Interview with Carla Gade by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Carla Olson Gade

Carla Olson Gade is the author of Carving a Future, a novella featured in Colonial Courtships (Barbour Publishing, Oct. 2012) and The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter (Harlequin/Heartsong Presents, Feb. 2012).

I met Carla, a fellow lover of Colonial Fiction, online through facebook through mutual friends. She is a member of the group I founded, Colonial American Christian Writers and contributes to the Colonial Quills blog. Carla designed the gorgeous CQ website and there would be no Colonial Quills website without Carla, so I thank her for her persistence and talent in getting us going.

Carla, 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?
I’d have to say loss of a loved one. While writing my first novel, The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter, my stepfather passed away.  Losing a parent is devastating, yet I had to continue to write in order to meet the publisher’s tight deadline. It proved therapeutic to write through the grieving, however; though I missed being able to call my Dad whom I often consulted regarding content for this book.  My characters have also lost close loved ones, and having experienced that myself I believe I have been able to portray their experiences with greater depth and accuracy.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

Proverbs 3:3, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” I received this verse at time when my heart had been broken and easily could have become bitter. It changed my perspective and taught me to trust the Lord with my heart. It ties into the previous passage of Proverbs 3:5-6 which instructs us to entrust our hearts to the Lord. (“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths.”) How often we set out on our own path and do not keep in step with God.  I’m so thankful that His way is perfect.
Disability friendliness:
Is this latest release available in audio format?

Colonial Courtships is available in print and as an ebook. I’m excited about that since ebooks provide the means to adjust the text size for better visibility and ease of reading. I would love to see my books in large print someday.

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

I call my stories “Adventures of the Heart.” To me this encompasses not only the general plot, but the emotional and spiritual journey as well. Throughout the adventure, I try to weave threads of healing, hope, and spiritual truths.

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

I was moved in many ways while researching The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter.  I was impressed, rather distressed, by the belittling attitudes toward Native Americans, including the “half-breed” of my novel, as well as toward women during the late 19^th century. 

My characters discussed an incident that regarding an Indian captive (the real life Olive Oatman). Despite her horrific experience, this woman was able to realize that not all Indians were inherently bad, as many people of the time believed. Ironically, once she was free, Olive, who bore a mark on her chin that the Indian tribe had tattooed there, was often rejected, mistreated, and taken advantage of by white society. Just consider the myriad of reactions you folks would have when seeing her. What thoughts cross your own mind? All of this caused me to consider the marks that we bear that are perceived illy by others, as well as the imprint we wish make on our world, sometimes thwarted by those around us due to their attitudes. 

It also struck me what great lengths the minister missionary I included in the book (another historical person) went to in order to bring the gospel to the western slope of Colorado, which was entirely without churches at that time. These things stirred my soul that I should be so compassionate, unprejudiced, and committed to sharing the love of God to others.

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

Colonial Courtships

In Carving a Future, Constance was “spirited away” against her will and put on a ship from England to the Americas. How frightening that must have been for her, especially as she was finally putting her life back together after experiencing the loss of her guardian uncle and means of living. She had already lost both of her parents earlier in her life. How alone and helpless she must have felt, especially in the hands of the cruel sea captain who intended to sell her indenture. These types of circumstances can often set us reeling. 

At first, Constance was ready to take things into her own hands, but as she learned to trust God in her situation, she realized that He had a plan for her life. Although life circumstances, and the sinful actions of other, can cause us great distress, the Lord never wastes our sorrows and in fact, shows us His love redemptively. Just as Nathaniel bought Constance’s indenture for a price, so did God through His son’s sacrifice on the cross. It cost Him much, but was worth it all because of His great love for us.

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

Colonial Courtships is available in print and ebook at CBD. The Book Club Network store,  Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
The Shadow Catcher's Daughter is available at Signed by the Author.

Giveaway:  A copy of either of Carla's books, paperback or ebook (Ebook only for international winners.) 

This giveaway is for followers of this blog who also follow Colonial Quills and Carla's blog.  You get an entry for each of those that you follow so you have up to three entry counts.  
Put OTT if you follow us, CQ for Colonial Quills, and COG for Carla Olson Gade followers.  Leave your email address, please.

Have any of you ever had to deal with prejudice or any injustice done to you? What mark do you wish to create on the world?