In the Shadow of Evil...Robin Caroll

Today we bring you, In the Shadow of Evil by Robin Caroll. This is the first full length book I've read by the author. She also has a book, Deliver us From Evil focusing on human trafficking that I'm really excited to pick up.

I've read most of her short romantic suspense books but was eager to see how she'd developed as she moved to the full trade length books. Wow. She's always been a great writer, but with this she had the room she needed to develop the story to the fullest. I loved her well developed, yet flawed characters and I have to say she made me want to visit her beloved Bayou. I loved how relevant the book was and how it gave us a glimpse of what could happen in the aftermath of Katrina. A problem I never gave a thought too.

Overall, I loved it. It was an enjoyable book to read and I'd suggest it to anyone that loves great suspense with a touch of romance. Similar to Terri Blackstock.

I received this book for review from the publisher.

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingIn The Shadow of EvilB&H Books (March 1, 2011)byRobin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty years, her three beautiful daughters, one precious grandson, and their four character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

Robin gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as RT Reviewer's Choice, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year. An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Informed by the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy plus devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast, In the Shadow of Evil casts the modern day story of a building rebound scam exposed. It begins when the body of a property inspector is found among the ashes of a burnt out Homes of Hope house. Wrapped up in this mounting case of unethical practices, supply shortages, and murder, top Louisiana homicide detective Maddox Bishop is losing his heart to a charitable contractor, Layla Taylor, whose own sister is under suspicion. He’s also about to discover a deep secret about his tragic past.


If you would like to read the first chapter of In The Shadow of Evil, go HERE.


Watch the trailer:

Deliver Us From Evil, Robin Caroll

Today I have the pleasure of hosting fellow ACFW member, Robin Caroll to talk about her newest release, Deliver Us From Evil. The book has had great reviews and created quite a bit of buzz so I’m excited to read it for myself. I haven’t received my copy, but as soon as I do I’ll let you know what I think and then draw a name from the comments left here for a winner for the book. :)

Hey, Robin, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I know you’re really busy right now with the release Deliver Us From Evil.

Since you were here last, you’ve written like a bazillion books. What is this like 9 or 10?

Robin: Deliver Us From Evil is my 9th release. The following two books in the trilogy will be 10th and 11th, releasing in August 2010 and February 2011.

Sabrina: You sure keep busy. :) How long did it take you to complete this one?


Robin: Well, Deliver Us From Evil was began back in 2005. I plotted and planned it, did the research, and wrote approximately 35K of the manuscript. The research was horrendous and writing some of the scenes wiped me out emotionally to write them. I reached a point where I stopped writing on the book, and began writing something new, lighter...it sold to Steeple Hill in 2006, followed by the next 3 books contracting quickly behind. At the 2008 conference, in a chance meeting, I spoke with David Webb, then with B&H. In conversation, he asked if I'd considered writing full length romantic suspense. I told him I did. He asked if I had anything I was working on. Deliver Us From Evil came to the forefront of my mind, even though I had others. I told him the premise and he requested I have my agent send him a proposal. Well, I was excited, but also had deadlines and obligations. I finally completed a proposal in March on 2009 and had my agent send it to David. Months passed as I was working on my contracted Steeple Hill books, but David kept in touch with my agent, letting us know when the proposal had passed through their readers, him, and went to Karen Ball's desk. Then we received word that changes were occurring at B&H and David Webb would be leaving. Karen was quick to contact my agent and let her know that they were working to make the transition as smooth as possible, and that my proposal was still under consideration. Conversations continued and I was officially contracted by B&H in September 2009. The book would be released in February 2010, so that's when I began to finish writing Deliver Us From Evil.

Sabrina: On a more personal note, can you tell us a little about yourself, have you always known you were going to be a writer or did you have other aspirations in college, etc…

Robin: Believe it or not, I was infatuated with the legal system. I actually have paralegal training, but I learned my first year as an intern paralegal with a criminal attorney that I wasn't cut out for the legal profession. I learned quickly that we have a legal system, not a justice system. So I began to follow up with my stories and poems, got several published, and then veered into novel-length fiction.

Sabrina: Wow, how interesting. I too worked as a legal secretary and assumed I’d end up as a paralegal. On a more writing note, describe what the last few years have been like for you as you’ve moved from struggling writer to successful author?

Robin: I'm successful? LOL Seriously, I think each writer struggles at every level. From true beginner learning the craft, to agented writer honing their skill, to contracted author learning the process, to mulitpublished author continuing to learn and grow.

Sabrina: Anyone who can write and sell 9 books in a few years is definitely successful. :) Tell us a little about this newest book and why it’s so special to you?

