I’m happy to welcome Carole
Brown, one of Stitches Thru Time’s contributors, to a Sit Down Saturday
interview about her newest book due out in early November. Can you tell us a
bit about your book, Carole?
Thank you so much, Catherine,
for allowing me to share a bit about my writing.
With Music in Their Hearts is a WWII romantic (light) suspense; the first book of
three, and each one about a red-headed sister, a spy, and their lives. It’s set
during World War II, but this novel is about Tyrell and Emma Jaine’s romance
and Tyrell serving as a spy in a way he didn’t anticipate or want. I captured
the flavor of the period by the unique phrases and touches of radio programs,
dress and events that I used.
Here’s a blurb about the
book:
Angry at being rejected
for military service, Minister Tyrell Walker accepts the call to serve
as a civilian spy within his own country. Across the river from Cincinnati,
Ohio, a spy working for a foreign country is stealing secret plans for newly
developed ammunition to be used in the war. According to his FBI cousin, this
spy favors pink stationery giving strong indications that a woman is involved.
He’s instructed to obtain
a room in the Rayner Boarding House run by the lovely, spunky red-haired Emma
Jaine Rayner. Sparks of jealousy and love fly between them immediately even
as they battle suspicions that one or the other is not on the up and up.
While Tyrell searches for
the murdering spy who reaches even into the boarding home, Emma Jaine struggles
with an annoying renter, a worried father (who could be involved in this spy
thing), and two younger sisters who are very different but just as strong
willed as she is.
As Tyrell works to keep
his double life a secret and locate the traitor, he refuses to believe that
Emma Jaine could be involved even when he sees a red-haired woman in the arms
of another man. Could the handsome and svelte banker who’s also determined to
win Emma Jaine’s hand for marriage, be the dangerous man he’s looking for? Is
the trouble-making renter who hassles Emma Jaine serving as a flunky? Worse, is
Papa Rayner so worried about his finances and keeping his girls in the style
they’re used to, that he’ll stoop to espionage?
Will their love survive the
danger and personal issues that arise to hinder the path of true love?
Sounds interesting. Why
did you choose a WWII setting?
My mother has always been a
wonderful friend, listening and encouraging me. I loved seeing her pictures and
hearing stories of when she was young. That period piqued my interest. I wanted
to write something from that era. An elderly friend of ours wrote a small book
about a young man serving as a civilian spy during that time. I took that
thought and developed it into the plot in With Music in Their Hearts.
It’s such a romantic,
beautiful time. Loyalty and sacrifice was all the rage. Men gallant in their
military attire, women strong in their determination to fill their men’s shoes
and letting their men go off to fight on foreign soil. Hats and square
shoulders. Pleated skirts. Tons of songs about the war and love and fighting
and winning. Close families. Early marriages. A world torn apart by greed but
kept together by the thread of love and strength and courage.
A nostalgic time to look back
upon.
Gotta love those hats and dresses.
They’re so different from the clothes of today. Did you come across any
interesting research while writing this book?
Oh, yes! I lived in
Cincinnati for a short period, but it’s been awhile back. I wanted to brush up
on buildings and the town during WWII. Here are a few tidbits of information I
enjoyed, although I didn’t necessarily use all of them in the book:
Ÿ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dubbed Cincinnati the “Queen
City of the west.”
Ÿ Cincinnati was the first city in America to have a
professional baseball team, then known as the Red Stockings, later renamed as
the Reds.
Ÿ In the late 1800's, William Proctor and James Gamble
established the company known as Proctor and Gamble.
Do you have a favorite
character in this book? Why?
I loved them all, even the
bad ones. How often does that happen? The book was a delight to write and
probably my easiest one to develop. Since I do love them all, I’ll pick out a
secondary character who was fun to describe.
Gertrude (Gertie to her friends!) Hanover: a garrulous,
always over-decked, speak-your-mind elderly lady boarding in the Rayner
Boarding Home. She doesn’t mind showing her scorn of those filled with
self-drama, but is loyal, sweet (in a round about way) to those she loves, and
tough as nails when she has to be. She brought color and fun to the pages. I do
hope she appears in book two and three! J
She sounds like a real
character. I know you’ve written in a lot of different genres. Do you have one
you like best?
Suspense with a touch of
romance is ALWAYS my favorite. Most times all my stories carry some measure of
suspense.
Ÿ The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman was a women’s fiction but captured strong elements of
both suspense and romance.
Ÿ Hog Insane, the
first book in the Denton and Alex Davies series, held mystery and suspense
along with their romantic married situation.
Ÿ With Music in Their Hearts carries a lighter suspense, but it’s there. The
romance between Emma Jaine Rayner and Tyrell is strong and alive!
Probably anything I write
will hold a certain bit of suspense or mystery since I grew up reading all the
mysteries I could get my hands on. It’s flavored my life, interests and reading
until it seems a real part of me.
I’ve read The
Redemption of Caralynne Hayman and Hog
Insane on my TBR pile. I bought it just because I loved the title!
Thanks for being with us
today, Carole.
With Music in Their Hearts
releases November 2014! Check out Carole’s personal links below to keep in
touch for availability. Then look for it on Amazon and other online stores. Her
Book Launch is scheduled for November 10 on facebook. Just type in “With Music
in Their Hearts” and join in on the fun. Great prizes, games, and lots of
contests will be featured!
Author Bio: Carole Brown not only has
her award winning (Laurel Award finalist, Selah finalist; Genesis
semi-finalist) debut novel, The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, available for
purchase now, but also a companion book called West Virginia Scrapbook: From
the Life of Caralynne Hayman, filled with tidbits of information about West
Virginia, quotes, recipes from West Virginia and from Caralynne’s life,
pictures and discussion questions for the novel.
November,
2013, the first book in her mystery series, Hog Insane, released. It’s a fun,
lighthearted novel introducing the characters, Denton and Alex Davies.
Releasing
November, 2014, is the first book in a new WWII romantic suspense series: With
Music In Their Hearts. Three red-headed sisters. Three spies. Three stories.
Besides
being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown
enjoys mentoring beginning writers. 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?
Connect
with her here:
I
also am part of several other blogs:
