Is
there a story behind your books?
Yes
indeed. Agnes Hopper began as a short story—a
writing assignment from a creative writing class. The story ended
when Agnes walked away from a retirement home where the administrator
ran a tight ship for sinister reasons. When I began asking
“What
if Agnes stayed to help her friends?”
the
story evolved into a book, and then a series. It’s been an
adventure.
What
started you on your writing journey?
I
began writing in my fifties when I purchased a book on “free
writing.” Completing those exercises took my breath away. I was
hooked.
What
kind of books do you enjoy reading?
Mostly
historical fiction
- The Cigar Factory by Michele Moore,
- The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd, and
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Which
character in your newest release most interested you while you wrote?
Why?
Nellie,
a recent resident of the retirement home, who claims to be Minnie
Pearl’s cousin twice removed. She looks like the little old woman
who lived in a shoe. She is a kleptomaniac, a quirky character who
lends a sense of humor to the story.
Why
do you write in the genre you do?
I
love the people and their lives in small southern towns where a mystery
thrives in the hot, humid air.
What
is a favorite memory from your childhood?
Summer
evenings spent listening to my coal miner daddy and uncle tell
stories on our front porch while lightening bugs danced along the
wood’s edge.
Share
a verse or Scripture passage with us that is special to
you. (and
why it's special)
2nd
Samuel 22:17 NIV
“He
reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep
waters."
I
was in my early thirties at the time when the Lord spoke to me
through this verse. I was drowning in deep waters of bitterness yet
He rescued me with His steadfast love. He has remained faithful and
true.
Buy her books here:
About Carol:
Carol
Heilman, a coal miner's daughter, married her high school sweetheart,
a farmer's son. She began writing family stories, especially about
her dad's Appalachian humor, for newspapers and magazines. One day
her mother said, "We don't have any secrets any more!"
Carol's
book series, Agnes
Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar and
Agnes Hopper Bets
on Murder, was
inspired by her mother's spunky spirit and her dad's humor.
She
has relocated, along with her husband of fifty-plus years, from the
mountains of NC to Charleston, SC. The low country is now their home.
They love to play cards, go antiquing, hike, and visit grandsons on
the east and west coasts.
Be sure to check out her books. You'll not want to miss them!
Blessings!
