Welcome back,
Carolyne. It’s been a long time since you were on my blog. We’re so glad to
have you. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I have always loved reading romance, and I've always loved
the Lord. So writing for Love Inspired has been a blessed confluence of both of
the things I hold very dear. I love taking my hero and heroine on a journey
that challenges their beliefs about themselves and about their faith.
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I have been a Christian my whole life, so I never had a
“day” that I came to know the Lord. As far as the happiest day in my life, it's
so difficult to put a point on one. I've
had so many happy days in so many areas of my life. It was a happy day when I
got married, when my first child was born, when my fourth child was born, when
my first book was published, my first child married, my first grandchild born.
Each of these has been a happy day in various parts of my life.
That’s true. Wait
until you have great grands. How has being published changed your life?
I was very blessed to be a stay-at-home mom. It was a choice
my husband and I made early on in our marriage. So when I got published, I
essentially had my first job. Suddenly there were more things I had to
accomplish in the day, then doing laundry making suppers and lunches and
breakfasts and all the other things required to maintaining a household. I felt
I had gained my own identity. Besides all the things I loved being, I was now a
writer. That was something that was only mine. I learned the language of writing
– synopsis, proposal, line edits, copy edits - and my world expanded. Now it is
so much a part of who I am, that I don't even think about it.
What are you reading
right now?
I'm reading a book about talent. The author is putting forth
the idea that talent isn't necessarily inherent. The people who are very good
at what they do have spent a lot of time practicing and rehearsing and working.
It's rather interesting and rather inspiring. I don't know if I agree with
everything he says, but it's challenging my way of thinking. And it's a
reminder to me to do the work. That I need to always be challenging myself and
working harder if I want to become a better writer. And in spite of how many
books I've written, I still feel like I have a ways to go.
As writers, I don’t
thing we ever stop growing and learning. What is your current work in progress?
Currently I'm editing the fifth book in my Holmes Crossing
series. I hope to get that to the editor in the next couple of weeks, and then
it should be out in a month. I'm also finishing up a proposal for Love
Inspired. This is a short two-book series about two brothers, who are
completely different from each other and each approach life from a different
point of view. The one is the solid, stay-at-home kinda guy. Follow the rules.
Do what you are supposed to. The younger brother, naturally, does what he wants
and doesn't always think about the consequences.
What would be your
dream vacation?
I would love to go back to Paris ,
and I would love to visit Rome as well as Greece . In a
few weeks, my husband and I will be traveling to Europe, but we will only be
going to the Netherlands and
England .
I tried to talk my husband into Rome ,
but he said that was outside his comfort zone. So my dream vacation will have
to wait until I can find a willing participant.
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
A lot of my books tend to take place in southern Alberta , because that's
solid ranching country. I write cowboy romances, so I need to set my stories in
ranching country. It's beautiful country, prairies that roll up to hills that
edge the Rocky Mountains . So you have the open
spaces in the mountains – a beautiful combination of two amazing landscapes.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is
currently alive, who would it be and why?
I can't really think of anyone. There are a few well-known
people that I would love to sit down and give a good solid talking to, but I
highly doubt they would listen to me. So what's the point? As I grow older, I
find I'm becoming more of an introvert. So the thought of meeting someone new
seems a little stressful. I like spending time with my husband, and we get
along really good so that's not stressful at all. Unless were discussing where
were going to go on vacation.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love making cards and photo books. I like taking pictures
and putting them into photo books. I still knit from time to time but I have to
be careful with that because writing has taken its toll on my neck and
shoulders and knitting just adds to the strain.
My knitting and
crocheting affects my shoulders, so I can only do a few rows at a time. I
hardly ever do either. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do
you overcome it?
Procrastination. I don't know if that's considered an
obstacle, but it sure is to me. Every single time I sit down to the keyboard
there's a part of me that would seem to be doing something else. Which is
rather ironic, because when I'm away from the keyboard and away from the
computer I'm always thinking about my stories. But procrastination is a bear. I
watched a video a while back on Facebook. I forget who did it. But the woman
was talking about organization and doing tasks. Especially tasks that seem
overwhelming. She said, "Do one small thing." Don't take on the whole
job, just do one small thing. So I think of that every time I want to put off
what I have to do. Just write a little bit. You don't have to finish that
chapter. Just do one small thing. And once I start, things seem to fall into
place.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Do not compare. You are on your own journey and it's always
going to be different from other authors. You are going to find one author who
makes a sudden breakout with a book that you don't think is nearly as good as
yours. But that's just the way things go sometimes. Things come together in
different ways that you have no control over so stay focused on your work and
do your job and do it diligently. And take note from the previous answer. There
was always going to be something that will keep you away from your writing. You
have to make the choice. I've sat in a room with a floor scattered with
popcorn, books and papers, and assorted other detritus and had to fight to
ignore it to get the work done. As for the comparing you know what you need to
do. I've looked at other writers and wondered why they are doing better than me
and then I listen to them talk and I realize how hard they are working. And my
answer is right there.
Yes, the Lord let me
know that I’m only to compare my writing to what I’ve done before, not to the
writing of other authors. Tell us about the featured book.
A silence in the heart is the book that I got reissued back
to me from Love Inspired. So it's not a brand-new story. But I had my Holmes Crossing
series in place, and I wanted to continue it. So I reworked the book to fit
better with the series and updated it a bit. I found it interesting as I read,
how much I had learned in the meantime. So I was thankful to be able to apply
some of that to this book.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
She thought she heard the cry of a child.
The haunting sound slid through the early-morning quiet just
as Tracy
stepped out of her car. Still holding the door, she canted her head to one
side, listening.
There it was again. Softer this time.
The tension in her shoulders loosened, and she shivered,
pulling her thin sweater closer around herself. Ever the optimist, she had left
her warmer jacket hanging in the hallway closet of her apartment this morning,
counting on the early-September sun to melt away the coolness of the fall
morning.
Then a movement caught her eye.
She stopped and turned to face whatever might come.
Then a small boy shuffled cautiously around the corner of
the clinic, his head angled down, his thin arms cradling something. He looked
to be about six or seven.
She always felt bad for him, going to school on his own,
remembering too well her own early-morning treks as a young child.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
You can find me on my new, very spiffy, website.
www.carolyneaarsen.com
- if you sign up for my newsletter you
will receive a free book!
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/caarsen/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CarolyneAarsen
You can follow me on Book Bub to find out about new releases
- https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carolyne-aarsen
And Amazon for the same reason - https://www.amazon.com/Carolyne-Aarsen/e/B001HD1OJU
Thank you, Carolyne, for sharing this book with us. I'm eager to read it, and I'm sure my readers are, too.
Readers, here is a link to the book. By
using it when you order, you help support this blog.
A Silence in the Heart (Holmes Crossing Book 4) - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us
where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America . (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:
7 comments:
This sounds like a story I would enjoy reading.
Linda in So Cal.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Carolyne Aarsen has been a favorite Love Inspired author of mine for quite some time. I would love to win this book.
Pam in OH
Sounds good. North Platte Nebraska.
Lovely interview! This book sounds wonderful, and the cover is so intriguing. I'd love to win a copy of it.
Winnie T from Utah
I became Carolyn's fan through reading some of the books that she wrote for the Grace Chapel Inn series that was published by Guideposts several years ago. Lena, thanks for sharing her interview and Carolyn, thanks for your giveaway.
Blessings and Happy Easter!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
I like the title and front cover! Sounds like a great romance story.
Beth from IA
Post a Comment