Tuesday, December 8, 2015

In Depth with Caryl McAdoo!



Love covers a multitude of sin.
A stolen kiss ignites a fire that burns all the way from Texas to New York City.
Torn apart by war, rejection, and a letter with news she never wanted, Lacey Rose takes her shredded heart and runs. Charley figures out something isn’t right, but is
duty-bound to the Confederacy until a deathbed order sets in motion a series of events that tests his love, honor, and commitment to the breaking point.
Can the two lifelong friends see past the pain to finally realize God’s plan for them to be more than just kin?  

PT:  Hi, howdy, Caryl McAdoo! I'm surprised you have time to meet me giving the writing and publishing schedule you've set for yourself this year. So let's launch this puppy quick. In a nutshell, give us your background and your genre(s).

CM:  Started this writing journey in the mid-80s, wrote a 380 page manuscript by hand; found the DFW Writers Workshop in 1993 and went weekly for 6 years learning my craft; Republic of Texas Press published my 1st non-fiction in 2000 and the 2nd in 2001; spent another 8 years attending DFWWW giving back, and three more presses released seven more fiction titles before moving to the country in 2008.
     Didn’t write much for a few years, but then founded the Red River Writers’ Workshop and started writing regularly again. In April 2012, I met Mary Sue Seymour, wrote her a historical Christian romance set in the 1800s that she asked for, and landed representation with The Seymour Agency in August. She sold VOW UNBROKEN that October to Simon and Schuster.
     I Indie published eleven titles in 2015 and am about to release book six JUST KIN in the historical series in January. I also have a contemporary Red River Romance series, a Biblical fiction series – The Generations, and two mid-grade series. Whew, it is hard to put anything in a nutshell these days!   


PT:  When is the prime time for you to write? Early morning? Late at night?

CM:  I suppose I’ll say most the time it’s late morning until late afternoon. In the morning I Social media—mostly Facebook and email, visitin’ and marketin’—then I click over and check it again when I have a stopping point on writing, and by evening, I’m back on the social sites ’til bedtime.
     On occasion I wake up ready to write and at other times, I’m on a roll and write ’til the early morning wee hours.

PT:  What do you wish your books would do for your readers?

CM: I pray that my stories shine a light on some little truth my characters know or learn and cause the readers to think about that and ask Holy Spirit to help them walk in it. I pray that they can see in my writing how much I love the Lord and desire to glorify Him. I pray when they finish reading one, they feel good inside, light-hearted and closer to God for having read it—blessed.


PT:  I couldn't put it more clearly! Tell us a couple of things you love about Indie publishing and a couple of things you could do without.
     
CM:  Oh, I think I love every part! I love the control of content, covers, and marketing and I love being able to set my own schedule. I mean, I’d totally enjoy it if the formatting did itself, and if the stories took me straightaway to the all the best-selling lists that matter without all the marketing work. J


PT:  What’s your favorite writing conference to attend?

CM:  ACFW is the only big conference I’ve attended. I met Mary Sue at a little Northeast Texas conference that I directed the next year. Now I’m holding conferences! WordWyse.com explains the four conferences—or expositions—we offer. In February, I’ve got a great lineup of presenters for NAVIGTING THE INDIE MARKETPLACE. Of course, traditional authors will also benefit greatly from a lot of it, but a traditional publisher will tie their hands in many ways. 


PT:  Do you do a lot of book signings, or do you mostly stick to internet connections?

 CM:  I try to schedule at least one face-to-face event a month, sometimes two. I love meeting the readers and sharing personally, hearing their stories. But internet connections offer daily contact, and I adore that, too. I have a lot of virtual parties for cover reveals or launches, including three or four big multi-author parties a year.
     And of course The Caryler, (signup at my website Home page, right column) is my quarterly newsletter that keeps all my followers digitally up to date via the world-wide-web, so they won’t miss a sale. And I do promise them a free book every quarter.


PT:  How important is networking with other writers for you?

