Laura Martin has released her third book, it's not from the same world as Edge of Extinction (Remember #Dinosaurs) but it's equally as exciting and as inventive! Float is an inspiring story that helps us find the hero within, even when we feel like an outcast. A great story for all ages and for families to read aloud together. From the Publisher: From the critically acclaimed author of the Edge of Extinction series comes this fast-paced, action-packed, and heartfelt adventure about a group of kids with uncontrollable abilities, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman, Lisa McMann, and Dan Gutman! Emerson can float…he just can’t do it very well. His uncontrollable floating is his RISK factor, which means that he deals with Reoccurring Incidents of the Strange Kind. The last place Emerson wants to be is at a government-mandated summer camp for RISK kids like him, so he’s shocked when he actually starts having fun at camp—and he even makes some new friends. But it’s not all canoeing and capture the flag at Camp Outlier. The summer of fun takes a serious turn when Emerson and his friends discover that one of their own is hiding a deadly secret that puts all of their lives in danger. It’s up to the Red Maple boys to save themselves—and everyone like them. Praise for Float: “A fun, funny, and fast-paced summer camp romp full of pranks, plot-twists and goofy superpowers. Emerson’s adventures (and misadventures) teach us that the greatest power of all comes from the friends who push us to overcome our perceived limitations and make the most of every moment.” - John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby’s Last Day “Simply superb. Martin’s novel feels exactly like summer camp should; the antics of the boys and the friendships they develop will make readers wish they were roasting marshmallows in the woods with their best friends.” - Booklist “With lots of action, great dialogue, and plenty of humor, Martin’s style and tone are reminiscent of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman.”- School Library Journal “Martin conjures a sense of wonder and whimsy.”- Publishers Weekly More from Laura Martin - DINOSAURS
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I want to introduce Lindsay Cummings to you. She just broke into the publishing world with two separate series releasing in the same year. The Murder Complex (Greenwillow Books/Harpercollins) and The Balance Keepers (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins). The imprint of the second series is the same that published Veronica Roth and the blockbuster Divergent series. I came across Lindsay on facebook and was immediately intrigued by her outspoken faith to the generally secular publishing world in which she reviews and writes for. Her husband is a youth pastor and the two of them love Jesus and animals, but you'll read a bit more about both of those in the interview below. A savvy promoter, Lindsay has created a presence by reviewing books and coming up with a catchy brand called #BookNerdigans. You can even buy #BookNerdigans gear. Alright so without further delay let's get to the interview.
Brock: Lindsay thank you for discussing your writing journey with us and how your faith influences your writing. Lindsay: Thanks so much for chatting with me! It’s really cool to be able to talk about my faith so openly in an interview, so I’m excited about this. Brock: Lindsay would you introduce yourself to my readers. Lindsay: The short answer, is that I’m a 23 year old author at HarperCollins, who lives in Texas and loves God. The long answer, which I like more, is that I’m a 23 year old author who only got to this place because God took me on a crazy journey, and when I finally opened up my eyes and paid attention to His voice, He lead me home. I live in Celina, TX with my husband Josh, who is a first-time Youth Pastor at LifeWay Church. I’m an animal lover, with dogs, a wolf, a draft horse, tons of chickens, and a hedgehog. I love singing worship music, reading far too much to be cool, and I love my God. Brock: I like the long answer too. Lindsay, when did you feel called to be a writer? Lindsay: I was always a writer, even as a kid. My dad wrote a book when I was younger, and I always wanted to be like him. I wrote little short stories all the time growing up, but the real honest writing started after I graduated high school, and got sick with Chronic Fatigue. It was about 2 1/2 years of surgeries and being bedridden, sometimes so weak I couldn’t get up off of the couch without someone helping me stand. Writing was an escape, a way to explore freedoms that my own weak body couldn’t give me at the time. I never wanted to be an author, not as a career. But God lead me here, and now, I don’t want to do anything else. Brock: Amazing the journey and plan he has us on at times. I too never expected to be a published author. Tell us about your writing journey and the milestones along the way? Lindsay: It started with the Chronic Fatigue, and simply writing to escape. But by the time I had finished my very first book (a terrible book, I might add), I realized that THIS was what I wanted to do with my life. It’s funny, all my life, I’ve bounced around to different hobbies (guitar, ice hockey, horses, hair styling, and so much more), but writing always stuck with me. When I finished my first book, I went to a writer’s conference in Dallas, called DFWcon. This is where my journey really begin, as I met my agent, Louise Fury. My first book that I pitched to her, she didn’t want. I kept her email address, and about 4 months later, after I had another new book, I took a shot and sent her an email. She was very enthusiastic about reading The Murder Complex, which is the series that, eventually, 3 years later, finally hit shelves in bookstores. It’s been a rough journey. I struggle with depression, exhaustion, and I worry too much. But God is always there to get me through to the next day. Brock: Were there any amazing/miraculous doors God opened for you? Lindsay: My agent is incredible, truly. She’s a South African spitfire of a woman, who knows how to sell a book :) I just adore her, and honestly, I feel like God plucked her out of the massive pile of agents and saved her just for me. She knows I worry and stress, and she knows how to calm me down. We got a lot of rejections for The Murder Complex when it was out on submission with publishers, but Louise continued to remind me that there was a plan. It would happen. We just didn’t know when. Eventually we got the book deal, and then another about a year later (with my children’s series, Balance Keepers), and I can see God’s hand in every step of the way. Sometimes, I imagine He’s up in Heaven, chuckling as He looks down at me while I stress and stress and stress. I imagine Him saying, “Lindsay, Child, I’ve got this. Just trust me!" Brock: I have been reminded on more than one occasion that Go's always got me. He's always carrying me and His plan is perfect. Lindsay, how does your faith impact your writing? You are writing for a secular audience, so in what ways do you intertwine your faith into your work? Lindsay: The books that I write are not Christian, but strangely, The Murder Complex is my own take on a dark science fiction version of Revelation. Balance Keepers is just a fun fantasy book that kids can enjoy. While I don’t write Christian fiction, I do try very hard to let people know that I’m a Believer. On my social media accounts, I’ll post pictures of my Bible. I’ll post a cool shot of a verse. I always try to mention, when I’m speaking, that God is the ultimate reason for my success. I want readers to know that it’s “cool” to be a Christian. You can still write dark scifi, and fantasy, and love God! I’ve been able to talk to some teens who aren’t Believers, but have taken an interest in it because of my posts…and honestly, that’s the coolest part of it all. Brock: Our mission field is around us everyday in all we do. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (ESV) What does a typical writing day look like for you? Lindsay: I write full time from home, so I like to sleep in. Once I’m up, I snuggle with my giant German Shepherds for a while, and then I write for an hour or two. I give myself a break, maybe take a nap (I have to nap every day because of my energy levels), and then write a little more. I also try to read every single day. Reading great books inspires me to write great books. Brock: Any particular habits while you write? Lindsay: I can’t write with music unless it’s instrumental only! (Lately, the Mockingjay Part One Score has been lovely). I also like to be alone, with no distractions. Brock: Tell us about your blogging/reviewing? Lindsay: I started book blogging before I was picked up by my agent and then HarperCollins. I think it just helped me have a solid start to an online presence, and I was able to stay up to date on the newest books and trends in the industry. Brock: Tells us about #Booknerdigans Lindsay: #Booknerdigans is a silly hashtag I created a few years ago. It’s just for people to use, if they love books. I didn’t realize it was going to explode in a big way. It’s been fun to see people using it all over Twitter and Instagram. I also started a booknerdigans.com site, for some teens around the world to post their thoughts about new book releases. Brock: What authors have influenced your writing if any? Lindsay: I loved CS Lewis growing up. His fantasy worlds are so rich and alive. I also loved JK Rowling, and Suzanne Collins. While the latter two aren’t Christian writers, they’ve definitely got God-given talents for creating incredible stories. Brock: Alright now we'll switch gears from author life to the books you've just released. First share about The Murder Complex series with us. Lindsay: The Murder Complex takes place in the futuristic Florida Everglades, in a walled-in city called the Shallows, where the murder rate is higher than the birth rate. It’s a dark story, but there are patches of light littered throughout. There is also a prequel novella, The Fear Trials, that’s out in ebook format, and book 2, The Death Code, comes out in April 2015! Brock: Who is The Murder Complex written for? Lindsay: It’s Young Adult, which typically means high school to college, but honestly, I think it’s a series that everyone can enjoy. Brock: Who are the main characters in The Murder Complex? Lindsay: It focuses on Meadow Woodson, a 16-year-old girl whose father has trained her to kill to survive, and Zephyr James, a 17-year-old orphan, whose job is to clean the streets of carnage once the latest murders have happened. Brock: What elements of your faith are woven into The Murder Complex? Lindsay: It’s my take on Revelation—with a futuristic, assassin twist. Brock: Is there anything you wish for your readers to take away from The Murder Complex? Lindsay: I simply want readers to enjoy the book. I want them to be able to connect with the story, and just have fun with it. I wrote this first book while I was very sick, post-surgery, and writing it was therapeutic for me. If one person is struggling with the same type of thing, and my book helped them get through it…well, that would be pretty cool for me! Brock: How many books are planned for The Murder Complex, and can you give us any insight on what to expect next. Lindsay: The Death Code is book 2, and it has the same fast-paced, short chapters that alternate between Meadow and Zephyr. It’s a fun book. It took me about 7 drafts to get it right, so now that it’s done, I’m really excited for readers to get it in 2015. Brock: Now you also have a Kids fiction series. Tell us about Balance Keepers. Lindsay: Balance Keepers is a fantasy trilogy, about kids who go to school in the Core of the earth. From there, they learn to harness one unique set of special powers through a Tile necklace they each get. In the Core, they train to enter hidden Realms that, when they are out of Balance, threaten the surface world above. Brock: Who is Balance Keepers written for? Lindsay: Balance Keepers is considered Middle Grade, so upper elementary through middle school. But again, it’s a fun, light-hearted book that anyone can enjoy! Brock: Who are the main characters in Balance Keepers? Lindsay: Albert Flynn is an eleven-year-old boy whose parents are divorced. He goes to spend the summer with his dad in Herman, Wyoming, where he discovers the Core. Albert is fun as most boys his age are. He has a companion dog named Farnsworth, a magical dog that has glowing blue eyes! Albert is joined by Birdie Howell, a spitfire of a girl who’s whip smart, and Leroy Jones, a somewhat nerdy, scaredy-cat kid who is the comic relief in every chapter. Brock: What elements of your faith are woven into the Balance Keepers series if any? Lindsay: Not many—but when I do school visits, I’m not afraid to tell kids who I put my trust in! Brock: Is there anything you wish for your readers to take away from Balance Keepers? Lindsay: I just want them to have fun while they read it. I want them to smile and laugh. It’s such a fun series, and I feel like the books can just make people happy! Brock: How many books are planned for Balance Keepers? Lindsay: There are 3 books planned for Balance Keepers. Book 2 comes out September 2015. Brock: I noticed your acknowledgements in the back of the books mention Jesus. Why did you feel it necessary to give Him credit? Lindsay: I am nothing without God, and I want the world to know that. Brock: Tell us all the amazing ways readers can find you and connect with you. Lindsay: I’m on Twitter @authorlindsayc, Instagram @authorlindsaycummings, and www.lindsaycummingsbooks.com Brock: Thank you Lindsay for introducing us to you and for giving us a look into your work. Lindsay: Thanks for chatting with me! It’s great to be able to openly talk about my faith, and just let people know that God is the reason for it all. God bless you, and everyone else who reads this! You can read more about Lindsay Cummings through her websites lindsaycummingsbooks.com and booknerdigans.com. Her three released titles are: The Murder Complex (Greenwillow Books/Harpercollins) The Fear Trials (A Murder Complex Prequel Novella) (HarperTeen Impulse) Balance Keepers: The Fires of Calderon (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins) Where Bear? by Sophy Henn is a fun imaginative book that takes readers on a journey from one place to the next to find Bear a new home. My kids enjoyed the sometimes silly and sometimes practical places where Bear could live, yet he always said "No.". The little boy and Bear finally try a snowy location and discover it's exactly where Bear belongs. My kids were pleased to learn that Bear and the little boy stayed friends and were even headed off on another adventure together.
Elsie says, "The toy shop is so silly. I like the cave the most." Then she makes her voice into an echo, "No, no, no, no, no." You'll have to read the book to understand that last part. An interview with Sophy Henn: Brock: Sophy thanks for joining us for this interview. We're always excited to talk to authors and illustrators of the books we love. Sophy: I am so pleased your kids enjoyed Where bear?, that really is the best thing to hear! Brock: How did you come up with the idea for Where Bear? Sophy: I was playing around with some acrylic paint and absentmindedly painted a white bear in a forest. He looked a little lost and confused, "Where was this bear supposed to be?" Then I scrabbled around in a note book where, among a lot of other nonsense, I had written down 'Where Bear' as it sounded nice. Bingo! The story started from there. Brock: Are bears your favorite animal? If not what is? Sophy: I love all animals, I really couldn't pick a favourite, though as my next book is about a Panda you could be forgiven for thinking I had a thing about bears. I have a dog called Buster and a huge soft spot for guinea pigs! Brock: Will there be a second Where Bear book? Sophy: I am not sure, never say never! But I wouldn't want to do one for the sake of it and the right story just hasn't popped into my head. Yet! Brock: My kids loved your illustrations. What artistic technique did you use for Where Bear?Sophy: Your kids have excellent taste!!!! I hand draw everything using plain old pencils, then I scan it in and put it all together on my Mac. But whenever I get the chance I love to play around with inks, printmaking, paints, you never know what might come out of it! Brock: If you'd like to learn about one of Sophy's techniques you can see an illustrated guide on The Guardian about drawing expressions, and it features a bear. Brock: Thanks Sophy for all the great answers. Sophy: Thanks again Brock, I really appreciate your interest in Where Bear? and look forward to reading your review! Order Where Bear? Here From the Publisher: This beautifully illustrated, fun read-aloud picture book will have kids everywhere asking the same question: “Where, bear?”Once there was a bear cub who lived with a little boy. But over time the bear cub grew . . . and grew . . . and GREW! And did things that bears do . . . and do . . . and DO! One day the boy looked at the bear and realized he was just too big and bearish to be living in a house. “I think it’s time we found you a new place to live where you can be bearish and big,” said the boy. “But where, bear?”So begins a delightful journey that reminds us that even when best friends are apart, they always stay together. Praise for WHERE BEAR?: * “[N]othing short of magnificent. Each page is absolutely charming and begs to be looked at again and again.”–Library Media Connection, starred review“[A] winsome debut . . . The catchy refrain, ‘Then where, bear?,’and Henn’s sophisticated matte-toned illustrations make for a zippy take on the ‘finding your place’ genre.”–New York Times Book Review“This gentle tale about friendship and home will give early readers and their grown-ups plenty of food for discussion.”–Kirkus Reviews“Simple illustrations in bold colors allow the bear’s repertoire of expressions — chagrin, boredom, and terror — to take center stage.”–Boston Globe“[C]hildren will gravitate to the rhythmic repetition and the graphic design. A notable debut.”–Booklist In his retelling of the classic story Chicken Little, Robert Byrd gives a new triumphant twist to the story. Brave Chicken Little stays true to the story's characters and beginning, but takes us to a happier resolution that children will appreciate. In this richly illustrated version, the villain; Foxy Loxy, is defeated and our heroes (albeit not the wisest at first) escape to the tell the King the sky is falling. Your kids will enjoy hearing the story and meeting the large cast of characters along Chicken Little's way. They'll wonder what will happen when Chicken Little, Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey, Piggy Wiggy, Rabbit Babbit, Natty Ratty, Froggy Woggy, and Roly and Poly Moley are trapped by Foxy Loxy, but will celebrate when the family of foxes is outfoxed by brave Chicken Little. It's nice to read an optimistic outcome to your kids that still teaches a great lesson.
Brock: It's my pleasure to have Robert Byrd here to answer a few questions about Brave Chicken Little. Robert, why did you decide to retell the story of Chicken Little? Robert: I always liked the story of Chicken Little, and the sky falling, and how foolish all the animals seemed, but I felt the traditional telling of the tale didn't really go anywhere. Brock: Is that why you added a more positive hopeful ending to the story? Robert: In some versions the fox eats everybody and in others the king's dogs chase the fox away, and in others nothing really happens at the end. I thought the story could be told with Chicken Little - a very small animal - out-foxing the fox. Chicken Little is sort of a hero while all of the others are rather useless in a bad situation. I also liked the idea of introducing new characters into the story. Brock: My kids loved your illustrations. What artistic techniques did you use for Brave Chicken Little? Robert: I work with ink line drawn over pencil line, and then washes and layers of watercolor, on Arches water color paper. Thanks so much for your interest in my work. You can see more of what I do at Robert Byrd Art Brock: Thanks Robert for answering our questions. Order Here From the Publisher: Whack! What’s that? Could it be? A piece of the sky! Oh my! Chicken Little and his friends run, run, run to tell the king. Nothing stands in the way except…the sly Foxy Loxy. Surely they have time to stop for lunch with Foxy and his kits. But what happens when Chicken Little and company find themselves on the menu? What this classic story needs is a new ending and a brave hero. And maybe this time, it’s Chicken Little! Cleverly retold and exquisitely illustrated by Robert Byrd, Brave Chicken Little transforms a cautionary fable into a tale of triumph. Praise for BRAVE CHICKEN LITTLE: “Byrd’s rewrite of the Chicken Little story is a distinct improvement on traditional versions…pen-and-ink spreads drawn with a sense of lyricism [are] pleasantly at odds with the slapstick prose.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review“So much attention and detail has been lavished on each flora and fauna enhanced spread that children will want repeat viewings. That will give them more time to catch the humor that can be broad (CL cellar escape) or subtle (the range of expressions on the animals’ faces).” – Booklist, starred review“This is the most fun version of Chicken Little since Paul Galdone’s Henny Penny (Seabury Press, 1968).” --Library Media Connection“A handsome, most welcome addition to the…literature of folk and fairy tales.” --Kirkus “Byrd upends both the classic tale’s conventions and its cautionary message; still, his revision works as an underdog-makes-good story, much abetted by his elegantly detailed illustrations.” --Horn Book“Alliteration, occasional rhyming, and poetic language add richness to the storytelling and strengthen the readaloud potential.” --BCCB An adventure that rhymes along the way. The style and free flow of the wispy illustrations match the rhyming flowing poem of this book perfectly. A fun and beautifully illustrated edition to anyone's library for their kids, When the Wind Blows by Linda Booth Sweeney and Jana Christy will take you to a seaside village on an early spring day. The adventure of the little boy and his grandma, reminded me of my childhood outings with my Grandma Swigart and while we did not live by the sea, we did find ourselves at the lake feeding ducks and flying kites in our hometown park.
