Good morning, dear reader! Welcome to Women of Faith and Fiction Tuesday. Today, we’re talking with Carole Brown. Carole’s latest release is A Flute in the Willows, Book Two of The Spies of WWII. Let’s begin…

Good morning, Carole. Please, tell us about yourself.

Personal

Carole Brown Here’s my official bio:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE 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?

What a fantastic life, Carole. Congratulations on the ten books! Let’s talk about the professional side of your life. Where did you get the idea for your latest WIP or your current release? And what inspired you to choose the setting of your story?

Professional

a-flute-in-the-willow Two things gave me the idea of writing A Flute in the Willows, Book Two of The Spies of WWII.

First, my mother’s pictures and tales of living through WWII. These piqued my interest and steered me in the direction of writing a novel set during this time.

Second, we had an older gentleman friend who’d written a book about a civilian spy. It was always rumored that he was that spy, but he never confirmed it. That thought encouraged me to write my own take on spies.

I lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for a brief time, working there, before I was married. I liked that city, and when deciding on the setting, I knew it would fit perfectly. And, of course, Germany was a major player during WWII. How could I not bring touches of it into the books?

The story sounds intriguing. Readers, don’t forget to check out A Flute in the Willows to find out what happens to the hero. Carole, what is your favorite thing to do when not writing?

I shared my official bio above, but here are a lot more personal items that would fit in this bracket:

I love being with my family. Whether on vacations to the beach or mountains, whether just a brief stop-by visit or a dinner at home or out somewhere, we so enjoy it all.
I love sharing laughter and quiet fun times with my hubby. He’s not only my hero, my best friend and lover, he’s also a wonderful Christian man with a big heart.
I adore living in the country with my own hot tub, our animals, my water garden, fireplace, the view, and I like the quiet. Most times. 🙂
I love traveling with hubby and family. Though we’ve visited so many states and a few countries, there’s much more to see and do!
I love being a child of God. He’s our best source of strength and encouragement and the greatest leader of life I could ever ask for.

I enjoy living in the country too! Here’s a fun question. Please share a writing quirk—a ‘must have’ or a ‘must do’ to get words down on paper.

Quiet. I like quiet when I write. Sometimes I will have soft music in the background, but not often.

Amen. Some days you just need peace and quiet. Next question… This year’s theme is First Things First. Setting our priorities is a must if we’re to be about our Father’s business. What advice would you offer someone struggling to spend time with Him? And, how has spending time with Him changed your life?

Inspirational

Be serious about this decision. Easier said than done, I know. But it’s the one thing that will help you make the decision and to keep at it.
Study your daily activities. Is there an allotted time when you’re more liable to be free? Can you get up fifteen minutes or a half hour earlier? Being faithful, I think, is more important than the length of time. God knows us, the intent of our hearts. Tell him about your difficulty in doing this and listen to what he has to say.
Remember, a verse a day, a five-minute sincere prayer, a few moments of contemplation or listening to what God wants to say to you: these are a start in the right direction. We’re not all made alike, but in God’s likeness, so our times of devotion may all be different to fulfill our spiritual needs. Be diligent, and God will reward you with His sweet presence.

As far as I’m concerned, I’ve found through the years that to stay close to God is a great advantage to me. When others are gone or don’t understand, or whatever, God knows. He is so whatever-I-need, yet he’s also faithful and true to rein me in or correct me when needed.

Working in ministry along with my hubby has taught me too that hard times come. Discouraging. Depressing. Tough I’m-not-going-to-make-it times. Somehow God pulls me through, and I feel stronger and more confident that He is, oh, so sufficient!

Well said, Carole. Thank you so much for joining us today. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better!

Readers, Carole is giving away a digital copy of A Flute in the Willows to one commenter. Leave a comment to have your name entered in the drawing.

