CFBA Blog Tour - Cara Putman and Stars in the Night

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. A random question will be inserted in each spotlight for you to answer in the comments in order to be entered. So, be on the lookout!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Stars in the Night
Summerside Press
by Cara Putman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CARA PUTMAN graduated from high school at sixteen, college at 20, and completed her law degree when she was 27. Her writing journey started in 2005 when she decided to write her first novel. Now she has eleven books published with more on the way.

From Cara: People say I've accomplished a lot and that I must have life by the proverbial tail. Hardly! I grew up as a home schooled kid when home schoolers were misunderstood and oddities.

I struggle with balancing my writing and law career, plus being a good mom and wife.

I often fear people won't like my books.

I've walked through the deep pain of miscarriage.

Really, I'm just like you – I don't have it all together and have gone through tough times. But in His strength, I've discovered a strength I never knew I had. A strength I want you to discover too.

In the end I'm just an ordinary mom who has seen God do some wonderful things as I've been obedient to step into the calling He's led me into.

Stars in the Night Background

Stars in the Night was an idea that had begun to percolate in my mind. I’d written two World War II series and was actively looking for my next setting. My husband, a huge World War II history buff, and I were kicking ideas around, and I’d decided Hollywood was probably the next place for me. I’d gone to the library and gotten a stack of research books when I got the call. An editor I knew but had never worked with wanted to know if I might be interested in a new line they were starting. As we talked, I got so excited. And then she emailed me their guidelines, which listed that Hollywood was a location they were interested in setting books.

Only God could have known ahead of time. But because I followed His prompting I was ready to run with an idea. Stars in the Night is the result.

STARS IN THE NIGHT
by Cara Putman
Published by Summerside Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hollywood 1942. When attorney Audra Schaeffer's sister disappears, Audra flies to Hollywood to find her.

Any day Audra might have been flattered by the friendly overtures of Robert Garfield, a real-life movie star. But on the flight from Indianapolis to Hollywood, Audra can think of little else than finding her missing sister. When Audra arrives in the city of glitz and glamour, and stars, and learns her rising starlet sister has been murdered, all thoughts of romance fly away.

Determined to bring the killer to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan.

Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States in a campaign to sell war bonds. When two other women are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to that of her sister.

Could the killer be the man with whom she's falling in love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Stars in the Night, go HERE.

CONTEST: Cara is having a great contest to celebrate the release of Stars in the Night. Entries accepted
through August 1st. Click over to her blog to see the prize packages (there are 11 and one includes a bunch of my favorite classic movies as well as all of her World War II novels): Launch Contest!

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I was working on the last book for my second World War II series for Heartsong Presents and beginning to think about where I might want to set a future series. My husband, who is as big a World War II fan as I am if not more, and I were brainstorming one night. Since I’d done two series set in the Midwest, I kind of wanted to branch out, and I’ve long had a love of classic movies. As Eric and I were talking, we hit on the idea of Hollywood during World War II.

There were so many different roles that the stars played during the war. Canteens. USO tours. Active service. 4-Fed. The plot options and historical details seemed endless. Then as I researched I stumbled on the original Hollywood Victory Caravan. My imagination kicked into overdrive. What if I created a second Victory Caravan? What if a killer followed someone on to the train? What if people died and you were trapped on the train with a killer? And what if romance blossomed in the midst of the suspense? I got pretty pumped very quickly.

Then I got a call from the woman who became my editor at Summerside. She wondered if I might be interested in writing historical romantic suspense for them. And as God works, one of the settings they were interested in was Hollywood. It was perfect timing and a great fit.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Audra, the heroine, is an attorney trying to actually be able to practice law in 1942 Indiana. So there were definite aspects of my experience with law school and as an attorney that played into it. But I’ve never lost a sibling and I’ve never had to outsmart a killer.

Robert, the hero, is a Hollywood actor who’s star is on the rise. But he’s had his heart broken by following the studio system of Hollywood. Now, in 1942 that divorce has made him questionable husband material. And Audra wonders if he could really be interested in her when he’s surrounded by starlets. But he is a genuinely good guy trying to move past his mistakes. I’d like to think that’s me, too, though I’ve never been divorced.

