 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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 Interview with Brock Eastman Featuring Siren's Fury Brock: Tell us about the main character’s development in Siren's Fury. Mary: In Storm Siren (Book 1) Nym faced a storm raging around her in the form of Adora, Eogan, war, love and loss. Now, in Siren’s Fury, Nym is facing a storm inside of her, when, after losing her Elemental abilities, she compromises what she knows to be right and chooses to absorb a dark power in an effort to save someone. However, she quickly discovers that instead of being able to control the evil within like she had hoped, the darkness begins taking over her. Brock: In three words, what is Siren's Fury about? Mary: Loss. Compromise. Surrender. Brock: How do you believe this part of the story (in the series) relates to the lives of readers? Mary: In Siren’s Fury, the issue I think readers will most identify with is that struggle regarding compromise and its consequences. Specifically when done with the right intentions (which is usually the case) as well as when “wrong” and “right” seem relative. But of course truth is invariable, and, while each compromise of that truth has consequences (often severe), there is also grace for redemption and overcoming. Brock: Is there any biblical background or basis for the book? Mary: Faith is an integral part of my life and therefore biblical principles and struggles will always be a part of my stories. If I were going to make any biblical comparison, it’d be that Nym reminds me very much of King David – with a beautiful heart full of compassion, but making an unwise choice when faced with impossible-seeming circumstances. Brock: What feedback have you received from readers in regards to the series? Mary: *laughs* Hands down the most often received comment is “WHAT ON EARTH DID YOU DOOOOOO?!”(in regards to Storm Siren). Which is almost always followed by kind words from readers about being able to relate to Nym and her internal struggles as well as her victories. I’ve been enormously touched by the amount of incredible people who take time to write notes about how they’ve been inspired. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? What is the title? Mary: I’m currently doing edits on Book 3 (still untitled!) and I’ll be honest – they’re by far the hardest thus far. I think I’m feeling my own pressure of wanting to wrap Nym’s story up well and do my amazing readers justice. :0) Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Mary: Ooh yes! We’ll get a glimpse into Cashlin (and all its weirdness), discover more of the Dark Army’s creepiness, learn about Nym’s birth and backstory, and encounter decisions that will equal life, love, loss, and death. As well as an epic finale (which I’m hoping readers won’t hate me for, ahem). ;0) Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Mary: The characters have changed more than anything – their struggles and strengths have become clearer and more personal to what I see myself and others encounter. Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example? Mary: *laughs* I seriously think I might be the most boring writer in the world! I write in a straight line from start to finish – and usually add a scene or two during edits, but there aren’t any I ever cut (weirdly enough). However, I can say my editors and I were so fond of a new boy named Kel that we enhanced his storyline. And he’ll be fully in Book 3. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids/teens? Mary: As a parent of 2 teen girls and a pre-teen boy, I’m always looking for stories to inspire a deeper love of reading in my kids. But even more so, I’m looking for stories to ignite their hunger for adventure and reflective truth at a soul level. I hope Siren’s Fury does that. :0) Brock: What do you hope kids/teens take away from this book or series? Mary: (1) Courage to live their own incredible stories that God has written. (2) Understanding it’s both the beautiful and broken bits (the ups and downs) that make us who we are and our life stories come ALIVE. (3) Bravery to accept and embrace the unique individual God has created them to be (because he only creates glorious things). :0) Brock: How long did it take you to write Siren's Fury? Mary: 7 ½ months Brock: Favorite book? Mary: Gah – there are SO manyyyy!! But my current obsession is Marie Rutkoski’s incredibly brilliant WINNER’S TRILOGY (because off-the-chart FEELS). And Marissa Meyer’s LUNAR CHRONICLES (because Captain Thorne is Han Solo in book form). Brock: Favorite sound? Mary: My husband’s voice, my children’s laughter, and my steaming espresso machine. Brock: Weirdest food you’ve tried? Hmm…probably rattlesnake (and yes, it tastes like chicken – stringy chicken :0)). Although my husband and daughter have me beat - last year in Cambodia they ate deep-fried tarantula. Apparently it takes like bacon.  Author website: MaryWeber.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/marychristineweber Author Twitter: twitter.com/mchristineweber Author Instagram: instagram.com/maryweberauthor/  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Richard L. Mabry When Dr. Mark Baker and Nurse Kelly Atkinson are held at the mercy of a dangerous gunman, the lives of every emergency room patient are at stake. At the end of the evening three men are dead. One is a police officer whose life couldn't be saved despite Mark's best efforts. The other two are members of a drug cartel. After the standoff, the killing is not over. When the drug cartel loses members, revenge is not far behind. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, hiding her own feelings for Mark. Three questions remain: Who is the shooter? Who will the next victim be? And can Mark prove his innocence before the gun turns on him? "Fatal Trauma asks big questions of faith, priorities, and meaning, all within the context of a tightly crafted medical drama." -Steven James, best-selling author of Placebo and Checkmate Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this book? Richard: It began with a conversation, discussing the time a physician whom I was privileged to help train confronted a man with a gun in a hospital emergency room. Since Mexican drug cartels have extended their influence into our area of Texas, it seemed natural for me to add that to the idea stirring in my head. Thus, Fatal Trauma was born. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Richard: Dr. Mark Baker is an emergency room physician. He knows it’s time to settle down, but he isn’t sure he’s met a woman who’s “the one”—until he sees her with a gun to her head. Nurse Kelly Atkinson has already decided that Mark is her “one,” and when they both seem to be just a trigger’s pull from death, she’s more certain than ever. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Richard: Mark had a year of surgery residency before he decided he wanted to treat “a little bit of everything.” That’s why he’s an ER doctor. Rachel’s parents are divorced, but unlike many such situations, their separation didn’t drive her away from Christianity—it brought her closer. Brock: In three words, what is this book about? Richard: Faith under fire. 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? Richard: I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. I start with a premise or hook. Then I populate the story, although I learn more about the characters as the novel develops. I figure out something to keep the story moving and prevent a sagging middle, then craft what I hope will be a surprising and satisfying ending. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Richard: I don’t think my readers are ever going to go through the trials of my two protagonists…at least, I hope not. But what I’d like them to realize, after they finish reading Fatal Trauma, is that even when things look bad God is with them. He doesn’t cause bad things to happen, but He’ll stand by us as we get through them. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Richard: I tried writing in a number of genres before I finally settled on medical suspense. Then, because there’s a bit of romance in all my books and they have a Christian point-of-view, I adopted the tag, “Medical suspense with heart.” Brock: Are your novels part of a series or are they freestanding? Richard: My novels are totally freestanding, and can be read in any order. I think this is harder for an author than writing a series, since in earlier books they will have created a locale and characters. Nevertheless, I’ve had numerous readers (and publishers) tell me they prefer freestanding novels. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Richard: People think that, because I’m a physician, I should be able to write medical scenarios without having to do any research, but that’s not right. Medicine is constantly changing, and the way a heart attack was treated a year or two ago is most likely different from what is best practice now. As for the scenarios themselves, those are products of my imagination, although sometimes I insert details from my experience or that of other physicians. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Richard: The two major elements I try to balance in my novels are suspense and romance. I let the characters themselves dictate the way the plot proceeds, and thus they determine how much of each element is in each book. When I look at the plot after it’s wound up, I generally end up with slightly more suspense than romance, but that’s not due to any conscious decision on my part. Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? Richard: Since I either wrote or edited eight textbooks during my time as a practicing physician, I figured seeing my first non-medical book in print wouldn’t be that big a deal, but I was wrong. What got me into this type of writing in the first place was my non-fiction book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse, and when the book came out I was thrilled that God helped me take the event that was the toughest I’d ever experienced and turn it into something that might help others. Every time I am reminded of that book (which continues to minister to thousands), that thrill comes back. Since Fatal Trauma will be my eighth published novel, you might think there wouldn’t be any emotion associated with seeing the book in print…but you’d be wrong. I guess it never goes away. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male or female protagonist? Richard: I wrote four novels over four years that were all rejected by publishers. Each of them had male protagonists…because I was a man, so that’s how I thought. Then I read that 85% of Christian fiction readers were women and they preferred female protagonists. Well, as one of my med school professors used to say, “You can teach a white mouse in three times.” So I switched to female protagonists. It was only after I’d had four novels published that I was brave enough to write with a male lead character, and I’ve sort of alternated since then, always with both a male and female playing prominent roles. And, since I’m always asked how I can write authentic fiction from a female perspective, I have to give credit to my wife, Kay. She’s my first reader, biggest fan, and severest critic, and doesn’t hesitate to say, “No, a woman wouldn’t say/do that…she’d say/do this.” And she’s right. Brock: Can you give us a hint about your next book? Richard: After Fatal Trauma comes Miracle Drug, due for publication this fall. It’s a novel that I actually wrote before Ebola became a household word. In Miracle Drug, a doctor is suddenly called on to treat an unusual, normally fatal infection sustained by an ex-President and the doctor’s girl friend. A cure would require both heroic efforts and a miracle drug. Brock: Where do you like to write? Richard: Although some of my colleagues like to use their laptops to write in coffee houses or on their back porch, I do almost all my writing in my office. There’s something about having a place to sit down and act like an author that seems to help me plot and compose more effectively. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Richard: I’m retired from my career practicing medicine, but I’ve found that “life” continues to demand a great deal of my time. So, even though I don’t have to leave the house for a job each day, I still consider myself fortunate if I can snatch an hour or two each morning and/or evening to write. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Richard: My first book took me well over a year to write, what with all the edits and revisions, because I was trying to get that elusive first fiction contract. Since then, although I’d love to have the luxury of a year between books, contracts and deadlines have dictated a book each six months (except for a couple of lulls when I changed publishers). Brock: What do you hope readers take away from your novels? Richard: My books are Christian fiction—that is, although there are no altar calls or long Scripture passages, they involve the struggles that affect all of us who are Christian. I’m trying to convey two messages in the books: the Christian is not immune to bad things happening, and God is always there to help us get through those bad times. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Richard: In 2009 I had no aspirations to write non-medical material. My wife of 40 years and I were going to retire, build on some farmland I’d purchased, and relax. Instead, she died of a sudden stroke. I used journaling as a grieving tool, and some friends who read what I was writing suggested I turn it into a book. Unfortunately, I had no idea how one did that, and eventually I attended a Christian writers’ conference. That was where I not only learned what I had to do to turn my journaling into a book, but was also challenged by two faculty members to try my hand at fiction. Eventually I received a contract for The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse. Then, a few years later, I finally got my first fiction contract. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? Richard: When I first started seeking publication, writers who self-published were looked down on by those whose work was accepted by traditional publishing houses. That’s all changed now, and many writers are choosing to self-publish. The thing that bothers me about self-publication (both e-publishing and print-on-demand) is that some authors, in avoiding curation by agents and editors, put things out when they’re not ready for publication. Notice I said “some”—not “all.” Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Richard: The death of my first wife taught me an important lesson: we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Each morning, I thank God for that day and try to use it wisely and well. I suppose I should worry about future novels and contracts, but one day at a time I try to write the best book I can. After that, it’s sort of out of my hands. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Richard: Actually, since my step-son works for that corporation, I’m going to say Dr. Pepper…specifically Dr. Pepper Ten. (Got to watch those calories). Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Richard: It’s probably a tie between a condo on Maui and the Palmenwald Hotel in the Black Forest of Germany. But I have to admit that, the older we get, the more Kay and I like our home and our routine, so the less we are likely to travel. Brock: Favorite season? Richard: Spring—when the weather gets nicer and baseball players report to camp for spring training. Brock: Favorite color? Richard: Blue Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Richard: I hang my hat on Romans 8:38-39, which tells me that nothing—not even death— can separate us from God’s love. Brock: What books do you read for pleasure? Richard: I’ve always loved mysteries, thrillers, detective stories, and the like. I suppose that’s why I feel comfortable writing medical suspense. I read both Christian and non-Christian fiction, and I have too many favorite authors to start naming names (for fear I’d leave one out). Brock: I understand that golf holds a special place in your life. Can you explain? Richard: Jerry, my friend and attorney, and I started playing golf together after we met to probate my first wife’s will. That was in 1999, and we’ve missed very few Wednesday mornings since that time. Our friendship and time together has spanned the death of his first wife, remarriage for both of us, and a variety of events both good and bad. We talk about everything, enjoy being outdoors, and don’t keep score. It’s amazing how much more enjoyable the game is that way.  Author Website: RMabry.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/rmabrybooks Author Twitter: twitter.com/RichardMabry Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/RichardMabry Author blog: RMabry.blogspot.com  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring The Hive ON THE RUN TO SAVE HER BABY A pregnant cyborg and a teenage boy fight against intergalactic governments to protect the unborn in this novel from a Christy Award-nominated author. Why is Zain pregnant? She belongs to the Hive, a collective of cyborgs who choose to live apart from the rest of human society. At times, the Hive rent out some of their females to produce tailor-made children for paying couples. But Zain is an engineer, not a breeder. When she finds herself separated from the Hive, she decides to find the person who she thinks ordered the baby. Surely they'll help her find her way home. Matthew "Scorn" Nelson has spent the better part of his teenage years cracking computer systems, causing mischief and havoc wherever he can. But the night of his greatest triumph turned into a painful memory, one he wants to erase. But that night was also his first step on a road to faith. When Zain arrives on his doorstep, Scorn is horrified. What's he supposed to do with a pregnant teenage cyborg? Unfortunately, he'll have to answer that question on the run. Zain's people want to reclaim her and terminate her pregnancy. And both the Ministrix and the Praesidium, two intergalactic governments in a constant state of cold war, want Zain's baby for their own reasons. Will their enemies run them down? Or will Zain find a new Hive for both her and her child? John Otte has a knack for writing creative stories set in futuristic worlds. His vivid settings and well defined characters will pull you in and not let go until you’ve finished. Brock: How did you come up with the idea for The Hive, but also the book prior to it Numb? John: The first book, Numb, was kind of an odd journey. I was first inspired by a short story contest for a now defunct webzine, created the world as part of an unfinished NaNoWriMo project, and had the main character pop into my head while watching Daniel Craig playing James Bond. The rest of the plot kind of snowballed from there. But in terms of The Hive, I can honestly say I don’t remember where I got the idea. I think it’s the result of asking “So what happens next?” I wanted to keep telling tales in the same storyworld as Numb, and so I asked myself, “What would happen next?” Pretty soon, a few threads started to pull together and I had the basic kernel of an idea. Brock: Tell us about the main characters and what makes them unique. John: The Hive follows two main characters. The first is Zain. She is a member of the Hive, a cybernetic society that has chosen to separate themselves from the rest of humanity. She’s an engineering drone. She’s incredibly naïve when it comes to the rest of human society, which makes things extremely difficult when she finds herself separated from her people. Matthew Nelson is the son of wealthy executives and attends a swanky private school where he is, unfortunately, a social outcast. But that’s okay, because Matt also calls himself “Scorn.” He’s secretly a systems cracker, someone who can get inside a computer system and make it do whatever he wants. And he is, quite simply, one of the best crackers ever, responsible for all sorts of crazy mischief. Brock: Share something about them that no one else knows. John: Zain was a major crier. At least, she was in the first draft of the book. I hadn’t realized how often I had her break down in tears until I was reading through it and found myself thinking, “Why are you crying again?” As for Matt, he has a number of really big secrets that very few people know about. The biggest is that he recently became a Christian. In his society, though, that’s technically illegal, so he has to hide it from just about everyone. Brock: Amazing how reading through a story a few times, we begin to see repetition we didn’t realize was there. In three words what is this book about? John: Oh, that’s easy. I can sum it up in three words: “pregnant teenage cyborg.” That was actually the nickname of the book for years. I was at a writers’ conference where I pitched it to an editor. The editor liked it so much, she went around telling people about how one guy pitched her a book about a pregnant teenage cyborg. Pretty soon, all I had to do was tell people, “I’m the pregnant teenage cyborg.” You can imagine the looks that a few people gave me who didn’t know what I was talking about. 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? John: I’m more of an outliner when it comes to putting together a story. Actually, I call what I do “stepping stones” writing. I have to envision about half a dozen key moments in the book. Sometimes those moments are huge and other times they’re just little snippets. Whatever the case, once I have those moments, I kind of make it up as I go along between those moments. Brock: I’ve had situations before where I’ll jump ahead and write important moments and then connect the parts, but sometimes I find myself getting bored writing the connecting stuff. How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? John: In two ways. First of all, there’s the fact that Zain’s pregnancy is unintended and, from her perspective, unwanted. By writing this story as I did, I hoped I could approach it from a different angle. But second, I also saw a sort of resonance between the Hive and some corners of the modern Christian church. This is kind of my way to not-so-subtly critique it. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? John: Science fiction, no doubt. I’ve tried my hand at fantasy and enjoyed it, but there’s just something fun about science fiction that keeps me coming back. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? John: No, this is all my imagination running wild. I tend to write more space opera than hard science fiction, so I can be a little more fast and loose with the facts. