Janet: Welcome back, Carole. As I said last week, Caralynne and her struggle upstaged you at the start of this interview. How about introducing us to Carole Brown?
Carole: I don’t mind; it’s important her story be told! But if you insist (lol):
- Holidays are favorites of mine because I get to spend time with family. Love decorating for the fall and Christmas seasons more than any other, but have learned to appreciate Thanksgiving because of the many blessings I’ve been given, and Easter because of the resurrection of our Lord and the harbinger of spring!
- I adore flowers and plants! My gardens are beds of serenity and peace to me as is my garden pond. I dream of the day I can get my garden pond to the place it can safely house Koi.
- We dream (my husband to a greater extent) of the time when we can retire early and travel even more. I’m just not positive I can do without my grandsons for a lengthy period of time.
- I love having a warm, cozy home surrounded by things I enjoy. Favorite books, music, candles, my writing stuff, our collections (music boxes and elephants for me; m&m figurines and guns for my husband). The older I get the simpler I want things. I don’t want too big and too fancy, just welcoming and comfortable which suits me.
Janet: Your home and garden sound like lovely places to visit! Are you a morning person? Evening?
Carole: Both in a way, but for different reasons. Mornings and afternoons I work on writing stuff. When evening comes though I tend to need relaxation time with family or my husband, light fun stuff like Facebook visiting, etc. I also enjoy meeting with friends which seems to stir my imagination.
Janet: Which do you prefer: plays or movies? Or books?
Carole: Hmmm. For keeper items: books written by my friends and a few really good ones that I call keepers. We enjoy plays now and then too, but they are scattered throughout the year.
Janet: What got you started writing?
Carole: I’ve always written! Loved, loved, loved suspenses and mysteries as a child and young person, so it tended to lead me in that direction. 🙂
Janet: What’s your biggest challenge right now?
Carole: Finding the time to write. I’m spending so much time marketing, along with my normal routine (watching my baby grandson sometimes and other things) that I’m finding it hard to actually get much writing done. I aim to change that soon!
Janet: Tell us what a typical day looks like.
Carole:
- Wake and get ready for the day
- Devotional reading and prayer
- Any quick house/family duties I need to get done
- Email, quick checks/responses on Facebook, Twitter, and once a week or so Pinterest
- Add to that, while I’m marketing The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, is checks on new places to advertise or promote.
- Writing on whichever novel I’m inspired to work on for the rest of the morning and afternoon
- Edits, and this depends on how much I have to do whether it takes up the morning and afternoon of any particular day
- Preparation for supper/dinner
- Evening miscellaneous computer stuff and relaxation
Of course, this routine is “routinely” broken with babysitting my youngest grandson who seems to need all of Grandmamma’s attention. (love it, but does put a limitation of getting any writing done!) There are always ministry trips to be done and other demands upon my time that can’t be ignored.
Janet: What do you like best about the writing life?
Carole: Finishing a manuscript!
Janet: Amen, sister! What do you like least?
Carole: Writer’s block.
Janet: Writers are told to read widely and voraciously. I think that’s one of the perks of the deal. What are you reading these days?
Carole: I have several books I need to review for friends and others. I’m hoping to get them done soon.
- Friend Me by John Fabion,
- Lorilyn Roberts’ home schooling recipe book,
- a suspense from Barbara Dirksen (I think it’s called The Christmas Stalking!),
- Tamera Kraft’s Soldier’s Heart and so many other good books.
Janet: What are you listening to?
Carole: Nothing right now. I enjoy gospel (different types), a little bluegrass and country (if the theme isn’t leaving your wife and drinking to drown your troubles; there’s more to life than that!), some oldies, and easy listening. Love hearing a man play the piano and a sax! Zowsie!
Janet: Is there a particular song or Scripture verse that’s made a big difference for you?
Carole: I have several favorite scriptures but this is one I’m particularly fond of taken from the King James version, Saint John 14, verses one through four. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”
Isn’t there a lovely cadence and rhythm to the King James verses? The words are warm and reassuring. God loves us and is preparing a beautiful new world for us! 🙂
Janet: It’s one of the most cadence-filled version, definitely. What do you like to do to get away from it all?
Carole: Go somewhere with just my husband and me. Doesn’t have to be fancy or a long period of time. An evening out at a nice restaurant, a drive with lots of discussion, a fast food joint, sitting in the car and speculating on what the other couple in the car across from us is arguing about. 🙂
My family particularly enjoys renting cabins in the Smokies.
Janet: Thanks so much for taking time to let us get to know you a bit, Carole. May the Lord continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others—in every area of your life.
Carole: Thank you, Janet, for allowing me to visit your nice site. I really appreciate the opportunity, and what a blessing it is to writers!
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You can find Carole at her personal blog, Sunnybank Secrets, or at these group blogs: Barn Door Book Loft, Geezer Guys and Gals and Stitches Thru Time. Carole is also on Facebook and Twitter. You can also find an interview with her character, Caralynne Hayman, at Wordsmith Woman.
The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, by Carole Brown
A novel of hope shining through the darkness. Contemporary women’s fiction with strong elements of suspense and romance, of particular interest to anyone who has been abused or for those dealing with abusive situations.