by Crystal Caudill | Nov 19, 2024 | Author Interviews, Uncategorized
I pray that you have friends in your life who have become like family. Voni Harris is one such friend. She’s part of my core group of friends, which we have fondly named the Masters of Mayhem, or Mayhemmers for short. She is an amazing woman, friend, wife, mother, and Christian. It is such an honor to finally introduce you to her with an additional title: author. Voni’s debut novel, Surge, releases TODAY, so after you finish the interview, pop over to Amazon and grab your copy! (Voni will also graciously be giving away an e-copy from the A Breed Apart Legacy series, as well as bookmarks and stickers.)
Before we go in too deep, will you introduce yourself, Voni?
Hello! Waving hi from Alaska! It’s no surprise I grew up to write suspense novels. Dad was a law enforcement instructor. Mom was a newspaper editor. And God wove a love of words and story into my DNA.
My legal eagle hubby and I make our home on an Alaska island. We live with two dogs: Stingray, an Australian Shepherd, is obsessed with playing tug, and Kip, a Boston Terrier is obsessed with food. They all conspire to get me away from my computer and out into the real world of this beautiful rainforest in which we live.
Living in Alaska is truly the stuff of dreams. Winter days of darkness, summer nights of sunlight. Mountains, ocean, forest. Rain, snow, clouds, sun. Even earthquakes. These all meet here on the island in infinite variations. In the same way joy, music, fun, tears, laughter, fear, and surprise meet in life in infinite variations. Through it all is woven the light of hope in Christ. This is what I hope to catch in my writing … The darkness of suspense, the light of Christ.
You can connect with her through: Website | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Voni with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
VH: Candy corn is gross. Pineapple pizza!
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
VH: Ahem. I’m 4’6″, so I’m not diving in the deep end, lol.
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
VH: Salsa–as long as it’s mild.
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
VH: Silly socks, of course!
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
VH: Handshakes aren’t that secret, LOL. Passwords!
Awwww, come on, Voni. Just because you’re short doesn’t mean you can’t dive into the deep end. 🙂 You’ve got the three of us (Angela, Liz, and me) to come after you. Although . . . maybe that isn’t such a good idea either. Liz might be the only one actually able to haul you out while Angela and I sink to the bottom.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
VH: Age 5. I loved finding out that Highlights published poems and short, short stories from kids. Plus, Laura Ingalls Wilder was a writer. L.M. Montgomery was. Ronie Kendig is. They all motivated me.
CC: I remember Highlights! Who didn’t love getting their hands on the magazine? Of course, my favorite part was the kid-submitted jokes. But that fits us, doesn’t it? LOL
What does your writing process look like in general from beginning to end?
VH: Plan the characters. Plan the plot. Write out a chapter by chapter synopsis. WRITE THE BOOK. Connect the dots and fix on my re-read. Rewrite and edit. Content edits. Line edit. Proofreading edit. Galleys. DONE!
CC: It is a process! My favorite process is the brainstorming with you how to connect those dots. 😉
What is your writing Kryptonite?
VH: Planning is great … unless you spend time in planning like you sank into quicksand.
CC: It’s definitely easy to overplan rather than get the words down.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
VH: Like I said above, moving forward instead of wallowing in writing quicksand.
CC: Wallowing is so easy to do. I’m so glad we have each other to be blunt and say that’s enough, move on, and then to help in the pulling out of the quicksand.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
VH: He has worked through writing partners and mentors who have done nothing but encourage and push me (as did deadlines, lol).
CC: I agree. Having you as a writing partner has been a gift and definitely the hand of God. I am so glad that He has given you so many people to pour into you and motivate you.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
VH: Pray, pray, pray. Always, always ask “why” as many times as it takes to understand where your story is going. And friends, friends, friends who won’t just pat you on the head emotionally about your writing because they want to help you level up your writing.
CC: Great advice and SOOO true.
Now I’m excited to talk about Surge.
Love and Betrayal in a Race Against Time
Delaney Thompson isn’t just a dog trainer—she’s the key to preventing a disaster. With loyal Military Working Dog, Surge, by her side, she’s ready to prove herself on her first mission…even without military training. Her goal? Help the intense Belgian Malinois track down a specific chemical linked to a dangerous terrorist group before it reaches American soil. But to succeed, she must navigate unfamiliar terrain and an even more unpredictable partner.
