CARRA COPELIN SHARES A BIT ABOUT HER LIFE AND BOOKS

A LITTLE ABOUT ME AND MY BOOKS

by:

I'm a sixth generation Texan on my mother's side. My ancestors helped to settle Dallas in 1845 and stayed in the area. I am proud to be a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Matelyn Gloria Roddy and Phillip Arthur Carr met in Dallas in the summer 1942. She was 14 and he was a much older man of 18. They dated, with my grandmother's permission, until he enlisted in the Army in February 1943. A very determined young girl, my mother boarded the train a few days after her 15th birthday and headed  for North Carolina to say, "I do".

Matelyn and Phil Carr c.1943

Gloria Lynn Carr (Cope) aka Carra Copelin about 9 months old in this snap.
I'm proud to say I've managed to maintain my girlish figure. 

I came to Dallas on December 6, 1947 at 11:55 am, via Florence Nightingale Hospital.

My first abode - 1022 Kings Highway

My parents lived with her family in a beautiful old home in Oak Cliff, a suburb of Dallas.

Mother and Daddy bought their first house in 1951, in the newer neighborhood, where my brother made his appearance in 1952. We lived there until 1956 when we moved to the little town of Arlington. My dad wanted his children raised away from the big city.

Carra in 3rd grade

 I attended school there from 2nd grade through the 12th and graduated from Sam Houston High School.  

Jerry Cope about 10 months

Now, oddly enough, I met my future husband, Jerry Cope, at the local A&P Grocery in 1966 and as folks do we got to talking. He was born at Florence Nightingale Hospital, lived in Oak Cliff and moved to Arlington in 1953. Turns out we've always lived within five miles of each other.

Jerry in 3rd grade

Jerry and I married in May, 1967 and started building our home in 1969, in Arlington. Where else? It remains our home today.

Our daughter, Amye, came along in 1972 on Thanksgiving morning and our son, Brady, was born in 1976 in the Bicentennial year. 

I worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist from 1965 (I did start in high school) until the clinic I worked for sold the lab in 2008. Since Jerry was already retired, I decided to stay home, too. Why should he have all the fun?

Writing became my focus and my first book, Code of Honor, Texas Code Series, Book One ,was published in July 2013. Three other titles followed with a fifth due out soon. I'm a member of RWA and serve as President of Yellow Rose Romance Writers.

Jerry and I this past summer on our Arkansas vacation.

I enjoy getting together with friends, critique partners and my bridge group. Our grandkids come over frequently, oh and Jerry is now a chicken farmer. He has twelve chickens out back in their area we call, Cackleberry Farms. Save your cartons, we have plenty of eggs.

Angel and the Texan from County Cork, a novella, is the third book in the Brides of Texas Code Series. It will be available on Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks in August.

Blurb:

 Jamey O'Donnell has reached a crossroads in his life. It's time to make his own way and stop living off the charity of others, specifically from his brother-in-law, Ian Benning. Off to find his new life, Jamey stops to help an old friend only to find out the friend has been killed. Can he help the widow restart her life and then walk away? Will he be able to ignore the newly awakened emotions she brings to the surface?

Angel Rivers buried her first husband on the trail after a short three month marriage. Now, one year later, her second husband, Will, has been shot and killed leaving her to fend for herself, to work a ranch with little to no knowledge. When the stranger shows up in her barn on the coldest day she's ever experienced, can she trust that he's her husband's friend and not a henchman sent by her neighbor? The same one she suspects of the killing? Will she embrace her bad luck in marriage and bury the feelings stirred by the stranger to live a life alone?

Hugs, 

Carra

Find me: Carra Copelin Website, Carra's Blog , Carra's FB page , Carra's Twitter Page

Book One, Katie and the Irish Texan is available at Amazon:

 http://www.amazon.com/Katie-Irish-Texan-Brides-Texas-ebook/dp/B00LD0XRPG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437200392&sr=1-1&keywords=carra+copelin

Book Two, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger is available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Matelyn-Texas-Ranger-Brides-Code-ebook/dp/B00R0OA99Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437200392&sr=1-3&keywords=carra+copelin

 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Finding a location in which to plop our characters has tremendous bearing on the story, but can be a bit of a dilemma for the author. Several elements come into play and must be considered. For instance what is the time period? Is the story a historical, contemporary, or futuristic? Is the story a time travel or paranormal?

I decided early on that all my stories would take place in my native state of Texas. This seemed the best plan for me because I'm comfortable writing about Texas and would be able to research easier here than in distant states. Next, Texas has varied terrain for any time period and with its multiple areas to choose from, each story can be unique unto itself.






