Cathy West’s advice to aspiring authors? Write what you know. It’s a practice that has worked well for the Bermudian, who signed with industry giant HarperCollins Publishers a year ago.

Stormy weather formed part of the backdrop for her novel The Things We Knew that was released this year. Her next book, The Memory of You, comes out in the spring.

Q: What’s The Things We Knew about?

A: [It] paints a picture of a family that is far from perfect, pulled together by deep familial bonds and secrets of the past, each one clinging to the hope that truth really will set them free.

Q: The story is set in Nantucket. Did you draw on your life in Bermuda at all?

A: Absolutely. I needed to have the story set in the US but wanted to do either a small town or island setting. As I researched, I was completely drawn to Nantucket.

While being very different from Bermuda, in many ways it shares similarities — [it’s] a small place, a vacation destination and [there are] plenty of beaches. I had a great time using those great island storms for the backdrop of a few scenes.

Q: The story explores complex family relationships. What would you want families that are struggling to take away from it?

A: Most of all, you are not alone. So many people are facing life challenges in one way or another. Challenging relationships, addiction, abuse, health issues, elder care — these are not unfamiliar subjects to anyone.

I hope my readers will find a bit of comfort in knowing that others also go through these hard times and that while perhaps there isn’t always the happy ending we want, there is always hope for the future. There’s always a way to move forward even if that means just living in the moment, because sometimes that’s all we can do.

Q: Do you ever reflect back on any of your books for personal life lessons?

A: Actually I think my books are more the result of personal life lessons. Everything we experience in life shapes us in some way.

And while I may not have personally experienced some of the things my characters go through, I’ve probably known someone who has. But yes, once in a while I will write a line or sentence and think, “Hey, that’s pretty good. I need to remember that.”

Q: Tell us about your next book, The Memory of You

A: I got the idea after [my husband, paediatrician Stephen West, and I] celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in Sonoma, California, and I thought about how cool it would be to set a story in a vineyard. It’s a stand-alone story, so there’s no connection to The Things We Knew. This is from the back cover:

When Natalie Mitchell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she’s forced to return to their family-owned winery in Sonoma, something she never intended to do. She’s avoided her grandparents’ sprawling home and all its memories since the summer her sister died — the awful summer Natalie’s nightmares began.

But the winery is failing, and Natalie’s father wants her to shut it down. As the majority shareholder, she has the power to do so. Tanner Collins, the vintner on Maoilios, is trying to salvage a bad season and put the Mitchell family’s winery back in business. When Natalie Mitchell shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed.

Natalie intends to close the gates, unless he can convince her otherwise.

But the Natalie he remembers from childhood is long gone, and he’s not so sure he likes the woman she’s become. Still, the haunted look she wears hints at secrets he wants to unearth. He soon discovers that on the night her sister died, the real Natalie died too. And Tanner must do whatever it takes to resurrect her. But finding freedom from the past means facing it.

Q: Will Bermuda always be your writing home?

A: I certainly hope so. Although we did spend the first seven years of our marriage in Canada, coming home when our children were small was definitely the right decision for our family. We do have a cottage in northern Ontario, and I love writing up there too, but this is home.

There’s something to be said for that. I think anyone who knows that tug Bermuda has on you when you’re far away can relate.

Despite our issues and problems, we are a blessed people and this is truly paradise. God willing, I’ll be here for a long time to come.

Mrs West will sign copies of The Things We Knew and give away advance copies of The Memory of You during a VIP shopping night at Brown & Co on Tuesday from 6pm-9pm. Read more here: www.catherinejwest.com