Carrie Stuart Parks is an internationally known forensic artist and law enforcement instructor, working on major criminal cases throughout the nation. She trains law enforcement professionals such as the FBI, Secret Service, NCIS, Federal Marshals, RCMP, and Texas Rangers as well as local and regional officers. She was nominated for Law Enforcement Trainer of the Year offered by the Federal Law Enforcement Academy at Glynco, Georgia. Her career highlights also include winning Woman of the Year for the Spirit of the American Woman and the first Educator of the Year by the Lewis Clark Alumni.
Her bestselling mystery/suspense novels have won numerous awards highlighted below. She was mentored by her friend, Frank Peretti, for eight years before launching her fiction writing career. Prior to that, she wrote and illustrated best-selling art books for North Light Publishers.
Carrie is a popular speaker and presenter and has been the Special Guest at the Writer’s Police Academy, Early Bird Special Presenter along with Frank Peretti at the American Christian Fiction Writers, Keynote at the Oregon Christian Writer’s Conference, as well as presented at ThrillerFest, Daphne Du Maurier’s Kiss of Death, BlueRidge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference, and numerous other conferences.
As a professional fine artist, she has her paintings hanging in a number of corporate and private collections.
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Your background as a forensic artist is fascinating. How does that expertise shape the way you approach character development and crime scenes in your novels?
I try to be as accurate as possible for crime scenes. If I’m not sure, I ask one of my forensic art students (law enforcement) for advice. The forensic art detail is easy because I teach it. The characters – at least the ones on the wrong side of the law and living in that gray area – again I run it past students (sometimes detectives or jailors)
What inspired you to transition from forensic art to writing?
My dear friend, Frank Peretti, said I had some talent and he would teach me to write.
The Gwen Marcey series features a protagonist who shares your professional background. How much of yourself is in Gwen?
A lot. Gwen is younger, thinner, prettier,…oh wait, maybe not all that much… I am a breast cancer survivor.
Which of your novels was the most challenging to write and why?
The cave scene in When Death Draws Near. I’m claustrophobic. I had trouble breathing as I wrote it. Had to take a LOT of breaks.
What can readers expect from you next?
I have a Love Inspired Suspense book coming out in May and several books sitting on publisher’s desks waiting for the thumbs up.
On the run through the mountains—
with only each other to trust.
Amanda Cotton’s privileged life takes a harrowing turn when her grandfather’s dying wish places a target firmly on her back and she’s attacked by unknown assailants. Rescue comes in the form of widowed outdoorsman Boone McGregor, but the threat is just beginning. Unable to trust local law enforcement, they flee across the rugged Montana mountains. As they evade deadly enemies and navigate harsh terrain, they must put aside their differences to survive. But when a family secret is exposed, danger is closer than they imagined and more than just their lives is at stake…
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
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This book sounds so good! Thanks for “chatting,” Carrie!