Colleen Coble talks about Mermaid Moon
An interview with Colleen Coble,
Author of Mermaid Moon

Q: Mermaid Moon is the second book in the
Sunset Cove series. How is the series tied together? Is there a specific theme that
runs throughout?
I wanted these books to examine the various ways we all come to family.
Some are born into the family, some are adopted, and some create their own
family with friends. Claire’s story (The
Inn at Ocean’s Edge) is continued as a subplot through the story as well,
so I think readers will like that!
Q: Did
something personal inspire the storyline of Mermaid
Moon?
I’ve always wanted to explore the turmoil adopted children feel as they
try to decide if they will search for their birth family.
Q: What do you
love so much about Down East Maine, where Mermaid
Moon is based? Why is going there a little bit like stepping back in time?
I love the wildness of it and the way you won’t find big superstores in
all the little towns dotting the coast. The communities exist by being close-knit
and supportive of one another. Many still earn their living from the sea the
way their ancestors did. It’s a wonderful place to be!
Q: Despite its
sleepy setting, Mermaid Mood’s plot is
packed with action and intrigue. Why did you choose to juxtapose those two characteristics?
I do that in every book. I love creating a setting that’s homey and
somewhat remote so my characters have to learn to be strong and overcome the
obstacles in their way. It’s also what I know. I’ve never lived in a big city
(and don’t want to!), and I love the way a small town operates.
Q: What are
some of the challenges involved with writing a mystery?
You have to keep the reader guessing and engaged. I want the reader to
stay up until two in the morning because she couldn’t put the book down. It’s
also challenging to keep each book fresh. After writing as many books as I
have, I have to think hard about plot and character before starting a new book.
Q: Your main
character, Mallory, left behind her small hometown and a string of strained
relationships after her mother died. Why does our struggle with personal shame have
such a strong impact on our relationships?
When we are hurt and fail, it makes us want to retreat and not take the
risk of getting hurt again. Personal shame strikes at our core because we feel
we can never make up for that failure. We fear the relationship can never be
mended. When the shame and guilt run deep, it takes God to bring the necessary
healing too.
Q: Family
relationships can be the trickiest relationships of all. Why do you think that
is?
Our family relationships have the deepest thread of love running through
them. When you are hurt by someone you love that much, a sense of deep betrayal
can make us put up our guard. It strikes at the core of who we are because the
family relationship helped form us into who we are.
Q: Why do you
think women, particularly single mothers, will find a kinship with Mallory?
Mallory had a lot to overcome in Mermaid
Moon, but she didn’t let her circumstances keep her from doing what had to
be done. Single moms have so much on their shoulders, and I have a lot of
empathy for them (though I’ve never had to go through that myself). I want them
to know God is there for them, and they can find the strength to do what needs
to be done every day.
Q: What is so
bad about being a perfectionist? Isn’t striving for your best a good thing?
Too often a perfectionist bases her worth on doing things right. Any
failure to perform perfectly leaves her feeling she isn’t good enough. Of
course we want to give anything we do our best, but our character isn’t damaged
when we fail or when we mess up. People can love us even if we aren’t perfect.
Q: When
Mallory finds herself in distress more than a decade after leaving home, her
first instinct is to reach out to her first love. Why does our first love often
have such a lasting impact on our hearts?
I think we never forget our first love. Everything is new and wonderful,
and it seems perfect to our young and impressionable selves. Sometimes first
love is the only time we throw ourselves fully into a relationship. It
shouldn’t be that way, but if the first love ends badly, it can affect how much
of ourselves we are willing to give to a future relationship.
Q: When is it
appropriate to give others who have hurt us a second chance, and when should we
leave them in the past?
I think you have to look at their character. Did they hurt you because
they simply messed up? We all mess up. Or did they hurt you because they didn’t
care enough to be faithful and devoted? Is the offense likely to happen again?
Did they habitually hurt you? If that’s the case, it’s not really wise to put
yourself in that position again. You have to forgive them and not hold onto
bitterness, but it’s foolish to think they will change if you just love them
enough.
Q: The death
of a loved one often leaves us thinking about how to live without regrets. In
what ways can we take that sentiment too far?
Some people can take that in a wrong direction and live for themselves
only. They give no thought to other people and the future. It’s much wiser to
take that loss as a chance to make sure you care for your loved ones as best as
you can. The worst regrets are when a loved one dies and you know you could
have done better in showing them your love and care.
Q: Without giving
away too much, at one point in Mermaid
Moon, Mallory cuts her hair off, even though she’d been growing it out for
20 years. What was the symbolism in that act? Have you ever done anything
similar to mark a big decision?
I wanted the reader to see Mallory was not being weighed down with the
past any longer. Much of her decision to grow it out was rooted in the past,
and she was ready to let go of that. I used to have hair as long as Mallory’s,
but mine was only cut off to shorten time spent on it so I could use that time
with my new son.
Q: What is the
main impression you want to make on readers of Mermaid Moon?
It’s usually harder to forgive ourselves than to forgive others. God
doesn’t want us to carry around that burden of guilt and shame. We can be free
of it if we realize He forgave it long ago. We’re the one still lugging it
around.
Q: What do you
have planned next for the Sunset Cove series?
I’m working on Twilight at
Blueberry Barrens. This is Kate’s story, and she witnesses two bodies going
off a cliff in the first scene. The authorities rule it a murder/suicide, but
the brother of one of the victims believes it was murder. Kate gets drawn into
the danger when she takes charge of the two girls orphaned by the deaths.
To
keep up with Colleen Coble, visit www.colleencoble.com, become a fan on Facebook (colleencoblebooks)
or follow her on Twitter (@colleencoble).
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