by Crystal Caudill | Jun 21, 2022 | Character Interview
I absolutely love character interviews. There is just something so fun in getting to know the characters you read and love in a whole different way. Today’s character interview comes from the duel-time novel Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik. Dani Sango is the heroine of the contemporary timeline. Before we dive in getting to know her, let’s take a moment to get familiar with the story.
Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Christianbook
An Epic Love Story From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family Root
When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. Among his effects is a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek the help of museum curator Brad Osgood to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it just another forgery?
Brad Osgood’s four-year-old niece, Brynn, needs a safe home, and Brad longs to provide it. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marcos, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.
Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving God on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians arrive in St. Augustine, God changes their plans. Then when friendship develops between Sally Jo and Broken Bow and false accusations fly, it could cost them their lives.
Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?
CC: Hi Dani! I’m so excited to meet you. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers?
DS: I’m the contemporary heroine of the novel. So what does that mean in terms of the story? Well, I am the estranged daughter of an art forger. I haven’t seen my dear ol’ dad since the day he was arrested when I was two years old. But here we are, twenty-six years later, and I get contacted by an attorney who regrets to inform me that my father has died and left me some kind of an inheritance in St. Augustine, Florida. When I drive up here from my home in Tampa, the attorney hands me a set of keys and an address and tells me Franklin Sango left me his house as part of that inheritance. Needless to say, I’m really confused and more than a little gun shy! Franklin never gave me the time of day, and now he leaves me his house? As if that’s not enough, he’s decorated the place with tons of his forgeries—and he’s got some weird ancient book of Native American artwork in his studio, and an odd message on his answering machine from a museum curator asking about that artwork. I think he was up to no good! The official reading of the will won’t be for a few days yet, so I’m stuck here to poke around the creepy place, ponder why the jerk finally decided to acknowledge my existence, and wonder whether this Native American artwork is his next big con or what. Oh joy!
CC: Oh my! Talk about complicated family relationships. I take it family gathers were not your favorite thing?
DS: Oh, goodness, no! My family is a hot mess. With me being the daughter of a convicted art forger, I’m pretty much treated like an outsider by my mom Jessica, step-dad Neil, half-siblings, and especially my grandfather. Somehow, they all overlook the half of my DNA that comes from Mom and see only the half that comes from Franklin, so they all make me feel like I’m somehow less than them. Family relationships have been hard, and get-togethers are not fun or emotionally healthy for me.
CC: Ugh. That is so hard and heartbreaking. Is it just your family? Or how do you think others view you?
DS: You’d think being raised in the home of my well-respected neurosurgeon step-father and my socialite mother, I’d have had all the benefits that such an upbringing could afford. But my life wasn’t quite so neat and tidy. If you’re talking to my rich, elitist family’s inner circle, who all know I’m the daughter of Franklin Sango, I’m either pitied or treated like a pariah. Growing up in that kind of an environment led me to make some out-of-the-box choices. In order to get away from the toxic private prep school environment, I made the choice to transfer to a public school and make a new circle of friends. I worked in preschools during high school and college, turned down Mom and Neil’s offers of expensive cars and a private university education so I could live the life I wanted to, without their strings attached. Yeah, I’ve got school loans to pay off, but at least I can look myself in the mirror and know I’m being true to myself. I hope, with all of that, that people who aren’t aware of the specter of my questionable parentage see me as a kind, hard-working, semi-responsible woman who’s trying really hard to hold her life together…and managing to succeed some of the time.
CC: That is so hard, but you have achieved much to be proud of. Who is your least favorite person to deal with?
DS: Okay, so this one’s really hard to answer, because nothing and no one in St. Augustine is as they seem at first. Obviously, my family is a problem, as already stated. Beyond that, I could say my least favorite is the tattooed biker dude who sneaked up on me when I first entered Franklin’s house to look around. The guy scared the bejeebers out of me and threatened to call the cops when I had every right to be in Franklin’s house, per the attorney who gave me the keys. Or I could say it was the even bigger Viking wannabe guy who called the biker dude off just a minute later. But then, it turns out, they’re both former business associates of Franklin’s who were just watching over his house since his passing. Good night! They both scared the tar out of me. And that Viking wannabe—Matty Joie—he’s too persistent for my comfort! I mean, he was Franklin’s boss… Not exactly the person I feel like cozying up to. I don’t know if I can trust him, given he was Franklin’s friend. But at least he seems helpful…not exactly the creeper type, even if he does look a little terrifying! In case I didn’t mention it, the guy is huge, tattooed, and looks pretty rough…but like I said, he seems helpful, even if I don’t know whether to trust him.
