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

Leave your email in the comments or leave your info on our contact form to enter Gail's e-book giveaway of Barely Above Water! Or follow the link and buy it now!

Interview and Giveaway with Susan F. Craft!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops, then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with author Susan F. Craft!

Susan F. Craft retired after a 45-year career in writing, editing, and communicating in business settings. Her most recent project, Freed by the Frontier, a collaboration of historical romantic novellas with Denise Farnsworth and Sherry Shindelar, was released by Wild Heart Books. The title of Susan’s novella is Wagon Road Serenade. The three books of her historical romance series, The Great Wagon Road, were published in 2024, and made her a #1 Amazon best-selling author. She wrote the historical romantic suspense trilogy Women of the American Revolution: The Chamomile, Laurel, and Cassia. The Chamomile and Cassia received national Illumination Silver Awards. The Chamomile was named by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance as an Okra Pick and was nominated for a Christy Award. She collaborated with the International Long Riders’ Guild Academic Foundation to compile An Equestrian Writer’s Guide (www.lrgaf.org), including almost everything you’d ever want to know about horses. An admitted history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, listening to music, and sitting on her porch watching squirrels rob her bird feeder. She most recently took up the ukulele.

Connect with Susan on X at @susanfcraft, Instagram at susanfcraftauthor, Pinterest, Facebook, her Blog, her Historical Fiction Blog, and her Colonial Quills Blog!

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

I love Earl Grey tea. I fondly remember attending a “high tea” hosted by a friend’s church where the speaker introduced various flavors of tea, presented a history of tea, and demonstrated its proper serving. We had fun admiring the hats the ladies wore.

How fun! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

Tastes of home—fried chicken, hoppin’ John, tomatoes still warm from the garden, and cornbread.

Yum! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

I write at the desk in my office. I surround myself with pictures I’ve come across in my research as well as pictures of people who remind me of my characters. I keep stacks of research books close by. I love music in the background, so I play favorites on my record player.

That's so nice! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

Sometimes, when I need complete silence, I climb into my bed and throw the covers over my head. I’ve thought through many difficult scenes burrowed under the covers.

The wonders of a bed! What inspired you to write Freed by the Frontier?

I appreciate your purpose to uncover hidden “gems" in faith-based storytelling as well as your goal to connect readers with new and seasoned authors. I enjoy answering questions that provide readers with insights into me and my writing that might entice them to read my books, and I like reading the comments they make.

Clever! What led you to write in this genre? 

I am a history nerd who likes researching more than writing. My seventh-grade history teacher brought General Francis Marion to life for me and sparked my passion for the American Revolutionary War era. I’m also an unapologetic romantic thrilled by a good love story. Most importantly, I am a Christian, who delicately weaves faith into my stories.

Awesome! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

I hope to convey a can’t-put-it-down story that transports readers to a well-researched, authentic setting, with engaging characters whose faith strengthens them through difficult challenges. One reader expressed this best in her review of Freed by the Frontier—"Three unforgettable romances prove that God’s greatest blessings often come disguised as our greatest challenges, and that true love can bridge any divide.”

Freed by the Frontier- Wagon Road Serenade

It’s 1754, Elizabeth Stanton, her reputation in tatters from a terrible injustice, arrives in Philadelphia from London seeking a second chance as a music teacher for a newly established women’s academy in Graniteville, a settlement in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She joins a wagon train, but scarred from her past experiences, she guards her heart and vows never to rely on a man again. James Morgan, a widowed trapper and farmer from Graniteville, after hearing a vile rumor about Elizabeth, regrets agreeing to drive one of the academy’s wagons. To Elizabeth, James is another handsome, charming scoundrel. To James, Elizabeth is a tainted woman to be avoided. After weeks of constant contact, they struggle against a growing attraction. James admires her willingness to help when needed as well as her friendship with eight-year- old Opal, one of a wagon load of orphans travelling with the train. Her soft soprano voice fills the nights with a melancholy sweetness. Her masterfully played notes on her mandolin make a home in his chest. Everything about her belies what he has been told. Had he received false information and misjudged? Elizabeth tries to remain cold and indifferent toward James, but when he saves her and Opal after Indians kidnap them, her heart softens. Will his terrifying knife fight with her kidnapper, his gentle treatment of her wounds, and his tenderness toward Opal erase all her misgivings? Is he a man she can trust with her heart? Will their hearts reject discord and blend into a serenade of love?

Very nice! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)? 

I’m in the early stages of a story that takes place in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1750s on the cusp of the French and Indian War. The research fascinates me, and I’m learning so much about the mostly Scots-Irish settlers.

Sound interesting! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint."

