Love Is in the Heir

Kathryn Caskie

Kathryn Caskie invented the dime novel.

Or so she thought...until she was about thirteen and learned that the first dime novels were actually published by Beadle and Adams in 1860.

Before this revelation, as a child growing up outside Washington, DC, Kathryn amused herself by writing and illustrating her own fanciful stories. Sure, lots of kids did the same thing. But Kathryn made color copies (by hand of course--being a budding Martha) and proceeded to press friends and neighbors into buying her 'novels' for a dime each--which also happened to be the going rate for a strawberry Popsicle from the Good Humor man. Just a coincidence. Really.

As she reached high school, her creative writing caught the eye of an English teacher who steered her toward journalism class and the school newspaper. Writing for publication was exciting, especially since it provided an excuse to run through the halls while the other kids were stuck in class. And, interviewing cute football players and wrestlers, well, that was what reporters did, right?

It seemed it was the freedom Kathryn enjoyed more than journalism itself, because as a Communications major in college, she soon realized that she didn't much like to write the truth--the 'just the facts, ma'am' sort of reporting newspapers embody.

Her first job out of college plunked her firmly down in the world of Marketing, a field where she would remain for years. During that time, she worked as a magazine editor, television producer, wrote copy for radio, television, commercials and even the internet. She tried it all in her search to find an outlet for her writing.

Eventually her career path led her to America Online, where it was her job to find new and annoying ways to blanket the world with AOL software. Ever find a CD in your delivered pizza? Have one fall out of your cereal box...or bank statement? If so, you can likely blame Kathryn and some of her more creative deals.

Around this time, Kathryn and her family moved into an old stone house in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She had no way of knowing that she was about to make an abrupt career change. Being a devotee of things of old, she started researching life in the early 1800's, the period when her home was built. And, as writers' minds will do, stories began to swirl. There was no help for it. She had to write a novel. No more facts, figures or product blurbs. She was going to stay at home with the kids and write a Romance.

Luck was on her side. Kathryn's first attempt at a novel earned her dream agent, if not that elusive publishing contract. Her second effort won the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for Best Long Historical--and the keen interest of several publishers.

In the end, she accepted a contract, then another, from Warner Books, her publisher today.

Kathryn is quick to remark that she is not writing dime novels anymore.

Hers are $6.50--which also happens to be the going rate for ...a strawberry daiquiri. Just a coincidence.