Mixing Mafia and Romance with Carrie Cotten

Alright, Lefty, and you, Scarface and Fingers, put the Tommy guns down and have a seat. I ain't got no beef with you's. What I gots is some nice work by an amazing author, bada-bing. You better be checking it out real quick-like.

And that's all the mafia speak I've got, lol. And really, I had to do a lot of googling to put together that little paragraph. But you know what? Carrie Cotton has a whole book of Mafia Romance! Mafia. And Romance. Who knew those two concepts even fit together in a Christian book? Ah, but it does, my friends and you, also, Lefty.  Her new book Made Like the Moon is ready for preorder right now and could be your first riveting, high-stakes novel of your fall TBR pile! Why am I still yakking? IDK, lets get to Carrie!

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PT: Hello, Carrie! So good to have you here at The Diamond Mine. The readers are on the edge of their seats to find out more about you. What region of the country do you hail from and did you grow up in this same place?

CC: I live in Western North Carolina but I’m originally from Louisiana. I’ve also lived in Texas and Alaska!

PT: What genre you write in?

CC: I’m a multi-genre author but all my books are Christian fiction. I have a speculative series, a medieval series, and my newest series is mafia romance.

PT: So, which is more enjoyable for you: hymns or contemporary music? Favorite current song?

CC: I love both and have favorites of each. I really adore anything Phil Wickham puts out and my favorite hymns are "Be Thou My Vision" and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

PT: I LOVE both of those songs! Dop you have a daily chore you dread the most? What makes it more bearable?

CC: I really dislike doing the dishes. But it’s a chore assigned to my kids, so I rarely have to do them. However, half my kids are now off to college, so I’m having to take more turns with the dishes.

PT: Ah, yes. The haunt of dirty dishes. Let's get away from that. What Bible character speak to you most and why?

CC: David. Just because he wasn’t anywhere near perfect, but David had a repentant heart and a heart tuned toward the love of God. That encourages me in my constant failings.

PT: I agree. I love to study David. Is there a genre you prefer to read in, and what book are you currently reading?

CC: I like all genres really. Currently, I’m reading the second book in Amanda Wright’s Darkfell series and It’s Always been You by Rachel Chamberlayne.

PT: What drew you to writing? Was a writing career something you planned or just came along?

CC: I’ve always been a writer, always making up stories. I didn’t write much after I got married and had small kids because I just didn’t have time, but my stories always came back to me and when my kids were older, I was able to pick it up again.

PT: Now, lets get into the juicy stuff. Made Like the Moon. Here's the Cover...like wow!

PT: Blue, blue and more blue. How could a reader not adore this cover? So, Carrie, where did the concept of your new book Made Like the Moon get started?

CC: From my own life mainly. I have been on a lot of mission trips and made amazing relationships and started thinking if I ever needed somewhere to go, these people would be here for me. So, the idea of a missionary on the run came from that.

PT: Describe the setting of Made Like the Moon.  Are the characters like any live person or totally fictional?

CC: The setting is really all over the place because the female main character goes to a lot of different countries. Almost all the characters are based on real people except the bad guys, ha ha. But the people that Grace runs to for help are all based on real and amazing people.

PT: Tell us which scene of Made Like the Moon was most inspiring to write?

CC: I think the scenes where Rafe is experiencing the gospel for the first time were very memorable and also challenging as I wanted to make sure to handle those scenes with the upmost of care.

PT: Uh-huh, that's the money. Which Biblical concept did you explore in Made Like the Moon?

CC: Redemption was a big one. For someone to have lived a life like Rafe, so dark, and so hopeless and then to be exposed to light and salvation. I also explored the concept of a peace that passes understanding, of joy, faith, and endurance. All things Grace had to lean into on her journey.

PT: Did you have to visit certain places that the characters visit in Made Like the Moon?

CC: I’ve actually visited all the places from Made Like the Moon except Italy. But all the places Grace has been to, I have visited and/or been to mission trips to.

PT: Tell 5 things about Carrie Cotten that have nothing to do with writing.

CC:     1.           I love chocolate

2.           Fall is my favorite season

3.           I’m completely obsessed with my husband; I love him so much and just always  want to be where he is.

4.           I was a barrel racer as a kid, my horse was named Freckles, and he was a fat Appaloosa. We didn’t win much.

5.           I’m an introvert who only extroverts when forced.

PT: Share the next stop on your writing journey. Writing? Editing? Publishing?

CC: I’m working on more in the Redemption and Ruin series as well as the next book in The Huntress series which will hopefully come out next year.

PT: And. . . there you have it! Don't you just want to read this book because of the intriguing title? And you can. Just follow the links above. It'll take you straight to Carrie's book. Or . . . you could enter the book giveaway by leaving a comment and your email, or giving us your info on the contact form. 

But why wait? Don't just wanna know the scoop right now, Lefty? Forget about it! Pre-order now! 

PT: Thanks for being with us today, Carrie!