Robin: Deliver Us From Evil is the story of a beautiful yet tough woman working in a beautiful yet tough setting, Brannon Callahan is a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child trafficking ring in history—with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee—will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail. It's truly the book of my heart as it brings to light the horrors of child trafficking.

Sabrina: Is this part of a series or a stand alone?

Robin: While this book can certainly stand alone, there are two others behind it that bring a secondary character to the forefront.

Sabrina: You know here in middle America we sometimes don’t hear about these kinds of travesties. A few years ago I was completely shocked to hear human trafficking is running rampant and becoming such a lucrative business for these criminals. On that note, what do you think the most common misconception is about human trafficking?

Robin: Is that it doesn't happen very often. It DOES. Right under our noses. And because most Americans are like we were, unaware, nothing is being done to stop it. Awareness is the first step in bringing an end to this modern day slavery.

Sabrina: Is there anything we can do to support these victims or get involved?

Robin: In the back of Deliver Us From Evil, I list some organizations I found while researching who are making a difference. You can also check out my blog http://www.robinswritingworld.blogspot.com/ and each post in January is about organizations fighting to end human trafficking.

Sabrina: Robin, thank you so much for visiting with us and sharing your heart on this serious matter. Having read your other titles I know you pour a lot of research into these books. Thanks again and we look forward to seeing what you have in store for us next. Now, folks, leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of Deliver Us From Evil as soon as I pick it up.

Robin: Thanks, Sabrina. It's been so fun!

Welcome Robin Caroll...Author of Bayou Justice

In celebration of the release of her first book, I've invited Robin Caroll as a guest blogger to share with us today. After the interview please leave a comment and once I receive Robin's book I'll draw a name for a free copy. :) It's common knowledge that Robin is a dillegent writer. Working hard to hone her craft, she's quite competent at getting book after book completed. She just finished her fourth contracted book that will also be released through Steeple Hill. I figured it would be fun to hear about her journey from unpublished to published.

Welcome, Robin Caroll!

Author of the much anticipated Love Inspired Suspense,

Bayou Justice

Thanks for hosting me, Sabrina. As per your suggestion, I'm going to share a little bit about the challenges on the transition from unpublished to published.

The biggest challenge for me, personally, is to have realized that once you sell your book, it’s no longer your baby, but a product to sell. It’s been sold to the publisher, but now you have to work with your editorial team to focus on selling to the target consumer. The title, the characters, the plot twists, the cover…everything is focused on appealing to your target consumer—the reader. I found this challenging because I had NO IDEA what all is taken into consideration during this process.

Editors know what the readers of their specific lines look for, what they expect, and they help steer you in the direction of providing exactly that. The entire team from editors, line editors, proofreaders, typesetters, art departments, etc. all work toward the same goal as you—to make your book the best it can be to appeal to your target reader. It’s an amazing process, and I love seeing how all these different team members work together and get the final product out there to the readers. I’m blessed to be going through this journey with the awesome team I have with Steeple Hill.

Another challenge I found was acknowledging the fact that deadlines can be our best friends, or our worst enemies. It’s one thing to set yourself a deadline, make one with your cps, or even one from your agent, but it’s a totally different feeling when you have a deadline to turn in a manuscript, or revisions, or line edits, or front & back material, or galleys….there are many people waiting on you, expecting you to turn in on deadline so they can do their job, and aside from the contractual obligations, there’s the whole aspect of if you fall late, you push everyone else in the lineup running behind as well.

One other thing that’s a transition, but it’s not really a challenge, is reviews. I didn’t realize how I’d actually be nervous to hear there was a review out on my books. I’ve done the contest thing and cringed and celebrated over judges’ comments and overall scores. I guess that was preparation for handling reviews. I’m blessed that for now, I’ve gotten really great reviews. But I know a bad one’s coming—that’s just a fact because not every reader is going to love my book. I’m trying to prepare for the not-so-great review so it won’t sting. I’m a big girl. Rejections, bad scores, and so-so reviews are part of this industry. I can take it. Well, check with me after I get one and let’s see how I did! Our heads can tell us one thing, but the reality sure can sting! LOL

Thanks, Sabrina, for having me. I’ve had fun!

Robin Miller is writing as Robin Caroll. Deep South Mysteries for an Inspired Heart BAYOU JUSTICE--October 2007 Steeple Hill BAYOU CORRUPTION--February 2008 Steeple Hill BAYOU JUDGMENT-May 2008 Steeple Hill BAYOU PARADOX-September 2008, Steeple Hill

Thank you, Robin, for sharing with us. Good luck with the books and I can't wait to review Bayou Justice next week. :) Now leave those comments and I'll put you in a drawing for a free copy of Bayou Justice. :)