Brock: And now an interview with Linda Booth Sweeney. How did you come up with the idea for the poem When the Wind Blows? Linda: When my oldest son Jack was two (he’s now 16!), we went out to run an errand. It was bright and sunny when we left, but as we headed back home, a storm came in and the wind blew, and blew. His stroller was literally blown off the side walk! Jack loved the whole thing and kept pointing out to me what he saw — the sign shaking so hard it looked like it would fall off the post, the awnings billowing and snapping, the puddles shimmering…I had my head down trying to get him home safely but his excitement was contagious! I joined him in his wide-eyed awe of the wind and found myself laughing and skipping home, and loving every minute of it. That’s how the first draft was born. I just wrote down all the things we noticed. And then from there, I began to fill it out and develop the rhyme. I wrote the book, in part, invite children outside, to keenly observe the wind, or the rain and snow for that matter! My guide here is the poet Mary Oliver. Here are her ““Instructions for living a life”: "Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” What happens when the winds blows? The snows flurry? The rains falls? I want kids to get out there and get there noses in it, and be amazed and tell about it. Brock: What a great motivation to create this tale. Is spring time your favorite season? Linda: It is definitely one of my favorites. Spring is all about renewal and rejuvenation. It’s about faith too. Faith that the purplish asparagus crowns will find their way through still icy April earth, and those little green daffodil shoots will once again appear. We had six major snow storms here in New England so it definitely tested our faith that Spring would finally come. Even this week (the first week of April), my iPhone showed snow flakes for this week’s weather forecast! Brock: I'm in Colorado, so I know all about the constant sometimes unpredictable changes in the weather. What is your connection to the ocean? Linda: I do love the ocean and would spend time every summer in Truro, Massachusetts with my family in a tiny, one-room cottage. I have to say though, the beauty of the ocean connection in this book is really Jana’s inspiration. You’ll have to ask her! Brock: What advice would you give to a future poet? Linda: Quiet down. Be fully present wherever you are. On the soccer field, in the woods, even in the grocery store. See what words emerge and then go home and write them down. Start with four lines and see how it feels. Then, if you get hooked, become a student of poetry. Read as much as you can. My favorite guidebook is by Mary Oliver’s “A Poetry Handbook”. And then read other’s poetry. Two of my favorite poetry picture books right now are “The Forest Has a Song” by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and “A Rock Can Be” by Laura Purdie Salas. Brock: Thanks Linda for the wonderful answers!Order Here: From the Publisher: Spring weather can be exciting! When wind chimes start singing and clouds race across the sky, one little guy knows just what to do—grab his kite! But as the kite soars, the wind picks up even more, and soon he and his grandma are chasing the runaway kite into town. As they pass swirling leaves, bobbing boats, and flapping scarves, breezes become gusts and the sky darkens. Rain is on the way! Can they squeeze in one more adventure before the downpour? Scenes rich with springtime details for little eyes to follow and lyrical verse that captures the changeable mood of the weather make this perfect for spring story times. Praise for When the Wind Blows: *“Electric colors evoke the kinetic energy that crackles before a storm and the irrepressible excitement a good squall brings out in young and old. … The book’s exhilarating verse [is] metronomic and as succinct as the heartbeat throbbing in the cold ears of a child racing back to his dry house… Gale-force gusts of invigorating artwork and imagery will leave readers breathless in windswept wonder.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review “The rhythm of the book seems to mimic the steady blow of the wind on each page. Young readers will enjoy following the story in the supporting gorgeous watercolor images as they watch the winds pick up speed.”–School Library Journal “The rhymes are fresh and unpredictable, and the narrative maintains a crisp rhythm throughout. Christy’s illustrations align closely with the text, effectively capturing swirling winds, swinging signs, and swaying tree branches.”–Booklist This dad says, "SnoozeFest will be your next bedtime hit," though we read it before lunch. The imagery in SnoozeFest is fun and engaging, taking you into the town of Snoozeville where we meet Snuggleford Cuddlebun a rather sleepy sloth. Samantha Berger and Krstyna Litten have created a fun little world to visit that your kids will connect to. For example the names of all the blankets 'Knit-Knit and Woobee' (At our house we call blankie Foofie) and the fun animals who visit the NuzzleDome for the SnoozeFest. My girls sat on my lap as I read the fun rhyming prose of SnoozeFest accompanied by engaging beautiful art. They enjoyed looking at the artwork in detail, talking about the silly things they saw. We read the book twice back-to-back because they liked it so much. I recommend SnoozeFest to moms and dads looking for a fun read-aloud story. When I asked my kiddos what they thought of the book; Kinley said, "Really good. My favorite part was the cats in the pajama parade." Her sister Elsie agrees about the cats in pajamas (we love cats) but adds the book was, "Silly."
A quick and awesome interview with the author and artist: Brock: Samantha, how did you come up with the idea for Snoozefest? Samantha: Snoozefest combines 3 things I absolutely love: sloths, music, and SLEEPING! Once upon a time, I took a trip to Costa Rica and stayed at a sloth sanctuary that helps rescue sloths and baby sloths. I met a sloth named Buttercup and held her in my arms. Here is a photo: [caption id="attachment_4233" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Samantha and Sloth[/caption]I couldn't believe how slowly sloths moved, and how expressive their faces were (*Just look at that FACE!) and how much they liked to SLEEP! I knew I wanted to write a book starring a sleepy sloth someday. And, I also love music!There are, all over the world, these HUGE music festivals, where tons of bands play, and people gather to listen to music for days. (Some of the famous ones in the United States are Coachella, Lollapalooza, Burning Man, and South by Southwest). That gave me the idea to have a great big music festival for the world's greatest sleepers. What would the audience do at that music festival? They would sleep through the whole thing! And who would love that festival MOST? A sloth! (and ME!) That is how Snoozefest was born. Brock: That's a fun story. I'm going to have to put, 'holding a sloth,' on my list of things to do before I die. Tell us one thing about Snuggleford Cuddlebun that was not in the book? Samantha: Snuggleford Cuddlebun has six sloth sisters and brothers. Their names are Yawna, Dozer, Sir Crashington, Snora, Restacio and Droolian. All of them are also too tired to wear pants. Brock: That makes me laugh. What advice would you give to a kid who wants to become an author? Samantha:
Kristyna: Yeah, I love drawing animals so it was great to draw all the animal families that would be going to the Snoozefest. I’m glad they liked the three little kittens. Those mischievous three are actually on a number of the pages, right from the point they are waiting for the bus through to the performances of all the great bands. Where most of the crowd are chilled and mellow, the cats are running wild. One of them is even emptying the contents of an onlooker’s handbag, and another is riding a sheep across the stage. Brock: My girls loved that (the cats)! My oldest had me flipping pages back and forth, while she was laughing. I wish I had a video of it. She was going on about the silly little kittens. What was your favorite part of the book to illustrate? Kristyna: I really loved doing the PJ Parade. I love fashion and drawing clothes so that was really my favourite spread to do. And I also love colourful patterns so I block printed and drew lots of patterns that could be used through the book. So they all came in particularly useful when I was colouring all the unique blankets animals would bring to the festival. Brock: PJ Parade was certainly the winning spread at our house. What advice would you give to a kid who wants to become an illustrator? Kristyna: Draw as often as you can and draw what you enjoy drawing, the more you draw for pleasure the more confident you’ll become in drawing new things and develop as an illustrator. I’m still learning every day. Brock: Great advice Kristyna, I'm no artist, but I do love to doodle. Perhaps there is even hope for me someday. Thanks Samantha and Kristyna for taking the time to answer these questions. We learned a lot and I know my family looks forward to your next books, hopefully we'll meet Snuggleford Cuddlebun again. From the Publisher:Bedtime story meets Coachella in this adorable book about a sloth who packs up his pajamas to attends an arena festival for nappers, dozers, and the very best sleepyheads. Snuggleford Cuddlebun is a champion sleeper. In fact, she’s such a good sleeper that she decides to go to Snoozefest, an arena festival that celebrates sleep. There, she lounges in her hammock while bands like the Nocturnal Nesters and the Quiet Quartet serenade the audience with lullabies. There’s warm milk and honey to be had, designer pajamas from Diane von Firstinbed, and no one dares be seen without a baby blanket. But before she knows it, the nuzzling, snuggling, and dreaming are over—and Snuggleford has slept through it all. This hilariously endearing bedtime story is perfect for anyone who loves sloths, music festivals, and/or cuddles. Order Here Your phone won't work. Water isn't coming from the tap anymore. Your car won't move. Your refrigerator is warming up. The lights won't turn on. There's no radio or television. THERE'S NO POWER!
I couldn't put this book down![/caption]While browsing book covers (which always helps to inspire me) I came across The Rule of Three by Eric Walters. After reading the book synopsis I was drawn in. I originally read the book on my Kindle, but have since purchased a hardback copy to sit next to the just released hardback of Fight for Power, Book 2 in the series. The Rule of Three made me consider my preparedness in the event something catastrophic happens. I began running through a list of questions on how I would protect and provide for my family should our world, as we know it, come to a sudden stop. Yes there has been a lot of focus on this in the entertainment industry in recent years and I'm not talking about dystopian novels like The Hunger Games, Divergent, or Matched. I'm talking about near-time dystopian stories like the current TV show Revolution or Jericho from a few years back. Add these TV dramas to the craze of zombie movies like World War Z and shows like The Walking Dead (which I don't watch because zombies terrify me) and a reality show like Preppers and you have to stop and ask, "Am I ready if everything changes in the blink of an eye?" All with the exception of Preppers the above shows and books are fictional portrayals of what could be around the next minute of our lives and you might shrug off the possibility something could happen. But if you've been paying attention to the news you'll find plenty of real stories that make these realities just hours away from possible. For example a mutation of the Ebola virus that became airborne, a cyber attack on our nation's power grid, a biological, chemical, or nuclear terrorist attack by Al Qaeda or ISIS, the Russians deciding Ukraine isn't enough and they want or need all of Europe so they strike us with tactical nukes, maybe the Chinese with their vast military and small but capable nuclear arsenal are hankering for more resources and territory so they have to bump off their biggest competitor in the region; us, a solar flare that takes out or disrupts our power grid and communications network of towers and satellites. So now that you won't sleep tonight take a moment and read the interview I did with Eric Walters author of The Rule of Three. Brock: Eric, first of all thank you for answering these questions about your book The Rule of Three. I found this book to be an amazing tale of a reality just moments away at any time. What was your inspiration or motivation behind writing The Rule of Three? Eric: I’ve always liked science fiction and dystopic stories so I thought I’d try my hand at writing one. Brock: Good answer. I tend to do that when I start thinking of new stories. I center in on what I myself enjoy reading. The title to the book actually has a meaning inside the story, what is "The rule of three?" Eric: You can last three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Brock: In your words and three sentences tell my readers what The Rule of Three is about? Eric: An event robs the world of computers, electricity, transportation and communication. A neighborhood bands together to try to create a safe haven where they can survive. Other groups try to take their survival away. Brock: Well described. Eric, how many books are planned for the series? Eric: The second, Fight For Power, is out in January, and the third – which I just finished editing today – is called Will To Survive and comes out in January 2016. There could be a fourth – we’ll see! Brock: A whole year? Yikes I'm not sure I can wait. And if there is a fourth book I'll really be in trouble. It's a bit of a conundrum, I want the story to keep going, but I don't want to wait that long to finish it. The setting for the story is a place anyone of us in a modern society could find ourselves living. To me that makes the story all the more chilling. Why did you choose to place your story in the now instead of the far future? Eric: Most dystopic novels seem to involve some undefined time in the future, a place in space, or hinge on something bizarre like zombies. This story is more disturbing because it happens right now, right here. This is what would happen if suddenly the lights went down. This is what would actually happen. Brock: You're absolutely right about the "now" being the secret sauce on making it more disturbing. Readers can't help but place themselves in Adam's shoes and consider what they would face. I’ve recently read several news articles about how vulnerable the United States power grid is to terrorism, both cyber and otherwise. Were these articles an influence on your writing, or your choosing of this topic? Eric: I think we like to believe we’re too ‘civilized’ to allow a complete disintegration of society. I think the power failure on the East Coast in 2003 and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans showed how thin that veneer of civilization really is. There is a greater level of vulnerability that any of us would like to admit. Brock: True, when we're faced with survival and protection of the very ones we love, we can feel helpless, which can make us desperate. How real do you think the threat to our power grid is? Eric: I remember clearly the blackout of 2003. That was simply a cascading series of accidents that nobody tried to make happen. What if somebody deliberately overloaded the system through a cyber-attack? Brock: And not only are there large sophisticated countries that don't like us, but there are terrorist organizations, and groups of hackers. If our countries (United States or Canada) went dark, do you believe that the governments would be unable to respond? Does the book reflect what you truly believe would happen in the aftermath? Eric: If civilization crumbled the way the book describes than no government would be able to respond. The responders would be reduced to simply trying to protect their own families and would be robbed of the tools to respond – no transportation, no communication, no computers. Brock: We rely so much on electricity. This winter our power went out for a couple of hours and our heat wouldn't work because our thermostat unit runs on power and doesn't have a battery backup. I think of water, if we didn't have power here in Colorado for our water plants to pump the water to us, we'd be without. Unlike where I lived in Illinois, water isn't abundant. Tell my readers about the characters in the series. Why did you choose to focus on a high school boy as your main character? What makes Adam special? Eric: There’s an exciting dynamic involved with being that age. Those of us who are older can all remember that time of our lives – the excitement, the uncertainty and trying to figure out the future. Adam possesses a morality, a belief in doing the right thing even when things are desperate. It’s his inherent morality that drives the story. Brock: Herb is a very interesting character, and one whose secrets I look forward to learning about in the rest of the series. Tell us about Herb and Adam’s relationship. How do you see their bond? Why would Herb choose someone like Adam to invest in? Eric: I love Herb as a character. The ‘old man’ who is more than some guy who yells at you for being on his lawn. I see so much of this story as not only Herb using his skills and experience but also him seeking redemption, trying to make up for the things he’d done in his life. Herb will continue to be revealed through the next two books. Brock: Tell us about Lori and why you chose to include her character in the books? Can you share one fact with us about Lori that’s not in the books? Eric: Lori is strong. Her strength will be revealed more in the coming books. She’s a much better shot than Adam and saves him on one occasion. Brock: Further I enjoyed the short e-novella, Nothing to Fear, you wrote about Lori and Adam. Why did you choose to focus on their relationship in the novella? Eric: Even with the entire world falling to pieces there are some things that are even stronger. Despite everything going on it wouldn't change how they felt toward each other. Brock: What sort of research did you have to do for The Rule of Three? For example using Chlorine tablets to purify water and ultralight flying. Eric: I read books about surviving disaster, consulted with engineers, airplane pilots and preppers to help with the authenticity of my story. Brock: Have you ever flown in an ultralight? Eric: I would never get into an ultralight! Those things are terrifying! Brock: You did a great job or putting a few comedic moments in the book as well as a budding romance. Why did you find these two elements important to include in the series? Eric: I worked in a hospital E.R. for 18 years. Bizarre, strange humor seems to be a part of the most desperate situations. I thought the story needed humor to temper what the characters were going through and form a counter-point to action. Brock: What can we expect in Fight for Power? Eric: The action heats up as the world becomes more desperate. Brock: Will we meet any new characters in Fight for Power? Eric: A few new characters but mainly twists with existing characters. Brock: What is your thought on the ‘phenomenon’ of prepping or those people who we refer to as ‘Preppers?’ Eric: I can see where they’re coming from. Writing this trilogy has made me more aware about the possibilities and the need to prepare. My family has talked about what we’d do in the event of an ‘incident’. We know where we’d meet and what we’d do. Does that make me paranoid or realistically prepared? I guess you have to decide. Brock: Can you give us the top five items you would stock up on in preparation for an event like what occurs in your books? Eric's List:
Eric: I hope there’s no possibility . . . but it’s better to be prepared. Brock: Eric, how has your faith impacted your writing? Eric: It’s amazing how much my faith and beliefs have found their way into my writing. Looking back at my books I realize that I’ve actually written sermons into four different books and the concepts of faith and hope are constantly there. I never try to ‘hit somebody over the head’ with my beliefs but they are fairly solidly embedded in the thoughts, actions and beliefs of my characters. Even in a book like Shaken – built around the Haitian earthquake – my characters questioning faith is the foundation on which his faith is ultimately confirmed. Brock: Have you embedded any spiritual themes within The Rule of Three? Eric: In The Rule of Three the concept of morality, acting correctly and not allowing situational ethics to overwhelm a belief system. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse and what is it? Eric: I’m very much a follower of James. I believe that your actions are the definition of who you are. It may sound strange for a writer to say, but it doesn't matter what you say, it’s what you do, that matters. It isn't a Biblical quote but my favorite from St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel every day and if necessary use words." Brock: Can you tell me a little about Creation of Hope. What is it? How did that come about? Eric: This program was founded by my wife and I and a family in Kenya, Ruth and Henry. We were visiting Kikima, Kenya and found an area with 25,000 people including 500 orphans – many living on the streets, sleeping in garbage dumps, living and dying without care or support. We started with one orphan, which became 4, then 40 and now close to 400 orphans and impoverished children are being supported on a regular basis. We have 55 children in our residence and 42 children in residential high school or post-secondary with the rest being in the homes of extended family members. We have 118 sponsored children – with 15 of these sponsored by Kenyans – as well as sponsors in the U.S. and Germany. Last year we had over 100 schools involved and we promised schools that 100% of funds would go directly to service and we show them exactly how we spent their money. We believe in complete accountability and transparency and through the website we try to show each month how money is raised and spent. My wife and I spent close to 30 hours per week administering the program. It is a great deal of work, but more than that, it is a true blessing for us. We are practicing our faith through our actions. Brock: It's heartwarming to know that other authors are using their time and talents to share the plight of the orphan as well as to highlight the needs of these impoverished nations. I myself work for a ministry called Compassion International. It's a wonderful Christ centered ministry that provides holistic development for children in poverty in 26 countries. Eric: I know Compassion International and the high standards it maintains. God bless you for what you’re doing! Brock: Eric thank you for your answers and for shedding more light on The Rule of Three and Fight for Power. And thank you for being open about your faith and for the amazing ministry you founded and are leading in Kenya. You can learn more about Eric Walters on his website EricWalters.net and Creation of Hope at CreationofHope.com. One of my favorite books to read aloud to my kids, King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, takes you right into the imagination of young Jack and his friends. It reminded me of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sandek by delving into a child's imagination on a search for 'monsters' as well as the style of art used in the story. For anyone who loved Where the Wild Things Are this is a must have title for your bookshelf. When I was a little boy I was always exploring my yard looking for dinosaurs or other beasts; armed with toy weapons and equipment for the hunt. Most parents (especially dads) will connect with the fun tale and enjoy reading it while inspiring your own kids imaginations.
