6+ Questions from the Porch Swing for Carole Brown

This week, I'm taking a break from my character interviews to share an interview with a different character -- fellow author, Carole Brown. Carole gamely agreed to answer the same questions I've been posing to the characters that populate Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance. 

Besides being an active participant of many writing groups, Carole enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance and whimsy into her books, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in southeast Ohio, but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Welcome to the Porch Swing, Carole! Where will we find you when you’re not reading or writing?

CB: My first love is being with my family. Since I (finally!) became a grandmother, there’s not much that exceeds my joy than being with our grandsons, sons, and of course, my husband. Traveling, eating together--whether out or at home, special dates at fun places--all of these serve to keep us busy and together.

Scrapbooking is a fairly recent interest, and when I can, I enjoy building memories through that. Right now, I’ve been creating albums for our grandsons, but I also intend to work on some for our sons and their growing up years, my mother and also perhaps a few of our current church family. My gardens, water pond and side porch are all relaxing and beautiful areas where I can enjoy reading, sharing a meal with family, and meditating. 

What’s something we’d be surprised to know about you?

CB: Hmmm. I probably have several, but I had to pick one so I’ll say: I hate being late. I would much rather be an hour early as to be late. In fact, it irritates me so much, I’ve had to learn to be patient with my husband who never really finishes all the things that needs done (there’s always more to add to the list!), and seems to feel they have to be before he can leave. Lol. 

What are your thoughts on children and literature?

CB: Reading is one of the most important things a child can learn. Teach a child to read, and he will never be lonely or unhappy. Or at least, he shouldn’t be. We taught our boys to read BEFORE they began conventional schooling, and to this day, reading is one of their favorite habits. 

What regrets do you have?

CB: I do wish I’d begun writing earlier, but we did have such a busy married life, traveling, ministry, raising our boys, home schooling--that perhaps it wasn’t meant for ME to begin earlier. I do know that I reached a point where I knew it was time to start writing seriously. I hadn’t had that epiphany earlier.

Whom do you admire?

CB: My husband, Dan is one person I've always admired. He has a lot of everyday sense AND is very perceptive and wise. He’s kind, mannerly, and strives very hard to please me. He works hard and is faithful in his devotion to God. 

Pixabay

I love the way he says unexpected sweet comments to me, the way he surprises me with small gifts from the peppermints I enjoy, to a pie from McDonalds that I occasionally eat, to bouquets of flowers, either wild or tame. I’ve saved many of his notes and cards to me. I love to hear him sing (and he’s not a professional singer) and speak because I can feel God helping him and because he enjoys it so much. I like watching his manual labor (when needed), and the strength he carries about himself. 

To me, he well deserves my admiration.

What are you working on now?

CB: I’m completing the last part of my WWII Spies series, Book 2: A Flute in the Willows. It should be edited and ready to go by December, if all goes well. 

Anything else you’d like to tell us? 

CB: Yes, I hope your readers will check out my newest cozy mystery series: The Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mysteries. The First Book is: Sabotaged Christmas, followed by A Knight in Shining Apron, the second book. 

Check Carole out on social media

Personal blog 

Facebook

Amazon Author Page  

Twitter  

Pinterest

Starli Cameron gave up her plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams, but he turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli uses the insurance money to build Apple Blossoms, a successful and upscale restaurant. There, threats from someone determined to ruin her life and romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, top notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel has always laughed and flirted his way through life, but now, he has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? 

And can they both work together to find the source of threats that seem to be coming from Starli’s past? 

Wrapping and Reading

Photo from Magic 106.1 FM, Guelph, Canada
via Facebook

When my daughter was small, we started a book tradition at our house. I can't remember where I found the idea -- it might have been Family Fun magazine -- but I do seem to remember that it was just a front-of-book snippet by a parent. "Just" a snippet turned into a tradition that, at our house, lasted until my daughter was into her teens. And when a writer friend posted the photo at left on her Facebook page earlier this month, it had "Saturday Special" written all over it. As a bonus, it makes a marvelous extension to yesterday's post.

