INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR C.C. WARRENS

Jesus and laughter have brought C.C. Warrens through some very difficult times in life, and she weaves both into every story she writes, creating a world of breath-stealing intensity, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sparkle of hope. Writing has been a slowly blossoming dream inside her for most of her life until one day it spilled out onto the pages that would become her first published book.

If she’s not writing, she’s attempting to bake something—however catastrophic that might be—or she’s enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her husband. One of the many things she’s learned since she started this journey is that the best way to write a book is to go on a long stroll with her husband. That is when the characters—from their backgrounds to the moments that make them laugh or bubble over with anger—come to life.

**Disclaimer from the author**

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery or romantic comedy with an ending wrapped up in a nice little bow, well . . . these books aren’t for you. My books are intended to reflect the real world—a world that is messy, terrifying, wonderful, and sprinkled with humor. My hope is that these books will touch someone who has been through something traumatic and remind them that even in our darkest moments, God is with us.

INTERVIEW

1. Tell us about your upcoming release.

Crossroads is the fifth installment in the Holly Novels, which center around Holly Cross, a young woman with a traumatic past and a magnetism for trouble and broken people. In Crossroads, she and her friend, Jordan, are searching for her foster sister, Cassie, who went missing fifteen years ago. But their investigation leads them into the mountains and straight into the path of danger. Their search for Cassie turns into a fight for survival as they are hunted across the mountainside by men with chilling intentions.

2. What was your inspiration for this book?

As a child, there was a man in my life who used religion as a means of control and manipulation, and he twisted it however he saw fit. It left me very confused. There are religious leaders today who do that, leading people down the wrong path. We need to arm ourselves against it, and equip ourselves to recognize it so we can protect ourselves and others. That was part of the inspiration for this story.

3. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I’m in the author minority here, but I love editing. I call it refining, because I’m taking something rough and polishing it into something better. But it’s just so satisfying.

Your least favorite?

My least favorite part is the formatting and publishing process as well as the blurb. How can I condense a 400 page book into two attention-grabbing paragraphs!?

4. Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.

A. My height apparently surprises people. Typically, the first main character an author writes is loosely based on themselves. I’m almost five-nine, but my main character, Holly, is barely five-one, and it causes her no end of inconvenience and frustration. I did so much research to get her height challenges accurate that my readers all assumed I must be writing from experience.

B. I had no idea Christian fiction existed when I wrote my first Christian suspense novel, and I was worried it wouldn’t have a home in the fiction world.

C. I wrote a character who is addicted to sugary sweets and junk food, but I don’t eat either. My cabinets and refrigerator are filled with nutritious foods.

5. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Walking is my favorite activity. I love being outside in nature. But I also enjoy designing T-shirts and stickers.

6. What are you working on now?

I’m working on an audiobook at the moment, as well as a children’s book.

7. Where can your readers learn more about you?

I’m most likely to share short life stories and book updates in my newsletter, and the sign-up for that can be found on my website: https://cc-warrens.com

Books can be found:
Amazon 
Author website

Social Media:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

I also have a reader group created where my readers can chat (C.C. Warren’s Readers: mysteries, mischief, and marshmallows):

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