CM:  Many, I know also read my stories, and those precious authors I couldn’t do without. Supporting them blesses me as well. I share their new releases and blog about them. I’ve learned a wealth of information from them and do my best to pay that forward helping new authors as much as I can. 
     That’s one reason I like the multi-author parties, I can introduce my readers to new authors and I get to meet theirs. J I consider it very important to be a servant in the awesome Christian-author community that has accepted me and helped me so much this last year.


PT:  What’s some of the best comments you have received from readers?

CM:  I love this question! One gentleman—an Amazon ‘Top 50’ reviewer—told me he loved the SINS OF THE MOTHERS (book four historical Texas Romance series) so much and was so caught up reading it straight through that he forgot to eat!
     And a lady who reads every book I write as fast as she can get her hands on them told me she loved THE KING’S HIGHWAY so much that she read it twice in two days! That’s book one in my mid-grade series Days of Dread, but the reader is a senior citizen. J
     I also love it when readers say that each story in a series is better than the last.


PT: Give your favorite inspirational quote.

CM:  "I am blessed and highly favored!"
     That’s how I’ve been answering ‘How are you?’ for about thirty years now, and God has created the fruit of my lips just like He said He would in His Word!


PT:  Give your favorite Bible verse.

CM: How in the world can I choose a favorite verse out of all the scriptures that I cherish and love with my whole heart?
     Psalm 86:12 says, “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”
     I’ve adopted ‘Praying my story gives God glory!’ as my trademark and long to bring Him all the glory due His Holy name.


PT:  Is it true that Caryl will publish traditionally?

CM: What? Have you heard something I haven’t? My new saying is, “I can’t imagine what a traditional publisher would have to offer to entice me to sign over one of my stories.” God will do what He wants, and if He wants me to publish another title traditionally, so be it. He is on the throne and in control!


PT: So what’s 2016 hold for you?

CM:  In book two of my historical series, HEARTS STOLEN, readers met a four-year-old boy they all fell in love with; I did, too. That was in 1844. So January will see book six in the series JUST KIN debut with my dear Charley, all grown up and going off to war in 1861. It’s an awesome story. I never know it until it’s written.
     This one has my hero and heroine making some bad decisions, but the words and situations show that nothing is too hard for God. They dig themselves some pretty deep holes. Praise God that He is the Father of second chances!

     I love how He turns our lives around when we surrender to Him.  


PT:  I sure enjoyed getting to know Caryl better, how 'bout you? She's giving away a copy of KING'S HIGHWAY to one of you who leave a comment/email. DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL! Thanks for sittin' a spell and takin' a breather with us here at the Diamond Mine!


Bio: Caryl McAdoo is all about loving God! She currently writes four series: the
historical Christian ‘Texas Romance’; a contemporary ‘Red River Romance’; and The Generations, her Biblical fiction, and the newest Days of Dread Trilogy for mid-grade readers. Known as the Singing Pray-er, she loves praising with new songs the Lord gives her and prays her story gives God glory! In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-plus years—to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and fourteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. Besides glorifying Him, she hopes each title will also minister His love, mercy, and grace to its readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State with two grandsons.

Caryl's Links: 
All Books   -        http://tinyurl.com/CarylsAmazonPage

Pre-Order    -        http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016XASADO

Website       -        http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com    
                                     (All First Chapters are offered here)
                                     (Get FREE books for subscribing!)
Reviewer?   -        http://carylmcadoo.com/christian-evaluaters/
                                     (Join Caryl’s Street Team!)
Facebook    -        http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author


3 comments:

grams said...

Thanks for the interview. I would love to win Caryl's book!
grams57[at]gmail[dot]com

LiteOfTheNite said...

Hi Caryl! So cool to have you on the Diamond Mine. Caryl's awesome and a great friend. :) Say hi to Caryl, everyone and please, buy her books! ;

Deanna Stevens said...

Hello Caryl! just stopped by to say hello & enjoy learning more about your new books!
Merry Christmas to the Diamond Mine!