The process is a bit time consuming up front, but very simple. In November, gather all of your child's Christmas-themed books. Then, sometime before December 1, wrap each book individually. Beginning December 1, your child can open a book a day (or a book a week, or somewhere in between, depending upon the number of books you have available). Secretly purchasing new books I could add to the pile was fun, too, and less expensive than it would seem, as many old favorites endured for years.

My daughter loved coming downstairs each morning and opening a "new" book, and, as a bonus, it started each day with reading. Although mornings worked well for us, you could just as easily do this after dinner (or before dinner to procure some late afternoon peace and quiet), or at bedtime.

Once all of the books have been opened and the season has passed, gather them up again when you gather up the decorations and put them in a special box (labeled or unique so you can find them quickly in November). If you're feeling really industrious, you can wrap a few (or all of them) before you put them away, saving yourself some time at the outset, but choose carefully. You may find that your child deems some of this year's books too babyish next year.

Merry Christmas -- I've just given you an excuse to acquire more books. Then again, we authors do that.

Because there's no rule that says all the Christmas books have to be for your kids.

Thank you to Carole Brown, who posted this photo on her Facebook page, 

bringing back many lovely memories.

Tough Love (Guest blog by Carole Brown)

My agent, Diana Flegal, makes it a point to build connections among the writers she represents. We've dubbed ourselves "The Pencil Box Crew," and we make an effort to get to know each other, support each other and share our stories. (Fellow PBC member Rachel Neal issued the 30,000 word challenge in June that got my summer writing off to a flying start.)

This week's guest, Carole Brown, is one of the writing colleagues who inspired me to try this whole idea of guest bloggers. It can be tough sharing your space with other voices, but Carole does so regularly and generously. I'm happy to return the favor.


Tough Love                                      

Her adult daughters demand money from her. They sneak into her prescribed medicine and steal it. They’re hooked on drugs. They’re whiny and spoiled, beg her to lie for them. She hates all this; hates the life they’re living; hates the life that surrounds her and almost absorbs her at times.

She loves them and doesn’t want to hurt them, so many times she gives in. She cries and begs for help. Guilt dogs her steps. She’s unhappy and feels weak.

My friend, Sheila (phony name to protect her) has struggled with standing against these demands and yet be able to show her love for them at the same time. My husband and I have consistently counseled with her and encouraged her. Stand strong. Demand respect. Refuse to participate—even in sideline participation—in their morally and illegal actions.

Granted she doesn’t have a partner who stands loving and firm beside her against the evils in her family, but is that a justifiable excuse for her?

Obviously not, given her constant imploring for reassurance.

So we continue to instruct her: refuse to give the prescribed medicine to them. No more lies; be upfront with them—let them know you refuse to give them “bill” money. Tell them you expect them to get a job, provide for themselves, contribute to the household expenses, get help for their drug addictions. Don’t be a continual taxi service for their every whim. Will it hurt them to walk half a block to get a can of pop?

And most of all, love them. Encourage every good attempt they make. Pray for them. Be there with them when they make a positive decision. Be firm but loving.

Jesus said, “The greatest of these is love.” There is no attribute greater. No emotion greater. Let it shine from our eyes, in our moves, in our lives and actions. They’ll feel it and respond. Sometimes we’ll never see it. Buried deep within them, they’ll feel a stirring of “something” gentle and precious. Sometimes response will be slow in coming. Years, maybe. And other times we’ll see it automatically. A quick hug. A comment, “She’s the best mom.” A confidence shared.

And perchance, a miracle happens and they get clean and become upstanding citizens, well, the joy and peace and pride that overwhelm you are all the reward you need. To be able to say, “That’s my boy/girl,” is better than any birthday present in the world.

I know. I’ve been there.

Carole is a suspense writer who many times deals with issues such as abuse in her novels. She’s self-published several children’s books dealing with character traits. She and her agent are working hard on locating a home for her novels. Wife of a minister, together they’ve traveled nationally and internationally, but love their little spot of country in SE Ohio. They have two grown sons who they love and are proud to say of either, “There goes my son.”

Check out her site at: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/