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t do research to help make sure I got the details correct. At one point, I went out and bought a copy of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” from a Goodwill. When I brought it home, my wife looked at it and asked me, “Something you’re not telling me?” Brock: Ha ha, that’s hilarious. Sounds like something my wife would have said to me. Are you working on the next book in the series? John: In a way, yes. It’s not under contract, but I’m having a lot of fun with it. Once again, I asked myself, “What happens next?” and the result is a story that’s kind of a mix between “Leverage” and “Star Trek.” Brock: Where do you like to write? John: One of my favorite places to write is at my local library. They have private study rooms that are just perfect. I can stay off the internet and get a lot of work done. But my absolute most favorite place to write is at a friend’s house. One of my fellow authors has friends over regularly to work on our projects, as well as provide encouragements and critiques for each other. It’s an eclectic group of authors; we have speculative fiction folks like me mixing with historical romance and romantic thriller authors. But we have a lot of fun. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author? John: I am strictly part time, fitting it in when I can. In my “other life,” I’m a Lutheran pastor, so it can be a difficult trick to balance the two. Brock: Considering your other requirements. How long does it usually take you to write a single book? John: It really depends. I’ve been averaging about a book a year right now, although sometimes it takes me a little longer. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? John: I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. When I was in fifth grade, I started putting together my own badly drawn comic books. After I realized that I was a really bad artist, I “graduated” to writing really bad Gary Stu science fiction adventures. I’ve tried my hand at fanfiction, movie scripts, and even a stage play that garnered some serious interest from a dinner theatre in Australia. I guess the upshot is that I’m a storyteller at heart and can’t help myself. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new independent publishing revolution? John: I was skeptical of ebooks when they first hit the market, but I now own a Kindle that has way too many books on it. I still love the feel of a print book, but I like the way that I can take risks on new authors and stories. As for the way that this is reshaping publishing, I find it interesting to watch. I’m glad that so many people are finding their voices and bringing their stories to receptive audiences. At the same time, though, the quality of stories that have entered the marketplace have suffered somewhat. There’s no shortcut for good fiction. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? John: Boy, that’s a good question. My family was the terror of our local library because we checked out and returned so many books every three weeks. I loved Encyclopedia Brown when I was a kid. I really got into Star Trek novels when I was a kid (Peter David was my favorite author for those). I’m not sure I could pick just one favorite book. Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? John: Easy question: Brandon Sanderson. He is my current favorite by far. I love the intricate storyworlds that he builds and his stuff is always so entertaining. I think it would be a blast to collaborate with him. Brock: What would your dream writing job be? John: For me, there’s one dream writing job I’d love to have: writing a Star Wars novel. I’ve been a Star Wars fan since I was a kid and ever since they started producing novels back in the ‘90s, I’ve wanted to write one. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance. We’ll just have to wait and see. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? John: I have what can best be described as pipedreams: hitting a bestselling list, having a book adapted as a movie, create something that will someday be featured in Hall H of Comic-Con. But my greatest hope is that I can just keep telling fun stories to people. Brock: Aside from writing, what else do you do in your spare time? John: I’m the consummate geek. I love games, both video games and tabletop games. I’m always on the lookout for something new to play, although I don’t get many opportunities to play them all. Brock: You were a theatre major in college. What’s your favorite stage play? John: The play is called A Company of Wayward Saints and I’ve had the privilege of directing it twice, once in college and once in seminary. It’s an amazing play about a troupe of comedic actors trying to put on a show called “The History of Man.” It’s hilarious and poignant all that the same time. Brock: What’s your favorite TV show? John: I’m a suck for anything that has to do with superheroes, and there are a lot of shows that fit that particular bill right now. My absolute favorite right now is “The Flash.” It’s a funny show with plenty of action and a lot of heart. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? John: Coke. Without a doubt. I figure if I ever have to stop drinking Coke, their stock is going to crater. My congregation is very used to seeing me with a Coke in my hand when I’m teaching Bible study. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? John: Australia. A year after we got married, my wife and I spent two weeks there and we had a phenomenal time. I would love to go back someday. Brock: Favorite color? John: Purple. I have no idea why, but that’s it. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? John: Far too many. Romans 8:28-39 is toward the top of my list. So are 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (basically anything that talks about the resurrection). Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? John: I like to listen to instrumental music when I write, anything without lyrics. So I’ll use movie soundtracks, stuff like that. Right now, I’m kind of hooked on a group called “Gothic Storm.” Fun music to write to.  Author Website: JohnWOtte.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/authorjohnwotte Author Twitter: @JohnWOtte  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Through Waters Deep It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges—and dangers—await them. “Fascinating history, interesting location, touching romance—Sarah Sundin packs it all in this page-turning story as she takes us Through Waters Deep. Readers are sure to enjoy living this stirring World War II era adventure with Sundin’s characters.” --Ann H. Gabhart, author of Love Comes Home and The Innocent Brock: How did you come up with the idea for the Waves of Freedom Series? Sarah: When I was doing research for my other World War II novels, I noticed some little-known historical tidbits. In 1941, before Pearl Harbor, U-boats sank a US destroyer, damaged another, and sank five American cargo ships. Meanwhile, Americans argued bitterly—was it more dangerous to join the war or to allow the Axis to triumph? I thought this would be a fascinating setting for a story. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Sarah: Ensign Jim Avery is an American naval officer assigned to a new destroyer. He’s easygoing and congenial—but he finds his “float with the current” ways may not be enough as the situation heats up at sea. Mary Stirling is an efficient secretary at the Boston Navy Yard, content to stay out of the limelight. When evidence of sabotage is found at the shipyard, Mary is thrilled to have her own mystery to solve—if she can do so quietly, without calling attention to herself. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Sarah: Oh, they each have a secret—which is revealed in the novel! Brock: In three sentences what is this book about? Sarah: A country on the brink of war. Two friends on the brink of romance. Three threats to keep them apart. 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? Sarah: I’m a huge outliner. I have to know the characters thoroughly before I start, and I have a detailed plot outline as well. However, I do discover things as I write the rough draft, and I let them guide the rest of the story. For me, these are usually smaller details rather than huge plot points, but they always make the story richer. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Sarah: Many of us are impeded by our fears or by events from our past that have skewed our thinking. I hope as readers watch Jim and Mary’s struggles that God will work in their hearts in His own unique way. I’m always awed when readers tell me how God used my simple stories to help them grow—often in an area not even addressed in the books! The Lord is amazing! Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Sarah: I love writing historical romance, and all my novels have been set during World War II. I find the era endlessly fascinating, with millions of stories. And I just can’t imagine writing a novel without a love story in it—hopelessly romantic. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Sarah: Three. Through Waters Deep is the first book, Anchor in the Storm will be released in the summer of 2016, and the third book in the winter of 2017. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Sarah: Way too much research. Since Jim Avery serves as a gunnery officer on a Gleaves-class destroyer, I had to learn about destroyers, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the US Navy in general. I also ended up reading the 500-page Naval Ordnance and Gunnery Manual from 1944. Oh my. That was when I was glad I took all those physics classes as a chemistry major! For Mary’s end of the story, I learned about the Boston Navy Yard during World War II (now the Charlestown Navy Yard). My favorite research was visiting Boston and exploring WWII-era destroyers. And eating Boston cream pie. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Sarah: As much as I love research, I remind myself readers want a story, not a history lesson. I allow myself to write in as much research as I want in the rough draft, then I slash and burn when I edit. And my editor slashes still more. Only what the reader needs to know. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male and female protagonist? Sarah: I enjoy alternating between hero and heroine. First, it’s fun to watch a romance develop from inside both heads, as they each try to imagine what the other one is thinking and feeling. Second, it allows me to tell two related stories. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Sarah: The second book, Anchor in the Storm, is going through edits at my publisher, and I’m busy writing the third book. Brock: Can you give us a hint at Anchor in the Storm? Sarah: For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. She loves the wartime challenges of her new job but spurns the attention of society boy Ens. Archer Vandenberg, even if Arch is her brother’s best friend. As Arch’s destroyer battles U-boats along the East Coast in the darkest days of the war, Lillian uncovers a black market drug ring. Arch’s efforts to aid Lillian’s investigation and to win her trust fling them both into danger—from torpedoes, drug lords, and opened hearts. 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? Sarah: My publisher required a long synopsis of each book in the series before they gave me a contract, so I did have to think through each of the three stories. I didn’t mind. Although each novel stands alone, the main characters appear in each novel, so I wanted to know them well in advance—and know where they were going. In Through Waters Deep, this helped me give intriguing (I hope!) hints about the rest of the series. Brock: How much leeway do you gives yourself with facts in a Historical genre? Sarah: I try to stay as close to history as possible. However, since I use fictional characters, I automatically alter history. For example, in Through Waters Deep, Jim sails on a fictional destroyer, to allow me to create a fictional cast of characters. Although the adventures of the USS Atwood are imaginary, I based them on actual incidents involving destroyers at the time. Brock: Where do you like to write? Sarah: I’m blessed to have my own office now. I have a lovely L-shaped desk with cupboards for all my binders. When my kids were younger, I did a lot of my writing on-the-go—on the sidelines during soccer practice, in the karate studio, the dentist’s office—wherever I could. As our nest is emptying, I’m able to spend more time at my desk. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Sarah: Both. I work full-time as an author, more than forty hours a week. But I also work one evening a week as a hospital pharmacist, because we have kids in college and pharmacy pays! Plus, I worked hard to get that degree, and I can’t bring myself to give it up quite yet. And I do hear fascinating stories working in a hospital… Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Sarah: For the Waves of Freedom series, I’m on a nine-month schedule, faster than the year I’m used to. That means two months for character and plot development, five months for the rough draft, and two months for editing—with interruptions for publisher’s edits for earlier books and publicity for new releases—and life. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Sarah: January 6, 2000. How’s that for exact? Like all bookworm little girls, I entertained a brief fantasy of becoming an author, but I shelved it with my ballerina fantasy and my Olympic figure skater fantasy. I loved science, so I became a pharmacist, a career that allows for flexible hours. In 2000, my kids were little, and I was loving my stay-at-home mom/on-call pharmacist life. Then I got slammed with a story idea—in a dream!—that wouldn’t let me go. I had to write it. So I wrote it. Now I’m addicted. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Sarah: Diet generic cola. We’re cheap. I do prefer Diet Coke to Pepsi though. Brock: Soft shell or Hard Shell tacos? Sarah: Soft. I’m from California. We can be snobby about such things. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Sarah: Anywhere! I love to travel. We had some fun years when my husband traveled a lot on business, and we were able to use his frequent-flier miles to take the kids to England, Germany, France, Italy, Australia—and Boston too. Brock: Favorite season? Sarah: Autumn! I love the crisp weather, the colors, and the school supplies. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Sarah: Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon—hot in the winter and iced in the summer. Today I’m drinking iced green tea with blueberry and pomegranate—no sugar. I told you I was from California. Brock: Favorite color? Sarah: Blue. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Sarah: I love trying new pasta dishes, but I have a lifelong fondness for a good old-fashioned spaghetti with meat sauce. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Sarah: Music distracts me when I write. I sing or hum or want to get up and dance. Ironically, I’m not distracted by the noise of a busy household—or soccer field or karate studio.  Author Website: SarahSundin.com
Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahSundinAuthor Author Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin Author Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Fusion Fire A New Life for Lady Firebird Forced to forsake her royal heritage, Lady Firebird now faces new and powerful enemies. Firebird is pregnant with twins when her new husband, Brennen Caldwell, is left as the only heir to ancient messianic prophecies. Meanwhile on another world, Firebird’s sister defects to the enemy camp and is made a prisoner. Brennen’s superiors ask him to try to rescue her, and Phoena’s desperate husband travels light-years trying to enlist Brennen’s aid. But Brennen is not tempted to comply… until a divine dream sends him exactly where he does not want to go. “Sweeping drama in deep space… a plot filled with action and intrigue. Thought-provoking without being preachy.” —Moody Magazine Brock: I'm honored and excited to interview Kathy Tyers; a pioneer and champion for the Christian Science-Fiction genre. If not for her development of the genre, my own series might never have been published. Kathy, how did you come up with the idea for the Firebird series? Kathy: During the summer of 1983, the third Star Wars movie was released and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds came to town. While working in my vegetable garden I tried to imagine a sequel to “Return of the Jedi,” and one night I stayed up feverishly writing down notes. The first draft of that novel was unpublishable fan fiction—but I joined a writers group and started learning the craft, replacing all the copyrighted material with my own ideas and characters. On a note of delightful irony, ten years and four novels later I was asked to write a Star Wars novel that took take place during exactly the time period I had imagined that summer in the vegetable garden. Brock: It’s neat to see how God works things out. We’ll talk about Star Wars later. First, though, tell us about the main characters in Fusion Fire: Who are they, and what makes them unique? Kathy: Lady Firebird is a wastling, the extraneous third child of a noble family, and she was born only for insurance that the line won’t die out. When her eldest sister’s heirs are born, she is expected to seek a noble death. She trains as a fighter pilot and is sent on a suicide mission. But things don’t work out that way. Brennen Caldwell is the only surviving son of an ancient messianic lineage. He’s a man of deep faith, but because of his ancestors’ experiments in genetic engineering, he is also a highly trained telepath. Recently I read that a reader had called him “swoon-worthy.” Brock: That sounds like high praise. Would you mind giving us one fact about each main character that no one else knows? Kathy: When Firebird was in her early teens, on vacation at the family retreat at Hunter Height, she went out with a group of friends for a day of hunting. She was an excellent shot, but she couldn’t bring herself to pull the trigger, and for the rest of the vacation she was mercilessly belittled by her older sister Phoena. Phoena is one of the main villains in Firebird and Fusion Fire. Brennen isn’t fond of traveling passenger-class or even as command staff. He would much rather pilot. Brock: It’s always fun to hear information the author knows, but has not shared in the story. In three sentences, what is Fusion Fire about? Kathy: Firebird is forced to confront her own sin and darkness, even though she’s a “good” person. It’s also about two rescues, one that succeeds and one that goes terribly wrong. And Firebird and Brennen learn that sometimes, there’s a terrible price for keeping vital secrets. Brock: When writing, do you outline the entire book, or do you write as you go and let the characters take control of the story? Kathy: I’m an outliner. It’s partly because I have a bad memory but also because I have a compulsive need to get things right. The first full draft of one of my books reads like a sketchy outline of the scenes, plus dialogue. I hear my characters speaking long before I can see them. I make several self-editing passes and add “sedimentary” layers of subplot, setting, etc. Brock: This sounds like a great process. Often I find myself having to completely rewrite a section if not well outlined or if my characters get a bit out of hand. As this is a five book series, did you plot or outline the whole thing before you began writing? Kathy: Originally, I had a very different five-book series in mind. Bethany House Publishers ended the series as a trilogy, so I had to telescope Crown of Fire from two book outlines into a single novel. Wind and Shadow and Daystar took shape while I was working on a degree in Christianity and the Arts at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. Brock: How do you believe the “Firebird” series relates to the lives of readers? Kathy: In the “Firebird” series, humanity’s history changed direction even before Christ was born. I think readers have enjoyed following this what-if thread of alternate history, as well as the deepening relationship of two warrior heroes who are deeply in love with each other and their God—but who certainly aren’t the type to settle down and live happily ever after. Not even as parents… but that’s another story. Brock: Kathy, I can probably guess this. But what is your favorite genre to write? Kathy: I’ve written speculative fiction for many years, mostly space opera and hard science fiction. Right now, I think I’d like to try my hand at contemporary fantasy. Brock: Expanding horizons. Would you mind explaining “hard” science fiction for people who don’t know the speculative subgenres? Kathy: That’s science fiction in which the plot revolves around solving a scientific question that’s true to science as we currently understand it. My hard SF novel, Shivering World, is about one character’s quest for healing, but the plot also addresses issues of genetic engineering and terraforming. And since you might ask: “terraforming” is the hypothetical science in which certain uninhabitable planets might gradually be modified to support life as we know it. Brock: Ironic you mention terraforming; because it was a part of the manuscript I just finished up. I think it’s one of the more exciting hypothetical scientific fields to be explored in space exploration and colonization. What is the biblical background or basis for the Firebird series? Kathy: God keeps his promises no matter how long it takes, and his character never changes. Brock: That’s an assurance we can certainly draw hope and find peace from. How many books are in the series? Kathy: Fusion Fire is #2 in a series of five: Firebird, Fusion Fire, Crown of Fire, Wind and Shadow, and Daystar. Brock: Any certain research required for the books, or is it all from your imagination? Kathy: Well, I read a lot about high-performance military aircraft and discussed battle strategies with some folks who had military experience—and I took a ride with an aerobatics pilot, in order to see how some of those maneuvers actually felt. I also studied the “worldbuilding” aspects of astronomy and geology that it takes to imagine believable worlds, and I highly recommend Stephen L. Gillett’s Worldbuilding: A writer’s guide to constructing star systems and life-supporting planets. Brock: Thanks for the recommendation; I’ve put it on my wish list. How do you strike the right balance in your book? Kathy: Oh, I just keep the plot moving and the characters’ interaction (and personal growth) front and center, and try and make sure that every scene, including every viewpoint shift, drives the plot. Those self-editing passes include lots of re-reading, to see if I lose interest anywhere. Having a baddish memory helps with self-editing, because it enables me to read the current version as if I hadn’t read the previous drafts. Brock: This is an issue I often run into. I’ll find myself adding a detail or dialogue, only to find I said the same thing two paragraphs later. What has been your readers’ feedback on the ‘Firebird’ series? Aside from the, “Swoon-worthy” Brennen Caldwell. Kathy: I was deeply honored when the fifth Firebird novel, DAYSTAR, won the speculative fiction Carol Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers for the year of its original release, 2013. But an even higher honor came when a young woman at my church told me she had decided to become a Christian after reading Firebird. She invited me to her baptism. Wow. Brock: That’s an honor and a celebration. I can’t think of a higher praise for your work. After our work is often a vessel for God’s message to be delivered to others. Why did you choose to focus on a female protagonist? Kathy: It’s just more natural for me to write deep, third-person viewpoint from a woman’s perspective. But since these books include scenes from my male characters’ viewpoints too, I tried to write them just as believably. The bottom line, even when you’re writing villains, is to make every character a sympathetic, three-dimensional human being. Or alien, if you have aliens. I don’t write aliens. Brock: I don’t write aliens either; though I do have a blue character (it’s from the minerals in his home.) How did you feel about finishing the series? Kathy: I thought that when I sent off the last book, I would struggle with my usual post-book depression. Oddly, instead I had a sense of job-well-done. It felt like I’d finished something I’d been called to do. Brock: Good to know there is a bright side when I turn book five in. Honestly I think I’ve been dragging my feet on the writing because I don’t want to say, “Goodbye,” to my characters. Is it difficult to be accurate to a Biblical perspective or Biblical facts when writing fantasy fiction? Kathy: Actually, I find it a fascinating part of the creative process. The idea of the same God—with the same attributes—keeping the same promises under very difference circumstances, actually drives the plot. Particularly in Daystar. