Hi again!
In this interview, I am talking to author Julie Cave who is a Christian wife and mother to two young girls, with a passion for using writing to reach people for God. As a child, she read voraciously, and eventually, she began to write stories herself. At twelve, Julie began writing novel-length stories and realized that this was what she truly loved. She has been writing ever since, although she thought for about ten years that it would only be a hobby. In the meantime, she completed a science degree at university, got married, started a law degree, and had two children. She feels privileged and honored to be published, and she hopes it is something she can continue to do for the rest of her life!
Q: Where do you get your inspiration from to write your books?
Julie Cave: My books are a combination of Christianity and current affairs. I am particularly interested in trends that are shaping our culture, the impact these trends have, and what the Bible has to say. For example, my inspiration for Deadly Disclosures, my first book, was the rise of militant atheism and the impact this movement is having on our culture. Similarly, I’m interested in problems that affect millions of people every day – issues like alcoholism, depression, domestic violence, and self-harm. I want to use my books to offer hope to people who may identify with the characters suffering from these problems.
Q: You have published three books so far with Dinah Harris as the main character, can you tell us a bit about her and the books?
Julie Cave: Dinah Harris is a once brilliant FBI investigator who has fallen in disgrace due to her ongoing alcoholism. She is offered a final chance at redeeming herself, and along the way, you’ll find out more about this sarcastic woman who is hiding her fear, grief, and loneliness. I created her purposefully as a flawed human being who falls into temptation, just as we all do. There are no perfect Christians in my books – just regular people who struggle with suffering and sin.
Briefly, the storylines are as follows:
Deadly Disclosures: Thomas Whitfield, proud Secretary of the Smithsonian and its extensive scientific influence, has disappeared from his office with foul play suspected. Dinah Harris, an FBI agent struggling with alcohol and depression, is seeking answers amidst the fallout of her own personal issues. Will Dinah be able to experience the redemptive power of Christ before it’s too late? Or will the ominous danger stalking her investigation claim another victim?
The Shadowed Mind: Dinah Harris is now facing a daily battle to keep her sobriety while struggling to form a new career from the ashes of her former job as an FBI agent. From the shadows will emerge a cunning and terrifying killer, who carefully and methodically will decide whose life has value to society and whose does not.
Pieces of Light: Detective Dinah Harris hunts down a serial bomber targeting religious icons and buildings. The bomber is on a mission to rid the city of religion and establish a “new world order”. Can someone so intent on ridding the world of God experience redemption? What lies behind his hatred of God? Will his darkened soul search for pieces of light?
Q: Which book are you most proud of?
Julie Cave: The Shadowed Mind will always carry a special place in my heart. The subject matters of eugenics and euthanasia are dear to my heart, and I think it’s a book that really opens people’s eyes. Of all three books, I think The Shadowed Mind is the one that people read and think, “Wow, I didn’t know that!”
Q: Are you planning on more books with Dinah Harris?
Julie Cave: There are always storylines in my head involving Dinah Harris, including human trafficking, vilification and free speech to name a few, so all I can say is to stay tuned!
Q: Is Dinah Harris based on someone you know?
Julie Cave: Dinah Harris is a combination of many people. She carries some of my own traits and personality traits of various people I’ve known over the years. I hope she is a genuine reflection of a regular person to whom readers can relate.
Q: Are you working on a new novel at the moment?
Julie Cave: I’ve just had my second baby, and so have been concentrating on my family at this point, as well as celebrating the release of the Dinah Harris trilogy boxed set. Again, all I can say is….stay tuned!
Q: Where can people find you on the internet and buy your books?
Julie Cave: I’d love if readers would connect with me at www.facebook.com/julieacave and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/julieacave.
You can visit my personal website and blog at www.juliecave.com.
At the moment, you can buy all three books in a fabulous boxed set here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Dinah-Harris-Mysteries-3-novels,6871,263.aspx
Q: Which writer(s) inspires you?
Julie Cave: I think C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were awesome writers and towering intellects. They both inspired me as a child.
Q: Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
Julie Cave: Always keep writing; it is a great opportunity to further practice and hone your skills. Work out who your target market is and what your hook is – in other words, why your books will be different from anything else on the market. Begin to build a presence, particularly in the online environment, through social media. Think of your writing not just in creative terms, but in business terms too: how will you sell your books? To whom? Keep learning from authors you admire. Pray for guidance. Finally, never give up!
Thank you, Julie, for taking the time out of your schedule to answer the questions!
Below is an excerpt from her book Deadly Disclosures.
Thomas Whitfield climbed out of the Lincoln Towncar and stood in the snappy, early morning fall air, breathing deeply. The temperature had fallen a few more degrees overnight, signaling that winter was truly on its way.
Thomas glanced up and down the wide street. There was nobody around at this early hour, and he took a moment to drink in the sights of his beloved city. The graceful willows, their branches arching over the street, were turning gold and red and, in the gentle yellow morning light, threw off highlights like burnished copper. This street was like many others in the center of DC — wide and tree-lined, with magnificent government buildings standing one after the other. That was another thing that Thomas found so delicious about this city — so much of it hinted at the enormous wealth and prosperity of the country, and yet only a few streets behind these world-famous landmarks, the seedier side of American poverty flourished. It was a city of contradictions, Thomas thought.
His gaze fell finally to the building right in front of him — the main complex of the Smithsonian Institution. Enormous stone pillars flanked the entryway into a marble lobby, and behind that were laid out the evidence of mankind’s brilliance. Everything about the institution was testament to the scientific and anthropological advances of man over the pages of history — the inventions, the discoveries, the deductions, the sheer radiance of a human being’s intelligence at its finest.
Thomas Whitfield had always been immensely proud of this place, and everything it showcased. He had boasted about it, defended it, nourished it, and protected it, the way a proud father would his prodigious child.