Gail Pallotta and Treading Water: Barely above Water, Revised Edition

Dear Readers, 

Thank you for being a part of this blog community! I hope you enjoy getting to meet the authors-- and I hope you're having a great summer! 

~Blessings, Christina 

Please introduce yourself—name, where you’re from, and something people notice when they meet you? 

Hi, I’m Gail Pallotta. A current resident of Georgia, I grew up at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains. I love meeting and talking with people, and I think they sense that about me, because my husband says I’m the only person he knows who can go in the grocery for a loaf of bread and come out with someone’s life story.

Tell us about your book—title and back cover blurb? 

In Treading Water: Barely above Water, revised edition, Suzie Morris suffers a sense of isolation and loneliness when she’s struck with an illness her physician can’t diagnose. Without family, she’s on her own. To make matters worse, her boyfriend dumps her. Relying on her Christian faith, she moves to Destin, Florida, to get treatment from an alternative doctor. After she lands a temporary job coaching a fun, county-sponsored rag-tag swim team, her handsome boss, Matt Combs, renews her belief in love. However, when Matt learns of Suzie’s medical problem, he cuts romantic ties. Recently saddened by the illness and death of his mother, he fears he couldn’t face another loss. Later he regrets his decision and tries to make amends. Hope for healing flickers inside Suzie when she hears of new remedies, but will the latest discoveries work for her? If she recovers, can Matt regain her trust? 

Excerpt: 

   Suzie fidgeted in her chair three months later as she sat in an office in Destin, Florida. A door shut, and she jumped. She took a deep breath and pulled back her shoulders. She would appear confident and calm, God willing. She had to steady her right hand. The interviewer would probably offer to shake it. A man entered and walked to her, his broad shoulders taking over the room. 

   “Matt Combs. Sorry I’m late. I hope you weren’t too bored sitting here.” 

   He offered a handshake. She peered at his squared, strong-looking extremity as she extended her hand as fast as she could. “I’m fine, thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”

   Had he detected the trembling? He didn’t stare at her hand. Guess not. As Mr. Combs situated himself, Suzie surveyed his office, getting a glimpse of who he was. 

   A plaque for Outstanding Manager as head of the Okaloosa County Parks and Recreation Department hung on the wall alongside pictures of kids in bathing suits and soccer players in blue uniforms. A full trophy case sat next to his bookcase. She could get him another victory in spite of the sickness, if he’d give her a chance.

   The rollers on his black chair clicked as he pulled it to his metal desk. He pushed a pile of folders to one side then looked up with a sheepish grin. 

   “I haven’t had a chance to clean. Harold Gubb, my assistant and the county bookkeeper, was out sick last week. I’m a little backed up.” 

   Suzie clenched a pencil in three fingers and released it, then repeated the action in her lap. She started the habit to check her strength after she’d lost twenty-five pounds. Now she did it when she was nervous. “You have a nice office.” 

   Matt’s shoulders relaxed. “I suppose, as county cubicles at community centers go, it’s okay.” He waved his hand toward a desk in front of his. “Barely room for Harold when we’re both here, but I’m in the field quite a bit. We manage.”

   He retrieved a folder from the pile he’d just moved and studied it. “Ahh, I see you coached a swim team and won your division every year except your first. That’s quite an accomplishment.” 

   He gazed at her with admiration in his eyes. Suzie scooted up as hope Matt Combs might hire her flickered in the back of her mind. “You were in high school and college then. Now, you’re...” He glanced at her application, then sat back in his seat. “Twenty-five?” He arched an eyebrow. “Uh, most recently, you’ve worked as an editor of a community magazine in Blue Mountain, North Carolina. It says here you quit your job to move? Could I ask why?” 

   Suzie recoiled at the suspicion in his voice. Carson would say she had to move because she was a druggie. Sad that his ridiculous opinion still upset her. She glanced at the three-quarter-length sleeve of her blouse. Before Carson broke up with her, he’d suggested she wear sufficient clothing to cover her skinny body. Dwelling on him wasn’t worth the hurt and ire that rose from recalling his degrading remark, but more importantly she couldn’t let anything distract her. She had to have this job. She swallowed hard. 

  Play the game. 

Let's get to know the blog readers a bit--Ask the blog reader a quirky question or two? 

Suzie grows to love her job coaching a rag-tag swim team. Have you ever taken a job or volunteered for an activity more because you needed to than wanted to, then ended up enjoying it? These days, we all need our faith to get through life. Can you tell us about a time when you relied on your faith. 

Share your social media and buy links!

Amazon buy link for Treading Water: Barely above Water - https://www.amazon.com/Treading-Water-Barely-Above-ebook/dp/B0HDSLRLKL/ Social Media links: Website – https://gailpallotta.com Blog – https://gailpallotta.blogspot.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore and https://www.facebook.com/gail.pallotta/ Newsletter sign up - https://www.gailpallotta.com/mainphp.html

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