Thursday, June 21, 2012

Blogside Chat | Candace Calvert + Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming Candace Calvert to i blog 4 books today! If you haven't read her books yet, you're missing out! She writes what I call "medical romantic suspense," which is essentially romantic suspense with a medical flair. And they are incredible books! Candace is here to talk about her latest release Trauma Plan. (You can read my review here.)



i blog 4 books: Candace, welcome! I'm so glad to have you here today! For any readers who might not be familiar with you, please tell us a bit about yourself.

CC: Candace Calvert: I’m a veteran ER nurse, native northern Californian, wife, mom, and proud grandmother to seven. Plus I’m a passionate cook. Folks who follow me on Twitter and Facebook hear apron tales regularly.

ib4b: What was the inspiration behind Trauma Plan?

CC: We recently lived several years in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas, and I was eager to share that colorful setting with readers. Featuring a nurse sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, then pitting her against a controversial “maverick” of a physician added plenty of conflict and adventure.

ib4b: I've heard a lot about the Hill Country from my aunt, so it was fun to read a story set there! What message or lesson do you hope readers will take away from reading it?

CC: Trauma Plan explores the universal emotion of fear (at odds with faith) and shows the triumph of hope. Folks often describe me as the author of “medical hope opera,” and I consider it a compliment.

ib4b: How do you see yourself in the book?

CC: There is quite a similarity between heroine Riley Hale’s journey and my own: I too was a trauma victim. An equestrian accident landed me “on the other side of the stethoscope” as a patient in my own ER. I suffered multiple rib and back fractures, a bleeding lung, broken neck and spinal cord injury. Like my heroine, I feared I’d never return to my nursing career, and I doubted God’s plan for my life.

ib4b: The more I read, the more I appreciate the research that authors do to deliver a realistic story. Tell us about your research process for this book.

CC: Because I’m a nurse, I’m fortunate to have many professional connections for my medical scenes. Living near San Antonio was the perfect opportunity to get a great taste of the Trauma Plan setting, including country western music, an armadillo in our swimming pool, and incredible barbecue. I was also able to use my skydiving experience for an exciting and realistic scene, numb teeth, stomach butterflies and all!

ib4b: It seems like most authors have quite an interesting journey to getting published. What did you do in your "former life"?

CC: I was an Emergency Department nurse for three decades, great background for writing medical drama. Like my heroine, I’ve also been trained as a lay chaplain. Interestingly, it was my devastating riding accident that directly led to my first published work: an inspirational account of the event, “By Accident,” appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul.

ib4b: Where do you like to write?

CC: I love my office, which I share with my husband. But we’re fortunate to have a wonderful garden and patio, and I often sink onto the couches out there, sharing the space with hummingbirds, butterflies, and the occasional chattering squirrel.

ib4b: Your garden / patio sounds incredible! What were some of your favorite books growing up?

CC: I was (and am) a horse lover, so I fondly remember Black Beauty. But I read widely when I was growing up, from Nancy Drew to Tolkien to Ian Fleming and Robin Cooke to Danielle Steele romances. Very eclectic, still am.

ib4b: What was the last "must read" Christian fiction book that you read?

CC: My critique partner Nancy Herriman’s debut historical, The Irish Healer. It’s wonderful!

ib4b: What was your biggest fashion mishap?

CC: A Wonder Woman costume within camera range.

ib4b: Ha! Love it! The beach or the mountains?

CC: Beach

ib4b: What's your favorite comfort food?

CC: A tie between mashed potatoes and cream of tomato soup

ib4b: Do you have a "life verse" or favorite Scripture?

CC: Several, but I’m especially heartened by the Scripture I used as a foundation for my novel Critical Care, Jeremiah 29:11: 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

ib4b: Write your memoir in six words or less.

CC: Funny, warm, joy-filled, hopeful encourager.

ib4b: Can you tell us a bit about what you're working on now? When can we expect to see it in stores?

CC: The second book in my new Grace Medical series, Rescue Team, is now in the edit stage. It’s set in Austin and features nurse Kate Callison from Trauma Plan and a wonderful new hero who is dedicated to search and rescue. This new book should release around the beginning of 2013.

