Interview with Carla Stewart (and her debut novel Chasing Lilacs)

Carla Stewart is the 2007 ACFW Genesis winner in historical fiction. Her debut novel, Chasing Lilacs received a 4.5 star review from Romantic Times : “This first-person narrative contains resolute characters and vivid descriptions of a small Texas community in the 1950’s. If her debut is any indication, Stewart has a promising future.” Christian Retailing, May 2010, states “Chasing Lilacs is a page-turner with realistic characters, descriptive scenery and fast-paced action, and will especially appeal to those who recall 1950s’ small-town life.”

Carla is a small town girl, empty nester and a chocolate and coffee lover. She’s also one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met!

BACK COVER COPY:

It’s the summer of 1958, and life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for Sammie Tucker. Sammie has plenty of questions about her mother’s “nerve” problems. About shock treatments. About whether her mother loves her.

As her life careens out of control, Sammie has to choose who to trust with her deepest fears: Her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious boy from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on. Then there’s the elderly widower who seems nice but has his own dark past.

Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done.

Carla, thank you for stopping by to chat with us today! I am so excited about the debut of Chasing Lilacs.

1)      Tell us a little about your debut novel Chasing Lilacs.

It’s the coming-of-age story of a young girl who must deal with her own budding adolescence in the midst of her mother’s depression, shock treatments, and eventual suicide. While that is the plot that drives the story, it really is about the power of community and friendships that carry us through difficult times. Because the landscape is a close-knit petroleum community in 1950s Texas, nostalgia plays a major role, and I had a lot of fun bringing out those elements which I hope will make people homesick for their own childhoods.

I adore the smell of Lilacs, probably my favorite flower!

2)      How did the idea for your novel Chasing Lilacs come about?

As a child of the 50s and 60s myself, I have always been curious about those forbidden subjects people whispered about but were too polite to discuss, especially “nerve” problems and shock treatments. What would it have been like if a young girl’s mom had these problems? At the same time, I always wanted to write a story set in a petroleum camp like the one where I grew up. In 2004, I took a solo venture to the camp (which is now a ghost town). A few miles away, I saw the smokestacks on the horizon. My breaths quickened. A lump appeared in my throat. As I approached and later rambled over the vacant ground where my childhood home once stood, wonderful memories washed over me. I knew I’d found not only the setting for my story, but also the theme of the book—the power of community that shapes our lives. And yes, we had a magnificent lilac bush across the street – I love everything about lilacs!

3)      How many novels did you write before Chasing Lilacs? And don’t say it was your first try or I’ll scream – just kidding!

Definitely not my first attempt! My first novel was a mystery where I wrote willy-nilly without any idea of the rules of writing. An editor read it and pointed out some of the major flaws (which were many), but told me I had an engaging voice. That encouraged me to keep writing. My next attempt was women’s fiction, but I only made it to the half-way point and hit a wall. In the meantime, I wrote magazine articles, moved across the state, remodeled a house, and we started life as empty-nesters. That’s when Chasing Lilacs began to bubble in my mind, so that is what I wrote when I resumed my writing routine. The year was 2004! It has taken six years for it to hit the bookshelves.

4)      Fun question: I know you like coffee and chocolate. If you could only have one coffee and one chocolate forever, what would each be?

Coffee and chocolate make a yummy, lovely combination. My current favorite coffee is Sumatra which goes perfectly with a Heath’s English Toffee bar or a Dove’s caramel chocolate (sorry, couldn’t pick just one).

Carla, you have hit on my two favorite chocolate’s as well. Chocolate and toffee or chocolate and caramel – yum, yum!

5)      Do you have another novel written and contracted? When can we expect it and what is it about?

Chasing Lilacs is the first of a two-book contract. My second novel, tentatively titled Broken Wings, has a strong nostalgic thread also, but is the story of two woman in present-day Tulsa who become unlikely friends. I’m very excited about this book. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I think it has a depth and perspective that many people will relate to. It will release in 2011.

Thanks for stopping by my blog to chat. I’ve enjoyed our time together! Heidi

Thank you, Heidi! You’ve given me a chocolate craving just being here, but it was fun visiting with you. God Bless.