A piece of me can be seen in every book, even though I work
to create characters who are different from each other. If a character needs a
favorite food or color, I tend to pick something I’d like, or if a character
has a bad habit or struggle, I also tend to pick things from my own life or
those close to me.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
One time, I kidnapped a friend and her two young children.
It sounds fun and we laugh about it now, but at the time it was an intervention
of sorts. She desperately needed to talk to our pastor’s wife but was hesitant
to go, so I pre-arranged both childcare and the meeting, then showed up at her
house unannounced and ordered them all into my car.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I can be very slow to realize truth, and I think part of my
difficulty with assuming the title of writer was because I didn’t want the
burden of responsibility that comes with readers ready to hear more. Readers
ready for my next story. So it’s only been within the last two years that I
accepted my calling as writer and storyteller—five long years after my first
book hit the store shelves.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read all kinds of books! My favorite is probably
historical romantic comedy, but I also enjoy historical fiction and fiction
based on Bible stories or Bible times. I read some action and adventure,
mystery, and young adult, and I aim for one or two classics per year.
Additionally, I read a bunch of nonfiction, mostly Christian living and books
on writing/publishing, but also some history, biography, and health books.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I’ve worked hard the past three or four years to build
solid, healthy boundaries and to say, “No,” or “Let me check my schedule,”
before agreeing to anything. I actively protect my calendar, make things I love
a priority (from family to reading to doing puzzles), and schedule in adequate
time for sleep and exercise.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
I always start with a birthdate then I’ll search online for
popular baby names from that birth year. I’ll scroll through, rarely picking
any in the top ten, and trying to pick names different from any I’ve used in my
other books. I also keep a list of names I’ve used in each book, purposely
trying to pick names that start with different letters of the alphabet, which
regularly forces me out of my favorites. For last names, I use a similar
process except I start with the character’s family heritage or surnames common
to the area where they are born.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Learning perseverance. The publishing world is tough, and
authors have a constantly changing barrage of information to learn and adapt
to. Besides getting better at writing, we must learn marketing, social media,
websites, and publishing, consider speaking, book clubs, and book signings, and
don’t even get me started on how the grammar rules change! It all can be very
overwhelming. God gently led me into these waters, and He’s gradually increased
His expectations over time, always providing exactly what I needed to prod me
another step deeper. I’m most proud and thankful that I’ve persisted in spite
of the difficulties, obstacles, and uncertainties.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’m horrible at these questions! But, I can tell you that
I’d love to be my Chihuahua
What is your favorite
food?
Oh, hands down, pizza. Deep dish and thin crust. New York style and Chicago
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My greatest roadblock to writing is fear: fear that no one would
want to read my stories and fear that my stories truly were not worth reading.
This fear kept me from asking for reviews, or even letting people know that I
had books for sale! I still fight this tendency, but enough readers have left
encouragement through emails or reviews that I’m more likely to reach out and
try.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Embers Series is currently my favorite fiction book I’ve
written so far. The stories are full of intrigue, provide a look inside a fire marshal’s life, and add a touch of both romance and fun. The
two main characters are modeled after friends, both of whom knew and approved
of what I was writing. And the stories tackle fear head on: Does God know when
danger lurks around us? Is He in the business of actively protecting His
children? And can we grow in our trust in Him when circumstances threaten to
overwhelm us?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Friday, October 9th
White billows replaced the dark, ominous clouds that still
drifted over the tops of the loblolly pine trees along the North Carolina
Her phone on the console beside her buzzed with an incoming
text message. “On the scene yet?”
Showing her identification card from the Silver Heights Fire
Marshal’s office, Cassandra pulled her white Chevy Tahoe around the sheriff’s
barricade shutting down the country road to all nonemergency traffic. Stopping
in the grass near the last tanker truck, she grabbed her phone and responded to
the text. “Just arrived. Beaver Creek and Black Branch Fire Departments both on
scene. Flames still visible.”
She knew her boss wouldn’t be satisfied with that answer,
but before she could give him more details, she had to get her mind on her job.
Her heart ached with memories of today, of the anniversary she should be
celebrating. Releasing her seat belt, she grabbed the camera from the passenger
seat. She could at least start taking pictures for the report she’d have to
file later. Her phone buzzed again.
“Contained? Any woods burning?”
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 me and my readers.
Readers,
here are links to the book.
The Embers Series
- PaperbackEmbers series - Kindle
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