CROSSING VALUES - Carrie Daws - One Free Book

Welcome back, Carrie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I love a good story, and some of the most fascinating ones center on real people going on with their everyday lives. Many of my stories are based in fact, whether it’s a young woman afraid to trust people or a fire marshal dealing with business owners who don’t understand the hazards in their own building.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

God’s brought so many happy moments to me, but my hands down favorite is my wedding day. It was, in many ways, the wedding of my dreams to the man of my dreams—not that it’s always been perfect or easy. But God’s done a marvelous work in us.

How has being published changed your life?

Besides the obvious stacks of books around my house or the constant disciplined pursuit of writing time, being published has forced me outside of all my comfort zones. I’ve had to get more comfortable talking to people from all over the world, walk through the fear of sharing so much of my life with the public, and be okay with some not liking what I say or how I say it. The last few years have brought a lot of internal and heart changes that have been very good for me, even though it was a tough process.

I think all authors grow through the process of writing their books. It’s wonderful. What are you reading right now?

At the moment, I’m preparing to write a nonfiction book on anticipatory grief—the mourning process we all go through when we see a tragedy about to strike, even before it has. So I’m reading several books related to suffering and pain. In my fun reading time, I’m working my way through Mary Connealy’s series, Lassoed in Texas. It’s a lot of fun!

I absolutely love Mary’s books. What is your current work in progress?

I’m currently working on two books, both in my Home Front Heroines series about military families. I’m almost done writing the book about a Navy family who faced a chronic illness in their oldest daughter. And I’ve started work on my book about an Air Force wife who battled depression and loneliness.

What would be your dream vacation?

I dearly love the ocean, and my dream vacation is one I strive to take each year at a nearby beach. As an introvert, people exhaust me, so we go during the off season when the crowds are low. My family and I go with one or two of our closest friends, limit our electronic device time, and just enjoy being together. We relax in the hot tubs, float around the lazy river, and enjoy quiet dinners. It’s quite refreshing.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Since I’m normally telling someone else’s story, the setting is most often determined by actual events. In my Crossing series, though, I needed a small town near a city where logging was common. I also wanted it close to a college that offered degrees in forestry, so that limited my possibilities.

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

People really do stress me out. Because of this, instead of choosing one of my heroes of faith or more cherished authors, I would probably choose one of my beloved author friends that I rarely get to see in person, someone like Sherry Gareis, Joanie Bruce, or Jocelyn Green. My relationship with each is close enough that I’d be terribly excited, I wouldn’t have to dress up or worry about remembering all my proper manners, and I think we would both leave the evening refreshed and ready to tackle the writing world.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

My family loves movies, so we watch quite a lot of them. I also enjoy a good jigsaw puzzle—I almost always have one in progress on a table in my living room.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

The discipline of the daily word count. It’s so easy to get lost in answering emails, planning out my marketing strategy for the next month or next book release, or talking to friends and readers on social media. So I set an annual goal of words to write, and then I break that down into weekly chunks. I try to be very tough on myself—I either hit the word count or I didn’t. No excuses no matter what slammed into my week.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Breathe, because you’re on a long journey. Focus, because you’ve got a thousand things vying for your attention. Learn, because it’s a big job. Grace, because you only have a set amount of time today. Balance, because it doesn’t all have to be done right now.

Tell us about the featured book.

Crossing Values was my first book. Seriously—I’d never written more than a short devotion before I started writing that story. I’ve learned so much since then, but it still holds a precious place in my heart because it’s where I really began exploring deeper issues of faith as they apply to real life. Does God pursue us? Can He work in dire circumstances to show us how much He treasures us? What could happen if each of us completely bought into God’s plan to love others?

Please give us the first page of the book.

CHARMING TOWN, AMBER GRIFFIN THOUGHT as she kicked a plod of snow and walked past a sign welcoming her to Crossing, Oregon, population 725. Many homes featured broad porches, picket fences, and snowmen of various sizes. As she considered snatching a carrot nose for breakfast, she thought, This is the kind of town where everyone knows everyone and you expect Sheriff Taylor to stroll down Main Street.

Stepping over an abandoned mitten, she paused to watch two girls playing with dolls on the other side of a picture window. Her eyes lingered on the hearth and the fire burning in it. “If only people were as reliable in person as they are on TV,” she muttered.

As homes gave way to storefronts, Amber came upon a park that seemed to be the town’s center. She walked to the nearest bench, brushed snow off the seat, and eased her frigid muscles onto it. She stomped her feet, her toes aching in response. At least I know they’re not frostbitten.

With no good options the night before, Amber had forced her way into a dilapidated cabin a few miles outside of town. The thin mattress and worn quilt she’d found made sleep difficult in the plummeting temperatures, but the walls had kept the snow off of her. She’d slept in worse places.

An old Ford F150 rumbled down the street, blowing its horn at two boys practicing wrap-arounds with their hockey sticks. The boys waved in response just before the truck stopped at the hardware store. As a gray-haired man got out of the truck, Amber noticed a small yellow cross on the tailgate.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

The best place to find me is at CarrieDaws.com. However, I also like to hang out at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieDaws/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieDaws

Thank you, Carrie, for sharing this book with us. I’m sure my readers are all eager to read it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

Crossing Values (Crossing Series) (Volume 1)

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