PT: Hi Terri! We are durn pleased you're here. Let's start with the facts, ma'am. Give us your background and genre.
TC: I was born in
Folkston, Georgia, and I reside in the small town of Hilliard, Florida. Right
after
high school I stepped into the role of wife and mother of two, and
recently celebrated 27 years of marriage to my best friend. I am an office
manager. I attend the local Baptist Church with a
wonderful group of people.
I enjoy
penning novels laced with romance and variety of settings and plots. To date
I’ve written over fifty five completed novels. With three publications thus far
and one soon coming.
PT: Tell the readers how you got into writing?
TC: My passion for writing goes back to childhood. In middle
school I found myself writing poetry and short stories mainly during band class
particularly, after I discovered that I wasn’t musically gifted, I had to do
something to ward off boredom. The real spark came when my English teacher
asked the class to write a short story. He chose two from the class and mine
was one of the pair. Mr. Timothy Rowe
inspired this young novelist with advice and compliments after class.
Yet, it
wasn’t until 2005 I began seriously writing full length novels as a hobby. My
children were old enough not to need my waking moment and I found myself
engrossed within my own mind. After
sharing my stories with friends, they prompted me to pursue publishing.
PT: Awesome story! Now, tell us some difficulties you’ve had to overcome to
become a writer.
TC: Being a writer is a difficult task. Especially when one
is just beginning the process. A no-name will get your submission sent back to
you in a matter of seconds, unless of course, you are willing to pay for
publication. My first novel I learned a
valuable lesson. Then it was hours of searching, sorting through the good, the
bad and the ugly of publishers. My advice please do your homework, there are
those who will take advantage of starry eyed dreamers.
I am so
thankful that I stumbled across Prism Book Group. Joan Alley took the time to
teach, to advise, and to grow me. Thank you! Presently my biggest nemesis is time.
With a full time job, home life, and all the other little surprises life has to
offer it’s very hard to get undistracted moments to prepare fifty five manuscripts
for submission, and at times a grueling process.
PT: Lately I've heard a lot of people saying that Christian Authors do not write
realistic, gut-wrenching stories. What’s your take on that?
TC: My opinion on this is matter 50/50. I have read by the
same author a routine of sweet romances and then there’s authors who will take
tragedy and despair and deliver a message of faith and hope to the reader. Personally as a Christian author, I don’t
consider all of my novels strictly Christian oriented. I believe that there is
preference for each individual writer. I think most Christian authors would
want the reader to relate to circumstances and situations by embracing the
strength of the human spirit. We are not defined by occurrences that happen in
our lives. We must rely on a power greater than our own in order to thrive in
this wayward society. God grants us all
grace to overcome, even on the days we fail.
PT: Do you have a favorite theme you focus on in each
book?
TC: Do I have a favorite theme? Well, I have a vast variety
of works and all of those involve a clean romantic nature. But if I counted the
settings in which I have the most of, the winner would be the frontier/western
era.
PT: What exactly do you wish to impart to your readers
through your books?
TC: My desire is to deliver novels that stir all the emotions. Stories that
imparts, encouragement, love, forgiveness, perseverance etc. I believe a
writer’s goal is to entertain the imagination. If a reader closes a book with a
smile, a tear, a sigh, or a giggle I’ve accomplished my goal
PT: Tell us about your back copies, and then tells us
about your new book, Outlaw Jack.
TC: My first novel, From Letters to Grace. Christian and WWII
era.
Benjamin Watersfield clutched a single letter written solely
for him, all the while waiting for the precise time to play the record. The anniversary tradition of the day and time
he’d first danced with Grace; he continued even with her gone.
Ben,
strong in his belief and totally captivated by Grace Cabot as she took his hand
at the dance hall. “Dance with me soldier
until my fella gets here.” Grace was
Charlie’s girl, devil may care ladies’ man and Ben’s best friend. Letters from
Grace, arrived for Charlie and Ben listened, lingering on every word. Until the
one letter arrived upsetting Ben over Charlie’s actions. For Charlie has no
intentions of being tied to one woman’s apron strings.
