I honestly hadn’t known what to expect when I emailed William Morrow about Moonlight on Butternut Lake, as I was taking a leap of faith in contacting them. I mentioned this on my review of the novel, how I went outside my comfort zone a bit and queried the publisher directly about a book for review – how that serendipitous act on my part led to an opportunity to interview Ms McNear is a true blessing in believing in what your doing as a book blogger.

I sensed I was going to become a follower of McNear’s writerly career as soon as I finished reading Up at Butternut Lake because it had all the pieces of what I personally *love!* finding inside a contemporary novel: realistic story-lines with fully realised characters residing inside the breadth of where the novel takes the reader. I love finding myself living through the pages, following in step and by heartbeat with the main characters, and becoming absorbed into the interior of a small towne is aces for me because it’s one of my cosy comforts as a reader! I delight in the ambiance and in the aspect of community which can sometimes become muddled and lost in today’s world.

As soon as I settled into Butternut Summer my worries about the transitions in a McNear novel fell away, because I was hugged so close to the moment of the last novel, my feet barely left Butternut Lake! I felt as comfortable in the sequel as I had the first installment and it was within that reading I realised a hidden truth of my own: I didn’t want this to be a ‘trilogy’ as it was limiting the arc which McNear had fused to the novels so inherent that it resonated as an expanding series, not a mere trifold slice of what it could be. However, as dearly as readers cast wishes into the void, I was the gobsmacked reader who rejoiced in having learnt this truly did become a bonefide series!

Finding out about Moonlight was only one half of the joy: there was a novella and it was released into print! A fact that might not surprise everyone, but for me, it was a celebration! A lot of writers are composing novellas to carry forward serial fiction or at the last trilogies – little added snippets of the series we love in shorter formats, except to say, they are rarely released into print copies! A few times I’ve been happily surprised, and this is one of those moments!

As I struggled to resolve the gap in time between when I received the novel (Moonlight) and was able to compose my review, I received a second blessing – the opportunity to converse with Ms McNear! Dear hearts, you’ll enjoy the conversation that came out of my questions, as I wanted to contain them to a few particular enquiries rather than expand them outward. It was such a pleasure to ask a few pertinent questions on behalf of the series whilst getting to know the author’s writing style, too!

Book Synopsis: No.3 of the Butternut Lake Series

Mila Jones, a young woman fleeing a dark past, has accepted a job on Butternut Lake taking care of Reid Ford, who is recovering from a car accident that nearly killed him. This is Mila’s chance for a fresh start. But Reid, brooding and embittered, does everything he can to make her quit. Mila refuses to give up.

Against all odds, Mila slowly draws Reid out. Soon they form a tentative, yet increasingly deeper, bond with each other, as well as becoming part of the day-to-day fabric of Butternut Lake itself. But the world has a way of intruding, even in such a serene place…and when Mila’s violent ex-husband becomes determined to find her, she and Reid are forced to face down the past.

Perfect for lovers of Susan Wiggs, Debbie Maccomber, and Kristin Hannah, Moonlight on Butternut Lake is a novel of courage, romance, and resilience that is to be savored and shared.

Currently the Butternut Lake series includes three novels and a novella, what are your long-term plans for the series past the original trilogy? Will this be a series that remains open-ended where characters will come and go but the towne will remain true to itself and the community you’ve created? The reason I am asking is because Butternut Lake has become a beloved small towne I enjoy re-visiting with each new installment. May I ask what is the title of the fourth book in 2016 and the fifth book in 2017 or can you share a bit about what the focus will be in those novels?

McNear responds: Harper Collins was so happy with the success of the Butternut Lake trilogy that they gave me a contract for two more books! Both of these books will be set on Butternut Lake, and although there will be new characters who are not present in the original trilogy, the ethos of the town of Butternut will remain the same. I haven’t yet decided on the title for the fourth book. But it is the story of two very different sisters who spend a summer together on Butternut Lake for the first time in thirteen years. One sister must come to terms with a dark secret from her past and the other sister must overcome the loss of a loved one. And, of course, there is a little romance thrown in! This book is due out in Spring 2016. Read More