Getting to Know Author Dawn Crandall

* Book Giveaway *
See below for contest rules

I’m happy to welcome Dawn Crandall today, author of The Everstone Chronicles series. I haven’t read any of Dawn’s books yet, but word has it that fans of Laura Frantz love her, and since I absolutely love Laura’s books, I’ll definitely give Dawn’s a try.

Welcome, Dawn! Thanks for visiting my blog and congratulations on your latest release, The Captive Imposter (The Everstone Chronicles book #3)! What inspired this story?

Estella Everstone has been someone I’d written about in my first two books over the last few years, but since I write each book from a different character’s first person perspective, I’d only ever seen her through the eyes of others. So once I sat down to get to know her I found out lots! And above all, it was that she needed someone other than the man I’d thought she would end up with! I’d always wanted to write a book set at a resort deep in the mountains of Maine–and the manager of that resort just turned out to be the perfect hero for my Estella.

What is your favorite characteristic about your story’s hero and heroine?

I would say it has to be their determination to do what needs to be done. Estella is sent away from her family to be kept safe. She has no say, but is a willing participant. Dexter Blakeley’s personality oozes responsibility–so much so that he does so much for the benefit of others without thinking of what he needs. When he sees a need, he does everything in his power to make things right.

Please tell us about the spiritual theme of your story you hope every reader is challenged by:

The spiritual theme running throughout the story has to do with being rescued by God. That He wants us, loves us and knows what is best for us.

I recently came across this really great photo to symbolize the struggle my current WIP’s heroine {Violet Hawthorne} has as she tries to escape her circumstances along her twisted path to finding true love. https://pinterest.com/pin/86272149088358547/

Did you always want to be an author? Or were you surprised your path to publishing?

I’d always enjoyed creative writing in school (it was actually the only thing I was good at), and I’ve thought the idea of writing a novel was interesting since I was in high school…. however, I didn’t write anything other than what was assigned to me in both high school and college–and after that, nothing at all. It wasn’t until I was married and in my thirties that my husband found out about it and encouraged me. That all I needed. I started my debut novel {The Hesitant Heiress, August 2014} in 2010, went to ACFW in 2011, signed with my agent directly afterwards and signed my book contract with Whitaker House in 2013. So yeah, more surprised than anything!

Favorite century to read? To write? To watch on TV or in a movie?

READ: I have a great love for regency romances! Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer!

WRITE: My favorite time period to write is late Victorian/Gilded Age America… but with that same regency feel to them.

WATCH: Any clean historical romance!

Favorite heroine of all time, and why?

Jane Eyre, because she’s written so honestly and deeply from first person POV—which is why I like to write from this same POV.

Jane is one of my favorites too. I love that she’s an atypical heroine, and I love her fortitude.

Thanks again, Dawn, for joining me! And readers, please come back on Thursday for The Captive Imposter character spotlight.

About Dawn Crandall~

A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress. It didn’t take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.

Apart from writing books, Dawn is also a first-time mom to a precious little boy (born March 2014) and also serves with her husband in a pre-marriage mentor program at their local church in Northeast Indiana.

Dawn is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter.

The Everstone Chronicles is Dawn’s first series and is published by Whitaker House. All three books composing the series were semifinalists in ACFW’s prestigious Genesis Writing Contest, the third book going on to become a Finalist in 2013. Her debut novel, The Hesitant Heiress, won the inspirational single title category of the RWA Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence in 2015!

Connect with Dawn~

>>>Book Giveaway<<<
Dawn has graciously offered to give away one ebook copy of The Captive Imposter. To enter, leave a comment on today’s post (June 16, 2015) and/or Thursday’s post (June 18, 2015).