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13 May 2012

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Candace Calvert


CandaceCalvert  is the author of Trauma Plan and of the Mercy Hospital series. I met Candace through Facebook and fellow ACFW members.

Candace, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?
God blessed me with a quirky wit and buoyant optimism, but I didn’t come to really know Him until after a “triple whammy” turned my life into a bad country song. In a span of eighteen months, I experienced a painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and (just when I was coping like a champ, no problem) an equestrian accident that left me with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury. With no warning, my comfortable life was gone and I became a single mother, a disaster evacuee, and a patient in my own trauma room. I sometimes say that God took drastic measures to get my attention!
In the months of rehabilitation, I healed in body and spirit. And came to fully understand the difference between being a “strong” woman and a woman of strength. The difference is faith, and that lesson has been my biggest blessing. My story, “By Accident,” appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched my writing career. Readers of my Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series will find that my fictional characters struggle with similar issues. In fact Riley Hale, heroine of Trauma Plan, suffers from lingering disability after a spinal cord injury.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?
Though it’s hard to choose a favorite, I’d have to say Jeremiah 29:11, the verse that became the Scriptural base for my first novel, Critical Care. I love that it so beautifully shows God’s loving plan for our lives and that it speaks of hope. Hope is a recurrent theme in my work, and I’m always pleased when folks call me the author of “medical hope opera.”

Disability friendliness:
Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print.
The first book in my Mercy Hospital series, Critical Care, is available in large print and has recently been recorded by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. It is my hope that my other books will follow suit. All of my e-books have audio capability.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?
As I mentioned before, my medical fiction themes all center around hope—and healing. I offer exciting glimpses into the world of emergency medicine and, more importantly, into the hearts behind the stethoscopes, people with wounds—physical, emotional, and spiritual.  I love when readers call these characters “relatable,” telling me that these struggles, doubts, fear—and joys—mirror their own.  We are all flawed human beings; we make mistakes and need second chances. My characters may be medical heroes, but it is through the grace of God that they find true hope and healing. I’m heartened when readers feel encouraged by that.


As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?
At the core of my stories—in both the Mercy Hospital & Grace Medical series—is the issue of post traumatic stress. I address the serious emotional toll taken on rescue, fire, medical, and law enforcement teams who put their hearts and lives on the line in service to others. In my book, Disaster Status, I needed to write from the point of view of a hospital worker suffering PTSD as a result of his service in the Gulf War. A member of my church, a retired Army Lt. Colonel, offered to sit down with me and share his memories of fighting in that desert conflict. Some of it was difficult for him to voice—and for me to hear. His input added much to the character of Sarge Gunther, and I was deeply touched that he wanted to help with my story so that it might offer “hope to other people.”



In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?
Yes, absolutely. As mentioned earlier, all of my books deal with the subject of critical stress (“burn out,” post traumatic stress disorder). Trauma Plan offers coping strategies for people (medical teams as well as civilians) who have been emotionally affected by tragedy. It also gives encouragement to victims of violent crime, and for those who must cope with debilitating injury in its aftermath. Fear (vs. faith) is an overarching theme, and the subject of agoraphobia is explored via a secondary character.

Thank you Candace for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!


through Barnes and Noble, as well as CBD and other book stores.

Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse who believes love, laughter and faith are the best medicines. Her Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series offer readers a chance to “scrub in” on the exciting world of emergency medicine—along with a soul-soothing prescription for hope. Wife, mother, and very proud grandmother, she makes her home in northern California

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Candace is offering two paperback giveaways of each of the books reviewed this week and we are offering an e-book of either one, for a total of five possible chances to win this week!


