Broken Wings - Guest Post by Carla Stewart

I am thrilled to have Carla Stewart with me today as part of her blog tour for her newest novel, Broken Wings.  I asked Carla to tell us all about herself and her books.  Without further adieu, Carla Stewart.

BROKEN WINGS: A Novel

By Carla Stewart

Thanks so much for inviting me here to talk about books and writing!

I’m a wife, mom to four grown sons who’ve all married lovely girls and gifted us with six amazing grandchildren. I grew up in a tiny community in the Texas Panhandle and love all things nostalgic from my childhood era—the fifties and sixties. Even today I long for the lazy days of summer and remember the twang in people’s voices. Not surprisingly, those things have wormed their way into my books.

My dream of writing novels came early, but it wasn’t until my boys began leaving the nest that I began writing in earnest. In 2002, I received an invitation to the Guideposts Writers Workshop in Rye, New York. Since then, I’ve had stories in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and various anthologies. I’ve been fortunate to be able to write about things that resonate within me—my family, my experiences as a nurse, small town values. And it was great practice for writing novels!

My debut novel, Chasing Lilacs, was set in the 1950s in a petroleum camp like the one where I grew up. It’s been said that most authors’ first books are autobiographical, and mine is in the sense that I chose the community that had nurtured me during my childhood. The plot, though, was purely from my imagination, but based on questions I had about people with “nerve” problems and shock treatments. In those days, it was whispered about but never discussed openly. I chose a young girl whose mother had these problems and took off from there. Writing that first novel was an exhilarating experience, and the book has resonated with many readers.

My current release, Broken Wings, is a contemporary story, but I managed to sneak a bit of nostalgia into this tale of an unlikely friendship that forms between two women. Putting the story together was a fun challenge and actually had its roots in a short story I’d written several years ago about three children who were orphaned on Black Sunday (during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s). I knew the oldest of those kids had a story to tell. She became the main character, Mitzi. While I was thinking of a way to find her story, I read about a Tulsa jazz hall from the 1940s that was going to be renovated. I knew at once that she’d been a jazz singer who was now in the sunset of her life, so the story would have the past and present interwoven. I chose a young professional woman in need of a friend and let Mitzi be that friend. It turned out they needed each other in this tale of providence and grace.

My desire is that all of my novels will portray the human condition honestly, but when the last page is turned, there will be a sigh of satisfaction leaving the reader with hope for the future.

Blessings to you and your readers! I’ve enjoyed being here.

Thank you Carla!

Broken Wings is available for purchase on Amazon: Broken Wings: A Novel as well as BN: Broken Wings

You can connect with Carla via Carla’s website: http://www.carlastewart.com/, her blog: http://carlastewart.blogspot.com/, and her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/carlastewartauthor