A
friendship is strained with the passing days, as Ben is asked to pray for
wounded and dying soldiers. The rage of war almost severs the relationship
until tragedy strikes. Charlie saves Ben life, the action took Charlie’s legs,
and infection is spreading uncontrollably through his body with the lack of
medicine to combat the infection. One request sets Ben’s heart at rest while
another, he must deny his dying friend. This story will have you reaching for
the tissues.
Second
novel, Sarah’s Bounty. Sweet Romance, frontier setting. This novel is basically two stories in one.
Summoned by a wealthy widow, T. J. Blake almost refuses her request until the
tune of five thousand dollars dances in his ears. One condition. Sarah is
to remain untouched. Not hard to do considering the payout.
Saloon-raised
Sarah is snatched from all she knows, only to be shocked by the truth of her
parentage. To seek answers, she calls a truce with her would-be kidnapper to
confront her mother, and complies with role play to keep the true nature of
their relationship hidden.
Then it
happened: the need to perform the act of a lifetime for the sake of staying
alive and keeping Sarah safe, left Blake with no choice but to become cozy with
her.
Blake drops Sarah in her snobbish mother’s
lap, and then realizes that his reward wasn’t worth what he’d leave behind. The
look on her face tied him in knots. He couldn’t walk away without giving her
the one thing she asked for. After all, Mama didn’t say nothing about touching Sarah once he delivered her.
With the rest of his payout in his hand, Blake fulfilled the lady’s
request while her mother is screaming at him to release her. Worth
every cent and more as he pressed half of the five thousand dollars into
Sarah’s palm with the only advice he could give. If this life doesn’t prove to
be what she wanted, then she should pursue her dreams.
This novel has several twists and
turns, I found myself laughing and crying throughout the pages.
Third
novel, Sam’s Treasure. Sweet Romance, frontier setting.
Samantha Carleton
dreams of regaining all she lost including her identity. Her father had
disguised her as a boy to ward off would-be outlaws on the trail. The gold rush
had overtaken many folks with the fever in hopes of striking it rich, Sam and
her father included. But with each nugget found, her pa wasted the money on
alcohol. Well, Sam had had enough of his senseless spending. Her feisty
determination played a large role in getting her recognized as a menace in the
sleepy, little town.
Undercover, Sheriff Trace Wallace, only
smiled after he’d thrown the boy from the saloon. Good riddance to the unruly
lad, causing such a ruckus and demanding that his pa come down from upstairs. But this only managed to provoke the boy’s next plan of action. The upstairs came
alive with noises and excited voices filtering through the air in the saloon. Then the
couple came bursting through the door, half clothed and battling a swarm of
bees. Clearing out the whole place. Trace spotted the boy standing smugly with
a dirty grin splitting his face, satisfied to have accomplished what he set out
to do.
Little
did each of them know that this wasn’t the only predicament they’d find
themselves in. Nope, Sam’s pa spent too much time bragging about his Sam’s
ability in finding gold. With a rash of crime in the area, Trace had no choice
but to volunteer to oversee the boy as would-be outlaws plotted in on how to
make use of Sam and his talents.
Fearful
of these criminals finding out her identity, Sam plays the part of boy to the
best of her ability, until a disagreement reveals to one of the crooks of who
she is. His silence over his discovery
sets her on edge. What will he want in order to keep her secret?
For Trace and
Sam, love is the best treasure of all.
Outlaw Jack
Jacqueline Wallington had been dealt her fair share of heartache and
tragedy, but just when life began to treat her kindly, cruel fate strikes
again. Two months of marriage to the wealthy cattle rancher is destroyed by his
untimely death. And to make matters worse, Bill Terrell slithers upon her front
porch with his so- called papers proclaiming her late husband’s outstanding
debts and his ill-mannered proposal.