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? And where do you like to write? Kathy: I’ve done both. Right now I do more editing than writing and find it very satisfying, but I would like to get back to writing more. I write mostly at home, at a computer on my desk. But I have vivid memories of writing under deadline on the road. In the passenger seat, of course. Brock: That’s good you’re not typing and driving, though most laws center on texting and talking. I get car sick if I try to read in the car which is a bummer, because we take two thousand mile roundtrips to Illinois each year. How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Kathy: I’m fairly slow. It takes about four months to complete a first draft and eight months to flesh it out and edit the rough bits. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Kathy: After my first novel was rejected by a small press and a major science fiction publisher, I got serious about researching the field. In the science fiction trade journal Locus, on the industry news page, I spotted the photo of a smiling young editor at Bantam Books who had just been promoted in-house from “editor for young readers” to “editor” of their Spectra science fiction line. I sent her the then-current revision of Firebird and got to work on another project. At the World Fantasy Conference later that year, I worked up my courage and introduced myself. To my amazement, she recognized my name on my conference badge and apologized for not having read Firebird yet… “But our first reader really liked it.” I lived on hope for the next few months, until a friend told me that his cousin worked with a major Hollywood producer and suggested I submit the novel for possible movie rights. I’d been told at my writers group that it was unwise to submit a book to two publishers/producers at the same time. My writers group encouraged me to telephone the editor at Bantam Spectra. The editor gave me the go-ahead to pursue film rights… and then she said, “And we’re going to publish the book.” I think there are still handprints on the ceiling of the apartment where we were living. Bantam Books—this was huge! It was my third Bantam editor who telephoned in 1993 to ask if I would like to be a Star Wars author. My response: “Um, let me think about that... YES!!” Brock: What a journey, but what a payoff. Not only did you have your own original work being published, but you were getting to work on a brand that inspired you. And as promised, tell us about your experience with Star Wars. Kathy: People usually ask how I got to write a Star Wars tie-in novel. Alas, it was simply because I had already published four science fiction novels with the publisher (Bantam) that got the book contract from Lucas Licensing. I got a second chance when a different New York publisher (Del Rey) got the Star Wars contract, and—get this—one of the editors who had originally read and rejected Firebird scolded me for not rewriting it and sending it back to her… and she asked me to participate in their “New Jedi Order” series. I can’t tell you how honored I felt. So that was my second Star Wars invitation. Did I have any doubts about writing Star Wars? Not the first time. But the second time, I was already working with Steve Laube, who was at Bethany House Publishers, on the third novel in my Firebird series. I was actually more excited about the Firebird books than Star Wars at that point, so I asked Steve for advice. He laughed like he thought I was crazy, and he told me to take Del Rey’s offer. It was the only time in my life that I wrote two books in a single year. I don’t think I would do it again. The stress was overwhelming. But what a year! Brock: Understandable. I tend to overcommit to projects, but somehow I always finish. Someday I will learn to pace myself. What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Kathy: Lord of the Rings. Nothing else came close. Brock: Who is one author, living or dead, that you would co-write a book with and why? Kathy: Great question. Dorothy L. Sayers, if she’d take me on. I could learn so much from studying her style, hearing about her Oxford education and her other life experiences. And perhaps she’d enjoy dabbling in another genre. I loved her “Lord Peter Wimsey” mysteries, which are set in England between the wars. Hmm, that’s the same era as “Downton Abbey.” Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Kathy: Neither. Give me a cup of black tea with a splat of almond milk, summer or winter. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Kathy: Most recently: a dude ranch in off season for my autumn honeymoon. We hope to revisit Ireland someday soon. And I try to get back to Vancouver BC every summer to take a spring/summer school class at Regent College. That’s a different kind of vacation, not particularly relaxing (getting an education at Regent College is like getting a drink from a fire hose) but soul-nourishing. Brock: I have always wanted to go to Ireland. I may even write a story about it, just so I can visit the emerald isle for research. Favorite season? Kathy: Spring, especially after a long Montana winter. Seeing the first daffodil sprouts, buds swelling on the fruit trees, and the unfurling rhubarb leaves gives me the grins. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Kathy: I make spaghetti from white rice pasta, homemade tomato sauce (preferably with homegrown heirloom tomatoes), and ground bison or venison. My recipe blog is comfortablecomfortfoods.com, and I’ve got a fantastic lemon-almond-basil pesto recipe there that’s also excellent on pasta. Brock: Yummy. I'll be turning my wife (who loves cooking and baking) on to your blog. Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Kathy: When I’m writing a rough draft, the right music puts me in exactly the right mood. But I never listen to music when I’m editing, since I need to know that the emotion is on the page, not in the music. When I was writing the Firebird series, some of my favorites were the soundtrack to “The Man from Snowy River,” Tchaikovski’s fourth and fifth symphonies, and a Cincinnati Pops recording called “Victory at Sea and Other Favorites.” Brock: I completely agree, music can certainly put me in the exact right mood. I love the pace and the drama it can create while I write. Kathy, thank you for taking time to share about your “Firebird” series and your writing journey. I know you’ve inspired me. I look forward to whatever future projects you write.  Kathy Tyers is known for her Star Wars Expanded Universe novels - The Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point. The "Firebird" series, Firebird, Fusion Fire, and Crown of Fire have been available for years. She also have five other science fiction novels, a travel book, and a co-authored book a with a classical guitarist, Christopher Parkening. Kathy lives in south western Montana.
Author Website: KathyTyers.com Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathytyers/  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Falcon The day of deadly reckoning has arrived for Raptor team. . . . . . and Warrant Officer Salvatore “Falcon” Russo is just the right mix of guts and grit to lead his brothers-in-arms against the Osiris hacker, Meng-Li Jin. Sal must cut through thick roots of bitterness and betrayal to take down the terrorist—but that means putting the team in the hands of Cassandra Walker. The last time he did that, two of the most important people in his life died. He will not make that mistake again. Cassandra Walker knows three things: she has never loved any man besides Salvatore Russo; he hates her more than life itself; and her mission may destroy any chance of reconciliation. The deeper Raptor digs for truth, the more betrayal seeps from the very fabric of their mission. Friends become spies and turncoats. Enemies morph into strange allies. As the tides turn and Sal rethinks his game plan, he is forced to trust Cassie again. And it might be the last time. Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this book? Ronie: The Quiet Pros series organically grew out of the A Breed Apart series. However, the seed-germ for Falcon’s torment within his story spring-boarded off a true story where a famous individual tragically caused a friend’s death. It was horrible, and I was so heartbroken for all involved. The idea of wanting good things for your friend was so universal, but somehow bringing a friend/loved one into a good situation…then “causing” their death? Wow. Shatter me! Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Ronie: The man focus in FALCON is Salvatore Russo, the “team daddy” of the Raptor team. He’s singularly focused on the mission and making things get done, even if that includes getting the newcomer—his former girlfriend—kicked off the team. Haunted by a mistake with Cassie, Sal wants nothing more than to get her out of his life and stop the terrorists responsible for making minced meat of his team. Cassandra Walker feels the chance to work with Sal and possibly save his team is God’s second chance to make amends with him, the one prayer she has never stopped begging for. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Ronie: Sal deals with his inner demons in a very haunting way, one that—in real life—affected my own family (I’ll keep that details under wraps for now, sorry). For a woman seeking amends and forgiveness, Cassie is keeping too many secrets, including her real purpose on the team. Brock: In three sentences what is this book about? Ronie: Sometimes, forgiveness is easy—when it’s given to others. The hardest form is forgiving ourselves. Especially when it costs someone their life. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Ronie: I believe forgiveness—especially of ourselves—is universal. There are things each of us have done that we have trouble releasing to the Lord. I’m notoriously hard on myself, and years ago when I went through counseling for abuse, my counselor often admonished me to let things go, to forgive myself. That’s hard to do because I don’t want to keep making mistakes, and sometimes, letting go might feel like “letting myself off the hook.” But if we remain captive to those things, that’s fertile soil for the roots of bitterness to dig deep and penetrate our lives. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Ronie: In an attempt to stay true to my Rapid-Fire Fiction brand, and knowing readers are expecting an intense ride with raw characters, I work very hard to keep the balance heavier on the suspense side. There will always be romance in my stories—I’m a die-hard romantic, but for me, personally, that comes in smaller doses. Brock: Last year was a crazy-busy year for you. How did you survive? Ronie: Unfortunately, 2015 dipped its toes in that insanity too, with a book due, galleys due, and my daughter’s wedding to plan. The last fifteen months have taught me to be pretty ruthless with cutting stress and learning the “power of no.” We have obligations, but they shouldn’t tether us to stress and fear. Every night I sat down to write Falcon, I would cry (not even joking) because I had nothing left to give. But I leaned heavily on the Lord. I would whisper, “You created the universe in 7 days, surely you [through me] can write a novel in two months.” I leaned into Him, and the words flowed. Brock: What’s Next for Ronie and Rapid-Fire Fiction? Ronie: Since Falcon is the last book in the Quiet Professionals series, I’m looking ahead and very excited about my upcoming project—Oops! Just got flagged. Apparently, that’s still classified information that could cost me my life. Hmm…well, what I can tell you is that there is undoubtedly more Rapid-Fire Fiction (suspense) coming!! And this Fall my first fantasy novel, Embers, will hit shelves.  Author website: RonieKendig.com Author Facebook: facebook.com/RapidFireFiction Author Twitter: twitter.com/roniekendig Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/roniek Author Goodreads: goodreads.com/RonieK  Written by Brock Eastman Featuring Tainted by Morgan Busse Morgan Busse is no stranger to the world of Speculative Fiction, and she’s now delving into a new series and a new sub-genre within Speculative Fiction; Steampunk. Steampunk has always been around, but in the last several years it’s been embraced by several Christian Authors including Evangeline Denmark (Curio), Shelley Adina (Magnificent Devices), JC Morrows (The Order of the Moonstone) and Christopher Hopper (The Sky Riders.) Morgan describes Steampunk as, “A fusion of our history (usually Victorian or western) and science fiction/fantasy.” “So why choose to write Steampunk,” I asked Morgan? “What I love about steampunk is the possibilities. Steampunk isn’t just science fiction or Victorian. It can have magic if you want. Or you can borrow from the time period of your choice without being confined to it or to the technology that existed. So if you want to invent some kind of steam powered cell phone, go for it!” Morgan explained. “And what makes it so different, that you wanted to specifically write Steampunk and not Fantasy like your other series?” I asked. “The thing that sets steampunk apart from other genres (both visually and in story) is the feel. Steampunk has a feel of fantastical inventions, adventure, and science/discovery. Usually cogs, clocks, corsets, goggles, airships, and alchemy are associated with steampunk stories. But you don’t have to have any of those if you don’t want to. Have fun and create your own technology, weapons, and culture,” Morgan said. “What are some unique things or aspects of the genre that you brought into you series?” I asked. Morgan went on to explain, “My own steampunk series borrows heavily from the Victorian era and science. I also had fun inventing things such as mechanical animals, an airship that runs on solar panels, a sniper rifle hidden within a walking cane, and a prosthetic arm that functions as an electric cannon.” She is careful to add though, that “Like any other genre, the story cannot stand on just the genre underpinnings. What connects the reader to the story is the story itself, with characters the reader can relate to. So while you’re having fun inventing your steampunk world, remember to tell a story, one that will grip your readers by the heart and mind.” And that is what she has done with Tainted and her strong protagonist Kat Bloodmayne. Kat is one of the first women chosen to attend the Tower Academy of Sciences. But she carries a secret: she can twist the natural laws of life. She has no idea where this ability came from, only that every time she loses control and unleashes this power, it kills a part of her soul. If she doesn’t find a cure soon, her soul will die and she will become something else entirely. After a devastating personal loss, Stephen Grey leaves the World City Police Force to become a bounty hunter. He believes in justice and will stop at nothing to ensure criminals are caught and locked up. However, when Kat Bloodmayne shows up in his office seeking his help, his world is turned upside down. Together they search World City and beyond for a doctor who can cure Kat. But what they discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic. Morgan’s talent as a writer weaving a powerful story with deeply developed characters rises to the surface in Tainted. Like her other series Follower of the Word, readers will find themselves drawn in and not ready to leave as the story comes to a close. And her stories always have a deeper meaning that will impact readers long after they’ve finished, so in a way those stories will continue on. I asked her if it was hard to include a Biblical perspective and be accurate when writing speculative fiction. Morgan explained, “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.”   Interview by Ashley Eastman Featuring Hidden Agenda Ashley: If you’re a fan of romance, but need that twist of suspense to keep the pages turning, then Hidden Agenda is the right read this spring. Lisa Harris continues her exciting Southern Crime Series with the third installment Hidden Agenda. I had some time to sit down and ask Lisa some questions about her new book and about her as an author. Lisa, how did you come up with the idea for this series? Lisa: Like with most of my books, they start with a character. In this series, that was Avery North. At first, all I knew is that she was she was a single mom and a police officer, but I knew I had to tell her story. A brainstorming session with a group of authors helped me further develop the series that eventually came to revolve around the Hunts, a family from Atlanta who has served their country through the armed service or police department for generations. Despite conflicts that arise between them, they are very close knit, and when it comes to fighting injustice, they stick together and do whatever it takes to stop that injustice. Ashley: Who are Hidden Agenda’s main characters? Lisa: I really had fun writing Michael and Olivia’s story in Hidden Agenda, primarily because their stories were different from anything I’ve written. They are two people who come from opposite worlds who end up having to work together to stay alive. Michael’s the son of a former Police Captain and an undercover detective. Olivia’s father is part of a South American drug cartel and wants Michael dead. But despite their mistakes, they both are after the same thing. The truth. Ashley: I promise these two characters’ stories deliver on the promises of romance and suspense. Lisa, in three sentences what is this book about? Lisa: For the past eight months, Michael’s family has thought he was dead, but the undercover assignment he’s been working on has just been blown. With a contracted hit on his life by the cartel and not knowing who he can trust in the police department, Michael finds himself on the run from both the cartel and the law with the daughter of the man who wants him dead, Olivia Hamilton. Ashley: Lisa, what are the Biblical threads woven into the series? Lisa: Overall, I’d say it’s a call for us to realize our own weaknesses and fears and to in turn learn to rely only on God’s strength. Each main character in this series is pulled out of his or her comfort zone to a place where they have to turn to God. Ashley: How many books are planned for this series? Lisa: Hidden Agenda is the last book in the three books series. Dangerous Passage and Fatal Exchange come first. Ashley: Do you prefer to outline the entire series, or do you write as you go letting the characters take control of the story? Lisa: A little of both, but for the most part I spent a lot of time staring at a pile of sticky notes in order to bring the story together. ☺ The plots of each individual story, and then the three books together as well, are woven pretty tightly, so that forced me to stay organized. But there were also a few surprises along the way as some of the characters took over! Ashley: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all straight from your imagination? Lisa: I spent hours doing research on everything from the setting (Atlanta and the Georgia coastline), to drug trafficking, to bomb squads. I love the research part of writing and too often find myself having to stop or I’d never get any books written! Ashley: As a reader I appreciate a well researched book. Can you give us a hint at your next project? Lisa: I just turned in book one of a brand news series to my editor at Revell. It’s about a newly established missing person task force, and this first one is set around the Smoky Mountains. Like the last series, this one took tons of research—everything from rappelling, to poaching, to mobile command posts—but I really enjoyed that part of the writing. Ashley: What is your favorite genre to write for? Lisa: I love romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense. Ashley: Where do you like to write? Lisa: Where ever I can find a quiet place. I don’t have an office right now, but the couch, or dining room table, or desk work fine. Ashley: Sounds like you invest a lot of time in writing. Are you a full time writer? Lisa: No. For the first time in seven years, though my role as ‘mom’ has changed. I’ve been a homeschooling mom until just a few months ago when the last of my kids went off to attend a missionary boarding school. It’s been an adjustment, but thankful, I have plenty to keep myself busy with as I’m still writing, am involved in our women’s ministry, and run a non-profit called The ECHO Project that helps meet people’s physical needs where we live here in Mozambique. Ashley: How long does it usually take you to write a single book in the series? Lisa: I like to have at least six months for a full-length novel. That gives time for research, plotting, and writing. Ashley: 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? Lisa: Definitely a combination. I have in the back of my mind an arch of the character and story line and start from there to fill in the details. Ashley: What is your inspiration for writing this series? Lisa: I wanted a series that went beyond just a fast-paced romantic suspense, but also delved deep into the character’s lives and how their experiences affected them. Each story also deals with a real life issue like human trafficking and the drug cartel. Ashley: Coke or Pepsi? Lisa: Neither. (Unless I’m on a tight deadline and need a caffeine jolt) Ashley: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Lisa: Hard, because I love them can’t get them where we live. Ashley: Favorite place to vacation? Lisa: I love the sun and the beach, because we live near the Indian Ocean. But with summer on the way, I’ve been dreaming of a cozy cabin somewhere in the mountains with a fireplace and a good book. Ashley: Favorite season? Lisa: Spring and fall (Not too hot or cold!) Ashley: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Lisa: Popcorn Ashley: Favorite color? Lisa: Purple Ashley: What’s your favorite holiday memory? Lisa: Making homemade ornaments one Christmas because our car broke down and we couldn’t make it home. It reminded me that being together is what really matters! Ashley: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Lisa: II Corinthians 4:16-18. I love the reminder what we see here is temporary and we need to fix our eyes on what is unseen, the eternal! Ashley: Favorite pasta dish? Lisa: Anything with homemade pasta. I bought a pasta maker recently and wow, there is such a difference! Ashley: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Lisa: Anything without words. Right now on my playlist is the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and Lindsey Stirling. Ashley: Thanks for sharing about Hidden Agenda all the way from Mozambique and thanks for serving for the Kingdom there.  