1. Hello Cara and welcome to Sara In Bookland! Let's start by introducing a little bit of your work and what is the inspiration behind Lethal Intent.
Sara, thanks so much for inviting me! Each of my books has some genesis of an idea that inspires the what-if that initiates the story. For Lethal Intent I wanted to build on the idea I’d started in Flight Risk (How do we find truth in a fake news world?) only turn to the cutting edge areas of medical/pharmaceutical research. We live in a world that is so complicated, and only getting more so as technology advances and that’s definitely at play in medical research. I teach at a university engaged in world-class research, so I’m constantly seeing updates on AMAZING research. But I’ve also watched a friend navigate a multi-year battle fighting for her son, part of which included him being involved in medical trials. Add in the idea of immortal cells ala Henrietta Lacks, and my mind began spinning with ideas. Then the hero has started a group foster home which is threatened by legislative changes, and I had the layers for a lot of conflict and suspense.
2. Please, Introduce us to your characters!
I love these characters! Caroline and Brandon have been waving their hands for a book for a while, so it was such fun (and actually really challenging!) to dive into their story. Caroline Bragg is an attorney who has been a permanent clerk for a judge since graduating from law school. When her judge dies, she finds herself working for a pharmaceutical start-up as inhouse counsel in the chaotic world of entrepreneurial research. She’s always the friend people turn to, but she’s walled herself off from anyone really knowing her…until Brandon.
Brandon Lancaster is a former professional football player who leveraged his time in the NFL to starting a group foster home for sibling groups. He floated outside foster care when his mom died when he was a teenager, but his younger brother disappeared in the system. Now Brandon is committed to the work of keeping siblings together in crisis, but his life work is in its own crisis when the law changes (actually happened between idea and writing!). Caroline is his best friend and he has to decide how far he’ll let her in now that they’re in a relationship.
They are a great couple, but her job could drive them a part.
3. What would you say the hardest part of writing this book was?
The hardest part was digging deep into Caroline…and figuring out how to handle the dilemma of a changing law. That totally changed Brandon’s conflict as I was writing because I’m committed to sticking with life as it is as much as possible.
4. Now speaking about you, what or who inspired you to become an author?
I’ve wanted to be an author since I was 13. That year I wrote letters to many of my favorite authors (writers like Madeline L’Engle, Frank Peretti, and others) asking for advice on how to write. My mom took their responses and created a scrapbook for me the year after I got my first contract. But it wasn’t until I met Colleen Coble at a booksigning in 2005 that I actively started writing. The rest as they say is history. My first contract came in 2006 with my first book releasing in 2007. Lethal Intent is my 36th book.
5. What books have influenced your life most?
Wowzers! That’s a hard question to answer because I read voraciously. In 2020 I read and listened to more than 150 books. Some early favorites were Gone with the Wind, anything Nancy Drew, and Anne of Green Gables. When I read my first Mary Higgins Clark, I knew I wanted to write romantic suspense. Bodie Thoene’s books inspired my love of historicals and WWII. Currently, books by Randy Singer, Lisa Scottoline, and Lisa Gardner push me to write deeper and better legal or psychological suspense. I also love anything by Lynette Eason and Colleen Coble. I could literally go on and on with authors who’s books I will always read.
6. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I have so many ideas! Right now it’s finding the time and space to let my brain create. I’m in the middle of creating a proposal for another romantic suspense series. I also have many more WWII ideas and will come back to that genre someday.
Thanks so much for having me!
Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently marketing book 36 and dreaming up future books, not hard when she sees what-ifs everywhere.
Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and gives back to the writing community through her service on Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana. Cara is also an attorney, full-time lecturer at a Big Ten university, and all-around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. You can learn more about Cara at www.caraputman.com.
I enjoy medical thrillers so will be getting a copy of this book.
RispondiEliminaIt does sound great!!
RispondiEliminaGood luck with the contest then :)
Sarah, thanks so much for the opportunity to be interviewed here. I appreciate it!
RispondiElimina