Debut Author Spotlight: Cathryn Lyons

Funny story:

I was attending Charm City Romanticon in Ellicott City, Maryland last month. During a pit stop to the ladies' room, I was talking with Rhon House (Author Caera Everly & PA Extraordinaire) as one does. When she asked me what my ARC schedule looked like, I let her know that April was a nightmare with ten scheduled releases. Fortunately, I was able to opt out of 2 of the ARCs. Then, she asked how May was looking. I told her it was looking a lot more doable. That's when she asked me if I could fit in an ARC for a debut author in May. With some discussion about the anticipated release date, and book length, I readily agreed to read this brand-new author that my friend believed in so much. I do love helping new authors find their audience and Rhon knew me well enough to know I would fall madly in love with this book. Spoiler alert: I did.

When I finished it, I immediately reached out to Rhon and asked her if the author might be willing to do a debut author spotlight with me here on my blog. I was very excited when she said yes.

She is a signing author at Charm City Romanticon 2026, and I am seriously looking forward to meeting her in person.

About the author

Cathryn Lyons loves novels. Seriously loves them. Especially romance. Reading (often devouring) them…and writing spicy contemporary romance novels of her own. She has been writing since before she could even properly hold a pen.

She is happily married to her real-life MMC and they share three sons and the world’s best and derpiest rescue Golden Retriever (from Turkey!). She is a lifelong Marylander, but wonders if her short stint in London counts as being cosmopolitan (the attribute, not the drink; although those are quite delicious).

Cathryn fills her creative bucket by writing steamy stories she hopes bring as much joy, laughter, escapism…and sexy feelings…that she herself has experienced through the gift of others’ words. She hopes you love her stories, and welcomes hearing from you.

Connect with Cathryn here: https://linktr.ee/cathrynlyonsromanceauthor

Find her books:

Heartstrings: https://books2read.com/Heartstrings-CathrynLyons

Arches (Coming Jun 10th): https://books2read.com/Arches-CathrynLyons

Twenty-Five Questions with Cathryn Lyons

What inspired you to write this book?

Ten years ago, while my husband was pursuing a lifelong dream, I had a front-row seat to the joy of watching someone embrace their vocation. I was inspired to explore my own dream.

Ever since I was very young, I’ve been a writer—even before I could properly hold a pen. In the long, lonely nights while my hubby was away (during the week) earning an M.Div. and my sons were nestled in their beds, a story was blooming. As I grieved the day-to-day absence of my favorite human, all I could think of was…imagine losing your soulmate permanently. Is it possible to have a second soulmate? And…what if you love them more?

As a sidebar, ever since high school, I kept a journal of quotations from classic literature—lines that touched my heart. There was one particular quote that had always resonated most of all. So, I wrote a story about it. About love, and loss, and finding love again…even if you don’t want it. I would stay up to the wee hours, words just pouring out of me. (And I am *not* a night owl.) Ten years ago, the first draft of Heartstrings…was complete.

Last year, inspired by indie authors I read and love, I decided to take the leap and self-publish. I’ve had two incredible, wise, and patient Book Sherpas to hold my hand, ease my worries, and help guide me to a place I truly only ever imagined in my wildest dreams.

What was your favorite part of the book to write?

Honestly? All of it. But there are two particular scenes I loved writing: When Cole and Tiercy first meet at the fundraiser and are utterly gobsmacked, and there is a scene when Cole literally sweeps Tiercy off her feet and carries her away from a stressful situation. Good gravy I loved writing that! It could “see” it so vividly and my mind was whirring so fast, my fingers could barely keep up on the keyboard!

What was the hardest part to get through?

It was quite a process to go back and add a second POV. The first versions of Heartstrings were only Tiercy’s POV. But as I read more and more, I realized that as a reader, I love dual POV in romance. I also thought it would be richer to add Cole’s journey. I truly felt his pain. Here he was, utterly besotted with an amazing woman. And he has to determine if he’s ok with not being her soulmate, even if she’s his. And his character arc as he gets to his own place of acceptance and helps guide Tiercy to a new perspective…well, that was special to write. I was feeling me some Cole!

What inspiration from real life did you include in this book?

