Author Interview with Carol Braswell
I’m happy to host author Carol Braswell on my blog today. Carol Braswell is the author of romantic suspense novel “Finding Amy”, and she’s currently touring various blogs with her book. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Carol!
The Interview
1) When did you know you wanted to become an author?
I wrote on scrapes of paper and notebooks from as far back as I can remember. But I never considered writing a book until I had to make up an excuse for not writing back to my pen pal. She loved it and encouraged me to write a book. That was about 8 years ago I knew I wanted to join some of the other great authors and get these characters out of my head.
2) Where did you get the inspiration from for Finding Amy?
The story came from the local news paper. I was looking for inspiration everywhere. Starbucks, grocery store, Wal-Mart, (don’t laugh.Have you ever listened to some conversations in there?) and a co-worker left the daily paper on the break room table. A man was on trial for soliciting to hire someone to kill his wife. The idea started to form. Next day I was picking up deli meat and low and behold, a very handsome Texas Ranger walked in and waited for his turn. Rangers are easy to spot, Stetson hat, white shirt, dress pants, and his gun in a shoulder holster in full view. I talked to him and realized then, “Finding Amy” was meant to be.
About two years. I started off with a bang and within 1 month I had 50,000 words and then I retired from my job and my writing stopped. It took a wonderful author who spoke at our RWA chapter meeting and a critique partner to kick me back into action. When I started “Finding Amy” again, it was finished in about a month.
I detest editing my own writing. I love doing it for other people though. First I read the whole manuscript and correct anything that is obvious. Then another read through and if I find anything I think should be changed, I fix it. If I have to change anything, anytime, I read it over again. I could read it 3-4 times before it goes to the beta readers.
The middle of the book. I had a few scenes that had to be cut. Just a little commend sense was needed. A Texas Ranger is not going fishing or snow skiing while on an assignment. And then there was the cute little puppy. My critique partner said all the animal does is bite people’s ankle and pee. So I ditched the dog. I really loved that dog, too.
My goal is a deep edit of my 1st published book, edit my 2nd book (not published) and finish the 4th book and sequel to “Finding Amy”. Oh and get all of them published. Wow! Sounds like a lot, even to me.
Besides the two books that are complete and in the editing stage, I’ve started “Chasing Jamie”. She is Amy’s identical twin.I made her selfish, self-centered and somewhat uncaring in “Finding Amy”. Some of the beta readers didn’t like her.and I wanted it that way. In “Chasing Jamie” she has a secret. One that could get her killed. It is up to a handsome FBI agent to learn that secret and help her find courage, love and compassion. It’s going to be a good one.
About Finding Amy
Title: Finding Amy
Author: Carol Braswell
Genre: Romantic Suspense
What begins in Montana as routine for Texas Ranger Carson Garrett, quickly turns into a ‘run for your life’ chase in order to protect the two women and child he is returning to Texas.
How far would you go to protect the ones you love?
When Texas Ranger, Carson Garrett is assigned to locate and place in protective custody the wife of a man suspected of illegal activities with a Columbian drug lord, it turns into more than routine. The estranged husband has put out a hit on his wife and the only person who knows where she is hiding is her twin sister, Amy Summers.
Protecting the sister she loves may be the thing that destroys her…
It is a race against time for Carson to find Amy, convenience her of the imminent danger and get her to lead him to Jamie so he can escort both women and Jamie’s four-year-old child back to Texas.
Even if they make it can love on the run survive?
Besides the obvious problems of running from a man who is trying to kill them, Carson and Amy have an instant attraction to each other and it is clouding his usual sharp judgment and causing them both to make costly mistakes.
A determined hitman, a diabolical plan. There is only one way to stop them both…
Author Bio
I love to write. I love to put characters in situations that seems impossible to get out of. Almost. Then, out of the blue, along comes that sexy, breathtakingly, handsome hero who can and will save the day. Sometimes, (I like this part), it’s the heroine who steps up and saves the day. I love to write. Did I mention that? Anyway, I love mystery, suspense and the forever kind of love. When someone asks me, “what do you write?” I can’t say romance. It’s not that simple. I want action, adventure, suspense with caring, loving, sexy, characters that seem to find trouble wherever they go.
I am married to my real life sexy hero who finds my imagination intriguing, but refuses to read my books. Thank God. Our, live-at-home children greet us at the door with tongues hanging and tails wagging. They travel with us when we vacation and get depressed when we have to leave them. We have four grown children who live close enough for us to see often.
You can follow me on
twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorCarolB facebook;https://www.facebook.com/#!/carolbraswellauthor
www.carolbraswell.com
Links
Finding Amy
Author Carol Braswell
www.carolbraswell.com
twitter @AuthorCarolB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/carolbraswellauthor
She is as real and down to earth as her great interview. Keep up the great writing, author Carol Braswell
I liked the story about your pen pal and how that got you started writing! Looking forward to the book and its sequel. The sequel sounds better and better every day, keep working on it!