Garrett Walker is a seasoned military operator, driven by duty and haunted by tragic losses. Reluctantly, he teams up with Delaney, whose lack of tactical experience makes her a liability as he leads them across Southeast Asia. Yet Garrett knows that mission success and the safety of countless lives back home hinge on his leadership, the Malinois’s special scent training, and Delaney’s unique skills.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: if Delaney and Garrett fail to locate and secure the toxic chemical, hundreds of thousands of Americans could die. As they hunt down the terrorists, their objectives are clear—find the stash, neutralize the threat, and try not to get killed. But with mutual distrust simmering between them, their greatest challenge may be learning to rely on each other.
A gripping tale of suspense, betrayal, and unexpected romance. Dive into this high-stakes adventure where every moment counts…and falling in love might just be the most perilous move of all.
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: Who was te most challenging character to create?
VH: Garrett was the most difficult. He has to, at some point, give up his frustration with Delaney, so it was a hard balance.
CC: I can remember many discussions about Garrett and finding the right pacing for his growth. Enemies to lovers can be such a hard trope to make believable.
Which Character was the most fun to create?
VH: Delaney was fun as a maverick, as well as her love and understanding of Military Working Dogs.
CC: She certainly liked to stand on her own and not have to rely on someone who acted like he didn’t even like her.
How did this story affect you as your wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
VH: I learned to push ahead on the writing God prepared me in advance to do, as Garrett and Delaney and Surge learned to push ahead on their mission God called them to do. Garrett didn’t want to be called, and Delaney was afraid of being called … but they both learned from this mission. We all have both callings and things to learn, which is why God calls us.
CC: Yes. He definitely has dual purposes in his calling us.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
VH: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” –Ephesians 2:10 What has God prepared you in advance to do? Or what is he preparing you to do?
CC: Such a great verse for readers to walk away thinking about.
I always like to end with a fun question so . . .
What animal is most like you? Why?
VH: A Military Working Dog, of course. Like an MWD, it is in my heart to do exactly what needs to be done, exactly right.
CC: Why am I not surprised by this? LOL And yes, the aim for perfection is a great description of you!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Surge and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Giveaway Info
Voni is graciously giving away a bookmark and sticker, and an e-copy of any of the A Breed Apart Legacy books. They are each stand-alone books; you do not have to read the others in order to read Voni’s.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Reader, what other books can you think of that have a dog?
by Crystal Caudill | Oct 17, 2024 | Uncategorized
Thank you for your interest in the Written in Secret preorder promotion!
Scroll down to see the details for the giveaway and bonus goodies.
Already know what you need and are ready to fill out the form? Click here.
ABOUT WRITTEN IN SECRET
In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history.
What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.
With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.
As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.
“Danger, mystery, hidden identities, villains, heroes, and gallantry! Everything you would expect in a dime novel, but better!” —Erica Vetsch, author of the Of Cloaks & Daggers series
“What a cracking start to a new series! I always enjoy sneaking a peek behind the curtain of a writer’s life, and this tale of authorly misadventure between the Killer Queen of Romance and an upright police detective has something for everyone. Definitely worth diving into!” —Carolyn Miller, best-selling author of the Regency Brides and Regency Wallflowers series
Preorder Links (More being added as they come to my attention)
Print Links:
Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Bookshop.org | Christianbook.com |
Ebook Links: (COMING JANUARY/FEBRUARY)
Amazon | AppleBooks | Barnes and Noble | KOBO |
If requesting from your library, this information may be helpful:
Title: Written In Secret
Author: Crystal Caudill
Publisher: Kregel Publishing
ISBN: 9780825449079
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Preorder Promotion Information
THANK YOU so much for your interest in preordering Written in Secret or requesting it your local library purchase it. You have NO idea how important preorders are for a book. Anyone who preorders or requests their library to purchase the book will receive a set of bookmarks, bookish stickers, and a signed bookplate with exclusive access to digital content that will come out release week.
In addition to that, everyone will get one entry for the monthly giveaways. Every month starting in October and ending March 11, I’m going to give away one prize pack for a total of six prizes and six winners.
How to enter:
Preorder your digital, paperback, or hardback copy from your favorite retail site. Fill out this form. You only need to do it once to be entered to win. Non-winning entries will be rolled over to next month’s giveaway.