51 comments:

  1. As a nursing student I was so excited to find a medical series! All I have to do is track down a copy of Critical Care so i can get started on the series. Great interview and thanks for another great giveaway!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  2. I just wanted to say how much I admire Candace and her books - and I so love the fellowship we have together at ACFW:) She's one of my very favorite authors. Am so glad you and Carrie have met! Very moving interview - Candace has a wonderful ministry. Please don't enter me in the drawing, just wanted to say hello to you both:)

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  3. I read all Candace's books and love them!!! As a retired nurse I can honestly say they are the REAL THING!!!

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  4. CARRIE:
    thank you again for hosting me here--it's an honor to connect with your readers on this wonderful blog.

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  5. LIZ: I'm thrilled that you are nursing student! In my opinion there isn't a more fulfilling career; the long hours and demands are so rewarded with amazing blessings. You'll carry them in your heart forever. My Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series honor nurses--you are indeed a hero in my book(s). Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. LAURA! How wonderful to "see" your lovely face here today! Meeting you has been one of the best parts of this publishing life . . . can't wait to hug you in Dallas, my friend!

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  7. TINA: Yay, another nurse! Thank you for all that you have done in service to so many. And I SO appreciate your "scrubbing in" with my hopeful medical fiction.

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  8. Hi, I would love to win this book, I have not had the liberty to read a book written by you but would really like to add you my "whish list " :)
    so hereby my e-mail
    mirjam@fotoflits.com

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  9. btw thanks Marian again for pointing out a good book! :)

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  10. Love reading your books Candace! Although I am not a nurse I do work in a hospital as a PTA - and nurses are my friends! You have a way of making your books come alive like your really there. Thank you for another wonderful chance to read more of your work with this give away.
    Jen
    butterfliesandme(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. WELCOME CANDACE!
    So happy to have you this week with us on the blog! I hope you'll have a great time hanging around with us. :)

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  12. MIRJAM, good to see you've found your way back to us, girl! I've missed you the last couple of weeks. Candace is a great writer and I hope you'll get the chance to read her books!

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  13. LAURA, always good to see your smiling face! Thanks for coming by!

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  14. Hi Candace, I enjoyed your interview. I love your series and am looking forward to reading Trauma Plan. I enjoy reading books where the stories involve dr's and nurses in hospitals and how they continue to care for their patients no matter what is going on behind the scenes. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  15. LIZ, TINA and JEN, good luck in the giveaway!

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  16. MISSKALLIE, we're giving away 5 books this week, so maybe you'll win!

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  17. Thanks Marian, I did not receive reminders from you, haha
    so now I follow by e-mail and hope to be here more often :)

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  18. Okay, so it's my fault... hmm...

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  19. I love reading your books and am looking forward to the one at the publisher's now ;-) Thank you for sharing your own story of hope through difficult times and how God met you in the midst of them. Love you!

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  21. CANDACE, thank you for your very transparent interview, and for sharing your journey to the Lord with us on OTT. I love to read about "new to me" authors, and am excited about having you on the blog with us, and hearing more about your books. I love the covers!

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  22. wonderful review - all the best with your writing and your journey! :o)

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  23. wonderful review - all the best with your writing and your journey! :o)

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  24. These sound great!! I would love to read them. Thanks for the review/giveaway!

    ladette[at]live[dot]com

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  25. Ohmygoodnessgracious! I felt TERRIBLE that I put this interview up on Mother's Day. I was going to move it back or at least later in the day but I forgot - sorry! Then I come back from dinner in VA Beach (1 1/2 hours to get under 40 miles!) and here are all these comments! CANDACE - God bless you for sharing with our readers. I am so glad God delivered you from your triple whammy. What a testimony. Thank you MARIAN for recommending Candace for the blog!

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  26. LIZ it is good to see you here and other nurses. We went out with our friends tonight and she is a nurse (as is my sister-in-law). My Mom had wanted to be a nurse - I didn't know that until the year before she died.

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  27. LAURA, so now I HAVE to read Candace's books! I wonder if I could get myself to listen to the Kindle voice when my replacement Kindle arrives tomorrow. I don't like the voice they have on there. Will try. I have always thought Candace sounded like a really sweet person from running into her around the ACFW loops. I had no idea she'd been through such trials. Knowing how picky you are Laura means Candace must be amazing. Thanks for coming by!

