Rachael Herron, Cypress Hollow series author, Fiona’s Flame most recently, was the guest today on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird.
She learned to knit at about age 5 with her mother’s help, and it seems that she has kept that skill as part of her life in that she was still knitting when she began her blog Yarnagogo and included her knitting which is how many people found her, including Marly! From there, she wrote her first book and her agent and publisher found her and admired her ‘personal voice’ and she became a writer in the Knit-Lit genre.
By knit-lit, I mean knitting literature. Her works have a background that depicts the comfort of yarn and knitting. The Cypress Hollow series started with How to Knit a Love Song, Rachael says she ‘pitted a sheep rancher against a knitter’. The publisher requested more stories from the nearby town of ‘Cypress Hollow’, fictional place along the California coast line, and here we go!
The books all feature the knitting wisdom of a ‘knitting godmother’, Eliza Carpenter who Rachael acknowledges as based on Elizabeth Zimmerman (Zimmerman is defined as Carpenter!) in spirit. Rachael’s quotes from Eliza were written herself, but always have the enthusiasm of Elizabeth in encouraging the love of fiber.
Rachael has a masters degree in writing and was really impelled to get on with it (it seems) because of the National Novel Writers Month, or NaNoWriMo of which she is an fan, advocate and supporter by way of sharing it at every opportunity. She started writing a blog in 2002. How to Knit a Love Song came in 2010 and the rest of the series (five total with a novella of Eliza’s story called Eliza’s Home (Amazon Link), published in 2013). The most recent was Fiona’s Flame that came out earlier this year. As a fan, I think you may like to know each of the books feature a knitting pattern! One of them is a lace shawl, that was actually designed by Romi Hill (Rachael admits she’s not ready to design with lace yet) and, like all of the books, really became a piece of the book you can see, create and touch!
I really liked the story she shared about how she finds names of her characters…. I won’t include that here, because you really should listen to the episode!
She has written outside of the series as well. Pack up the Moon deals with the secrets that can divide a family. She has also written her memoirs A Life in Stitches and continues to write her blog and occasionally share what she is knitting.
If you missed getting hear the program live, the archive is still at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2014/12/02/rachael-herron-cypress-hallow-yarn-series or you can listen in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rachael-herron-cypress-hallow/id313541727?i=326521755&mt=2
Linda says
December 3, 2014 at 5:57 amIt was a fun podcast with Rachel. I’d love to read her new book while sitting by the fireplace listening to the rain outside.
Lmecoll on Ravelry
Lori Biamonte says
December 3, 2014 at 8:31 amCome rain or shine, I’m knitting all the time. Love the podcast!
Audrey says
December 3, 2014 at 10:27 amReading one of Rachel’s books is a sure way to heat up a winter day, no matter if there is snow or freezing rain! Another fascinating show. Love hearing the authors speak! I too am a writer (a poet)/editor/knitter.
Lydia says
December 3, 2014 at 11:09 amLovely episode! I enjoyed listening to you and Rachael as I was walking my dog in the rain. Will be looking for Cypress Hollow books at my library today!
Suzanne says
December 3, 2014 at 12:06 pmI Am glad that technology glitches didn’t rain on your podcast parade.
hotknitter says
December 3, 2014 at 3:20 pmIt’s been raining here lately, which is great since I love the rain. I love the fact that Rachel wrote essays about all her knitted sweaters.
knitwitmama says
December 3, 2014 at 3:38 pmI enjoyed listening to Rachel, one of my favorite authors and tweeters, while listening to the pitter patter of rain on my porch roof and winding some new yarn I just got a s a gift. I can’t wait to read Fionas Flame, I want to live in Cypress Hollow. But I have to say my two favorite books are A life in Stitches and Pack up the Moon. Keep writing!
Citabria Shipman says
December 3, 2014 at 6:21 pmI am working on an EZ pattern listening to the podcast, we don’t get much rain in AZ, but I love reading romance novels or knitting when it does.
Michelle says
December 3, 2014 at 6:25 pmI love to crochet or read on a rainy day. It make me look forward to the wet springs we have in NH.
jrouton says
December 4, 2014 at 6:44 amWhat a wonderful interview. Rain make me want to curl up in a toasty blanket and read. I love Rachel’s books!!!!
Jill says
December 4, 2014 at 9:08 amThank you for having Rachel on your show! I loved listening to you talk about the books and writing! What a spot of sunshine on a day filled with rain!
anne j-z says
December 4, 2014 at 1:44 pmNo rain in sight here, and the hour flew by. Great interview! Loved “My Life in Stitches.”
Kate says
December 4, 2014 at 3:32 pmIt’s been a long time since I saw steady rain outside my window – heading into a long, hot summer here (and I love it)
Renee' says
December 4, 2014 at 5:06 pmWhat a fun podcast, Marly! And what great ideas for writing while I was listening to Rachel! I’m going to look for one of her books and I won’t wait for a day of rain to read it – I’ll get started right away! Thanks, Marly!
Cheryl clemons says
December 5, 2014 at 4:50 amI love the Cypress Hollow series. I am going to go out and get the new book. I love rain over snow. You don’t have to shovel the rain.
Sarah Carpenter says
December 5, 2014 at 11:47 amI have never read any of Rachael Herron’s books. I love how she spells her name – my niece spells it that way too – it’s very unusual. I just downloaded her first book from audible. Today is the perfect day to sit, knit and listen while watching the rain.
TopHat says
December 5, 2014 at 11:46 pmI listened to this episode in the rain waiting for the bus. I really liked hearing about how she got into writing.
Sarah Short says
December 8, 2014 at 1:17 pmWhat a great podcast! It’s always nice hearing about how people got started whether it’s in writing or fiber arts. The Cypress Hollow series sounds really interesting, I’m always looking for something to read when I’m stuck inside because of the rain.
Mippy/Sabrina says
December 8, 2014 at 11:34 pmCypress Hollow sounds like an interesting place to ‘visit’. It would be lovely to ‘go’ there for a visit while I am curled up under a blanket and listening to the rain as it pitter-patters on the roof.
Amy says
December 9, 2014 at 5:28 amI’ve already reserved How to Knit a Love Song at the library – had to duck rain drops when running into the library! But it will be totally worth it when I sit down with Rachel’s book! The interplay between Marly and Rachel was very entertaining on this podcast. Thanks for making my Tuesday’s and Thursdays fun, Marly!
Mary Kay says
December 9, 2014 at 5:46 amI was not familiar with Rachel’s books, but now I can’t wait to try them! By the way, I think you mean “was really compelled to get on with it,” not “impelled.” 😉 We have had a solid week of cold rain, with is my least favorite weather. I wish it was all snow instead!