Today my guest is Carole Brown. Carole is an active participant of many writing groups and an author of ten books. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio. They enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?
Carol has LOTS of links.
Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browncarole212/?hl=en
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts
Stitches in Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/
Here’s what Carol has to say about what goes on in her head when she’s writing.
I don’t always know my characters fully when I begin a novel, but Toby really popped into view as I wrote.
Bring in a ghost? I wasn’t sure if it would turn off readers, but the doubts disappeared when I posted a short survey asking readers what they thought.
A ghost? Seriously? Who, in this modern age and day, believes in ghosts? Rustling noises, light bumps, eerie sounds in the night, and small disturbances all pointed to the fact that a ghost was visiting Undiscovered Treasures, but was Tobias (better known as Toby) Lee Gibson having any of it? Nope! After all, it was kind of fun sneaking down the stairs in the middle of the night with only a flashlight for a weapon…and a light.
I didn’t want to have him too frivolous, but coming up with some serious interests for him broadened his personality. Being the director of the community theater encouraged Toby toward the dramatic—especially in things of the real world. So a ghost inhabiting his business? No big deal…until things begin missing and his best friend’s business is trashed. Had the ghost moved next door to wreck havic on her place too?
And I stressed a bit over making him read a little too casual with the love side of things. And then take his love life. Love ’em and leave ’em had always been his motto. Not that he wanted to hurt anyone, so, of course, he always made sure not to let the friendship get too far along. He just wasn”t ready to settle down—not by a long shot.
Developing an ending to a book is one of the hardest for me. Since I write mostly suspense/mystery with romance, I’m particular with how my books end. I want the reader satisfied, but mostly I have to feel what I read in my heart. I know when I’ve managed to hit the right note with each book. I feel it!
But when that same best friend and business neighbor buckles down to win his affection—and goes about it in ways that has Toby fuming—sparks fly. Whether they are romantic sparks or angry ones, you can be sure no ghost is behind this.
When I began the fourth book in my Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mystery series, I wanted to create Toby as a fun-loving jokester with a kind heart. He was always serious about his three loves—his shop, the community theater, and his work with the youth at church, but that doen’t keep him from having fun. He grew up teasing his sister and his closest friends, and keeping his imaginary armor high enough to shield his heart from preying women determined to find a hole in that armor. He almost succeeds…