*No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve chances of winning. Odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.*
Alternate method of entry – Request your local library to purchase a copy of Written in Secret or mail a note with your name, email, and mailing address to
Crystal Caudill, Author
P.O. Box 84
Demossville, KY 41033.
Dates and Prizes:
*International residents will get a gift card in lieu of the prize pack.
Giveaway #1 – print copy of Counterfeit Truth, library card zipper pouch, book light (Opens October 1, closes October 31. Winner will be contacted the week of November 1 by email).
Giveaway #2 – print copy of Counterfeit Truth, library card zipper pouch, book light (Opens November 1, closes November 30. Winner will be contacted the week of December 1 by email.)
Giveaway #3 – Bookish tote with matching pen and notebook (opens December 1, closes December 31. Winner will be contacted the week of January 1 by email.)
Giveaway #4 – print copy of Counterfeit Truth, library card zipper pouch, book light (Opens January 1, closes January 31. Winner will be contacted the week of February 1 by email.)
Giveaway #5 – Bookish tote with matching pen and notebook (opens February 1, closes February 28. Winner will be contacted the week of March 1 by email.)
Giveaway #6 – Bookish tote with matching pen and notebook (opens March 1, closes March 11. Winner will be contacted the week of March 11 by email.)
Google Form
by Crystal Caudill | May 7, 2024 | Uncategorized
I’m not sure I’ve ever been more excited to introduce an author to you. Angela Carlisle is one of the Mayhemmers, a core group of friends who have been walking this writing journey together for several years now. You’ve already met Liz Bradford, or at least one of her characters. But today it is Angela’s turn to claim the spotlight. TODAY is her debut release of Secondary Target, a romantic suspense published by Bethany House. I’ve had the blessing of seeing this story “grow up” since its infancy. It’s truly one you don’t want to miss. Before I dive in, let me give you a proper introduction to my friend and fellow Mayhemmer. Oh, and she’s generously providing a giveaway, so be sure to go to the bottom to enter.
Angela Carlisle is a writer and editor by day and prefers to spend her free time reading, baking, and drinking ridiculous quantities of properly steeped hot tea. Whether reading or writing, she loves stories with heart-pounding suspense, permeated with the hope found in Christ. She resides in the hills of northern Kentucky with her family and preschool-age sourdough starter. Learn more at AngelaCarlisle.com.
You can connect with her through: Website | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Angela with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
AC: Pineapple pizza, lol
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
AC: Test the waters
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
AC: Guac all the way!
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
AC: Yes. Find, if I have to pick one, we’ll go with silly hats.
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
AC: Passwords. I’m much more coordinated in my brain than my hands. lol
Says the woman who can knit a pair of fingerless gloves without looking . . . LOL
What does your writing process look like?
AC: First thing that comes to mind is a hot mess. I am so much a seat-of-the-pants writer that I literally cannot plot, so while I might know the ending and bits and pieces of my story, I find out how to get there as I go and do much of my research as I go. I also don’t always write in order. If I can “see” a scene, I often go ahead and write it, even if it’s the climax and I only have the first chapter written already! I will say though, that I like to get to know my characters beforehand, and that helps with figuring out the story because then they can help drive my story by reacting to things naturally.
CC: One must never fight the characters, or they will completely derail the writer. LOL I still can’t wrap my head around writing out of order, but you do it so well!
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
AC: Honestly, it’s been my health. I deal with chronic illness and work full-time in addition to my writing, so having the energy and brain power to put out words is often difficult. But I love story, and I serve a God who is strong even when I’m weak.
CC: Amen. And we’ll all be praying for improved health and more brain space. (Right readers?)
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
AC: Do we have time for that answer? Lol. I could cite so many instances of closed doors, open doors, decisions made that weren’t entirely logical (so I can’t take credit for them) but ended up being the best thing I could have done, providential delays, etc.
God has also grown me personally and brought so many wonderful people into my life through the writing world that I may never have met otherwise. For example, several years ago, I prayed for a group of close female friends, and he supplied that through my writing group, the Masters of Mayhem (of which Crystal is a member). I absolutely love writing and doing life with these three amazing ladies.
CC: So similar for me. You know how I prayed for 15 years for God to provide me a close Christian friend. He provided several through the writing journey, but you were the first, and what a blessing that has been. God has been so good to bring us together.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
AC: Be patient. Be teachable. Be determined.