Brock: I reached out to author Peter Bently about his story King Jack and the Dragon and asked a few question. I hope you'll enjoy the Q&A. Peter, how did you come up with the idea for the King Jack and the Dragon? Peter: It began with my son Theo (alias King Jack) building a den in our back garden one summer night when he was about seven. He planned to camp out all night, but once it got truly dark he was soon spooked by all the unknown noises of the night – rustling branches, roosting birds, scuttling creatures and so on – and staying the night without mum and dad didn't seem such a good plan. But we commended him for being brave enough to try! Brock: Our kids often are the best inspiration for our writing. In fact I've got a book under review with a couple of publishers inspired by my oldest daughter. Did you pretend to fight monsters and dragons when you were a little boy? Peter: I do remember imagining there were monsters under my bed and how I would scare them off if they woke up! Brock: I doubt many children get through childhood without facing an imaginary monster or two, whether under their bed, in their closet, or as they imagine being a knight or princess. Can you tell us something about King Jack not in the story? Peter: He likes to be the king but he is also fair to his playmates and happy to let his baby brother Caspar join in too. Jack likes to play at pirates too…you can read all about that when "Captain Jack and the Pirates" comes out later this year. Brock: We will certainly look forward to that release. What is your favorite part of the story and why? Peter: I like the part where he imagines the dragons and monsters he is fighting. It's partly to do with Helen Oxenbury's pictures, which portray the creatures so perfectly – not too scary. She told me the monsters were a tribute to the late Maurice Sendak. Brock: On that last point, prior to doing the interview, that (the likeness to Maurice Sendak's Wild Things) is exactly what I wrote into my review. Good to know I wasn't off base. Thanks again Peter for answering these questions and giving us some insight into this great children's book. One I think all parents should read to their kids. Order Here From the Publisher: A lively playtime adventure that becomes a warm and cozy bedtime book—perfect for every little knight-in-training. From the illustrator of the award-winning We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Night is falling and playtime is nearly over. But brave King Jack and his faithful knights Zak and Caspar are still protecting their castle fort from fierce dragons and terrible beasts. This captivating, joyful make-believe adventure is the perfect bedtime story for brave children everywhere. Fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Dinosaur Roar will especially enjoy this imaginative tale.An ALA Notable Book Bank Street Book Committee Best Children’s Books of the Year Kate Greenaway Award “Sure to be read aloud again and again, this testament to imaginative play exudes warmth.”--Kirkus Reviews Praise for King Jack and the Dragon: “At once contemporary and classic.” — The New York Times “Though the characters are wholly modern, there is a timelessness to the cycle of excitement, apprehension and parental comfort that should give this lovely book a long stay on the nursery shelf.” — The Wall Street Journal* “It’s an enchanting tribute to both full-throttle pretend play and the reassurance of a parent’s embrace.” --Publishers Weekly, starred review* “A tale of make-believe that children will delight in hearing again and again.” — School Library Journal, starred review “The rhyming verse, large trim size, and detailed illustrations…make this a suitable story for group sharing, while the sweet, intimate tone will make it a family favorite.” — Booklist “From this simple premise of imaginative play, Bently and Oxenbury create a classically sweet picture book.” — Horn Book “This one is sure to become a full-on family favorite at bedtime.” — The Washington Post “Altogether, ‘King Jack’ is just about perfect.” — The Sacramento Bee Frog and Fly by Jeff Mack is a silly book that will have your kids ROTFL (Rolling on the floor laughing) or at the very least make them LOL (if you don't know that one then...) Frog and Fly's. A set of simple comics between Fly and Frog that end with Fly getting slurped, however kids will not be sad for fly because he returns in each story. I especially enjoyed Story 3 of the book.
An Interview with Jeff Mack: Brock: Jeff thanks again for joining us for an interview about your books. How many Frog and Fly comics are there? Jeff: There are six stories. I originally wrote them as two books with three comics in each. Then I combined them to make a single hardcover book with six chapters. Later, when Frog and Fly was re-published as a shorter board book, two of the stories had to be edited out. Brock: Is the Fly the same fly each time? Jeff: Yes. Frog and Fly live in a parallel cartoon universe where animals speak and instantly recover from any nasty injuries. It's like the old Road Runner cartoons where the coyote falls off a cliff over and over again. It's totally impossible. I guess that's one of the reasons I find those cartoons so funny. Brock: That's what I was imagining. What is your favorite Frog and Fly story? Jeff: My personal favorite is the one where Frog and Fly have a contest to see who is faster. Frog keeps losing and crashing into stuff. Then he tricks Fly into saying that he's yummier. Fly wins again. And, at the same time, he loses. It has a nice logic to it, but it's still totally absurd. I also like the final story in the hardcover version. It features a bear, and it has a very twisted ending. Brock: What advice would you give to a kid who wants to create short comics? Jeff: While you're writing the comics, don't worry about making them short. Just write what you love. Make the story as long as you want. Then put it away in a drawer, and do something else for a few days. Later, when you read it again, you'll have an easier time identifying which parts make the comic fun and interesting and which parts just make it long. Then you can cut out the less interesting parts and make it shorter. Also, with comics, it helps to figure out if you are someone who naturally thinks about the words first or someone who thinks about the pictures. When I write a story, I usually have ideas for the pictures before I know what the words will be. So I start my comics by sketching the characters in different scenes. Then I go back and write the dialogue afterward. For other people, their ideas may take the form of words, so they write lines of speech first. Then they draw pictures to illustrate the dialogue. There are many ways to make comics. My advice is to experiment and discover which way works most naturally for you. Brock: Thanks Jeff for taking the time to gives us more insight into Frog and Fly. Order Here From the Publisher: Silly comic-strip style stories and two comical combatants make for one laugh-out-loud board book! Frog and Fly are constant companions. There is only one problem . . . Frog thinks Fly is delicious! This leads to a never-ending battle of wits with laugh-out- loud consequences. Told in short comic-strip style chapters, Frog and Fly will delight kids and leave them begging for yet another slurpy story. Praise for Frog and Fly: “Mack’s winning combination of simple text, uncluttered multimedia art, and comic-book-style panels make for a great beginning-reader format as well as a good choice for. . . read-alouds. Many children are going to find this hilarious; it’s reminiscent of both joke books and old Saturday-morning cartoons, when coyotes fell off cliffs and bounced right back, and it never, ever got old.” --Booklist “This expressive and personable duo provides a spot-on brand of joke book-style humor that children will find plenty entertaining.” --Publishers Weekly In the simplest way with the two words 'Look' and 'Out' Jeff Mack has created a fun story showing the challenge of getting kids away from the TV and into a book. LOOK! was delightful to read as I changed my voice for each character and tone for each emotion. Your kids will be entertained by this lovable Gorilla who tries desperately to steal the boy's attention from the glowing screen. Your kids may start looking for a gorilla to come bouncing through their own door. Speaking of Gorillas, when I was just five my sister (three) woke me in the middle of the night claiming there was a gorilla in our living room. Thanks to our imaginations (fueled by lots of books read to us by our mom) I indeed found and scared off that gorilla. Another really fun touch of this book is the textural looking elements like the library due date and the crinkled and bent looking pages. Read LOOK! to your kids, you won't be disappointed.
Kinley loves this book because she can read it on her own and because of the fun illustrations. Her favorite page is the very last with the mountain of books, the gorilla, and the little boy. An Interview with Jeff Mack: Brock: Jeff thanks for agreeing to answer some questions about Look. How did you come up with the idea for LOOK!? Jeff: The idea for LOOK! came from real life. I visited a school where I saw a student try to show a teacher a picture she had drawn. The teacher was busy with another student, but this girl was determined to get her attention. She tried everything she could think of: tugging on her sweater, standing on a chair, jumping up and down, yelling. The teacher was so patient! In the end, when it was finally the girl's turn, it took just a moment of recognition to satisfy her. After that, I knew I wanted to write a story about a character who wants attention but feels ignored. I wrote dozens of versions, but none of them clicked for me until I added the tv set. That was something the ignoring character could look at instead of paying attention to his friend. It prevented them from making a meaningful connection. It also presented a problem many readers could relate to.Then I added the books as something else they could look at that would bring them together in the end. It also addressed the debate about books vs. screens in a constructive, upbeat way. Finally, when I figured out how to tell the entire story using just two words, words with meanings that change depending on their context, I felt like I had invented something fun and interesting that both kids and their parents could identify with. For me, LOOK! is primarily about who or what you pay attention to and the connections or missed connections that result. That's the idea that started it all. Brock: I love how you indeed delivered such a meaningful message with just two words. And truly you hit on an issue that exists everywhere. Sadly more often than not this problem occurs between parents and their children. Why did you choose a gorilla? Jeff: First I tried a bear. Then a big shaggy dog. But the gorilla just seemed the cutest to me. He's like a big baby. I liked the idea of an ape and a boy learning different things from each other. And the sketches I made of them sitting together gave me such a positive feeling, I knew the ape was the right choice. Because of the gorilla, some people have read an evolutionary message into this book, but it wasn't intended. It just had to do with sweetness. Brock: Interesting that someone reading a children's picture book would go to evolution. Animals are a relatively normal touch of children's picture books. Why did you add the textural elements into LOOK!? Jeff: Many of us spend so much time looking at screens these days, I wanted to remind readers that books are originally physical objects with a range of sizes, shapes, and textures. So I added textures of pages and covers from old books in the background. That way readers could read a real book about characters that live in a world made of virtual books. Brock: I appreciated that extra addition to the book. There is something about physical books that technology hasn't been able to completely replace, at least yet. I enjoyed the subtle message of books can be as exciting as television. What are your thoughts on Books versus TV? Jeff: I enjoy watching TV now and then. It's fun. But reading books is usually a richer experience for me. Movies and television do a good job of appealing to my emotions. Books do a better job of appealing to my thoughts. Since my emotions are fleeting, TV rarely makes a deep, long-lasting impression on me. On the other hand, there are books that have really stuck with me and changed the way I think about the world. I'm lucky to live in an age when we still have both. Brock: What technique/media did you use for Look? Jeff: One of the themes of this story is a battle between new technology (screens) and old technology (books). I wanted the art to reflect that. So I used watercolor (an old technology) to render the boy and the ape, and I used digital collage (a new technology) to render all of the backgrounds. I also used crayons to draw the ape's dialogue, and I cut letters from various magazines for the boy's dialogue. I started exploring collage techniques with a book called "The Things I Can Do". In that book, a five-year-old narrator illustrates his own story with objects he finds around the house. Ironically, it took a lot of technology to make that book look convincingly hand-made. It was so much fun to do, I decided to push those techniques further with LOOK!. Brock: Jeff thanks for your time and for answering my questions. I hope you had a good time and thanks for LOOK!. Jeff: These were really good questions! Fun and thought-provoking. Order Here From the Publisher: This hilarious tale of a friendship that develops over a love of books is the perfect picture book for fans of IT’S A BOOK and OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA!Everyone needs a little attention from time to time. Just ask our gorilla who will stop at nothing to be noticed by the boy with his eyes glued to the TV set. But for the gorilla, it’s going to take more than a quiet nudge to steal away the boy’s attention. When his usual antics fail to catch the boy’s eye—LOOK OUT! The gorilla has some other tricks up his sleeve.Using only two words—LOOK and OUT—Jeff Mack relates an adorably hilarious story about an attention-loving gorilla, a television-loving boy, and a friendship that develops over books. Simple in construct yet richly creative, this interactive and colorful tale will leave children laughing and loving books for years to come.Perfect for fans of It’s a Book and Officer Buckle and Gloria. Praise for LOOK!: * “The slapstick action unfolds on linen-textured backgrounds, battered vintage book covers, and the actual pages of a book—hat-tips to the physicality of books that hint at a happy ending for bibliophiles of all ages. Even if audiences miss these winks and nods to the tactile pleasures of reading, they’ll still love that gorilla: hulking, eager-to-please and almost palpably furry, he’ll be welcome in any room.”--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW “The personalities and emotions of the chunky, fluffy ape and the TV-entranced boy nearly vibrate off the page. Look, indeed! An energetic invitation to the joys of books.”--Kirkus Reviews “This is a fun read-aloud that will have children wanting to look and look again.”--School Library Journal “Mack’s gentle, cartoonish illustrations are cleverly drawn on old book covers and endpapers, a subtle detail that emphasizes the joy of reading, and with a playful two-word vocabulary, even the littlest readers will be able to get in on the fun.”--Booklist “Look! treads familiar metafictive ground in celebrating the pleasures of reading, but it manages to feel fresh nonetheless, with inventive use of controlled text, vibrant mixed-media art, and thoughtful design.”--Horn Book ![]() UPDATE: Read about her Book launch for Book 2 and Book 1 Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Code Name Flood Perfect for fans of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World! Code Name Flood is the electrifying sequel to The Ark Plan, which School Library Journal praised by saying: “Nonstop action, marauding dinosaurs, and kids on the run: What’s not to like?” Last week, twelve-year-old Sky found a cryptic message from her dad, who mysteriously fled the safety of their underground compound five years ago. The note said the fate of the world depended on her going topside, to a lost world that’s ruled by dinosaurs. Today, after a treacherous journey through the wilderness, Sky and her friends have made it to their destination: Lake Michigan. There they discover a hidden underwater lab, and with the help of its scientists, Sky will finally learn the truth about her father’s secret mission. Tomorrow, it will be up to Sky and her friends to save humanity from the very edge of extinction. Readers who enjoy middle-grade adventures by Brandon Mull and Rick Riordan will love this action-packed story, which takes the premise of Michael Crichton’s bestselling classic to a whole new level, envisioning a post-apocalyptic future where cloned dinosaurs have taken over, and the world’s only hope is one group of courageous kids. Brock: What was your inspiration for writing Edge of Extinction series? Laura: While my inspiration for the entire series came from a visit to the New York Natural History Museum and their amazing dinosaur display, the idea for a large part of this book actually came from the New York Subway system. When I visited New York with my mom, I was amazed by the underground networks that crisscrossed and twisted underneath the city, and I wondered what it would look like if the human race had to live in those tunnels, instead of just using them to get from point A to point B. So when I was writing CODE NAME FLOOD, and I needed an East Compound, I put it in New York’s subway system. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Laura: Sky, Todd, and Shawn are all back for book two, and I added a new character I think everyone is going to enjoy named Chaz. I don’t want to say too much about her and give away a big surprise in the story, but I think she is one of my favorite characters. She’s spunky and funny, and I think she is a great foil for Sky’s one-track determination, Todd’s humor, and Shawn’s seriousness. Brock: In three words, what is this book about? Laura: Sea Monsters, Determination, Friendship Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Laura: My character’s are the boss, I just show up for work every day and do what they tell me. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Laura: My readers are usually middle school age kids, and while they crave adventure and excitement, but a lot of times they aren’t quite ready for the real thing yet. My book is an edge-of-your seat thrill ride from page one, and my readers get to LIVE all that danger and excitement from the safety of their couch! Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Laura: Science fiction and fantasy will always have my heart; since those are the genres I most enjoy reading. Besides, there is something intoxicating about building worlds and creating something that only existed in your imagination up until it hits the page. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Laura: This is the second and last book in the series. CODE NAME FLOOD wraps up the mysteries and questions that were started in Edge of Extinction-The Ark Plan. That being said, I’d love to write another one. The world I created for Sky and her friends is just too much fun, so never say never! Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Laura: While book one required quite a lot of dinosaur research, Code Name Flood required research of a slightly different variety. You many have noticed the rather fierce looking creatures on the cover, well, those AREN’T swimming dinosaurs. They are ancient aquatic marine reptiles. Which is a mouthful to say and an even bigger mouthful to incorporate seamlessly into a story. Despite that annoying technicality, the research on creatures like the kronosaurus and elasmosaurus was incredibly interesting. There is just something about sea monsters that sends a shiver up your spine. I’m not so sure my characters would agree, as I unceremoniously dumped them into a lake swarming with the creatures, but it makes for a fun read! Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a female protagonist? Laura: My narrator, Sky Mundy, is a girl, which is funny since EVERY other book I’ve ever written has been from a male perspective. Please don’t ask me why, since I have no idea. In fact, the next series I’m pitching is written with a boy protagonist. I guess part of it is that I was never a girly-girl. I always hung with the boys (I was the only girl invited to many a boy’s birthday party in grade school), and I loved sports and being outside. So I guess I have an easier time seeing the world that way. My solution with Sky was to make her a lot like who I was at that age. She came out a very focused and driven character because that’s who I was! Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Laura: As I mentioned before, the Edge of Extinction series is done for the moment, but I do have other things in the works! I’m not at liberty to mention any of them yet, but I think they are pretty great! No dinosaurs this time though, sorry! Brock: Do you plot or outline the entire series before you begin writing, or do your books take on lives of their own? Or is there a combination? Laura: I should outline, but I don’t. I’ve tried it, and it never works out. (I’ve never been very good at following directions!) I’m what you’d call a “pantser” which means that I “fly by the seat of my pants” when I write. Some (my mother) would also tell you that I live a lot of my life that way. For better or for worse. I like having the freedom to take the story wherever it needs to go. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Laura: A large part of this book takes place in the East Compound, which used to be the underground subway network of New York City. This was never in my original plans for the book, but when my original manuscript got split into two books, I loved the idea of taking the story into the subway network. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Laura: I hope they use CODE NAME FLOOD in the same way that they used Edge of Extinction-The Ark Plan, to foster a LOVE of reading in their kids. I think we get really wrapped up (and I was guilty of this as a teacher) in worrying about what our kids are comprehending, deciphering, inferring, and predicting while they read, when really, we should be worried about fostering a love of reading in our kids. In handing them a great book and telling them they get to read in the same way we’d hand them a huge ice cream cone with sprinkles and tell them to enjoy. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author? Laura: I’m as full-time as being a stay-at-home mom to two small children allows…so not nearly as full-time as I would like some days! My writing time usually comes after my kids are in bed for the night and the house is quiet. It has been a huge blessing to be an author and a mom, and I have an incredibly supportive family who steps in if I need to do an author visit or a signing. It’s really the best of both worlds. Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in the Edge of Extinction. Laura: I’m not sure if it counts as a spiritual theme, but there is definitely some biblical symbolism in both books. I wove references and symbols from the story of Noah’s Ark throughout both books, which is where the title CODE NAME FLOOD, came from. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Laura: I realized I wanted to be a writer the first time a book grabbed me and refused to let go until I finished it. It was an incredible experience to live in someone else’s world for a while, to be someone else. I put the book down and went, wow, I want to do this someday. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Laura: I mentioned in the first interview we did about Edge of Extinction-The Ark Plan, that I taught seventh grade language arts for six years before becoming an author, and I think the biggest influence on what I write are the kids that I taught. I had so many students who struggled to get engaged in a book, to really fall into a story, and every time I sit down to write, those are the kids I have in the forefront of my mind. I want to write a book that they can’t put down. I picture that student I had who told me that they didn’t like reading, and I imagine handing them my book and saying, “Oh yeah, prove it.” That may sound odd, the whole imaginary interaction in my head, but if you think about it…that is exactly what an author does for a living. Conduct imaginary interactions and then put them down on paper. So really, I’m not crazy, I’m just a professional writer! Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Laura: I would give anything to co-write a book with Tamora Pierce. I’ve been reading her books ever since grade school, and I still buy everything she writes. Her books are the ones that I’ve read and re-read a million times, and that I re-buy when my copies get a little to beat up. I first fell for her Song of the Lioness series. Her protagonist, Alanna, was a spunky red-headed twelve year old with a will of iron, and I wanted to be her. So I guess it isn’t all that surprising that when I wrote my own book, I made my protagonist a red-headed girl! Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Laura: I think my faith impacts my writing in the same way my faith impacts every aspect of my life. I am first and foremost a Christian, and I live my life that way. What I write, how I write, and who I write about is all a reflection of that. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Laura: Ever since having kids, I don’t think vacation is a place anymore. Vacation is now going to the grocery store…alone. My husband and I had the house to ourselves for an entire Sunday a few weeks ago, and I think we enjoyed it more than most people enjoy sitting by the beach. I love my kids to pieces, but there is something about being alone, about remembering who you were before you were “mom”, that feels like a vacation. