Carmen DeSousa

By far, the most common question people ask when they find out I’m an author is: how did you come up with the idea? Well, it depends on the story, but I pull from everything. Something I hear someone say, a line from a song, just the thought of what a guy might say to a girl, or walking across an outdoor store in heels. Yep, that’s what happened. While shopping for a gift for my hubby, dressed in business attire and wearing high heels that were clicking across the hardwood floors, I thought to myself, “Who'd believe I am an avid hiker and whitewater kayaker ?” Next thing I knew I was jotting down questions to myself: How does a city girl end up owning an outdoor store in the middle of nowhere? And… What type of conflict would come about from it? But that’s all I do is ask myself questions and jot down a few notes. From there, I am the epitome of a pantser . I didn’t even write my prologue and a few chapters of the manuscript until after the entire story wa...

When a new attorney accepts a case of a woman accused of attempted homicide, he finds himself entwined in age-old secrets and a family who will stop at nothing to conceal them—even murder. If you haven’t and would prefer to read the full prologue first, along with the previous samples, click here . This excerpt takes place directly after last week’s, so you might want to…or go ahead. There aren’t any spoilers…just um…well, I’ll let you decide. Excerpt : A hotel room . Oh, my God! She jumped out of bed and was happy to see she still had clothes on. Not that it mattered since she’d chosen to wear the shortest skirt she owned last night. “What on God’s great earth?” she screamed. Tom bolted upright in bed. “What happened?” he asked, looking around the room. “Where the hell are we?” she demanded. He ran his hands through his hair. “Oh, boy. I should have known. I thought you’d finally sobered up.” Shelby threw her hands over her face, as if that’d change the ...

When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams, they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known as  Land of the Noonday Sun . My female protagonist has willingly moved to Nantahala, NC to receive an inheritance from an estranged relative, but she isn't prepared for the entire situation if it involves him. “Then let’s continue.” Mr. Brady fanned out the appropriate paperwork. After signing all the documents, he handed a key to Cassandra—the key to her new home. “Walter already has his and has agreed to show you the way.” “What?” she petitioned, bursting from her chair. “He…he lives there…too?” she stammered. “Of course, but if you would rather live somewhere else, that would be permissible. The instructions of the will stated you have to work at the store; it didn’t necessitate living in the family home,” the attorney said. Cassandra looked over at him and noticed he was smiling. It wasn’t the same friendly smile as ...

When a new attorney accepts a case of a woman accused of attempted homicide, he finds himself entwined in age-old secrets and a family who will stop at nothing to conceal them—even murder. If you haven’t and would prefer to read the full prologue first, click here .  There aren’t any spoilers, but this excerpt takes place a few chapters in, so read on if you wish. :) Excerpt : Shelby opened her eyes, but her surroundings were fuzzy, as if she were trying to see through a foggy day. She tried to make sense of what she saw, but her brain didn’t want to cooperate. She eyed the muscular arms surrounding her, the crisp white sheet wrapped around her body, and the specks of light peeking through the edges of the curtains. Not her pure white sheers, dark blue industrial-style drapes with ugly tan squares. She lifted her head to see a faux-wood nightstand with a cheap alarm clock on top, staring back at her. Four o’clock according to the bright-red numbers that seemed...

When I decided to write a second book in Nantahala, NC, I decided the first person I should tell is the star of the first book. If you haven’t read the first book, no worries, I’m not even going to call him by name. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my favorite male protagonist, the kayak guide hottie—from Land of the Noonday Sun . Kayaker : Leaning back and narrowing those bright blue eyes below his dark brows, he asks, “So, why did you want to interview me, Carmen? You have male characters from all walks of life. Why me? Though, I think I have a sneaking suspicion why.” Carmen : “Well, I watched you grow up. I put you through one tragedy after another, gave you obstacles and weaknesses to overcome, and I thought you turned out wonderfully, with a few exceptions.” Kayaker : “Humph! That’s a nice way of putting it, but thank you for the friends and strength you provided along the way.” He leans forward and tilts his head. “Wha...

Join me in these two stories of love, betrayal, and learning to overcome your past through trust and faith.  Nantahala Series Book I When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams, they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known as Land of the Noonday Sun . Cassandra is the beautiful, yet analytical daughter of a wealthy attorney. Destined to follow in her father’s footsteps, her life of privilege suddenly shatters, and she finds herself with no home, career, or money. A glimmer of hope arrives in a letter from the grave promising a happier existence. Cassandra stands to inherit over half a million dollars if she can live in the sleepy little town of Nantahala for six months. Falling in love, however, was not part of the deal, and without warning, she finds herself fighting for two lives. A man with a traumatic past is able to turn his life around and is happy with his chosen career as ...

Well, friends, it’s been a heck of a first year. And I thought I’d share my journey of this year by visiting what led up to it. Summer of 2009, I walked away from a sales and marketing career because I’d wasted entirely too much of my life. Yes, I’d had six-figure salary years, but I’d also missed weddings, funerals, and weekend jaunts away with the family. Happily, I’ll tell you I never missed a school play or football game, but often, I had to run right back to work instead of getting ice cream afterward. Work, in my mind, had become a four-letter word, and since I spent more than a third of my life there, I decided I needed to get back to a career that was fun, something I wanted to do, and something that I felt benefited others in the process. So I asked myself a question: If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? Well that’s a silly question , I said to myself. Read, of course . Okay …I then thought, What else ? Remember all those short stories you...