Author Website: LisaHarriswrites.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorLisaHarris Author Twitter: @heartofafrica Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/lharriswrites/  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring The Pharaoh's Daughter Long before Moses would lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, he was a three-month-old baby, placed in a basket and set adrift on the dangerous Nile River. That precarious journey led a Hebrew slave child into the arms of the Pharaoh’s daughter. Who was the woman who drew this child out of the water? What transpired in her life and what influence would she have over the man Moses would become? In The Pharaoh’s Daughter, award-winning author, Mesu Andrews answers these questions as she weaves an intricate tapestry of Egyptian history, biblical fact and her own artful imagination to describe fundamental truths that transcend time and culture. Experience a familiar Old Testament story, for the first time, through the eyes of the Egyptian mother who loved Moses as her own. Andrews begins this epic with a single, haunting image; a girl, terrified and trembling hides alone in a dark closet. Her name is Anippe. She is the daughter of a Pharaoh and the sister of the boy King. Yet with each new identity, she continues to hide among shadows of fear and doubt, while never understanding her true worth. Devastated by the death of her mother during childbirth, Anippe is terrified to conceive a child and an heir for husband Sebak. Yet she still yearns for motherhood. When she discovers a Hebrew child stowed in a basket on the river, she believes her prayers are answered. Her story has only begun. Her life of royalty is suddenly bound with the fate of the Hebrew slaves, as she struggles to conceal Moses’ true heritage. In The Pharaoh’s Daughter, Andrews invites readers to step back into time and experience a world ripped from the pages of the Bible. With an absolute reverence for scripture and a meticulous examination of historical records, Andrews illuminates the truth of God’s Word in this complex and mesmerizing tale. Discover how God calls out to those who hide in the shadows. Watch as He draws them out of watery depths and into His eternal family. Examine how He changes their names and with it, their hearts. Stand in awe of a hope that can never be lost or stolen. In this beautifully conceived story, Andrews beckons readers to come out of hiding and meet face-to-face with a name-changing, covenant-keeping God. Mesu Andrews’ deep understanding of and love for God's Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Her three subsequent novels, Love's Sacred Song, Love in a Broken Vessel, and In the Shadow of Jezebel all released to great reader enthusiasm. Mesu has been married to her husband Roy for 30 years and they live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They have two adult daughters. Brock: Mesu Andrews is carving out a niche for herself with Biblical fiction. The Pharaoh’s Daughter is the first novel in her Treasures of the Nile series and her fifth book to date. Mesu answered our questions about her inspiration, her intriguing characters and her passion for Biblical fiction. What was your inspiration for writing this book? Mesu: Of all the great Old Testament characters, Moses stands alone as the friend of God (Ex. 33:11). That intrigues me. What further intrigued me were the women in Moses’s life—four specifically mentioned. The ancient world was a man’s world, so when women are recorded in written text, I get curious. I suppose it wouldn’t be unusual to mention his mother, but he gave detail about Jochebed’s motivations and thought processes. He elaborated on his sister Miriam’s courage to approach Pharaoh’s daughter in the bulrushes and boldly revealed his Egptian mother’s defiance of Pharaoh’s edict. Later, Moses mentioned his wife, Zipporah, and described her heated reaction when Moses neglected to circumcise his sons. The transparency with which Moses describes these women and the underlying respect—by their mere inclusion in the text—made me want to dig deeper into their history and tell their stories. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Mesu: We first glimpse Anippe hiding alone in a dark closet, traumatized and trembling after witnessing the death of her mother during childbirth. She’s the daughter of a Pharaoh and sister of a boy who would soon become king. Anippe is plagued by debilitating fear throughout her life, and it builds layer upon layer as she grows into each new role of her life. Terrified to conceive a child and heir for her husband Sebak, she believes the gods answered her prayers when she discovers a Hebrew child stowed in a basket on the river. Her life of royalty is suddenly bound with the fate of the Hebrew slaves, as she struggles to conceal her child’s true heritage. The fertile Nile Delta is home to Egypt’s fiercest military family—the Ramessids. Centuries ago, the Ramessids assisted Pharaoh in ousting the Hyksos—a Canaanite band of tribes—and were rewarded with lush, green estates. They forced the remaining Canaanites, called Abiru (Hebrews), to forced labor on building projects and in the fields. Much of the harvest produced flax for Egypt’s most lucrative export—linen. Mered is the Chief Linen Keeper on the Avaris Estate, where he grew up as slave and companion to the young Master Sebak when Sebak’s parents died in a sweeping plague. The whole estate rejoices when the young master marries King Tut’s sister, but Mered has misgivings about his new mistress, recognizing her little deceptions as warnings of heartache for his master and a dark future for the Hebrews. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Mesu: Anippe, though young and impulsive, has a unique talent for designing the exquisite linen robes produced by the Avaris estate. She sketches beautiful designs that the weavers expertly craft into their linen creations. Mered was a Hebrew male slave that smelled like ben tree oil—an Egyptian cosmetic oil to soften dry skin. It was one of his many dichotomies—his need to appear Egyptian for the sake of trading Avaris’s linen and yet remain thoroughly Hebrew in faith and commitment to Yahweh. Brock: In a few sentences what is this book about? Mesu: Experience the story of Moses through the eyes of The Pharaoh’s Daughter who found him. Meet the brave midwives who protected the sons of the Hebrews, the talented young Miriam whose singing soothes the heart of Pharaoh’s grandson, and the young prince who must choose which god he will follow. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Mesu: Each of my books has had an overarching theme. Job’s story (Love Amid the Ashes) spoke to those who suffer. Gomer and Hosea’s story (Love in a Broken Vessel) challenged readers to God-sized forgiveness and the promise of God’s grace. The Pharaoh’s Daughter tackles that nagging—sometimes debilitating—emotion of fear. On September 11, 2001, our entire nation experienced fear, but fear was daily reality for the Hebrews in ancient Egypt. Personally, I have grown up afraid—why? I have no idea. I remember being afraid of the dark. Afraid a fire would burn down our house. Afraid of dogs. Afraid of… you name it. As I’m writing this, I’m afraid I’ll run out of coffee creamer. We’re all afraid of something. When The Pharaoh’s Daughter pulled a Hebrew baby from the Nile, I believe she was motivated by fear. This book explores the choices that grew out of her fear and leads the reader through the consequences and victories, the joys and sorrows of those choices—and the faith that frees her from fear’s prison. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write? Mesu: My ONLY genre is biblical fiction. My first love is the study of God’s Word. Biblical novels give me an excuse to keep my nose buried in the Bible and research books! What a joy to share with others both the passion and pleasure of my heart. I am most blessed. Brock: What is the biblical background or basis for the series? Mesu: Exodus 1:1-2:10. The Pharaoh’s Daughter gives a brief background of how Jacob’s family came to dwell in Egypt, but most of the book focuses on Exodus 1:15-2:10, the story of Pharaoh’s edict that the Hebrew midwives kill all Hebrew male babies and Moses’s rescue from the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Mesu: Two book are planned for Treasures of the Nile series: The Pharaoh’s Daughter and a book on Miriam, Moses’s sister (as yet untitled). Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Mesu: LOTS of research, and I LOVE it!!! I must confess, I hated history in high school and college, but I can’t get enough of the historical and biblical research for my novels. It’s actually hard to start writing the book because I enjoy the research so much. I always include an Author’s Note at the end of each book to share how the research helped form the story. Many folks have commented it’s one of their favorite parts of my books because it helps define what’s fact and what’s fiction. Of course, my foremost goal is to send readers back to Scripture to read the Truth. Biblical novels are fiction, after all, and are only intended to stir curiosity for more of God and His Word. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Mesu: My process is always the same: biblical Truth is foundational, historical fact provides the next layer, and creative fiction fills in the holes. When forming characters (especially the biblical characters), I try to take into account the full counsel of Scripture. Solomon was especially difficult (in Love’s Sacred Song) because he was supposed to be the wisest man who ever lived, but he sure made some stupid life decisions, right? When forming characters and circumstances in The Pharaoh’s Daughter, I had to be especially cautious because there’s so much conflicting historical data regarding Egypt, its kings, its gods, etc. I finally had to choose a few vetted resources and use them exclusively for my historical facts. My editor is a huge help in this area, offering her years of experience as a guide for how Christian readers might receive my interpretations of characters and events. I’m so thankful for the talented team of folks who work alongside to publish my books. Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? Mesu: I’m on book #5, and it’s still surreal to walk into a store and see my name on a book on the shelf. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a female protagonist? Mesu: Because my editor told me to. ;) Seriously, I struggle to write in a male POV because I struggle to think like a man. My sweet hubby reads all my manuscripts and helps with this area, making sure I don’t have men giggling or doing other ridiculously female things. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Mesu: Yep! The rough draft of Miriam (working title) is currently with my beta readers and will (hopefully) be in my editor’s hands by March 1st. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Mesu: For all her eighty-six years, Miriam has found complete contentment in her relationship with El Shaddai, but when her brother Moses returns from exile proclaiming God’s new name—Yahweh—troubling doubts plague her. Yahweh no longer speaks in her dreams and the underpinnings of daily routine are shattered by revelations of His power. Her quiet home becomes Moses’s center for Yahweh’s activity, and Miriam begins to yearn for more of God, more of life, more of love. How could it be that Yahweh would ask a faithful, influential woman to stretch beyond her belief—and bless her with uninvited yearning? 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? Mesu: I’ve now written six novels (including the rough draft, Miriam), and each process has been completely different. The first book was by the seat of my pants—the characters told the story as I typed. With each book, I’ve done more plotting and outlining, but the characters still change the outline as I type, usually necessitating a new outline halfway through the rough draft process. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Mesu: Several of the plot twists come to me as I write. I wouldn’t dare share them here and ruin the surprise. ;) Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example? Mesu: Actually, about 20% of the book was cut. Yep, it was pretty painful—but necessary. In its final form, The Pharaoh’s Daughter stops when Moses (Mehy—his Egyptian name) is eighteen years old. Originally, the story continued through Exodus 2:11-15, when Moses was forty and defended the Hebrew slave by killing the Egyptian slave master. My editor said telling that part of the story was more about Moses than The Pharaoh’s Daughter. Though I hated to lose all that work, she was absolutely right, so we cut it. It’s a far better story. Brock: How much leeway do you gives yourself with facts in a Historical Genre? Mesu: None. If there’s a discrepancy between my story and Scripture, it’s an oversight, and I apologize. God’s Word is Truth, and it stands as the unalterable foundation of every story. If historical research ever contradicts, I pray it through and often find a reasonable explanation for the seeming contradiction. For instance, when figuring Moses’s age, he would have been born in 1330 BCE. The Pharaoh during that time was King Tut—who was too young when he died to have a daughter. How could I write a story about Pharaoh’s daughter when historical fact made it impossible? Historical data showed that King Tut had sisters—who would have been daughters of Pharaoh Akhenaten. King Tut’s sister is The Pharaoh’s daughter in my story, and I didn’t have to skew history to write God’s Truth. My books aren’t textbooks. They’re fiction. However, I keep the biblical Truth and historical facts as precise as possible. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Mesu: I’ve had teachers contact me for the free bookmarks on my website because they were using my books in their Lit. classes and wanted to pass out the bookmarks to their kids. Some parents may not feel the subject matter is appropriate for teens under sixteen (Love in a Broken Vessel is about the prophet Hosea marrying the prostitute Gomer). It’s up to the parents to make that call, but The Pharaoh’s Daughter tells about a fourteen-year-old princess who is forced to make some pretty terrifying choices. Our kids are forced to grow up pretty fast these days. Fear is something they’ll face all their lives. I hope this is a story that can help parents and their kids openly discuss how to deal with their fears in a way that honors God. Brock: What do you hope kids take away from The Pharaoh's daughter? Mesu: "Fear is the most fertile ground for faith." Anippe’s fears cause her to deceive and push away those closest to her. All kids lie. Many times it’s because they’re afraid of the consequences that will follow a truthful answer. I pray that Anippe’s story will give kids the courage to trust the Lord—and the love of those around them—enough to live a life of faith. Brock: Where do you like to write? Mesu: In my recliner by the fireplace with a cup of coffee in hand. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Mesu: I’m a full-time writer. (It still feels funny to call myself an author. It’s too much fun to be a real job.) Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Mesu: My first book took twelve years. Now, it takes me a year from the time I begin researching the topic to the time my rough draft is complete—and usually another year before the book releases. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Mesu: I think in both stories of Treasures of the Nile, God is enigmatic to the Hebrew people. He’s been nearly silent for four hundred years, speaking only occasionally through a girl (Miriam) who matures into a faithful prophetess. When Moses returns from exile, proclaiming Yahweh’s new name and His promise of deliverance, the true “Treasures of the Nile” become God’s character and power revealed to His people. Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in The Pharaoh's Daughter. Mesu: Much of Anippe’s fear stems from a life devoid of real love. 1 John tells us perfect love drives out fear, and this is an important lesson for The Pharaoh’s Daughter. We see the antithesis in Mered, whose love and faith give him a steadfast quality throughout the ups and downs of a Hebrew slave’s existence. Themes of worth, wealth, and true value are also explored, while young Moses (Mehy) must decide which of the many “voices” he’ll listen too—the loudest or the ones proven by peace. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Mesu: I was a pastor’s wife from Indiana who spoke at a few women’s conferences a year, and I wanted to publish one Bible study—on Song of Solomon. When I attended my first writer’s conference with this singular goal, I was told by an editor, “I wouldn’t publish a Bible study on Song of Solomon if Billy Graham wrote it, let alone a first-time author without a platform.” That was the kindest feedback I received at that conference. A good friend of mine suggested I write the study as a biblical novel, teaching through a parable—as Jesus taught. She suggested it again, and again, and again. Finally, in 2008 I listened and attended the Mount Hermon fiction mentoring clinic taught by Gayle Roper. I didn’t even know what POV was, but the Revell editor was looking for biblical fiction at that conference and was willing to take a chance on a VERY unproven author. The rest, as they say, is history. No one will ever convince me that getting published is anything but God’s direct intervention. The odds of me getting published—especially in fiction—were astronomical. But my God is out of this world. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Mesu: I’ve never wanted to become a writer. I was compelled to write, and it became my joy. I used to be an off-the-charts extrovert, teaching God’s Word in Bible studies, adult small groups, and women’s conferences. In 2002, my health took a downward turn, and I spent six months in bed. I still needed to share the Word of God somehow, so my laptop became my best friend and the avenue God provided for sharing what He taught me. Sometimes His greatest gifts are those we don’t realize we want. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Mesu: When I started reading biblical novels, there weren’t many to choose from in the Christian market, so I found what I could in the general market. Though the Red Tent isn’t a Christian novel, it is superbly researched and written and made me long for true-to-Scripture biblical novels. I soon found Lynn Austin’s Chronicles of the Kings series and Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series, which are still some of my favorites. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Mesu: I want to maintain my passion for God’s Word for as long as I write. If my passion for the Word gets lost in the publishing mire or daily stresses of marketing/social media, I’m done. I write to glorify the Word, Who became flesh. If I ever lose that focus, I have nothing worth saying. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Mesu: I must personally embrace the lessons my characters experience. If my characters are doing or saying things that the Lord hasn’t made real in my own life and heart, they come off as preachy and fake. Their journey is my journey—not in specific detail, of course. I’m not a shepherdess or prostitute or princess, but I learn the lessons of love, forgiveness, and faith as surely as each of my protagonists learned them. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Mesu: Diet Pepsi (once in a great while) Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Mesu: Anywhere my kids/grandkids are! Or in our friends’ mountain cabin. Brock: Favorite season? Mesu: Pacific Northwest summer—July-September. Perfection on earth. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Mesu: Coffee w/ hazelnut creamer in the morning. Roasted soy nuts for an afternoon snack Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Mesu: Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Mesu: Any pasta with alfredo and marinara sauces mixed. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Mesu: Not anymore. Menopause has become mental-pause, and now I do one thing at a time. Brock: If I could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Mesu: I’d go back to Israel. Hubby and I went with a tour group in 2000, but I’d love to go back with a private guide on a research tour of my own. Brock: What do I read for pleasure? Mesu: Biblical novels. I love to see which biblical characters other authors choose to write about. It’s fun to stay current on new releases to share with my readers and exchange opinions about their favorites and mine.  Author Website: MesuAndrews.com/