When it came time to choose an area in which to base my Brides of Texas Code Series, the natural choice for me was right here in North Central Texas. The history of the Bennings and McTiernans started in Civil War when Ian Benning and Dermot McTiernan came from Ireland with its political unrest to start their lives anew in Texas with the land grant amended in 1850. The Texas Emigration and Land Company offered 160 acres to single men, plus a free cabin, seed, and musket balls.

The two men received their land located north of Dallas in the originally named Peters Colony. Each generation will have a chance to tell their stories in and around the fictitious town of McTiernan, along with the ever changing landscape that will either be a blessing or a challenge all the way to present day.

In Katie and the Irish Texan, A Brides of Texas Code Series, Book 1, the story took place in 1873, Dallas. The lusty town suited Dermot McTiernan's rowdy personality.

Dermot McTiernan is determined to move on with his life after losing his one and only love to another man. He decides to try his hand at ranching in North Central Texas with his friend, Ian Benning. He figures if that doesn't work out, there are many other opportunities in the booming post-war state. When the luscious red-head from County Cork, Ireland shows up in Dallas, can he retain the courage of his convictions and move on without her?

Kathleen O'Donnell made a monumental mistake marrying, Kelsey Gilhooley. Her decision for entering the union, no matter how honorable, had made her life a living hell. Even though still married, she holds out hope for finding the man of her dreams. When she comes across her tall, dark-eyed Irishman in Dallas, Texas, will she be able to abandon happiness and walk away a second time?

Book 2 of the Brides of Texas Code Series, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger, is set in 1875 Galveston in the middle of the 1875 hurricane that devastated Galveston and Indianola.

Overcome by the death of his wife, Ian Benning leaves his small son in the care of best friends, Katie and Dermot McTiernan. He rejoins his old outfit with the Texas Rangers to keep his mind off the loss of his only love, Emma. His assignment takes him to Galveston on the Texas Coast in pursuit of a group of bank robbers, and to the middle of a horrific hurricane.

Matelyn O'Donnell accompanies her employer, Veronique de Marceau, from New Orleans to Galveston, Texas to reunite Veronique with her cruel and conniving husband, Gerard. Introduced to Ian Benning while aboard ship, Matelyn dismisses him as a criminal in cahoots with Gerard. When their ship is capsized from the vicious winds and waves in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian Benning rescues her from certain death.

Will she accept that he is undercover and help him bring de Marceau to justice? 

Book 3, Angel and the Texan from County Cork, is set in 1879, around the Denison, Texas area in North Central Texas, in the middle of the worst snow and ice storm on record.

Jamey O'Donnell loves his family, but feels the need to once again answer the call to adventure. On his way to join the Silver Rush in Leadville, Co., Jamey stops to help his old friend, Will Rivers. When he finds out his friend has been killed, he seizes the opportunity to repay an old debt. He decides to stay to help the widow rebuild her life and find who murdered his friend. Can he ignore the long buried emotions she brings to the surface and then walk away?

Angel’s second husband, Will Rivers, has been shot and killed leaving her with an impossible dilemma. Either marry her neighbor to satisfy her husband’s debt or the stranger she shot in her barn who says he’s a friend. Which one does she trust? Will she be able to bury the feelings stirred by the stranger to live a life alone?

In addition to the surrounding areas of the story, the weather can also be used to set the scene. Katie's story dealt with a severe flood in Dallas, Matelyn had to survive a hurricane, and Angel had the deadly ice storm.

My most recent book, Laurel: Bride of Arkansas, had a tornado. Yes, I broke my own rule and journeyed to a neighboring state. (grin)

Thanks for stopping by, it's always great to see you here!

Carra

Carra's Amazon Author Page

A LITTLE ABOUT ME AND MY BOOKS

by:

I'm a sixth generation Texan on my mother's side. My ancestors helped to settle Dallas in 1845 and stayed in the area. I am proud to be a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Matelyn Gloria Roddy and Phillip Arthur Carr met in Dallas in the summer 1942. She was 14 and he was a much older man of 18. They dated, with my grandmother's permission, until he enlisted in the Army in February 1943. A very determined young girl, my mother boarded the train a few days after her 15th birthday and headed  for North Carolina to say, "I do".

Matelyn and Phil Carr c.1943

Gloria Lynn Carr (Cope) aka Carra Copelin about 9 months old in this snap.
I'm proud to say I've managed to maintain my girlish figure. 

