Carol here! Please give a warm InspyRomance to Candace Calvert! She was my VERY FIRST writing friend when I got serious about this whole writing business, and I simply adore her! (Plus she’s handy to have around when you have medical questions – like why doesn’t half of my face work? Then you get like seven emails before you wake up asking if you’ve been to the doctor yet ;). Fortunately, it was Bells’ Palsy and nothing more serious. I do love that gal!)
The story heroine in my newest release, Step by Step, has a bit of an issue with control—right down to logging each calorie in a serving of hospital oatmeal . . . and every step she takes, via an activity tracking bracelet. Taylor Cabot is determined to get her life back in order:
ER nurse Taylor Cabot has a survival checklist. She’s on target to complete it by the third anniversary of her widowhood—finally put grief behind. Then a dedicated and compassionate crisis chaplain steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband’s traumatic death.
Seth Donovan’s come to train community volunteers. And to learn why Taylor’s backing away from the crisis team. She’s been a natural fit; aided so many survivors of tragedy. Now she seems intent on rigid control, as if moving on with life requires leaving much of herself behind. Including her friendship with Seth.
When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high–and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?
Most writers will admit there’s a bit of our own DNA in the characters we create. Folks who follow me on Facebook know that I wear a Fitbit bracelet. And set daily word counts with my writing. Okay, and maybe alphabetize my kitchen spices and color organize my clothes closet.
On the flip side, I seem to have an uncanny knack for plunging headfirst into Blooper Land.
Like last fall, when I was given a fabulous opportunity to take part in the “Transformed Through Story” event in Dallas. I still get goosebumps recalling my company that evening. I think you may recognize some of these fellow Tyndale House authors:
Amazing venue, mega star comrades, bright lights, and an eager audience of 700-plus Christian fiction fans.
My goosebumps have goosebumps.
So my turn to speak comes, I walk out on stage, and THIS happens. The wardrobe malfunction that turns my tailored slacks into one-legged knickers. Attacked by static cling, “step by step:”
I never knew about my blooper until afterward when I saw the photos. And heard the stories from my fellow authors (and publishing team) of how they struggled to find a way to save me.
Fortunately, God blessed me with a gift that balances this ridiculous need for control: a sense of humor. After all, what can you really do, but laugh?
That skill came into play recently, when we filmed my very first author video
With my need for control, of course I’d over-rehearsed and fussed about every detail. Fortunately, my videographer is my (very talented) daughter. Who knows her mother very well. AND inherited my sense of humor.
I think this short Author Blooper video proves it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2A0K909QtQ&feature=youtu.be
But it all worked out.
We got a great finished video. The Dallas reader event was fabulous (Francine Rivers!), and in the realm of “wardrobe malfunctions,” mine was pretty tame, you know?
This writing journey (this earthly life!) is going to be full of bloopers. Despite all efforts, it will defy our control. And more often than not, as Step by Step heroine Taylor Cabot learns, that can be a good thing—even divine intervention:
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
PROVERBS 16:9
So, yes, deep breath, try not to over control, remember to laugh—and maybe tuck a can of Static Guard into your suitcase for the next public appearance.
How about you? Care to share a blooper?
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
Thanks for inviting Candace to Inspy Romance, Carol. I love her books! Oh, the dreaded static cling…such a cute photo though. Unfortunately, I’m quite familiar with Blooper Land.
I absolutely adore her books – and her! I, too, am more well acquainted with bloopers than I wish I were…
So fun to see you here, Jill (and to know you speak Blooper)! And, Carol, you know I love you right back, girl! Thanks for hosting me.
Thanks for sharing Candace with your readers. As a high school teacher, by clothing blooper was wearing two different colored shoes to school on day. Never dress in the dark. Have a great day.
Whoops! The thing around here is unmatched socks. It drives me nuts on one level, but so glad I never have to match them anymore ;).
“Never dress in the dark”–love it. Great to meet you, Renate.
I enjoy books with medical themes and look forward to reading more of your books! I managed to kick one of my dress shoes off across the stage at church while walking up to sing with the choir. I had to retrieve it and then climb the risers with the rest of the choir.