CC: Yikes! That is definitely an uncomfortable situation. But certainly, not everyone’s questionable. What about the hero of the story? How would you describe him?
DS: Well, there’s the bright spot in all of this. Brad Osgood. He’s…amazing! Tall, sweet, good-looking. He’s the art museum curator I mentioned, and we met in the most unusual way, but you’ll have to read the book to find out how. What I really like about Brad is—he’s got a beautiful heart. His younger brother and sister-in-law got themselves in a bunch of trouble, and Brad’s four-year-old niece, Brynn, needed a safe place to live. Someone to love and raise her. Without batting an eye, Brad stepped up to the plate. He’s so sweet with her, and she trusts him completely. My heart melts every time I watch them together. Yet in spite of all their own turmoil, Brad has taken time to help me ferret out the truth behind some of Franklin’s forgeries—including that Native American art I mentioned. He’s really patient with me, a non-art lover. Well, I shouldn’t say I’m a non-art lover. I’ve always avoided fine art because of Franklin. Never set foot in an art museum and took very few art classes in high school or college because I didn’t want anyone associating me with my father’s crimes. But Brad took all that in stride and is slowly helping me understand and fall in love with art in ways I never thought I could. What can I say, he’s an all-around wonderful guy!
CC: Awwww. He does sound like a wonderful guy. With such a challenging childhood, I’m curious, do you have any happy memories? What’s your favorite one?
DS: Contrary to how I’ve made my life sound so far, it hasn’t been all bad. My best friend, Rachel, and her parents have helped make it bearable. I met Rach after I transferred to the public high school, and we’ve been friends ever since. As stupid as it sounds, going over to her house, spending the night in her middle class neighborhood, binge-watching movies, and just dishing with a girlfriend…it was so deliciously normal! I’ve loved hanging with people who didn’t treat me like I was a leper because of my father’s crimes. Rachel’s family accepted me for exactly who I am and let me be a normal person for a little while. Their place quickly became a safe haven, a place of unconditional acceptance, and their house is one full of good memories.
CC: They sound like a really great family, and I look forward to finding out all the mystery behind these creepy men, the art forgeries, and that Native American journal.
Readers, head over to your favorite retailer to check out Love’s Fortress and what is the truth behind the strange inheritance.
Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has finaled and won in numerous writing competitions, and been on the ECPA best-seller list several times. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers, Women Writing the West, and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, electrical engineer son, and four fur children.
Connect with Jennifer: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads
by Crystal Caudill | Jun 14, 2022 | Character Interview
It’s my joy and honor to bring to you a character interview from one of my most recent reads, Sam Mattas from Shadows In The Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp. Janyre released her debut novel last month, and I am so excited to introduce you to the hero of her book.
Before we meet Sam, allow me to introduce you to his story.
Shadows In the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp – Amazon | Bookshop | Baker Book House
Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on–responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand–but that everyone is learning to fear.
Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?
Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds–or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?
Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.
CC: Hi Sam! It is so great to meet you. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers?
SM: My name is Samuel Mattas. I was born on a peach orchard just north of Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was a coxswain for a Higgins boat. Despite what you may think of me now, Mama raised me right. I’m a good man. I ain’t afraid to work hard, I’m loyal, and I want good things for my family and the world.
CC: How do you think other’s view you?
SM: Used to be that folks thought I was reliable, stable. Now they’re pretty sure I’m crazy. But I ain’t and I aim to prove it.
CC: It’s hard to come back from war. I’m sure you will prove yourself to them. You’re married to Annie. How would you describe her?
