Author InterviewI’ve always made-up stories. When I was younger and read a book, I didn’t like or thought the story should’ve turned out differently, I’d rewrite it in my head. Soon, my own stories formed, and I had to write them down.
I love a great, moving story that makes me think about the problems life throws at us and how we react. I also believe in happy endings. Humor is a big part of my day, and I try to find something positive, even in the worst of situations. Click on the Books link to read an excerpt of all available books. Which of your books was the easiest/hardest to write? The easiest book I’ve written to date is a Romantic Comedy, A Smoky Mountain Christmas. The story came easy and I loved the characters. They’re witty, flawed and loveable. Sandra Bullock was my inspiration for Tina, the heroine. My hero’s inspiration was Brad Pitt. What a combination! But they work. Perfect Match was fun to write, and I think the characters overcame a lot of obstacles before they reached a happy ending. Children are most always part of what I write. Perfect Match was an emotional story I wanted to write for those who lose a loved one. The hardest book I’ve written is Not My Own, which isn’t published as yet, but is scheduled for release the end of 2023. The story is very emotional. It contains a death scene that was hard to write, because as I write, I draw from my own experiences. It’s also about a child whose father dies and there isn’t anyone to care for him except a half-sister who had no idea he existed. Which of your books is your favorite? My favorite book so far is A Smoky Mountain Christmas. My next book will be my favorite, because as the characters lend me their story, I fall in love with each one. Which of your characters is your favorite? The one I’m writing at the moment. :) Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what way(s)? The character most like me right now is Tina the main character in A Smoky Mountain Christmas. I admire her feisty ways and her spunk. She knows what she wants and she goes after it. I haven’t found a character yet that isn’t like me in some way. Maybe only a little, but I believe we all put part of ourselves into our stories. How can we not? Do you write from an outline or just write? Most of the time a full-blown character forms along with a sketchy portion of a story. Once I let the characters and ideas jell, I outline a plot. What would your ideal career be, if you couldn’t be an author? An artist. I paint, but haven’t painted in a few years, I’ve always loved the feel of a brush in my hand moving over canvas. On the other hand, being a grandmother is a wonderful career! If you were to do your career as an author again, what would you do differently, and why? The first thing I’d do is to have taken myself more seriously much, much sooner. But, as they say about song writers, you must live the life; you must experience pain and love, before you can truly tell the story. It’s a given that the best stories come from the heart. Do you have a new book coming out soon? Christmas in the Country Christmas in the Country will be available December 2022. Kami Waters is a strong, independent woman. She’d built her exclusive client list through hard work and long hours devoted to the Baker, Rabun, & Roberts Law Firm of Atlanta, to attain partner. She’d done whatever it took and let nothing stand in her way. Nothing. Legally that is. Ignored, once again, in favor of becoming partner, she’d had enough. She’d chosen to attain a leave of absence from the firm, while she considered her future. As she reflected over the years at the firm, pleasure in her position and as emptiness pooled. She wasn’t happy in her current situation, but where was she headed? There had to be more to life than committing herself to nothing but a position that offered too little contentment. Precise in her previous decisions, yet in many ways neglectful, she’d allowed herself to fall astray into the world of hustle and bustle. It was time to end the merry-go-round. Stranded at the isolated country Overlook Country Inn, where she has no desire to be, before long she realizes what her life is missing. Home, family, and love. *** Burned-out ER physician Cal Nelson, and single-father to an eleven-year-old daughter, Alana, had made a similar choice of his own. A year after his wife had passed away, he’d turned his back on a successful medical practice to purchase the Overlook Country Inn in the North Georgia mountains. Two years into running the Inn, he, Alana and the business were doing well. What he hadn’t expected was to encounter lovely Kami Waters during a shutdown snowstorm. She may be the one to cause him to consider going forward. Not My Own is in its last edit. I hope to publish it by 2023. Excerpt Not My Own After nine years of being estranged from her father, Megan Phillips now faces the second most difficult time in her life. The man who hurt her the most, has summoned her back to Vail, Colorado, and her childhood home. Even in death, her father dishes out the last word. One thing she knows for sure is, she won't allow her father to dictate her future from the grave. Either Megan obtains responsibility for Adam, a seven-year-old brother she hadn’t known existed, or she loses a vast inheritance. Megan wants nothing from her father, and refuses the inheritance. But, her father's love child has nothing to do with the rift between her and her father. She won't abandon Adam without placing him with family or in a good home. Unable to locate the mother and after finding out the boy's grandparents are only after Adam's inheritance, her search ends. Megan's life is altered in ways she never dreamed. Then, there’s her father's lawyer, the hunky Bret Evans. A bachelor, all business, Bret is married to his law practice. Love and a family of his own is far down the ladder of achievements. Megan, the woman who catches his eye from the start, could be the one who removes a few rungs in his ladder. Whatever will Megan do with a man who makes her forget she never wanted children, a family? The man who takes her breath away. Megan testified against Robert Randall for abusing his children. He’s out of prison now, begins stalking Megan, and finds out she has a son. Or so he thinks. Adam is actually her brother who Megan has taken custody of after her father’s death. Randall is bent on taking Adam from her since she sealed his fate with her testimony at his trial, and he lost his children, then went to prison. Hidden in the shadows and bent on revenge, is a man Megan helped put away for abusing his children. Now it's payback time. ______________________________________ I also have several short stories and a children’s story to publish soon. |
Carol's a wife, mom and grandmother. She's won numerous awards in short story publication. She lives in the sunny South with her husband who patiently awaits his time away from her writing. Carol has an amazing son, who is a remarkable writer, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and is blessed with two awesome grandchildren.
Carol loves to read and write about life's complications, and is a believer in happy endings. She thinks they happen with commitment, understanding, forgiveness, love, laughter, giving, sacrifice, and being willing to expose one' s inner self. She loves a great story that makes her think about the problems life throws at us and how we react. She believes in happy endings. Humor is a big part of her daily routine, because if she can't laugh at herself, then she has a boring day. Yes, she laughs a lot! Where to find Carol DeVaney online http://authorsofmainstreet.wordpress.com/ http://www.caroldevaney.weebly.com http://www.caroldevaney.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/carol.devaney http://twitter.com/caroldevaney |
Copyright ©2022 by Carol DeVaney
All rights reserved. These novels, stories and any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
All rights reserved. These novels, stories and any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.