Book Talk with Cara Putman

Jocelyn Green is one of those authors that I always love to talk with. She's such a smart writer who cares deeply about the history and characters of the books she writes. I love her books, but I love even more digging into why she picks the stories she does. Today we're talking about The Hudson Collection, her latest novel that is about a woman who is an ornithologist who is assigned to catalogue a bequeathed collection of stuffed birds for her museum. Elsa is a fascinating character who has so much depth and quiet beauty. And that's highlighted as she's next to the quiet hero, who has this depth that is so attractive.

There's an element of mystery, romance, threads of friendship and so much more woven into this book. It's a storm that will tug you in and not let go. And the research helps the story come to life. Those details pull us deeper into the story world but don't drag us out by slowing down the reality with too much information.

You'll love this Book Talk for how Jocelyn shares writing advice with us as well. Jocelyn shared the advice she would go back and give herself as she was starting to write. Just because it's hard doesn't mean she's doing it wrong.

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Today I have the fun of bringing together three of my writing friends for a conversation where we talk about our books, how we research, and whether our genres chose us or we chose them. Janine Rosche writes contemporary romance with women's fiction threads, and her latest book The Road Before Us released in May. Janyre Tromp writes historical, primarily WWII, with gritty realism and a thread of romance, and her latest Darkness Calls the Tiger also released in May. Susan Tuttle writes contemporary romance, and in her latest The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, she adds romance and almost a caper. We're all so different, and it's such fun to chat about how we got our story ideas -- they are different, y'all.

I also asked them about how they got their covers, because each is PERFECT for the latest novel and I wondered how the publishers arrived at the covers. It's fun to learn some of the details my friends knew they wanted on their covers, and what was pure marketing magic. I think you're going to love this conversation as we delve into our love of books, writing, and research.

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Rachel Hauck is one of my dearest writing friends so it is always a treat to have her on Book Talk. I had such fun talking to her about her newest book Meet Me at the Starlight. We got all nostalgic about rollerskating and the place rollerskating rinks played in our growing-up years. Rachel's process is a little different than mine. She likes to just keep writing and trust that the story will reveal itself. I'm not that trusting I guess!

With her books, she tends to write about the types of people that we don't normally interact with. Princesses. Singers. Actors. She wants to take us into the life we don't nomally live or look into. I think that's part of what we love. If she were to give advice to her younger writing self, it would be to know her process and know that she will hate the book at one point but that it will be good eventually. Don't get paralyzed there. Great advice for all of us!

She also loves writing groups because writing is a solitary life and Rachel needs the water cooler time. She likes hearing about the business and staying up on trends. There's so much in this episode, y'all!

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Jen Turano is one of my favorite authors of the Gilded Age rom-com. She starts with a bang and romps through to the end, usually with a swirl of mystery and fun. Meeting Her Match is no different, so it is a delight to have Jen back on Book Talk. It was so much fun to talk about how she likes to have something happen to her characters — on steroids and then amp it up even more. She's currently writing a book every nine months, which gives her a little more time to breathe, as she cycles through writing, edits, marketing, and creating new ideas from her box of ideas. We talk about how you become more critical of your writing the longer you write and apply more pressure to yourself as you go. And how her heroes need to be genuine and flawed while also saving the heroines, who are no wilting damsels in distress. I think you will love this conversation!

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There is something so fun and sweet about introducing you to debut authors. That first book is such a precious and risky gift to the world. Today Nicole Miller is joining me on this episode of Book Talk. It was such fun to talk about her novel Until Our Time Comes, which is set in Poland during WWII. Nicole has long loved horses, so it isn't surprising that horses play a large role in this novel. She's also loved digging into bloodlines and wondered how to go about making an Arabian ugly. Research was a huge part of Until Our Time Comes. Not only as she researched the horses, but also as she tried to figure out how to get an American woman to Poland as the war was racing toward the country. Then there were all the questions about locations and boundary lines that changed over and over in that part of the world before, during, and after the war. Her joy in the process is so clear...It didn't feel like she really had a publishing contract until the novel appeared on Goodreads though. You're going to love meeting Nicole and learning more about Until Our Time Comes. I can't wait to hear what you think!

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One of my favorite things to do on Book Talk is introduce you to debut authors, and that's exactly what I get to do today. Jenny Erlingsson's debut book Her Part to Play is releasing, and I had such a good time connecting with Jenny from Iceland. Iceland, y'all! This book is her debut novel and was inspired by The Chosen because she became curious about the life behind the scenes on set. The heroine is a makeup artist, and Jenny spent a lot of time reading and talking to make-up artists to get the details right.

