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
Caryl's Links:
Pre-Order - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016XASADO
(All First Chapters are
offered here)
(Get FREE books for
subscribing!)
Reviewer? - http://carylmcadoo.com/christian-evaluaters/
(Join Caryl’s Street Team!)
3 comments:
Thanks for the interview. I would love to win Caryl's book!
grams57[at]gmail[dot]com
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! ;
Hello Caryl! just stopped by to say hello & enjoy learning more about your new books!
Merry Christmas to the Diamond Mine!
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