I am delighted today to chat with author Caroline Johnston about her book, Raincoats & Sunglasses! I fell in love with the covers for this series when I saw them and I can’t wait to read them soon š
Caroline Johnston lives in Paisley, Scotland with her husband and three teenage children. She writes Contemporary Christian fiction and Christian Young Adult novels. Her contemporary series, Raincoats & Sunglasses, is set in Glasgow, Scotland ā and comprises Raincoats & Sunglasses and Snowboots & Sunglasses. Her Young Adult novels ā What If? and Why Not? follow the lives of a group of friends in a Scottish high school.
You can connect with Caroline on her website, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.
RAINCOATS & SUNGLASSES by Caroline Johnston
SERIES: Raincoats & Sunglasses #1
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
RELEASE DATE: February 1, 2019
PAGES: 299
In Glasgowās autumnal sunshine Raincoats & Sunglasses are everywhereā¦
Kirsty wraps herself in her Raincoat & Sunglasses, blending in to the crowd. As yet another failed relationship crashes down around her, she wonders if true love does exist. But just when it all seems hopeless a new work project and a new hairdresser have her dreaming about love again.
Jennifer throws on her Raincoat & Sunglasses as she races to the school gates. But as her youngest daughter starts school her world suddenly seems empty. Where has her purpose gone? More to the point, where is her joy? As she picks up her paintbrush, she glimpses the possibility of a new career path. Will a new purpose restore her joy?
Paul canāt understand womenās fascination with bland Raincoats & Sunglasses. He also canāt understand why heās feeling so unsettled. Desperate to regain peace, he questions whether being a senior stylist at a prestigious salon is enough. But Paul has to deal with more than just questions about his career when a tall, beautiful woman walks into the salon in her Raincoat & Sunglasses.
Join Kirsty, Jennifer and Paul as their lives intertwine around faith and Raincoats & Sunglasses.
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Hi Caroline! Welcome to the blog!
Caroline: Both??? I love winter (if there is snow!) but I love the light and colours of summer (as long as it isnāt too hot. Iām not good with heat!)
Carrie: See, I could get behind summer more if it wasn’t hot – I’m totally with you. Bring on winter!
Caroline: Dogs. I wish I had one, but my husband is not a fan.
Carrie: awww – my husband wasn’t a dog fan at all either… until I convinced him to get one š
Caroline: Tea ā I get through 6-10 mugs of the lovely brew a day.
Carrie: I think the idea of tea sounds so lovely – if only I liked the taste haha
Caroline: Mountains are my happy place, especially if they come with trees and lochs (lakes)
Carrie: yes please!
Q: Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?
Caroline: Lol! My house is full of hard-core Marvel fans, so this is a common question around here. My answer: as a mum, my superpower is finding the things that no one else can! āItās not lost until mum canāt find it.ā
Carrie: haha! I think my mom has that same superpower.
Q: Tell me some good books youāve read recently.
Caroline: As a self-published author, Iām a big fan of supporting fellow self-published authors. There are so many amazing books waiting to be discovered. Some recent fabulous reads: Joy Vee āThey Whisper About Usā is a brilliant dual-timeline book set in Russia and England. Itās a very poignant, and timely, YA read. Iāve just finished the second book in Emma Browneās Heart series, āHeart of Usā. Contemporary Christian fiction set in Edinburgh. These books have a great cast of characters and deal with some deep issues. Iāve also been enjoying Carolyn Millerās Original Six Series and Anne Perreaultās books.
Carrie: I definitely need to add Joy & Emma’s books to my TBR list – Anne’s are already on there – and I’m a big fan of Carolyn Miller’s books!!
Q: If I asked your characters to describe YOU as an author, what would they say?
Caroline: I love this question. It makes me laugh but Iām also a bit nervous about what my characters would say about meā¦ I keep sending them out in the rain. I take delight in their misfortunes. But that I make up for it all by taking them to stunning locations.
Carrie: haha but at least you give them raincoats š
Q: Were there any songs that inspired you as you wrote Raincoats & Sunglasses?
Caroline: I have a number of creative friends, including several musicians. When I was writing Raincoats & Sunglasses, my friend Ellyn Oliver had just written a song about Jesus standing with his arms wide open. The lyrics perfectly summed up the faith journey one of the characters was on. I included it in the book. I also include songs by my friend Scott Nicol. Iāll tell him what my books are about and heāll probably be in the middle of writing a song that fits with the book. Scott has played at each of my book launch parties. I love including friends in the process.
Carrie: that’s so cool!
Q: Did you have the whole plot outlined before you started writing Raincoats & Sunglasses, or did you let the characters dictate what came next?
Caroline: Raincoats & Sunglasses was pretty much outlined when I started writing it. But something didnāt sit right with me and I ended up rewriting it so it was in first person rather than third person. It allowed the characters to speak for themselves. You always need to give your characters room to have their say.
Carrie: this is something new & fascinating I’ve learned since having writing friends š
Q: What do you most want readers to take away from Raincoats & Sunglasses?
Caroline: I weave the fruit of the Spirit through my stories, especially love, joy and peace. I would love readers to be encouraged by Jesusā love, joy and peace and to know they have a story that matters
Carrie: amen ā„
Thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! š Before we say goodbye for today, tell us whatās coming up next for you.
Caroline: Iām currently working on the third (and Iām going to say last) book in the Raincoats & Sunglasses series. Itās called Raincoats & Wedding Dresses and will be released in March 2023.
Caroline Johnston is offering an ebook of Raincoats & Sunglasses to one of my readers! (Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Raincoats & Sunglasses by Caroline Johnston?
Sounds like a good book, thanks for sharing.
doesn’t it sound great?
This book sounds really interesting. š
interesting book