Thanks so much for being with us today Cara!!
Your new book looks very interesting. Where did you get the idea for this story?
Several years ago I ran across a reference to 19th century dime novels. The topic of popular fiction sounded interesting so I did a little investigating on the internet. I found a lot of information which started me thinking about a story of a young woman writer of romance dime novels. At the time they were often considered sensational and scandalous. But some were uplifting and presented a moral lesson. My minor in college was history and I always enjoyed learning about the Gilded Age and the enormous fortunes that were accumulated after the Civil War. So it seemed like the perfect time frame for my story.
I picked Newport, Rhode Island as my setting because that’s where the rich people spent their summers back then and I love the place. I spent a lot of time there as a young kid.
How long have you known you wanted to be an author?
I’ve wanted to be an author since I was seven years old. I think I attempted my own stories almost as soon as I could read. I wrote my first ‘book’ based on the Bobbsey Twins series. It was an anniversary present for my parents. I was so proud of my twenty pages. From that point on I knew I wanted to write. I wish I hadn’t put it off for so many years before I got really serious about learning the craft and the publishing business.
Do you have someone you look up to? Maybe another author or relative?
I look up to my husband because he’s a man with great integrity—and a great sense of humor. I’m really lucky! I also admire quite a few writers, but there are so many I can’t list them all. I’ve gotten a tremendous amount of help and encouragement from the members of the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA and my “Seeker sisters” who blog at Seekerville. Otherwise like most writers, I’d be on my own struggling to get published and without a clue about how to do it. I’ve found writers to be very giving and helpful to other writers.
Do you have a place you always wanted to go? Maybe a vacation spot or somewhere overseas?
I always, always wanted to go to Europe. When my husband was a Navy pilot on a Mediterranean cruise, I ‘followed the ship’ from port to port with a group of Navy wives. I was there for nearly four months and saw most everything I wanted including Yugoslavia which was then a communist country. But unfortunately my Eurrail pass didn’t take me to Great Britain. I’d still love to visit England and Ireland. Maybe I will in the next couple of years.
Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?
I was a Naval officer for almost eight years and I once landed on an aircraft carrier (the Lexington) in the Gulf of Mexico. No, I wasn’t the pilot! At the time women weren’t allowed to fly in the Navy—not that I ever would have. I’m scared to death of flying!
What one event would you have loved to be at? Either historical or future?
I’m more interested in what happened in the past than what will happen in the future. I think I’d have liked to be at a debutante ball in the 1890s.
Do you have any other works in the making?
Love on Assignment, the second book in The Ladies of Summerhill series is coming out in January 2011. I can’t wait to see the cover! The Thomas Nelson folks did such a wonderful job on the cover of Love on a Dime, my first book, I’m hoping for another beautiful one. The working title for the third book is Love by the Book, but I haven’t started it yet. I’m not sure what I’ll write after that, but it’ll be historical. I have lots of fun ideas spinning around in my head.
And any last thoughts for your readers?
Yes! If you’re a writer keep on writing through all the ups and downs. For readers, I hope you enjoy stories that take you back in time to a very different and very interesting age. We still have so much in common with people from the past.
Thanks so much, Cara!!
Readers-Cara has offered to give one of you a copy of her book, Love On A Dime.
Please comment below for a chance to win it:)
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This giveaway ends 5/24. Winner will be chosen through Random.org.
29 comments:
I would love to read this, it looks great! Thanks for the chance. :)
I am a follower and my email in my profile
The cover is so cool! I would really like to read it! :)
I am a follower.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
God bless!
Kim
lonebanana(at)msn(dot)com
This is a new-to-me author, I'd love to read. I really like the cover too. Please enter me in your giveaway.
I'm a new follower!
Blessings,
Sandee61
Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com
Another new to me author and would love to read the book. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a great book.
I am a follower.
csdsksds[at]gmail[dot]com
This sounds really good.
hewella1 at gmail dot com
Neat! I am a follower!
Bill ;-)
billsmith2003 (at) gmail (dot) com
Hope you'll check out my book giveaway:
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-giveaway-dead-or-alive.html
http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/ Seek Followers, please stop by...
This book reminds me of where the moviw Dirty Dancing was filmed. Sounds like a great book. New author for me so have added to new author list. Thanks for the opportuninty to enter.
I am GFC follower
Follow on twitter (@misskallie2000)
tweet 5-17-10
misskallie2000 Win Love On A Dime byCara James @http://giveawaygal.blogspot.com/
less than 10 seconds ago via web
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Hey Charity,
Would love to read this. Please enter me into the giveaway.
estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com
I've also posted it on my FB
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=597185615
estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com
And I am already a google follower.
Thanx :)
estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com
Looks great!!
What an enticing cover! A woman with a book... I'd read that anytime. Please enter me into the giveaway!
Marian
mdperera at hotmail dot com
enter me :)
i want the book badly :)
liz_crowny@yahoo.com
I love to read, this looks like a great book
momvstheboys at gmail dot com
Sounds like an interesting book. (contact on blog profile)
Please enter me. I'm a follower. Thanks! bluerose_shelnut(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the chance to win!
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I'm a follower
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Love on a Dime has been on my wish list from the time it was first publicized and I appreciate the chance to win a copy.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
I'm also a follower of your blog, Charity.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
This looks like a great read. I am a follower!
Tammy
cluedn@embarqmail.com
I love historical fiction
adrianecoros(at)gmail.com
I would love to read this.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Looks like a book I would enjoy reading thanks
aunteegem@yahoo.com
follow blog as jelaws5
aunteegem@yahoo.com
The winner is... Casey!! Comment #1 Congratulations!!
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