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Laura: My mom’s spaghetti. It’s nothing fancy, just sauce out of a jar, but it always tastes better if my mom makes it. Brock: What is your favorite dinosaur? Laura: The Spinosaurus, which is why he got to be front and center on the cover of book one. I mentioned before that there really weren’t “swimming dinosaurs.” Well, there weren’t until they discovered the Spinosaurus. The more we find out about this terrifying guy, the cooler he gets, and I think he is eventually going to give the T. Rex a run for his money in the dinosaur popularity contest. Brock: What is your favorite thing about writing books? Laura: Getting to talk to the kids that have read them. It never gets old, and it’s such a thrill every time someone tells me they enjoyed my story. Brock: Be sure to check out Laura's newest released book in the Edge of Extinction series, Code Name Flood. You won't want to miss it! ![]() Author Website: LauraMartinBooks.com Author Facebook: @LauraMartinBooks Author Twitter: @LauraMartinBook Author Pinterest: Laura Martin Author Instagram @LauraMartinBooks ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring A Plague of Unicorns Have you ever heard read a book by Jane Yolen? There’s a good chance you have. The author of over 350 books and recipient of countless awards you’ve likely picked up or seen a Jane Yolen book while browsing your local bookstore. She’s been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the twentieth century. I’m honored to have had the chance to sit down and talk about her recent Zondervan release; A Plague of Unicorns. Brock: Jane, thanks for taking the time to share about A Plague of Unicorns with us. Can you first start with how you came up with the idea for the novel? Jane: The prosaic answer is that I was introduced to editor Kim Childress at the Texas Library Assn. Meeting two years ago and she said she was a big fan and would love to do a book with me. I knew ZonderKidz, but wasn't sure I had something that might work for them. But then I remembered a short story I'd published years ago in a book of mine called Here There be Unicorns. And when I told her [Kim] a bit about it, and how I thought it could be made into a middle grade novel, her eyes lit up. She asked to see the story and some idea of how I would turn it into a novel. The deeper answer: I have been fascinated by unicorns since a child. One of my first published poems was in my college magazine about unicorns. So to be asked to go back to engage, enlarge, and be enveloped one again in unicorns was a gift. Brock: She’ll probably be embarrassed I’m sharing this, but she’s my sister so it’s a brother’s right. When my sister was in grade school her room was decked out in unicorns for a good while, statues, bedspread, poster, curtains. Who are the main characters in the story? Jane: James, heir to the dukedom of Callanshire, who's father has not come back from the Holy Lands and is presumed hurt, imprisoned, or dead. He is a child who asks questions, though he seems rather more interested in asking questions than listening to the answers. His sister Alexandria who--for the medieval times--is a mighty strong young woman. And then there are the various monks and abbots who all stand for various minds of teachers. Brock: Jane, would you share one fact about each main character that no one else knows? Jane: James is rather like me at that age, and rather like my middle child, my son Adam. Alexandria is named after my oldest granddaughter Glendon Alexandria Callan-Piatt. I have the abbot's cider recipe but didn't put it in the book, nor will I give it out. Brock: A cider recipe you’re withholding. We’ll see if we can’t get it from you some time in the future. In three sentences what A Plague of Unicorns about? Jane: It is about unlikely heroes, faith and trust, learning to listen to answers--though they may come from some of the oddest places--and about how kindness towards an enemy or a presumed enemy can often overcome even the meanest of them. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Jane: Every reader brings a bit of themselves (their baggage if you will) to a story. And what they take out is unique to them. So that is something you will have to ask them, not me. Brock: Fair answer. What is your preferred genre to write for? Jane: Depends which day you ask. Right now it's poetry and fantasy because that's what I'm working on. Brock: Any certain research required for A Plague of Unicorns, or was it all from your imagination? Jane: As I had already written a number of short stories, poems, and even a novel (The Transfigured Hart) about unicorns, I didn't need to do a lot of research about them. Medieval abbeys/monasteries however. . .the summer I was working on the book I was in Scotland and visited a few ruins. It helped me visualize them. Brock: I’m sure that was fun and added more depth to the writing. Why did you choose to tell the story from this perspective? Jane: I tell the story that wants telling. In this case, it's about a younger brother/older sister (as I was to my brother Steve). But with sixty novels out, I have written from both boys’ and girls’ points of view. Brock: Is it difficult to be accurate to a Biblical perspective when writing fantasy fiction? Jane: The unicorn is seen in Christian terms as an avatar of Christ: pure, able to heal (with its horn), and in many of the stories killed and then resurrected in a garden. (See the unicorn tapestries.) But I decided to make them an inexplicable force of nature in this book, which the monks cannot conquer until it is done with gentle persuasion and a kind of love. Brock: Now let’s switch gears and learn about you as an author. Where do you like to write? Jane: Downstairs in my house, surrounded by photos of my children and grandchildren. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Jane: More than full time. After all I have more than 350 books out! Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Jane: As long as it takes. I once wrote a picture book in three days, including all the revisions. But my picture book OWL MOON took fifteen years to write. Brock: When you write do you outline the entire story before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Jane: There are two kinds of writers--outliners, and those of us who fly into the midst. Of course in this book [A Plague of Unicorns] I already had an outline, the published short story. But I had to let quite a bit of it go! Brock: It sounds like you prefer to ‘fly into the midst.’ When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Jane: As a child I was always writing. I thought I would be a poet for my heart and a journalist like my dad to make a living. I was a lousy journalist. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Jane: I was such a constant reader, it continually changed. But some of my favorites were The Colour Fairy Books by Andrew Lang, any version of the King Arthur story, The Secret Garden, Little Women, James Thurber’s Thirteen Clocks, The Story of Ferdinand, and any horse and dog book. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Jane: I am about to turn 76. I still have many stories in me. I hope I can live long enough to write most of them. Brock: Now for some lightning round questions. Coke or Pepsi? Jane: Mineral water. Brock: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Jane: Don't like tacos. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Jane: Scotland. Brock: Favorite season? Jane: Fall. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Jane: British decaf tea and dried dates. Brock: Favorite color? Jane: Wine. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? Jane: Never. I am so musical, it would drive the story's rhythms rather than letting the story do that. ![]() Author website: JaneYolen.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/PictureBookBootCamp/?ref=page_internal Author Twitter: @JaneYolen The CoverBCCPerfect for fans of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World! Code Name Flood is the electrifying sequel to The Ark Plan, which School Library Journal praised by saying: “Nonstop action, marauding dinosaurs, and kids on the run: What’s not to like?” Last week, twelve-year-old Sky found a cryptic message from her dad, who mysteriously fled the safety of their underground compound five years ago. The note said the fate of the world depended on her going topside, to a lost world that’s ruled by dinosaurs. Today, after a treacherous journey through the wilderness, Sky and her friends have made it to their destination: Lake Michigan. There they discover a hidden underwater lab, and with the help of its scientists, Sky will finally learn the truth about her father’s secret mission. Tomorrow, it will be up to Sky and her friends to save humanity from the very edge of extinction. Readers who enjoy middle grade adventures by Brandon Mull and Rick Riordan will love this action-packed story, which takes the premise of Michael Crichton’s bestselling classic to a whole new level, envisioning a postapocalyptic future where cloned dinosaurs have taken over and the world’s only hope is one group of courageous kids. The InterviewBrock: How did you come up with the idea for this book or series? or What was your inspiration for writing this book or series?
Laura: While my inspiration for the entire series came from a visit to the New York Natural History Museum and their amazing dinosaur display, the idea for a large part of this book actually came from the New York Subway system. When I visited New York with my mom, I was amazed by the underground networks that crisscrossed and twisted underneath the city, and I wondered what it would look like if the human race had to live in those tunnels, instead of just using them to get from point A to point B. So when I was writing CODE NAME FLOOD, and I needed an East Compound, I put it in New York’s subway system. Brock: Tell us about the main characters? Who are they, what makes them unique. Laura: Sky, Todd, and Shawn are all back for book two, and I added a new character I think everyone is going to enjoy named Chaz. I don’t want to say too much about her and give away a big surprise in the story, but I think she is one of my favorite characters. She’s spunky and funny, and I think she is a great foil for Sky’s one-track determination, Todd’s humor, and Shawn’s seriousness. Brock: In three words what is this book about? Laura: Sea Monsters, Determination, Friendship Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Laura: My character’s are the boss, I just show up for work every day and do what they tell me. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Laura: My readers are usually middle school age kids, and while they crave adventure and excitement, but a lot of times they aren’t quite ready for the real thing yet. My book is an edge-of-your seat thrill ride from page one, and my readers get to LIVE all that danger and excitement from the safety of their couch! Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Laura: Science fiction and fantasy will always have my heart; since those are the genres I most enjoy reading. Besides, there is something intoxicating about building worlds and creating something that only existed in your imagination up until it hits the page. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Laura: This is the second and last book in the series. CODE NAME FLOOD wraps up the mysteries and questions that were started in Edge of Extinction-The Ark Plan. That being said, I’d love to write another one. The world I created for Sky and her friends is just too much fun, so never say never! Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Laura:While book one required quite a lot of dinosaur research, Code Name Flood required research of a slightly different variety. You many have noticed the rather fierce looking creatures on the cover, well, those AREN’T swimming dinosaurs. They are ancient aquatic marine reptiles. Which is a mouthful to say and an even bigger mouthful to incorporate seamlessly into a story. Despite that annoying technicality, the research on creatures like the kronosaurus and elasmosaurus was incredibly interesting. There is just something about sea monsters that sends a shiver up your spine. I’m not so sure my characters would agree, as I unceremoniously dumped them into a lake swarming with the creatures, but it makes for a fun read! Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a female protagonist? Laura: My narrator, Sky Mundy, is a girl, which is funny since EVERY other book I’ve ever written has been from a male perspective. Please don’t ask me why, since I have no idea. In fact, the next series I’m pitching is written with a boy protagonist. I guess part of it is that I was never a girly-girl. I always hung with the boys (I was the only girl invited to many a boy’s birthday party in grade school), and I loved sports and being outside. So I guess I have an easier time seeing the world that way. My solution with Sky was to make her a lot like who I was at that age. She came out a very focused and driven character because that’s who I was! Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Laura: As I mentioned before, the Edge of Extinction series is done for the moment, but I do have other things in the works! I’m not at liberty to mention any of them yet, but I think they are pretty great! No dinosaurs this time though, sorry! Brock: Do you plot or outline the entire series before you begin writing, or do your books take on lives of their own? Or is there a combination? Laura: I should outline, but I don’t. I’ve tried it, and it never works out. (I’ve never been very good at following directions!) I’m what you’d call a “pantser” which means that I “fly by the seat of my pants” when I write. Some (my mother) would also tell you that I live a lot of my life that way. For better or for worse. I like having the freedom to take the story wherever it needs to go. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Laura:A large part of this book takes place in the East Compound, which used to be the underground subway network of New York City. This was never in my original plans for the book, but when my original manuscript got split into two books, I loved the idea of taking the story into the subway network. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Laura: I hope they use CODE NAME FLOOD in the same way that they used Edge of Extinction-The Ark Plan, to foster a LOVE of reading in their kids. I think we get really wrapped up (and I was guilty of this as a teacher) in worrying about what our kids are comprehending, deciphering, inferring, and predicting while they read, when really, we should be worried about fostering a love of reading in our kids. In handing them a great book and telling them they get to read in the same way we’d hand them a huge ice cream cone with sprinkles and tell them to enjoy. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Laura: I’m as full-time as being a stay-at-home mom to two small children allows…so not nearly as full-time as I would like some days! My writing time usually comes after my kids are in bed for the night and the house is quiet. It has been a huge blessing to be an author and a mom, and I have an incredibly supportive family who steps in if I need to do an author visit or a signing. It’s really the best of both worlds. Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in the book/series? Laura: I’m not sure if it counts as a spiritual theme, but there is definitely some biblical symbolism in both books. I wove references and symbols from the story of Noah’s Ark throughout both books, which is where the title CODE NAME FLOOD, came from. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Laura: I realized I wanted to be a writer the first time a book grabbed me and refused to let go until I finished it. It was an incredible experience to live in someone else’s world for a while, to be someone else. I put the book down and went, wow, I want to do this someday. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Laura: I mentioned in the first interview we did about Edge of Extinction-The Ark Plan, that I taught seventh grade language arts for six years before becoming an author, and I think the biggest influence on what I write are the kids that I taught. I had so many students who struggled to get engaged in a book, to really fall into a story, and every time I sit down to write, those are the kids I have in the forefront of my mind. I want to write a book that they can’t put down. I picture that student I had who told me that they didn’t like reading, and I imagine handing them my book and saying, “Oh yeah, prove it.” That may sound odd, the whole imaginary interaction in my head, but if you think about it…that is exactly what an author does for a living. Conduct imaginary interactions and then put them down on paper. So really, I’m not crazy, I’m just a professional writer! Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Laura: I would give anything to co-write a book with Tamora Pierce. I’ve been reading her books ever since grade school, and I still buy everything she writes. Her books are the ones that I’ve read and re-read a million times, and that I re-buy when my copies get a little to beat up. I first fell for her Song of the Lioness series. Her protagonist, Alanna, was a spunky red-headed twelve year old with a will of iron, and I wanted to be her. So I guess it isn’t all that surprising that when I wrote my own book, I made my protagonist a red-headed girl! Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Laura: I think my faith impacts my writing in the same way my faith impacts every aspect of my life. I am first and foremost a Christian, and I live my life that way. What I write, how I write, and who I write about is all a reflection of that. Brock:Favorite place to vacation? Laura: Ever since having kids, I don’t think vacation is a place anymore. Vacation is now going to the grocery store…alone. My husband and I had the house to ourselves for an entire Sunday a few weeks ago, and I think we enjoyed it more than most people enjoy sitting by the beach. I love my kids to pieces, but there is something about being alone, about remembering who you were before you were “mom”, that feels like a vacation. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Laura: My mom’s spaghetti. It’s nothing fancy, just sauce out of a jar, but it always tastes better if my mom makes it. Brock: What is your favorite dinosaur? Laura: The Spinosaurus, which is why he got to be front and center on the cover of book one. I mentioned before that there really weren’t “swimming dinosaurs.” Well, there weren’t until they discovered the Spinosaurus. The more we find out about this terrifying guy, the cooler he gets, and I think he is eventually going to give the T. Rex a run for his money in the dinosaur popularity contest. Brock: What is your favorite thing about writing books? Laura: Getting to talk to the kids that have read them. It never gets old, and it’s such a thrill every time someone tells me they enjoyed my story. ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring The Ice Child In this novelette, Sipp, a clockmaker’s apprentice, dreams of opening his own shop, but the people of Martigny believe he’s marked by the devil—all except for kind, independent Elise. As Sipp’s hope for the title of master craftsman fades, another destiny calls to him on the winter wind. But will answering that call mean leaving Elise behind forever? Evangeline Denmark's THE ICE CHILD is a captivating fairy tale with lyrical prose and memorable characters that can be enjoyed in one sitting, but read over and over again. I really fell in love with Sipp--a talented artist--as he learned to accept his vocation, no matter what others thought of him. This is the perfect story for an evening by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate, so grab your copy and enjoy Denmark's magical world! —Ashlee Cowles, author of Beneath Wandering Stars Brock: Nice to have you with us here today, Evangeline. Could you tell us how did you come up with the idea for The Ice Child? Evangeline: This story came out of some world-building I did for my novel, Curio, although there aren’t any discernable links to that book. It was just my imagination following a path that sprang up as I did background work. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Evangeline: Since this is a novelette, there really is only one main character, Sipp. Sipp is a clockmaker’s apprentice, an orphan, and an outcast due to a strange mark he bears. He also had an incredible talent that he hides. Brock: In three words, what is this book about? Evangeline: Creativity. Prejudice. Acceptance. Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Evangeline: I definitely let the characters take control. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Evangeline: I think we’re all tugged toward some creative pursuit, but it’s easier for some to pursue it than others. Sipp is afraid of the exposure his talent will bring because of cruel way he’s been treated by the townspeople. I hope that readers will feel emboldened to pursue whatever art beats away inside of them, and that they’ll give space and appreciation to others attempting to do the same. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Evangeline: If I say fantasy, people automatically think of dragons and epic quests, and that’s not really what I do. But everything I write falls under the Fantasy umbrella. I just haven’t figured out the correct label. Supernatural? Paranormal? Magical? Out-of-the-box weirdness? Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Evangeline: Since this story is set in Martigny Switzerland in the 18th Century, I did have to do some research into what that region was like during that time period. I purposefully left the timing open because guilds are featured in the story, and they were in decline toward the end of that century. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male protagonist? Evangeline: For me Sipp represents boys that don’t fit into society’s expectations for the traditional male, which—to borrow a phrase from my grandmother—is stuff ‘n nonsense. Sipp is an artist; he’s gentle and kind, and sees the world differently. These are qualities to treasure in any individual they happen to show up in. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Evangeline: I intended for this to be a standalone holiday story, but I have another adventure in mind for Sipp and Elise, so we’ll see if I can return to their world. Brock: That's how it works. Doesn't it? So, where do you like to write? Evangeline: I write in my very cold basement with a couple of sweatshirts on, fuzzy socks, and sometimes fingerless gloves—like Sipp wears! Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Evangeline: I’m a full-time writer. I’m useless at everything else. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Evangeline: Depends on the length obviously. Novellas take around 3 months, and full-length novels around 6 months to a year. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Evangeline: Most writers realized they wanted to write when they were kids. Often they were bookworms and lost in their own worlds. I sort of came from a different angle. As a kid I was too busy talking to think much about writing, but I created story out of everything, including my vocabulary sentences. By the time I reached college I’d recognized my deep love for words and started to think about a career in publishing. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Evangeline: The Brontë sisters, C.S. Lewis, Anne Rice, my mom Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Evangeline: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Evangeline: I hope I can keep telling stories about characters who are on the fringe and encounter things that stretch or reshape their understanding of reality. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Evangeline: Coke Zero. I’m an addict. Brock: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Evangeline: I believe all tacos should have an equal opportunity to be in my belly. Brock: Favorite season? Evangeline: Card-carrying, PSL-drinking, boot-wearing, leaf-loving fan of Fall. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Evangeline: Trail mix, Coke Zero, COFFEE. Not tacos though. It’s really hard to write and eat tacos at the same time. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Evangeline: I compile soundtracks to for all my books. I think you can listen to them if you follow me on Spotify. Of course they vary but a few bands always seem to make it on my lists—Snow Patrol, The Fray, Night Riots, The Airborne Toxic Event, Vampire Weekend, U2, blink-182, Green Day. Brock: The Ice Child is based on a fairy tale. Why do you think fairy tales have enduring significance? Evangeline: Fairy tales deal with problems and fears that we wrestle with as humans. That’s why we find versions of the same story in many different cultures. They’re breadcrumbs (yes, Hansel and Gretel reference intended) along our trail to confronting problems like injustice and fear of the unknown. The Ice Child folktales attempt to explain away infidelity and always involve the wife telling a lie and the husband getting rid of a child he doesn’t want. Awful, right? With my story I wanted to focus on that unwanted child and extend the conversation to include the incredible value of each individual. Brock: What are you working on now? Evangeline: Another Young Adult novel based on a folk tale, actually. But this one comes from Japanese culture. I’m loving the chance to examine some unfamiliar legends and folklore. ![]() Author Website: EvangelineDenmark.com Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEvangelineDenmark/ Author Twitter: @EvangelineD Author Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/evangelineden/ Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evangelinedenmark/ ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Heir of Hope The great city of Thyra has fallen and shadows spread across the land. Rowen Mar, the last Truthsayer, is taken before the Shadonae. But the Shadonae are not who she thought they were, and now they want to claim her as their own. Caleb Tala, former assassin and prince, is now a Guardian of mankind. Exiled from his country, Caleb wanders the desert in search of his mother's past and clues to who he is. These are the last days of the Eldaran race. Rowen and Caleb must find their way along the dark path set before them by their ancestors: to heal what was wounded and love where hatred grows. But the road is narrow and the darkness beckons. If either of them fails, all will be lost... And the human race will be no more. Book three of the Follower of the Word series. Brock: Morgan Busse is the author of a great series from Enclave Publishing and I’ve asked her to give us some insight into the third book in the Follower of the Word series. What inspired you to write this series? Morgan: For many years my husband encouraged me to write, but I never saw myself as a writer. Then one day I walked into a Christian bookstore and asked to see their fantasy section (little did I know…). The lady gave me a strange look and pointed to a lone Frank Peretti book on the bottom shelf. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t any Christian fantasy! My husband pushed me again to write, but I still didn’t budge until a couple months later on a car trip to Seattle I had this idea about a young woman who—when she touched a person—could see inside their soul. When I arrived back home, I got on my computer and started writing Daughter of Light, the first book in the Follower of the Word series, and I’ve been writing ever since. Brock: Who are the main characters in the series? Morgan: The main character is Rowen Mar. After the death of her father, Rowen discovers she is not human, but the last of a race of beings called the Eldarans. More specifically, she is a Truthsayer, with the ability to not only see inside a person’s soul, but reflect back the person’s true nature. Of course, a power like this terrifies the people she is around, causing her to be banished from her village and live her life hiding the mark on her hand beneath a leather glove. Lore Palancar is the Captain of the Guard and the man Rowen serves under as a guard. It is her relationship with him that gives her the courage to finally follow the Word and be true to who He made her. Caleb Tala is a prince and a secret assassin. But his past deeds start to catch up to him in the form of nightmares and he is plagued by the realization that someday he will pay for all the lives he has taken. Nierne is a scribe dedicated to the Monastery and to the Word. When her city is taken over by powerful, evil beings, she embarks on a journey to find the legendary Eldaran race who have the power to save her people. Brock: Sounds like a great variety. What is something about each character that no one but you knows (Until now.) Morgan: Rowen loves to garden and enjoys watching things grow (something I hint at in Daughter of Light). Lore is the last and only son of the Palancar family. Caleb went on his first assassination mission when he was twenty years old. Nierne has no last name. When she joined the Monastery order, she gave up any family affiliations she had. Brock: In a sentence what is this book about? Morgan: That in darkness there is always light. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Morgan: Following God is hard. There are times He asks very hard choices of us, and sometimes we don’t understand why He lets bad things happen to us. I wrote the Follower of the Word series as an honest look at what it takes to follow God. Brock: What do you hope readers take away? Morgan: Courage to live a life for God and hope during dark times. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Morgan: Fantasy. I have a feeling that no matter what genre I wrote in, some kind of fantastical element would make it into my story. Right now I’m working on a Victorian steampunk series and sure enough, a bit of fantasy is woven within the story. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Morgan: Follower of the Word is a three book fantasy series. Heir of Hope, the last and final book will release at the end of March. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Morgan: Even an imaginary world needs research. A lot of the countries and cultures in my series are based on real world places. This helps make the world feel more real and authentic in my opinion. However, the benefit to writing an imaginary world is I can tweak cultural/political/religious aspects to fit my world, unlike historical fiction where the writer needs to get all of his or her facts right. Brock: Is it difficult to be accurate to a Biblical perspective or Biblical facts when writing fantasy fiction? Morgan: I don’t find it hard to be accurate. I am a visual person, and so when I teach, I use visual ideas to help people grasp Biblical concepts. Naturally, that comes into my writing as well. I don’t preach in my stories, I show who God is, what sin is and what it does to us, and what sacrificial love is by telling a story. The great thing about fantasy is you can actually show it. For example, the assassin Caleb is shown the consequences of his sin by dreaming about his hands covered in blood. The only way he can finds forgiveness is by allowing the Word (God) to touch his hands and take the blood away. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Morgan: The Follower of the Word series is for teens and up. For parents who are looking for a fantasy series that will share the gospel and show their teens who God is, this is the series for them. I do not shy away from the darkness, but it is not glorified either. I originally wrote this series to share my faith with my own children and open their eyes up to who God is. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Morgan: I write part-time. As a mother and pastor’s wife, I have other responsibilities and so I’ve learned to take an hour or two a day to write, then I move on to being a mom and wife. I will always have my writing, but I won’t always have my kids, so I want to make the most of my time with them now. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Morgan: I am a slow writer. Along with that, I am also a mother of four kids, so it usually takes me a year to take a story from outline to finished novel. Brock: Morgan, do you outline the book, or do you write as you go? Morgan: I outline the main parts of the story (the beginning, the main plot events, and the ending). But as I write, I discover more stuff and the story starts to come together. However, I cannot write until I know how the story is going to end. That is the target I am aiming for with the story. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Morgan: I never dreamed about being a writer. So it wasn’t until after the birth of my daughter and at the encouragement of my husband that I finally sat down and started writing Daughter of Light. Wow, I had no idea how hard it was to write! Next to parenting, it is the hardest thing ever in my opinion! But it is also very satisfying to hold the finished story in your hands and see your heart and soul poured out on paper, and to receive emails from people who were touched by your words. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Morgan: That’s a hard question. It’s a tie between the coast (Oregon or Washington) and camping in the mountains. I love the outdoors and spend anytime I can in God’s creation. Brock: Favorite season? Morgan: Fall. I love the colors of the trees, the smells (like apple pie and spices), warm sweaters, lighting up the fireplace for the first time, and the way the air is crisp cold in the morning, but warm by afternoon. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Morgan: I drink a lot of tea while I write. Earl Grey is probably my favorite right now! Brock: Favorite color? Morgan: Green. Green is the color of life and growing things. ![]() Author Website: MorganLBusse.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/morganlbusseauthor Author Twitter: @MorganLBusse Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/morganlbusse ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest A beautiful maiden who poaches to feed the poor. A handsome forester on a mission to catch her. Danger and love are about to unite in Thornbeck Forest. The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and Odette Menkels spends her nights poaching his deer to feed the hungry orphans of Thornbeck. By day, Odette is a simple maiden who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor. For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him . . . a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher. When Jorgen and Odette meet at the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries. The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target . . . What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered? “Ms. Dickerson deftly captures the flavor of life in medieval Germany in a sweet tale filled with interesting characters that will surely capture readers’ hearts.” —Kathleen Morgan, author of These Highland Hills series, Embrace the Dawn, and Consuming Fire. Across the header of Melanie Dickerson’s website you’ll find a message to what her stories are all about, “Medieval Fairy Tale Retellings.” As a guy this title doesn’t exactly grab my interest, but as a daddy of three girls, it’s all I need to know. A trusted author in the Christian marketplace Melanie continues to develop wonderful characters who take us on adventures never short of excitement. Her books are ones I will trust my daughters to sit down and read and have confidence they’ll be learning strong moral truths as they do. I had the chance to interview Melanie about her latest release The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. “I have always loved all things Medieval, as it is such a colorful period of history and seems so full of adventure and excitement and romance,” Melanie says of what inspired her to write this tale. She goes on to explain that she’s always been intrigued with castles and knights, secret identities, damsels in distress, and courageous women triumphing in a difficult world. This combination of elements are what makes her writing so powerful and enjoyable. In her previous series each book was based loosely on a fairy tale. For this series she thought it would be fun to base each book on a mash-up of two or more familiar stories. Like myself, she’d always loved the Robin Hood story, she took that story and found a way to combine it with Swan Lake into one exciting, romantic novel. As for the main characters we meet in this story there are two. Odette Menkels was orphaned by the Great Pestilence, a.k.a. the Black Plague, and now lives with her uncle Rutger. Odette has a mind of her own. She remembers how she felt as a very young orphan, left with neighbors who treated her badly and where she often went hungry. She sees the plight of the poor and orphan children who live in Thornbeck and takes matters into her own hands. Good with a bow and arrow, she starts poaching deer from the margrave’s forest to feed the children. And then there is Jorgen Hartman, also orphaned as a child he spent time on the streets where he tried to protect and provide for his little sister, who ultimately died in an accident. He is later taken in and adopted by the margrave’s gamekeeper where he becomes the new forester—the person in charge of catching poachers and bringing them to justice. I asked Melanie to give me the story in three sentences, so here it is, “The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is about trusting God to give you your dreams and to provide. Sometimes we try to take matters into our own hands, because we think we know what is best and right. But God always has a better plan.” With three books planned for the series I asked for a hint at what will be next in the second book. “The Margrave of Thornbeck lives in a castle in the forest outside the walled town of Thornbeck. He is the leader and ultimate authority in Thornbeck. He has to find a bride, fast, and he wants to make sure she has the same values he has, and that she will not turn out like his mother, who was bitter and hated his father. So he invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country for two weeks. His two-week-long party becomes a series of “tests” to show the character of these ladies. What he does not know is, the one lady he is attracted to is not the daughter of an earl, but she is actually that lady’s maidservant, sent to impersonate the real lady.” The second tale sounds a promising as the first book was to read. If you like fairy tales and medieval fantasy then The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is for you. Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Melanie: I don’t write an outline, but I know in my mind the gist of the story before I start writing. I know what my characters want, and I know certain key events that have to happen in the story. I also know (sort of) how it should end. This gives me a general map, but I sometimes “discover” my characters’ personalities and backgrounds, as well as many twists and turns of the plot, as I write. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Melanie: I believe readers will relate to the characters’ emotions of feeling conflicted—wanting to do the right thing but not always knowing what the right thing is. I believe many readers will relate to the struggle of wanting to get things done, striving and working hard, but seeing very little good come out of their efforts, and having to let go and let God work things out in his perfect way and his perfect timing. And with God, there is always an ultimate happy ending. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Melanie: My favorite genre is historical romance, and Medieval historical romance is what I have the most experience writing. I love romance because it is exciting and a great symbol of God’s love for us, and it’s something we can all relate to wanting and caring about—or most of us! And historicals are just fun. It’s fun to imagine ourselves in another time period, to lose ourselves in a place and time so different from the familiar around us, and yet realize that people are people no matter where or when they grew up. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Melanie: There are three books in this series. The second book is about the Margrave of Thornbeck, who must find a bride, and it is something of a “Beauty and the Beast meets Princess and the Pea” type of story. And the third book will be a “Goose Girl meets Prince and the Pauper” story. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Melanie: I always try to make sure my Medieval details are sound, which involves some research, and I do a bit of research of the fairy tales my books are based on, which mostly entails reading the original fairy tale story and watching the Disney movies with my daughters. ☺ Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Melanie: I like a little action-adventure with my romance. I also try to make sure my story plot is plausible and could have possibly happened in the time and place of my setting. All good fiction involves truth—true-to-life emotions and conflicts and motivations. Brock: What do your readers think about your latest series? Melanie: The fifth book in my current YA series just came last November, The Princess Spy. I get a lot of feedback from readers saying how much they love the way the stories are connected, and they get to see glimpses of the place, Hagenheim, and the characters from previous books. I’m hoping I can duplicate that in this new series about Thornbeck and its residents. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Melanie: Yes, I am currently working on the margrave’s story. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Melanie: The Margrave of Thornbeck lives in a castle in the forest outside the walled town of Thornbeck. He is the leader and ultimate authority in Thornbeck. He has to find a bride, fast, and he wants to make sure she has the same values he has, and that she will not turn out like his mother, who was bitter and hated his father. So he invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country for two weeks. His two-week-long party becomes a series of “tests” to show the character of these ladies. What he does not know is, the one lady he is attracted to is not the daughter of an earl, but she is actually that lady’s maidservant, sent to impersonate the real lady. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Melanie: The heroine’s guardian, Rutger, underwent a major change during edits, but while I was writing, I was surprised by my hero’s personality and the things he liked to do and even what he was thinking. Originally, I wasn’t quite sure how it would end, so the ending kind of evolved as well. Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example? Melanie: Truly, my editors, especially Becky Monds, deserve a lot of credit for this book! Becky made tons of great suggestions. During edits, I actually got rid of the heroine’s mother. I also changed her guardian completely. He went from being an evil, manipulative villain, to being a normal guy with good traits and bad traits. I also changed several other characters. Originally my heroine’s best friend Anna was single, and in the rewrites I made her married. I deleted the scene in the original story where Peter asks Anna to marry him. (Sorry, Peter! You’re already married!) Brock: Is it difficult to be accurate to a Biblical perspective or Biblical facts when writing Medieval fiction? Melanie: The Medieval time setting presents its own challenges. In a way, it is helpful that practically everyone in that time period believed in, and feared, God, but most people had not read the Bible, and that makes it difficult for me. I try to be true to the time period, but since I am not Catholic, I am sure my characters sometimes come across as being more Protestant in their thinking. I do make my characters interested in reading the Bible, whenever feasible, and get them a copy of at least part of the Bible. They go to church and no one questions their reverent fear of God, since it’s true to the time period. So there are pros and cons. Personally, I find it freeing to write stories in a period when faith in God was never a question. Everyone believed and trembled. Whether or not they obeyed is another story. Brock: How much leeway do you give yourself with facts in a Historical Genre? Melanie: I don’t write about actual people, except to briefly reference the king, so I don’t have to worry about getting a person’s life story completely accurate to history. Also, I use fictional towns and places within the German section of the Holy Roman Empire, so I can make up those details as well. But I do try hard to make sure my characters aren’t using tools or items that did not exist in the day. The most difficult thing is trying to stay true to the mindset that was prevalent then. Although I think there was more variation than some people think, I do probably err a bit on the side of not making my characters’ attitudes toward women so very Medieval. Brock: Where do you like to write? Melanie: I like to write in my comfy chair in my study when I’m really into the story and know exactly where it’s going. But when I’m struggling to get words down, I like to go to a restaurant, coffee house, or the library to write. I am more focused with the activity and background noise around me, I don’t know exactly why. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Melanie: I am a full-time writer. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Melanie: It has been taking me about four months, and during that time I am also editing previous books. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Melanie: I wanted to be a writer probably around the time I was in the 6th or 7th grade. I started writing stories and passing them around to my friends to read. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Melanie: Two of my favorite books as a teen were Gone With the Wind and Pride and Prejudice, so, you know, it was kind of inevitable I would become a historical romance writer. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Melanie: I pray. I pray that my stories will bring glory to God, and I pray they will affect my readers in the ways God wants them to. Also, I know Christians ultimately get the victory—every time. We get our happy ending. Anything less than that doesn’t seem realistic to me. Brock: Favorite season? Melanie: Spring! Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Melanie: Flavored green tea and dark chocolate! Brock: Favorite color? Melanie: Red Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Melanie: Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Melanie: Lasagna! Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Melanie: Sometimes I listen to Andrea Bocelli. He’s my favorite because his music is emotional, but he sings in Italian and so I don’t get distracted by the words, since I don’t know any Italian! I also listen to movie soundtracks like Jane Eyre and Last of the Mohicans, and classical music. Brock: Now that you are writing a new series, will you still be continuing your Young Adult fairy tale series? Melanie: Yes, I have a Rapunzel story, The Golden Braid, coming out in November. Even though it will be the 6th book in my YA series, all the books are able to be read as stand-alones, and you won’t feel like you missed something if you haven’t read all the previous books. Brock: How will the new series be different from your Young Adult series? Will your teen readers be interested in reading these new books? Melanie: The main difference is that the new series has slightly older heroines in slightly more mature situations. For instance, in The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, the heroine is twenty-one years old and although she has a guardian, she isn’t exactly in a parent-child relationship with her guardian. He respects her opinions and her independence. But these books will also be “young adult-friendly” in that they should still be appropriate and relatable for my teen readers. ![]() Author Website: MelanieDickerson.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks Author Twitter: @melanieauthor ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Undercover Bride Pinkerton detective Maggie Cartwright has no intention of walking down the aisle. . . . But her current case has Maggie posing as a mail-order bride for widower Garrett Thomas, the prime suspect in the Whistle-Stop Bandit robbery. No sooner does Maggie arrive in Arizona Territory when she’s confronted by his meddlesome aunt who insists the two set an early wedding date. With the clock ticking, Maggie sets to work to uncover the truth. Maggie is nothing like the woman widower Garrett expected from her letters. But he’s immediately smitten with the blue-eyed beauty and feels the need to protect her, not only from his aunt’s critical eye, but also from the ugliness of his past. As the day of the wedding draws near, Maggie begins to panic. The investigation may be progressing, but the real problem is that the more she gets to know Garrett and his two charming children, the harder it is to keep up the deception. Can a man as kind and gentle as Garrett really be the Whistle-Stop Bandit? Or has the possibility of a home, family, and a handsome husband blinded Maggie from seeing the truth? Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this book? Margaret: The idea for my Undercover series came after I read the biography of Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton detective. I was shocked to learn that she was hired by Allan Pinkerton in 1852. That's fifty years before the first policewoman was hired. He thought she was applying for a secretarial job but she soon relieved him of that notion. Oh, to have been at that meeting! Brock: Tell us about the main characters? Who are they, what makes them unique. Margaret: Pinkerton detective Maggie Michaels is working undercover as a mail order bride, a job that requires much courage on her part. Her "fiancé" is widower Garrett Thomas, suspected of being the brain behind the Whistle-Stop train holdup. He's a tinker by trade. How he learned the trade is pretty unique. While in the Andersonville prison camp he learned to make cooking and eating utensils for himself and the other prisoners out of canteens and brass buttons. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Margaret: Garrett sings off-key in the bathtub and Maggie keeps a stack of dime novels under her bed. Brock: In three sentences, what is this book about? Margaret: Posing as a mail order bride, Maggie Michaels has only a few short weeks to find the seventy-five thousand dollars stolen during a robbery. The clock is ticking. If she doesn't find the proof to put the suspect away, she could end up as his bride! Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Margaret: A kindly minister saved my orphaned heroine from falling into a life of ill-repute. Instead of following in her father's criminal footsteps, she works on the side of law and order. While I was writing her story, it occurred to me how many wonderful people in my own past helped me become the person I am today. I hope the book will inspire readers to reflect on their own lives and the teachers, ministers and other counselors who helped them along the way. Brock: What is the biblical background or basis for the basic? Margaret: The basic theme relates to the Bible verse chosen for the book: Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 NKJV This theme plays out through the heroine's determination to help the paperboy Linc, whom she fears is on the wrong path and will one day end up as one of Pinkerton's most wanted. I believe we're all called to serve as counselors or mentors and to reach out to others. Brock: Any certain research required for the book? Margaret: Oh, my, yes. Years of watching Castle, CSI and Rizzoli and Isles had taught me a lot about modern day forensics (and how to solve a crime in an hour), but left me clueless when it came to plotting a mystery series set in the nineteenth century. Those old time sleuths had no fingerprints, video cameras or DNA, yet they almost always got their man (or woman) and that's pretty amazing. To find out how they did it I read sixteen books written by Allan Pinkerton and a few written by some of his operatives. Many of the investigative techniques Maggie uses in the book were actually devised by Pinkerton detectives. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Margaret: You're right, Brock, it is a balancing act. I think the trick is to know reader expectations. Since I write inspirational romance I know that my readers want to feel all the uncertainties and joys of falling in love, so that's always upmost in my mind. My trademark is humor so readers would be disappointed if I didn't make them laugh. My readers also appreciate a meaningful faith-based story that's not preachy. Many women share the same experiences I had in school, where history was taught from a male point of view—all those battles and dates! My female readers really enjoy learning about the past in a fun and entertaining way. As far as working in historical details sometimes less is more. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on male and female protagonists? Margaret: Since I write romance, I try to keep the focus as much as possible on the couple. I love writing romance because every possible theme and conflict can be explored through the relationship of two people falling in love. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Margaret: I recently turned in the third and last book in the series. Calico Spy takes place in Calico, Kansas. Someone is killing off the Harvey Girls and undercover Pinkerton detective Katie Madison hopes to find the killer before the killer finds her—or before she burns down the restaurant trying. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Margaret: I don't do much in the way of preplanning a book. All I need is an inkling of an idea and an opening sentence and I’m off and running. So I can't really say the book changes because I don't know where it's going in the first place. Brock: What was the biggest set-back you had as a writer? Margaret: I would have to say that flunking eighth grade English was my biggest set-back. My teacher told me not to even think about being a writer. The way I handled it was to give up my dream (big mistake!). It took years before I realize that God doesn’t put a dream into our hearts without also giving us the tools to pursue it. I just had to learn how to use those tools. I never did learn how to diagram a sentence but, with the help of a lot of dedicated editors, I learned how to tell my stories. Brock: What's next for you? Margaret: In addition to Undercover Bride I have a novella out this summer titled The Dog Days of Summer Bride, and as soon as I clean my office I'm starting a new series. ![]() Author Website: Margaret-Brownley.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor Author Twitter: twitter.com/margaretbrownly Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/brownley1 Author Goodreads: goodreads.com/goodreadscommargaretbrownley ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Edge of Oblivion A Forgotten Past. A Terminal Future. Earth has emerged from a cataclysmic dark age with little knowledge of its past. Aided by the discovery of advanced alien technology, humanity ventures into the stars, joining other sentient races in a sprawling, prosperous interstellar Confederacy. That peace is soon shattered. Without warning, the Confederacy comes under attack by an unstoppable alien force from the unknown regions. With hopes for civilization's survival dwindling, Commander Jared Carter is sent to pursue an unlikely lead: a collection of ancient alien religious fragments which may - or may not - hold the key to their salvation ... Brock: What was your inspiration for writing The Chronicles of Sarco? Joshua: I grew up with a real affinity for science fiction, both on television and in the written form, but I also realized that relatively little of what I watched and read dealt with faith in any substantive way. Isaac Asimov, who was not particularly religious, nevertheless lamented about the dearth of science fiction that explored the relationship between God and extraterrestrial life. Part of the reason is that so many science fiction authors were and are humanists, so their worlds marginalize religion as being anti-intellectual or just ignore the subject entirely. At some point I figured, why not try my hand at it myself? Why not see if I could craft a story that incorporated both faith and aliens? That’s where Edge of Oblivion came from. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Joshua: The primary cast of Edge of Oblivion serves together in a sort of interspecies Navy. Their ship is a small interceptor called the Retaelus, and it specializes in rooting out the pirates that plague the trade lanes between planets. The captain and communications officer are both humans; the weapons officer, sciences officer, and engineer are all non-humans, extraterrestrials from other worlds. Part of the fun of the story is finding out both about the officers themselves and the alien races they come from. On one level, you learn about their cultures and distinct racial traits, but you also learn about the individuals – their pasts and hopes, their accomplishments and failures … and some of their secrets. Brock: Give us one fact about the main character that no one else knows. Joshua: The commander of the Retaelus, Jared Carter, is the epitome of the middle-of-the-pack leader. His career is a succession of respectable but forgettable posts. When it comes to really important assignments, he’s rarely anyone’s first choice, which gnaws on him at times, especially given that his father is a successful Earth politician. But he also is reluctant to engage in the sort of grandstanding and politicking that other officers do to climb the Navy ladder. So it creates a bit of a dilemma for him, and one that he struggles to resolve in his own mind. Brock: In three words, what is Edge of Oblivion about? Joshua: Epic. Space. Adventure. Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Joshua: I outline the entire book before starting, but I’m not automatically rigid about it. There are times I will work out a chapter and then, as the book flows, decide that I’d like to take things in a little different direction. I do like to keep a clear end in mind, though; I almost always know where I want to end up. Sometimes, though, the road to get there may fluctuate a bit. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Joshua: Science fiction, I think, is appealing because it takes readers out of their own lives and into someplace different and fantastic. That said, the everyman nature of the crew – and the real problems that they deal with – are elements I think will resonate with readers. Yes, the crew has courage, and yes, they sometimes do courageous things, but they don’t do them because they have some crazy abilities. They do it for the same reasons we sometimes have to rise up in our own lives – because necessity demands it. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Joshua: Definitely the one this falls in, science fiction. I love the idea of being able to create worlds outside of our own and explore them. Exploration is one of the underlying themes of this trilogy, and I hope readers are as excited to visit these new worlds as I was in writing them. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Joshua: It’s a planned trilogy, which I’m also supplementing that with some prequel and interquel short stories that are and will be available through my author website. Some of the wheels in my head have already started turning with respect to going beyond that, but right now my primary focus is on the chronology of the three books. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book between plotlines and character development? Joshua: This is, I think, where beta readers and editors have been invaluable for me. In the plot and character spectrum, I lean more plot, but along the way I’ve had various people say, “Tell me more about this guy” or “Flesh her character out more.” That has been good for me. I mean, I did a lot of prewriting on my characters, but those suggestions really forced me to think more deeply about what makes my characters tick. I hope the end result is a book with good characters and a well-paced plot. Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? Joshua: Absolutely surreal. It’s been a succession of surreal moments. Getting the first request for a full manuscript, the phone call offering me a contract, signing the contract, seeing a book cover with my name on it, seeing an Amazon book listing … every step is something new in my life experience. And as hard as it’s been, it’s also been a real blast, to immerse myself in the way writing and publishing work, and to see how I can succeed there. Brock: Are you working on the next book in The Chronicles of Sarco? Joshua: And then some. Book 2 is in the hands of the publisher and I’m currently hard at work on Book 3. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Joshua: Part-time. My day job is teaching high school history and government. There is a part of me that wouldn’t mind being able to write full-time, but I also think my day job is good for me; it gets me on my feet, away from my computer, and into life experiences that for me, personally, have been good for my creative process. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Joshua: Lots of names come to mind. Edgar Rice Burroughs did some amazing world building with the John Carter novels. Isaac Asimov’s books were grand and epic, and Robert Heinlein’s books were just really solid adventures, especially his earlier works. And as much as I talked earlier about science fiction being a humanist domain, Orson Scott Card and Frank Herbert have done some interesting things in exploring how faith fits in with science fiction. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? Joshua: The history guy in me knows that every advancement comes with tradeoff. On one hand, I hear stories from established traditional authors about how things like book tours and publisher marketing campaigns are not what they used to be. Yet I’ve also read stories about how eBooks and the Internet have really democratized the process and allowed for more authors to carve out a space. I would like to believe that interest in books has grown, not shrunk, with the advent of eBooks, and in a world where so many things compete for our time and attention, that’s cool. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Joshua: Really hard choice, so I’m going to cheat and name four … well, one series and one book, anyway. The series is Asimov’s Foundation books, which are both profoundly deep and broad, grappling with all kinds of issues across this astonishing timeline. The book is Robert Heinlein’s Tunnel in the Sky, which chronicles a young man stranded on an alien world with a group of other students. It’s a great survival-against-all-odds tale. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Joshua: You know, I’m not sure. I know I enjoy writing and I’m thrilled that I have the opportunity to showcase that work through a publisher, but I’m also trying to live in the moment and just enjoy the journey as it comes. My wife and I have talked some about where I would like to go with writing down the road, but at this point I’m simply taking things one day at a time. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Joshua: Give me a Coca-Cola Classic and I’m in heaven. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Joshua: My wife and I have a large 18x10 foot tent that we put to use each summer at various state parks in our region. I love pitching a tent on a warm (but not hot) summer day, cooking burgers over an open flame and hiking across quiet trails with my wife and daughters. Those memories are priceless. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Joshua: I love epic ambient orchestral soundtrack music. Give me an Audiomachine marathon and I’m pretty much set. Brock: Have you done any other writing besides fiction? Joshua: Over the years I’ve done a fair bit of writing on other subjects. I’m a former senior editor and now contributor to Nintendojo, a fansite devoted to games for Nintendo consoles and handhelds. I once even got invited to demo Guitar Hero out in California, but I painfully had to turn it down because of the demands of my day job. I also chip in with some articles on parenting for a website called Mumbling Mommy, which my wife works for as an editor. Brock: What are your favorite nonfiction titles? Joshua: My degree is in history, so I’ve read a fair bit on that subject over the years. I enjoy reading up on American presidents, especially as historians re-evaluate their presidencies over time. I also love a good nonfiction adventure tale: one of my favorites is Alfred Lansing’s Endurance, an incredible and very true story of Ernest Shackleton, who led a crew though a series of harrowing ordeals in the Antarctic during the 1910s. ![]() Author Website: JoshuaAJohnston.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/joshuaajohnston Author Twitter: @jallenjohnston Author Goodreads: goodreads.com/joshuaajohnston ![]() Interview by Ashley Eastman Featuring Beautiful Star of Bethlehem When Memories Are Lost, Only Love Remains How did Arlene Santana—happy wife, successful business owner, young grandmother—get here, a rehabilitation center surrounded by old people? Her new friends make her laugh, and the days speed by, marked by holidays on which her two sons and their wives come to visit her. But when will her husband, whose love she feels every moment of every day, come to see her? Then one Christmas the confusing pieces of Arlene’s life start to click into place, but will she and her sons like the reality they face? Readers will treasure this poignant novella from bestselling author Lori Copeland. “Lori Copeland’s Beautiful Star of Bethlehem is a Christmas book I will never forget. From the stunning—and surprising—opening to the lovely and perfect ending, I fell into the tale and didn’t want to leave the friends I made there.” -Kathleen Y'Barbo, bestselling author of Firefly Summer and The Secret Lives of Will Tucker series Lori’s light as a powerful story continues in this latest novel; Beautiful Star of Bethlehem. A story that will grip each reader and make us more appreciative of the holidays and the moments with our family that surrounds. Ashley: What inspired you to write Beautiful Star of Bethlehem? Lori: The older I get the more time I spend visiting the elderly in nursing or assisted living facilities. The seed for this story sprouted many years ago and grew until I knew this was a story I needed to share. One of sadness, but encouragement, one of loss but having known a true, solid love of family and children but most of all, a story about how life can change swiftly at any age. Beautiful Star of Bethlehem is poignant, thoughtful—even humorous at times but isn’t all of life that way? Most of the book is a reminder that when something precious is taken another gift is given. Ashley: Who are Arlene and Jack Santana? Lori: Arlene Santana is a vibrant, loving mother-- and now first-time grandmother. She has a solid marriage, co-owns half of Santana Toys with the love of her life, her husband, Jack Santana. The late fiftyish couple has reached the pinnacle—the point in their life they can set back, enjoy the fruits of their labor and still be healthy, happy and alive. Ashley: What is unique about them? Lori: The unique angle is their world will end in less than two hours. Ashley: What is one fact about Jack and Arlene no one else knows? Lori: Jack loves chunky monkey ice cream. Chocolate gives Arlene hives. Ashley: In three sentences what is Beautiful Star of Bethlehem about? Lori: This book is about hope. This book is about survival. This story could happen to anyone. Ashley: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Lori: I can’t think of many readers who have not lived or cannot relate to this story. The book is poignant, honest, will make many flinch when they see themselves in this story, but the reader will come away with renewed faith and a sense of “doing better” toward the ones who sit in God’s Waiting Room. Ashley: How do you strike the right balance of themes in your book? Lori: I wanted to hit the balance of humor and humanness in Beautiful Star of Bethlehem. Only the reader will be able to tell me if I achieved my goal. Ashley: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Lori: Well, I haven’t sold the book yet, but I would like for the title to be “God’s Waiting Room.” The story that I have in mind has nothing to do with living—or assisted living; rather the day we will all sit in God’s Waiting Room and listen to the conversations taking place around us. The incredulous and sometimes sound reasons the new arrivals feel they’ve made it thus far. ![]() Author Website: LoriCopeland.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Lori-Copeland/49638671412 GoodReads: goodreads.com/author/show/39205.Lori_Copeland?from_search=true&search_version=service ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Joline’s Redemption Joline has fallen as far as any woman can. Jo’s lofty dreams of love and luxury evaporated when her ne’er-do-well husband left her pregnant and alone. After a series of increasingly bad decisions, Jo finds herself at a crossroads: swallow her pride and seek refuge at her sister’s home or risk losing her infant son. She chooses the first option, even though she knows the man she’s running from will come after her, and she needs to move farther away. To earn money for the journey, she goes to work for her estranged husband’s brother, Baron. But Jo has a long list of secrets she’s keeping from Baron—namely her son, Jamie. Jo intrigues Baron, and he finds himself falling in love with her. But when he discovers she’s his brother’s castoff, he closes his heart. Baron has been cleaning up his younger brother’s messes most of his life, and Jo is one mess he refuses to tackle. All too soon, Jo’s past catches up with her, and she realizes the disaster she’s made of her life. Is it possible that God can redeem a woman who has fallen as far as she has and give her hope and peace for a happy future? A historical romance that beckons to modern day issues. Vickie McDonough Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this book? or What was your inspiration for writing this book? Vickie: I was born and raised in Oklahoma and have long been fascinated with my state’s unique history. The part of Oklahoma that l live in was once the Creek Indian Nation. When the Indian lands in Oklahoma were opened for settlement by non-Indians, the government chose a series land runs as the means for deciding who got a homestead or town lot. The first person to the land won it. My series title is Land Rush Dreams, and it features the 1889 and 1893 land runs and the 1901 land lottery. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Vickie: In book one of my series, Gabriel’s Atonement, the heroine has a rebellious, bratty younger sister name Joline aka Jo. Their parents died in a fire when the girls were young, and it really affected Jo. I knew the second book would feature her, and with all the bad choices she made, her life was bound to be difficult. She’s stubborn and tenacious, which is how she survives all dreadful things that come her way. The hero is Baron Hillborne. He’s the oldest son of a wealthy businessman who owns a chain of mercantiles. He has often been tasked with cleaning up the messes his younger brother, Mark, has made. When he comes to Guthrie to reopen the store that Mark started and then abandoned, he sees it as just another mess to clean up. Baron is the good son, patient and dependable, respectful, honest, and trustworthy. He’s the kind of man Jo thinks would never be attracted to her, especially when he learns that she’s just another one of Mark’s mistakes. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Vickie: Okay. Um…let’s see. The last thing Jo would ever do is return to her sister’s home, but for the sake of her son—did you know she had one?—she’ll do even that. Baron is partially colorblind, which can be challenging since he runs a store. Brock: In three sentences, what is this book about? Vickie: Joline has fallen as far as any woman can. She once had lofty dreams of love and luxury, but she made a series of dreadful decisions, leaving her bereft of all hope. Jo has a long list of secrets to keep and always has to look over her shoulder, as the man she’s running from may show up anywhere, anytime. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Vickie: People often feel that God can’t love them because of the things they’ve done. I hope to show them that isn’t true. God loves you no matter what you’ve done—no matter what bad choices you’ve made. Brock: Any certain research required for the book? Vickie: Yes, I had to research the Cherokee Strip land run. I knew quite a bit about the land runs, but when you write a book, there are many little details you need to know to make the book historically accurate and interesting. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Vickie: Yes, I’m close to finishing Sarah’s Surrender. Readers first meet Sarah in Joline’s Redemption, when the half Cherokee/half Irish girl runs away with Jo from the place they are staying. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Vickie: I did a lot of research, trying to find just the right Cherokee Indian name for Sarah. I settled on Chiyah, which means “in the shadows.” It was the perfect name for the quiet, little girl that Jo helps. During the editing process, my editor challenged me on whether the name was actually Cherokee. I looked it up again and was surprised to discover that the name is Cherokee after all, but a name from India. Somehow I missed that fact when researching. In the end, I deleted all references of Chiyah and settled on giving her a regular name. The Cherokees were part of the Five Civilized Tribes, and many had had English names for generations, so it wasn’t unbelievable for my character. I hated giving up the name that fit so well, but I had to be accurate. And besides, in Joline’s Redemption, Chiyah actually changed her name to Sarah when she became a Christian, so I just changed it sooner. Brock: Baron is an odd name for a hero. How did you come to choose it? Vickie: I’m kind of picky about my hero and heroine names. It has to be something I like and also one that was historically accurate. Baron is probably pushing the limits for that, but it seemed to fit my hero. How did I think of it? I had a friendly man come to my house to install a gas fireplace, and that was his name. I liked it and thought it would fit the hero in Joline’s Redemption. I even set up the story to show that Baron’s mother was fascinated with English aristocracy. Mark, Baron’s brother, was named Marquis, but he hated it and never used it. Brock: Can you tell us about the land lottery that is featured in Sarah’s Surrender? Vickie: After the craziness of the land runs where many people were injured and the many lawsuits concerning who owned certain homesteads, the government felt they needed a more organized and fairer way of deciding who won a homestead. They held a massive lottery in which tens of thousands of people signed up. Then there was a drawing for the homesteads. The officials numbered the envelopes as they were drawn, and on a later date, the winners, starting with the first name drawn, got to choose which section of land he/she wanted. It was much less hectic than the land runs and fairer for all who entered. ![]() Author Website: VickieMcdonough.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/VickieMcDonough?fref=ts Author Twitter: twitter.com/vickiemcdonough Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/VickieMcDonough/ ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring An Uncertain Choice Brock: What was your inspiration for writing An Uncertain Choice? Jody: I have three daughters. My two oldest daughters (twins) are in high school. They're starting to notice boys. And boys are starting to notice them. Okay, who am I kidding? My teen daughters have been paying attention to boys for quite a few years. Yes, they're human. But of course, up until now they've been a tad young to enter the world of dating. My husband would prefer that we have a family rule, "No dating until at least the age of 22." And he'll likely greet any boy that comes calling for them with a baseball bat in hand (wink!). But because we know that we can't beat away the boys forever, we wanted to have a tool that we could use for our daughters to help prepare them for dating. Let's face it, the dating world has become rather big and scary to many young people. And rightly so. Our modern culture, particularly social media, has changed the nature of dating. Cell phones, texting, Facebook, online dating services, etc. have all impacted the how's, why's, what's, and when's of dating. When I began to think about what kinds of dating experiences I wanted my daughters to have, I decided to write a book that models the purity, nobility, and courtly love that existed in the days of old, during the times of knights and their ladies, a time in history when chivalry was at its height. Thus, An Uncertain Choice was birthed. (Plus I'm a sap for a good medieval fairy tale!) Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Jody: The heroine is a beautiful and wealthy young woman named Lady Rosemarie. She's on the cusp of her eighteenth birthday and knows her destiny is to fulfill a vow made by her parents. In light of their infertility, her parents had promised to give their firstborn back to God for a life of service and celibacy when she turned eighteen. Now with only one month before her birthday, Lady Rosemarie receives the news that there is an exception to the Ancient Vow–if she finds true love and is married by her birthday, then she is exempt from having to become a nun. Faced with a growing loneliness and the possibility of losing control over the people she rules with compassion, Lady Rosemarie questions whether life in a cloister is really the best choice for her life. She agrees to allow the three handsomest and noblest knights in the land the chance to win her heart in one month. Enter on stage, the three heart throbs! Sir Collin, Sir Bennet, and Sir Derrick. Each one is completely honorable and noble in his own way. Lady Rosemarie will have a tough choice ahead of her. Now you'll have to read the book to find out who she chooses and why! Brock: In three sentences what is An Uncertain Choice about? Jody: One beautiful maiden. One month to decide her fate. The choice? Fall in love or become a nun. The prospects? The three of the handsomest and noble knights in all the land. As an unseen enemy threatens the competition, Lady Rosemarie's choices may be slimmer than she realizes. Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Jody: I start out with a brainstormed list of plot ideas. I do my best to think of as many twists and turns as I can before I start writing the first draft. And I usually have a pretty good idea of how I want the plot to wrap up. But inevitably the story develops even more as I get into the meat of writing. I think that’s what makes writing so fun and what gives me such a rush—to see what new aspects unfold and where the story actually leads as I get to know my characters more intimately. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Jody: Young people today really enjoy reality TV shows, especially ones that involve contests. My teens love watching Survivor, The Amazing Race, and even American Idol. There's just something about real competition that attracts us. An Uncertain Choice is a little bit like reality TV, especially a show like Bachlorette (although a much sweeter and cleaner version!) where a young woman is presented with three really fantastic men. In some ways, she can't go wrong if she chooses any of the men. But readers get to join the adventure as she must narrow down her choices even as the clock ticks away to the day of her eighteenth birthday. Aside from the many issues related to dating and marriage, the book also tackles issues like chafing under too much supervision, learning to become a strong leader, and how to display courage in different ways. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Jody: I'm currently writing in three similar but distinct genres: Historical Romance, Young Adult Medieval Romance, and then Historicals that are based on the lives of real people. I actually love writing in all three of the genres and am thrilled that I have three books releasing this year (one in each of the genres). In addition to An Uncertain Choice my YA medieval tale, readers can also look forward to a second historical romance in a lighthouse series that recently launched. And then in the fall I'm releasing a book called Luther & Katharina with Random House (Waterbrook) in October. It's a book based one of the greatest untold love stories: the courtship and marriage of the great reformer, Martin Luther to a runaway nun Katharina von Bora. He's a heretic wanted dead or alive, and she's a noblewoman without a family or home. Amidst the dangers of pope, princes, and revolting peasants, the two must wage war to find a love of their own. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Jody: There are three total books planned in this series. As I mentioned, Lady Rosemarie, the heroine, is presented with three really fantastic men to choose to marry. In some ways, she can't go wrong with any of the men since they're all noble and swoon-worthy! But readers get to join the adventure as she must narrow down her choices even as the clock ticks away to the day of her eighteenth birthday when she must either marry or enter the convent and become a nun. Luckily If Rosemarie doesn't choose YOUR personal favorite knight, don't despair! The other two knights will get books of their own. And you'll be able to take a journey with them as they begin their own quests to find their places in the world, overcome shortcomings, and along the way find the woman that God has planned for them. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Jody: Research is an integral part of my writing process. I usually spend approximately 4 weeks on initial research, reading biographies, getting a feel for the time period, and digging into the meat that will comprise the plot of my book. Once I start writing the first draft, I have to stop from time to time to do a little more research, particularly if I switch settings within the story. But usually, if I don’t know something, I’ll highlight it and then do more research during my editing phase. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Jody: Yes! I'm already excited about the second book in the series. It's already written and I'm in the process of getting ready to turn it in to my editor in order to get her expertise feedback. As I mentioned it will involve another one of the three knights. But of course, I won't give away which of the knights until closer to the release of the book! (How's that for a tease!) Brock: How do you hope parents will use An Uncertain Choice with their kids? Jody: While the book is an exciting and entertaining story that young women will enjoy reading, it's also a book that I hope facilitates discussion about dating, love, and marriage. I've developed a downloadable discussion guide to correspond with the book chapter by chapter that will be available on my website. It's my desire that mothers (or grandmothers) will read the book as a disciplining tool with their daughters and then use the story and study guide as a way to talk about relationship issues that often get overlooked. An Uncertain Choice would also be perfect for mentors, small groups, youth groups, or Bible studies, where girls to come together to read and discuss the book as a way to spur thoughts about God's plans for dating. Brock: What do you hope kids take away from this book? Jody: It's my prayer that through An Uncertain Choice and its discussion guide readers will examine dating and be better prepared for the challenges that accompany it. Whether young women are brand new at dating or have been dating for a while, it's never too late to evaluate God's design and to set into place a solid foundation for relationships, particularly in preparing for marriage. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Jody: My writing pace varies from project to project. On average, however, I would say that a book takes me about 4-5 months including the research, first draft, and then self-editing. Obviously, once I'm done and turn it into my publisher, there's still a lot more work that goes into getting the book ready for publication. But my first draft process usually encompasses about five months. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Jody: Like many writers, I’ve been writing since my childhood days. I always loved telling stories. When I was in junior high, I entered my first writing contest for a Biblical fiction story. And when I won, I realized God had indeed gifted me. I think that was when I became more serious about wanting to be a writer when I grew up. The passion followed me into adulthood. And after many twists and turns along the path, I’ve finally been able to channel that passion into a full time writing career. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Jody: My mom was the most influential person in my writing career. When I was young, she helped facilitate my love of writing by reading aloud to me, giving me good books to read, and providing the kind of environment that fostered my creativity (in fact we didn’t have a TV for a number of years). She always believed in me, encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and rode alongside me cheering me on. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Jody: Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorites as a child because it played a role in developing my creativity as a writer. Followed closely by A Little Princess and Little Women because they also featured strong, creative girls. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Jody: Diet Pepsi Brock: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Jody: Soft shell loaded with all the toppings Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Jody: Dream vacation: castles throughout Europe Brock: Favorite season? Jody: All of them in their own time Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Jody: Coffee. Coffee. And more coffee. :-) Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Jody: One of the many verses I treasure is "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Phil. 4:13 That verse has held me in good stead through many trials. Brock: Other than writing great novels, what other goals do you have for your life? Jody: Since I'm in the midst of raising a busy family of five children, I want to enjoy my family and raise my children to glorify God. That's a HUGE task right now and takes up most of my time and energy when I'm not writing. Someday I hope to be able to take naps again. But until then, I dream about the day! Brock: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time? Jody: Spare time? What's that? *Grin* No, seriously. When I have a minute or two to myself, I love to read! I've taken to using audio books as a way to squeeze in more reading, especially as I'm doing house chores or exercising. Also, over the past couple of years I've taken up running. I've enjoyed getting in shape (even though it's been slightly painful for me!) ![]() Author website: JodyHedlund.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorJodyHedlund Author Twitter: twitter.com/JodyHedlund Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/ Author Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/3358829.Jody_Hedlund ![]() Interview by Ashley Eastman Featuring Pursued Praise for the Nikki Boyd Files “Christy Award–winning and bestselling author Lisa Harris puts readers right into the action in this fast-paced thriller that will have them turning pages long into the night.” —Fresh Fiction on Missing “Lisa Harris has quickly become one of my favorite romantic suspense writers, and she has penned another winner in Missing.” —Radiant Lit on Missing “With this explosive first book in the Nikki Boyd Files, Lisa Harris takes readers on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have them holding their breath until the heart-stopping finish.” —Christian Retailing on Vendetta “A thrill ride from start to finish, the first book in Harris’s Nikki Boyd Files series is filled with twists and surprises. This is exactly the kind of suspense novel that readers are looking for—one to keep them involved and intrigued throughout.” —RT Book Reviews, Top Pick on Vendetta “The story is fueled with misleading dangers, and the character is so fascinating that fans will be waiting impatiently to see what adventure Nikki Boyd will have next.” —Suspense Magazine on Vendetta “Readers will try to figure out who’s behind the crimes as they get to know Nikki and root for her to heal from her painful past and open herself to love.” —Booklist on Vendetta Nikki Boyd's flight into Nashville was routine--up until the crash landing at the airport. When the dust settles, Nikki discovers that the woman who had been seated next to her on the plane is missing--and no one will admit she was ever there. Erika Hamilton had been flying to Nashville with an air marshal as a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial. When she flees from the crash, is she running from trouble or straight into it? Before Nikki can even see her family, she and her team are pulled into a missing persons case where the motives are as unclear as the suspects. Bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris has planted danger around every turn in this can't-put-it-down thrill ride that will leave readers stunned. Ashley: What was your inspiration for writing the Nikki Boyd Files? Lisa: Like with most of my stories, it began with a character that gripped my interest and whose story begged to be told. Nikki Boyd was one of those characters that I couldn’t stop thinking about. I always want to inspire with characters that are flawed and vulnerable and yet also show how God can use them. Giving Nikki her own series gave me the perfect combination. Ashley: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Lisa: Nikki’s personal reasons for working on a Missing Person Task force intrigued me the most. She not only cared about the victims and their families, but she was the sister of a victim. This makes her not only good at her job, but her motivation keeps her intent on finding those she’s searching for. Tyler is the love interest in this series. To me he’s perfect for Nikki, though they don’t discover this right away. He’s been wounded—both physically in the military, and emotionally with the loss of his wife, and yet even as he struggles to get back on his feet, he becomes a source of strength for Nikki. Ashley: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Lisa: To be honest, I don’t interview my characters upfront like some authors do. I discover their likes, dislikes and quirks as I write. So all the facts I know about them I’ve already weaved into the series. Ashley: In three sentences words, what is this book about? Lisa: Pursued is a race against time to find a woman who disappears after a plane crash. When Nikki Boyd learns that Erika Hamilton is a key witness in a grand jury trial, she’s determined to do everything she can to ensure the woman is found. But someone will do anything to make sure she doesn’t testify. Ashley: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Lisa: I always start with a basic outline, then build on that as I write. With the twists and turns of romantic suspense, having a structure in place is extremely helpful for me as I write. Ashley: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Lisa: I believe that Nikki is a heroine we can all relate to. She’s vulnerable yet strong, and knows what it is to have to deal with a horrible loss. Ashley: What is your favorite genre to write for? Lisa: Definitely romantic suspense! Ashley: How many books are planned for this series? Lisa: Pursued is the third and last book in the Nikki Boyd Files, but I’m finishing up a book that is a tie-in to the series. Vanishing Point is the story of Sarah Boyd, Nikki’s sister who disappeared over a decade ago, and the Angel Abductor who readers will know about from the series. Ashley: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Lisa: I always do a lot of research on a wide variety of subjects. I’ll research things like setting to add to the flavor of the book, police procedure, specific crimes that the case is dealing with, and much more. Ashley: Why did you choose to focus on a male and female protagonist? Lisa: Originally, I had planned for this series to highlight a different protagonist in each book. It was my publisher’s suggestion to make this Nikki’s series which I have ended up loving. The whole series takes place over a few short months, which allowed me to have a larger romance arc between Nikki and Tyler over the three books, as well as a second larger arc on Nikki’s search for her missing sister. For me it allowed me to bring a deeper depth to the series and make it very personal. Ashley: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Lisa: I’m a full-time author working part-time hours. Or at least that’s what it feels like sometimes. I have discovered that in reality, the workload never ends, and like most people, I have many other responsibilities. So I’m constantly re-evaluating my schedule and time as I balance life in general. Ashley: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Lisa: I’m comfortable with about six months, but I always end up with less time than that. Ashley: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Lisa: I always wanted to write, though I didn’t get serious about actually sitting down and finishing a book until I was in my late twenties. Ashley: Coke or Pepsi? Lisa: Neither Ashley: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Lisa: Both Ashley: Favorite place to vacation? Lisa: Right now, I’d be happy to go anywhere on vacation!! Ashley: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Lisa: It’s been a difficult year personally for our family, so I love holding onto this verse. “And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 Ashley: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing? Lisa: One of my favorite things to do is head to a nearby game park and drive through the bush looking for animals. There’s something peaceful about no cell phone or computers and all I can see is God’s incredible creation. It’s the one place I’ve found I can really get away from it all and take a deep breath! Ashley: Any hobbies? Lisa: I love photography, especially people and animals. We’ve finally put up some of our favorite animal photos—lion, leopard, rhino and more—in our house which has been fun. ![]() Author Website: LisaHarriswrites.com Author Facebook: @AuthorLisaHarris Author Twitter: @HeartofAfrica Author Pinterest: lharriswrites ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Justice Delayed It's been eighteen years since TV crime reporter Andi Hollister's sister was murdered. The confessed killer is behind bars, and the execution date is looming. But when a letter surfaces stating that the condemned killer didn't actually do it, Detective Will Kincade of the Memphis Cold Case Unit will stop at nothing to help Andi get to the bottom of it. After all, this case is personal: the person who confessed to the crime is Will's cousin. They have less than a week to find the real killer before the wrong person is executed. But much can be accomplished in that week--including uncovering police corruption, running for your life, and falling in love. “Patricia Bradley has everything you’re looking for in inspirational romantic suspense—the perfect blend of mystery and romance. Her characters leap off the page and will stay with you long after you finish the book. Justice Delayed is one book I couldn’t put down until the very last page.” --Mary Ellis, bestselling author, Midnight on the Mississippi and the Secrets of the South series Brock: What was your inspiration for writing Justice Delayed? Patricia: I’ve wanted to write a book about cold cases for a long time, and since I grew up in Memphis, it was the perfect location, especially since I have an advisor who is part of the cold case team there. As for this particular story, when I wake up every morning, I spend a few minutes letting thoughts run through my mind. If I were writing, it would be called free writing, so I guess it’s free thinking. One morning I wondered what if someone on death row received a letter stating he had not committed the murder he was convicted of? And what if the letter writer had proof. But then the letter is stolen and the writer is murdered. And Justice Delayed went from there. Brock: Tell us about the main characters? Who are they, what makes them unique. Patricia: Will Kincade wanted to be a policeman since he was a kid along with his best friend, Brad Hollister. Andi Hollister is a TV reporter who drives her family and friends crazy with the risks she takes to get a story. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Patricia: Will is ashamed that he and Brad locked Andi in the shed when she was 10 and they were 12 so she couldn’t tag along with them. Especially since she’s now terrified of being in enclosed places. Andi is driven to prove herself, but no one knows how afraid she is when she interviews a dangerous person like the gang member. Brock: In three sentences words, what is this book about? Patricia: Diamonds. Deception. Justice Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Patricia: I discover who my characters are, and then I usually plot out the end of Act 1 where something happens where the protagonist(s) is thrown into solving the crime, then in the middle of Act 2, my protagonist(s)learn something that changes everything. I also know what the black moment is and usually how the story ends. Of course, my characters may have other ideas about all this, and then I go with them. J I don’t always know who did it. I was writing this story one day and a character admitted to the murder. And I thought, so you’re the one who did it. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Patricia: My heroine deals with trust issues and my hero deals with unforgiveness. My hope is that readers will identify with how they resolve these issues. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Patricia: I love to write Romantic Suspense. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Patricia: Four initially, but it is set up to continue indefinitely. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Patricia: I have the Memphis Cold Division on speed dial, and my detective there has been wonderful to answer questions. I also had to research maximum-security prisons in Tennessee. And how to cause a tie-rod to come loose. On that last note—I was in Gateway at 7 am one Saturday waiting for the mechanic to arrive so he could explain how to do that. I only wished I’d had a camera when I asked him. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Patricia: I lay down the suspense line first, along with a little of the romance and faith lines, then I go back and fill in those last two until I have the right balance. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Patricia: I am working on the second book, Justice Buried. It’s a story set at the Pink Palace Museum, a famous landmark in Memphis. I was privileged to tour the Palace from the attic to the basement, and there are a lot of places to hide bodies there! I’m thinking about the third book that is about an Elvis impersonator killed fifteen years ago. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Patricia: Justice Buried is set at the Pink Palace in Memphis and is about a security specialist who is accused of murder. She has to clear her name or her career is over, but her investigation draws her into the path of a killer, and she finds herself fighting for her life. Brock: Do you plot or outline the entire series before you begin writing, or do your books take on lives of their own? Or is there a combination? Patricia: I usually plot out the series, but then each book takes a life of its own and doesn’t even remotely resemble the outline and sometimes even has new protagonists. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Patricia: Wait a minute and let me get up off the floor. J Something important always changes about my books. In Justice Delayed, I thought Andi was a newspaper reporter, but once I started writing, she let me know she was a TV reporter, and the murderer changed twice. Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example? Patricia: I am a very lean writer and scenes are rarely cut. If anything, I add scenes. Brock: Where do you like to write? Patricia: I love to write on my screened-in deck where I can listen to the birds sing. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Patricia: I’m blessed to be a full-time author. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Patricia: I like to have at least five months, but I have written one in four. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Patricia: I want them to take away hope. Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in the Justice Delayed. Patricia: My books deal with problems Christians have in their lives—forgiveness, distance from God, guilt, trust issues, lack of faith—they’re all there. I hope the way my characters work out their problems will give hope to my readers. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Patricia: When I was 35 and these people came to live in my head. They wouldn’t go away until I wrote their stories. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Patricia: God first—sometimes I have to depend on Him for the next sentence, and He has been faithful to give it to me. Also, teaching I received from Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck—they have shared their knowledge and encouragement to so many, and I was blessed to be one of them. I learned how to craft a story from them. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? Patricia: I like e-books and believe they will encourage reading. As for Indie publishing, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s easier to get your book out there, but so many Indie authors don’t hire a good editor for their stories and a lot of badly written books end up getting published. But cream always rises to the top. I prefer to be traditionally published. Revell, a division of Baker Books, is the absolute best! They really invest in their authors, marketing their books and offering so much encouragement. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Patricia: I read Exodus by Leon Uris when I was in the 10th grade and even now, that book impacts me. Brock: Describe your feelings when you opened the box and saw the first published copies of your very first book. Patricia: Actually, my editor sent my first book to me, making sure I received it on Christmas Eve. It was heart stopping when I tore open the envelope and realized it was Shadows of the Past. And I cried when I held it in my hands. Nothing will ever top that, but I was excited when the box of books arrived later. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Patricia: I have so many ideas for books in my head, and I hope I have a chance to write every one of them. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Patricia: I could not write a book without knowing God was there, giving me the gift of telling a story. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Patricia: I rarely drink carbonated drinks, but usually buy Coke if I do. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Patricia: I love to cruise the Caribbean and will take my third cruise in March. Brock: Favorite season? Patricia: I love the leaves and crispness in the air in the Fall. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Patricia: When I’m writing, I consume hazel nut coffee by the gallon Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Patricia: I have 2 and I note them on each book I sign—Psalm 37:4, 7: 4:“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” 7: “Wait patiently for the Lord to act…” Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Patricia: Anything Alfredo. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Patricia: I listen to the light Classical Music channel except when I’m writing suspense, and then I listen to Batman Returns and The Phantom of the Opera. Brock: What is one thing most people don’t know about you? Patricia: I’ve been bucked off a horse two times, and one of those times, the saddle came with me. Brock: What was your day job before you quit to write full-time? Patricia: I taught abstinence and how to have healthy relationships to junior and senior high school students. It was quite an experience. Maybe I should have put that in the one thing most people don’t know about me. ![]() Patricia Bradley is the author of Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, Gone without a Trace, and Silence in the Dark. Bradley received the 2016 Inspirational Readers Choice Award for the third Logan Point book, Gone without a Trace, and has been a finalist for the Genesis Award, a winner of a Daphne du Maurier Award, and winner of a Touched by Love Award. Bradley is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at ptbradley.com. Author Facebook: facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor Author Twitter: @ptbradley1 Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/ptbradley ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Murder Is No Accident Young Maggie Greene may be trespassing in the old, empty Victorian mansion on a quiet street in Hidden Springs, but all she wants is some private time in the magnificent tower room to write her stories. Certain she’ll be in trouble if caught, she hides when a realtor shows up. But someone else is in the house too, someone even more worried about getting caught. When Maggie finds the realtor’s body at the bottom of a flight of stairs and the other person gone, Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane is called in. He assumes the realtor’s death is a tragic accident–until a second person is found dead in the house. When Maggie is threatened, Michael must catch the murderer before anyone else dies. Cozy mystery fans will love this third installment in The Hidden Springs Mysteries series from an author who knows how to make small-town America sweet, sentimental–and a little sinister. “The plot will keep readers anxious for another story set in Hidden Springs.” – RT Book Reviews about Murder Comes by Mail Brock: What was your inspiration for writing this book or series? Ann: Since I’ve always enjoyed reading mysteries, I decided to try writing a mystery story. But I also like setting my stories in small towns. That’s what I know since I grew up on a farm near a small town. So mystery combined with a small town and a few eccentric characters and a cat or two turned that first Hidden Springs story into a cozy mystery. For this book, my third Hidden Springs mystery, Murder Is No Accident, I decided to let the mystery take place in an old Victorian style house much like one I’ve always admired on my hometown’s Main Street. Then I introduced a new character, a young girl who dreams of being a writer. Hmm, something like me when I was fifteen. When she sneaks into the house to hide out and write in the tower room, she’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. And so the mystery begins. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Ann: Michael Keane is the deputy sheriff of Hidden Springs. He loves his small town and has roots all the way to China. He tried working as a policeman in a big city, but hated it. He came back to Hidden Springs where he feels as though he actually has a chance to keep the peace. The problem is that he’s in love with a big city girl and while she loves him in return, they can’t quite figure out how to work out their different lifestyles. Alexandria Sheridan is an attorney in Washington D.C. She loves Hidden Springs, but only as a place to visit. She can’t imagine actually living in such a small town. She’s used to being on the fast track to success but she's also sure Michael could never be happy living in a big city. That makes a dilemma for her since she wants what's best for Michael. Fifteen-year-old Maggie Greene wants to be a writer. Her family has never had a lot of money, but after Maggie’s father gets laid off from his factory job, they struggle to pay their bills. Maggie doesn’t worry about not having the fancy clothes, cell phone, etc. that other girls her age have. She doesn’t mind helping her mother clean houses and taking care of her little brother while her mother is at work, but she does dreams of going to college. She’s afraid if she’s caught trespassing in the big house her mother sometimes cleans that will put a black mark on her record and keep her from getting the scholarships she needs to go on to school. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Ann: Michael Keane collects Civil War weapons and history books. He would like to have time to visit the historic battlefields and be more involved in Civil War re-enactments. Alexandria Sheridan wanted to be a Jeopardy contestant when she was in college, but she never sent in the application. She worried she'd freeze up, but now she's sorry she didn't give it a try. Maggie Greene dreams of someday going to England and touring a castle. Brock: In three sentences words, what is this book about? Ann: Murder. Secrets. Love. Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Ann: I don’t outline my stories. I come up with a what if question or two, write a few pages about my characters to get to know them better and then type “Chapter 1” and begin. I like it when the characters keep the story going, but sometimes I think writing the book would surely be way easier if I did have that detailed outline. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Ann: My characters are regular folks just like my readers. While the characters in my stories may be challenged with more dramatic happenings then most people might face, we do all have good and bad times in life. Sometimes it helps to lay aside your own troubles to escape into a story for a while. I hope readers will cheer for my characters and hope for their safety and eventual happiness. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Ann: I’ve enjoyed writing these cozy mysteries, but I also enjoy writing the family stories and the historical stories I’ve written. One thing that does seem to tie most of my stories together is the small town Kentucky settings. So maybe I can start a new genre. A small town genre. You think the readers would go for that? Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Ann: Murder Is No Accident is the third Hidden Springs mystery following up Murder at the Courthouse and Murder Comes by Mail. At this time, I don’t have plans to visit Hidden Springs again, but who knows? Maybe someday mysterious happenings might again show up on the Main Street of Hidden Springs. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Ann: No special research was required for this story. I used an old house here in my town as inspiration for the setting, but the events of the story are all from my imagination. Brock: What do your readers think about your latest series? Ann: When my first Hidden Springs mystery, Murder at the Courthouse, was published I worried that my readers would be upset by my change in genre. The publishers worried about this too and that’s why they suggested I use a different form of my name, A. H. Gabhart instead of Ann H. Gabhart, as author of these cozy mysteries. I have been very pleasantly surprised that the majority of my readers, who had read my Shaker novels and my family series, gave my mysteries a try without hesitation. Even better, they all seemed to like the stories. I was especially on pins and needles with Murder Comes by Mail, because it is a more suspenseful story than most cozy mysteries. But again, I have the best readers in the world. They like my characters and my small town of Hidden Springs. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male protagonist? Ann: With my main character a deputy sheriff, I decided a man might be the more believable character in a town the size of my fictional Hidden Springs. Besides, I enjoy writing from the male point of view. That sometimes gives me a fresh perspective on a story idea. Brock: Where do you like to write? Ann: I prefer working in my office with windows all around, but I wrote my first novel many years ago at a desk in my kitchen while my youngest son watched Captain Kangaroo. To prove how long ago that was, my son now has four children, two of them teenagers! I wrote a number of books at that kitchen desk, but then when my father died, I received a small inheritance we used to build an addition onto our house that included an office for me. It's great having my own office with those windows I love. I can look outside at the trees and birds when I'm not looking inward at whatever is happening in my story. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Ann: I want my readers to be glad they took some time out of their busy lives to come visit Hidden Springs. I want them to come to think of my characters as family. I would like for them to realize good people, those willing to go the extra mile for their fellow citizens, abound in our world. That’s the kind of deputy sheriff Michael is in Hidden Springs. Last, but not least, I want them to be entertained by the story. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Ann: We have to go way back in time for that story. My first book, a historical romance, was published in the general market in 1978. Lots of ups and downs since then on my publishing road, but Murder Is No Accident is my thirty-first published book. When I wrote that first book back in the 1970’s, many things were different about how you went about submitting your work to publishers. I had to type all my manuscripts on a typewriter, prior to word processors, and mail those manuscripts to my agent who then sent them out to potential publishers, one at a time. If a rejection resulted, then the story was sent to another publisher. One thing was similar in that it was very helpful to have an agent. I searched through writing magazines for how to get an agent and then once I decided who to approach, I wrote a query letter telling about my story. Now we would call that a proposal and do most of the approaching agents or publishers via internet or at writers’ conferences. I do vividly remember reading that letter from my agent that told me my novel had been accepted for publication by Warner Books. One of those never to be forgotten moments. Fast forward a few decades and I wrote a story about a preacher and his family that brought me into the Christian fiction world. I love it here. When I noticed mysteries were becoming more popular among Christian fiction readers, I started letting murder happen in my little town of Hidden Springs. I was pleased when my editor and publishers decided readers might enjoy my cozy mysteries. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Ann: I sometimes wonder if I wasn’t wired to be a writer when I was born. Okay, maybe not quite that soon, but I did start writing my first book when I was ten. At the time, I was reading a lot of Hardy Boy mysteries and I decided to write my own mystery starring a smarter, cuter and far less shy me. I’ve been writing ever since. I love putting words together and telling stories. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Ann: I hope to write a few more books that will have readers telling me they couldn’t put my book down until they finished the story. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Ann: Neither. I love my tea, hot or iced. Unsweetened, but I do mix lemonade with my iced tea when I go to one of those fast food restaurants. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Ann: I love to walk on the beach at sunrise and let the waves lap up toward my feet. I like hearing the shore birds and seeing the little crabs dig down in the sand. But I also like being in the mountains or on a lake. So perhaps my favorite place to vacation is anywhere I can get out in the natural world the good Lord made so beautiful. Brock: Favorite way to exercise? Ann: Walking on my farm with my dog, Oscar. Brock: Favorite season? Ann: Spring in the spring and fall in the fall. That was cheating picking two, wasn’t it? Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Ann: So many favorite verses. I’ll decide one is a favorite and then I’ll see another I want to let settle down in my heart. I put a Scripture reference when I autograph any of my books. I’ve tried to come up with verses that match the story the way I did with Lamentations 3:22-23 for Murder at the Courthouse since that is a verse one of the characters considered during the story. In my recent Shaker book, The Innocent, I had a continual faith thread where my character, Carlyn, would remember how her mother was always saying “Pray anyway” no matter the circumstances. So I put 1 Thessalonians 5:17 when I sign that book. If I can’t come up with anything that matches the title or the theme of the book, I use 3 John 2 because that seems like a blessing I can pray for each and every reader. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Ann: No, never. I like quiet. Brock: Why do you like to set your stories in small towns like Hidden Springs? Ann: I’m a country girl who knows very little about big cities, so it just seems right that I keep my stories in familiar territory. Also, small towns have a certain charm while opening up the potential of introducing some interesting minor characters to add color to a story. We had a few of those kinds of characters in my own hometown. While I have never actually used any of the people in my hometown in my stories, many of my hometown readers think I have. They are always trying to figure out who this or that character “really” is. Sometimes what they come up with surprises me or it’s someone I didn’t even know well enough to write into my story. I do admit that, at times, I have been inspired to come up with this or that character by people I have known. Even then, my fictional people are a mishmash of characteristics from many people I’ve met through the years. Brock: Why did you name your fictional town Hidden Springs? Ann: I like to name my towns something that sounds great. I have my Hollyhill stories and then there’s my little community of Rosey Corner where my Merritt family live. I named my fictional Shaker village, Harmony Hill. You think I might like town names that start with h? But Hidden Springs seemed like the perfect name when I was writing the first of my Hidden Springs mysteries, Murder at the Courthouse, because the mystery involved truths about long hidden events in the town that spring to the surface. Thank you so much for letting me come visit. I enjoy talking about my books and writing and love talking to my reading friends. ![]() Author Website: AnnHGabhart.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/anngabhart Author Twitter: @AnnHGabhart Author Pinterest: AnnHGabhart ![]() Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Recruits It’s a world they’ve seen only in their dreams—until now. Twins Sean and Dillon Kirrel have dreamed about a world beyond their own since they were children, but it has always been a fantasy. Not long before their eighteenth birthday, however, the arrival of a mysterious new neighbor and the revelations he shares bring that far-off world within reach. When Sean and Dillon learn they share a unique gift—the ability to transfer instantly between worlds—they are offered an opportunity to prove themselves as recruits to the planetary Assembly. But unlocking their abilities awakens an enemy beyond anything they ever imagined, thrusting them into an interplanetary conflict that could consume the entire human race. “A truly awesome work. . . . Enormously engaging and thought provoking. The concept itself is remarkable, and the writing is absolutely beautiful.” --Kim Neimi, former executive vice president, NBC Universal “Recruits is mind-bending storytelling, part The Matrix and part I Am Number Four. . . . An adventurer’s feast of the most addictive sort.” --Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Forbidden “Wow! Recruits is a remarkable feat, combining adroit storytelling with a delicious mixture of the now and the fantastic. The story brings to mind the poignant beauty of Arthur C. Clarke’s best novels, as well as such modern works as Avatar." --Phyllis Tickle, former senior editor, Publishers Weekly Brock: How did you come up with the idea for Recruits? Thomas: For the past several years I have grown increasingly concerned over the all-pervading darkness that nowadays forms the core of both character development and story within the fantasy and science fiction genres. Three years ago, Publishers Weekly held a global forum on where science fiction and fantasy were headed. A panel that included some of the largest New York publishers and editors in these fields brought several key elements to light. Here are the four points I found of crucial importance. First, in the six months leading up to that forum, not one book was released by any New York publisher in either fantasy or science fiction that hearkens back to the classical heroic structure of by-gone days. Second, both of these genres have become redefined by the electronic game industry, which is soon expected to top Hollywood films in terms of both profit and revenue. Third, the key impact of e-games on both character and story theme was described as “grey-scaling.” This means there is no longer room for either heroes or villains. This is important in e-games because the player is offered the chance to take on every role. None are deemed wrong, or bad. All are equally valid. Fourth, the classical story structure has been deemed passé. This structure formed the basis for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and for C.S. Lewis and the Narnia series, and has its roots in the ancient Greek heroic structure, many of which were told as fantasies. Do all readers want dark, hopeless stories? Long before this conference confirmed my growing suspicions, I felt the question these NY publishers overlooked was, “What has happened to the readers of classical fantasy and science fiction? Are readers satisfied with the direction that these publishers have chosen to take?” I do not disagree with the new direction as a concept. But I fundamentally dispute this mind-set of exclusively focusing on the new, the dark, and the hopeless. Brock: Do you outline the entire book before starting, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Thomas: It really depends upon the story. With Recruits, for example, the characters basically told me the story and I hung on for the ride. This past week I completed work on the sequel, Renegades (Revell winter 2017). For this story, I outlined heavily. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Thomas: All of the Thomas Locke projects hold to the original Greek structure of inherent value, what Hollywood refers to as ‘leave-behind.” In Recruits, the principal characters rise from nothing to forge an alliance that has profound and far-reaching impact, simply by accepting the challenge of their own self-worth. With Recruits, I returned to the stories that framed so much of my own early reading. The characters are beset by impossible circumstances, and yet arrive at a point where they can not just survive, but achieve greatness. Brock: What is the biblical background or basis for the series? Thomas: When you pick up a Thomas Locke book, do not expect an evangelical story. Instead, these stories harken back to what J.R.R. Tolkien did with The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was a survivor of the trenches in World War I. When war returned with World War II, the darkness he saw was difficult for him, personally. He felt as if the world had not healed. In The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he offered a new concept of lore that acknowledged the grip of war, the darkness people faced that had to be combatted, and the courage that was required. That is precisely what I am trying to do with these series. I’m not putting forth a Christian message for believers. I’m creating a new kind of story that includes the positive aspects that come from our life walk: courage in the face of hardship. Growth. Change. The meeting of life’s challenges. The need for a greater vision. Compassion. And above all, hope. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Thomas: Three. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Thomas: The crucial element in writing speculative fiction is NOT the speculation. The key to these stories being successful is in anchoring them somehow to reality. With most speculative fiction, this comes down to making the emotions of the characters, and the characters themselves, come alive so powerfully that their world and their adventures become real as well. Brock: What do your readers think about your latest series? Thomas: The most recent Thomas Locke release was B2 in the Trial Run series, entitled Flash Point. Suspense Magazine recently awarded Trial Run their prestigious Best Book of 2015. Brock: Where do you like to write? Thomas: These days I travel a great deal, as it is required both for my teaching and for the service my wife and I are involved in. This year, for example, I will be working in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. As a result, it is necessary to hold to the discipline of writing wherever I am. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Thomas: I like to think of myself as a full-time writer, though there are increasingly other non-writing projects that my wife and I are involved with. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Thomas: For the past eighteen years, I have written a minimum of four full-length projects every twelve months. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Thomas: I came to faith at age twenty-eight and started writing two weeks later. Within days I knew this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Before that time, I had never written anything longer than a business report. I wrote for nine years and finished seven books before my first (The Presence, Bethany House) was accepted for publication. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Thomas: Most definitely it was the works of positive visionaries writing speculative fiction. It was a huge honor and delight when, the year after I started writing, Arthur C Clarke agreed to serve as my very first mentor. Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Thomas: There are a number of Christian teachers whose lessons and books have enriched me. I would love to work with any of them in fashioning their teachings into a story. Brock: Describe your feelings when you opened the box and saw the first published copies of your very first book. Thomas: I know you are looking for some expression of joy here. And I was certainly happy. But our lives at that point were undergoing some really seismic shifts. The arrival of the book was great, and offered huge comfort at a difficult time. But in truth we were a little too busy just then to be overwhelmed. Now, when I look back, the day that happened really seemed more like, okay, I have now passed through this portal. The book is great, but the spiritual lessons are even greater. God is with us right now. His ways are sure. This is the key. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Thomas: My faith is center to all my works, both those intended for evangelical publishers and those aimed at the mainstream. There is no difference except whether I openly express my devotion. Brock: What’s your favorite holiday memory? Thomas: When I began writing, I needed a place where I could take a holiday from my day job, and time this to writing the climax of my story. For this I wanted to focus totally on the work, without the normal outside pressures. Because I surf, I looked for a place where there were waves. I worked in Germany, which has no repeat no surf. A dear friend suggested I visit the Basque country on the Atlantic coast, on the border of France and Spain. I fell in love with the wild and rocky region, very similar to northern California. I have worked on more than two dozen books there, and dedicated my first French release to the family with whom we stayed since the year after we were married. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Thomas: Just now I am studying the Psalms anew. So many new favorites, so many old friends. It is a delight to dwell in these pages. ![]() Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn, an award-winning novelist with worldwide sales of seven million copies in twenty languages. Davis divides his time between Oxford and Florida and holds a lifelong passion for speculative stories. He is the author of Emissary and Merchant of Alyss in the Legends of the Realm series, as well as Trial Run and Flash Point in the Fault Lines series. Learn more at TLocke.com. Author Website: TLocke.com Author Facebook: THOMASLOCKE |
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