I came to Dallas on December 6, 1947 at 11:55 am, via Florence Nightingale Hospital.

My first abode - 1022 Kings Highway

My parents lived with her family in a beautiful old home in Oak Cliff, a suburb of Dallas.

Mother and Daddy bought their first house in 1951, in the newer neighborhood, where my brother made his appearance in 1952. We lived there until 1956 when we moved to the little town of Arlington. My dad wanted his children raised away from the big city.

Carra in 3rd grade

 I attended school there from 2nd grade through the 12th and graduated from Sam Houston High School.  

Jerry Cope about 10 months

Now, oddly enough, I met my future husband, Jerry Cope, at the local A&P Grocery in 1966 and as folks do we got to talking. He was born at Florence Nightingale Hospital, lived in Oak Cliff and moved to Arlington in 1953. Turns out we've always lived within five miles of each other.

Jerry in 3rd grade

Jerry and I married in May, 1967 and started building our home in 1969, in Arlington. Where else? It remains our home today.

Our daughter, Amye, came along in 1972 on Thanksgiving morning and our son, Brady, was born in 1976 in the Bicentennial year. 

I worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist from 1965 (I did start in high school) until the clinic I worked for sold the lab in 2008. Since Jerry was already retired, I decided to stay home, too. Why should he have all the fun?

Writing became my focus and my first book, Code of Honor, Texas Code Series, Book One ,was published in July 2013. Three other titles followed with a fifth due out soon. I'm a member of RWA and serve as President of Yellow Rose Romance Writers.

Jerry and I this past summer on our Arkansas vacation.

I enjoy getting together with friends, critique partners and my bridge group. Our grandkids come over frequently, oh and Jerry is now a chicken farmer. He has twelve chickens out back in their area we call, Cackleberry Farms. Save your cartons, we have plenty of eggs.

Angel and the Texan from County Cork, a novella, is the third book in the Brides of Texas Code Series. It will be available on Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks in August.

Blurb:

 Jamey O'Donnell has reached a crossroads in his life. It's time to make his own way and stop living off the charity of others, specifically from his brother-in-law, Ian Benning. Off to find his new life, Jamey stops to help an old friend only to find out the friend has been killed. Can he help the widow restart her life and then walk away? Will he be able to ignore the newly awakened emotions she brings to the surface?

Angel Rivers buried her first husband on the trail after a short three month marriage. Now, one year later, her second husband, Will, has been shot and killed leaving her to fend for herself, to work a ranch with little to no knowledge. When the stranger shows up in her barn on the coldest day she's ever experienced, can she trust that he's her husband's friend and not a henchman sent by her neighbor? The same one she suspects of the killing? Will she embrace her bad luck in marriage and bury the feelings stirred by the stranger to live a life alone?

Hugs, 

Carra

Find me: Carra Copelin Website, Carra's Blog , Carra's FB page , Carra's Twitter Page

Book One, Katie and the Irish Texan is available at Amazon:

 http://www.amazon.com/Katie-Irish-Texan-Brides-Texas-ebook/dp/B00LD0XRPG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437200392&sr=1-1&keywords=carra+copelin

Book Two, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger is available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Matelyn-Texas-Ranger-Brides-Code-ebook/dp/B00R0OA99Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437200392&sr=1-3&keywords=carra+copelin

 

REVIEW -- MATELYN AND THE TEXAS RANGER

By Mary Adair

Matelyn And The Texas Ranger: A Brides of Texas Code Series, Book 2

by Carra Copelin

I give Matelyn and the Texas Ranger 5 Stars!

This is a story of love and loss and the strength of the human spirit to overcome. I love that this story is grounded in the time of an actual event. In 1875 a Hurricane hit the Texas gulf. This story, though it is a fictional account, casts a realistic light on the devastation of such a tragic event. It also cast a light on the resilience of the human spirit and the kindness of others in a time of need.

The backdrop of the Hurricane provides a powerful visual, but it is not the whole story.

 Ian Benning, rancher and Texas Ranger, lost his wife to a tragic accident. He leaves his home and travels to Houston where he takes over a case involving an international embezzler for the local authorities.

Hurricane's destruction 1875

Matelyn O'Donnell is in the employment of Gerard de Marceau as companion to his wife, Veronique de Marceau. Matelyn is fond of the younger Veronique, but looks forward to the end of their journey to Texas. Once they arrive at Houston after traveling by ship from New Orleans she plans to travel on to Dallas where she can start a new life near her cousin Katie McTierman.

