Book Talk with Cara Putman

Do you ever wonder why an author writes the story they do?

Some books are a favorite, even though I really do hate to admit that. There's just something about them that makes them special and unique. Stars in the Night is one of those for me. This was the first full-length novel I got to write and it blended my love of WWII and suspense. I call this my 1942 Hollywood collides with Murder on the Orient Express novel. It's grounded in a real event, only I created a fictional second one, because...well...bodies. I dive into the real events and how I had fun creating a second one and research detours. I'd love to know if topics and settings like this intrigue you because I'm always thinking about what I'm writing next.

Have you read Stars in the Night? What did you think?

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Do you ever wonder why an author writes the story they do?

Caroline's story was a long time coming. Originally I thought, her book would be book 3 in the Hidden Justice series. Then book four. Then it ended up being this novel, Lethal Intent. It was well worth the wait. I had so much fun telling this friends-to-more love story between Caroline and Brandon. But like all of my romantic legal suspense, it's so much more than a romance. This book is deeply embedded in the legal and ethical wranglings of cutting-edge medical technology and research. It also wrestles with how far should we go to save a child. I like asking the easy questions. I adore Brandon as a hero. He is so heroic and self-sacrificing in all the right ways. I think you'll love reading Caroline and Brandon's story.

Have you read Lethal Intent? What did you think?

Do you ever wonder why an author writes the story they do?

Every once in a while as an author, you get to write a book that you know is going to be special. Flight Risk was one of those books. I knew that before it finaled in two major awards. Today I'm taking you behind the scenes of Flight Risk from the moment my editor told me that Savannah needed her own book to me figuring out what that could look like. I expanded and twisted up a real plane crash in the DC area and added a layer about what is it like to find truth in a fake news world. It's another book that seemed crazily pulled from the headlines after I wrote it. . . almost in a way that you can't make up. Savannah is an older heroine; instead of turning 30, she's turning 40 and I love that about her. She's so secure and settled in a healthy way. She was sooooo much fun to write. And the hero Jett was a blast, too. The last page... Smoking!

Have you read Flight Risk? What did you think?

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

Do you ever wonder why an author writes the story they do?

Today I want to take you behind the scenes of my book Delayed Justice. It's the only book that comes with a trigger warning. In fact, I wrote the prologue the way I did to quickly let readers know that this book deals with a sensitive issue that isn't for every reader. It was very important to me to deal with it in a careful way that honors readers and people who have walked the road while also acknowledging I haven't. I used many readers who work with this population as well as those who have to make sure I did that well.

While this story is gritty and real, I am also committed to always layering hope into my books. I firmly believe that even in the dark, God is there. This tells the story of a woman who goes after her abuser now that she is no longer a child. Like the other books in this series, there is a theme of protecting children.

Have you read Delayed Justice? What did you think

Do you ever wonder why an author writes the story they do?

Today I'm taking you behind the scenes of my story Imperfect Justice. In many ways, this is a very personal story for me. I had worked with domestic violence clients and walked friends through situations. Then I saw articles that put a spin on the story. Twist it up and I had so many layers coming together in my mind for this novel. It's an important one because it's an issue the church doesn't know how to handle. And it's real life. I also wanted to handle it well while remembering this is fiction and meant to entertain. So you've got a great hero, one of my favorite heroines, and a child. This is about the time I realized this series was going to be about different aspects of protecting children. It took me longer than it probably should have to recognize that thread!

Have you read Imperfect Justice? Let me know what you think!

Do you ever wonder why an author writes the story they do?

Today I'm taking you behind the scenes of my story Beyond Justice. There were so many layers coming together in my mind for this story. I love it in so many ways. It's an important one and not just because it's my first official legal suspense. Add in DC, a great hero, and so much of my early career, and it was a fun one to write and create.

Have you read Beyond Justice? Let me know what you think!

Do you ever wonder where authors get their ideas?

Today I share the story behind the story for my novella Love Along the Shores in the Across the Shores collection that was released in April 2023. The authors for this collection were on the show earlier this summer, which was such fun, but now I wanted to give you more about why I wanted to dive into this particular story from WWII. This was a story I first had the idea for back in 2011 or 2012, but that doesn't mean it was a quick research when I sat down. In fact, the trickiest part was figuring out exactly which of the Outer Banks islands to place it on. Once I got that identified, the rest came together pretty quickly because I knew the history and the characters.

Do you ever wonder where authors get their ideas?

Today I share the story behind the story for my novel The Art of Deception in the Come What May collection that was released in August 2023. It's a story that's unique for me because it's part of an indie collection, meaning I didn't have a contract with a traditional publisher but came together with many of my writer friends for this collection of 12 novels in three volumes. I talk about why I did that and why it can make sense to do that as part of my overall publishing strategy. I also talk about how this is part of the larger build-up to my next novel which will be released in April 2024. This was one of those stories I wanted to write. As I was researching I kept coming back to art as money laundering and found it FASCINATING. I love art. And I love suspense. And this seemed like an interesting way to tie the two together -- and a way that I hadn't seen written about in other books. I could probably write a whole series just focused on this area, but there's at least this book. :-) I've also got ideas for another series, so I'm asking for your input at the end of the episode. Let me know what you think!

Do you ever wonder where authors get their ideas? Today I share the story behind the story for my novella Beauty Bright in the We Three Kings collection that releases in September 2023. It's a story that's near to my heart because it's set in the days after WWII in Germany and involves the Monuments Men. It also ties to my contemporary series that launches in April 2024. I loved writing in this collection and returning to my WWII roots. I hope you enjoy seeing and hearing some of my passion for the story and the research that goes into writing a book like this. Have you read a book set in the days immediately after the war? One set in the race to return the art to those who had lost it? I'd love to know if topics and settings like this intrigue you because I'm always thinking about what I'm writing next.

It was so much fun to write a novella in this collection, and it was just as much fun to bring you this episode where we talk about our stories and how they connect. Across the Shores is a novella collection that has a cross necklace that connects four women across generations and continents. It was such a delight to write with Carolyn Miller, Angela Crouch, and Kelly Goshorn. In this episode we talk about how we find our story ideas, what's easier to write (heroes or heroines), and whether we're pantsers or plotters. We also talk about research surprises. I hope you enjoy learning about these ladies and our collection.

Connect with Carolyn Miller
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | BookBub

Connect with Angela Crouch
Twitter

Connect with Kelly Goshorn
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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

For more episodes, and to learn more about the authors I interview, visit https://caraputman.com/podcast

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