Caryl McAdoo was born in Long Beach, California, but got to Texas as quickly as possible at the too-young-to-remember-anything-else age of six months and celebrated her first birthday—and all the rest since—as a Texan. Growing up in Northwest Dallas, as a seventh grader at Letot Elementary, a homework assignment required an essay on ‘What will you be doing in 2000?’ Looking into the future, Caryl saw herself as an inter-galactically famous author, streaking from planet to planet signing books.

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That same year, her family moved past the Big D city limits to Irving where she met her husband (an Irving High School football hero) the summer before their junior year, married him quick as they graduated (she from the town rival Mac Arthur High), birthed four children, and enjoyed life close to lots of family and friends. Irving was her lifelong home until 2008 when she and Ron followed God’s leading to Red River County in far North East Texas.

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In 1980, who didn’t have their pictures made at Olen Mills? Handsome Ron, me in my mid-years natural color in a curly perm 🙂 daughter Cathryn’s (5) in my lap, firstborn son Matthew (11) beside her and Gregory (10) standing behind.

Though she’d dreamed of penning novels, her husband started writing first. An avid reader, Ron read a disappointing novel and thought, ‘If that lady can get published, I know I can!’ He began a story in ‘89, Caryl joined in—they do pretty much everything together—and by ‘91 they’d hand written their first three hundred eighty page novel, a Biblical fiction titled IN THE BEGINNING as yet to be published. (Side note – first books usually needed to be re-written the most!)

Youngest son Russell surprised his Mama with wonderful posters!
Youngest son Russell surprised his Mama with wonderful posters!

God directed the McAdoos to the DFW Writers’ Workshop in ’93, and they discovered they’d made all the beginner mistakes a writer could possibly make—every one! But a few of the published authors saw something there, took Ron and Caryl under their wings, and mentored them. Six years later, their first co-authored non-fiction was published ANTIQUING IN NORTH TEXAS followed the next year by GREAT FIREHOUSE COOKS OF TEXAS. Attending weekly read and critique sessions, they averaged publishing a title a year from four presses: the two non-fiction, four novels, and three mid-grade chapter books.

After one year of empty-nesting, the McAdoos started over with a new ready-made family of four grandsons, ages six, four, three, and newborn, and writing took a back seat. Well, actually it pretty much went all the way to the trunk. But the move to Clarksville, Texas, she and Ron founded the Red River Writers’ Workshop and resumed their passion. That led the couple to also join the North East Texas Writers’ Organization (NETWO) in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

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In April, 2012, Caryl met Mary Sue Seymour at NETWO’s Spring Conference and wrote her first historical Christian romance set in the 1800s especially for the agent. (Whose maiden name was remarkably ‘McAdoo’!) Mary Sue offered representation in August, and VOW UNBROKEN sold in October to Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It debuts on March 4, 2014.

Had a great time with agent Mary Sue at the 2013 ACFW Conference!
Had a great time with agent Mary Sue at the 2013 ACFW Conference!

Six months later, book two in the Texas Romance series debuted, HEARTS STOLEN set in 1839-1844, Then two months later a new Biblical fiction series The Generations was born with volume one A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Sheriah, and Abel in Paradise with a kindly old cherub named Namrel!

Caryl, also known as Grami, has fourteen grandsugars (one more than she has books now) and enjoys painting and gardening. A proclaimed psalmist, she’s dedicated to serving God, loving praise and worship and that He frequently gives her new songs. Caryl believes all good things are from Him and prays her new books will minister His love, mercy, and grace to her readers.

2-18BOOKS ARRIVE
The first case of Vow Unbroken arrives. #10 and still SO EXCITING! Debut March 4, 2014!
Christian fiction
Christian fiction
February 2, 2015 release day of book one in the new contemporary Red River Romance series! also overall, Book #16!
Christian romance
Hope Reborn, book three of the historical Texas Romance series, arrives for its January 9, 2015 debut. This heroine is a novelist! So much fun to write!i Book #14
HeartsArrivBest
The day Hearts Stolen advance Copies arrives! It’s a BOOK! Sept. 5, 2014