The Writer’s Desk with Carrie Padgett

Carrie Padgett has lived in northern, central, and southern California and declares them all wonderful places. She writes small-town contemporary fiction with romance. She believes in families, fun, and happily ever after. She and her husband live in Central California with their cat and dog and are within driving distance of their grandchildren. Visit Carrie online at her website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Follow her on Bookbub and Goodreads.

Q&A with Carrie Padgett

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

CP: My feet have been cold since 2005. I wear slippers, often with socks, year-round.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for One Fine Day?

CP: I read a couple of books about young widows and knew I wanted to write one also. I wanted to explore the concept of “moving on,” and what that would look like. In One Fine Day, the heroine, Chloe LaRue, returns to her hometown of Hearts Bend, TN, to help her mother and hopes to heal from the overwhelming grief of losing her husband. One of the books that really affected me was The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel. That’s an early book of hers, she now writes mostly historical fiction.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

CP: I have to play my daily Wordle and Quordle before I get started. Sometimes I’ll catch up on Words With Friends, too.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

CP: Be consistent. Show up, Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keyboard.

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

CP: I drink a ton of water, so my water bottle is always nearby. Snacks are anything salty. My husband is allergic to nuts, but he feels he has to have them around. Crazy, right? So, when he brings nuts home, I keep them in my office and try to eat them before he realizes they’ve disappeared from the kitchen.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

CP: Take a break. A walk around the block (that’s 1.4 miles where I live!). Weed the yard. The walk especially, I think it’s something about the rhythm of one foot after the other that creates a brain pathway. I almost always figure out where I’ve gone wrong when I’m on a walk.

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

CP: I definitely edit as I go. I rarely do more than two drafts. Which made working with Rachel very interesting, since she does multiple drafts. We were able to make it through One Fine Day with only four drafts. Low for her and high for me.

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

CP: Expecting success to come quickly and easily. And overestimating the quality of their work. I know this by experience, by the way. I’ve been writing for more years than I want to publicly admit to, and I’m still learning.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’re ever received?

CP: Go deeper. My local writing mentor used to say that to me all the time. It took me literal years to figure out what she meant, but it’s been invaluable.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

CP: In my day job, I work for a company that does online continuing education courses for pesticide applicators to keep their licenses current. I report the credits they earn to their licensing agency, and I write and update the course offerings. I’m currently working on Weed Resistance in Cotton. 😊 Fiction wise, I’m writing a romance novella about a reality dating show with jilted-at-the-altar brides and grooms. It’s very fun!

Click on the graphic below to watch my interview with Carrie Padgett on One Fine Day + what it’s like writing with Rachel Hauck!

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More about One Fine Day

All she wants is a fresh start…

Chloe Beason LaRue left Hearts Bend after high school, determined to never look back. She shed her unrequited crush on Sam Hardy, moved to Paris, went to pastry school, found a good job, fell in love, and got married. She was happy in France. Then her husband tragically died. Now, Chloe just wants to move forward…but when her mom’s health is in jeopardy, Chloe heads right back to Hearts Bend where she’s hired as head baker for Haven’s, the premier bakery in town. She has no idea that moving home will push her right into the arms of the man who broke her heart.

He’s not looking to fall in love…

Nashville Titans quarterback Sam Hardy has too many broken memories in Hearts Bend to Return. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, he desperately needs to invest in something to safeguard his future. Haven’s Bakery is up for sale—and his business partner believes the deal is too good to pass up. He has no idea that the owners have hired the one girl he can’t seem to forget…and the last thing he expects is to be her boss.

But it’s a recipe for romance…

Back in Hearts Bend for the first time in ten years and thrown together at Haven’s Bakery, Chloe and Sam have a second chance at first love. Indeed, the more time Sam spends selling donuts, the more he sees a new future. But when Paris beckons Chloe back, where does her heart belong? Can they find the recipe for leaving regrets behind and start something new?

Escape to Hearts Bend for a sweet story of romance, faith, and an unexpected happy ending

Pre-Order a copy of One Fine Day here — releasing May 24, 2022!

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