Welcome! Today I have the author of “Captive Veiled Desires” here, Clarissa Cartharn. So relax, and we will dive right in. It’s always good to get to know such a talented writer and I’m happy she’s giving time to us here at After Dark Reading Nook.
Tell us about yourself & your background
I’ve always been fascinated with language. It was this desire that had me earning a Bachelors in language and literature and then begin my career as an English teacher. But I found it lacking some what, so I went on a maniacal whim to become a lawyer and I did. However, that didn’t seem to suffice either and I discovered that it was writing I had always wanted to do. One day I pulled out my lap top and started typing. I haven’t stopped since. I’ve finally found what I love to do. My search for that has ended, although I realize now, a new search has begun. A seach for new stories to share with my readers.
Are you working on another book at the moment? If so tell us about it?
There are always stories churning in my head, and my new one is the continuation of “A Jar of Dreams”. This is the second and final book on the romance between Eric Tanner, an assassin and Anne Mullen, a blind woman. This second book is titled “A Jar of Hearts” in which Eric reunites with Anne, however due to certain circumstances he cannot reveal to her his true identity. He battles with his choices to either love her and risk her life or save her by walking away.
What have you written?
I presently focus on contemporary romances. These are: 1. Winter’s End: The story about a young woman caught in the gossip of a small town and finds love where she least expects it. 2. Red Collar: The plight of a young woman who resorts to prostitution in order to save her family and inevitably falls in love with her first client. 3. Scent of Roses: Two people who become friends on a reality dating show and promising to remain so until love intervenes. 4. Claimed: A dystopian fantasy romance between a chimera- a man inocculated with eagle and panther genes, who falls in love with the daughter of a corrupt politician. He is caught in the crossfire between leading his people and falling in love. 5. Affairs & Atonement: A young man pushes his young bride away due to family pressures only to regret it. He can’t seem to move on with life until he seeks his forgiveness from her. But when he does find her after eleven long years, he discovers he is still in love with her. However, she isn’t keen on him as before and he has to fight to win her love again. 6. A Jar of Dreams: A romance between an assassin on the run from his former employers and a blind woman. 7.Captive- Veiled Desires: A freelance photographer is kidnapped on suspicions of being a spy in Afghanistan. Ironically, her only hopes of freedom lies in her captor who she has to marry.
Where do your ideas for your books come from?
My ideas come from all over the place. I could be watching something and an idea will spark. For instance A Jar of Dreams was sparked from this news article about a homeless woman in Japan who was caught living in the house of a man unbeknownst to him. She had been living undetected in his bedroom cupboard for a year.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Why?
I’ve always loved to write. I guess it sparked from my interest in reading. I would read something and go “hmmm, I wish it would have ended this way” or “what happens after?”. I always just wanted to add on to the stories I read and would fantasize the many different routes it would take. I suppose writing gives me that closure I need from all the books I read.
What books are you currently reading?
JFK’s War with the National Security Establishment: Why Kennedy Was Assassinated by Douglas Horne. (grins) Yep, I am embarrassingly a conspiracy theories fanatic. I just have to know now, who really did kill JFK?
If you find yourself with writer’s block what method do you use to get around it?
I read and I keep reading until something inspires me to continue on with my writing. I find books inspire me, creativity inspires me, writers inspire me. And as long as I can keep finding that inspiration, I can battle my writer’s block.
What made you decide to write romance?
When you want to be spooked, you read a horror. When you need a little bit of thrill, you read a crime. But when you want to repeatedly fall in love, you read a romance. I love falling in love. I love to spread a little love also. I suppose I started writing romances because of my own placid nature. Very little rattles me in life and I do my best to live it with a smile on my face. It does help that I have a beautiful family who supports me. Yes, I am a believer in the power of love and what better way to spread it than through the power of the pen.
How do you relax?
(smiles) I am a writer. I relax by reading. Other than that, it is just simply the company of my family. My husband and my kids sitting on the family couch while we talk about everything and absoultely nothing is where I get my most peace
What’s your favorite positive saying?
(Laughs) My son grumbled to me the other day that why it was always 1 + 1 is 2 with me. Until then, I didn’t realize I had used the analogy so much. I suppose that makes it my favorite positive saying then. What I usually mean by that though is life is very simple. It is people who complicate it. If you put in the hard yards, you will reap the benefits. If you invest in strife and chaos, you will harvest the tensions and the pressures. Work hard, do good and spread love. It is as simple as that.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Right here, writing another beautiful romance. I don’t really want to go anywhere else just yet
Tell us your latest news.
My latest news… wow! I am excited about my projects launching in the very near future. I have: 1. A Jar of Hearts- This is going to be another heartwrenching drama between Anne and Eric. (projected release- end of August) 2. The Yearning: the romance between two people who have lost a lot in life and find a reason to live while helping each other to grieve. (projected release- October) 3. Claimed 2: the second book on the dystopian fantasy romance between two people from different social statures 4. Captive- Royal Heat: The romance involving the second of the Afridi brothers, Ethan Afridi. There will be contests, giveaways and if you love any of the above stories, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on them. My newsletter is issued once every three months, so you can be assured I won’t be hounding you in your emails. And of course, you won’t miss out on a free giveaway of a new release when you do subscribe.
Did you learn anything from writing your latest book?
While I was doing some research for my last book, Captive-Veiled Desires, I came across the issue of bacha baazi. It is an old Afghan tradition of hiring young boys, sometimes as young as 9 years for sex. These boys are usually called ‘dancing boys’ and entertain older men with dances at gatherings and sometimes sex later. While the Afghan government chastises the practice and illegalized it, it is believed it still does exist. I can only pray one day this gruesome practice will end.
How can your readers follow you?
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?
I hope I can give my readers a little joy when they read my books, so I absolutely love it when they contact me and let me know if I have managed to achieve that. Because that smile on their face is worth every leaf in my books.
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