Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Jamie Carie

Jamie Carie is the author of The Forgiven Duke and ten other books including The Guardian Duke and Pirate of my Heart.

Jamie, 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?

When I was in my twenties, I started having panic attacks. I had always struggled with fear and anxiety due to a traumatic childhood (I’m working on my memoirs now so that story is coming eventually). My husband didn’t know how to help me which made him frustrated and afraid and I wasn’t getting much help from my church. I went to the doctor and they gave me medication but it barely helped and made me feel like a walking zombie. It got so bad that I could hardly leave my house. My husband had a second job delivering newspapers from 4:00 – 6:00 am every morning. I would always wake up terrified that he was gone (back when there were no cell phones) and I would walk in a circle around my living room just trying to breathe. My hands would go numb and tingly and my heart would race. I prayed constantly but only had small reprieves from the constant terror. After months of this, I was exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually. I had two little boys to take care of and I wanted to die.

What finally helped was Joyce Meyer and her cassette tape series, The Battlefield of the Mind. I listened to it countless times and believed the scriptures that she taught. I didn’t have an instantaneous healing but over time and with some later counseling, I did get much better.

Today, I praise God that I have come so far. I would have never been able to do the traveling, speaking and socializing that I now do as an author without God pulling me out of that pit.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

In the context of this topic I would go with I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NIV)

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do you have any in large print?  Some of my books are available in audio and most of them are available in large print. All are available as an e-book.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

That God loves them in a way that we can only attempt to imagine and that He has a plan for their lives that is perfect and is preparing them for eternity. We are as fading flowers here but will shine forever throughout eternity reflecting His glory. This life is a test, a race, a trial by fire. God is preparing each of us for our time with Him forever.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

So many things! Here are a few:

Snow Angel – The trek across Alaska to the gold fields in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada was an extreme adventure not for the faint of heart. I couldn’t believe how many people made that treacherous journey.

The Duchess and the Dragon – The Quakers believe in following the “inner light” which reminded me of my Charismatic roots in following the “leading of the Holy Spirit.”

Wind Dancer – George Rogers Clark had no reason to believe so steadfastly that taking the northwest territory (Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio) would be so key to winning the American Revolution except that God just put a burning desire to see it through in his heart. I was amazed at how God gets His will done using fallible, wonderful people like him.

Love’s First Light – The French Revolution came right after our own American Revolution but the differences were astounding to me! While we had good, upright men to take leadership of our new country, the French had corrupt and evil men take over. I felt so thankful and blessed to have had Godly men (fallible yes, but men who loved God) lead us into our democracy.

Angel’s Den – The devastation of domestic violence and abuse is so horrible I almost couldn’t write this story. I kept praying that God would show me Emma’s way out. Some people never get that, they die in horrible circumstances and that breaks my heart.

The Snowflake – The intricate beauty of snowflakes astound me. Here’s a quote I was given permission to use in my book: “They sat that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?” – Jeanette Winterson, The Passion, 1987

Pirate of My Heart – One person really can change the world, or at least his/her world. I learned that the fruit of Spirit is power. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23 When it says there is no law it speaks to the power of these gifts – nothing can come against them.

The Guardian Duke – I delved into how people react when devastation happens in their lives. As a writer it’s easy to have the character react as you would. Both my heroine and hero have a devastating circumstance but they react completely different. That was interesting to explore.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

Not sure on this. I always pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to readers wherever they need it and if He chooses to bring healing through my books then I praise God for it!

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



Jamie Carie's books can be found on Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble, Lifeway, and other book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Jamie’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.