SM: Annie was always the Judge’s princess, and I was little more than riff raff. Respectable enough, I suppose, but trouble nonetheless. And she was royalty. You know? So I always knew her—always dressed in lace and patent leather shoes. Her mama must’ve spent hours a week washing the dresses and polishing those shoes because Annie was always finding some way to smudge dirt on herself. Course she’d want to be clean the next second, “How dare that dirt cling to me!”
But the first time Annie met me, she was still a little tike. Me and my best friend, Doc, were out on the little pond north of the soldier’s hospital. Wasn’t far from the Judge’s house, but enough away from the springs that the pond froze clean across. The whole world was white, even the breaths puffing from our lungs. We was all wrapped in woolen sweaters, ours underneath and Pop’s on top. I’d pulled off branches for everybody and we were hitting a ball of fabric scraps across the ice, hootin’ and hollerin’ like the devil himself was after us. Having the best time we’d had in I don’t know how long.
She come sneaking out of her house a little red cardinal hopping where she wasn’t supposed to. I’d already started across the ice to warn her about the soft edges when she went through the ice. I must’ve been thirteen maybe fourteen. She was still a near baby. Blue as anything by the time I fished her out and sputtering, too. Back then, there wasn’t no way I was going to the Judge’s house. So I wrapped her up in one of my layers and hoofed it home. All the while praying she didn’t die of exposure before I got there.
Mama fixed her up and sent my sister to the Judge’s to let Mrs. Layfette know we had her little girl safe and sound. Annie had the grandest time playing paper dolls with Mary. I do think Mary was Annie’s first ever friend. I don’t know why Mrs. Layfette started letting Annie come to our place. I suppose it might have been Mary was painfully polite and Mama always had a soft spot for Annie’s Ma. I think she saw what was going to happen even back then.
I was still helping up at Papaw’s orchard then so I didn’t see her much after that. And then one day this drop-dead gorgeous woman walked through the door while I was stuffing myself with one of Mama’s sandwiches and I regretted that I hadn’t taken the time to brush my hair, shave, or even change my clothes yet that day. But Annie, she didn’t even seem to notice. Still looked at me like I set the moon in the sky. I just want to do right by her. And I don’t know if I ever will. So much has changed. I don’t even know who I am no more let alone who Annie is.
CC: My heart just rends for you both. I feel like I’ve gotten an extra bonus story just in your answer. While we saw some of in the book, this really paints the full picture. I can see why Annie looked at you like you set the moon in the sky.
What’s your biggest fear?
SM: There’s a part of me that wishes I could go back to before…to be “normal.” But that feels like I’m betraying everyone I left buried on some beach in the Pacific. I want to be what Charlotte Anne wants, what my daughter Rosie needs. I just don’t know if I got it in me anymore. And that scares the daylights out of me. I’m used to being able to do everything.
But I don’t want to be nobody’s charity case either—least of all Annie’s dad, the Judge. There’s too many strings attached to that. I’m strong. I can work.
Still I see Annie looking sideways at me. She knows who I was, who I want to be. But the good Lord knows I ain’t what she expects no more.
Course there ain’t nobody who can tell me what I should feel unless they’ve been in a place where it was kill or be killed. Honestly, I want to forget what happened over in the Pacific. Everything the good book says makes a good person a good person is blown to smithereens in war. You go in one person…and come out something different. Sometimes I wonder if the Sam Mattas that used to be is dead and gone, sucked under the waves. All that’s left of me is some ghost haunting the people that mean the most. Ain’t no way to live. That much I’ll tell you. All I want is I protect my girls…keep them safe. How am I supposed to keep them safe when their greatest danger is me?
CC: I just want to hug you, Sam. That is all so relatable, and I wish I could make it all better for you.
On a happier note, what is one of your happiest memories?
SM: There wasn’t much extra growing up, but Mama always made sure Christmas was something special . . . even if the only present we had was the shoes we got the month before. Karo nut pie, peach preserves and fresh bread, and usually Pa would carve up one of the hogs. Meemaw and Papaw would stay the whole day in the big house, but we’d decorate the grandparent cottage up right too. My siblings, Mary and Peter, and I, we’d sometimes take an old barrel out on the pond and row it like a rich man’s boat. Only the good Lord knows how we didn’t drown in that thing. Life on the farm wasn’t easy, but Mama always made sure it was good.
