Robin Caroll

Today it is my great pleasure to host a wonderful friend and her book. I remember critting this book as she was writing it and thinking it rocked even then.

Book blurb: A beautiful yet tough woman working in a beautiful yet tough setting. Brannon Callahan is a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (a man already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child-trafficking ring in history — with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee — will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail. Interview:

Hi, Heather. Thanks for hosting me..always a pleasure to hang out with one of my buds!

So, we've already heard how you got the idea for the book, all the research you did, and all that jazz. What I want to know is...which character do you most relate to?

Well, I could be noble and say Brannon, since she is the heroine, but honestly, I mostly related to the villain. LOL I tend to do that...don't know why. (And no smart comments from you, Heather) What I try to do when creating a villain is make them basically a good person, but whose life has gotten out of control and they're put in a desperate situation where they have to act on what's driving them--greed, love, jealousy, etc. I think everyone can relate to those emotions. It's how we act on them that makes characters either heroes or villains.

No smart comments? really? That's just wrong on so many levels... Okay, which character did you least relate to?

It was most difficult for me to go into Mai's pov, for several reasons. One, it wiped me out emotionally. Two, I was writing from a tween's pov. Three, I was writing from a foreigner's pov. But I think they're some of the strongest scenes in the book.

Now for some personal stuff. Dream you had as a child?

To be a best-selling author. Seriously.

In times of trials, lean further on faith or drift away?

Lean further on faith.

Moment of heartbreak....go to the phone or go to the throne?

Depends on how heartbreaking. Most often, phone and throne both. LOL

You've just realized your childhood dream. What's the first thing you do?

Uh, cry?

Best memory of your writing journey?

Hanging out with all my buds at ACFW conferences.

Always a blast to hangout with you! Finish this statement....If I could accomplish just one thing in my writing career, it would be....

to bring someone to Christ or to strengthen someone's faith.

Worst memory of your writing journey?

First rejection letter. I was so sure my story was awesome. LOL Boy, was I wrong. That first rejection letter STUNG.

Robin Thank you so much for coming by to hangout.

Thanks, Heather, for hosting me. It's fun to hang out with you!

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a Southern through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s books have placed/finaled in such contests as Bookseller’s Best, Book of the Year, and Reviewer’s Choice Award. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty years, her three beautiful daughters, and their four character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else? An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals! To learn more about this author of deep South mysteries of suspense to inspire your heart, visit Robin’s website at www.robincaroll.com.

Dineen, Robin & me