C. J. Darlington, homeschool graduate and author of ‘Thicker than Blood’ which was recently released by Tyndale House, has graciously given of her time to be interviewed here on Growing in Grace.  She has also generously offered our readers a chance to win a copy of her novel!

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Hello Miss Darlington, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. We’re excited to learn more about you and your novel, Thicker than Blood!

Thank you, Alyssa. I’m very thankful to be here.

First off, could you please tell us about the plot of Thicker than Blood?

Thicker than Blood is the story of two estranged sisters, May and Christy Williams, who haven’t seen each other for fifteen years. The older sister, Christy, has led a hard life and is trying to get her life on track as an antiquarian bookstore employee. Her younger sister, May, is a believer who’s never forgotten her older sister and longs for reconciliation. But she’s facing trouble of her own. Her beloved cattle ranch is on the brink of foreclosure. Will the sisters realize before it’s too late that each possesses what the other desperately needs?

Where did you get the inspiration for this novel?

The germ of an idea came from games my sister and I played as kids. We would pretend we were different characters and act out their stories. Two of the characters we made up were sisters May and Christy Williams. I started writing the story that would become Thicker than Blood when I was fifteen, and I knew early on I wanted it to be a story about the spiritual journey of my main character. It’s a redemption story, really, and that hasn’t changed over the years (though many other aspects have!)

Do you feel being homeschooled all your life helped you pursue your dreams?

Most certainly. My parents gave my sister and me a great gift by homeschooling us. Homeschooling nurtered our creativity and gave us the confidence we needed to pursue our dreams. Our parents were (and still are) our biggest cheerleaders. I think the most important thing homeschooling taught me was how to teach myself. That’s huge. And by allowing us to learn at our own pace, we were able to graduate early, which gave us the freedom to pursue things like writing a little earlier than some.

The main character, Christy Williams, has a radically different lifestyle than what most Christian homeschoolers have experienced. How did you manage to make it seem so real?

That’s a great question. I’m so glad you felt it came across real, because I worked hard on that. But you’re right; I have not experienced much of what Christy has (thank the Lord for that!). Early on I read several books on alcoholism and recovery that helped me write about her accurately, and both of my parents are children of alcoholics, so they were able to offer me some insights along those lines too. But mostly I just imagined what it would be like to face some of the situations Christy faces in the story. Sometimes I find it easier to write characters who are completely different from me.

What did you find particularly challenging in the process of writing Thicker than Blood?

In the beginning it was a challenge to discipline myself to sit down and write. It took me longer to write the story because of my tendency to procrastinate. But on a craft level, dialogue was a big challenge for me. So were the action scenes. I had to re-write one of the climax scenes over and over and over to get it to flow correctly.

Are you planning for this to be a series? If so, can you tell us what your plans are for the sequel, etc.?

I hope it will be a series! I’ve already written the sequel, tentatively titled Innocent Blood, and some of the main characters from Thicker than Blood become minor characters in this one. Rare books also play an important role in the second book too, especially a first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The story revolves around a sixteen-year-old girl named Roxi who finds herself homeless and in deep trouble. It’s about her longing for love and a family, especially a mother figure. Another main character is Abby Dawson, the sister of Christy’s boss Hunter Dawson in Thicker than Blood.

What is/are your favorite literary character(s) of all time?

My first thought is Sally Beth Roe, the main character in Frank Peretti’s Piercing the Darkness. That novel was one of the first adult Christian novels I read, and it had a big impact on me.

Then I thought of the Chronicles of Narnia and all the wonderful characters in that series. Aslan. Lucy Pevensie. Jill Pole. Mr. & Mrs. Beaver …

Not to mention Jo March from Little Women.

What are your favorite books?

Piercing the Darkness is high on my list for sure, but several others includes Christy by Catherine Marshall, The Oath by Frank Peretti, The Rivers Run Dry by Sibella Giorello. And of course the aforementioned Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Another favorite author of mine is James Scott Bell.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Never give up. If God has placed the dream of being a writer in your heart, then He will make a way to fulfill that. Bloom where you’re planted, and do what you can to cultivate your dreams, too. That includes reading books on the craft, reading novels, and sitting down and writing, writing, writing. Give your dreams to God, and watch and see what He does.

What is TitleTrakk.com and where did you and your sister get the idea for it?

TitleTrakk.com is a Christian entertainment website Tracy and I started in 2006. Tracy has always loved music (and is also a freelance writer), I’ve always loved books. We wanted to find a way to combine our interests, and thus the site was born. Now every week we feature author and musician interviews, reviews, contests, surveys, and more. It’s been such a great privilege to interview the likes of Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, Rebecca St. James, Newsboys, and more.

Are there any interesting facts about yourself that you’d like to share?

Tracy and I are identical twins. I have never been on a roller coaster. I’m a licensed ham radio operator (though I haven’t been on a rig in several years). I know Morse Code.

Finally, what do you hope readers will take away from Thicker than Blood?

It would thrill me if readers came away from reading the novel with a deeper understanding of the powerful reach of God’s love. I want to show that no matter how far we think we’ve fallen, or how many steps we’ve taken away from the Lord, it only takes one step back to find ourselves in His arms again.

Thanks again for sharing about yourself and Thicker than Blood. I look forward to your next novel!

My pleasure! Thanks so much for having me, Alyssa.

To win a copy of this book you may enter in the following ways:

Tweet about it using hashtag #GGMDarlington (include the link)

Post about it on Facebook. (see our GGM page for details)

Blog about the giveaway.

**Be sure to bring back the links to show evidence of your entry.

by Miss Alyssa

Summary: Christy Williams is a woman who has been running from her past and harboring secrets. May Williams is a woman who loves the Lord and co-owns a ranch that is about to foreclose. These sisters have not seen each other in fifteen years. As each struggles with their own trials, could an opportunity be opening for reconciliation? But what could possibly be strong enough to bring them together? What is…thicker than blood?

Thicker than Blood by C. J. Darlington won first place in the Operation First Novel contest. I can certainly see why! This is an outstanding novel which surpassed my expectations. The descriptions were wonderful-specific and concrete-yet never overdone or boring. One thing that struck me favorably was the realism of the entire book. The characters felt authentic and the story rang true.

This is a nice-sized book of just over 370 pages but I started it one afternoon and finished it before the end of the day! The story drew me in; it grabbed my interest and didn’t let go. Thicker than Blood is not your average novel. This is an awesome story coupled with quality writing. There’s drama, there’s action, and there’s heart.

The theme of redemption shone through beautifully. I also felt the value and sanctity of life burning brightly. The book clearly conveys that every human life is precious and God loves every person no matter how young or old, “good” or bad.

I definitely recommend this novel! Due to certain subject matter, it is more suited for mature readers, preferably thirteen and up. I have no complaints with this book so I’m going to do something I rarely do. I give Thicker than Blood five stars.