CC: I really think it’s the simple things in life that make us the happiest, and I can see why those Christmases were your most cherished memories.
Do you enjoy family gatherings?
SM: My family’s together most all the time. A farm up in the Ouachitas ain’t the easiest way to make a living so we help each other out. Annie’s family . . . what’s left of it anyway, can stay in Hot Springs where he belongs. The Judge chose his family a long time ago and we’re safer without him in our lives.
CC: I understand what it is to have everyone living together, and on having family members that it would be better to be without. Thank you so much for joining us. I really can’t wait for people to read your story and find out exactly what is truth, what is fiction, and how your family survives all that is thrown at you.
More about Janyre Tromp:
Janyre Tromp is a historical novelist whose loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and coauthor of O Little Town (releasing Fall 2022) and It’s a Wonderful Christmas. She’s also a book editor, published children’s book author, and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her family, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog.
Connect with Janyre Tromp: Website (grab a copy of the FREE novella, Wide Open) | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Twitter
by Crystal Caudill | Apr 19, 2022 | Character Interview
One of my new favorite things to do this year is to interview characters. They are so much fun, and it just really gets you connected to them even before (or after) you’ve read the book. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Walter “Pax” Paxton from Sure About You by Jaycee Weaver. Sure About You is a novella from the upcoming The 80s Rom-Com Club set with books from Jaycee Weaver, Teresa Tysinger, Mikal Dawn, Jennifer Rodewald, Bell Renshaw, and Betsy St. Amant.
*Deal Alert: The 80s Rom Com Club is on sale for preorders until 4/26 (release day) at only $3.99.*
Before we meet Pax officially, let me introduce you to his story:
Sure About You by Jaycee Weaver
Editor, foodie, and 80s movies lover Isley Bradford lives by her trusty planner. Securing her dream job means traveling to a conference with the too-charming coworker she loathes. But with each bump in the road—some literally—he challenges her perceptions and makes her laugh. She’d had her future perfectly planned. Now? She’s not so sure.
CC: Hi Pax! It is so great to meet you. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers?
WP: Hey, I’m Pax. I enjoy long nights under the stars and—wait, this isn’t a dating site. What am I doing? Sorry—although I do enjoy a good stargaze. But you’re not here for that.
So, uh, I’m a writer for DFW Daily, an online celebrity gossip magazine (though maybe not for long if I keep phoning it in the way I have been lately…), and my favorite about my job—besides unlimited access to coffee—is pressing my coworker Isley’s buttons. I can’t help it. She just has so many!
CC: So you’re in the market for a girl, huh? And you enjoy pressing a certain woman’s buttons? That sounds like a recipe for a lot of fun, romantic trouble. So what’s your role in this story?
WP: Well, as I mentioned, I’m a writer for an online magazine. It’s not exactly my dream job, but it pays the bills and I’m pretty decent at it. If I cared more, I’d be excellent, but I’m in kind of a weird place. My boss put me on probation after the last article I wrote, meaning I’m stuck working closely with Isley, one of the editors, for the next month. Boy is she unhappy with the arrangement. Don’t tell her this, but I’m kind of looking forward to working with her—if only for the ample opportunities to needle her and push her outside her comfort zone.
CC: Oh you are a character, I can already tell. I’m already excited to see how this needling goes. Since you’re on probation and you’re in this weird spot, how do you think others view you?
WP: Is it cliche to say ‘it’s complicated’? I wasn’t a great guy until six months ago, so anyone who knew me before would probably describe me as charming, a bit of a player, easy-going… the older set has used the word “nonchalant” a time or two. After coming back to my faith, I’m still pretty charming, but I’ve been floundering as I try to figure myself out. So I guess they might still also use easy-going if they liked me, aimless if they don’t. I would hope they’d also find me earnest and funny.
I’m not sure I like this question—it makes me way too introspective. How about we talk movies or play a game instead?
CC: Discovering who we are after we return to our faith, or even start our faith, can be a difficult road to walk. Now that you’ve come to faith, how do you view God in your life?