3. If your hero and/or heroine was an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Tiff, what a fun question! Audra would be something like an orange or raspberry sorbet. Refreshing, a bit offbeat, but still not terribly flashy. Robert would be a rich deep chocolate that matches his eyes. :)

4. What themes exist in Stars in the Night that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as your story unfolded?

When I started Stars in the Night I knew that grief would have some role. But I thought it would be minor. But as I wrote I discovered that Audra had to deal with the grief and find she was stronger than she thought. She should have known it since she tackled a very non-traditional career choice, but I think that’s often how we live. We often live in fear of a certain thing or event. “God, I can endure anything, but don’t make me experience XX.” Beth Moore talks about this in one of her videos with the Esther series. And it really struck me. If we’ll let Him, God wants to walk us through that most-horrible what-if scenario, walk us all the way to the end of the road and let us discover if whatever that is really will kill us or be the end of us. Often, I think if we’ll allow ourselves to be led through all the what-ifs to the end, we’ll find it may not be fun, it may not be our first choice, but if we truly trust God we will fall on Him and He will put us back together. It’s certainly held true for me. And that’s a bit of what Audra experiences.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The hardest scene to write was one that I didn’t originally plan. But as first readers read the book, they pointed out a scene I’d skipped. I didn’t want to travel with Audra to the full depth of her grief over her sister. But there’s one scene on the train where the hero helps her admit her grief and holds her. I’m not a crier, but boy did that scene get me. And don’t worry – grief really doesn’t dominate the story!

My favorite scenes to write involved the Hollywood Victory Caravan shows themselves. Creating the stars who took part on the tour and then watching their personalities and styles develop as they whirled on and off the stage was such fun. Let me tell you, there are some real characters on that tour!

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is book four in Guideposts next mystery series. I’m one of six authors writing the series and it’s a contemporary set in the Berkshire area of Massachusetts. It releases in September, and I’m currently writing book ten in that series which will release in spring 2011.

Drawing Entry Bonus Question from Cara: I absolutely love classic Hollywood, so what's your favorite classic movie? I'll play along and answer this too.

My favorite classic series is the six movie Thin Man series. We’ve even got our kids hooked on them now. They’ve got a fun slapstick element as Nick and Nora set out to solve various murders. I love the chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy. And I marvel that the first movie was filmed in about two weeks’ time.

My favorite romance is either It Happened One Night or You Can’t Take It with You. It Happened One Night is a romantic comedy with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert that lands on a lot of best movies of all times lists. And there’s nothing like when the wall of Jericho comes down at the end. You Can’t Take It with You is a delightful Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur romance that is overflowing with a rich supporting cast of eccentric characters and such strong Christian themes. I love that movie.

I’d love to know your favorite classic movies since I’m starting to review the great classics on my blog.

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Thanks so much, Cara, for being in the spotlight.

NEW!! Readers, answer the bonus question related to the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE copy of Stars in the Night. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Spotlight on Cara Putman and Deadly Exposure AND Sandhill Dreams

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cara Putman is an author, attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, women's ministry leader, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. Heartsong Presents is publishing a three book series of World War Two romances: Canteen Dreams (October 2007), Sandhill Dreams (May 2008), and Captive Dreams (September 2008). Love Inspired Suspense published her first romantic suspense Deadly Exposure in May 2008. Now she's working on the Complete Idiot's Guide to Business Law (don't ask!) and the first book in an Ohio World War Two series.

DEADLY EXPOSURE
by Cara Putman
Published by Steeple Hill Suspense

SANDHILL DREAMS
by Cara Putman
Published by Heartsong Presents

ABOUT THE BOOKS

How could a killer have struck in a crowded theater? That was the question plaguing TV news reporter Dani Richards. She'd been in the box next to the victim -- and hadn't heard or seen a thing. Now the very man who broke Dani's heart years ago is investigating the murder. And when her coverage of the story led the killer to stalk her, police officer and former flame Caleb Jamison insisted on protecting her. Dani was afraid to let Caleb close again. Yet she had no choice. The killer's sinister phone calls left no doubt that he'd come for Dani next.

Buy Your Copy of Deadly Exposure Today!