The theme of Her Part to Play takes a couple of approaches. First, do we perceive the new thing God is doing? Including that sometimes He just wants to change our vision without changing anything else. But also that we are a carrier of Jesus anywhere we go and that means we get to change the atmosphere. So much richness in this conversation. I hope you enjoy listening and meeting Jenny as much as I enjoyed talking with her!

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Today, it's a delight to have Misty Beller on Book Talk. A busy mother of five, we were having a good conversation about the need to edit our lives when we remembered to hit record. Don't worry, we made sure to go back and include that for you, too.

Rocky Mountain Journey is the third book in her current series, that follows four sisters who are on a mission to honor their father's dying wish. This novel is filled with the theme of searching, both for the heroine and the hero. When I asked her what was next, Misty pulled back the curtain on her process of finding the next story idea. It includes a document filled with notes that she makes as she's researching for her books. Because she's pretty driven (I can't relate, just kidding!), she's not good about giving herself time to let the stories percolate, but she's doing that more this time around, and it's been fun to watch the story develop. If she were to give advice to her younger writing self, it would be to connect with writers' groups and pray for God's leading and then wait for it. She's not always great at the waiting, but when she does, it goes better. Such good advice for all of us!

I know you'll enjoy learning more about this book and series set in 1930s Colorado. There's so much in this episode, y'all!

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Some authors are simply a delight to talk with, and Gabrielle Meyers is one of those. The fact she made time to chat in the middle of a week with a book launch, edits, book deadline, and proposal? I get tired just typing all that up!

For a Lifetime is the third book in a series I have adored...but I am delighted to share that books four and five are coming! These mystical realism novels are such fun and bend my mind in the best way. This one has twin sisters who are time travelers between the Salem Witch Trials and 1912, and we talk about why she chose those time periods. We also talked about how she selects her time periods for each of these books. It's fascinating, y'all!

Gabrielle finds editing easier, and plotting up front the heavy lift that pays off in the long run. Finding the creativity and hook is the hard work of writing for her. There's so much good and fun in this episode, I can't wait to hear what your favorite piece is!

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I love introducing y'all to debut authors, and today's conversation with Angela Carlisle is such a fun one. Angela's first novel Secondary Target is a page-turning romantic suspense that kept me reading when I did not have time. That's the sign of a compelling book! This novel contains a secret identity plot with a cold case all twisted up with a lost love story. There are so many secrets in this book that I asked her if they were all intentional. Angela said no because she's not a plotter. She had a vague idea of where she was going and the rest happened. I have always admired people who can write like that!

Angela's biggest challenge as a writer who also works a full-time job is getting the words down. I might be able to relate to that! She also wishes she could go back and tell herself to relax because getting published is going to take a really long time, but that's normal. Make the most of the time to get better as a storyteller. It's such good advice for all of us.

Secondary Target is out now and this is a book that I inhaled. Here's more about it:

A ruthless murderer. A deadly secret. An unbreakable love.

After the brutal murder of her mother and brother twelve years ago, Corina Roberts built a new life in Kentucky. But when strange things begin to happen, she is thrust into a perilous game of life and death. With nowhere else to turn, her best hope of survival depends on her ex-boyfriend, army veteran Bryce Jessup.

Recently returned from service, Bryce has every intention of staying away from Corina, but when threats close in around her, he isn't willing to leave her safety to chance. As their search for answers uncovers lethal secrets her detective father kept hidden, Bryce and Corina must untangle the mystery of the merciless killer intent on terrorizing and eliminating Corina's family before it's too late.

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Today, it's a delight to have Amanda Dykes join me on Book Talk. A busy mother of four, Amanda first decided to be a writer when she realized she was telling her students to follow their dreams and realized she needed to do the same. She started with a children's book, and when she got a rejection, she had a choice. Go forward or stop. Fortunately for all of us, she decided to keep writing, but this time with full-length novels. Her advice to writers is to go for your dream. You don't need an external invitation. Embrace your freedom to not have to prove yourself. Born of Gilded Mountains is a story where she invites us as readers to explore small towns, the sense of belonging and safety with a strong sense of adventure. It's a wonderful story. I know you'll enjoy learning more about this book and series set in 1940s Colorado.

There's so much in this episode, y'all!

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