Beautiful! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

Finishing Our Course with Joy by J.I. Packer.

Cool! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Susan!

Check out Susan's giveaway for her first book in her Great Wagon Road Series, Love's Winding Road!

Giveaway ~

The author is giving away one print copy to one US resident of the first book in her Great Wagon Road Series, Love's Winding Road!

This giveaway will close on 8/20/26 at 8:59 PM.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. The winner must respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, or their prize will be forfeit. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

And may the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter Giveaway HERE!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and create aesthetic content for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page!

Sami Abrams Shares Her Writing Journey: Rodeo and Suspense

Sami Abrams is a force of nature when it comes to faith in Christ and writing Christian fiction. I am so pleased to introduce her here.

 

Award-winning, bestselling author Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn’t until her 30’s that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings, you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list. 

Hey, Sami! First, I hear that you are cruise-obsessed. Tell us all about that!

I love cruising! There’s just something about the ocean that calls me. But on the practical side, it’s nice to unpack once and visit a lot of different places. Cruising makes that easy. Plus, I so enjoy just lounging on sea days and reading.

(I do get motion sick super easily, so that’s been a challenge. But I’ve figured out a method that works for me.)

LOL. Cruising while motion sick. I'm glad it’s so much fun anyway.

 

How did you get called into writing? How does it reflect your faith?

Called to writing? Well that’s easy. God grabbed me by the shirt collar and pulled me along kicking and screaming. LOL! Seriously though, I never intended to write. I didn’t enjoy reading for most of my life, so why would I write?! Yup, God had different plans. As for reflecting my faith. I’m not one to push but hope to drop seeds. That’s what I feel led to do in my writing. Drop the seeds and let God do the rest. So, my stories don’t tend to have a heavy faith element. They are more of an organic Christian worldview.

The organic Christian worldview approach makes a book readable, with God’s truth wrapped in the story. I love that about your writing.

And, boy, doesn’t God have to grab us by the shirt collar!

 

So, tell us all about your rodeo books with Love Inspired Suspense. How much fun! How did you do all the rodeo research for these books?

Oh, rodeo. Hehe! As a kid, I loved rodeos. I’ve never participated, but I’ve always enjoyed going. My Stone Creek Ranch series was supposed to be focused on a Texas family ranch. But when my editor noticed I centered the story around a rodeo, she requested the entire series have a rodeo focus. And here we are. Hehe!

The research comes from different avenues. Some of it is from memory. Some from google searches. And other from going to rodeos close to where I live. Yup, I enjoy that part of my research—A LOT. LOL!

Wow. Bringing your joys into your writing brings joy and fun into your writing…this I know about your stories.

 

What is your next writing move?

I just signed a five-book contract with Love Inspired Suspense that includes a K9 Search and Rescue (SAR) book that I’m currently working on. In addition, I have an indie cold case novella coming out in April that I’m revising and editing. And we can’t forget a military adjacent novella series that I want to finish, BlackKnight Security. Charlie ONE is currently in Zero Hour (An anthology from Two Dogs Publishing). I get my rights back in October and will Indie publish that in November. So, I’m a bit busy right now. Haha!

I just can’t wait for the continuation of Charlie ONE. But I love SAR, too. Cold case stories are always fascinating to dig into. Okay, just hurry up and write all of these for us! LOL.

Comment below, or leave your name in comments if you'd like to win an ebook version of MINE.  📣

Escaping her past…means risking everything to stop a twisted obsession.

Jennie Neilson has spent years hiding from the man who nearly destroyed her. Determined to give her ten-year-old daughter, Zoey, a safe and normal life, she’s built her world around quiet routines and locked doors. But one innocent mistake—a text message sent to the wrong number—shatters that fragile peace and draws the attention of a predator who knows far too much about her.

Detective David Whitman, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, has made it his mission to hunt the monsters who prey on the innocent. When Zoey’s message surfaces in a case, he vows to protect the little girl and her mother at any cost. But David’s haunted by his own failures—the fiancée he couldn’t save, the guilt that won’t let go—and Jennie’s fierce independence tests the walls he’s built to keep his emotions buried.

As eerie reminders of Jennie’s past begin to appear, suspicion turns to terror. Could her abusive ex have found her? Or is someone even closer manipulating her fear? When Zoey vanishes, the desperate race to save her forces Jennie to confront the lies she’s lived with—and the horrifying truth she’s tried to forget.

Together, Jennie and David must rely on courage, faith, and each other to outsmart a cunning adversary whose obsession knows no bounds. But every move brings them closer to the edge, where one wrong choice could cost them everything.

Follow Sami at https://samiaabrams.com/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/samiaabrams