As I shared above, I definitely drew from my own feelings of (temporary) loss with my husband. I couldn’t even fathom the magnified pain of losing him permanently. I could never imagine loving someone as BIG as I love him. Also in the 2010s, a friend lost her fiancé unexpectedly and she posted very openly about her grief journey. And then a really good friend lost her soulmate and I was by her side (and his) on that farewell journey. As an author, trying to capture the depth of emotion, the changeability and variability of those emotions, and the authenticity of the experience was a personal mandate.

Who was the hardest character to connect with while writing this book?

I truly connected with all of them. I didn’t really struggle much with that. Thankfully!

This book deals with grief and guilt. What kind of research did you do in those areas to write this book?

I was very much guided by the experiences of my friends and what they shared, both publicly as well as privately with me. I also read a lot of articles, reviewed support group collateral, and did some robust Internet searches.

You include many literary quotes at the beginning of each chapter. (I absolutely loved that.) Did you read all those works to get those quotes?

I love that you loved it!! I told someone that Heartstrings is my lovesong to literature. I was a word nerd in school. I was a communications major, but took so many lit classes (for fun) that I was only two technical classes away from a second major in English. In the first drafts, with only Tiercy’s POV, I had read the novels from which the quotes were derived. They were from the journal I’d kept since high school. When I added Cole’s POV, I had to go back to the journal. I also moved some quotes around when I felt they better captured the spirit of another chapter. But as we kept breaking larger chapters into smaller ones, thus adding the total chapter count, I had to resort to some Google searches. I wanted every quote to be meaningful and have purpose. My rock star editor advised me (when I was lamenting the need to find more germane quotes!) that not every chapter needed one. But I couldn’t see my way through it any other way than to lead with a quote. Plus, Tiercy is a high school English teacher, so chances are, she would have read all of these. Finally, one of those quotes is spotlighted in a pivotal scene!

What inspired you to structure the book with a mixture of classical literature and contemporary romance?

See above! It’s my love of those quotes plus Tiercy’s character arc. It just worked for me!

What would you say is the hardest part of writing your first book?

The writing isn’t the challenge. It’s the other Authory Stuff—the business of being an independent author isn’t for the faint of heart. Honestly, without my amazing PA, Rhon, and my editor, Michelle, I would just be writing words and probably doing nothing with them. They bring my dream to life, and I will be grateful for the rest of my days.

If there is one thing you want readers to take away with them after reading this book, what would it be?

Oh gosh…good question. I don’t think it’s a lesson per se or a key takeaway. Rather, I just want readers to be transported into my Tiercy-Cole world, enjoying that escapism, just as other authors have done for me!

What’s next after Heartstrings?

Arches comes out June 10! And I loooove this story!

What time of day do you prefer to write?

I am a morning person, so the best words happen earlier in the day. However, I work full-time, so my only times to write are evenings (blech! I’m usually gassed by then) or on Saturdays, because my Sundays tend to be very busy with family commitments. Saturdays I like to get up early and just write and write and write. I can crank out 10k quality(ish) words on a Saturday. But I also send myself emails and voice texts with scene ideas, dialogue snippets, and edits all during the week (and overnight when I can’t turn my brain off because the characters won’t shut up for a few hours!).

What does a day in the life of Cathryn look like?

As I shared above, I work fulltime, and it’s a busy job. If it’s during the week, I’m working for my “real job” from early in the morning until sometimes late into the evening. (It’s not a 9 to 5 gig!) I also have three sons with hectic lives. One is almost officially launched, but the other two are in high school, so things are hopping. And my fabulous hubby also gets a sliver of my attention! (Kidding!) But when I’m writing…I disappear for long hours in the writing cave. I often don’t emerge until after dinner and I forget to eat unless my hubby waves food under my nose!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

For both Heartstrings and Arches, I was a full out pantser. I just sat at my computer with a vague idea of my story and wrote until it all came together. In fact, I didn’t even know about those terms until years ago watching a Rebecca Yarros interview, where she explained the degree of her “plotterness.” (I think I just made up a word!) For book three, which has a working title, but I’m not sharing it yet, I am doing a lot more plotting. There is a pantser element to my writing, where I get excited by a surprise thought track that opens up my story in a new direction, but I am trying hard to keep aligned with my plot on book 3.

Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer silence? If you listen to music, what type of music do you prefer?

I listen to white noise. I cannot listen to music with words, or I will definitely sing along. (If you ask my team at work, where I often break into showtunes, they will tell you I live my life in a musical…even though I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.) I have a white noise app on my phone, and I listen to the “brown noise” option. I have over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones because any other sounds will distract me from the writing flow. So, I go in the cave, put on the white noise, and get in the zone!

What is your favorite part of author life?

Other than writing, which is a major joy of my life, I absolutely love meeting and getting to know other authors. This indie community is beautiful, supportive, and welcoming. I love hearing their stories and experiences and learning from them.

What is the most challenging part of author life?

The business piece. I’m a businesswoman but doing the Authory Stuff to launch and advance these books…holy moly!

What kind of books are your favorite to read? (Contemporary, historical, fantasy, sci fi, monster, paranormal, etc.)

I love sports (especially hockey and football), so sports romances (that have to at least try to be accurate in terms of what life is like for players, etc.) are a favorite. I love historical romance, which I’ve read since I was probably too young to do so (and definitely too young to truly understand what I was reading!). Thanks to Ms. Yarros, a world of romantasy has opened up for me. Always love a good contemporary story. But…no matter what I read…it has to be spicy. Bring on the chilis!

Do you have a favorite trope to read? What makes it your favorite?

I love forced proximity. Heck yeah to that one-bed hotel room! I think a well-executed surprise pregnancy can be fun. (Taken out of context, that sentence is actually pretty hilarious!) Brother’s best friend always has a nice healthy tension. And enemies to lovers, when it truly is that, can be phenomenal. Now…if someone says “slow burn,” I’ll usually turn to others in my massive TBR because I don’t want to wait three-quarters of a book for the spice!

What is your favorite food?

May I have two? My husband makes the most amazing crab cakes. In fact, we are having them for Mother’s Day. He’s spoiled me and now I can’t order crab cakes in a restaurant anymore. I also loooove cheese. (And red wine…)

Do you have a favorite color? Red! I like a deep brick red.

Do you have any pets?

Other than my sons? (Kidding!) We have a Golden Retriever named Sutter. We rescued him from Turkey! (That’s a story for another day…) He is the kind of dog that makes you look like an amazing dog owner because he’s so sweet and chill. But he came that way…even when he was still technically a puppy. Everyone who meets him tries to steal him from us. He’s just the BEST!

What is your favorite thing about the area where you live?

The great thing about Maryland is we are fairly close to beaches and to the mountains. It’s a relatively quick trip to NYC. Where I live, we can get easily into Baltimore or DC for theatre, musical performances, other cultural experiences, and especially sports. We also live close to a huge state park, so sometimes my guys drag me out of the house and make me hike. (But I’m a girly girl, so I’m usually bringing up the rear, whining about something, and worrying about tripping and breaking a nail. 😉)

Who has offered you the most support on this journey?

The top honor goes to my husband. He is selfless and loving. Just the very best partner. My bestie is also my “Chief Reader.” And my parents…wow…their love is what gave me the confidence to even attempt this.

Writing and publishing your first book is an audacious accomplishment. Share what you are feeling as we approach release day.

It is so surreal! Seeing the graphics come together…it made me weepy. The first time I saw the formatted pages of MY WORDS on an eBook screen…I was just breathless with joy. And now I’m getting early reviews, plus comments from new readers, and it’s just so gratifying that readers are loving MY story the way I love the work of other authors. It’s all magical!

Heartstrings by Cathryn Lyons is available now!

Heartstrings: https://books2read.com/Heartstrings-CathrynLyons

Blurb:

What happens when you bury your heart with the love of your life—but someone gives its strings an unexpected tug?

Tiercy Somerville is quite sure you only get one love of your life. But just as she was building a life with hers, he was torn from her forever. Five years later, the popular high school English teacher and single mom has healed to a place of grief-tinged acceptance and peace, but her love of a lifetime still very much fills her heart, leaving no room for any other really big love. Or so she believes.

John Sims “Cole” Colburn is tired of playing the field. The construction firm CEO longs for the harmony, partnership, and deep abiding love his parents had. The problem is…his standards are probably impossibly high.

