A VISIT WITH CARRIE STUART PARKS

 

Join us today for a great interview with Carrie Stuart Parks. I met Carrie many years ago at an American Christian Fiction Writers conference, and we just hit it off. She is a fascinating writer with a great "Day Job" as a forensic artist. Check her website out for more details. She also raises Great Pyrenees! 

Now for our interview. We'll be talking about her book, Survival in the Mountains. Carrie is giving away a print copy so be sure to leave a comment.

Patricia: What sparked the first seed of this story—an image, a question, a character, or a “what if” moment?

Carrie: I think two things came together in my mind—one was the tricky sales claims of various products: “bestselling suntan oil” doesn’t mean it works, “Doctor recommended” could be a doctor of literature, “Over one million bottles sold” could mean there are a million chumps. There are a lot of ‘miracle’ products advertised that claim to cure anything from hangnails to cancer. What if someone wanted to exploit that? Add to that, when I was going through chemo for breast cancer, one of the chemo drugs came from the lowly yew tree. Soooooo, what if a couple of like-minded bad guys decided to exploit a common berry that could, supposedly, keep you looking young?

Patricia: Oh, wow! I love the way your mind works. What’s your favorite scene? And why. 

Carrie: Any scene with Izzy, the Bull Terrier.

Patricia: I can see that. :-) What keeps you at the keyboard, especially on days you would rather do something else?

Carrie: Deadlines.

Patricia: I'm with you there. Is there a part of the book that comes from your own life?

Carrie: I mentioned the chemo drug. Izzy—we’ve had bullies for 37 years. Idaho. Horseback riding. 

Patricia: How long does it usually take you to write a book from thought to finish?

Carrie: It used to take a year. Now more like 4 months.

Patricia: Deadlines usually make us write faster...or at least make writing a priority. What’s your favorite beverage? Coffee, tea or something else?

Carrie: Coffee and wine. 

Patricia: Ah, a girl after my own heart! What are you working on now?

Carrie: Edits for two books—Dead File Whispers and Tracked in the Wilderness

Patricia: Oh, wow, you are busy! Thanks for taking time to visit The Suspense Sisters Blog!

Be sure to check out Carrie's website and social media. She's giving away a copy of Survival in the Mountains to someone who leaves a comment on the blog. (US addresses only) You can ask Carrie a question or comment whether you've read any of Carrie's books. I've read Survival in the Mountains, and it is awesome!

You can connect with Carrie here:

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