Christian Romantic Suspense Author Carol Post on Writing 26 Books, Earthquake Research & Canine Search and Rescue Stories

About This Episide

What does it take to go from never considering writing for publication to penning nearly 26 novels? For Christian romantic suspense author Carol Post, the answer begins with a single piece of feedback that changed everything — and a lot of intentional, research-driven storytelling since then.

In this episode of the Literary Scape Podcast, host Melissa LaShure sat down with Carol to talk about her long career writing Christian fiction, her deeply immersive approach to on-location research, her canine search and rescue book series through Love Inspired Suspense, and her upcoming release, Detecting Deadly Threats.

From Marriage Encounter to 26 Novels: Carol’s Unexpected Writing Journey

Carol Post always loved writing — even as a child, she was the student who actually enjoyed book reports and research papers. But writing fiction for publication? That wasn’t on her radar until the early-to-mid 1990s.

At the time, Carol and her husband were involved with Marriage Encounter weekends as one of the lead couples. As part of the program, couples prepared and submitted written talks that were reviewed and edited by senior team leaders. When Carol sent in her second talk, she received a remarkable response: it was the first submission in 25 years that required zero edits.

“That’s what actually put the thought in my head that, hmm, I might be able to write,” Carol shared. “If it weren’t for that experience, I don’t know that I would have ever considered being a writer.”

It’s a testament to how God orchestrates paths in unexpected ways — a theme Carol returns to often when she reflects on her career.

Real Locations, Real Stakes: Carol’s Approach to Research-Driven Fiction

One of the most distinctive elements of Carol Post’s writing is her commitment to authentic settings. Unlike many authors who use fictional towns, nearly all of Carol’s books are set in real places — and she goes to great lengths to get those details right.

Her research process typically includes:

• Getting most of the rough draft written using Google Maps and online tools
• Traveling on-site to verify scenes and scout key locations
• Looking for memorable settings for pivotal story moments — like a proposal scene
• Using the real names of local businesses and landmarks

Her research trips have taken her to Tennessee, Louisiana, Washington State, New Orleans, and various locations across North Carolina and Florida — often while camping with her husband and their three cats, Ziggy, Zorro, and Ziva.

The authenticity pays off. Carol has received messages from business owners who discovered their establishments were featured in one of her books — a side effect of her dedication to writing real places into her stories.

Detecting Deadly Threats: Inside Carol’s Latest Love Inspired Suspense Release

Carol’s latest release, Detecting Deadly Threats, is Book 16 in a multi-author continuity canine search and rescue book series published through Love Inspired Suspense — all standalone novels connected only by their shared theme. Carol also contributed Book 2 to the series back in 2021.

The Story

Set in the small town of Ridgely, Tennessee, the book opens when heroine Lauren — a hobby photographer and jewelry store owner — narrowly escapes an abduction when a masked gunman enters her store. A second masked man attempts to intervene, is shot, and then an earthquake strikes, trapping Lauren and the wounded man beneath the collapsed building.

As the dust settles, Lauren discovers the second gunman was her own brother — someone she’d been quietly helping turn his life around. The hero, who had recently relocated from California to Tennessee with his troubled teenage nephew, was renting the apartment above her store. With both characters suddenly displaced and danger still circling, they must work together to uncover who wanted Lauren and why.

The Real-Life Earthquake Connection

Northwestern Tennessee sits in the New Madrid Seismic Zone — the most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains. Carol did extensive research into what earthquakes feel and sound like before writing the story. Then, just a couple months after turning in the manuscript, she experienced her very first real earthquake: a 4.1-magnitude tremor with an epicenter 30 miles from her home.

“I seriously thought we were under attack,” she laughed. “I ran outside looking for a mushroom cloud.” The real-life experience gave her vivid, firsthand insight — even if it arrived a little too late to save on research time.

Detecting Deadly Threats is available now in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

Carol’s Top Writing Advice for Aspiring Christian Fiction Authors

When asked what she tells new writers, Carol’s advice is consistent, practical, and born from experience:

• Read voraciously — especially in the genre you want to publish in. You’re not copying; you’re studying how authors structure characters, plot, romance, and suspense.
• Study your target publisher. Different publishers have different requirements and preferences. If you want to write for Love Inspired Suspense, read as many of their books as you can.
• Find your process. Carol — who comes from an accounting background — famously created detailed spreadsheets to analyze published books across characterization, plot, romance, and suspense. It worked for her. Find what works for you.

Connect with Carol Post

You can find Carol and her full catalog of Christian romantic suspense novels at caroljpost.com. When you sign up for her monthly newsletter, you’ll receive two free ebooks. Her newsletters include travel updates, cat stories (yes, really), reading recommendations, giveaways, and sneak peeks at what she’s working on.

You can also find Carol on:

• Facebook: Carol J. Post
• Instagram
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Goodreads

Listen to the Full Episode

Don’t miss this full conversation with Carol Post on the Literary Scape Podcast. She shares even more about her writing process, her beloved cats’ camping adventures, and what she’s currently reading. Search Literary Scape Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.