Welcome, Candee. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
When I’m writing, I try to immerse myself in my characters’
skin and situations, but I know that my personal values and even my struggles
at times to trust God still seep through onto the page. On the other hand, I
deliberately try to find something in common with my characters in order to
make the emotions of a scene ring true with readers.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Wow. That’s hard. I’ve always been the goodie-two-shoes,
pastor’s kid, so afraid to fail that I didn’t take risks. I tend to live
vicariously through my characters. However, back in junior high, I campaigned
for a Student Council office using neon colored posters and a friend dressed up
in a neon green dragon costume (our mascot). My slogan was “the candy that’s
good for the school’s health.” Groaning here at how not-punny, er, funny that
was.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
My love of reading translated over to excellent grades in
academic writing for school assignments, but when my form of escape to
formulate my thoughts was a journal and a horrid collection of angst-ridden
teenage poetry, I know I’d been wired for words. I dabbled in non-fiction for
awhile, but now I’m doing what I love by hanging out with fictional people.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Other than a strong preference for a romance and a
happily-ever-after, sigh-worthy ending, I enjoy everything from historical
westerns, prairie tales, or Regencies up to contemporaries, Amish, and
suspense. It all depends on my mood and what sort of everyday stress I’m
seeking to escape! Lately I’ve also read quite a few dystopian tales while
screening stories for my son to read.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Sanity? Only by staying grounded in the truth of God’s Word
through daily Bible reading and listening to Christian music in the kitchen or
when driving. Reading
for fun also helps me slow down for a bit. I’m a list-maker, so I’m usually
able to keep my priorities straight and set aside time to focus on what matters
most without running in circles. And when I get off track, I pull out the pen
and paper to get the rest of my day or week in order.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Often a story idea has been percolating for a long time and
somewhere along the line I start calling a main character by a particular name
that seems to fit their personality. I have a harder time finding the right
last name and co-star’s name, but invest the time to make sure I get that
couple right. I’ve even been known to pray for inspiration! It’s easier for
secondary characters since I mainly just try not to match the first letter or
rhyme with the rest of the cast. For those names, I sometimes look in baby
books, telephone directories, or even in high school yearbooks before mixing
and matching first and last names.
I actually had one
character that I had named one thing, but I had to change it halfway through
the book, because he started being another name and wouldn’t let go. What is
the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My first thought was my three kids, but God and my husband
both had a lot to do with how they’re turning out despite the days their
behavior drove me into the pages of a good book for my own personal time-out!
I’d have to say last year’s ACFW Genesis award sitting above my desk because
it’s a symbol that I never gave up on the dream of being a writer despite
rejections and many years wandering around the wilderness clutching a tattered
manuscript. I was tempted too many times to go do something easier, but I
trusted God that He had a plan.
Way to go! People,
who aren’t writers, don’t understand how hard it is at first. If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A house cat. I’m a bit of an introvert or loner who is
content to observe life and people from a sunny spot with a scenic view. On the
other hand, when I’m with “my” people, I can be very warm and soft and loving
like the cat winding around your ankles or snuggling in for a scratch behind
the ears. I mean, who doesn’t love a great back rub?
What is your favorite
food?
Popcorn. Crunchy, buttery, and salty. No sweet kettle corn
or caramel corn for me. But if you meant a real food like for a meal, I guess
I’d say lasagna or manicotti or something Italian with lots of garlic and
cheese. Then again, I’ve been known to eat a giant bowl of popcorn instead of a
meal, especially when my family is elsewhere and I’m in the middle of a good
book.
I’ve often eaten
popcorn for the evening meal, but it was kettle corn. What is the problem with
writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
The perfectionistic tendencies that drove me to good grades
in school and the lack of quirky things I’ve ever done (see question #2 above)
also set a high bar of expectations for my writing, starting with the first
draft. I’ve tried—still working on it—to overcome it by investing time up front
with quality brainstorming and even a detailed outline so I can shut down the
voice that later whispers this story is dumb and won’t make sense. Then I gave
myself permission to write super fast and simply in order to get the framework
of the story including the external action and dialogue down on paper. By the
time I go back through the scenes to layer in the internal emotions and setting
details, I’ve got enough momentum to continue with revising and polishing. As someone
said, “You can fix bad, but you can’t fix blank.” I just have to speed write
past the blank.
That would be good
advice to a beginning writer. Tell us about the featured book.
Catch of a Lifetime is a contemporary inspirational romance
about a rookie college football coach whose star receiver teeters on the brink
of ineligibility and the bitter tutor/athletic trainer who wants nothing to do
with football but has to help. As they work together to salvage the season,
romantic sparks fly, but their growing relationship must remain hidden behind a
wall of professionalism. When a scandal erupts, the aftermath could destroy
both of their careers and the hero must choose between the game and the woman
he loves.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
“It’s about time you showed up.”
Cassie Parker stiffened and turned her attention from the retreating
receptionist to the silver-haired football coach glaring across his desk.
“I’m sorry, but I only found out an hour ago that the
university hired someone to teach aerobics and eliminated my graduate
assistantship position. I understood that I wasn’t supposed to report until classes
start next Monday.”
“Then I suppose it’s a good thing you decided to report
early.” Coach Thomas raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his black leather
chair.
He thought it was a good thing to have her hopes crash to
the mat? Not exactly. But she’d
trained for years to get back up after a fall.
If only getting up wasn’t so hard to face this time.
I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me. Just like Mom always said.
She squared her shoulders and removed an envelope from her
handbag. “Like your receptionist said, I’m Cassie Parker—a new graduate student
in the Health and Exercise Science program.” She unfolded the financial aid
packet and slid the paperwork across the desktop.
She swallowed hard as he picked up the papers and read the
first page. “You’re our newest academic adviser, since the guy we had lined up
left with a family emergency.”
He flipped through the rest of the pages, snatched a pen
from his holder, signed the last page with a flourish, and slid the papers back
to her. Making the position official.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
www.Twitter.com/CandeeFickThank you, Candee, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are eager to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Catch of a Lifetime - paperback
Catch of a Lifetime: Can she forget the fumbles of her past and open her heart to love? - Kindle
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.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
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13 comments:
Thank you for featuring Candee and her Catch if a Lifetime. I love books with sports threads running through them. This one sounds great!
Melanie Backus, TX
Thanks, Melanie! If you like college football, this one takes you through a season all the way to a bowl game. :-)
And thanks Lena for hosting me today and letting your readers get to know a little bit more about me and my debut.
Thanks for the opportunity! I've not read any of your books but I'd love to start in my mountainy Idaho home.
FAIRYnForest@outlook.com
Love a good story about college football that involves God's influence in the main characters' lives.
Kai W.
Los Angeles, CA
I can relate to the popcorn. Thank you for the first page. Looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
this sounds like a fun book thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
Hi Candee and Lena. I enjoyed your interview and I especially liked your quote “You can fix bad, but you can’t fix blank.” I know you were referring to writers but it applies to all of us. You can't fix or improve what you haven't tried or started!
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950 (at) gmail (dot) com
Nice interview. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom. North Platte Nebraska
Sounds like a very interesting book. I would love to win it!
Edward A in VA
I enjoyed the interview and the glimpse into the book.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway for your book copy!!
Conway, SC.
This sounds like a fun read. Hope I win. I enjoyed the interview.
Brenda in VA
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