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And now, on to more fun stuff! I'm so excited to introduce you to the lovely and ambitious Cara Putman. I had the pleasure of meeting her at last year's ACFW conference when I took her headshots, and then I got to catch up with her a bit at this year's conference. She has such a sweet heart and a "go get 'em" attitude.
Enter to win a copy of Where Treetops Glisten with Cara Putman, Tricia Goyer, and Sarah Sundin by leaving a comment below!
A little bit about Cara...
Cara C. Putman, the award-winning author of 19 books, graduated high school at 16, college at 20, and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a lecturer on business and employment law to graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and is a second-generation homeschooling mom. Putman is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at Krannert. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana.
How to connect with Cara...
Website: www.caraputman.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caraputman
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cara_putman
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/caraputman
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CaraPutman
Author Interview | Cara Putman
You and Writing
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I’ve known I wanted to write since I was a young teen. Because I was homeschooled, one of my English assignments as a 14 year old was to write a bunch of my favorite authors and ask them for advice. It was so fun to get letters from authors like Madeline L’Engle, Janette Oke, Michael Phillips and Sandy Dengler. Then I started college at 16, a career at 20, and got married at 21. Life sped up, but every couple years the desire to write would rise within me. In 2005 God opened the door, I received my first contract in 2006, and in 2007 that first book released. Just a few weeks ago, my 19th book released. It’s been an amazing journey.
Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...It’s so hard to pick a favorite book. I love my first book, Canteen Dreams, because it combines my grandparents’ story with what my hometown did during WWII. I love Stars in the Night because it allowed me to write a full length WWII novel that combined Hollywood with a body count. And Shadowed by Grace will always be special because it was a journey to writing a story about the Monuments Men but really a story about a woman’s journey to find her earthly and heavenly fathers.
If published, what was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...The hardest thing about publishing is learning to trust God in the process. I can’t control where my next contract comes from. So I have to lean into Him, and leave this journey to Him while doing what I’m called to do.
Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
...The book that released a few weeks ago is Where Treetops Glisten. It was such fun to write because it’s a novella collaboration with my good friends Sarah Sundin and Tricia Goyer. We had such fun developing and writing this collection of stories that follow the Turner siblings through WWII and in their stories of finding healing and love.
Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...I love Abigail because she has a heart to help others. She doesn't always know how to do it, but she sees needs and wants to help meet them. She also becomes willing to open her heart over the course of the story…an endeavor which is really hard for her after all the loss she’s experienced.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...That God is there in our darkest moments, and He wants us to reach a place of full healing. Not that we’ll ever forget those we have lost, but that we don't have to live mired in the past.
Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...With my historicals, I often find the inspiration in real life events. Or I’ll pick a setting and work backward to a story. That’s what happened in A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island. In Shadowed by Grace I really struggled with the heroine, because I needed her to have a job that would put American women right behind the line. Once I landed on war photojournalist, the rest of her came easily.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I want to encourage people to trust God in new ways.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Join ACFW. It is an organization that will help you learn the craft and meet people who can help you on your writing journey.
You
In honor of the fall, what’s your favorite fall treat?
...Apple cider. It just tastes like fall to me.
When you were a child, what did you dream of growing up to be?
...An author, journalists, or elected official. I had lots of dreams :-)
Will you participate in National Novel Writing Month? If so, what’s your plan to keep your writing on track?
...Probably not this year. I have many years, but this year, I’m working on my MBA classes primarily.
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Thinking Thoughts readers - make sure you leave a comment to enter the giveaway and check back next Tuesday to see who wins!
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