WP: He’s my rescuer, and I mean that honestly. I was living 100% for myself, heading down a path that led to nowhere good. He kept after me, though, until one day I realized I couldn’t keep living like I was, disappointing Him and my family with my choices. I walked away from that old me and I’ve been working to become the man He wants me to be. Still have a long way to go, but I’m grateful for grace.
CC: Amen to that. That journey can be a tough one, but I know just making that journey is going to make you perfect for the right girl.
Maybe a girl like Isley? In fact, let’s talk about her. How would you describe her?
WP: Where do I begin?
Competitive. Controlling. Coffee addict. Annoyingly neurotic. Also kind of funny with dark brown hair that falls down her back in a cascade, hazel eyes that miss nothing, and great legs (especially when she wears those heels) that draw attention to her appealing—
Ahem. Sorry, that’s not where you were probably going with this question. Is it getting hot in here? No? Just me? (Chill, Pax, you aren’t that guy anymore.)
In a nutshell, Isley… well, she’s a lot cooler than I first thought. I sure hope she’s not reading this.
Oh, buddy. Bless your heart. Reading your story is going to be a hoot. I can already tell.
Let’s get a little personal. What’s one of your happiest memories?
WP: My dad remarried after we lost my mom. I wasn’t too happy about that, being a new teenager and all, but my stepmom came as a package deal—a bright-eyed toddler with flaming red hair. The first time I met my sister Stefanie, I was a goner. She’s wicked smart and growing up way too fast (man, that makes me sound old).
CC: Awww!! It sounds like you were made to be an older brother. I love it. I can’t wait to get to know you, Isley, and maybe your little sister in Sure About You.
Readers, if you have already laughed and fallen in love with Walter “Pax” Paxton like I have, you can preorder The 80s Rom Com Club collection for $3.99 at Amazon. There you can read about the other rollicking novellas included from Teresa Tysinger (last week’s interview), Mikal Dawn, Jennifer Rodewald, Bell Renshaw, and Betsy St. Amant.
Readers, in the comments below, what was your favorite thing about the 80s? (And if you’re not that old, what makes you think of the 80s?)
About The 80’s Rom Com Club novella collection:
Is there, like, anything more totally awesome than the fun, feel-good rom-com blockbusters of the 1980s? The women who make up the online Just Another 80s Rom-Com Lovers Club don’t think so. Join these digital friends as they each live out their own swoon-worthy love stories, minus teased bangs and mini skirts, reminiscent of some your favorite romantic comedies from the most righteous decade.
About Jaycee Weaver:
Jaycee Weaver lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her amazing husband, three daughters, a crazy shih-tzu, and a dwarf rabbit. When she’s not writing, she’s probably in hot pursuit of her 90 million other hobbies or shuttling the kids around. Jaycee loves to read books in multiple genres, drink too much coffee (honestly, when are they going to make the coffee IV a real thing?!), sing, take landscape and floral photos, sew, cook, bake, and craft nearly anything. She considers herself a recovering perfectionist and sometimes hot mess. She does her best to live her faith in action, being open, honest, and real; letting God be Lord over the good, the bad, and the ugly even when it’s hard.
Connect with Jaycee: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Pinterest | Amazon
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 8, 2022 | Character Interview
One of my new favorite things to do this year is to interview characters. They are so much fun, and it just really gets you connected to them even before (or after) you’ve read the book. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Brielle Adebayo from In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh. Before we meet officially, let me introduce you to her story:
In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh
It seems like a dream come true . . . until it forces her to question everything.
Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha’s Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops a bombshell–Brielle is really a princess in the island kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, the king, is failing.
Distraught by all the secrets her mother kept, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before her coronation, or the crown will pass to another. Brielle is uncertain if she even wants the throne, and with her world totally shaken, where will she find the courage to take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring?
CC: Hi Brielle! It is so great to meet you. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers?
BA: Thank you so much for having me. In case you haven’t seen the cover of the story or read the back cover, I’ll assume you know nothing about me. I’m Brielle Bayo, or at least, that’s the name I went by growing up. It wasn’t until recently that my mom informed me I’m actually a princess. *awkward laugh* I know, the stuff from fantasy, right? But I am Princess Brielle Adebyao, heir to the throne of Ọlọrọ Ilé, a country of the coast of West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. In Search of a Prince is centered around me, finding out this huge secret, and what that means for my future.
