Bio – Carrie Fancett
Pagels, Ph.D.
Carrie Fancett Pagels (www.carriefancettpagels.com)
debut release Return to Shirley
Plantation: A Civil War Romance, is a Kindle Civil War best seller and a
top rated Civil War Book on Amazon. She contributed to God’s Provision in Tough Times by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy
(July, 2013.) Her short story Snowed In:
A Northwoods Christmas will appear in Guidepost Books “A Cup of Christmas
Cheer” in October, 2013.
I cot to know Carrie very well after she booked an appointment with me at one of the ACFW national conferences. I'm thrilled to feature her here. Welcome, Carrie. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
Because I was a psychologist for 25 years I have heard a lot
of people’s “stories” and a lot of that goes into my characterization. In my
author’s voice you will hear a strong and deep chord of hope, determination,
and overcoming. In this published novella, my character Angelina wants to obey
God and do as He directs her and that is very much stemming from my own
beliefs. In the manuscript I am writing now, my heroine has to overcome shame
and the belief that she is responsible for something that has happened. I have
to dig deep to draw on experiences of my own but I’m more reliant on what I’ve
heard from people over the years as far as their own shame. Because the hero
helps her, I have some of my psychologist self and spiritual self in him. But
he is a man so I have to be careful—men don’t usually “help” the way women do!
They want to solve things. But he can’t just solve her problems, which is
frustrating to him. But God can, with their cooperation.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Lena, I am a Yooper woman—someone from the upper peninsula of Michigan . If you look under quirky in
the dictionary you will see a Yooper. I wear a hot pink t-shirt to bed that
says “Yooper Girl” on it—maybe that will answer your question. But my daughter
and hubby would say the time I dressed in Yooper clothes and went to our
suburban Virginia Kohls dressed in flood-water sweats, gray wool socks, and
short hiking boots. I mean—it was winter after all, eh?
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
As a child—I wrote a prologue for my favorite book Anne of Green Gables! But I had to
“re-discover” that I was a writer as an adult and that came when I realized I’d
have to write the books I wanted to read since I was having trouble finding
them.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Depends on the phase I am in. I’ve sometimes been into
contemporary suspense but for years now I’ve been reading Christian historical
romance, with an emphasis on the history part! But I like nonfiction Bible
study books, too, and an occasional fantasy book such as a time travel book.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I have to stay close to God and that is a constant battle. I
love to listen to Joyce Meyer in the morning. It’s important to stay in the
Word and to pray.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Many times I use family names and friends’ names. I make
sure they match the time period. I like the names to fit the characters, too.
If possible, I like to include the names of wonderful people who have assisted
me on my writing journey. For instance, I have a lovely character named Lena in one of my colonial manuscripts.
That’s cool, Carrie. What
is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Sometimes I think it is when I earned my Ph.D., because that
was so hard! Other times I think it was giving birth at 44 to our second child!
The thing I am most grateful for isn’t an accomplishment per se—returning to
Christ and asking Him to be my Lord and Savior when I was an adult, after years
of doing things on my own.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A doe. I am from Michigan ’s
upper peninsula where we have many deer. I love the woods, and I also enjoy the
lakes.
When my father
retired in West Texas , he fed deer in his back
yard. If they started coming when they were fawns with their mother, they would
often eat corn out of his hands. They continued as adults. One time, we all hid
in the house and watched a large buck with an enormous rack eating corn out of
his hand as he sat still as a statue. Amazing. What is your favorite food?
Now, Lena , that is a silly
question. I write, thus I must have chocolate!!! Preferably dark chocolate, in
my case!
And you know mine is
dark-chocolate-covered dried cherries. What is the problem with writing that
was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest problem was wanting to edit, re-edit, edit some
more, and try to get each of my chapters perfectly polished. The problem with
that method is that you never end up with a completed manuscript, then. Thankfully
I had an editor friend who helped me get past this perfectionism.
Tell us about the
featured book.
To me Return to Shirley Plantation: A
Civil War romance gives testimony to how God can use an arthritic Tired
Old Mommy like me and bring about a published novella in about six weeks and
now it is a top rated Civil War book on Amazon! That is God’s doing, Lena . Julian Charity, historian at Shirley Plantation and
Kathleen Maher, author of Bachelor
Buttons both gave me incredible support and assistance with this book.
Murray Pura is the mind behind the Cry of Freedom Civil War series through
Helping Hands Press—there are over a dozen authors writing short stories or
novellas for this exciting project and I am honored to have been the first
author published in this series!
Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance is a story about
obedience. Obedience to God is a big theme for me and one I’ve blogged about
for years. Angelina is a free woman who is a seamstress. She’s one-eighth
African American and can pass for white. She refused the offer of a position in
Ohio with a
theatrical troupe so that she could remain behind and earn the freedom of her
orphaned niece and nephew. Meanwhile thespian and theater manager Matthew
Scott, son of a Copperhead senator, has been conscripted into the Confederate
army. He ends up at Shirley Plantation (I love this place—it is celebrating its
400th anniversary this year!!!) where there is a field hospital. Matthew
doesn’t realize it but he has a connection to the plantation. I tried to take a
balanced approach in characterization. I didn’t write all the good guys as Union and all the bad as Confederate, etc. I tried to
show the human side of the war and tried very hard to be even-handed. Bad stuff
was done on either side. One of the saddest things I discovered while writing
this book was that the gentleman who inspired one of my not-yet-published
novels, a Shirley Plantation relative, had been killed by Union soldiers when
they were looking for another young Carter family member (who was NOT at the
elderly man’s home!) That was very sad.
