Pacific Book Review   

Christmas Notes

Pacific Book Review Author Interview: Clint G. Cox

Today we have the privilege of talking with Clint G. Cox, author of the new book Christmas Notes.  Clint, thank you for taking your time to speak with us.

CGC:  Thank you Gary, it’s a pleasure to be here.

PBR:  First, I’d like to say how much I enjoyed your book mostly for how you cleverly used the technique of having Seanna’s character be perfectly normal, just having lost her voice due to that car accident and having to use “notes” to convey messages.  How did you come up with such an original concept of using these single word notes?

CGC:  I have two young daughters at home who are the joy of my life and most of Seanna’s character comes from the both of them. They have given me small notes before, which were given in a manner like Seanna presents hers in the story. Their small notes definitely have had an effect on my life.  Sometimes it does not take much to change someone’s life or to teach them an unforgettable lesson. I want to help people realize this and hopefully these simple notes in Christmas Notes will inspire those that read it.   

PBR:  You set the credibility of her character development rather quickly, in a terse description of the accident at the beginning of your book, having the identification of the car or other family members unavailable, with again circling back within the story with the police officer collaborating the details. Do you find this to be truly believable in today’s technological world?  Do you actually think someone can be found with no trace of heritage?

CGC: Yes I do, and have heard of a similar situations. People disappear without a trace all the time. You just need to read the Wal-Mart bulletins filled with missing children ads to find that out. The next book of the Christmas Notes Series goes into more detail on why Seanna was not found after the accident. It will answer all your questions. (Smile) 

PBR:  The characters of Max and Jenny seem so well developed.  Are they written from real people or totally from your imagination?

CGC: (Laugh) I have a pretty developed imagination! Perhaps to good, it gets me into trouble sometimes. But with Max and Jenny I wanted people to connect with them right from the start of the book and to do this I knew I had to make them as real as possible. So yes, I put some of my own personality in Max and some of my wife in Jenny. I have to admit the love story of the book is not that far off from my own. And every couple goes through rough times and has those needs of falling in love again. This story is just one example of how two people can do that.   

PBR:  The similarities of love within biological families and adopted families are so well brought out in your book.  Did you have any personal experience with such an experience?

CGC:  Well, my wife and I have never adopted a child before but at the time I was writing this story we had some friends that where struggling with getting pregnant and I saw what a hard thing it was for them. We also had another set of friends that had been through a similar situation, and had adopted two children who are very much loved and cherished. It has been a great experience to watch this couple become an instant loving family. The father of this adopted family has changed quite a bit, just as Max had to when Seanna became a part his life.     

PBR:  Faith is so important, and you do a good job presenting the value of faith.  Tell us, please, a bit about your life’s work within your faith.

CGC: This is not an easy thing for me to discuss because of the emotions it brings back to me. (clear my throat) Most people hit a phase in life when their faith is tested. Sadly some give up to early, when they cannot find immediate answers to all the questions that arise during the trying times of their lives. My test of faith came to me when I was a senior in High School. I was called into the office from the football field where practice had just started for a phone call. I had a phone call which I figured was pretty important because everyone know I loved football and was not to be disturbed at practice or during the games. As I took the call from my brother he calmly told me I needed to get to the hospital fast because my dad had been in an industrial accident. I later learned he had passed away. I never got to say goodbye. You can imagine the pain and anger I was going through having just lost my hero. This was a pivotal point in my life where I wanted to know the “whys” this had to happen. I set out on my own study of these questions using what little faith I had in my late teens. I tell you some of the feelings I describe Max having are right on how I felt. The search was long and hard but it set me on a strait and steady course that I have fallowed ever since.  I have set Christ in the center of my life because he is the only one that has the power to heal the broken hearted and change lives.       

PBR:  Who or what group did you mostly have in mind when you wrote Christmas Notes?

CGC: I’ll be honest with you I studied Psychology in collage and wanted to be a marriage counselor before I changed to business Psychology. I wrote this book for families. I particularly had in mind those parents and couples who are having struggles in their marriage. I would hope that Christmas Notes with its simple message given by small “notes” can turn couples hearts back to what is most important in this life. I believe that family, and faith, brings all who work at them true happiness. We are losing far too many families because people have forgotten these simple messages.     

PBR:  Well, you certainly have achieved your goal, and this book is ready for this holiday season.  Besides Amazon, where else can people purchase your book?

CGC: I am glad you asked this question. Amazon is a great place to go and buy the book but I think the best place to go would be my website christmasnotes.org. We have put together some gift packages for people to give “Christmas Notes” to others that are sure to please anyone on your holiday list. I will not spoil it, you will have to go and see for yourself. Again that website is christmasnotes.org we are well stocked but you should shop early for the best selection.

PBR:  Are you presently writing any other book?

CGC: Christmas Notes is a three book series I have both the second and third completely out lined but because of my business and getting Christmas Notes up and running I have not had the time to sit and write the other books yet but I will this winter. You can find out more on the next books by subscribing to my blog. christmasnotesseries.blogspot.com

PBR:  Again, Clint, thank you very much for your time, and we all wish you the best of success with your new book.