Writing (especially if you’re writing for publication) is a long road. No matter how good a writer you are at the beginning of your journey, you have a lot to learn. And that’s okay—learning is good for us. But even once you have a great, super-polished story (or two or three), it’s probably still going to take a long time to get published, and then there will be many more edits! That’s just part of the game. But the rewards for sticking it out and refusing to give up are so worth it.
CC: So true and encouraging to hear.
Now I’m excited to talk about your debut release, Secondary Target.
A ruthless murderer. A deadly secret. An unbreakable love.
After the brutal murder of her mother and brother twelve years ago, Corina Roberts built a new life in Kentucky. But then strange things begin to happen, and she is thrust into a perilous game of life and death. With nowhere else to turn, her best hope of survival depends on her ex, army veteran Bryce Jessup.
Recently returned from service, Bryce has every intention of staying away from Corina, but when threats close in around her, he isn’t willing to leave her safety to chance. As their search for answers uncovers lethal secrets her detective father kept hidden, Bryce and Corina must untangle the mystery of the merciless killer intent on terrorizing and eliminating Corina’s family before it’s too late.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook
CC: Where did you get the idea for Secondary Target?
AC: It sounds cliché, but the idea for Secondary Target initially came from a dream sparked by a conversation with my brother. The final story is much different than what I first envisioned, but some of the key pieces remain.
CC: Good ol’ dream sparks. 🙂
Who do you think will most love this book?
AC: Readers who enjoy Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Jessica Patch are probably right in that sweet spot. Secondary Target is heavy on the suspense and lighter on romance (but the romance is most definitely there!) and features a cold case, small-town setting, and reunion romance.
CC: So many fun elements. I highly recommend it to any suspense reader, though. 😉
Which character was the most fun to create?
AC: Probably Allye. She’s the “little” sister and best friend to the book’s main characters, and she’s just a tad bit feisty. She’s a bit of a mother hen and the type to take care of you whether you like it or not, but she’s not afraid to engage in some good-natured teasing too. Readers can expect more of her in book two.
CC: Allye is a hoot. I do so love her quirkiness . . . and her pieces of you in her.
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
AC: In a way, I think it was more a processing of a time he had already brought me through—a time of learning to trust him even when I couldn’t feel him. To cling to the promises of Scripture that he is always faithful and doesn’t just leave his children to walk through their trials alone.
CC: Amen. Sometimes, the processing of it is just as important as the initial learning of it. Okay, one last fun question.
You are in the back of a police car on your way to jail. What did you do? And is anyone with you?
AC: I was probably testing something for a story, and someone called the police thinking I was really tossing a body in the trunk or some such nonsense. Crystal is most definitely in that back seat with me . . . if she managed to get out of the trunk, that is.
CC: LOL, that is way too close to the truth. Should you be sharing our secrets with them? LOL
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Secondary Target and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Giveaway
Angela is graciously providing a signed print copy of her debut novel to one U.S. Resident over the age of 18. This giveaway will run until 11:59 p.m. on May 14.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Reader, what are your favorite elements of a suspense story?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 1, 2023 | Uncategorized
*Update – Colleen won the gift card.
As I’m working on reevaluating how I spend my limited time, I’ve been questioning whether or not I need to cut back on my blog posts. So to make a better-informed decision, I’m asking you–the ones who read my blog for more than giveaway opportunities–a few questions. For everyone who answers, I will put in a drawing for a $10 Baker Book House or Amazon gift card, your choice.
- Which posts are the ones you tend to read on this blog?
- Would you be opposed to only having 2-3 blog posts per month instead of 1-2 weekly? (One would always be the reading challenge post.)
- If I am reducing the number of posts that I put up, which type of posts would you want me to post MOST OFTEN? (I’ll probably still do all of them throughout the year at different points, but I want to know what to focus my time on that will be most interesting to you. And please assume the only giveaway posts would be the reading challenge posts.)
