internet has everything to do with that. And I definitely find that many knitters love romance, in all its forms. And why not? Cuddling up with a good book AND some knitting? Or both? Nothing better.
What is your favorite spinning wheel? What is your favorite fiber to spin?
I love my Ashford Joy. I have two Ashford Traditionals that I like very much, sturdy little workhorses, but my Joy is just that, a joy. And I love love LOVE spinning a merino/silk blend best, although alpaca is a very close second.
Current favorite yarn and knitwear designer?
It might sound dumb, but my favorite yarn is usually whatever’s on my needles (at the moment it’s Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, lovely and smooshy). Designer: I love the work of Joan McGowan-Michael and Kira Dulaney.
Tell us about some authors who have inspired, supported and fed your creativity while writing this novel?
I’ve been lucky enough to have been supported and inspired by Barbara Bretton (another knitting writer — fantastic, you should check her out!) as well as amazing local writers Sophie Littlefield and Juliet Blackwell. I have a core group of writing friends in my Romance Writers of America group who have sustained me through everything. Anyone thinking of writing anything at all, if you can think of a reason to come to RWA, you should. I have an MFA in fiction which I’m very, very proud of, but I value my membership in RWA more. It’s a truly amazing organization of stupendously intelligent hard-working professionals who cumulatively know just about everything.
You seem to be a lover of coastal lifestyle, beach town atmosphere…what are some of the places in real life which inspired the novel?
Oh, yes… Pismo Beach, close to where I grew up, Half-Moon Bay, Pescadero. Anywhere there are tide pools, lighthouses, anywhere the coastal wind blows and the moonlight sparkles over the water. A pier never hurts anything.
Your novel includes the pattern to the sweater that Abigail is designing in the novel and you’re giving away the sweater!
Yep, I’m giving away the actual prototype that I knitted while writing the book. I love the sweater itself, but it’s a man’s sweater, and it’s too big for me. so I thought it would be a fun prize for readers. All you need to do is write a review of the book and let me know about it (details over at Yarnagogo). I’ll draw a winner at the beginning of April! Good luck!
Where can fans, both literary and knitty visit you and your book in the coming months?
Yay! My launch party is just around the corner, on Tuesday March 16th at Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco. I’ll be doing a reading and a Q&A, and there’ll be wine. It should be really fun, and I’d love it if lots of people came! Then I’ll be in LA with Crazy Aunt Purl on March 21st at the Knitter’s Studio, and at Fuzz in Boise on March 25. I’ll also be at Stitches South in Atlanta in April. That just got added to my itinerary, and I’m really excited about it. Thank you Rachel for taking the time to talk to us. Congratulations again!
Listed below are some of her upcoming appearances….
Tuesday March 16th 7pm
*** LAUNCH PARTY! ***
Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave., San Francisco, CA
Sunday March 21nd 2pm
Knitter’s Studio, 8118 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA
Special appearance with CRAZY AUNT PURL!
Saturday May 1st 11-2
Romantic Times Giant Book Fair ($5 cover)
Hyatt Regency, Columbus OH
Wednesday July 28th 5:30-7:30
RWA National Literary Signing
Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Nashville TN
BLOG GIVEAWAY: signed copy of How To Knit A Love Song!
Leave a comment on this blog post and we’ll enter you in our raffle to win a FREE SIGNED copy of How to Knit A Love Song! Drawing will take place on April 30th 2010 using a random number generator. We will send out the signed copy of the novel along with some fun knitting and spinning tools and yarn samples. ENTER TODAY! We hope to see you at the SF Launch Party…
oh! sounds great!
Sounds like a cute new book!
Wish I could make it to the launch party, it’s sounds like a pleasant read.
Rachael sounds like a doll & it sounds like a good read. Hope to see you Friday!
it is wonderful idea to have spinning featured in a novel. to many people i know feel like it is an esoteric and inscrutable idea… and not that long ago, every child would have to learn how to spin!
Thanks for the giveaway! It was great talking to Rachael at Stitches West!
Lovely interview. Rachel gave out excerpts at Stitches West and I am SO looking forward to reading her series.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this sweet book!
What a great premise for a novel. I cannot *wait* until Rachel hits the big time!
Would love to read the book!
Yay Rachael! Knitting MFAs unite!
Thanks for the giveaway! Would love the opportunity to read this great sounding book!
Sounds like a must-read… I’m looking forward to it!
I would love a chance at this book.
Sounds like a great book! I might have to try to get Rachael to make an appearance at the bookstore where I work!