Eep! That’s no good!
Candace writes fantastic medical books! (You might also check out Jordyn Redwood and Richard Mabry – they’ve got some great medical ones, too!)
Wow, Diana, that was Olympian. Thanks for sharing and for the kind words regarding my work.
I am so glad to know that I am not the only one who experiences “bloopers” in life. Our family motto is “It’s Always a story with the Henderson’s”. :-)
Oh my! Fortunately, we’re not quite like that, but man, we have our share too!
Welcome to Inspy Romance, Candace! Most of my bloopers are verbal — not necessarily an ‘improvement’ over physical ones. Sigh.
BTDT, too… :p
Great to “see” you here, Valerie. :-)
Hi! I really enjoyed reading your post! Funny things happy to all of us, don’t they!
That they do!
Hi Linda, fun to share a laugh with you. :-)
I’ve worn my clothes inside out before. Fun post. Definitely want to check out your books!
I don’t think I’ve done that, but I’ve worn stuff backwards… My kids have done that too.
Ditto on the reverse clothes. Thanks for stopping by, Katy.
Candace, great to read more about you. Sorry about your blooper, though. Percunally, eye neverr mayke misteaks.
Hehe! I’ve done a few of those myself…
Ha! I’d never believe it of a Medical Musketeer. But that doctor handwriting . . . ;-)
Thanks for inviting Candace to share. I’m looking forward to reading Step by Step and expect that I will enjoy it as much as her other books I’ve read.
Thanks for inviting Candace. I’m looking forward to reading Step by Step and expect to enjoy it as much as her other books I’ve read.
I’m quite certain you will!!!! :D
Hi Julianne, thank so much for the kind words. :-)
Thanks for giving me a good laugh to brighten my morning!! Unfortunately, I’m no stranger to bloopers either. I guess it just makes life more exciting, especially for those around us!?
I think we all have our fair share of them. I’m not sure if that’s good (because we can empathize with others) or bad (because well… yeah…)
Hi Mandi–honored to share a laugh with you. There’s always a chuckle or two in my stories as well.
Thanks for sharing.
(waving) Hi Merrillee! Thanks for coming by. Always good to see you.
Loved your post! Actually made me giggle out loud! I think we all have a blooper moments.
LOL (literally!), then I have met my goal, Julie. Laughing at ourselves is good medicine. :-)
Welcome Candace! I laughed right along with you on your blooper video, because sometimes we have to do that don’t we? :-)
No bloopers that I can remember because I’m not one to stand in front of a crowd and speak, nor get in front of a video camera. Actually I do remember one; looking back at Middle school, we had to write a research paper and then be video recorded. After each student completed that, the whole class watched the videos. I choose to do my paper on the Sioux Indians, well of course I couldn’t pronounce that (still can’t to this day, lol) and it all came out in the video recording. And I think I was jiggling my knees or something like that, I just get so nervous in front of people! My face must have been beet red, I hated it so much! Thankfully I don’t have opportunity to do that anymore. :-)
I get that, Trixi. My heart was SO going pitter patter (and speed demon) before I had to speak at the Dallas event. I was grateful for the company of my fellow Tyndale authors (especially Courtney Fassler Walsh!) for helping me keep my eye on the prize: connecting with readers who may need the hope offered in our stories. It went really well (despite my knickers!) and I have such great memories. Thank you for joining me here, Trixi.
Step by Step is next on my list! Sounds like we have a lot in common, control issues and bloopers!
So great to see you here, Beth! I welcome you to my hopeful stories—and salute you as a fellow control/blooper club member. ?
Looking forward to reading Step By Step. One of my bloopers is walking out of a restaurant ladies room with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of my shoe. Didn’t notice it till I got back to the table. I now do a double check to make sure that never happens again. One time I checked and there it was on the bottom of my shoe. It took me awhile to get it off since I would push it off with one shoe and then it would get stuck to the bottom of the other shoe. I had to finally stop and just pull it off!
Oh, Nancy–now THAT would be a video! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy Step by Step.