Wow. I think you’re the first person who’s asked this question. I grew up in the church, and made an official decision at a family camp when I was about nine years old. In some ways that was the official date, since I grew up in a home where worshipping God and serving Him was an absolute priority. My parents did a phenomenal job of leading us kids to Him and showing us why we would want to serve Him and dedicate our lives to Him. Something I’m trying very hard to do with my own children. I love it when my six-year-old boy assumes that everyone’s best friend is God and that we should all love Him first and best.
How did you and your spouse meet?
We met at a Christian leadership conference for teens and college students in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Both sets of our parents had heard about Summit Ministries on Dr. Dobson’s show, and “happened” to send us to the same session. I say it’s the only way God could have connected a boy from Indiana and a girl from Nebraska in Colorado!
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Man, another tough question. I’m in a small group of seven authors that formed in December, and it has been incredible. We encourage each other, pray for each other, and kick each other in the rear when we need motivation. So I would invite those gals to my house for a long weekend of brainstorming. We all write different genres, but man do we have a good time online, I can only imagine the fun we’d have brainstorming in person.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I love to speak, but it is difficult to do with small children. So primarily right now, I lead Bible studies at church, and speak to MOPS groups, writing groups, and things like that.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
Hmmm. Embarrassing. Really? I’m always doing things that could be embarrassing, but usually shake it off and move on.
People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
The most important thing you can do is sit down in the chair at the computer and write. Even 500 words a day leads to a book at the end of an year. That’s how you write a book and that’s how you eventually have something to show an editor. But writing is all about discipline. You have to be consistent and accountable to yourself if you’re going to write a book.
Stars in the Night is a historical suspense with lots of romance set in Hollywood during1942.
When Audra Schaeffer¹s sister disappears in Hollywood, Audra flies there to find her, but has to identify her body instead. Determined to find the killer and bring him to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan. Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States as the stars sell war bonds. When Robert¹s ex-wife and another woman are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to her sister¹s. Is the killer is the man she¹s falling in love with? And can she identify the killer before he targets her?
Sounds intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.
“Well, well, Audra. I do believe you’re ready to take this matter to trial.”
Audra Schaeffer soaked in the atypical praise. While Roger Clarion was a good man and fair boss, he did not toss praise around for any and all to hear. A well of satisfaction pulsed through her. After seven years of school and two years where the only job she could find after law school required her to serve as a paralegal, Mr. Clarion had given her a chance. If everything went well, she’d litigate her first case in Superior Court Two in one month. A simple case, but it was hers.
He pulled reading glasses low on his bulbous nose and examined her over the rims. “Don’t let me down, or we’ll both be the laughing stock of the Indianapolis legal community.”
“Yes, sir.” The image of her standing at the podium in front of counsel table, a legal pad resting on it, filled her mind. She’d finally done it! She’d earned the right to try a case.
He smiled then shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the day where I’d have a woman working for me as an attorney of all things.” After a twist to his bow tie and a tug on his sweater vest, he stood and grabbed the wool jacket hanging on the coat tree in the corner behind his oak desk. “Now get out of here. I understand you have an important call to get back home.”
Audra couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her lips. “Fortunately, Rosemary’s usually a few minutes late.” Rosemary couldn’t be hurried to join the rest of the world from the day she was born a week late. Audra stood and walked to the doorway. “You can’t believe how hard it is to wait for her calls. But it is a blessing her landlady allows Rosie to call us regularly from her phone. I don’t think Mother could handle it if we didn’t have our weekly report on all things Hollywood.”
Mr. Clarion chuckled. “Off with you. Can’t stand in the way of that.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is located at http://www.caraputman.com/ and my blog is at http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/ . I’m also on facebook, shoutlife, and twitter. And they can find first chapters of all my books on my website or at http://www.fictionfinder.com/ .
Thank you, Cara, for spending this time with us.
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