In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, I welcome Deborah Clack to discuss her debut novel, Even After This, a book 13 years in the making. Deborah shares her journey of perseverance in the face of countless rejections, the heartfelt and humorous elements within her story, and the challenges she encountered bringing her characters to life. The novel revolves around a widow's unexpected encounter with a Hollywood actor at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, blending romance, comedy, and deep emotional healing. Deborah reflects on her growth as a storyteller, the importance of certain scenes, and offers insights into what readers and book clubs might find engaging. Follow Deborah on her website, Instagram, and join her newsletter community for more behind-the-scenes content.

You can learn more about Deborah and her books at her website: https://www.deborahclack.com/

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

Show Notes:

Exploring 'The Broken Weathervane' with Laura DeNooyer

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, host Cara Putman interviews Laura de Noyer about her latest novel, 'The Broken Weathervane.' Laura shares her background as an art and writing teacher from Wisconsin, her experience as a mother of four, and her journey as an author of three published novels. She explains how her latest book was inspired by her family’s history and discusses the themes and symbols present in the story, particularly focusing on mental health. The conversation also covers Laura's writing process, her interactions with book clubs, and her favorite lines from the novel. Laura encourages listeners to visit her website and sign up for her newsletter to stay connected.

You can learn more about Laura and her books at her website: https://lauradenooyer-author.com/

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:18 Meet Laura de Noyer

01:06 Laura's Road Trip Adventures

02:01 The Inspiration Behind 'The Broken Weathervane'

03:38 Themes and Symbols in the Book

05:35 Leslie's Journey and Challenges

06:49 Laura's Writing Journey

09:18 Finding Inspiration for Stories

11:09 Engaging with Book Clubs

12:26 Lightning Round: Quick Questions

14:30 Favorite Line and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, Cara interviews debut author Kristine Delano as she launches her novel, The Lies We Trade. Kristine shares her journey from a 20-year career on Wall Street to becoming an author. They discuss the inspiration behind her book, including the complexities of female mentorship, the intriguing dynamic of high-stakes finance, and how personal experiences shaped her characters. Kristine delves into her writing process, the importance of accurate research, and balancing plot development with authentic character engagement. They also touch on Kristine's influences, her favorite childhood book, and insights into the publishing journey.

Order The Lies We Trade everywhere books are sold! Learn more about Kristine and her books at her website: https://kristinedelano.com/

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

In today's episode of Book Talk, I get to introduce you to my friend Emily Conrad who writes wonderful contemporary romance filled with depth, faith, and small town. In Risking His Heart, she's woven together tropes like best friends to love with a small town setting. But Emily's also wrestling with the very real life issue of what happens when one door gets shut. With this book she found that she had the plot, but not the emotional content, which is very different from what usually happens, and forced her to dig really deep in the edits. I can tell you from the Emily Conrad books I've read, her characters wrestle with real life issues while finding love.

I loved hearing how Emily knew she was a writer — she wrote poetry before she knew her letters. That's some serious early talent! But it also shows an early inclination for words — something that many of the authors I chat with talk about — but not all! She'd also tell others that it's okay if the process takes a long time. Things are still happening in the background.

Connect with Emily Conrad

Facebook | Instagram | X

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, I get to chat with historical fiction author Michelle Shocklee about her new novel, The Women of Oak Ridge. Shockley shares her background, inspiration for the book, and insights into the historical context of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during World War II. Our discussion delves into her research process, the dual timelines of the novel, and the challenging technical subjects involved. Michelle discusses her writing routine, research joys, and her journey to becoming a published author, including the importance of support from mentors like Tracy Peterson. The episode wraps up with some fun questions about Michelle's writing habits and how she celebrates a book release.

Connect with Michelle Shocklee

Facebook | Instagram | X | Blog

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

Do you ever meet someone and just click? That's what happened when I hopped on the call with Sheila Roberts. She writes novels that are contemporary mysteries set in a larger community. You can tell from the cover that they have humor and fun. It only takes a few minutes of chatting with Shelia to see how much that fun comes from her personality and perspective on life.

The Man Next Door is her most recent novel, and the idea dropped into her mind like so many do. It's a twist on Alfred Hitchcock with an unreliable narrator and multigenerational family dynamics. She wants to tell a good story that pulls readers in with its cast of characters and layers. This book does exactly that. She's been creating stories since she was a child, telling herself bedtime stories.

I hope you enjoy our conversation and learning more about her books and writing process.

Connect with Sheila Roberts

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

In this episode of 'Book Talk with Cara,' I interview Nicole Baart about her newest book, Where He Left Me. Nicole shares insights into her background, inspiration for the book, and her writing process. The conversation reveals Nicole's melding of personal experiences and creative what-ifs that shaped the suspenseful, nature-versus-man story set at a remote cabin. We discuss the challenges older women face, highlighting the protagonist Sadie's mid-life turmoil and struggle for survival. Nicole also touches on the balancing act between writing and family life, sharing how she finds time to write among her responsibilities as a mother of five. I loved talking with Nicole about research, inspirations from astronomy, and the intricacies of writing mystery and suspense.

We concluded our chat with a light-hearted conversation about our favorite sparkling water flavors and Nicole’s social media presence, where fans can connect with her.

Connect with Nicole Baart

X | Facebook | Instagram

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

In this engaging episode of Book Talk with Cara, host Cara Putman welcomes author Ann Swindell to discuss her latest novel, Love in the Castle Library, the second book in her Christmas series. Anne shares the joys of transitioning from non-fiction to fiction, creating the imaginary kingdom of Leathersby, and blending this fictional world with the real-life charm of Oxford, England. They delve into the challenges of writing dual perspectives and developing rich, believable characters. Anne also talks about her process and gives hints about the upcoming third book in the series. Topics include character development, integrating real-world inspiration into fiction, and tips for writing a compelling series.

Connect with Ann Swindell

Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!