Tell us a little about yourself and your writing, Carly.
I come from a small town in Northern Kentucky. I’ve been an avid reader since elementary school when I got hooked on mysteries. I then went through a historical fiction phase, science fiction/fantasy, and then romance. I discovered young adult and have stuck to it ever since. I write adult, young adult, and middle grade books. All have either fantasy, time-travel, or paranormal aspects. The exception is one of my WIP’s titled The Last Girlfriend. It is my first adult romance. I hope to have it completed next year.
Do you write full time?
I wish I could write full time. That would be so cool. I do have a “day job”. I work for an international freight forwarding company in the accounts payable department.
What are your writing inspirations?
I get inspired by so many things. Conversations, music, things my daughter will say, a piece of art, an experience. . . there are just so many. You never know when a snippet of conversation will start a whole new storyline.
How did you come to write
I had the flu and was heavily medicated. I had written one book and hid it away. I wanted to write something in the young adult line with a bit of fantasy and time-travel thrown in. The idea for the Forest of the Mist series was born. I wrote the first draft in four months. It’s had a lot of rewrites since, but the final product is out now.
Tell us about the series.
Book one, Travelers, is on sale now. The second book, Awakening, is due to come out in August.
Travelers has an ensemble cast, but the main focus is on Lily Lavery. She has the perfect life until the accident that left her orphaned, near death, and in a coma. While in the coma, she encounters an alternate realm known as Paradise Valley. Her adventure begins there.
The second book focuses more on the character of Jennifer Burke Kyle. Jennifer awakens from her coma, only to discover her husband from Paradise Valley is dead, their son has some freaky cool powers that give him accelerated growth and intelligence, and her dead husband has ordered her to marry a complete stranger. In this book we get to know Jennifer’s son, Davy Kyle. He is quite the character and takes over a good part of the story. Book three, Guardians, will be his story.
What project will you be working on next?
Right now, I am working on book three in the Forest of the Mist series, book two in the Sasha Bishop series, developing a third series based on the Sasha series, and writing the adult romance titled The Last Girlfriend.
Give us some surprising or interesting facts about yourself.
I know my friends and family will find this hard to believe, but I am a total flirt. Yes, I admit it freely. Seriously, I have a secret desire (guess the cat is out of the bag now) to have a cameo appearance in a movie. Another thing I would love to do is help cast a movie.
When I’m not working, writing, or hanging out with my daughter, I write lyrics for a Christian Rock band. I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I somehow get the music in my head over to my writing partner (he’s a musical genius who can pick up any instrument and play it.)
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Lily Lavery never dreamed her homecoming night would turn out like this. She never expected to become orphaned, in a coma, and enter an alternate reality, all in one evening. She thought she would arrive at the dance to the cheers of her classmates after being crowned homecoming princess at the big game, dance the night away with her handsome boyfriend, Alex McGuire, and maybe end the night in his arms. Her heart betrayed her when she met and fell in love with Connor O’Brien in the alternate realm known as Paradise Valley. Now she must battle foes in the Dark Land and her own feelings as she struggles to return to reality.
Lily noticed a light up ahead. Her stomach flipped into overdrive. She realized this was it. Her portal. She did not want to go. She did not want to leave Connor or say goodbye to David. Her heart pounded a mile a minute. They drew closer to the oval that entered her room. She realized she could not put it off any longer. She grabbed Connor’s hand and crept forward.
She sucked in her breath when she saw her comatose body lying on the bed. She did not have many tubes stuck in her anymore. She could see the brand on her arm, a dark contrast on her pale skin. She glanced down her legs and noticed with a start that most of her tattoo Robert had put on her had faded. She hoped it would last until she woke again. She let her eyes travel from her body to the occupied chair next to her. Alex was sitting in it. He was holding her hand and rubbing his thumb across her palm. She turned from him to face Connor, who stared at Alex. She knew he was taking in the condition of her body and Alex’s care for her. Connor looked down at her upturned face. “He is still here. I was hoping he would have given up by now.”
David joined them at the opening. “He has been here every day since the accident. He rubs her limbs and stretches her legs for her. He has not given up on her and will not. Alex is a good man. I shall be sorry to see him hurt by what is to come.”
Guilt slammed through her body. How would she tell Alex that she married another man while in a coma? Alex would think she was insane and have her committed to the asylum. She glanced at Connor again, needing the reassurance that he could provide. “How do I explain this to him? He has done nothing wrong, nothing to deserve his girlfriend leaving him.”
Connor stiffened next to her. He took a deep breath. “If it grieves you this much to see him hurt, then maybe we should not be together.”
She gasped. “No! How can you even suggest such a thing? We are married.”
Connor placed his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “We are married in another world, not this one. Our marriage is not legal in this reality. If you want to be with Alex, I will give you his ring back and you can replace your wedding band with it. I will not try to stop you. I love you too much to see you in pain and I can see that this is hurting you.”
She was frustrated. “How do I make you understand? I care a great deal for Alex. He was a huge part of my life, but you are my husband no matter what world I am residing in. You are the one I cannot live without.”
Connor smiled, his dimples showing prominently. “I know you love me. I am just saying that I will step aside if you wish it. I hope you do not, though.”
She wound her arms around her husband. “You are the only man for me. It will be hard to explain all this to Alex, but I will manage.”
David spoke up, “Your doctor is coming in. You might want to listen to what he has to say.”
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