I can only imagine how my great-great grandfather from Kentucky might have felt—the Danners of Kentucky mostly
found on the Confederate side and my ancestors fought for the Union .
I’d love to do a story about the grandmother of some of those young men
fighting against each other. Then again, I write happily-ever-after endings so
I don’t think I will…
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Chapter 1
Matthew Scott basked in accomplishment’s warmth as the
theater emptied. Every seat had been filled, save one—Father’s. A congressman
for their locale, Theodore Scott departed earlier to an emergency meeting with
a colleague in Dayton .
Having toiled unceasingly for his troupe to remain together
despite the war, Matthew complained only of difficulty with wardrobe. Two gowns
already had side seam tears. His face tightened—the seamstress who’d contracted
to sew the clothing had failed to arrive the previous year. They’d farmed the
work out to a tailor already over-burdened.
Scott’s Theatrical Troupe was booked through the next three
months for stops in cities and some to entertain the Northern troops. He
grinned. Nearby, thespian J. W. Booth pulled on gloves, tipped his top hat at
Matthew and exited the building. Matthew retrieved his beaver hat from its peg
and followed suit.
Outside, the last of the carriages clustering the circle
departed.
“Mr. Scott?” Cigar smoke accompanied the deep
Southern-accented voice.
Matthew waited for his eyes to adjust from the interior light
to night’s velvet blackness.
“Yes?”
“You’re coming with us.”
***
Shirley Plantation, Charles City Virginia
June 1862
Angelina Rose carried the heavy tray of hot tea, biscuits,
honey, porcelain cups and saucers, and silver spoons to a cherry sideboard. The
Carter women gathered in the parlor for Bible study.
“Lou, will you read first, dear?” Mary Braxton Carter,
matron of Shirley Plantation directed her request to her daughter-in-law.
Louisa, the wife of Robert Randolph Carter, off serving in
the Navy, sat up straight. “Matthew 25, verse 34 to begin. ‘Then shall the King
say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an
hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a…
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Contact info
Carrie Fancett Pagels
Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Fancett-Pagels/317053071710640?fref=ts
Facebook Personal Page http://www.facebook.com/carriefancettpagels
Twitter https://twitter.com/cfpagels
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/carriefpagels/
Links to purchase Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War
Romance
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murray-puras-cry-of-freedom-volume-1-return-to-shirley-plantation-murray-pura/1114941171?ean=2940016542836
God’s Provision in Tough Times, releasing in July 2013
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
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20 comments:
Don't enter me to win a copy. I already have one.
I just wanted to stop by and say that it is a great story. Carrie has such a wonderful writing style. Her love of history and romance really shines through!
I appreciate you featuring her on here, Lena. Y'all have a blessed day :)
You are so sweet, ANNE! Thanks for coming by! I got up out of the bed, with Shingles, to come by. Thankfully this type of virus can't be caught on the internet! Blessings!
I so loved this book and everything Carrie writes! I learned a little bit more about you in the interview, Carrie, and I thought I knew it all. ;) Hmmm...now wondering what you wear to Walmart. hehe Praying that the only shingles you'll see are the ones on the rooftops---soon! Love ya!
Thanks, Diana! Aren't you glad I didn't have that outfit with me last November? DK what the lady at Lizard's Thicket would have done! Now you know the real reason my two guys didn't sit with us haha! Love ya back--no hugs--it hurts those Shingles ack!
It was fun reading some more about you in this interview. Sometimes doing crazy stuff is just fun!
I also have & read Carrie's book & it is great! (So no need to enter your contest). Thanks again, Lena for featuring our great friend Carrie. Someday, maybe My name will find its way into one of her books... ;-)
Vicki
Thanks Vicki! Victoria might be a great character name! Will have to find out your maiden name!!! Many blessings and thanks for joining us here!!!
So sorry to hear you have shingles. That must be very painful. I would really enjoy this book. Thanks!
Beth from Iowa
I would love to win the ebook!
Thanks forthe chance!
I love Civil War books!
I live in Ohio:)
Beth, thanks for coming by! Yes, it feels pretty awful but I am so blessed to have gotten the meds quickly and I have insurance for the drs which is also a major blessing! Hugs!
Charlotte--what a pretty name! Well you've just got to read my novella, then!!! Thanks for coming by!
Would love to read this book - thank you for the opportunity! Blessings! Jeanie in Phoenix
Jeanie, I think you might have to leave your email address so if you come back, please do! Blessings!!!
I like the theme of your book- OBEDIENCE TO GOD. I would love to win it. sharon, CA
Sharon, if you come back, please leave your email address--I'd love for you to win! Obedience to God is a big theme in my own life. Blessings!
I'd love to win this! I like history, and one of my friends really enjoyed this book.
-Melissa M. from TX
Please enter me. I love civil war historical fiction!
Tonja S. in Virginia
Melissa and Tonja, if you come back please leave your email address for the drawing! That is cool that your friend liked my book, Melissa!!! Tonja, have you been to Shirley??
I've read the Historical Fiction series on the Civil War by Lynn Austin and it was fabulous. I would love to win and read your book. sharon, oceanside
I truly love reading books set against the backdrop of the Civil War. I would love to win a copy of Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance. Thank you for the opportunity.
Blessings from Indiana,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
I sure would love to win. bluebell5071@yahoo.com
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