Interview with Cara Putman by Sandra Robbins
Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. For years she asked God if this dream was from Him. Her life was full. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), moved to the Washington, DC area, married the man of her dreams, worked in the non-profit world, went to George Mason Law School at night while working, and then started having children. While her life was far from empty, the dream wouldn't die. Then she followed her husband to Indiana. Talk about starting over! In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara's been writing books.
Heartsong Presents is publishing a three book series of World War Two romances: Canteen Dreams (October 2007), Sandhill Dreams (May 2008), and Captive Dreams (September 2008). Love Inspired Suspense published her first romantic suspense in May 2008. Now she's working on the Complete Idiot's Guide to Business Law (don't ask!) and the first book in an Ohio World War Two series.
Cara is also an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, women's ministry leader, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is.
Q: It's good to have you at The Suspense Zone, Cara. I know you're a busy woman, and we appreciate your stopping by to chat with us. To start with could you give us some background on where you grew up, went to school, etc.?
A: Thanks for having me. I love being a part of the Suspense Zone, and it's fun being on the other side of the computer. I'm a woman living a dream God planted in her heart years ago.
An honors graduate of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!) and George Mason Law School, I'm a licensed attorney in Virginia and Indiana. I clerked for the Honorable Loren Smith at the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. before following my husband to Indiana.
In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. At the book signing Eric told Colleen Coble that I wanted to be writer. I've been running ever since to keep up. Barbour's Heartsong Presents line released my first book, Canteen Dreams, a WWII historical set in Nebraska, last fall. Sandhill Dreams releases in May 2008 followed by Captive Dreams in September 2008. Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense is releasing my first romantic suspense Deadly Exposure in May 2008.
I'm also an attorney, wife, mom to a 7 year old, four year old and one on the way, homeschool teacher, occasional professor at Purdue, women's ministry leader, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband and my kids that is.
Q: Are you a full time writer or do you have another job also?
A: I have a couple part time jobs. I have stepped back from actively practicing law, but still work with a firm in Lafayette on special projects. I also teach Business Law at Purdue. So I get to do several things I enjoy, without focusing completely on one or another.
Q: Have you always had the desire to write or is it something that's developed in the last few years?
A: It's been a desire since I was a child. Several of my early attempts are enshrined on my dad's old computers. But I didn't start actively pursuing writing until 2005 when I met Colleen Coble. At that time God told me to knock the dust off this dream. I've been running ever since to keep up.
Q; I was present at that ACFW conference when you received your first contract from Barbour. How did you feel when you heard your name announced from the stage as a recipient of a three book contract?
A: It was an amazing and humbling experience. To receive that first contract in front of so many accomplished people was a kiss from heaven. It also felt like very public confirmation that I was to keep pursuing this dream. It was also very humbling, because I know there were many other people in the room who have worked as hard and longer and are still waiting for their day.
Q: You started out writing historical fiction. What made you decide to move into the romantic suspense genre?
A: I've always wanted to write romantic suspense. That's what kept drawing me back to writing for years. I love writing World War Two fiction, but honestly can't imagine right now writing any other time period. Instead, I go to random events and find ideas for suspense plots all over.
So while I love the historical fiction I've written, I love the twists and turns in suspense to. I may straddle both genres for awhile, but see myself long term in suspense.
Q: Some novelists like to have every detail in place before they begin writing and others may have a general idea of where they're going with a story. When you began Deadly Exposure, how did you approach plotting a suspense novel?
A: I knew the inciting incident and started writing. Now proposals I'm working on currently are pretty well outlined, but Deadly Exposure was different. I learned as I wrote. The ironic thing is as I got to the last 20 pages and was praying about the ending, I thought one person had done it. As I prayed I decided to change that. The great thing was I'd written the book in such a way that very little had to change. Subconsciously, I think I knew all along that the other guy was a red herring.
Q: We hear lots of discussion about what's acceptable and what's not in CBA. In Deadly Exposure your heroine is dealing with guilt over having given up her child for adoption. Did you experience any opposition for writing about a very real problem for many women in today's society?
A: None at all, and I was braced for it. That layer actually came as my editor pushed me to add more to the romantic plot line. Because of the tight timeline in the book - it all takes place in one week - I had to find conflict between the hero and heroine that rang true. How could they realistically fall in love in one week? As I prayed about it, I kept getting this plot line. And I kept asking, are You sure? I fully expected the plot to get kicked back, but also knew it was the right twist. The scenes practically wrote themselves and were powerful. Fortunately, my editor agreed. And it added all kinds of layers of conflict to the romance.
Q: What projects are you working on now? Are you returning to historical fiction, or can your fans expect more suspense and intrigue from you in the future?
A: I have a proposal for book two and three in to Love Inspired Suspense. I really want to write Tricia and Logan's stories! I also have a second World War Two series that I'm working on that will release beginning in 2009.
Q: I understand you have another production about to take place. When do you expect the arrival of the latest addition to your family?
A: Any day now. We've already been to the hospital once, so I'm praying sometime this week, but before the due date of May 16.
Q: What advice would you give to writers just starting out to encourage them in their journey to publication?
A: Attend writing conferences like ACFW, join critique group so you can learn and help others, and sit down at your computer on a consistent basis and write. That's the only way a book will be completed so you can try to sell it. And don't forget to pray for God's wisdom, favor and direction.
Thanks for taking time to let our readers get to know you better. We'll all be watching for what mystery and mayhem you're cooking up for Logan and Tricia in the next books from Love Inspired.
Susan Sleeman
is passionate about Christian Suspense as both a reader and a writer. She is the author of High-Stakes Inheritance, a romantic suspense novel to be released in September by Love Inspired Suspense an imprint of Steeple Hill Publishers and Nipped in the Bud, a cozy mystery in October from Barbour Publishing.
Read more about Susan's. . .
Christian Suspense
To Die For
©2006-10
Susan Sleeman
Susan Sleeman
