Kelsey McKnight stopped by the Tule blog to discuss the third book in her Hollingsworth Sisters series, To Rescue the Runaway Bride!
Where did you get the inspiration for To Rescue the Runaway Bride?
When it came to the actual story, I was drawn to what happens when you do everything “right,” but still get the short end of the stick. Claire lived her life by the book, following a list of actions that she thought would ensure she had the perfect life, or at least the life she was taught she needed to have. But she soon learned that no matter what, you can’t control the actions of others and making decisions for your life based on what others think isn’t worth it. It was interesting to explore the feelings of betrayal and her overall growth as she learned to live for herself.
What has been your favorite part about writing stories set in Marietta?
I write better when I can picture a location and really get into what my characters can see and do there. The town of Marietta makes that part of my process a breeze, since it’s been so wonderfully built by dozens of other authors before me. It’s simple to visualize the famous Grey’s Saloon or imagine how Bramble Lane looks at Christmas time. Adding my own twist to Théo’s lodge on Copper Mountain was fun, as I could build a lavish, but cozy and welcoming, place for visitors to enjoy that readers may see in other books as time goes on. I know I’ve really enjoyed slipping in some already well-loved characters and locations into my stories!
How is Claire different from her sisters, Olivia and Molly? How is she the same?
The three sisters have been media darlings for ages, with Olivia being the Ice Princess for her stony demeanor in the boardroom, Molly being the Party Princess for her love of grand charity events and jet setting model lifestyle, and Claire as the Perfect Princess for the perfect life she leads with absolutely nothing to tarnish her good name. Each have very strong personalities and preferences, but also hold the same values close. They’re all fiercely loyal to one another and long to branch out beyond the strict parameters of their stuffy upbringing.
If you could spend the day with Claire or Théodore, who would you choose and what would you do?
Claire would be my top choice for a hangout. She’s a huge fan of romance novels and knows that a sampling of sweets from the Copper Mountain Chocolate Shop is never enough. She’s also been really into trying new things to get out of her comfort zone, and I think it would be really fun to do something out of the norm for me, like go spelunking in old copper mines or maybe ride a mechanical bull.
What are you currently reading?
My real-life best friend, and sometimes co-author, Sarah Fischer is working on two really cool new projects and I’ve been lucky enough to read what she has so far. But as far as already published pieces go, I just finished Just for Kicks by Tracy Solheim and am currently reading Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh and will be reading The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn next. I’m on a bit of a thriller kick at the moment!
About the Author
From Scottish lairds to billionaire businessmen, Kelsey McKnight will ignite your soul, no matter what century it lives in.
Kelsey is a university-educated historian from southern New Jersey. She has married her great loves of romance, history, and literature to create her own tales of dashing heroes, sultry bad boys, and lovable heroines who have their own stories to tell. They will take you through the ballrooms of Victorian London, the hills of the Scottish Highlands, New York City penthouses, and into small towns with big hearts, all at the flip of a page.
When she’s not writing, Kelsey can be found reading, drinking too much coffee, spending time with her family, and working for a nonprofit organization.
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