Cabin Fever
by Addison M. Conley
Released: Feb 01, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Why this book and why now?
I grew up in central Illinois and worked the corn and soybean fields from my preteens through high school. Visiting the West and seeing its unique scenery, towering Rocky Mountains, and clear rivers were only a dream. My first trip out west and my first plane ride were when I was twenty-one. The beauty of the mountains has always pulled me in.
My current home is in West Virginia’s section of the Appalachian Mountains so that I can be closer to family. These eastern mountains are lovely, but their elevations do not compare to the Rocky Mountains. I visited Idaho for the first time in 2021, but the story and characters were calling to me. I have a friend who grew up in SE Idaho, and her family practiced the same faith as Riley (hint). That’s what got the ball rolling.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
I’d get along with the main character, Kate. At first, she’s not a risk taker. She’s intimidated by the outdoors and furious at the initial condition of the cabin. Money initially drives her to stay. What she discovers is that the people and beauty around her are what matters. And falling in love with the talented and handsome Riley, who works hard to renovate her cabin into a gorgeous mountain home, is the icing on the cake.
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
Kate would choose Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran (RIP Sandra). Gee, why didn’t I think of this and write it into Cabin Fever? I did, in a way, with Kate’s grandmother’s journals (hint). Sandra’s novel focuses on a mother/daughter and the mother’s significant other. The mother leaves Kansas for Chicago. Only it’s the reverse for Kate, who leaves Chicago for an Idaho cabin she inherits from her father. No one knew about this cabin or any connections to Idaho.
Kate would be drawn to Letters Never Sent because of the daughter’s quest to uncover secrets about her mother. Plus, Sandra wrote a fantastic book. In Cabin Fever, Kate’s father is like a harsh grandfather. He rarely expressed emotions but spoke lovely to Kate on his deathbed. The cabin and Idaho mean money but end up being Kate’s opportunity to uncover family secrets, fall in love with Riley and the mountains, and live happily with her chosen family.
One of your main characters is planning a romantic night. Tell us about it.
What pops into my head is a dinner cooked over a fire with just the two of us. After extinguishing the fire, cuddling together while star gazing. And of course, there has to be talking, lots of kissing, and lovemaking.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
A fine glass of wine by the fire.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
The song On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons mentions cutting corners, taking the easy way out but falling short of something. Then thinking about giving up but sticking with it because of traveling “all this way for something.” Kate finds that “something” in Idaho with Riley and her new chosen family, and she’s on top of the world.