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  28. MIRJAM: Welcome! It's great to meet you and it would be an honor to have you share in my stories of hope.

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  29. MARIAN: Thank you SO much for including me here; what a treat! I so appreciate your time and talent in reviewing my books.

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  30. KALLIE: Thank you so much for stopping by--and all the best wishes for the book giveaway!

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  31. MARGY: You are such a dear--and I SO appreciate your wonderful encouragement!

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  32. DIANA: Thank you--I'm thrilled to be here. And, yes, doesn't Tyndale House do a fabulous job with those covers?! I love that the artists actually read the books and follow my descriptions of the heroes so closely.

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  33. LADETTE (pwnmom): I so appreciate your kind words. Best wishes in the giveaway!

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  34. JEN: So nice to "see" you here--and ALL members of the medical team are heroes in my book(s).
    All the best to you!

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  35. I discovered Candace's books last summer and devoured them on our vacation...happened to be visiting my cousin who's a nurse! I think we've all experienced at least one nurse who made a difference in a difficult or exciting (childbirth!) time in our lives. They are the front line heroes in the medical world. I've also had the privilege to follow Candace on Twitter/FB and she's an exceptionally delightful and positive person who can truly make your mouth water with her descriptions of what's cooking for dinner!

    brendon8@bellsouth.net

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  36. MIRJAM, thanks so much for following us by email! We are very humbled to have people do that. Bless you! Feel free to put your website addy on your comments, too!

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  37. BRENDA: It's wonderful to see you here this morning! I so appreciate your kind words regarding my work and (smile) my kitchen adventures.

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  38. CANDY AND CARRIE -- GREAT INTERVIEW!!! Candace is one of those WIN-WIN authors where I LOVE her work (and her heroes ... hubba, hubba!!) almost as much as I love her!!

    Had NO idea about the trauma you went through in your life, Candace, but it certainly explains why your books are so real in both the trauma and spiritual realm!! I'm just glad God is using it (and you!) for His glory.

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  39. JULIE! Thank you, darlin'--looking forward to seeing you in Dallas!

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  40. JULIE, I also love the heroes in Candace's books! She's really good at that. LOL

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  41. Candace is always so encouraging in whatever she writes. Now I know her secret; the sweetest Christians have been though the fire and bless others on the other side.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  42. JULIE, I pray CANDACE's testimony will inspire her readers. It is good to know when someone really has experienced what they are writing about, too. Like you said - it is genuine. Thanks for coming by sweetie!

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  43. MERRY : (patting my heart) You bless me with those words. I am ever in awe of God's perfect plan for our lives. My "through the fire" experience was an amazing blessing--now I can use it to offer hope to others. God is SO good.

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  44. I have a hospital background, and I enjoy medical fiction, especially Christian fiction, because I can relate to it. I'd love to win one of your books, Candace! Carrie, thank you for offering this contest!
    Nancee
    quiltcat26@sbcglobal.net

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  45. Great interview! Thanks for the chance to get to know a new author for me. I will be adding more books to my reading list!

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  46. I have read all your books and I can't wait to get my hands on the newest!! Thank you for sharing your gift with us. God bless

    Laura G.
    laura.grue@yahoo.com

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  47. NANCEE, KIM, LAURA: Your comments and kindness mean so much. Thank you so much for stopping by.

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  48. Any book by Candace is going to be good!!! Please enter me. Love medical mysteries.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  49. LINDA, thanks for coming by! We will enter you. The Saturday drawing is for an ebook of the winner's choice.

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  50. CONGRATS to Jen with the butterfly email addy! You are another WINNER of Candace Calvert's brand new book, Trauma Plan!!! Candace is enjoying her wedding anniversary and celebrating but look to your email next week for instructions! Blessings!

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