MAYBE IT'S YOU - Candace Calvert - One Free Book

Welcome back, Candace. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Interestingly, God has me moving in an unexpected direction. For a while now, He has been whispering “be still” as far as my writing is concerned. It has felt as insistent as His initial call to write. After much prayer, I’m now taking time to fill the creative well through other outlets, and spending precious time with my husband and our growing gaggle of grandchildren. Though I’m officially on hiatus, it doesn’t mean stories won’t percolate. They have a way of doing that . . .

Tell us a little about your family.

We are a blended family. When I married my husband, I became Grandma to his three “littles.” In eighteen years (next month), we’ve seen that blessing grow to eight grandchildren and one great grandchild—an age span from first-steps to college graduation! We recently had one of the toddlers for a “sleepover” that, thanks to her playful grandpa, included Donald Duck voice lessons. Papa takes his job seriously.

We have three great grands, aged 2 to almost 10. They are so much fun. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Actually, I’d say writing has most changed my habits as a TV/movie viewer; writers are notorious for analyzing plots, characters, and scene structure. Sometimes much to my husband’s chagrin!

James doesn’t like me to tell him what’s coming in a TV show, but I’m almost always right. What are you working on right now?

Though not on deadline, I’m busy marketing my newest release, hosting giveaways, and being a blog guest—always such a delight. I also volunteer in our grand daughters’ elementary school classes as a “Sight Word Buster.” An author helping to grow new readers! How cool is that?

What outside interests do you have?

Folks who follow me on Facebook know I’m a passionate “foodie” and post dozens of dinner photos that often include my orange “Happy Face Spoon.” I’m also an avid gardener, a bird nerd, Fitbit aficionado, and world traveler. We just returned from an Australia and New Zealand cruise where I had the thrill of signing books in Tasmania and hanging out with some new Kiwi friends (readers, writers, editors, reviewers). Plus, I saw for-real Tasmanian Devils AND learned the best way to pet a kangaroo. Fabulous!

I would love a trip like that. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I like to welcome readers to places that have been home for me. The Mercy Hospital series is set in my native northern California, the Grace Medical series in Texas, and my newest series, Crisis Team, brings readers back to California again—beginning with my home town of Sacramento.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Anne Frank has been one of my heroes since childhood; her humor, her hope, her courage inspire me; her great need to express herself on the page is one we share. I had the privilege of visiting Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, the hiding place where she penned her famous diary. The experience brought me to tears, and I came away even more touched by this brave young girl’s beautiful spirit.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Probably that it’s a challenge to find a balance between Fiction Land and real life, and that it’s very important to take time to fill the creative well.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

A refresher course in being “still” in this too-noisy world; making time to really savor the gifts I’ve been given. And to count my blessings—they are many.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Connect with other writers, especially those farther along the publishing path.

Study craft: via books (read! Fiction and nonfiction), workshops, and online courses.

Attend conferences like ACFW’s annual event. Invaluable.

I’ve missed three ACFW conferences in a row, but I’ll be there this year. I’m really looking forward to connecting with my friends there. Tell us about the featured book.

Maybe It’s You is the exciting third book in my Crisis Team series, a high-adrenaline and high-emotion medical drama with plenty of action, romance, and suspense.

I always love reading your books. Please give us the first page.

“Your relation to the inmate?”

Sloane Ferrell’s stomach tensed. “He’s my stepfather,” she confirmed, lips brushing her cell phone in a whisper. “It was . . . manslaughter.”

She glanced past a grouping of palm trees toward the peach stucco entrance to Los Angeles Hope hospital’s emergency department. Would she ever stop peering over her shoulder—watching her back? This past year it had felt as necessary as breathing and was the biggest part of why she’d left San Diego. New zip code, new living space, new job . . . a paper trail painstakingly shredded. She’d done all that, and thankfully, the last few months had been uneventful. Right now Sloane was simply concerned that a fellow ER nurse would join her at any moment. She’d said something about taking their break together. This return call from California State Prison couldn’t have come at a more awkward—

“We don’t have you listed,” the office assistant announced. Her tone was as friendly as the slam of a cell door. “It had to be arranged in advance and approved.”

“I did that—and I was,” Sloane insisted over the distant whine-hum of saws; preliminary work had begun on the new hospital wing. “I was promised a chance to speak at the parole hearing. My name has to be on the list. Could you check again?”

Here’s a link to the complete Chapter One of Maybe It’s You.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love connecting with readers! You can find me here:

CandaceCalvert.com

Facebook Author Page

Goodreads

Thank you, Lena. It’s a joy to visit you here and have this chance to connect with your readers.

And it’s always a pleasure to host you on my blog.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Maybe It's You - Christianbook.com
Maybe It's You (Crisis Team) - Amazon
Maybe It's You (Crisis Team) - Kindle

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