Author Twitter: twitter.com/MesuAndrews Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/MesuAndrews Author Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/mesuandrews/  Interview by Ashley Eastman Featuring Amy Clipston Linda is no stronger to hardship. Now she dares to hope for a chance at love and a new beginning. As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was raised by her unwilling Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the life-long effects of her injuries and her upbringing under the care of her embittered uncle have destroyed her self-worth. Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite all of his unanswered letters to his parents, and the roots he’s put down in Missouri, Aaron hastily returns to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, after receiving word of his mother’s stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. He soon encounters Linda, working there part-time, and the two find they have a lot in common. Can Linda and Aaron forgive the family members who have deceived and forsaken them? And will Aaron be able to convince Linda that she is worthy of his love? Amy Clipston consistently delivers an exciting look into the lives of the Amish. Her experience as an author and knowledge of the Amish world creates exciting characters and rich stories that take her readers along on an engaging story. Ashley: Amy, thanks for joining us. First, I wanted to ask how you came up with the idea for The Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series? Amy: The Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series features women who work at the fictional Lancaster Grand Hotel. The series was inspired by the Berlin Grand Hotel in Berlin, Ohio, which I visited in 2011 while I was on a book tour with two other Amish fiction authors, Shelley Shepard Gray and Vannetta Chapman. When we visited the hotel, Alicia Mey, the marketing representative from Zondervan, suggested I write a series about Amish women who work in a high-end hotel and show the juxtaposition of the Plain life with the fancy English (non-Amish) life. Ashley: I can imagine how being immersed in a place like the Berlin Grand Hotel can really get your imagination turning. Who are the main characters in A Simple Prayer and what makes them unique? Amy: As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was reluctantly raised by her Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the lasting trauma of her injuries and embittered upbringing by her uncle have destroyed her self-worth. Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite years of unanswered letters to his parents, and the roots he’s put down in Missouri, Aaron rushes back to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, after receiving word of his mother’s stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. He soon encounters Linda, working there part-time, and the two find they have a lot in common. Ashley: These are characters I certainly can’t wait to learn more about. Can you share one unknown fact about Linda and Aaron with our readers? Amy: I always have mental models for my characters and I imagine them when I write the book. My mental model for Linda was movie star Natalie Portman, and my model for Aaron was Olympic ice skater Charlie White. Ashley: Give readers the one sentence version of A Simple Prayer? Amy: Two emotionally broken people looking for love and acceptance. Ashley: How does A Simple Prayer relate to the lives of your readers? Amy: I believe that we’ve all suffered from some sort of rejection in our lives, whether it’s from a family member or a friend. Everyone has been hurt and knows what it’s like to feel alone. Ashley: When you write do you outline or follow the story as it develops? Amy: Oh, I definitely outline! I outline each chapter scene by scene and use my outline as a roadmap while I’m writing. The book changes and grows, but the outline keeps me on track. Ashley: Is this your favorite genre to write for? Amy: I love writing Amish books. I have an Amish friend who helps me with my research, and I enjoy sharing ideas with her and getting her feedback. I love finding new ways to tell an Amish story, and I respect the culture. I learn more about the culture when I write a new book. Ashley: Is there a biblical background for A Simple Prayer? Amy: A Simple Prayer is loosely based on the parable of the Prodigal Son. Ashley: How many books are planned for The Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series? Amy: A Simple Prayer is the last book in my 4-book Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series. Ashley: How do you research the Amish world to make such accurate portrayals of the Amish world? Amy: I have an Amish friend who has been helping me with my books since my first book, A Gift of Grace, debuted in 2009. I talk to her on the phone frequently, and she answers my questions. I’m so thankful that she takes the time from her busy day to help me with my books. Ashley: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Amy: I outline the story, but it sort of flows on its own. I write what feels right to me and let my editor do her magic to make it better. Ashley: What do your readers think about your latest series? Amy: I think readers will enjoy A Simple Prayer because it’s the last book in the series and the mysteries about a couple of the characters will be revealed. All of their questions will be answered with this book. Ashley: Why did you choose to focus on male and female protagonists? Amy: I enjoy writing from both the female and male point of view, and I’ve been told that I do a good job with the male POV. I enjoy watching people and listening to how they speak and react to things, and I try to bring that out in my writing. Ashley: Are you working on your next series? Amy: Currently, I’m working on a new series, which features a new Amish family and will be based in Bird-in-Hand, PA. The first book will debut in November 2015. Ashley: 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? Amy: I loosely plotted the books in my Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series. My editor and I decided who would be the main protagonists in each book, but we didn’t have their stories ironed out when I start writing A Hopeful Heart. My new series, however, is plotted out, and I know what the story will be for each book. The stories may grow and change when I write them, but I have a premise for each book. Ashley: How is A Simple Prayer different than how you originally planned? Amy: The idea of Aaron coming back in book #4 wasn’t in the original plan for the story. I knew that the book would be Linda’s story, but my editor and I hadn’t worked out the idea of having Aaron come back until we were finishing up book on book #2, A Mother’s Secret. Ashley: How much leeway do you give yourself with facts about the Amish? Amy: I am always true to the Amish culture, but I do take some fictional license with my characters. For example, Carolyn Glick in A Mother’s Secret was an unwed teenage mother. This may be a rare occurrence in the Amish community, but according to my Amish friend, it does happen. The Amish have the same problems and issues that the rest of us have. Ashley: Where do you like to write? Amy: I have a laptop, so I usually write in the family room in my house or in the recliner in my bedroom. Ashley: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Amy: I work full-time for the City of Charlotte, and since I write four books per year, I also write full-time. I work four 10-hour days for the City in order to have Fridays off for writing, running errands, and volunteering at my boys’ school. I’m also blessed to have my mother living with my family. She handles most of the housework, including food shopping, cleaning, and doing laundry. Thanks to her help, I’m able to spend any free time at home writing. My schedule is not an ideal schedule, but I make it work. My family is very supportive and thankful for my book contracts. Ashley: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Amy: After the book is plotted out and outlined, it takes me approximately four weeks to write the first draft. Ashley: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Amy: The theme for my books is always hope and faith. I pray that my books will give my readers a sense of peace and help them find hope and renewed faith in God. Ashley: What is your "how I got published" story? Amy: I always wrote as a hobby when I was a child. I started carrying around notebooks in elementary and only shared my stories with a few friends. I accidentally found a local writers’ group after college. I joined the writers’ group in 2001 and signed with my first agent in 2005. I received my contract for my first Kauffman Amish Bakery book, A Gift of Grace, in December 2007, and that book actually hit stores in April 2009. Ashley: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Amy: Although I wrote for a hobby, I didn’t realize I wanted to become an author until I found the writers’ group in 2001. It never occurred to me that my stories could possibly become actual books until I met other writers and learned how to polish my books. Ashley: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Amy: My favorite book was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I read it fourteen times (yes, I kept track on the inside cover!) and I knew the movie by heart. Ashley: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Amy: I would love to co-write a young adult book with S.E. Hinton. Her books were a pivotal part of my adolescence. I would be honored to work with her. Ashley: What was it like when you opened the box and saw published copies of your very first book? Amy: I danced and yelled! I ran my hands over the cover and then smelled and hugged the book. It was my dream come true. There was no feeling like it! In fact, I still hug and smell my books when a new book arrives. It doesn’t get old. I’m so thankful that my publisher still gives me the opportunity to share my stories. Ashley: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Amy: I hope that I can continue to write books that touch readers’ hearts. I’m thankful when a reader contacts me and tells me that my story touched them. I’m thankful that God is using me to share his love. Ashley: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Amy: I believe my faith comes through in my writing. I’m grateful when a reader contacts me to say that my book helped him/her renew his/her faith in God. I believe that God is using my voice to share his word, and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to do that. The books have been a blessing in my life, especially with the readers and other authors I’ve met through my writing. Ashley: I know that organ and blood donation is something you are passionate about, Amy. Please share a little about this. Amy: Some readers may not know that my husband, Joe, has endured two kidney transplants. Joe received a kidney from his brother in 2004, and it only lasted four years. In 2008, he went back on dialysis, and he was very ill. I was willing to donate to Joe, but I wasn’t a perfect match. Instead of donating a kidney to Joe, I found another way to help him. I donated a kidney on June 14, 2011, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through my donation, my husband, Joe, received a second kidney transplant. My husband and I matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. I donated a kidney to a woman, and in exchange, her husband gave a kidney to Joe. My memoir, A Gift of Love, details our journey with Joe’s kidney disease and his two kidney transplants. You can find my memoir here. Due to Joe’s kidney struggles, I’ve become an advocate for both organ and blood donation. I volunteer with the National Kidney Foundation, and I also run blood drives at my church. If you are healthy and able, please give the gift of life and donate blood. Ashley: You've posted some delicious looking Amish recipes on your website. Do you incorporate these into your novels and do you have a favorite? Amy: My first Amish series, the Kauffman Amish Bakery series, featured several recipes in each of the five books. Crumbly Peach Pie was the favorite of Timothy Kauffman, who was featured in my book A Place of Peace. Timothy is one of my favorite characters, so I thought I’d include that recipe here: Crumbly Peach Pie 9-inch pie shell, unbaked 1 cup sugar ¼ cup flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp nutmeg 1 stick butter 8 large peach halves ¼ cup water Mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then mix in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle half of the mixture in the bottom of the pie shell. Arrange peach halves cut side down over crumbs. Cover with remaining crumbs. Add the water after and bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Author Website: AmyClipston.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks Author Twitter: @AmyClipston Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyclipston  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring The Five Times I Met Myself What if you met your twenty-three year old self in a dream? What would you say? Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage. So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing. Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go of . . . and his greatest fear is it’s already too late. "If you think fiction can't change your life and challenge you to be a better person, you need to read The Five Times I Met Myself." -Andy Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of How Do You Kill 11 Million People, The Noticer & The Traveler's Gift Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this book? James: Ideas never come to me the same way twice and this story was no exception. The muse this time was my wife, Darci. She and I were talking one evening when she said, “God knows what we’re going to grow into ten years from now. Wouldn’t it be fascinating if we could talk to that person we’re going to become?” I agreed and started writing a book where my protagonist’s future self came back and talked to him about he would become. But in the end we found it was much more fascinating (and powerful) if a present day man went back and began a relationship with his younger self. Because don’t all of us wish we’d known back then what we know now? And wish we’d done some things differently? And wonder how our lives would have turned out if we had? Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? James: You’ll love the main character, Brock! (And not just because his name is Brock.) We get to know two versions of Brock Matthews, one that is 52 in present day, and one that is 23, who the older Brock meets in his dreams. Then there’s his wife, Karissa (again, we get to know both the older and younger versions) who is slipping from Brock’s grasp in the present day and he doesn’t know how to get her back. Plus Brock’s brother, Ron who Brock competes with in every area of their lives. Toss in an enigmatic doctor of psychology who seems to know more about what’s going on with Brock than he’ll say, and Brock’s best friend Morgan (who starts him on his fascinating journey back to his younger self) and I think we have a fairly interesting cast of characters. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. James: Brock’s desire when he was a kid was to play college basketball, but it died when he was young and he’s never told anyone why. Karissa's dream was to be a dancer, but no one knows this. Ron longed to be a professional golfer. Brock: In three words what is this book about? James: Hope. Restoration. Freedom. 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? James: Most of the time I have nothing more than an overarching idea and just dive into writing the story however it comes to me. In this case, the book was a more complex than usual, so I had to build a fairly complete outline to start writing from. But it was interesting to see the multiple twists and turns the story took as I wrote it. I like that because I figure if I can surprise myself while I’m writing the story, even when I’m supposed to know where it’s going, when my readers get to the book, they’ll be surprised as well. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? James: I believe there’s a part of all of us that wishes we could go back and tell our younger selves what they should have done different, whether we’re 20 or 40 or 60 or 80 years old. We wonder how our lives would have turned out if we’d made different choices. And we want hope and restoration and freedom in the midst of examining those choices we did or did not make. I wanted to explore those questions and give readers the chance to search through those questions in their own lives. By the end of the novel I want to offer them hope and restoration for the choices they would or wouldn’t have made, if they had the ability to do things over. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? James: All from my imagination. That’s what makes fiction so much fun to write. I see a movie playing in my head and just write it down as it comes to me. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? James: Depends on the deadline. If it’s six months, it’ll take six months. If it’s due in eight weeks, then it’s eight weeks. Once I get the idea bubbling through my brain I’m able to write fairly fast. What most people don’t realize is how emotionally and physically exhausting writing can be. It’s like running a marathon. There’s massive satisfaction and triumph in finishing, but at the same time, it takes a lot out of you. So when I’m done, I spend a day or two comatose on the couch, trying not to drool too much. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the novel? James: Andy Andrews describes the book as being life changing. That’s exactly my hope, that people’s lives would be changed after reading The Five Times I Met Myself. I’ve had people say my books are not fluffy reading. That they stick with people months and years afterwards. I hope that’s true. I want my stories to seep into people’s minds and more importantly their hearts, and encourage them for a long, long time. Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in the book. James: It’s extremely tempting to try to get our validation from our spouse, our children, our career, our accomplishments, our friends, our accolades ... everything except Jesus. Yet the only validation that lasts is from the Lord. This is at the heart of The Five Times I Met Myself and a truth I’ve learned only recently myself. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? James: My wife isn’t a big fiction reader, but she’s brilliant at nuance and relationship. So she shapes my novels to a greater degree than she realizes. I ask her if something rings true or not, and she’s always spot on with her counsel. Extremely grateful for her. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? James: Love e-books, love my Kindle (even though I’d still chose a physical book over an electronic one if I had to choose). I love that it’s now easy for anyone to publish a book in electronic or physical form. Hate the fact that most people think they’re ready to publish a book before they are. I put myself in that camp. I thought I was ready when I wasn’t. Writing is hard. Writing well is even harder. Brock: Describe your feelings when you opened the box and saw the first published copies of your very first book. James: I suppose I’d be able to recall those feelings easier if I hadn’t been dealing all that strange moisture collecting in my eyes. Seriously, Darci and I sat on our front porch together and I struggled to believe it was real. A dream since I was 11 years old, so when it came true in my mid 40s it was a wonderful, surreal moment. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? James: They still sell Pepsi? Brock: Favorite place to vacation? James: Oregon coast. Brock: Favorite season? James: Give me an endless summer. Can’t wait to get to heaven and check that box. Brock: Favorite color? James: Green till I was ten. Blue ever since. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? James: Toss some pesto, a bunch of shrimp, some angel hair pasta, mushrooms, roasted pine nuts all together and I’m feeling very good. Brock: It sounds like you and your wife have a great relationship. Other than her, tell me about two or three of the other most important relationships in your life? James: Without question I have to mention our two sons, Taylor and Micah. I dedicated The Five Times I Met Myself to them by saying, “What dad could be prouder?” So true. I’m crazily blessed, because Taylor and Micah are not only seriously outstanding young men, they are two of my best friends. Brock: I know it’s years away, but any thoughts about what you want on your tombstone? James: Haven’t really considered it, but I’ll take a quick stab: “He loved Jesus, Darci, Taylor, and Micah with his whole heart and when others were around him, they felt more free.” Thanks so much for having me, Brock!  Author Website: JamesLRubart.com
Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart Author Twitter: @jamesLrubart  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Waking Beauty What if the Sleeping Beauty Refused to Wake Up? The rescue wasn't going at all how he planned. Prince Arpien intends to gain a throne and the sleeping beauty's heart with a single kiss that wakes her from the evil fairy's curse. But kissing the princess is only the beginning of a series of unforeseen obstacles: man-eating bugs, deadly spindles, talking lapdogs, and fiery pickles. The sleeping beauty is the biggest complication of all. Princess Brierly is Beautiful and fairy-Gifted, but also...daft. After one hundred years of sleep imprisonment, Brierly refuses to believe this rescue is anything more than a tantalizing but doomed dream. Arpien is drawn to the vibrancy beneath Brierly's indifferent exterior. Can they reclaim her kingdom? Do they dare trust in the Prince of the old tales to help them battle the evil fairy who cursed Brierly? What is the price of waking beauty? An exciting new twist to the classic popularized by Walt Disney and beloved by my daughter Elsie Mae. Sarah E. Morin spins this tale into a unique version, yet maintain much of the context that has made this story so treasured. Brock: Sarah, thanks for joining us to chat about Waking Beauty. First what inspired you to write about Sleeping Beauty with your own twist. Sarah E.: My inspiration: lack of sleep. Seriously. I exhausted myself taking 51 credit hours my sophomore year of college. One was an independent study on Disney musicals. One day I stared longingly at my bed and mused aloud to my roommate, “I wish I could be Sleeping Beauty and sleep for 100 years.” But then I got thinking. Would I really enjoy sleeping so long? What if everyone I loved was dead when I woke up? What if I had not only dreams, but nightmares, and there was no possible way to wake from those nightmares? What if I learned to take control of the dreams (lucid dreaming)? After being exposed to countless dream worlds, when the prince kissed me, how would I know that world was the “real” world? Would I prefer to go back into a world of my own making rather than face the truth? I jotted down 8 pages of notes in a computer file, saved it, and did nothing with it for 7 years. During that time, I converted to Christianity. My new faith did not mesh with the fantasy book I’d spent years writing. I may have converted, but it was a few months later that I actually surrendered to Jesus. I told God, “Ok, I’d rather serve you than my own ambition to write, so I won’t willfully write anything that undermines you.” I fasted from writing for several months. Eventually I opened up that old file I’d written in college, and suddenly I saw, “Ah! This is how to turn this story into a Christian story.” My struggle to find truth became Brierly’s. Brock: That’s an awesome journey you took. I can appreciate the length of time between writing that original idea and working toward publishing. Can you give some insight into the main characters? Sarah E.: Brierly (aka Sleeping Beauty): She is what literary types might recognize as the “wise fool.” She acts like a dreamy ditz, but actually, she’s brilliant. With a hoard of fairy godparents at her christening, she’s bound to be abnormally Gifted. She sings, she talks to animals, she’s a bit like a superhero. There are two big twists on Brierly’s character that make her different from other Sleeping Beauties. First, she refuses to believe she’s awake. Even after she falls in love she refuses to believe it. The Waking World, and its theology, has disappointed her before. Without the structure of the lies she has built around herself, she’ll collapse. The second twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty story is that my Sleeping Beauty was warned about the consequences should she prick her finger on a spindle. She brought about her own curse when she touched the spinning wheel. You may say, “Well, that was foolish.” Sure it was. But it’s understandable. Don’t we all give in to temptations even when we know better? (I say this as I eat chocolate, for example.) Arpien (aka hero with a rescuer complex): Arpien is the great-grandson of the guy Brierly was engaged to Pre Sleep. He’s grown up with the legends of the sleeping princess, and he built up this big fantasy about finally breaking her curse and proving his worth. He’s actually a character who lives in perpetual fear, and constantly tries to cover it up by posing as a dashing hero. Arpien is all about image, but he finds a deeper security by the end of the book. Nissa (aka the best friend): Nissa is Brierly’s distant cousin, and the niece of the current king. (Someone had to rule the kingdom while Brierly was asleep, and he’s not giving it back.) Her study of the old tales means she is the only person who believes Brierly’s claims of royalty. But she’s not very influential. She even thinks of herself as Lady Overlooked. Brierly doesn’t guard herself as closely around Nissa, so Nissa is able to chip some of the ice away while Arpien is still bungling his wooing attempts. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Sarah E.: Brierly: In the book, her Gift of Music plays a big role. If she lived today, she’d be into electronic music and performance art. Arpien: His weird name comes from the temp name I used when I was brainstorming: Rescuing Prince, later RP. But Arpien is kind of a nerd, so it became RPN. Poor guy. I love to torture him. Nissa: I made her really short because I’m really tall. We’re both at extremes of the height spectrum. However, I love being tall, and Nissa hates being short. I think the point I’m driving at is that anytime you’re different from those around you, you can hate those differences or love them as part of what makes you uniquely you, a God-patented design. If I could convey one message to the youth I work with, it would be that. Brock: In three sentences what is this book about? Sarah E.: “What if Sleeping Beauty refused to wake up?” Or “Waking Beauty uses a well-loved fairy tale as a way of debating relative and absolute truth.” Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Sarah E.: Brierly is a Postmodern Poster-Princess. At least once a week on the news, entertainment, business trainings, we hear that everything is equally true. This philosophy is our culture’s default setting, and so pervasive most people don’t even understand it’s a worldview in itself. I did not realize until I reached my 20s that the “everything is true” theory logically self-destructs. But without this theory, are we left adrift? Like Pilate, even when faced with Jesus himself, we find ourselves asking, “What is truth?” Brierly’s dream world is utterly postmodern—all dreams seem equally true. She wants to wake up in the real world, but she has no tools for determining what reality is even when she sees it. In some ways she even prefers making up her own truth. It gives her power to live in the dream world and create the rules of her surroundings any way she sees fit. But it also leads to meaninglessness and despair. Like Brierly, I think we struggle today with discerning the difference between reality and possibility. I think as technology advances, it will continue to become more difficult for people to tell truth apart from fiction. Take virtual retinal displays, where images of computer-generated realities are projected right into your eyeballs. I’m not against such devices, as they open up a world of imagination. But I think as a society we’ll have to become ever more discerning. Imagination and gullibility are not synonymous. Brock: Is this your favorite genre to write for? Sarah E.: Yes, fantasy. I also write poetry. Brock: What are some examples of how your faith has influenced the book? Sarah E.: A series of word images from the Bible. “Wake.” “Sleep.” “Thorns.” “Briars.” These words are scattered throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, and are also innate in the story of Sleeping Beauty. Also three people:
All these people find themselves echoed in both key scenes and themes in Waking Beauty. Brock: What sort of research did you do for this book? Sarah E.: First I read and watched multiple versions of Sleeping Beauty, especially the ones over 50 years old. I knew readers would be looking for iconic scenes, like the Christening, the Wake-up Kiss, the Finger-Pricking. I decided which elements to keep and which to discard. For example, in one early version of Sleeping Beauty, her ogre mother-in-law eats her. Ew. I researched Medieval and Renaissance fashion, music, weaponry, architecture, and dance. It is not my intent to replicate a historically accurate version of any of these, but they were good inspiration as I imagined certain styles and colors for each culture. Although Brierly loves fashion, I am a Clothing Idiot. I spent weeks researching shoes, which the stereotypical woman would love, but I went crossed-eyed. I live in fear of the day I research shoes for Cinderella. Brock: There are a lot of fairy tale retellings out there right now. What’s your favorite? How is yours different? Sarah E.: I love seeing how people make fairy tales their own, whether it’s the TV show Once Upon a Time or the musical Wicked. My favorite retelling right now is Marissa Meyer’s metallic jambalaya, The Lunar Chronicles, which features a cyborg Cinderella. I am a Lunartic. I think there is a lot of space in this genre for more. You can distill most fairy tales down to two or three iconic scenes. Then the fun comes in moving those moments into new settings and trying to figure out character motivation. Waking Beauty differs because it’s simultaneously a spoofy fairy tale and a form of Christian apologetics. My heroine is also more complex than many Sleeping Beauties, in part because most Sleeping Beauties snooze through their own stories. Brierly is partially to blame for her own predicament. She pretends utter indifference to the world around her and the young man she comes to love, but it’s a form of self-protection. I see Brierly as a kind of flawed superhero, too. I mean, the fairies gave her a slew of Christening Gifts. I stick with some of the traditional ones, like Beauty and Music, but throw in some others like Animal Speech and Fleetsome Feet. I had a lot of fun playing around with these “superpowers” to make her a more active character than in other versions of Sleeping Beauty. Brock: What sort of balance in the story do you try to strike, to appeal to your readers? Sarah E.: For me, I suppose the balance is Spoof and Angst. I wrestle with deep philosophical questions, and juxtapose that struggle with humor. I put references to Nietzsche and talking lapdogs all in the same book. I used to think I could be funny OR serious, but not both. Now I think the contrast helps reach the reader and hold her attention. So I suppose I have resolved the issue by embracing my inner hoakiness. I do admit sometimes that humor breaks out like acne in the middle of a weighty passage. In such cases, I can only call in the publisher and editor with their facial treatments to remove the offending one-liners. Brock: Why do you capitalize so many words that don’t require it? (Gift of Charm, Rescuing Prince, Stance of Mourning, etc.) Sarah E.: Humor. I’m making a note that the idea is inflated in the mind of the character, or he/she is poking fun at it. Arpien, for example, comes from a very formal culture, where they study Boasting and Bowing. So for him, the capitalization indicates Some Important Ideal. Brierly usually means her capitals sarcastically. Nissa, the scholar, capitalizes any of the major recurring themes in the stories she reads. She thinks of Arpien as a Rescuing Prince. Fairy Gifts are always capitalized (Beauty, Music, Handy-With-Needle-And-Thread, etc). Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? Sarah E.: I am so analytical I’d have to hand over my entire journal to answer that question. I will say one feeling that surprised me as a first-time author was how much I enjoyed the process of editing. Steve Laube and his creative team at Enclave not only have great storytelling instincts, but know how to balance encouragement with challenge. Brock: How did you select your protagonists? Sarah E.: I knew from the beginning I had to have both. It’s the tale of Sleeping Beauty, so she has to be one. But a character whose main hobby is dreaming is innately a passive character. I never liked passive heroines, which is why fixing Sleeping Beauty’s story appealed to me. I wanted to explain why she was so passive, and then wake her from her passivity. By the end she would be rescuing people herself. Arpien (our prince) became a main character at first out of need. He is very driven. That’s a great characteristic in a protagonist, and one Brierly lacked for the beginning of the story. But after I got to know Arpien, I just loved spending time with him on the page. He is such a poser. Well-intentioned, but a poser. I enjoy the idea of a hero who is actually quaking in his boots. Brock: Are you working on another book for the series? Sarah E.: I have plans for another set in the same world, but it will be a stand-alone. Brock: Can you give us a hint at this next book? Sarah E.: I have searched long and hard for a fairy tale that grabbed me with a strong Christian angle, the way Sleeping Beauty did. Cinderella is one possibility, but I have some crazy ideas about The Princess and the Pea. I am still very much in the exploratory phases. In the meantime I am exploring publication options for my fairy tale poetry, which I perform for local groups. I think a few of my pieces would work as picture books for older kids and adults: Rapunzel the Hairbrained, Goldilock-picker. Brock: When you are writing, do you outline the whole book or give the characters freedom to change the story? Sarah E.: Something in between. Yes, I use an outline, but it comes into play after I’ve already finished several scenes. First, I always write the beginning and the end scenes. It’s like Mapquest. I enter “start” and “end,” but then drag the route around in the middle. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Sarah E.: I planned it as one book. People told me it would never sell at that length, so I should break it into two. It sold as 2 books, but my wise publisher said, “The ending to book 1 isn’t working.” The best solution turned out to be putting the halves together again and cutting some words. I blogged about this at length, in fact, comparing my writing to camels. I am now a happy dromedary, meaning I have one hump, or one story arc. Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Sarah E.: All scenes went on a weight-reduction plan (I always overwrite). Brock: Me too. Sarah E.: We also lost some of the longer scenes I added when I thought the book was going to be published as two books. Funny thing is I didn’t take them out—the publisher found them without me even telling him which ones they were! Steve Laube is insightful that way. Another scene had a near-death experience in a round of editing, but I made a plea to the publisher and received a reprieve. I am grateful to have a publisher so open to my input. Brock: The Author and Publisher relationship is key. Was it difficult to be accurate to a Biblical perspective when writing fantasy fiction? Sarah E.: I used to think so before I read Karen Hancock. Have you read her Arena? I picked it up less than a year after my conversion and it blew me away. Spec fic is the most theological genre outside of theology itself. I like what C. S. Lewis had to say about his “supposal” (the Narnia books). I can’t quote him exactly, but his notion was that by putting spiritual concepts into a fantasy world, you shake the connotations off words that otherwise sound too much like Christianese. You can then consider the idea itself, from a new angle, rather than get caught up in preconceived notions the “religious” words evoke. See? We can’t even say the word “religious” anymore without a whole truckload of connotation dumping on it. Brock: Where do you like to write? Sarah E.: Anywhere I can drag my laptop: under trees, up trees, libraries, Chinese buffets, the car while I’m waiting to walk into an appointment, any room of the house. I even tried to type while brushing my teeth. Once. Brock: Haha. Though I like the idea of up in a tree. Are you a full-time or part-time author? Sarah E.: Part-time. By day I’m a kid wrangler at an interactive history park (I supervise youth volunteers). I adore my young’uns. Adults aren’t as entertaining. Adults never ask you how long it takes to microwave your socks. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Sarah E.: I think it takes a lifetime to write a book. Even if you can measure 8 months or 8 years between the placing of the first word and the last, your cumulative life experiences affect it. If I had written the whole of Waking Beauty in college, when I first jotted down notes for it, it would have been a far different book. Ditto for if I tried to write it a decade from now. Robin McKinley wrote two versions of Beauty and the Beast, decades apart, and they differ drastically. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Sarah E.: I hope Waking Beauty works on two levels. I am no C. S. Lewis, but I love how Narnia works as a face-value entertaining story and as one with deeper spiritual meaning. So I hope readers laugh, but I also hope they can relate to Brierly’s struggle. I would like them to examine their own philosophical underpinnings, the way she does, the way I did. Are they standing on a solid framework? Can everything be true? Letting go of pleasant fictions is scary, but oh, readers, the truth is worth it. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Sarah E.: It was a congenital defect and I self-diagnosed at age 8. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Sarah E.: Karen Hancock, folk tales and myths from around the world, Disney, Pixar, Ravi Zacharias, Lee Strobel, C. S. Lewis. And lack of sleep was a strong influence. Strangely, my day job as a history museum professional is also an influence. I plan programming and portray composite characters in 1800s Indiana. I can’t be as liberal with facts in history as in fantasy, but when it comes to building characters, they are very similar processes. When you portray a period figure, you consider motivations, family, class, worldview, culture, setting, all the things that go into building a good protagonist. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the changes in publishing? Sarah E.: It’s fascinating. There are too many pros and cons to make a simple judgment call pronouncing it good or bad. But I do love to track it happening. As a history professional, the way any invention revolutionizes an industry and society is of interest, and here we’re living it. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Sarah E.: The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope and it still is. It combines Elizabethan history with The Ballad of Tam Lin. I first read this book when I was in 7th grade and have read it once a year since. In college, I wrote a soundtrack to chapter 13 as my honors thesis. Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Sarah E.: Jane Austen, which sounds cliché, but I have an un-cliché idea for our project. Austen used to edit out words with scissors. Her letters to her sister are full of tiny holes. I would not touch any of Austen’s great works. I would sweep up the words she left like confetti on the floor and arrange it like magnetic poetry. I think even Austen’s word litter would be entertaining. I would publish it under the title, The Collected Litterature of Jane Austen, Edited. Misspelling intentional. I love a pun. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Sarah E.: For God to use me as a tool to reach one person as profoundly as certain books and authors have touched me. I pray for that Unknown Reader, and picture her (it’s usually a “her” in my mind). I know it’s not up to me to move someone spiritually, it’s up to God. But I figure I’ll at least jump up and down in the toolbox when he’s looking for the right wrench for that one job. Brock: Favorite season? Sarah E.: Autumn Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Sarah E.: No, but I have a wide assortment of headwear, ranging from hats to doo-rags. I put on a different one according to my mood. Colorful ones for humorous scenes, dark ones for philosophical scenes. Call them my thinking caps. Brock: What’s your favorite holiday memory? Sarah E.: My Dad and I swap books and movies all year long. I let him borrow the Billy Graham movie, Billy, and he loved it so much he kept it over half a year. He wrapped it up for Christmas like a normal present. I unwrapped it and glared at him, and he just started belly-laughing until he cried and coughed. So next year I did that same thing to him, with books I borrowed. We have done this every year since. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Sarah E.: I love the poetic opening of the Gospel of John. I think any writer gets excited to hear about the Word. Don’t you get excited when people refer to God as the Author of Life? Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Sarah E.: Sort of. I compose music as a brainstorming exercise (you can watch me do it for Brierly on YouTube). But when I sit at the computer, there is no music in the background. I need to hear the rhythms of the words. I have a degree in music theory and composition. It is amazing how much it has helped me in developing the themes, pacing, and structure of my written work. Brock: Thanks Sarah for sharing with us and I look forward to seeing what you come up with next.  Author Website: SaraheMorin.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/sarahemorinauthor Author YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC9QS6boA_S6azFZtiEc5jZA  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Exodus Cliff Graham is a former US Army officer who now travels the country speaking and writing. He is behind a series of media franchises and author of the Lion of War series while. And now Graham brings us his latest series, Shadow off the Mountain. Brock: Cliff thanks for joining us today. What was the inspiration behind Shadow of the Mountain: Exodus? Cliff: After working many years in ministry and speaking to different conferences, churches, and men’s groups, I noticed that the older men in the crowd tended to feel left out of what was happening, and as a result, had begun checking out to spend time on the golf course. I thought it was time we had a look at a Biblical character who defied the idea of “retirement.” Brock: Who are the main characters you chose to focus on and what makes them unique? Cliff: The primary characters in the series are Joshua and Caleb, the two spies Moses sent out following the exodus from Egypt who then assumed mantles of leadership over all the people. Brock: What is something about these two that others might not know? Cliff: I’m sure others know this, but it is not common knowledge. It is likely that Caleb was not an ethnic Hebrew, but instead a member of a desert tribe known as the Kenizzites. He is one of the first examples of how God’ covenant with Israel was intended for all people. As far as Joshua, he is one of the few characters in the Bible who never really “messes up” on an epic scale like so many others. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a great man doing great things in the power of his God. Brock: That’s some good insight into these guys, and I’m curious now to dig into the passages in the Bible covering them. In three sentences what is the first installment of the series, Exodus, about? Cliff: This is the gritty, intense portrayal of the journey from slavery in Egypt through the wars of conquest in Canaan through the eyes of Joshua and Caleb. It is about the nature of masculine friendship over a lifetime. It is an indictment of the idea that once you reach a certain age, you can just retire and take it easy. Brock: Truly you’ve highlighted in these stories, the inspiration behind the series. Did you outline the entire series before writing? Cliff: I am fortunate to be able to follow the basic outline of the Biblical narrative, so the overall structure is always known. I get to enjoy fleshing out details. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Cliff: Depending on the clarity I have for the story and characters, and the time available after seeing through other responsibilities, I can draft a manuscript in 30-60 days. The editorial process can take longer. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Cliff: I believe it will speak to men young and old who love a great adventure story, and will help them understand and appreciate the Bible more. Brock: How much leeway do you give yourself with facts in a Biblical fiction novel? Cliff: I try to stay exactly with the Biblical narrative where Scripture is specific, but where it is silent, there is room for ample imagination, so long as the tone and intent of the fiction is to honor the Bible. Brock: Is this your favorite genre to write for? Cliff: Yes, Masculine war-based fiction about battle camaraderie, and the costs of heroism and leadership. Brock: Where do you like to write? Cliff: Oddly enough, I love to write on my staircase near the living room of my house! I need the isolation but I also love to hear the sounds of my family in the house. It staves off the loneliness inherent to writing. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author? Cliff: I am full-time as an author, but I also spend a lot of time in other creative endeavors. I own a few small media companies that are busy producing a lot of content. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Cliff: I was always a fan of Louis L’Amour’s fiction and his ability to paint a vivid scene in the reader’s mind. They were simple stories well told. To write for a mass audience, you want to be able to tell a story that is thought-provoking and of high quality, but never lose sight of accessibility. Brock: What’s your view on the current publishing revolution and the digital age of media? Cliff: It has made a big difference in my ability to get content out there sooner than I would have been able to otherwise. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Cliff: Without question, Tarzan of the Apes. I read it when I was ten years old and never forgot its imagery and themes. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Cliff: Coke Zero and it’s not close. Brock: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Cliff: Soft, because that’s closest to a fajita. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Cliff: In America, the mountains of Wyoming and Montana. Otherwise, Israel. I have not been able to make it to Europe yet, because I want to be at a place in my life where I can spend a huge amount of time there going to museums and studying architecture, history, and art. Brock: Favorite season? Cliff: Fall. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like cocoa, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Cliff: Green tea with honey. Brock: Favorite color? Cliff: Navy blue. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Cliff: Psalm 140:7 Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Cliff: The Pandora station “Movie Scores” to stir up storytelling senses, while also playing a thunderstorm on loop through another device. Brock: Cliff I’m going to check out that Pandora Station for sure. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.  Author Website: CliffGraham.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/cliffgrahamauthor Author Twitter: twitter.com/cliffgraham  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Unbound He must be released for a little while. But the one who sees doesn’t believe. Elijah Goldsmith has nightmares he needs to ignore. Why would a rich kid from Manhattan dream three straight nights about a dragon and the destruction of St. Peter’s Basilica? He’s never even been to Rome. It’s bad timing, too. He’s graduating soon and applying to be a spy in the International Security Agency. That’s where he meets Naomi. She’s the kind of girl who makes boys like Elijah want to share their secrets. Were they brought together to learn what his secrets mean? There’s more to their sparks than they think. This is 2066, the year the world ends. "This is going to be huge. . . . The Da Vinci Code meets The Hunger Games meets Left Behind. . . . An imagining epic." -- Hugh Hewitt, author and national radio show host Brock: What’s it like to be an Amazon sensation? J.B. Simmons book Unbound has become a #1 best seller in multiple categories over the past several weeks, his story and his publishing model has taken him to the top. What makes this story so popular with readers? I sat down with J.B. Simmons to get the latest on the first book in The Omega Trilogy. Brock: How did you come up with the idea for The Omega Trilogy? J.B.: Unbound started with little questions about a huge idea. The book of Revelation says that, after one thousand years bound in chains, “the dragon, that ancient serpent ... must be released for a little while.” That’s hard to understand. Why would anyone unleash the bad guy? What would the bad guy do, and how long is a little while? Writing about these questions, and the characters that faced them, spun the story into the Omega Trilogy. Brock: Wow, the timing of this interview couldn’t be better. This past Saturday we were discussing the thousand years in the college small group we lead at our home. J.B. take a minute to tell us about the main characters. J.B.: Elijah Goldsmith has everything going for him. He’s the 18-year-old son of a New York banker. He’s smart, rich, and destined for success. But he starts having disturbing dreams. Soon events spiral out of his control. His fate is beyond anything he dreamed. Naomi Parish is a Christian from North Carolina, raised by a former NBA star who became a missionary. She’s home-schooled, and a genius at coding. Like Elijah, she is enlisting in an international spy agency. She’s also stunning—the kind of girl who makes boys want to share their secrets. Both Elijah and Naomi are unique because their background and skills, particularly when they’re together, put them in central roles as the world crumbles around them. They are chosen. A mystery confronted in the book is who, exactly, is doing the choosing. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. J.B.: Elijah is Jewish, but he barely even believes in God. Naomi seems meek and perfect on the surface, but underneath she’s fiery, intense. Also, her favorite flavor of ice cream is Butter Pecan. Brock: Always fun to get these little insights the author knows, but didn’t share in the book. In three words what is this book about? J.B.: Revelation. Technology. Destiny. 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? J.B.: I start with a basic idea and let the characters take control from there. But I do have a vision for the endpoint. The exciting part is seeing how the characters react to what happens around them. Brock: My kind of author, my style’s the same. How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? J.B.: It’s about finding your way in challenging times. It’s also loaded with ideas about where technology is heading in the future. Also, thanks to the year 2000 (remember Y2K?) and the Left Behind series, many are familiar with ideas about the millennium. Gut reactions abound for this end-times stuff. But, as many readers have said about Unbound, I can assure you that its ideas are fresh and new and will make you think differently about it all. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? J.B.: I’m still figuring that out. One thing is clear: I like to write books that tackle the hardest questions, and that move really fast. In our modern era of distractions, I hope my stories will grab readers’ attentions and not let go. Brock: That is the challenge these days, especially for the younger market. Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? J.B.: I did tons of research. First, I studied Revelation, Daniel, and other prophecies extensively. This book was my favorite resource, because it compares the different end-times views objectively. I also read dozens of articles and books on the future. The trilogy takes place in 2066, when no one knows what the world will look like. One example is the “precept.” It’s a concept in the book about computing technology embedded in our normal brain functioning. Sound crazy? Well, two prominent MIT professors recently wrote a book, The Second Machine Age, that makes it seem pretty realistic, and maybe sooner than we think. Check out my blog for more info on the sources I used. Brock: Wow that’s at the same time frightening and really interesting. Can you give us a hint at the next books in the series? J.B.: Book 2 is called Clothed with the Sun. Book 3 is Great White Throne. The best hints you’ll find are in Revelation 12:1 and 20:11. Because those verses are so clear… Brock: Always great to point back to the Word. How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? J.B.: This is a story that matters, because it seeks truth. I’ve heard from some parents who have been using it brilliantly – reading it out loud to their families as part of home-schooling. I think any parent who wants their kids to think about the future and faith will find this book to be a perfect fit. Brock: What do you hope teens and young adults take away from The Omega Trilogy? J.B.: That our world is heading fascinating places, with plenty of trouble on the horizon, but that there’s a higher power who’s in control. We can have hope no matter what comes. Brock: Hope is a great thing to have. How long does it usually take you to write a single book? J.B.: I try to finish a complete draft within 2-3 months. That keeps all the ideas in my head at once. But then I set the book aside for at least a month. It goes through many rounds of editing after that. The whole process takes around one year. Brock: What do you think is the key for finishing a draft so fast? J.B.: The habit of writing every day is huge. It took me a while to figure this out, but writing is so much better when it’s regular. Two books helped me understand this: On Writing by Stephen King and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. For anyone interest in writing, they’re must-reads. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? J.B.: I went to law school with a goal of sharpening my writing skills. Then, about seven years ago, late one night, I was toiling over a legal brief and asking myself hard questions: “Who am I, why am I here, what am I doing?” An answer flashed in my mind like a bolt of lightning: “You are a writer.” Ever since, I’ve felt peace when filling a page with words. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? J.B.: Coffee. I drink it black, preferably a light and recent roast. I have 3 kids under 5 years old, which is not always conducive to a full night’s sleep. One of my secrets is the coffee nap. Brock: J.B. I know the feeling I’ll have 4 under 5 in just a few days from now. Favorite color? J.B.: Midnight blue. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? J.B.: Always. It’s usually beautiful, intense, and instrumental. Some of my favorites are Yann Tiersen, Sigur Ros, Mum, and Explosions in the Sky. Yann Tiersen is a French composer. His music is magical and genius. If you’re interested, his work on the soundtrack of Amelie is a good place to start. Brock: J.B. Thanks for answering these questions. Readers you won’t want to miss out on this exciting trilogy. Book 2, Clothed with the Sun is also available now.  Author Website: www.jbsimmons.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JBSimmonsAuthor Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/jbsimmonslight  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Forged Steel Downtown. Coffee shop. 2 AM. One minute, Josh is firing off sarcastic remarks at his best friend Marc – the next, they’re running from shape-shifters. Apparently, even best friends don’t share all their secrets. Now Josh is in danger. He can see the monsters among the humans. When Marc is kidnapped, Josh finds himself pulled into the schemes of the fae courts, and throws in his lot with Marc’s allies: the lovely Larae, a human named David, and the fighter, Eliaster. But what began as a rescue mission becomes something much more involved… And all Josh wants to do is get out before it’s too late. Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this book or series? H.A.Titus: I came up with the idea after being introduced to urban fantasy via Neil Gaiman's novel Neverwhere and Kersten Hamilton's series The Goblin Wars. Both of them inspired me to try my hand at urban fantasy, which was a completely new genre for me, and I also decided to throw in a Celtic twist, as Celtic mythology has always been something that fascinated me. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? H.A.Titus: There are several main characters, so I'll just stick with the two who are the most important. The book is written in the first-person point of view of Josh, a computer and math genius who is also a fantasy and sci-fi geek. He's pretty unique because you don't see many geek protagonists getting out there and getting their hands dirty—they tend to stay in the bunkers giving the other protagonists technical back-up. Eliaster is my warrior character—he's full-blooded fae, which makes him temperamental and dangerous for humans to be around, but he's also committed himself to protecting humans from other fae who are worse than he is. He's my favorite character to write in this series, not just because of his sarcasm, but because he has a really cool story line that I can't wait for readers to see. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. H.A.Titus: Umm, ok… Josh absolutely hates energy drinks. He can down coffee like no one else, though. Even though Eliaster grew up in the fae-run Underworld, he isn't comfortable there and rarely sleeps more than two hours while he's in the Underworld. Brock: In three words, what is this book about? H.A.Titus: Adventure, mythology, and building trust. 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? H.A.Titus: I loosely outline, so I have an idea of where I'm going, but I allow enough flexibility to let the characters take over at times. (And hope they won't change my ideas for the story too terribly much.) ;) Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? H.A.Titus: Anyone who has a hard time trusting others is definitely going to relate, especially to Eliaster. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? H.A.Titus: Well, I love urban fantasy and steampunk—each has its own tropes that make it fun—but I think my absolute favorite would have to be middle-grade whimsical fantasy, along the lines of the first few Harry Potter books, or Alcatraz VS the Evil Librarians, or Howl's Moving Castle. I just started trying it out earlier this year, and it's a fun change of pace from my darker YA and NA books. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? H.A.Titus: Five to seven, though that number keeps changing as the story is still in flux. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? H.A.Titus: I did a lot of research of Celtic mythology and the Irish Gaelic language, all of which was fun for me. I can finally speak a bit of Irish Gaelic, which has been a bucket list item since high school! Although I probably mangle some of the pronunciation, since it's easily one of the most confusing languages I've seen. Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? H.A.Titus: Really, really awesome. This has been something I've wanted to do since I was twelve, so being able to finally hold a book that is 100% from my head in my hands is easily as cool as the first time holding my sons. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male protagonist? H.A.Titus: I didn't really choose…Josh kind of walked into my head and said "Hey, I've got this cool story you need to write down." Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? H.A.Titus: Yes! Still finagling some plot details, since it introduces some new characters and a new point of view, but it's coming along. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? H.A.Titus: More Unseelie plots, more danger for Josh and Eliaster to get themselves into, and more sarcastic characters for the guys to snark at. If I tell you any more, it would step into spoiler territory. 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? H.A.Titus: This is the first series I've written, and it definitely took on a life of its own. It was originally intended to be a novella…then it expanded into a full length novel…then a trilogy…now it's a series. I'm kind of hoping that this doesn't turn into a trend for the rest of my stand-alone books, otherwise I'm never going to finish everything! ;) Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? H.A.Titus: As I mentioned above, it was originally supposed to be a novella. It was also supposed to be satirical. Turns out I'm not very good at satire, and I adored the characters too much (ok, Eliaster…I adored Eliaster too much) to let it just be a novella. Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example? H.A.Titus: Not really, but there were a couple of characters whose parts were cut from having a big role to having merely a cameo. (For those who have read the book, these characters are Gren and Coriander from the Chicago Underworld.) Brock: Is it difficult to be accurate to a biblical perspective or biblical facts when writing fantasy fiction? H.A.Titus: I don't think so, although I can't speak for the biblical facts part as I've never tried writing Biblical fantasy. Any author who is a Christian, even if they're not trying to write specifically Christian fantasy, is going to show some Biblical perspective in their writing, even if it's something as simple as a "good versus evil" plot, or as subtle as Tolkien's Iluvatar. I think speculative fiction is something that is uniquely suited to the Christian perspective, as so many fantasy and sci-fi stories are, at their core, stories about heroes…and what is Christ's sacrifice but the ultimate hero story? Brock: Where do you like to write? H.A.Titus: I prefer writing in my office, where I can shut the door, plug in my headphones and turn on loud music, and concentrate, but more often (like as I'm answering these questions), I'm writing on my laptop at the kitchen table to the soundtrack of my newborn's snores and my toddler's car noises, alphabet songs, and random yells. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? H.A.Titus: Part time, for the forseeable future. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? H.A.Titus: It depends…usually about a year from start to finish, although it can take longer if I have to take a break from writing for a while. Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in the book/series. H.A.Titus: I didn't really try to build any specific spiritual themes into Forged Steel, but one I've noticed that keeps cropping up, especially in a certain character's story arc, is clinging to God as a lifeline through everything. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? H.A.Titus: Around May of last year, I realized that I would shortly be turning 26, and I still hadn't published a book, even though I'd said every year for the past five, "THIS year will be the year I publish a book". I realized I needed to stop procrastinating, stop being fearful, and just get my book out there. So I gave myself a deadline (my birthday, which was in July), and dove into editing my book for the last time. It was a mad scramble to get everything done in two months, so next time I'll definitely give myself more time, but in the end it was worth it. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? H.A.Titus: When I was twelve, when I realized that my penchant for writing stories might be a God-given talent, and that I should probably cultivate it. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? H.A.Titus: J. R. R. Tolkien got me started on fantasy—before then I tried writing mysteries and historical fiction, but it never really seemed to fit my personality. Fantasy was where I felt the most comfortable. Nowadays, Jim Butcher and Neil Gaiman have been strong influences on my urban fantasy, but for overall writing, I'm most inspired by anything Brandon Sanderson writes. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? H.A.Titus: It's totally awesome! I loved having the ability to control my cover, my interior layout, and pretty much every other aspect of my book. It's forced me to learn new skills (though I was close to pulling my hair out a time or two), reach out to the community of writers I know online, and I also like being able to run giveaways and control the pricing of my book. It gives me a lot of flexibility and room to experiment. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? H.A.Titus: The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, for sure. Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? H.A.Titus: Brandon Sanderson or J. R. R. Tolkien, although I know I wouldn't be able to come even close to their geniuses. Brock: Describe your feelings when you opened the box and saw the first published copies of your very first book. H.A.Titus: I just stared in a sort of shock. It was hard to translate the fact that these ideas, which had existed only in my head for so long, had finally been given a physical form. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? H.A.Titus: Well, as I'm sure any author would, I'd love to get a bestseller, or maybe even have my books made into movies or TV shows! My more realistic goal though is to be able to supplement my husband's income, or maybe eventually make enough to give us the financial flexibility for him to start his own business, which is something I know he'd enjoy. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? H.A.Titus: Neither…most dark sodas make my stomach upset, so I prefer ginger ale or lime-flavored seltzer water. Brock: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? H.A.Titus: Soft shell. I don't like the mess of hard shells. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? H.A.Titus: Copper Harbor, Michigan. It's a quiet, remote campground at the northernmost part of the Upper Peninsula. There's a tiny little town a five minute bike ride away, and it's right next to a Civil War fort. I love how peaceful it is there. It feels like my personal Rivendell, as Bilbo describes in The Hobbit: "Elrond's house was perfect, whether you liked food or sleep or story-telling or singing or reading, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness..." Brock: Favorite season? H.A.Titus: Summer! Summers up here never get super hot, except for a couple of weeks in July or August. Most of the time it's the perfect weather to go mountain biking or rock climbing. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? H.A.Titus: Ginger chews, dark chocolate covered pretzels or almonds, and tea—lots of tea, hot or iced depending on the season. Brock: Favorite color? H.A.Titus: Green or black, depending on my mood. Brock: What’s your favorite holiday memory? H.A.Titus: I don't have a specific memory, but I love Christmas. Despite winter being my least favorite season, Christmas is a time that I always get excited about—I think there's something about the season that is magical and joyful no matter how old you are. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? H.A.Titus: Probably Psalm 45:1, "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer." I've just always thought it appropriate for a writer. ☺ Brock: Favorite pasta dish? H.A.Titus: That would have to be spinach artichoke pasta with chicken. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? H.A.Titus: I don't often get the chance any more (remember the whole writing at the kitchen table thing?), but I do enjoy listening to music while writing. A lot of times it helps my writing go better. What I listen to depends on what I'm writing—I build Spotify playlists tailored to each work in progress as I'm outlining, but it generally includes a lot of cinematic-type music from Future World Music, Audiomachine, etc. If I'm just writing blog posts or doing business stuff, I turn on Owl City or Andrew Peterson or Imagine Dragons—something bouncy and peppy to keep me moving. Brock: What are your hobbies besides writing? H.A.Titus: In the summer, I love to rock-climb and mountain-bike. The city we live close to also has a lot of nice paved biking paths, so we try to get out two or three times a week for a ride. In the winter, my favorite pastime is skiing, but I also end up going on a snowmobile trip once or twice a season too.  