I am beyond excited to host my dear friend and mentor Cara Putman on The Writer's Alley today! I was privileged to be a first reader for Cara's new book, and it hooked me right from the start. Please help me welcome Cara to the Alley today! -- Ashley
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1) Tell us a little bit about
yourself (and why you're nicknamed superwoman).
That
nickname is definitely one I didn’t give myself! But I guess I’ve earned it
because I’m an attorney who teaches graduate business law classes at a Big Ten
business school and write books. Add in being a homeschooling mother to four
great kids, finding time with my husband, and activities – well, life gets full
– in the best way of course!
2) What inspired your new release,
Shadowed by Grace?
I
stumbled across a non-fiction book about the Monuments Men at our local
library. As I read the story of this elite group of men’s efforts to save
western civilization during World War II, I was captivated. It didn’t take long
to know I wanted to write novels with these men in them…and I decided to start
at the beginning which meant Italy!
3) How is Shadowed by Grace
similar to the movie Monuments Men?
Both
are about the efforts of the Monuments Men during WWII. But my book focuses on
what they did in Italy: Naples, Rome, and up into Florence, while the movie
highlights pieces of what they did in Paris, Belgium and Germany.
Well, and Matt Damon and George
Clooney were in the movie!
4) What types of research did you do
to make this setting come alive?
Gobs!
I literally have a stack of books because I had a lot to learn about the war in
Italy, the roles of the Monuments Men there, and what it was like for the
Italians. I was thrilled to find a copy of an out of print book written by one
of the Monuments Men in Italy at Purdue University. That meant I was able to
build the timeline of the last 1/3 of the book around what they really did in
and around Florence. I also found books about the women journalists in WWII and a great anecdote about what happened in the Rome newsroom when the D-Day
announcement came through. I loved finding those details to add richness to the
novel.
I
hope readers will leave the story with a reminder that God’s grace will find
them. That He cares deeply about them even when they feel overlooked or
abandoned by those around them.
6) Many of our readers are
unpublished. What advice would you give for writers who are still seeking
publication and/or an agent?
Hie
thee to a writing conference. Seriously, I would not be published (at least not
as many books as I have) without the connections I made and workshops I
attended. I attend ACFW each year.
7) You're very active in ACFW. Would
you say involvement in a writing group like ACFW can open doors for writers
pursuing publishing?
Absolutely!
The first piece of advice I received from Colleen Coble when I started writing
was to join ACFW. There I found a community of people who understand what it is
to chase a dream as impossible as publishing. They also mentored me and coached
me, and now I get to do the same thing for other aspiring writers.
8) What's your favorite quote from Shadowed by Grace?
“God
has shadowed her life with His grace, even when she didn’t know to look for
Him.” Or “We are defined by what we love and respect.”
About Cara
Cara C.
Putman graduated high school at 16, college at 20, and
completed her law degree at 27. An award-winning author of seventeen books with
more on the way, she is active in women's ministry at her church and is a
lecturer on business and employment law to graduate students at Purdue University’s
Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and is a
second-generation homeschooling mom. Putman is currently pursuing her Master’s in
Business Administration at Krannert. She serves on the executive board of
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in
various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in
Indiana. You can connect with her online at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caraputman
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cara_putman
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/caraputman
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CaraPutman
Purchase links:
Christianbook.com:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1141766&item_no=681783
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadowed-by-grace-cara-putman/1115951174?ean=9781433681783
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433681781/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1433681781&linkCode=as2&tag=carput-20
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadowed-by-grace-cara-putman/1115951174?ean=9781433681783
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433681781/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1433681781&linkCode=as2&tag=carput-20
About the book
Rachel
Justice is desperate to save her dying mother. She doesn’t want to leave her,
but she accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy and photograph
war images. No one knows her photography is a cover and that Rachel is really
seeking to find the father she never knew, hopeful to get some help with her
failing mother. Dedicated to her mission, Rachel is focused on completing it.
Soon, though, she finds her priorities and plans changing when she is assigned
to Lt. Scott Lindstrom, on mission as a Monument Man. Their meeting will have
far-reaching consequences. Will this derail her plans? Will she ever find her
father? Is her faith enough to carry her through?
You can read the first chapter
here: http://caraputman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Shadowed-by-Grace-chapter-excerpt.pdf
Welcome, Cara! SO good to have you here today!
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I'm feeling exhausted after reading that bio. Working, homeschooling, writing prolifically AND studying... all at once?? How is that even humanly possible?! Pick any two of those simultaneously and it'd be enough to wipe me out. I think I need to go take a nap.... ;)
So yes, I'm pretty sure the title of superwoman is well deserved! Celebrating with you on your new release!
YAY!!! It's the beautiful and talented Cara Putman!!!! SO happy to see you here today!
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved your answers to the questions. I think you truly are Superwoman. I'm in awe of you!
(And we still need to have that phone call I forgot about...because I was making an offer on a house ;-)
Pepper, I would love to have that phone call :-)
ReplyDeleteKaren, thanks for having me. It's always fun to join the Alley! Enjoy you guys.
Cara,
ReplyDeleteThe quote you left as your favorite is very inspiring.
Speaking as a reader, we never truly understand the mountain of research behind a work like this.
Speaking as a writer, I could never convey fully the fun I have doing all the research behind my work.
What both reader and writer benefit from is the story, traveling back in time, and learning some of the "rest of the story."
Thank's Cara. Looks like a fab read.
Cara, I met you briefly through the Newcomers group for ACFW 2012, and I was blessed by your passion and humility.
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds fascinating. I loved the movie, Monuments Men. I think I'm going to have to get a hold of your book. It's fun to hear how God brought you that out-of-print book, an anecdote and other things to make your novel richer.
Thanks for sharing your insights for us aspiring writers too. :) Very helpful!
Mary, I love the research, too. Almost too much! And Jeanne, thank you! I love helping newcomers to ACFW. and I hope you do track down Shadowed by Grace -- it was a fun book to write and the reader feedback has been great!
ReplyDeleteoh and Pepper, superwoman is a title I wear uncomfortably. I'm only doing what God's put in front of me like so many other people :-)
ReplyDeleteJeanne, I know you'll love the book!
ReplyDeleteAnd Pepper, you don't have much room to talk! I'm pretty sure you've got some super powers going on yourself!
Cara, so thrilled to have you! :)
Thanks so much for hosting me, Ashley. I appreciate you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this interesting information
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