Carrie Turansky has penned many novels, from contemporary romance to women’s fiction to historical romance. Edwardian England has been the focus of her most recent novels, with readers enjoying her authentic storytelling and intriguing plots. It’s great to have Carrie here today and I hope you enjoy discovering insights into Carrie herself, along with a peek into her latest book, Across the Blue. Don’t miss the giveaway, thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah!
Over to you, Carrie…
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Why do you tell stories?
I enjoy creating characters and stories to explore interesting themes and ideas, ones that I hope will capture my readers’ hearts and minds. I love stepping back in time and weaving faith elements into those stories in ways that will help readers think more deeply about their faith and experience God’s love and truth.
Your favourite place to read
In the wintertime I love to settle on my cozy couch in the living room with a warm blanket and a good book. When the weather is warm I enjoy sitting outside on our back patio and sipping a glass of iced tea while reading.
Best meal of the day
Breakfast is the best meal of the day! They say eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen, and dinner like a pauper.
Most beloved childhood book
My great aunt always gave me an award winning book each Christmas when I was a child. One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey was one of my favorites. It’s a beautifully illustrated picture book about a young girl who loses her tooth on the beach while digging clams with her father. She is sad that she won’t be able to make a wish on that lost tooth, but then she finds a feather and uses it to make her wish. It’s a lovely story that reminds me of my childhood, and I often recommend it to parents to read aloud when their child loses their first tooth.
If your life was a TV show, what would it be?
I wish it was like Downton Abbey, but it’s really more like Seventh Heaven in their later years. We have five adult children and my husband is a pastor.
Whose music inspires you?
I like to listen to instrumental movie soundtracks while I’m writing. They provide great inspiration for me. Some of my favorites are Miss Potter, The Holiday, Prince of Tides, and Little Women.
What ice-cream flavour would you be?
Chocolate Chip Mint or Jamoca Almond Fudge
The most recent novel you read
If I Run by Terri Blackstock
What’s your current book recommendation?
Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke
Name a book character you can’t forget
May I name two? They have to go together: Father Tim and Cynthia from the Mitford Series by Jan Karon
Dream travel destination
I’d love to go back to England to visit the settings for my novels – Northumberland where Shine Like the Dawn is set; then the Bristol area to visit Tyntesfield, the estate I had in mind when I wrote the Highland Hall novels; and Kent, where Across the Blue is set. Ah, just thinking about it makes me happy.
Across the Blue
Set in Edwardian England and ideal for readers who enjoy Julie Klassen novels, this romance about an English aviation pioneer and the girl who falls in love with him is filled with adventure and faith.
Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don’t approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson’s new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson’s newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella’s heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve.
If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella’s faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?
What was the working title?
As High as the Heavens . . . Beyond the Clouds . . . and finally, Across the Blue.
Describe your book in 5 adjectives
Adventurous, nostalgic, inspiring, descriptive, romantic
Which character did you enjoy writing most?
My hero, James Drake, really captured my heart. He is determined and hardworking, but he’s also a tender-hearted guy who cares about others and wants to win Bella’s heart.
Which character gave you the most grief?
My heroine, Bella, was a challenging character to write. I wanted her to fit in with the time period, but I also wanted her to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. That was quite an unexpected goal for a wealthy young English woman in the early 1900s.
What emotions do you think your story will generate in readers?
I hope readers will feel a strong connection with Bella and James and want to see them reach their goals and find a way to be together. James’s flights are exciting, and several readers said those scenes kept them on the edge of their seats. Of course there is a romance, actually two romances, and I hope those will touch reader’s hearts and remind them that true love can overcome great obstacles.
What emotions did you experience while writing this story?
Writing a novel takes me on a rollercoaster ride. First there is elation when I find the perfect research information to create the plot and characters. Then there is the excitement I feel as I start out writing the book. But soon after that I hit the up and down time in the middle when I’m not sure if any of it is going to be any good, and I wonder if you should just throw it all out! But I press on, knowing the deadline is coming. Finally, I get to the final few chapters and the excitement returns. I usually finish with a few tears, relieved and happy for my characters and myself.
How do you choose your characters names?
I often look online for baby names that were popular the year my characters were born. Then I just choose those that seem to fit.
Thanks Carrie!
Carrie Turansky is an award-winning author of inspirational romance novels set in Edwardian England and the US. Her latest is Across the Blue, which combines the charm of Downton Abbey with the adventurous spirit of the Wright Brothers. She loves weaving heart-warming tales about family, faith, and lasting love. Her novels have been translated into several foreign languages and are enjoyed by readers around the world. Carrie enjoys connecting with reading friends on social media and through her website and blog: http://carrieturansky.com
Relz Reviewz Extras
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Visit Carrie’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: Across the Blue or Koorong
September 10, 2018 at 7:36 pm
I know so many Facebook friends that live in Cornwall so that is where I would like to go.
September 12, 2018 at 2:10 am
HI Becky, Oh, I’d love to visit Cornwall too. That’s where they filmed Poldark.
September 10, 2018 at 9:28 pm
I want to visit London, take the Harry Potter tour, and visit the coast.
September 12, 2018 at 2:10 am
Hi Danielle, There is so much to see in London! I hope you are able to visit and take that tour.