CC: Wow! That is the stuff of fantasies for sure, but I’m sure it couldn’t have actually been that easy to brush off and deal with. Who ended up being one of the hardest people for you to deal with?
BA: Um, my uncle. I know I should be over the moon to have more family since it was just my mom and I for the longest. But he has made it apparent he doesn’t like me or want me around. Every time I see him I want to turn around and hide. But I can’t let him see how his words hurt me.
CC: Ugh. That is so hard. Family can be a challenge to deal with in the best circumstances but in this? My heart goes out to you. So how about the family gatherings? Do you like them? Hate them?
BA: In the past, our family gatherings consisted of my mom and me. Just us two against the world. Now that my family has been expanded, I’m still unsure how I feel about family gatherings. Some of my father’s family seem to judge me and find me lacking. What kind of joy is that to gather with them? *sighs* Maybe one day this question won’t fill me with so much doubt.
CC: Oh, sweetheart, I hope one day you will be able to hang out at those gatherings with so much joy that you burst with rainbows. That is understandably hard right now, and suddenly being a princess comes with a lot of stress. What is your biggest fear?
BA: Failing those who depend on me. I’m not sure why God saw fit to allow me to be a princess that will one day become queen. But if He has called me to this life, I pray that I won’t fail. That He’ll equip me and allow me to be a blessing to this country.
CC: It sounds like you have a good footing in your faith and that is so refreshing. So since you’re a princess, you’ve got to have a prince right? Tell us a little bit about him.
BA: I feel like I cannot NOT talk about the hero. However, I also don’t want to give anything away since there’s a little Bachelorette-like vibe going on in my world thanks to the royal council’s decree. Regardless, the hero fits every definition you can think of. Someone dependable, someone who has my back, someone who makes me smile and want to be around him all the time. I’m so glad I met him.
CC: You’re making me want to swoon just hearing that description. I can’t wait to meet him. And readers, you can meet him NOW. In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh is available for purchase at most book retailers, but you can click this link to find all the options.
Readers, in the comments below, what would you do if you suddenly found out you were royalty?
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novels, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, Risking Love a 2020 Selah Award finalist, The Truth About Fame a 2021 Holt Medallion finalist, and The Price of Dreams a 2021 Maggie Award finalist. Learn more at http://tonishiloh.com.
Connect with Toni: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Pinterest
by Crystal Caudill | Feb 22, 2022 | Character Interview
One of my new favorite things to do this year is to interview characters. They are so much fun, and it just really gets you connected to them even before (or after) you’ve read the book. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Jillian Parisi-Duffy from Now That I Know You by Olivia Newport. Before we meet officially, let me introduce you to her story:
Now that I Know You by Olivia Newport
A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Links Present to Past on Family Trees
Cate Butler is the distant cousin genealogist Jillian was so certain she wanted to find-and the only connection she has to her deceased mother’s Parisi family tree. So why does she wish Cate would stop pestering her? And why can’t Jillian find a paper trail proving Cate is who she says she is?
Cate wants something for her own career that Jillian can’t give, but she also holds the key to family history Jillian can’t bring herself to walk away from. Nolan, Jillian’s father, steps in when Cate’s chronic career chaos requires legal rescue. Drew, the man who holds Jillian’s heart, has a surprising past with Cate. The truths Jillian, Cate, and Drew find while untangling these knotted threads tie them back together in remarkable ways none of them ever would have imagined.
Now That I Know You is Book 5 in the Tree of Life series, exploring and celebrating unforgettable family stories in Canyon Mines, the mountain town that invites you back again and again.
CC: Hi Jillian! It is so great to meet you. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers? I’ve heard that you don’t like people so I thought maybe it best if you give your side of things.
JPD: It’s not true that I don’t like people. I just like to buckle down and get to work, and sometimes I forget to brush my hair. I have crazy hair. I’m Jillian Parisi-Duffy, hermit-like, determined, and lucky to have the greatest Irish dad on earth. As a genealogist, I’ve always wondered where my crazy hair came from, and for that I had to look into my Italian mother’s family line. In my line of work, I never know what mystery is going to pop up.