Lainie Gardner dreamed of becoming a nurse. Of serving her country. Of doing something important in the war. But rheumatic fever changed all that, and instead of running home, Lainie is determined to find a job at Fort Robinson in Nebraska's Sandhills. Tom Hamilton had dreams too. Dreams of preparing the horses at Fort Robinson for duty on the warfront. Instead, he is assigned to train war dogs and their handlers, meaning that each day he must face the fear he's had of dogs since he was bitten as a child. Lainie and Tom wonder why God seems to have denied them their dreams. But is it possible new dreams will bring them more joy than they ever imagined?

Buy Your Copy of Sandhill Dreams Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this book?

For Deadly Exposure, I worked at a small town Nebraska TV station for a couple years in college, and loved the chance to resurrect my love for journalism with this book. And I set it in Lincoln, Nebraska, since I lived there two years in college and still visit at least a couple times a year. It's my idea of a perfect small city. Out of those two things, I brainstormed ideas with my husband since I knew I wanted a fast-paced suspense. Because it was published by Steeple Hill, it is also filled with romance. And I'm thrilled with the emotion and conflict that developed in it as I wrote. It's a fun read, filled with twists and romance.

Sandhill Dreams is the second book in my Nebraska World War Two series published by Heartsong Presents. I loved researching and writing this book, because it's a story that I don't think many people know about. World War Two was the first time that the United States made a concerted effort to use dogs in war. Half of those used during the war were trained at this little fort in the middle of nowhere, Nebraska. I'd visited once as a young teen and remembered that piece of history and after spending a day at the Fort with the museum curator knew it was perfect for this series.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Dani Richards, the heroine of Deadly Exposure, has strong shades of me. We're both independent, stubborn, sink our teeth into something and not let go kind of people. Add in the love of family, Lincoln, and journalism, and she's definitely got traces of me.

Lainie Gardner has some serious questions about how much God truly cares about her after things don't turn out the way she'd planned. I'd just experienced an excruciating test in my life when I started writing the proposal for this book, and the questions I was confronting color the spiritual thread Lainie lives. I say it was the time the candy coating came off my faith and I truly learned that I do believe everything I've always said I believed. Lainie lives through the same struggles.

3. What themes exist in Deadly Exposure and Sandhill Dreams that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

For Deadly Exposure, the thread is that God is truly our refuge -- even when life is falling apart and we are confronted by our failures and need for Him. The theme verse is Psalm 62:5-6. The subtle theme is one of forgiveness and moving beyond the past mistakes. And the hero and heroine have a doozy!

For Sandhill Dreams, the theme verse comes from Isaiah 43:1. The hero and heroine both learn that God truly sees them and has called them by name. I think sometimes it is so easy to forget that when we are in the middle of trials.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

In Deadly Exposure, I struggled to get the romance up to 50% of the story. One day I was sitting at my computer asking God what to do to make the romantic conflict believable. The suspense is incredibly fast-paced (one week from start to finish), so I needed something big but believable so they could realistically fall in love. God whispered the answer in my ear, and I sat there thinking, "Wow! That would be great. Will the publisher go for it?" I wrote it, since I couldn't come up with anything better LOL, trusting God with the results. My editor loved it!

Sandhill Dreams was actually fairly easy to write. It was just a matter of sitting down and doing it. I enjoyed the story, history, and characters. Lainie was constantly getting herself into trouble, and I think is a more layered character than Audrey was in Canteen Dreams -- though I loved her. And Tom was great!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Captive Dreams, book three in the Nebraska World War Two series, releases in September. Captive Dreams is the story of Anna Goodman and Sid Chance and the challenges they experience on the home front during World War II. Anna works at the Air Base in Kearney, but comes home each weekend to try and hold the family farm together. Since his appearance in Sandhill Dreams, Sid and a dog team have been assigned to Camp Atlanta, a Prisoner of War (POW) camp. Anna and Sid meet when Sid is overseeing a group of POWs who are providing farm labor for her father. Anna is incensed that they are there because she knows the family doesn't have the resources to pay the workers. Sid vows to pay extra attention to the Goodman farm and make sure everything is okay. Over the following months their tentative friendship builds into a romance that turns into love.

Thanks so much for hosting me. Now it's time to get back to writing!

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Thank you, Cara, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of either Deadly Exposure or Sandhill Dreams. If you have a specific one you'd like to win, please specify with your comment.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that there is a way to contacvt you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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