Interview with Aussie author Carol Preston and book giveaway

I’m delighted to be able to welcome my friend Carol Preston, an Australian historical romance author, to our blog today.

Jo-Anne: Carol, how long have you been writing? What originally inspired you?

Carol: My interest in writing historical novels began when my children started school and I took up family history research. While I wondered if I might find some English aristocracy or perhaps a famous explorer in my background, instead I found seven generations of Australians, mostly of British and Irish convict heritage, stretching back to the First Fleet on my mother’s side. So, having come to terms with originating from a long line of petty criminals, I became intrigued with the daily challenges, struggles, losses and achievements of my ancestors. I wanted to write those stories in a way that not only my children and grandchildren could learn from and enjoy but also in ways other people could find interesting and inspiring.

Jo-Anne: Has any aspect of your previous occupation helped you as an author?

Carol: I think being a psychologist and listening to my clients share their own stories of loss and betrayal, the struggle to forgive, to overcome tragedy, to relate in healthy and meaningful ways, has really helped me to imagine the interactions and personal, daily journeys of my ancestors because I believe these personal and relational battles are common to human beings in every generation, everywhere.

Jo-Anne: Earlier this year, I really enjoyed reading your fifth novel Mary’s Guardian. What would you like readers to take away with them from this book?

Carol: The most inspiring aspect of Mary’s Guardian for me as is that lives which seem doomed to utter despair and hopelessness can be restored and healed through the most unexpected circumstances; that something good, even wonderful, can come from the most dreadful situations with God’s help.

Jo-Anne: What other books have you had published already and where are they available?

Carol: My first three novels were a trilogy – Suzannah’s Gold, Rebecca’s Dream and The Price of Peace. These are a saga of the Oakes family, one line of my ancestors, and are available from Zeus Publications www.zeuspublications.com, First Edition books www.firsteditionbooks.com.au or directly through my website www.carolpreston.com.au. My fourth novel, The Face of Forgiveness, is available through Light the Dark www.lightthedark.com.au or Even Before Publishing www.evenbeforepublishing.com or also through my website. Mary’s Guardian, my fifth novel, is available through Light the Dark or Even Before Publishing and also through Amazon www.amazon.com or Koorong Books www.koorong.com.

Jo-Anne: And you have a sixth novel, Charlotte’s Angel, due for release in October this year. What inspired you to write this one?

Carol: Charlotte’s Angel is the sequel to Mary’s Guardian and continues the story of the Douglass family. Charlotte is one of my favourite characters in my novels. I think she has a great story to tell which will inspire hope in readers.

Jo-Anne: You have obviously done many hours of research for your novels. Do you have any tips in this regard?

Carol: I think if you have a natural interest in history or in your own genealogy, the research is nearly as much fun as the writing! There is so much material available now online as well as in history books that the problem for me becomes when to stop researching. I have to remind myself that every detail of what I’ve discovered can’t possibly be put into the novel. If research is a battle for writers, however, they probably need to write straight from their imagination and avoid the need for so much research.

Jo-Anne: Do you have any further novels in mind?

Carol: Oh, yes. I have plenty more family history to draw on, and with every story there’s a rich source of inspiration and life lessons to share – so many aspects of faith to explore in so many situations. As soon as I’m finished one novel, my mind starts plotting another ancestor’s journey.

Jo-Anne: What has been the most memorable event of your writing journey so far?

Carol: I don’t think one particular event stands out but the most gratifying moments are when someone tells me they have been inspired or challenged by my stories. My desire is that readers will not only identify with the journeys of my characters but will also meet God in them or through them. It’s a thrill to hear about, but I’m also aware I may never know when a person is touched by these stories. It’s enough to leave that in God’s hands – something I must keep remembering.

Jo-Anne: Thanks, Carol, for sharing something of your writing journey with us.

By commenting below on this interview, you will be eligible to win a copy of Mary’s Guardian from Carol. A winner will be chosen on Friday 15 July and announced on Sunday 17 July. Please leave an email address [ ] at [ ] dot [ ] where you can be reached.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”

To find out more about Carol, please visit her website, www.carolpreston.com.au.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane and holds an Arts degree from Queensland University. She has also studied education and theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne loves communicating through both the spoken and written word and currently has five published novels - Helena, All the Days of My Life, Laura, Jenna, and Helena's Legacy. For more information about Jo-Anne, please visit her website, www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

Candlelight reflections

It’s been a big year for me – and I’m sure for many of you too. My fourth novel, 'Jenna', was released in August, I’ve spoken over thirty times in a variety of settings and sold my books in all sorts of places, plus been involved in the usual family, social and church activities. So now when I go to my computer to pick up my current writing project where I left off, sometimes my mind takes a while to tune in to the task at hand and be focused in the right direction. Before I begin to write for the day, I always try to sit quietly and acknowledge God’s presence, but one thing I’ve discovered that helps me in an ongoing way to remember I am not alone is to light a candle and place it on my desk. Often I can be typing away and stop to think for a while, perhaps stuck as to what to write next – and then I catch sight of that flame burning brightly nearby and am reminded again that God is with me, whatever difficulties I am encountering.

I have been given some beautiful candles over the years – too beautiful, I used to think, just to burn! However, this year I decided I would begin to use my special candles one after the other and remember the person who gave it to me, as I also remember God. In fact, one young friend gave me a wonderful, handmade candle recently that I just had to use straight away. The casing around this candle is made from the coloured soils of the Atacama Desert in Chile and has a special design cut into the sides, enabling even more of the light to glow through the shape of the design. I have other beautiful ones too, including a special delicately perfumed one called ‘Serenity’ made from soy wax and given to me by a dear friend at the launch of my fourth novel; a delightful little one in purple tones presented to me after speaking somewhere; and another from my daughter, featuring Australian gum leaves.

I am aware, however, that not everyone shares my love of candles – particularly some of the men in our family! That’s okay – everyone is different! But if you aren’t too averse to the idea and perhaps feel the need for a tangible reminder of God’s presence with you as you write, I’d encourage you to try it. As I gaze across now at my beautiful, glowing Chilean candle, I am remembering too Jesus’ words from John 8:12: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ Jesus has promised he will be with us, showing us the way ahead through whatever ‘darkness’ we are facing, whether it be problems in our writing journey or in our lives in general. How privileged we are to have him walking beside us every step of the way!

But I am also remembering Jesus’ further challenge to us in Mark 5:13 that we ourselves are the ‘light of the world’. He goes on to say in the following verses: ‘A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.’ That’s the amazing privilege we have as Christian authors – to put our words out there, to use the gifts God has given us to the full and to seek to shine our ‘light’ as brilliantly as possible for God’s praise and glory.

Go on – go ahead and light your candle!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen writes contemporary general fiction and lives with her minister husband in Sydney, Australia. To learn more about Jo-Anne, please visit her website, www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.