Author Chat!! Counterfeit Love's Crystal Caudill

Welcome, Crystal to Fueled, it's an absolute joy to have you on today! Congratulations on your debut novel, Counterfeit Love. I've had the pleasure of beginning to read it, and I absolutely love it!

Friends, make sure to read all the way to the bottom, Crystal has a fantastic giveaway  for three fortunate winners!!

Crystal, tell us a little about yourself and your family.

 

I am the incredibly blessed wife of a romantic and level-headed husband, which is great for my readers and my sanity. He keeps me grounded and teaches me what a godly hero looks like on a day-to-day basis. I’m the mother of two teenage boys who are complete opposites of each other but totally have my heart. I’m also a caregiver for my mother-in-love who lives with us. Family is hugely important to me, so I’m also going to mention I’m the older sister of an incredible nurse practitioner brother, and the daughter of two wonderful parents who had taught me to never give up despite the obstacles life throws at you.

 

 

If you could use three adjectives to describe your main characters, what would they be?

 

Theresa Plane is impulsive, independent, and hurting.

Broderick Cosgrove is swoony (or so I keep getting told), protective, and determined.

 

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

 

Don’t be in a rush to get published. Take lots of time to study writing craft, marketing, the business side of managing writing (because yes, you are a small business), and network with other writers. I know being published seems like the end all and be all, but really, it’s a job, and you are far more likely to succeed if you take the time to complete all the training you can before publishing, whether traditionally or independently. And not-so-secret hint, you’ll be much more likely to impress an agent or publisher if you’ve really put in the work to learn, edit, and keep pushing yourself until you cannot go any further on your own. It takes time, years even, but it is worth it. I promise. And in the end, you’ll still feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. ;-)

 

 

Do you have a daily routine for your day when writing?

 

One of the best things about writing is the flexibility. There are many seasons in my life where a routine is not possible as traveling to and from doctor’s appointments and all the needs of the kids can really kick a day of productivity out the window. My laptop goes with me and recently my husband purchased me a wifi hotspot so I’m never without the ability to connect. When I am blessed to be able to have a routine, I drop the kiddos off at 8, come home and make a quick breakfast and a pot of tea. Then I sit at my desk and do my Bible study, pray over the day’s work, and then by about 10 am, I’m ready to settle in. Generally, I’ll work straight through until 2pm or 2:30 pm when I have to go pick up my boys from school. After that, I try to squeeze in some more writing in the evenings. Daily goals depend on projects. I’m a singularly focused writer, although I’m trying to learn how to work on multiple projects in one day. Generally I try to take one day a week to do all the administrative tasks necessary, like setting up social media posts and blog posts or answering emails that require a book’s length to answer. Otherwise, it’s get as much done as I can. My current WIP requires me to get 2000 words a day five days a week, so that or more is what I aim for. Honestly, my life is so unpredictable, I’ve just learned to roll with the punches and pray God fills in my shortcomings.

 

 

Do you enjoy a good cup of coffee or tea, do you have any favorites?

 

Hot tea is my absolute must-have. And not that cheap, dirty sock water that gets passed off as tea in most places. I’m a tea snob to the max. Give me my loose leaf tea by the pot. My absolute favorite is a chai rooibos, but generally I end up reaching for Yorkshire, Earl Grey, or Peach Ginger as they are all black teas and have the caffeine I need to fuel my day.

 

What amount of time does it take to research each novel you write?

 

It really depends on the book. I do a lot of heavy research before starting a series. I want to have a solid understanding of the hero or heroine’s career, what their socio-economic life would look like, details about the setting, what was going on politically that might affect my plot, and any number of details I can get to just really sink into that time period. However, once I have my foundation, I do a lot of research as I go, especially for those niggling details of what did the inside of Carpenter Hall look like? Details that help build the visual world out. I also do quite a bit of research in the editing process to make sure details are correct, that I haven’t learned anything new that will bite me in the butt later, or to fix the dreaded plot hole.

 

What do you hope your readers glean from reading your novels?

 

In this book, the thing I hope readers will walk away with is that “even if” everything is stripped away from you, you can trust and love God. He cares for every detail of your life, and He works all things to the good of those that love Him, according to His purpose and for His glory. And sometimes, that means just standing still and letting Him fight the battle, even if it tears at our souls. Jesus promised us there would be trouble, but He also promised we would not go it alone.

