Interview with Mystery Romance Author Carole Brown

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, with another one releasing this month, 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?

Welcome to my blog, Carole. This month we're discussing Christmas novels. Please tell us about your Romantic Mystery: Sabotaged Christmas.

Toni DeLuca, the Italian owner of DeLuca Construction, finds herself confronted with doubts about her father and his possible deceptions—all because of the mysterious pink notes she’s receiving.

Relations with Perrin Douglas who has a troubled history—but the first man in years who’s interested her—is building to a peak. Yet Perrin's own personal problems and his doubts about women and God, keep getting in the way.

Gossip, a Spanish proposal, an inheritance, and a sabotaged construction business all converge to play a part in ruining Christmas for Toni’s employees. Will the mysterious person behind it all succeed in pulling off the biggest scam Appleton, West Virginia has ever seen? Will this culprit destroy Toni’s last chance at happiness with the man of her dreams?

Buy the book here.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story, Carole?

I first began planning a series of romance novels for my agent to propose to a certain publishing group, but eventually realized they needed to be romantic mysteries. I dreamed about a small town in WV with three friends, their loves, and their mysteries. I also wanted each female protagonist to own/work at/etc. somewhere unique or interesting. Sabotaged Christmas was the first with Antoinetta (Toni) DeLuca serving as the protagonist.

What followed were books about two close friends of Toni's: 

• Knight in Shining Apron, Book 2, with Starli Cameron, restaurant owner even though she can't cook (and ice skater), and Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, chef and a British knight!
• Undiscovered Treasures, Book 3, with Caroline Gibson who co-owns Undiscovered Treasures, an antique, collectible and junk shop, and Andrew Carrington, an up-and-coming artist who adores Caroline but gets no encouragement from that fair maiden!

I received so much encouragement about this series that I've expanded to include three main male protagonists, their mysteries and romance:

• Next up in this series will be: Toby's Troubles (Tobias Leelyn Gibson), the brother of Caroline, who is caught up with solving his own small town mystery of a hidden, dark secret...and the love of his life.

Also, we've traveled so much in West Virginia and met many of its friendly inhabitants that it seemed the perfect setting for this series. Small town America, with friendly, down home people, simple, but fun lives, yet who yearn for more and face their own set of problems.

What kind of research did you do?

For this book, I researched carpentry, apples, restaurants, designed houses, Italian tidbits, inheritances, and other things. As always, I love research and get lost in the details!

I certainly understand what you mean about research. It can be so fun. Tell me about one of the main characters and what you love about him or her?

Perrin Douglas is a smart, handsome man with a young son. He has a particular longing to be left alone to write during his hiatus from working as a history professor back in his hometown. With a deceased wife who was everything she shouldn't have been, it isn't easy for him to trust and grow close to another woman. Yet something about Toni DeLuca's warmth and genuine-ness draws him. His son loves the woman, so why can he not let loose and do the same? Perrin's reluctance and eventual yielding to love, shows what the wrong relationship can do to an individual and the struggles people go through to overcome those situations.

Your story sounds intriguing. Where is your website and blog so my readers can check out your recent and past books that you have written?

Personal blog: Sunnybank Secrets - where readers can follow my blog and/or sign up for my newsletter

Amazon Author Page: where readers can learn about my books and/or follow me

Stitches in Time

Word Sharpeners

  

Thank you for this informative interview, Carole. I hope my readers will check out your books. Here are some additional links about Carole below.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=67381031

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts