Skip to main content

Good Friday

Interview with Colleen Coble!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 04.15.2006

Blog Book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is AND BABY MAKES FIVE by Debra Clopton.
You can still enter. Just post a comment on that blog post.
On Monday, I’ll have another giveaway. On Thursday I'll draw the winner for AND BABY MAKES FIVE and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.

Interview!

I’ll continue my Mount Hermon recap on Tuesday. Today I have an interview with Colleen Coble! Her latest romantic suspense, ALASKA TWILIGHT, is a Women of Faith novel.

I’m giving away an autographed copy of ALASKA TWILIGHT for my monthly website contest. Go to Camy’s contest page to enter. Also, subscribers to my newsletter YahooGroup “Camy’s Loft” get a chance for two extra entries in the contest. Information is on this post.

Make way for Colleen!

You've written several romances and historicals. How did you get into suspense writing?

I've always wanted to write suspense. In fact, if you look at some of my earlier romance elements, people usually got killed. LOL Suspense is what I read, but it took a while to develop the skills to write it. It's a HARD genre. There are so many threads you have to keep intertwined without dropping one. I got a great agent who helped me hone that first proposal, Without a Trace, then I met Ami McConnell at Mt Hermon Christian Writer's Conference in 2002 and pitched it to her. It was already in her To Be Read pile, and she went right back and pulled it out. It was a happy day when I got the call that WestBow was buying it. Ami and my freelance editor Erin Healy have really helped me hone my mystery and characterization skills.

What's your average body count in a book? And does it increase when your children are exceptionally exasperating?

My kids are grown so I can't blame my murderous instincts on them. LOL I'd guess I kill maybe two people a book. Sometimes only one.

What's your favorite way of offing your characters? Have you ever been tempted to use it on Robin Miller when she does that thing where she can guess your book's killer by chapter 7?

Robin's good, isn't she? If she guesses my killer, I have to go back and fix it. LOL I like to come up with new ways to killl by characters. It's generally not something as mundane as a shooting. I like explosions and volcanoes. LOL

You've won the ACFW Mentor of the Year award twice. What advice can you give to writers who'd like to have a mentor but don't feel up to stalking authors until they give in and agree to help them?

What goes around comes around. Reach out to those around you and help them. Don't be looking at who can help you. Be yourself and be a friend and the relationship you crave will happen. What happens a lot of the time is that we published authors are asked for help before we even develop any kind of relationship. The relationship needs to come first. Be a friend.

Did you have a mentor when you first started writing?

I didn't even KNOW any other writers! That's why I have such a heart for struggling writers. There was no one I could ask when I had questions.

Several of your books have scuba diving. Do you dive?

I don't dive but my kids do. The thought of me in a wetsuit is too hideous to contemplate! We've been going to Hawaii to research my Aloha Reef series and the kids go diving every day. I pester them with questions. I go snorkeling though. LOVE IT!

Who are your favorite authors (not counting your critique group, because we already know they're fabulous)?

Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson. Lots of ACFW writers too but I won't mention them in case I leave out someone.

If you could turn back time, what would you do over again?

I'd start sooner. I didn't start writing until I was nearly forty. I'd also join some groups sooner.

What is your favorite ethnic food?

Mexican! Love it, love it!

What is the weirdest thing Robin Miller has ever done/said to you (assuming you can repeat it)? (She's probably going to kill me when she sees these questions, so I have to get my kicks in before my demise)

That she hates feet. I just found this out recently. LOL

Thanks for the interview! Any parting words?

Read, read, read in the genre you want to write. Don't think you can write everything. Figure out where your strengths are and write to them.

Thanks for having me. Great questions!

Comments

Catherine West said…
Camy CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Wow. What a victory! How did you do it??
And will you still be talking to the rest of us from the unpublished slush pile???
I am wasabi green with envy....but very happy for you.
When we go out for sushi, you can pay.
:)
Catherine West said…
And my congratulations is coming in late because I've been away and I'm only now catching up on the news...obviously. But then again, I've always been a little slow.
Catherine West said…
oh yeah, me again. I really have no life. Sorry.
I must tell you, if you really want to get freaked out, I have pictures up on my blog now.
:)
Pammer said…
Great interview. Loved the questions, especially the Robin ones, teehee.

Following Colleen around is how I found out about your demise, btw. :D

Hugs!
Malia Spencer said…
LOL I LOVED the Robin questions. Too funny. Great interview. I just got the book and read it in one sitting, okay I was technically in my bed reading, but you know what I mean. :) It was a fantastic book.

Now a plug for one of my favorite authors. I can honestly say that Colleen's Aloha Reef series gets better with every book so be sure to get Dangerous Depths when it comes out. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. ;)
LOL great interview Camy!

Colleen, I always love reading your interviews, they're never quite like the last.

I found out that Robin hates feet recently too... LOL So not commenting on how strange she is. (Good thing I live in a different state... she won't come after me. LOL But hey Camy?? You're rooming with her... hehehehehe)

Popular Posts

Bethany House Publishers Cover Survey Invitation

Captain's Log, Supplemental I just got this from Bethany House Publishers: Hello Reader, We at Bethany House Publishers appreciate our readers opinions about the books we publish. Occasionally, we seek your input about upcoming products. Currently, we are conducting a survey about the cover image for an upcoming novel. For your time, we are offering a giveaway in conjunction with this survey. You will be able to choose from ten recent Bethany House novels, and there will be ten winners. Winners will be notified within two weeks. Click here to take the survey, which should take about 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your participation, and feel free to forward this email on to your friends or link the survey on your website. The survey will be available through Monday, September 17. Thanks for your time and your opinions. We value your feedback. Sincerely, Jim Hart Internet Marketing Manager Bethany House Publishers

Narrow Escape contest for January!

I’m so excited because my January Love Inspired Suspense, Narrow Escape , is now available! Here’s the back cover blurb: KIDNAPPED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT Arissa Tiong and her three-year-old niece are snatched off the street by members of a notorious drug gang. Having lost her police officer brother to a drug bust gone bad, Arissa knows the danger she's in. But she has no idea why they want her. Desperate to protect the little girl, Arissa escapes and runs straight to Nathan Fischer. She knows the handsome, weary former narcotics cop hasn't told her everything about the night that ended her brother's life and Nathan's career. But he's all that stands between her and dangerous thugs who are after something she doesn't even know she has. This is the 4th book in my Sonoma series , but each book is stand-alone. The hero is Nathan Fischer, who had a minor role in the 3rd book, Stalker in the Shadows . To celebrate, I’m giving away 10 copies of Narrow Escape ! Her

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

Year of the Dog serial novel

About Year of the Dog : A month or two ago, I remembered an old manuscript I had completed but which hadn’t sold. It was a contemporary romance meant for Zondervan, titled Year of the Dog . The book had gone into the pipeline and I even got another title ( Bad Dog ) and a cover for it, but eventually my editor at the time decided she didn’t want to publish it, for various reasons. She instead requested a romantic suspense, and so I cannibalized some of the characters from Year of the Dog and thrust them into the next book I wrote, which was Protection for Hire . Honestly, I didn’t take a lot from Year of the Dog to put in Protection for Hire , aside from character names and a few relationship ties. I was originally thinking I’d post Year of the Dog as-is on my blog as a free read, but then it occurred to me that I could revamp it into a romantic suspense and change the setting to Hawaii. It would work out perfectly as (yet another) prequel to the Warubozu series and introduc

Welcome Spring with these Christian/sweet and wholesome books in Kindle Unlimited!

I’m participating in this promo. Click on the graphic to check out all the Christian romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! Welcome Spring with these Christian/sweet and wholesome books in Kindle Unlimited!

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day

Sweet March Freebies

Sign up for these authors’ newsletters and get free books! Click on the graphic to check out all the free books. You might find a new favorite author! Sweet March Freebies

New book idea a la Captain Caffeine

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.14.2009 So my husband, Captain Caffeine, had lunch with a few friends a few days ago. And they asked about my writing, and if I’d been on Oprah yet. (Yeah, right) They then discussed NYT bestselling books, and why can’t Camy write a NYT bestseller. (Sure, let me just open a vein over a blank page and it’ll come right out.) So Captain Caffeine came home with ideas for my new NYT bestselling novel. First it starts with vampires, because Twilight is so hot. But not just any vampires. This one’s an Amish vampire. And he’s not just an Amish vampire, he’s a cop in disguise, infiltrating the Amish community to protect a witness. (Hmm, that storyline sounds familiar ...) But wait! There’s more! To add more conflict and stick with my brand of Asian fiction, we introduce the Tibetan monk! Who joins the Amish community to get away from the pressures of monkhood. But in reality, he’s protecting the Chinese princess on the run, trying to escape from her father’s Hong