CC: It sounds like you have a wonderful family and fascinating life. What is your role in the story Now That I Know You?
JDP: I’m a genealogist and I’m not afraid of digging into a complex challenge. I like to think I’m low maintenance on the personal side. I work from home, I’m content living in a small mountain town and sharing a home with my dad, and I’m grateful for my girlfriends who drag me out of the house for contact with the real world from time to time.
CC: Ha! Ha! I can relate to being dragged out of the house for contact with the real world. Who is your least favorite person to deal with?
JDP: Ironically, my least favorite is the person I went looking for. I never knew much about my mom’s side of the family, so I sent off my DNA to see who was out there. Cate Butler turned up, a distant cousin. Pushy. Needy. Annoying. Intrusive. Scared about something she thinks I can fix. But she’s also the gateway to the family I never knew I had. So what am I supposed to do?
CC: It’s a struggle to work with those people who both annoy and need you, but that you also need. Since we’re talking about other people, do you know any secrets about other characters that you can share with us?
JDP: Mm. My father is acting stranger than usual these days, and I’m starting to think he has a secret that I’m going to have to shake loose from him. And my girlfriends are all fixated on the idea that I need to buy a new dress, which I absolutely do not since I hardly wear dresses, and I don’t know what that’s about.
CC: It sounds like there is some plotting against you going on in your life . . . better switch to a happier topic. Speaking of happiness, what is one of your happiest memories?
JDP: I had a favorite mug for a long time, and when it got leaky I had to admit I had to start using something else for my coffee concoctions. I tried a lot of mugs from the cupboard until I found the one that felt perfect for becoming my new favorite. It had been my mom’s favorite. She died when I was 14, but I remember how she loved this mug and the way the big wide maroon stripe swirls around it. Now I use it often and share her happiness.
CC: Family sounds really important to you. Do you enjoy family gatherings?
JDP: My dad’s side of the family is a large, noisy, imperfect, flawed, loving, Irish clan, and I love every single one of them. I grew up gathering with the Duffys to celebrate every occasion or no occasion at all. My mom’s side was just us and her parents. They’re all gone now–except I went looking for more Parisi who might be out there. I guess I’d like to gather with as many as I can find. I’m a genealogist, after all!
Wow, where has the time gone. Thank you so much for joining us today, Jillian. If people wanted to check out your book to really get to know you, where should they go?
Amazon Barnes and Noble Books-a-Million Book Depository Bookshop.org
Readers, In the comments below, what questions would YOU ask of Jillian?
Olivia Newport’s novels blend the truth of how our pasts carry us into where we find ourselves now. Curiosity about history seems to creep into everything she does. Her books include Amish, historical, and contemporary stories that span the centuries from before the Revolutionary War right up to the present moment. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak. Visit www.olivianewport.com.
Connect with Olivai Newport: website | facebook | instagram |
by Crystal Caudill | Jan 25, 2022 | Character Interview
There is something magical about writing a book that is hard to fathom for most non-writers. Our characters come alive and take on their own personalities. They are capable of making their own decisions and changing our plots. They become so real, they can be interviewed, just like any other person in the world.
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to the Aussie skating heroine from Love on Ice by Caroline Miller, Holly Travers. Before we meet officially, let me introduce you to her story:
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller
She’s focused on winning gold. He wants to lose the player tag. Can a fake relationship become something real?
Aussie short-track skater Holly Travers has one goal – make the Vancouver Games, no matter what it takes. She has no time for distractions, even if they come in the handsome form of her Canadian best friend’s twin brother. This hockey player may say he’s not a player, but can she trust him?
Brent Karlsson has one goal – make his sister’s best friend realize he’s a changed man and she should give him a chance. When a set-up in Hawaii helps these two opposites realize they have more in common than they thought, what happens when he wants to turn their fake relationship into something real? And how can a relationship work when these two elite athletes never see each other and live on opposite sides of the world?