CC: Thank you so very much for the opportunity to connect with your readers, Brooke. It’s an honor to have you all “scrub in” with these hopeful stories.

ib4b: Candace, thank you so much for stopping by! I enjoyed getting to know you a bit better and am looking forward to reading Rescue Team!

Candace Calvert Online
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter



Candace has graciously offered a signed copy of Trauma Plan to one of you! This giveaway is open internationally and will end on June 28. Enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

17 comments:

  1. Once wore two different color shoes... A fashion statement? Lol. Great interview!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmm...I've never been particularly "fashionable", but I came upon a picture recent of myself when I was about 11. I had on my favorite outfit from the time: a shapeless blue shirt that added like 15 pounds it seemed, and blue (though not matching the shirt), green and brown camo jeans that were WAY too tight. YUCK!

    ReplyDelete
  3. My fashion mishap: wearing two different shoes to work, one was dark blue the other was black. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but they were also two different heights. I was too far from home to fix the problem. I suffered through the day. Oh the shame!

    Kelly Ballenger
    stardustindy@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hiya
    **New Follower**

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Brooke! Just wanted to say hi so please don't enter me :)
    Great interview!! Loved the questions and really enjoyed Candace's answers! Candace, it was so awesome to get to know you with this interview, it makes Trauma Plan even more precious to me :)
    Once you've read Trauma Plan, you instantly want to read more of Candace's books; she's an amazing storyteller!
    Thanks so much for the interview and giveaway Brooke and Candace, big time blessings to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The only mishap I can think of is when I've worn dark blue socks thinking they were black.

    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. i am a fashion disaster waiting to happen, so i always check with my brother (not my Mom) and sister in law, or a friend, depending on where i am at the time.

    Loved the interview and would love to win The Trauma Plan. i love Candace's novels.

    mitzi underscore wanham at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm having SUCH fun reading your "mishaps"!
    MATTIE: LOL, you must be like me: buying two colors of same shoes (shirts, etc.) if you they fit/feel/look great.
    JORDAN: oh, the dreaded "vintage" pictures--I have so many. (Ahem)including one in a WW suit.
    KELLY: shoes of different heights? Now that would be a mis-step as well as a mishap!
    SHAHNILA: Welcome!
    KARA: (waving) hello friend! Thank you for the kind words.
    ANONYMOUS: I have totally been there with the socks. I usually have to look at them in daylight to tell if they match . . .
    MARIANNE: I love the "not my Mom" part of your comment--too cute.
    BROOKE: I so appreciate your hospitality here. It's going to be fun to sign a copy of Trauma Plan for your winner.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't know if I have ever had one, anyways I can't think of one at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My biggest fashion mishap was a skirt ripping down the back and having to tie a sweater around my waist to get home without being arrested. :)
    I'm excited about Trauma Plan, can't wait to read it!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great interview! Looking forward to reading this author!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think my biggest fashion mishap was a shirt with a low neckline, I was walking around a store for half an hour before I realized my bra had been hanging a good ways out the whole time. How embarrassing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. ABIGAIL: Thank you for stopping by!
    MERRY: Omigoodness, that was a tense fashion moment!
    WENDY: So glad you enjoyed the interview. It's an honor to be hosted here.
    LIZ: Oh dear! I haven't had that happen, but remember standing in line at the store once and suddenly noticing my sweater was on inside out--with all the seams and tag showing. One of those moments you must raise your chin, and fake one of those "I prefer it this way" expressions!

    ReplyDelete
  14. My biggest mishap? Going to work with my top on inside out! How embarrassing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Going to work with 2 different shoes on. One was black and one was brown.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Those dreaded slips yuck yuck I remember a time I was walking and the dumb thing fell to my knees :-(

    ReplyDelete
  17. LGM52: You and I had a similar situation, I see. I feel for you!
    MISSKALLIE: Shoes seem be a universal problem. :-)
    LOURDES: Oh, yes. Slips--I'd almost forgotten!
    Thank you all for stopping by.
    I'll be awaiting news on the winner, Brooke!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments! Thanks for letting me know what you think!

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