We all know what happens to well laid plans. Bound by fate, mystery, deception, and a hurricane, life will play out for the two couples in a way that will keep you intrigued to the end.

I have a new favorite author. This story is well written, plotted to keep you guessing, and filled with the strength of human spirit. If you enjoy a story that is not afraid to address the emotion of tragedy and the ability of the heart to find love after loss, you will be glad you found Matelyn And The Texas Ranger.

Carra Copelin's Trials, Tribulations and New Book Release

Hi, all you Smart Girls. I'm starting off with an apology.

First, I forgot my day to post on the 18th. I spent the entire weekend with my grandson and his Auntie Mimi, my daughter. We ate out Friday night, then on Saturday, we visited the Sea Life Aquarium at Grapevine, Texas, two times, had lunch at Chili's, went to the movie, Night at The Museum, 3 and had sushi for dinner. Sunday involved taking him home. I think we wore him out. Lol He slept nearly eleven hours, then took a nap in the car to his house.

This morning I spent over an hour talking to our internet provider about why we have such a poor signal. The first excuse 3 months ago was that there were too many people using the internet and after the Christmas shopping the signal should improve. No. The second excuse was that the tower had moved. No, it's set in concrete and isn't going anywhere. This morning, the tech said the tower had shifted and we have no direct line of sight - or maybe our modem has simply thrown craps as it's four years old. Either way she was unable to help me today. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, she said they couldn't help me either. I'm so frustrated, if I had another option, I'd take it. Not possible where we live. I wonder with advance notice, next time maybe we could just move the house??

On a happier note, my newest novella, Matelyn and the Texas Ranger, A Brides of Texas Code Series, is now up and out. Yay! 

Blurb:
Overcome by the death of his wife, Ian Benning leaves his small son in the care of best friends, Katie and Dermot McTiernan. He rejoins his old outfit with the Texas Rangers to keep his mind off the loss of his only love, Emma. His assignment takes him to Galveston on the Texas Coast in pursuit of a group of bank robbers, and to the middle of a horrific hurricane.

Matelyn O'Donnell accompanies her employer, Veronique de Marceau, from New Orleans to Galveston, Texas to reunite Veronique with her cruel and conniving husband, Gerard. Introduced to Ian Benning while aboard ship, Matelyn dismisses him as a criminal in cahoots with Gerard. When their ship is capsized from the vicious winds and waves in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian Benning rescues her from certain death.

Will she accept that he is undercover and help him bring de Marceau to justice? Will she be able to ignore her overwhelming attraction to this lonely, distraught man? Can Ian tuck away his deep feelings for his lost wife to keep from losing this beautiful, feisty dark-haired beauty?  

 Exerpt:

  Later that evening, Ian joined John on the porch after supper. He liked John and had great respect for the man. It seemed they were of a kindred spirit, almost as if they'd been friends all their lives.

"We did good getting the roof repaired this afternoon."

"Sure appreciate your help, Ian. Having the house back in order will go a long way toward helping Nancy feel safe again."

He took the cigarette John offered, lit it, and looked out over the yard at the neighboring houses. Some were occupied with candle light glowing from the windows. Others were abandoned and dark. "Soon as I can, I need to ask the ladies what their plans are. If Veronique is truly a widow, she'll need to decide what she wants to do. She may have to go back to New Orleans to settle de Marceau's estate."

Drawing deeply on his cigarette, John nodded, slowly exhaling the white-gray smoke. "That's a distinct possibility. She'll probably have to reconcile his assets in the state where he filed the will."

Ian glanced toward the house as the screen door opened. Matelyn and Nancy came onto the porch carrying a tray. He stood, grabbed another chair, and scooted a crate to the middle to act as a table.

John took the tray while the women seated themselves. "What've you gone and done?"

Giving her husband a knowing smile, Nancy said, "I know how you love my apple crumb cake and I so want normalcy back in our lives." Reaching for the knife, she cut several slices. "We were able to salvage enough from the pantry to make your favorite dessert."

"I thought I smelled the oven earlier, but figured my mind was playing tricks on me." Ian accepted his share. Gazing at Matelyn, he tasted a bite. He hadn't eaten anything this mouth-watering since Emma's pies or Katie's biscuits. "Thank you, ladies, for your efforts."

"This was all Nancy," Matelyn said, picking at her slice with her fork. "While I can sew a fine seam, I'm afraid I can't boil a potato."