When their paths cross, the chemistry is instant, but neither is prepared for the intensity and passion of the journey ahead of them.

As their love deepens, Tiercy finds herself emotionally torn, questioning what she’s always known. How can one person have two soulmates? And having found the love of his life, Cole must decide if he can bear not being the love of hers.

My Review:

It will not surprise anyone that this was a five-star read for me.

#Debut #SingleMom #ARC

I have been working to write shorter reviews, but this book is one I couldn't say enough about.

"Thou touchest my inmost centre. Thou art tied to me by cords woven of my heartstrings."- Moby Dick, Herman Melville

I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book. As someone facing the potential loss of the love of my life with a recent, scary diagnosis, I hesitated briefly before reading this book when I saw the premise. But I had asked for an advanced copy, so I jumped in with both feet and didn’t look back. If I do have to face the worst in the future, this book gave me hope and courage to face whatever comes.

This debut novel is written in third person from an alternating dual POV, is a standalone, and ends with a HEA. The author begins each chapter with a literary quote that sets the tone for what is to come. I found the concept to be one that inspired me to read or reread some of those classic books and poems that I have not looked at in forever. Most of all, I was thoroughly impressed at how accurately the literary quotes meshed with the content of each chapter. I also loved that those quotes fit so perfectly with Tiercy’s character as a high school English teacher.

"I love words. And I love how different writers can string the same exact words together, in a different way, and create something unique. Words are dynamic and flexible, and glorious."

Tiercy is a 33-year-old single mom at the start of the book. Readers are led through her grieving process after the sudden loss of her husband 5 years prior. Her 4-year-old daughter, Jemma, is a precocious bundle of joy and sass. I adored her and her confident little voice. Tiercy is such a good mom to her. Tiercy also has a phenomenal support system, which I feel would be necessary in this instance. Her parents and her friends Brinder and Ross are exceptional. Her relationship with Brinder is marked with love and understanding. Her best friend Ross is a stand-out character in the book. Everyone needs a friend like her. I want a friend like Ross. I love it when a book builds my vocabulary and Tiercy and Ross’ SAT word competition was a fun way that expanded my knowledge without feeling over the top.

"But in the land of grief, reason and sense were awkward strangers."

Cole is a 35-year-old CEO of his family-owned construction company. He has always been single and has been a playboy at times. Recently he has been feeling discontented with his life. When he spots Tiercy across the room for the first time, he is completely entranced. Tiercy feels it too, but she struggles to embrace the idea of having a second big love in her life. I adored their immediate and magnetic connection. I loved Cole’s determination to allow her the time to work through her complex emotions while being completely lost in his feelings for her. He is a wonderful guy. They share passion, romance, and intimate emotional moments along the way to their happy ending.

"They'd only met a half hour ago. And yet...he was overtaken with the sensation of...recognition. As if he'd known Tiercy all along in his soul, and now life was finally catching up."

This was a beautifully written debut novel. It captured me from the beginning prologue and wouldn't let me go. The way the author writes about Tiercy's grief was profound and very moving to me. Her courage in the face of tragic loss and Cole’s patience and understanding of her journey was truly special. I didn't want to leave the love between Tiercy and Cole. I found myself slowing my reading process as I didn’t want the book to end. I, too, was besotted with their feelings for each other. There are scenes that are so swoony, and even cinematic in nature. (Oh! This would make a great film!) It’s not every day that a debut author produces a book with such well-developed characters, an emotional and gripping story line, and lyrical writing. I found the dialogue to be funny, smart, and emotional. She even channels a little Jane Austen flare, and it was fabulous.

"We all break things in our relationships---sometimes intentionally, but more often unintentionally with some notion of positive intent behind it. What separates a relationship that can go the distance is that both parties want to do better. And they recognize it and work at it."

Sometimes I feel like I can tell how good a book is by the number of passages I highlight. I don't think I have ever highlighted so many passages in a debut novel before. Honestly, I don't even highlight many authors I regularly read as much as I did this book. Now, I really want to read it again. And that is what I consider the ultimate sign of a 5-star read for me.

If you only read one debut book this year, make it this one.

Booklover Judy Lynn

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