Love on Ice is the second book in the Original Six hockey romance series, a sweet, slightly sporty, contemporary romance series.
CC: Hi Holly! We’re so excited to have you. So, how do you think others view you?
HT: I think others see me as busy, committed and focused, someone who loves God and who tries to be a good daughter and a good friend. But I know that sometimes between my university studies and my training I can forget there’s more to life. Why? Because I want to win gold at the next Winter Olympics!
CC: Wow! To go to the Winter Olympics must be amazing. Who is your least favorite person to deal with? Why?
HT: Honestly, I find Brent Karlsson a bit of a pain. Sure, he might be my best friend’s twin brother, and some might say he’s handsome (well, that’s what all the girls in Detroit seem to think anyway) but he’s arrogant, or at least he’s acted that way to me in the past, plus he’s way too tall. And while he might say he’s changed from being a ladies’ man, I’m not sure I can trust him. (Can you ever really trust a charming man?) He keeps trying to prove my assumptions about him are wrong – he’s part of this Bible study group for pro hockey players, and he even has favourite Bible verses! – but because of his past I’m never really able to relax around him. Not that I want to. Not that I should. My coach just wants me to focus, focus, focus on my training – so even if I liked him (which I don’t) then I wouldn’t have time for a relationship with him anyway. How could that even work, when I live in Australia and he’s there in Michigan? It couldn’t. It shouldn’t. So it won’t.
CC: Oh those charmers. What a challenge they can be. What is your biggest fear?
HT: My biggest fear is not making the Olympics, or if I did make it, hurting myself beforehand so I couldn’t actually compete. The Olympics is all I’ve dreamed about for so long, and proving myself there is all I want to do. Short track speed skating is who I am – there’s nothing like the feeling of flying on the ice. So I guess my biggest fear is not being able to show that, or finding out I’m not good enough. Because if I couldn’t skate, then who am I? And what would that say about what I’ve spent years training for? And what would I do for the rest of my life?
CC: Do you enjoy family gatherings? Why/why not?
HT: I LOVE family gatherings, especially because I live 1000 kms away from my family (I live and train in Brisbane, Queensland, and they’re 11+ hours drive away in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia). My family is really small – just my mum and dad, brother, uncle, granddad and me – so we try to make the most of our time together when we catch up. My parents have always been my biggest supporters – they encouraged me to go on a student exchange program when I finished school, which ultimately gave me the opportunity to learn to skate when I was staying with Bree Karlsson’s family (she’s now been my best friend for years), and then supported me to follow my dreams when I returned to Australia. I love them, and I miss seeing them for months at a time when I’m training away from home or travelling for competitions around the world. So when we gather for things like Christmas or Easter it’s the best! (And not just because I can get my boogie board out and go have a surf with my brother!)
CC: Your family sounds amazing! If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
HT: You mean apart from a gold medal? Two things: I’d like to see my Granddad get better (we think he’s getting Alzheimers ☹) and I’d like to see people like my friend Jess come to know God as their savior and best friend. I try to share with her about Jesus, but she wasn’t lucky enough to grow up in a Christian family like I was, so I think she’s struggled with believing like I do. But I keep praying for her. And for Kate (my other training partner, who I’m pretty sure hates me). I’d love to see her get zapped by God – in a good way, of course! Oh, and I’d LOVE to spend more time with Bree. But she’s a newlywed and living in Calgary, so that’s not possible at the moment. But who know? One day in the future God might do a miracle and I could go live there where they have the BEST short track speed skating training facilities in the world. Now that’d be a real answer to prayer!
Wow, Holly. It has been an absolute joy to talk to you today and I look forward to seeing what Love on Ice has in store for you! Friends, you can find out to by picking up Love on Ice at any of the following links.
In the comments below, what questions would YOU ask of Holly Travers?
Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble Books-a-Million Book Depository Bookshop.org
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked as a high school English and Learning and Support teacher.
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and LM Montgomery, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her contemporary romance series includes the Original Six hockey romance series, and the Independence Islands series, and her historical series include the Regency Brides and Regency Wallflowers series.
Connect with Carolyn: website | facebook | pinterest | twitter | instagram | bookbub | goodreads