 

As far as my other books, it’s too soon for me to tell. I write to whatever theme God pulls me to, and often I don’t know what that is until the very end of the book. I will say, there will always be messy families, broken people, and God who works through it all.

 

What’s on the horizon for you, writing wise?

 

Counterfeit Love is the first in a three book series called Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age. In book two, Counterfeit Hope, readers will get a surprising view of Andrew Darlington—an operative who has little tact and tends to see things in black in white. Readers and the heroine will discover that he’s not quite the man he appears to be and is worthy of the title hero. However, he’s been harboring a secret from his superiors. He spent his childhood as a member of a criminal family before being adopted by his arresting officer. When a case brings him face-to-face with his former family, his character comes into question despite all he’s done to earn his sterling reputation. Matters only worsen when the woman who captures his attention—and possibly his affections—is the wrong kind of woman for a Secret Service operative. A pickpocket and former prostitute.

 

In book three, Counterfeit Faith, Josiah Isaacs’s charming ways get put to the test when he partners with the matron of Final Chance House of Refuge. Someone is using the institution for children convicted of crimes as a cover for their participation in a green goods game, and they’re willing to silence anyone who poses a threat to their operations, including the matron and children forced to participate. 

Thank you again, Crystal, for chatting with me, I wish you all the best with this fantastic novel and future ones as well.   

Back Cover Blurb:

 

Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves–or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he’s been sent to track down?

 

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name–and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors’ threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn’t all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home–and the truth.

 

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancée is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career–but that’s better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

 

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there’s no question they’re both still keeping secrets–and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.

 

Combining rich history, danger, suspense, and romance, Crystal Caudill’s debut novel launches this new historical series with a bang. Fans of Elizabeth Camden, Michelle Griep, and Joanna Davidson Politano will be thrilled to find another author to follow!

 

Purchase Links:

 

•              Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Love-Crystal-Caudill/dp/0825447402/

•              Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/counterfeit-love-crystal-caudill/1139916746

•              Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Counterfeit-Love/Crystal-Caudill/9780825447402

•              Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Counterfeit-Love-Crystal-Caudill/9780825447402

•              Christianbook: https://www.christianbook.com/counterfeit-hidden-hearts-gilded-vol-1/9780825447402/pd/44740X

 

 

Social Media Links:

Website: https://crystalcaudill.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalcaudillauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/crystal-caudill

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/crystalcaudillauthor

 

 

About Crystal-

Crystal Caudill is the author of "dangerously good historical romance," with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at CrystalCaudill.com.

Crystal has generously provided a Giveaway link which is going on with her blog-

FREE FOR EVERYONE: Anyone who wants to, can download a copy of my short story, Banking on Love, by signing up to join my newsletter at https://BookHip.com/RGLTQF.  I send out monthly newsletters that you can always unsubscribe to, but this group is the first people to know of publishing details like cover reveals, sales, newsletter subscriber only opportunities.

 

BOOK LAUNCH GIVEAWAY: This giveaway is going on across multiple sites.

 

THREE WINNERS-

 

Grand Prize - Counterfeit Love Book Box - a signed print copy of Counterfeit Love and an “Always Booked” tote full with surprises related to the story to be opened when as they read and reach matching post it notes.

 

Runner Up - Winner’s choice of a signed print copy of Counterfeit Love or e-book, a pair of bookish socks, and a “I Love Big Books” bookmark

 

2nd Runner Up - Winner’s choice of a signed print copy of Counterfeit Love or e-book and a “Read More Books” zipper bag with paper bookmarks

 

Fine Print: Physical prizes only available to those living in the contiguous United States who are legally eligible to win. Non-contiguous U.S. and  International winners will get an unsigned copy of the book through Book Depository if available and the author will mail a signed book plate and bookmark.

 

Drawing runs from 12:01 a.m. March 1st to 11:59 p.m. (EST) March 31st. The winner will be randomly picked via Rafflecopter on April 1st.

 

The winner will be emailed during the first week of April and will have 7 days to respond before a new winner is drawn. Please add crystalcaudillwrites@gmail.com to your contacts list to ensure you receive your email.

 

Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/884ac8a131/?