Click to Tweet: It was always rumored that he was that spy, but he never confirmed it. That thought encouraged me to write my own take on spies. #Women of Faith and Fiction #interview

Bio

Connect with Carole:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browncarole212/?hl=en
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts
Stitches in Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

I am pleased to have Carole Brown visiting today. Carole has a new book, Knight in Shining Apron, and it’s available on Amazon. To help us get to know her better, I asked Carole to share a short bio with you.

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 SE 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?

Thank you, Carole. What a lovely bio. It is obvious you love helping others. Tell us why you became a writer?

I’ve always loved reading, imagining stories and writing, so it was a natural thing to progress into becoming an author. I suppose it began way back when my mama read to us. We loved it so much, and I still love hearing my husband read aloud to me or to our grandsons.

I’ve always felt like a writer, as if it were a part of me like an arm or leg, eye or ear. It’s who I am, and I can’t imagine not writing.

You have a new book! Yay! Tell us about Knight in Shining Apron.

Here’s the blurb:

Knight in Shining Apron

Starli Cameron gave up her career plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams. He turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli takes the insurance money and builds a successful and upscale restaurant: Apple Blossoms in rural West Virginia. Threats from someone determined to ruin her life and the suspicious romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and finally turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, a top-notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle, into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel, with his sanguine-personality, has always laughed and flirted his way through life. But now, confronted with and attracted to the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Joel has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman reach out far enough to rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? Will he learn that life is not all play?

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

I love reading stories with a second chance thread. We don’t always get one in this life, but when we do, it makes a happy ending. How does your faith affect your writing?

In real life, many people don’t have the opportunity of a second chance. But when a person is offered that, I think they need to grab hold and go with courage embracing the opportunity as a special blessing from God.

I don’t like in-your-face, pushy types of witnessing, but I’m also not ashamed to let others know I love God. In my writings, sometimes the “word” is stronger than in others, but there’s always a thread of the possibility of a “better life (with God).” It can be in the redemption a character needs and ends of realizing that, or it might be in my characters sharing their love by helping others or encouraging them to do their best. Sometimes it’s as simple as an apology or a dinner blessing. However the story progresses, I always want to share a positive outlook, an encouragement for those who need help to look to God for whatever their need might be.

Why did you choose to write about spousal abuse?

Abuse is prevalent in our world. It’s something that touches and angers me to the core of my being. I suppose that’s one of the reasons I was led to write about it in my debut novel, and now this one. If one of my novels can encourage an abused person to make the right choices or share light to others to help stop it, then it’s well worth the time it took to write the book.

I agree, Carole. Let’s talk about music. I love the musical element in your book. Do you play?

Smile. I play, but not at the level of Starli Cameron’s talent. She’s a professional, and I’m a down home, lightly trained pianist.

I love perusing the Pinterest boards with yummy recipes. I’m not an expert, but I do love to try new recipes. Your plot revolves around a restaurant. Do you like to cook?

Yes, I do, most times. I don’t always enjoy the day-to-day task of cooking, but I love creating menus for dinners, family celebrations and fun times. Some of my specialties include:

Homemade lasagna, bread, and cheesecake
Homemade chicken and noodles (and mashed potatoes, of course!)
Fun party foods
I enjoy trying new soups and experiencing my own personal touches to them to make them mine.

When researching a story, I often discover truth I needed for myself. I am always curious to know if while researching the spiritual thread, did the author come across something that made an impact on her?

Yes. When I first wrote the book, trust wasn’t as much of a detailed trait, but once I changed it from a romance to a romantic mystery, I realized it was one of the things that brought depth to the story line.

I know the past year, God has brought ME through some deep waters in facing five deaths in about that many months and the depression that went along with it. I’ve had to learn to trust him more fully. He was faithful to encourage and strengthen me, and His word is always a powerful antidote against the enemy.

Any advice for newbies?

Never, never, never give up! Find the writing journey that is for you and stay with it, regardless of the directions your friends might have. We all have our own personal journey and must be true to that.

Thank you, Carole, for sharing. Where can folks find out more about you and your books?