AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Carla Capshaw (& Book Giveaway!)

Welcome, Carla! To start off, please tell us about yourself.    
Hi Cathy.  Thanks so much hosting me today on Wordvessel.  I’m so glad to be here. :)

Let’s see, I’m a Florida native who loathes the heat, but I appreciate that I don’t have to shovel snow.  I made a commitment to the Lord when I was a child and thankfully never felt the need to sow a lot of wild oats.  I went to college at the University of South Florida and graduated with a Bachelors degree in International Studies.  I also have a Masters degree in Theology from International Theological Seminary.  Besides writing, my favorite thing to do is travel and I’ll go just about anywhere any chance I get.

How long have you been writing and when was your first book published?
I’ve been writing Historical Romances for about seven years.  I sold my first book, The Gladiator, to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Historical line two years ago and it hits store shelves today!  Yay!!  I’ve sold two additional novels, The Duke’s Redemption, which will be released in January 2010 and The Protector, a sequel to The Gladiator that is scheduled for release around July 2010.

Of the books you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?
My favorite book of mine is always the one I’m working on at the moment.  My characters become real people to me and I get caught up in their problems and how to work them out.    Of course, The Gladiator is dear to me because it’s my first published novel –Caros and Pelonia are a special couple and I hope readers love them as much as I do. 

What are you currently writing?
I’m currently writing a sequel to The Gladiator, titled The Protector.  It features a Christian hero, Quintus, who’s been sentenced to die because of his faith.  The heroine, Adiona, is a rich and influential woman whose difficult life has taught her not to love, though she is drawn to Quintus, a man who is completely unsuitable for her.  When someone tries to kill her, Quintus is assigned to be her protector.  Of course, sparks fly.  ;-)

What are some ways that readers of your books can help you as an author?
Well, I always appreciate positive prayers.  Also, recommending my books to their friends or writing good reviews on various book sites is a huge help. 

What would you like readers to take away from your book?
Great question. Through all my books I try to show that God is in control.  My characters always face major hardships, but by the end of the book they realize God used those trials to bless everyone involved.  I hope readers take away that message and see it in action in their own lives.    

Favorite scripture:
Philippians 1:6.  “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  When I get down, I just remember the Lord is always fine-tuning me and will never give up on me.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I love hearing from readers!  I hope they’ll visit my website www.carlacapshaw.com to see what’s going on with my books and join my newsletter.  They can also reach me through various social networks like Myspace, Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.  I’d love for them to befriend or follow me. 
I’m on other networks and a full list is on my “Links” page on my website. :)

Carla, thanks so much for your visit today! We enjoyed getting to know more about you and your books. 

Readers, Carla is graciously offering one of you a copy of "The Gladiator." Just leave a comment (with a way for me to reach you if you're the winner) to be entered in the drawing! :)

NEXT POST: Author Interview with Margaret Daley (& Book Giveaway!)