Author Spotlight: Candace West

 

Why would anyone find me interesting? I’ve asked myself this dozens of times and still haven’t stumbled on a good answer. Let’s see…

Should I mention I’m one of the few people who have been sprayed by a lion and lived to tell the tale? (Granted, I was three years old at the zoo with my Grandpa, but why elaborate on those little details?)

Maybe I could relate working in the crop-dusting industry from the time I was fourteen until I turned twenty-eight. But then, that’s more like a resume, and I wasn’t a pilot. Although I did once beg the Lord if He got me safely down out of a Super Cub, I’d never make that mistake again. Talk about a glorified kite with an engine…

I’ve also fallen out of a tree, had the breath knocked out of me, and lassoed a dead skunk then dragged it out of the yard. Sorry. Maybe that’s a bit much. Actually, my Daddy lassoed it while I drove the golf cart like a getaway car. Worked like a charm.

Oops. The storyteller in me is getting carried away.  

I’m a country girl with a rancher’s heart (no ranch, but it runs in the family) and a love for the Ozarks, but I’m stuck in the Arkansas Delta, which has its perks as well.

Cats, dogs, and the outdoors are among my favorite things. I get lost exploring old houses, historic sites, and browsing through antique shops. I lose track of time watching the British Antiques Roadshow or any British documentary, especially about Queen Elizabeth II. My dream is to someday visit the United Kingdom. Until then, I’ll travel by my remote control.

Most of all, I love my Lord and my family. My parents have pastored the same church for over fifty years now. My husband is a helicopter medivac pilot. We have a son who is dipping his toes into teenagerhood. (Is that a word?) 

Look up homebody, and you might find my picture beside the definition. Most people would consider me boring, but I’m okay with it. A long time ago I discovered that boring isn’t always a negative thing. It can be very good, actually. Except when it comes to doing laundry

Reading and history are my first loves, which is why I write historical fiction. Unredeemable characters attract me to the keyboard. Grace is an overarching theme in my novels. I want to uplift readers with stories of hope. My stories show that no one is beyond God’s reach.

My first three books in The Valley Creek Redemption series deal with a family split apart by tragedy and their journey to healing. Set in the early 20^th century, it connects two unlikely places—the Arkansas Ozarks and New York City.

My next two books stretch farther back in time to the close of the American Civil War. Also set in the Arkansas Ozarks, the Windy Hollow series features a family who stands against vigilantes who have terrorized their friends and neighbors.  

To learn more about my books, visit my website and Amazon. They are available in paperback, Kindle, and free on Kindle Unlimited. I’d love for you to sign up for my monthly newsletter. I share exclusive news, a peek into my daily life, and new reads. You can also follow me on Facebook, BookBub, Goodreads, and Amazon.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Thank you for spending time with me today. Come visit me along the story trail!