Angry, hurt, and
alone once again, Jack sets out with her the only thing she could manage to
take from the property—her late husband’s colts. With revenge driving her
misdeeds, she earns herself a title “The Gray-eyed Bandit” whose sole purpose
is to steal from the man who stole from her and ironically give most of the
loot away.
With the
last of Terrell’s bank in her sights, the robbery goes off without a hitch, or
so she thought. Bullets find their mark, landing her in the dirt and right in
the lap of handsome, kind-hearted, Deputy Gavin Ward.
Gavin
Ward was elated to know that it was his bullet that toppled the notorious
“Gray-eyed Bandit.” Guilt overshadows his pride when he discovers he’d just
shot a woman. Fearful for her life and uncertain if he should take her back to
town, Gavin takes her to his cabin to tend her wounds. After all, she was
entitled to a fair trial. As the night wore on, Gavin is amazed that she is able
to answer his questions.
Hearing
her story, he changes his mind about turning her in. This beauty wasn’t the
nasty outlaw posters claimed her to be, but a troubled young woman driven by a
terrible twist of fate. He could relate
with his own demons lurking in his past. Days pass and Gavin sees there is
more to Jack than meets the eye. She manages to stir something he’s never
longed for, love, companionship, and family.
Jack is
now well aware of what she’d been missing her whole life. She loved Brody,
however he had not once displayed any kind of romantic affection toward her.
Why? Brody treated her kindly, lavished gifts upon her, but nothing more.
Wasn’t it normal for a man to desire his wife? What was wrong with her? Could
what her Mama accused her of being be true? Was she a bad seed? Did her unique
features disgust her husband?
When she
plagued him with questions of romantic notions, Gavin couldn’t believe his
ears. Brody Wallington had to be blind not to be captivated by his own wife.
Her eyes alone could mess with a man’s thinking, not to mention the fullness of
her mouth. Her inquiries came true to light when fever took hold of Jack.
Images of her past life played out in the madness spewing from her mouth. Ugly
things ravaged his imagination while he tended her. Her own father, his blood
ran cold, and then a husband’s rejection. She called him Brody… she wouldn’t
know and a kiss was just a kiss, a pleasant memory or so he thought.
Caught up
in her fire, Gavin falls head over heels for this uncanny outlaw. He is
convinced that he can earn her a new title, but they had to clear up the old
one first. But at what cost? Could the plan they’ve cooked up work? Or will the
woman he loves hang?
PT: Your novels sound so intriguing! Well, where is your writing is leading you next?
TC: Pony Chasers is next in on the
list to be published. This novel is set in the 80’s a time when rodeos and
country music were very popular. The first part of the novel the main character
is seventeen and drifting from town to town with her rodeo chasing father and
younger brother. Not a normal family at all, but for Kennie, she was about to
learn valuable life lessons.
During the second part of the book, it’s seven years
later. Her passion for country music brings her to her biggest gig yet-
performing at Gilley’s. Where she clobbers an over- zealous cowboy with her
guitar only to realize she’s face to face with her first love, and first
heartache.
All it took for Dusty to fall in love
again was a song, the beautiful woman before him, and a memory and a long
awaited kiss goodbye that he never got. No,
seventeen wasn’t too young to deem one’s self in love and neither was twenty
four. Matter of fact, he had to convince her to stay rather than to chase her
dreams. Then fate steps in just as he is sure she’s fallen for him and those
ponies. But reality is, did he want her to be miserable wondering what could’ve
happened with her career or could he love her enough to let her go again?
PT: Speaking of chasing ponies, look like I better go grab my mount before I get left high and dry. Thanks, Terri, for stopping in at the Mine.
TC: My pleasure! Thanks for having me.
Ya' know what? Terri is giving away a copy of Outlaw Jack! Now, we done shot out the lights in our excitement! But you have to leave your email address (and a comment would be great, too) to be entered in our giveaway, like always here at the Diamond Mine. Thanks for stoppin' in Cowpoke! I hope you enjoyed this little rodeo with Terri!
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