Interview & Giveaway with Carrie Fancett Pagels

Carrie, thank you so much for visiting us today here at the CCC blog! 


You’ve had a new release! Can you share a little bit about it and how you first hatched the idea for this story?

The idea was sparked by a visit to the island with my friend, Rosemary Wellington. I’d worked and lived on the island but getting to see the island through her eyes was magical – because her family was from the island. Her cousin later became the mayor of the island.

What special research did you need to do for this novel and did you enjoy it or find it laborious? 

First of all I love Mackinac Island and I see this as my legacy book – if I could have a story set anywhere and in any time period and have it published, this is it! But the actual writing of the manuscript was difficult. I call this my Problem Child Manuscript. But she’s become a well-behaving beauty will all the help I received in bringing her into line.


What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel? 

The Pauper and the Prince – wherein God is our true King and knows our true nature. I want readers to recognize the only identity they need to have is in Christ our King!

How did you determine what names to give your characters? 

Maude was named after my paternal grandmother. Welling was shortened for my friend Rosemary Wellington. I had a great-uncle Fred who I loved and I turned the name into Friedrich. König means King in German. Reverend McWithey was named for our friend and neighbor and I “gave him back” his wife in this story (his wife passed away soon after their second child’s birth.) Myra is named for my lovely friend and neighbor. Ben was chosen for the inspiration lookalike, a former pro football player who’d I’d seen on the cover of Neurology Today magazine and I thought – that looks just like my hero. Steffans was one of my husband’s family names.

Which sub-character is your favorite and why? 

Jack. I love Sadie, too, and am sympathetic to her (she’s in her own story, a novella, releasing in “His Anchor” in the First Loves Collection from Barbour.) But Jack became so real to me. He’s got a lot of my son’s spunk and personality but this boy really took on a life of his own in my head. I was a psychologist for 25 years and I worked with a lot of Jacks. I’d say it’s a tribute to them all.

Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why? 

Jo from Little Women morphed with Anne of Green Gables. When I first read about Jo, I was – wow, that girl is just like me! And Anne has my dreamer and imaginative and crazy nature and grew up in a beautiful area like I did (I’m from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a gorgeous place.)

What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)

Beading. I make earrings to go with most of my books, for my promo teams. Sadly, between my Rheumatoid Arthritis and poor vision I don’t do as much as I’d like.

Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!

No pets at present, but we’ve had many dogs. And I have the best Grand Dog in the world! Dar Dar is 110+ lb. Black Lab full of love. He’s super smart and sweet. He loves chasing balls. He craves attention of the whole family and is happiest when he has all of us! It’s kind of funny but if he only has one human available to him he’s not so thrilled!

We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing? 

I wouldn’t be writing Christian fiction at all if it were not for the Lord. I am disabled from Rheumatoid Arthritis and some other arthritic conditions. I couldn’t do this without the Lord and those He puts around me. I write to bring God glory. It’s all for Him. Those in the industry understand well that there may be little earthly reward for these endeavors but we’ll receive our reward in Heaven.

Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company? 

My husband, Jeffrey D. Pagels. He’s my rock. I thank the Lord for him constantly. This November will be our 30th anniversary!

Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing? 

I “came out of the closet” as a romance author some years ago after thinking I was a historical fiction author. I don’t enjoy reading a fiction unless it has some romance in it or is a romance. So once I’d accepted that about myself, I had to own it and I wear a lot of pink to express my love of romance! That’s what I write!

And for some extra fun . . . 

If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why? 

None. I’d only trust in the Lord to take me Home.


Thank you so much for visiting today! It was a blast!

Bio – Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D.

ECPA-bestselling author Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of a dozen Christian historical romances. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! A self-professed “history geek,” she resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia but grew up as a “Yooper.” Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!

You can connect with her at her on social media links:
Website:www.carriefancettpagels.com
Blogs: Overcoming With God and Colonial Quills
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/cfpagels/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cfpagels



Links to purchase:

Barbour Publishing: www.barbourbooks.com
Barnes & Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com
CBD: www.christianbook.com
Target:www.target.com




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-------------Blog post by Anne Love-





Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots. 





Nurse Practitioner by day. 





Wife, mother, writer by night. 





Coffee drinker--any time.

Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com



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