- Author Interviews
- Character Interviews
- Behnd-the-Story Posts – Personal and historical ties
- Book Reviews
Thank you so much, and I’d really appreciate it if you would answer all three questions.
by Crystal Caudill | Jan 8, 2022 | Uncategorized
Just dropping in for a quick moment to let you know about a Bookfunnel Promotion I’m participating in. If you are looking for some new-to-you authors to possibly try out, this promotion allows you to browse through some titles and descriptions and sign up to receive a free copy of short stories, novellas, and novels. I only know one author on the list to recommend, Danielle Grandinetti, so I can’t speak to the rest.
This is your chance to try out some new authors for free. If you’d like to stay connected with them, you can stay on their newsletter lists. If not, you can unsubscribe at any time.
My short story, Banking on Love, is on the list.
Visit https://books.bookfunnel.com/newyearhistoricalfiction/thwu0n3tk7 and take a look around.
Information about Banking on Love
November 1884
When Eunice Reed discovers her younger brother has been arrested for public intoxication, she travels from Cincinnati to Chicago to save him from himself. But public intoxication is the least of their problems. Irvin is tangled up with a dangerous bank robber. With a little help from her fiance, will the love and ingenuity of a sister be enough to save Irvin from making the biggest mistake of his life?
by Crystal Caudill | Jan 14, 2020 | Uncategorized
Do you set reading goals? or participate in reading challenges?
Last year was the first I’d ever tried, and it didn’t quite go like I anticipated. Not only did I not read all the books I’d listed here last year on my beginning of the year goal page, I read less than I wanted to in general.
Sort of.
When I reevaluated my reading year, I discovered I read a ton more non-fiction than I first supposed, few of which I logged into Goodreads. I also read several full-length novels for critque partners…all of which are books not yet published and so can’t be entered into Goodreads. (But let me tell y’all, there are some AMAZING stories coming out in 2020.)
So this year, instead of claiming what and how many books I’m going to read at the beginning of the year, I’m just going to give myself freedom to have an ambiguous list with a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, and not-yet-published. 🙂
I AM going to start of my 2020 TBR pile with these books on top:
1865 – Marietta Hughes never wanted to be a spy, but the family legacy of espionage is thrust upon her as the War Between the States rolls on. Unknown to her, the Knights of the Golden Circle – a Confederate secret society bent on destroying the Union her brother died for – has been meeting in a hidden lair beneath her home. Faced with the secrets of her late husband and his brother, whom she thought she could trust with anything, Marietta’s world tilts out of control. Can she right it by protecting a Union agent infiltrating the KGC?
Slade Osborne, an undercover Pinkerton agent, is determined to do whatever is necessary to end the conflict between the North and the South. When he infiltrates this secret cell, it isn’t just their inner workings that baffle him – it’s the beautiful woman who seems to be a puppet for the new leader and yet…so much more.
Do they dare trust each other in this circle of intrigue? Will their shared faith sustain them? And can Mari and Slade stymie the enemy long enough to see their beloved country reunited?
A feisty army laundress must disarm a grieving Confederate captain’s pride to win his heart. A minister’s daughter abandoned during war must rely on faith to survive. A wounded widower feels God has forsaken him. Will her devout care bring medicine to his soul or rub salt in his wounds? Ellen White is assigned to attend a debilitated artillery captain after the Battle of Second Manassas. She offers God’s strength, but Gideon Sharpe would rather rely on his own. He would prove himself devoted to his motherless infant daughters, the sort of father he never had.Ellen longs for the security of a home and to feel cherished. Can a jaded and broken man be God’s plan to fulfill her fondest hopes?
Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War?
During the clash between Union and Confederacy, quiet Tennessean Pearl MacFarlane is compelled to nurse both Rebel and Yankee wounded who seek refuge at her family’s farm. She is determined to remain unmoved by the Yankee cause—until she faces the silent struggle of Union soldier Joshua Wheeler, a recent amputee. The MacFarlane family fits no stereotype Joshua believed in; still he is desperate to regain his footing—as a soldier, as a man, as a Christian—in the aftermath of his debilitating injury. He will use his time behind enemy lines to gather useful intelligence for the Union—if the courageous Rebel woman will stay out of the line of danger.
So be on the lookout for these reviews to come up soon!
If you noticed the Civil War theme to the books, it’s because I’m researching and writing my own Civil War novel. Remember how I said I read a lot of non-fiction? This year is no different. I’ve already read three research books for the Civil War with sixteen more on my desk as I type. I can’t wait to share more with you.
What are your reading goals and challenges this year? Are there any books I should put on my reading radar?