September 11, 2018 at 3:22 am
Any..every place would be a treat to visit in England.
September 12, 2018 at 2:11 am
Hi Claudia, thanks for stopping by! Yes, there is so much to see in England. The Lake District and the Peak District are two of my favorites.
September 11, 2018 at 3:33 am
Great interview Carrie!
Across the Blue is a fantastic book!
Blessings,Tina
September 12, 2018 at 2:12 am
Hi Tina, thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your kind words and support.
September 11, 2018 at 5:02 am
I would love to visit London and meet the Queen!! Great interview!!
September 12, 2018 at 2:13 am
Hi Nicole. When we visited London they allowed you to enter Buckingham Palace and sign the Queen’s Registry if you asked. That was fun!
September 11, 2018 at 6:45 am
All the places!! I’d love to see Cornwall.
September 12, 2018 at 2:13 am
Hi Arletta, I haven’t been to Cornwall yet, but I’ve read a few books set there. It sounds wonderful.
September 11, 2018 at 6:52 am
Carrie! I’m so happy to find another breakfast fan. It’s my favorite meal of the day too and one I will happily eat even at dinner time. I love that quote! Also, I love the Miss Potter Soundtrack. A few other instrumental film scores I love are Anne of Green Gables and The Man From Snowy River.
September 12, 2018 at 2:14 am
Hi Brittaney, That’s fun to hear you’re also a fan of breakfast! I’ll have to look for those film scores you mentioned. Thanks! Carrie
September 11, 2018 at 7:11 am
The counties of Sussex and Suffolk. My ancestors came from these areas.
Marion
September 12, 2018 at 2:15 am
Hi Marion, that’s wonderful to hear you have ancestors who lived in England. I haven’t been to Sussex or Suffolk yet.
September 11, 2018 at 7:33 am
I would like to visit Southampton.
September 12, 2018 at 2:16 am
Hi Julie, thanks for stopping by. Visiting Southampton sounds wonderful. Lots of ships set sail from that port.
September 11, 2018 at 8:57 am
I would like to visit Highclere Castle in England where Downton Abbey was filmed.
September 12, 2018 at 2:17 am
Hi Hannah, I hope you do have a chance to visit Highchlere. We went there on my first research trip to England and it is so beautiful, even more amazing than it looks on Downton. I’m very excited to see the new movie they are filming now.
September 11, 2018 at 10:45 am
I would love to visit some of the little villages of England. The Lake District looks really interesting and I’ve always thought it would be fun to walk on the moors. London shouldn’t be missed either. I’d have to have quite a lot of time to spend seeing all I’d like to visit.
September 12, 2018 at 2:18 am
Hi Pam, On my first research trip to England my husband and I visited several small villages, gardens, and country estates. That was wonderful! There is so many wonderful sights to see in England.
September 11, 2018 at 6:20 pm
I would like to visit Brighton and Bath! Jane Austen fan 🙂
September 12, 2018 at 2:19 am
Hi Jessica, I’m a Jane Austen fan too!
September 11, 2018 at 9:46 pm
I would like to visit Bristol and Bath.
September 12, 2018 at 2:20 am
Hi Anita, We stayed in Bristol on my last research trip to England. If you go, plan a day to visit the Tyntesfield Estate. It’s owned by the national trust and open for tours most of the year. That was the estate I had in mind when I wrote the Highland Hall novels. It’s amazing!!
September 12, 2018 at 12:05 am
Bath and other small villages. The coast, the moors, castles, etc… ALL of it 😊
September 12, 2018 at 2:21 am
Hi Brandi, I hope you do have a chance to visit England. It’s truly an inspiring country with so many special places and wonderful history.
September 12, 2018 at 3:16 am
I’ve been to London and a few other towns, but I would love to go back and explore some more. 😄
September 12, 2018 at 6:40 am
I enjoy watching the British programs, Father Brown & Doc Martin.
I’d love to visit the locations where they are filmed.
September 12, 2018 at 11:04 am
I loved “Across the Blue,” Carrie! It’s a wonderfully thrilling story with great characters. I also loved spending time with you in England–so many inspiring places that we saw, and so many yet to see.
Thank you for recommending “Until We Find Home.”
If I could return to England I think I’d begin in the south and work my way north to the Lake District again. I’d love to spend more time there, but I’d also love to visit the southeast of the country, some places in London again, and everything between there and Scotland! That sounds like multiple trips! : )
September 13, 2018 at 7:05 am
Wouldn’t that be lovely! I wish we could back soon. Maybe after your Saving Amelie tour.
September 13, 2018 at 11:30 am
I would love to visit London but definitely would not be opposed to just taking a tour of the whole country. I love to travel, and England is on my list of must-visit places.
September 14, 2018 at 10:45 am
Hi Mallori, There is so much to see in London! Some of my favorite areas in England are the Lake District, Yorkshire, and the Peak District.
September 13, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Honestly, any place with a castle or perhaps an author or poet’s home would be fun to tour. I can’t pick just one place specifically!
September 14, 2018 at 10:44 am
Hi Laura, we visit Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farm up in the Lake District. That was a beautiful area. I hope you are able to visit England one day!
September 14, 2018 at 11:08 am
There are so many places I’d like to visit in England, I hardly know where to begin. I guess I’ll say London. 🙂