About the Book

Book: Tangled Lives

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Women’s fiction

Release Date: July, 2023

Two sisters and one man. Both women love him, but only one is meant for him.

Crystal Snow struggles with the paralysis caused by her biological parents’ drug use. She convinced herself no one will ever love her. Roxie, devastated by chronic childhood rejections, knows anyone who loves her must be intrinsically flawed. Both want only what is right for their sister who is also their best friend.

Dreams upend careers. Destroy friendships. End love.

When searched out by their biological grandmother, the past tangles with the present. Issues the girls wished to forget resurrect and threaten their dreams.

Who gets the man and career of her dreams?

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About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of five novels dealing with real people facing real problems. A fifth book will be out next summer.

She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, a budding glass fuser. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband who finally gave into her dreams. They own five goats—three of them does who she milks from which she makes yogurt and cheese and butter. She’s raising bunches of chickens.

More from Carol

Have you ever:

1. Had a crush on your sister’s boyfriend?
2. Loved your sister beyond measure?
3. Hated your sister beyond measure?
4. Been confused about your career?
5. Waylaid by your past?

 

If your life’s been tangled, you’re not alone. You laugh at, root for, and not be able to put Tangled Lives down.

My Interview:

What inspired you to start writing?

I taught English for over thirty years. Throughout my life I dabbled in writing—easy things like poetry and Sunday school plays. However, many of my students aspired to write books, something I didn’t think I could ever do. One day I decided to give it a try. I would write an intelligent literary novel. I began.

Of course, life interrupted, and I laid my masterpiece aside. Several months later I picked up my magnus opus up and read. What a lot of drivel!

Into the (computer) trash the novel went. I rewrote the work, and the rest, as they say—whoever they is—is history.

What is the most difficult part about writing for you?

Getting the first draft down. I’m an organic writer (i.e. pantser). I know the beginning and the end and the theme. I organize in my head and then write. After the first draft, the writing is much more fun.

I love words and grammar (yes, I’m a nerd). Editing and revisions are my favorite parts.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 

I’ve written eight books—two are no longer in circulation. One will come out next summer. To ask which is my favorite is similar to asking which of your children do you like the most. Of the five left, Tangled Lives is my favorite. First, my Elk Lake publisher said Tangled Lives was my best. She couldn’t stop reading and kept forgetting she was supposed to be editing.

This is probably my favorite, aside from the accolades, because it was the hardest to write. I pulled from concepts I never used before. I delved into showing the action more than telling. And I loved Roxie and Crystal.

I loved Roxie the most because she’s probably most like me—held captive by the past and not seeing her true worth.

Can you share a snippet that isn’t in the blurb or excerpt?

Background on Jesse Maxwell.

Jesse is the love interest of both sisters. He’s active and adventurous, an avid runner, hiker and kayaker. His friend Geoff has convinced him to kayak a dangerous section of the Sinks in Elkmont of the Smoky Mountains.

Jesse turned toward the crowds gawking at the rock-lined cascades where the Little River made an S-curve under the bridge on Little River Road. Raging water slewed between giant boulders. Trees and mountains extended beyond the narrow gorge. Years ago, logs had jammed the river bend. Loggers solved the problem by dynamiting the jam. The results were a magnificent cascade through towering boulders and a river with an altered course. Spring rains and run-off created torrents today. They’d have ample room to navigate around the boulders and the one passage through the cascade to calmer pools.

Jesse studied the river, and his head spun as he saw the well-known signs dotting the river’s edge. Danger. Drowning Risks. No Swimming. These never deterred the kayakers determined to prove their mettle.

Or they never daunted the crazy kayakers.

“Dreaming ain’t gonna get the deed done.” Geoff tossed Jesse his wetsuit. “Suit up, dude.”

The men stepped off-trail and stripped off their jeans and tees down to their diving shirts and shorts. Shivering in the cold they wriggled into wetsuits and water shoes. Back at the truck, they locked their clothes in the cab.

Jesse trembled even as the neoprene warmed his skin. His dry mouth begged him to back out, but he wasn’t a coward. He and Geoff had trained. Had planned their route and their techniques of navigating this challenge as they conquered other icons of the Smokies. While hiking Middle Prong or up to LeConte or the Tennessee portion of the Appalachian Trail or Mount Cammerer or Rocky Top where they sang UT’s theme song of the same name, they bragged about how they’d maneuver the class V rapids here.

They’d already kayaked the whitewater of the Obed, ‘Devil’s Jump’ up on the Plateau, and other rapids. Never anything with water so high. So fast.

“Not chickening out, are you?”

Jesse shook his head.

“As I said earlier, dreamin’ won’t shoot the Sinks.”

Jesse grabbed his kayak. “Let’s do this.”

They portaged across the road and upriver until they found a suitable spot in quiet water about a quarter mile upstream. After slipping on life jackets, they adjusted their helmets.

Geoff hopped in and shoved away from shore.

Jesse’s stomach twisted. A voice inside his gut said to back out, but Geoff was already streaming down river. Too late. He shunted off from shore. His kayak wobbled as the water grabbed him and raced midstream. He inhaled as he gained control, then blew out his breath. If this was the easy stuff, what lay ahead? He paddled and righted his vessel. The kayak shot down the river.

Geoff, several yards ahead, his red kayak bright against the brown water, raised his paddle over his head. Jesse imagined his whoop as he hit the first of the rapids. Geoff dipped the blade back into the water and worked the river.

The rushing river roared in Jesse’s ears. Water splashed over him in a light spray foreshadowing the rapids ahead.

Geoff hit the Elbow at the S-curve.

Rapids now seized Jesse’s boat. Too frightened to panic, he paddled…

You need to read the book to discover what happens.

What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

Your past does not define you. You need to come to grips with what you cannot change and realize the gift God has given you. He can heal the past. That bit of history is over.

Both sisters have a crippling background—one literally, the other metaphorically. The ultimate takeaway is: The past and people and dreams tangle together resulting in a beautiful work because we are God’s workmanship.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 12

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 14

Artistic Nobody, January 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16

Guild Master, January 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

For the Love of Literature, January 20 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 21

For Him and My Family, January 22

Beauty in the Binding, January 23 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 23

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, January 24

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, January 25 (Author Interview)

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2958e/tangled-lives-celebration-tour-giveaway