Placing her plate on the tray, Nancy cut another slice each for John and Ian. "We discussed this while at the hotel this morning. Matelyn will sew new dresses for the women who've lost their belongings if Mr. Hollis will donate several bolts of fabric and patterns."

"That's quite an undertaking. Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Yes," Matelyn said. "We've been so blessed, it's the very least I can do to help."

"It was all Matelyn's idea." Nancy beamed. "She approached Mr. Hollis and he agreed."

"Well, I think you're biting off more than you can chew, but if you're determined—"

"I am."

Ian studied the dark haired beauty closely. She sat ramrod straight, her blue eyes determined, almost belligerent. Ian covered a laugh with a cough. Instinctively, he knew if he laughed that'd be a mistake. He'd encountered fierce Irish pride before. While she looked nothing like her cousin, their personalities were practically identical. The only difference being, where Katie was quick to ignite, Matelyn's embers glowed beneath the surface waiting to be stoked.

A sudden urge to stir those coals caught him off guard. He cleared his throat but his voice sounded ragged when he spoke. "Let me know if I can help you."

"I will."

As if Nancy sensed the tension between them, she stood, stacked the empty plates and picked up the tray. "We should follow Veronique's lead and rest up for tomorrow."

Standing with them, Ian held the door until they'd gone inside.

John prepared to follow behind them. "You ready? We'll be starting early."

"You go ahead.  I'm going to sit for a bit longer."

"Sleep easy."

After John went in, Ian sat back in the chair, stretched out his legs and propped his boots on the porch rail. While the thought of a bed called to his aching back, he couldn't bring himself to face the new found urges that lurked behind closed eyes. Emma had been gone barely six months. He had no business having wants and desires. Thinking of another woman, no matter the reason, wasn't conducive to his job either.

He had to get his head back into the pursuit of de Marceau, Captain Jones and the crew. He just couldn't shake the feeling they weren't dead. What happened to them and where they were was anybody's guess at this point. He and John had an impossible task ahead of them. He wondered, not for the first time, if Veronique could shed some light into her husband's behavior. So far he'd been unable to get a good read on her. What had been the relationship between her and her husband? Perhaps he'd stop by the hotel tomorrow and make more of an effort to know her better.

Thinking of Veronique brought on thoughts of Matelyn. Exactly where he didn't want to go. Dropping his feet from the rail, he stood and stretched the kinks from his back. He needed to sleep. Needed to turn his mind off, let his sub-conscious help him concentrate on the case, not Matelyn O'Donnell. As he turned to head upstairs, he knew he was only kidding himself.

* * *

Tired of staring at the ceiling, Matelyn gave up trying to sleep. Events of the past few days fought for space along with worries of their tenuous situation, their safety and the task of how best to aid the people of Galveston. Thoughts of Katie occupied a corner, too. Had word spread that far about the hurricane? If it had, there was no way to let her cousin know they were all right. She'd promised to send a telegram as to her approximate time of arrival in Dallas. With communications down, that wouldn't happen any time soon.

She decided, since everyone had turned in ages ago, she'd slip downstairs to have another bite of Nancy's crumb cake. Maybe doing something other than thinking would quiet her head. The house felt like an oven. With the high temperature and not even a hint of a breeze, she didn't bother with her wrapper. She'd be back upstairs long before anyone stirred.

Matelyn couldn't remember when she'd tasted anything so good. The cake practically melted on her tongue. Covering the pan with a towel, she returned it to the back of the counter.

"It's good, isn't it?"

She spun around at the sound of Ian's voice. Her left hand flew to her throat and she bumped against the counter's edge, while her right fisted the lace neckline of her gown. "Oh, good Gussie," she scolded, her heart racing. "Ye startled the stuffin' right out of me!"

Reaching out for her, he grinned. "I'm sorry. With these clodhoppers I call feet, I assumed you heard me walk up behind you."

He might've been remorseful, but he still wore that lopsided grin. Skirting his grasp, she backed toward the doorway. Embarrassed he'd seen her in her in her night dress – again, and mortified she'd been caught sneaking cake. Truth be known, she'd been so involved in eating that bite of heaven, she doubted she'd have heard a thunder clap. "Well, I didn't."

"Matelyn, I apologize."

"Good night, Mr. Benning."

Buy links are below. 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Matelyn-Texas-Ranger-Brides-Code-ebook/dp/B00R0OA99Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418979944&sr=1-3&keywords=carra+copelin

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/matelyn-and-the-texas-ranger/id951364101?mt=11

I hope you can check out this new story. I wish everyone a very Happy 2015!

Hugs,

Carra