We chat with author Katrina Emmel about Christmas Trees & Weak Knees, which is a cozy YA holiday rom-com set on a snow-dusted Christmas tree farm, where a girl who walked away from music and a country star nursing writer’s block find themselves writing songs—and maybe falling in love—just in time for the holidays.
Hi, Katrina! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m Katrina Emmel and I write sweet, swoony contemporary YA romance. I grew up in New England, spent some time in the Midwest, and I’m now a resident of Nevada. In addition to writing, I love science, crafts, and spending time with my active family.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
One day, my dad came home with a box full of hardbacked Nancy Drew books, and I was hooked. I started writing Nancy Drew fan fiction in third grade, and from then on, I was always scribbling down stories, poetry, or ideas. My first official publication was an article I wrote about my summer vacation when I was 11 years old for my hometown newspaper, The Concord Monitor.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Hiram’s Red Shirt, A Little Golden Book by Mabel Watts.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I have a bunch of plot ideas constantly swirling around in my brain, but I tend to be drawn to rereading Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, and L.M. Montgomery’s The Blue Castle.
Your latest novel, Christmas Trees & Weak Knees, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A cozy, heartwarming holiday romance.
What can readers expect?
Relatable characters with real-world conflicts, supportive families, rural settings, lots of musical references, cute rescue reindeer, and a blossoming romance under sparkling lights and surrounded by Christmas trees.
Where did the inspiration for Christmas Trees & Weak Knees come from?
When it was time to pitch my next book to my editor, the idea for a book that included country music was kicked around, but I was having a hard time finding my way into a story that would work for a young adult novel. Then, one day I was humming Taylor Swift’s song “Christmas Tree Farm” and I had an “a ha!” moment. My previous books are set in rural America: Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses on the Nebraskan prairie and Trail Rides & Starry Eyes on a ranch in Wyoming. It felt natural to have my third book set on a Christmas tree farm in north central Tennessee.
Because music is a key aspect to Christmas Trees & Weak Knees, I also took inspiration from interviews, memoires, and videos of some incredibly talented musicians, including Dolly Parton, Sara Bareilles, Carole King, Willie Nelson, Carly Simon, Gabi Wilson, and Rich Redmond.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed working on the songwriting scenes with Paisley and Kash, where they are both working through their own hangups but also encouraging the other to be the best version of themselves. Plus, it’s always fun to write banter.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I’ve never lived on a Christmas tree farm or written music, and I wanted to make sure I got the details as correct as possible. I read books and newsletters about running a Christmas tree farm, to the point where I actually tried to convince my husband to look into buying one. That hasn’t happened (yet), but maybe someday… I have a little background in music, since I took piano lessons and was in the school choir when I was growing up, but it was a bit of a challenge to think about it from the music and lyric composition side of things. I dug into interviews, memoires, and instructional videos from working musicians to get a better feel for the process.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a few fun super-secret projects that I’m excited about.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I was lucky enough read an early version of Addie Woolridge’s upcoming book, Win a Date With Julian Austin, and I’m looking forward to adding it to my shelf. My TBR stack is more of an entire bookcase, but I’m excited to read: Sherry Thomas’ latest Lady Sherlock book, The Vanished Sister; Paula Brackston’s Hecate Cavendish and the Angel of Death; and Becky Dean’s The Candy Crush.
I’ve read a lot of books so far this year (65+), and a few of my favorites (in the order I read them) are:
- The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
- This Ain’t Our First Rodeo by Liara Tamani
- The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
- Curses by Lish McBride
- Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya
- You’re Dead to Me, Reed Walker by Gwenyth Reitz
- How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe
- Guard My Heart by Sabrina Fedel
- Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray
- Merry Ex-Mas by C.C. Dador
