Cara Putman Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A:  I’m a little crazy busy. I teach full time at Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, write novels, homeschool my kids, and try to be active in our community. The reality is I love everything I’m doing—even if it leaves me a little tired.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A:  I was 13 or 14 and my favorite writers weren’t writing as fast as I could read. For some reason that turned into a desire to write my own books. I wrote my favorite authors asking for advice. I exchanged multiple letters with a few as well as short stories with Sandy Dengler. It was a thrill to send her a copy of my first novel after it released as a thank you for believing in my crazy dream.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?

A:  While I started books as a teen, college and starting a career and family intervened with the dream. It would burble back to the surface every couple of years, and when it did, I’d ask God if now was the time. His yes was meeting Colleen Coble at a booksigning. We were chatting, and it was actually my husband who told her I wanted to be a writer. The rest is history, because she took me under her wing and got me involved in American Christian Fiction Writers.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Imperfect Justice?

A:  THE POLICE SAY THE WOMAN WAS A MURDERER. EMILIE WESLEY KNOWS THEY CAN’T BE TALKING ABOUT HER CLIENT . . . CAN THEY?

To the world it seems obvious: Kaylene Adams killed her daughter and then was shot by police. Attorney Emilie Wesley knows a different story: Kaylene would never hurt anyone and was looking for a way out of a controlling, abusive relationship. Her death shakes Emilie’s belief that she can make a difference for women in violent marriages. Self-doubt plagues her as she struggles to continue her work in the wake of the tragedy.

Reid Billings thought he knew his sister—right up until he learned how she died. He discovers a letter from Kaylene begging him to fight for custody of her daughters if anything should happen to her. No attorney in her right mind would support an uncle instead of the father in a custody case, but Kaylene’s letter claims Emilie Wesley will help him.

Thrown together in a race to save Kaylene’s surviving daughter, Emily and Reid pursue the constantly evasive truth. If they can hang on to hope together, can they save a young girl—and find a future for themselves in the process?

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Perfect Justice?

A:  When I envisioned the Hidden Justice series, I knew that each of the women in the cohort of four would get their own story, but I didn’t know exactly what those stories would be. Hayden’s Beyond Justice became based on juvenile immigration issues. Then I turned to Emilie, Hayden’s roommate and started thinking about issues I’m passionate about and would resonate with who she is. I was sitting in Siena at our apartment (I was teaching there for Purdue) and saw a headline about a domestic violence situation in Houston and my mind began to spin what ifs. Emilie’s story was born.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: I hope readers experience the reality while also seeing that there is hope. There are so many people poised to help if you let them in. At the same time, I truly pray that those who aren’t in this situation receive understanding and compassion.

Q: What inspires you to write?

A:  Story. Really it’s that simple. I usually love the act of creating – there are days it feels like work. But I have to love the story and characters.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A:  I just turned in the third book in the Hidden Justice series. I can’t wait for people to get to know Jaime better. And I’m eager to dive into Caroline’s story next. I’m also finishing a book for Guidepost and have another one to turn in right after Christmas. Lots of books percolating!

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

A:  I love to read and talk up the books I love. So far this year I’ve finished 81 books. I wish the number was larger, but that’s all the time I’ve had.