Author Website: www.hatitus.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/hatitusauthor Author Twitter: twitter.com/HATitusWriting Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/HATitusWriting Author Instagram: instagram.com/HATitusWriting  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Murder at the Courthouse Michael Keane’s stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done. He’s ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his sleepy hometown. Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky—and that’s just fine with Michael. Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs. Bringing with her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep you guessing. Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this series? Ann: I’ve always enjoyed reading mysteries. So I decided why not try to write one or two. I picked a small town because that’s what I know. Hidden Springs came into being. Then a character, Michael Keane, who loves his little town and wants to protect it, sprang to life in my imagination. At this point, I thought what if things weren’t as idyllic as they seemed in Hidden Spring. What if secrets from the past were buried under that peaceful surface that would threaten to tear the town apart? Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Ann: My main character, Michael Keane, is a deputy sheriff in my little town. He was a policeman for a while in a big city, but didn’t like all the crime he saw there. His roots go deep in Hidden Springs and he’s happy back in his hometown directing traffic and writing up fender bender accident reports. But then a body is discovered on the courthouse steps and the town is plunged into a mystery. As Michael works to apprehend the murderer, new discoveries make him question all he has believed about his small town. Malinda Keane is Michael’s maiden aunt and the matriarch of Hidden Springs. She raised Michael after an auto accident killed his parents and critically injured him. Michael credits his recovery to her force of character that practically willed him back to life. Malinda works to keep the town of Hidden Springs as she thinks it should be, a vital Main Street of hometown businesses. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Ann: Michael longs to have a family but he’s in love with a woman he thinks would never live in a small town like Hidden Springs. Malinda was in love once and planned to marry, but her fiancé was killed in the service. After that, she poured all her energy into teaching math at the local high school and raising Michael. Brock: In three sentences, what is this book about? Ann: Murder at the Courthouse is about how secrets can be revealed to challenge everything we’ve believed to be true about a person or place. Michael Keane wants to keep the peace in his little town of Hidden Springs but bad things can happen anywhere. When violent death comes to call on the town, the small town peaceful image is disrupted. 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 wrote my first novel because I had an assignment to outline a novel in a writing course I was taking. I hated doing outlines in school so I wrote my first novel instead. I start with my characters and a general plot idea, but then I let the characters show me their stories as we go down the story road. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I did like outlining and could plan out my books chapter by chapter. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Ann: Most of us have roots in place. I know I do. And this story is about how we can live in a place all our lives and think we know the people, but yet, we never know everything. Throughout the story, I have Malinda consider the blessings that come our way even in the midst of hard times by considering the Bible verses Lamentations 3:22-23. The old hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” was inspired by these verses with its words about how each morning we see new blessings from our compassionate Lord. I hope that thought will touch and encourage readers as much as it does me. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Ann: I have written in several different genres. My first published books were historical romances in the general market and then I published several young adult and middle reader coming of age type stories before I came over to the inspirational fiction market. In the Christian market, I’ve published my Shaker books, historical family stories, small town stories and historical romance. Now I’m writing small town mysteries. But the best part of writing for the Christian market is being able to tell the stories I want to tell and letting my characters’ faith journeys be part of the story. So, I’d just say my favorite genre is the Christian genre, and I’m glad I’ve been able to explore different sorts of stories in this market. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Ann: The series will have at least three books. After that, it will be according to readers. But I do plan to write more historical stories as well. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male protagonist? Ann: In most of my Christian fiction books, I have both a male and female protagonist and sometimes a variety of point of view characters. But when I began writing these Hidden Spring mysteries, I seemed to need to mainly focus in on one character. I wanted that character to be in the center of the mystery, the one who would be working to figure everything out. I’m not sure why I decided the deputy in the story should be male and not female. That’s just what seemed to work for the story I had in mind. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Ann: Actually book 2, Murder Comes by Mail, is going through edits now and will be released in July 2016. I’m working on book 3 and trying to figure out who did what as I write. I’m letting a house have a big part in the story, so we’ll see if the house makes it into the final title or on the cover. There will be a new cat as there are cats on both the other covers. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Ann: In Murder Comes by Mail, Michael becomes a local media sensation after he prevents a man from committing suicide. The good feelings don’t last long as photos of victims of a serial killer arrive in the mail addressed to the “Hero of Hidden Springs.” Things go from bad to worse with Michael desperately trying to stop the killer before someone new is targeted by the killer. 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? Ann: I do have a general idea of the plot of each book when I begin writing, but I did not have a plot or outline for the ensuing stories except for Michael’s continuing love interest and problems with that. So the books do take on a life of their own, but that continuing thread of Michael’s personal life and the life of his aunt Malinda and other townspeople is laced throughout all the books. Brock: Where do you like to write? Ann: For many years, I had a desk in my kitchen and wrote whenever I could grab a few hours from my busy life as a farm wife and mother. Eventually, we built an addition onto our house that included a much needed extra bathroom and even better, for me, an office with windows. My favorite room is a room with windows and I’m glad to have such a great place to write where I can look out at the yard and fields while I’m writing. My dog Oscar, a Lab Chow mix, keeps me company in my office. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Ann: I’ve been both. I have worked part-time in various secretarial jobs over the years, but now I’m able to work full-time. My husband has been retired for a number of years, but I can’t imagine retiring from writing. There’s always another story waiting to be told. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Ann: When I was around ten years old, I was a big fan of the Hardy Boy mystery stories. So I decided it might be fun if I could solve a mystery like they did. Since there was little chance I was going to stumble across a real mystery out on the farm where I grew up, I set about writing my own adventure starring a cuter, smarter model of myself. The rest is history. I’ve been writing ever since although it did take a few years before I saw my words in print. And I let other characters star in the stories these days. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Ann: Well, there were those Hardy Boy mysteries that started me on my path as a writer. I also loved Black Beauty and Little Women. And when I was fourteen, I read Gone with the Wind over the Thanksgiving holiday break from school. I can still remember the feeling of being totally immersed in that story. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Ann: I love walking on the beach at sunrise with the waves lapping my feet and the pelicans diving for their breakfast. But I also like hiking in the mountains and being among the trees. So I suppose my favorite place to vacation is anywhere I can be near the wonders of nature. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Ann: I drink hot tea year around. That’s a gift of air conditioning that keeps it cool enough inside for that hot tea. I like black tea, unsweetened, unflavored and brewed from loose leaf tea. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Ann: The Bible is full of beautiful passages and verses that speak to us in a variety of ways on our journey along life’s path. With each of my books, different verses or Bible stories seem to come to mind that fit within my story. Then after I’ve written the story and am privileged to autograph copies for readers, I try to come up with a verse that relates to the story to include with my signature. Lamentations 3:22-23 will be the Scripture reference I will use for Murder at the Courthouse. But for my recent Shaker book, The Innocent, I chose 1Thessalonians 5:17 since that story has a theme of how important prayer can be in our lives. I’ve used the blessing of 3 John 2 for several books. But if I had to chose one verse in the Bible that speaks to my heart and wows my imagination it would be John 21:25. “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (NKJ) Oh, what a Savior! Brock: What advice was most helpful to you as a young writer? Ann: When I was a young writer, I read many articles on how to write and how to submit my writing. But what helped me most to develop as a writer was simply reading. Those books I loved to read helped me learn how words could be strung together and made to simply disappear as the story came to life in my imagination. Reading fed my imagination and helped to fill my well of creativity. It still does. Brock: What do you like about writing a mystery like Murder at the Courthouse? What are some of the challenges in mystery writing? Ann: I liked tying all the loose ends together in my mystery to make the ending work. But it can be a challenge to give hints throughout the book as to who did what without telling too much. At the same time, those clues have to be there or the reader will feel cheated. It is also more of a challenge to include a Christian thread in a contemporary mystery than it is to have that faith journey of my characters in my historical novels. In a mystery, it’s sometimes more about a Christian world view instead of a character’s search for faith or for a stronger faith. A mystery takes a narrower focus to be sure the mystery is on the main stage in the book. That’s not to say you can’t have character growth. You can, but you need to remember to keep the mystery in the forefront of the reader’s mind. Mystery readers like figuring out who did what while at the same time being pleased if the writer can pull off an ending that surprises them. But this has to be done fairly. By that I mean the clues have to be there pointing toward the ending when the reader thinks back about the story. Brock: Any last words for your readers? Ann: Only thanks for reading and I hope you are immersed in many great fictional worlds in the weeks and years to come.  A. H. Gabhart, bestselling author of many novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Love Comes Home; several popular Shaker novels such as The Outsider, The Believer, and The Innocent; and The Heart of Hollyhill series. Ann grew up in a small rural town in Kentucky much like Hidden Springs, but Ann is happy to report nobody was ever murdered on her hometown’s courthouse steps. Ann and her husband still live on a farm near that same little town in Kentucky. Learn more at AnnHGabhart.com.
Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/anngabhart Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnHGabhart Author Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/annhgabhart/ Author Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AnnHGabhart/  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Crazy Little Thing Called Love Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.” Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding? As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future? A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other. Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after? Brock: How did you come up with the idea for this series? Beth: I brainstormed the idea for a series with my writing friend and mentor, author Rachel Hauck. I loved how a destination wedding series combined two elements that I believe will appeal to readers: weddings and travel. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Beth: Logan Hollister is the hero of Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Vanessa Hollister is the heroine. They meet as seniors in high school. Vanessa is part of a military family – she’s learned how to be the new kid in school, thanks to all the moves her family has made through the years. She’s good at saying “hello” and “goodbye.” Logan is more than his “bad boy” persona – he’s actually a protector – and offers Vanessa something she’s always wanted: stability. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Beth: Logan had long hair in high school. He grew it long to irritate his dad – teen rebellion – because his dad didn’t support his dream of being a storm chaser. Vanessa never allowed herself to collect anything growing up because her family moved so much. But if she had, she would have kept books – lots and lots of books – instead of borrowing from the library. Brock: In three sentences what is this book about? Beth: What if you discovered that what you thought was your worse mistake was actually the right choice? If you had the chance for a second chance at love, should you take it? 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? Beth: I use the Book Buddy, a work-text developed by author Susan May Warren, to outline my books. I develop my characters, my spiritual thread, my subplots and/or layers, the main points of conflict or turning points in the story, even the ending. But even with all the outlining and pre-plotting, I then fast draft, which is when I release control and discover more about my characters and my story. I allow things to change. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Beth: Doesn’t everyone have a choice they’ve made sometime in their life – maybe a choice they made in high school – and wonder: If I had a chance to change what I did, would I do something different? Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Beth: I love the genre I’m writing: contemporary romance. I believe there’s more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us. I examine the reality behind romance – how real life and love are messy – in the novels I write. And I like doing that with modern day stories. Brock: What was the Biblical background for this series? Beth: As I worked on my Destination Wedding series, I realized that God wove the wedding theme all through Bible. He identifies himself as a bridegroom and calls the church his bride. In Revelation, he talks about the marriage feast. And Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding in Canaa. So, while each individual novel or novella has it’s own spiritual thread, I love how underlying all of the stories is God’s story that embraces weddings. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Beth: Four in all: Two e-novellas and two novels. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Beth: There’s always a certain amount of research. I researched destination wedding locations in the U.S. I researched wedding and reception details: wedding gowns, music, food, engagement rings, bouquets … that sort of thing. One fun thing that I ended up researching was wedding vows. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Beth: My plotting helps me find the balance – the pre-work I do before I start writing. And then I always look forward to getting feedback from my mentors and my editors – I value their input. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Beth: I’ve written Can’t Buy Me Love (the first e-novella), and Crazy Little Thing Called Love (the first novel). I’m working on the second novel, Almost Like Being in Love. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Beth: Almost Like Being in Love asks the question: Just because you’re perfect for each other – does that mean you should commit “’til death do us part”? 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? Beth: I provided my editors with a basic synopsis for all four books. When it comes time to write each one, I expand the synopsis and go from there. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Beth: I’m happy that my adult readers often hand my books off to their teen daughters. I hope that they will discuss the issues that come up in Crazy Little Thing Called Love with them – things like elopement, teen marriage, having to move a lot, struggling to make friends, divorce. Brock: What do you hope kids take away from this book? Beth: I wish someone had said this to me when I was a teen: The choices you make now will affect you a year from now … 5 years from now … 10 years from now. I thought about that a lot as I wrote Crazy Little Thing Called Love. (And yes, it’s something I made sure my teens heard from me.) Brock: Where do you like to write? Beth: I have a wonderful home office decorated just the way I like it – and that two of my friends helped me organize. I also like to sit in a chair in my family room with my Bose headphones on and write on my laptop – and be right in the midst of all the activity. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Beth: I am a full-time author – in between all the regular life interruptions that come up. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? The longest time? Beth: Three years. The shortest time from first draft to deadline? Eight weeks. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Beth: Second chances aren’t an automatic Yes from God … and they need to be prayed over and treated as treasures. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Beth: I was an avid reader who, when I finished reading all the books I lugged home from the library, would write stories for myself. So, I’ve written stories since I was in middle school. I graduated from college with a journalism major and focused on non-fiction first before becoming a novelist. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Beth: I’ve been blessed to have several writing mentors. Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck are forces to be reckoned with when it comes to growing as a writer. They’ve challenged me, both as a writer and as a believer, to push past my fears, my doubts, and to do this crazy adventure not for myself but for God. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? Beth: E-books are here to stay. And I’m okay with that. I will always want “real” books in my life – the kind I can curl up with on my couch. It’s not the same thing, curling up with my Kindle. Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Beth: 1) To keep writing and to keep getting better. 2) To mentor other authors so that they can achieve their writing dreams. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Beth: For the past ten years, I’ve chosen one word to focus on for the year. This year, my one word is collaborate. I’ve always prayed over the stories I write – prayed for the readers, prayed for the process. But now I want to be so conscious of my writing being a collaboration with God – waiting on Him to help create this story. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Beth: Coke – and when I am on deadline, I drink way-too much. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Beth: I keep a stash of Jelly Belly jelly beans in my office. I have a special glass jar on my bookshelf and it’s up to me to keep it stocked. I don’t have a favorite flavor, per se, but I avoid the coffee and jalapeno ones. Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Beth: Romans 5:1-2 (The Message) – especially the part where it talks about finding ourselves where we always longed to be – standing in the wide open spaces of God’s grace. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Beth: I do listen to music – and I indulged in some Bose headphones to do so. I like to make up playlists for each of the books I am writing. Sometimes it is the kind of music my hero and heroine like. Sometimes the songs are themed to the book. For example, as I wrote my destination wedding series, I listened to a lot of wedding music. Brock: Why do you write? Beth: I write because life is messy. Relationships are messy. And God stepped into our messy lives, our messy relationships, and showed us that we don’t have to be this way. He offers us more. I like to write novels that weave together real life and a very real God. Brock: What part of writing a book is the most challenging for you? Beth: The End. I usually rewrite my endings several times before they feel right to me. When I begin a book, I often know exactly how I want to start – and it rarely changes. But landing the ending – that’s been more challenging to me.  Author Website: BethVogt.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt Author Twitter: twitter.com/bethvogt Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/beth_vogt Instagram: instagram.com/bethkvogt Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/5042181.Beth_K_Vogt?from_search=true  Interview by Ashley Eastman Featuring Daughter of the Regiment Irish immigrant Maggie Malone wants no part of the war. She'd rather let "the Americans" settle their differences—until her brothers join Missouri's Union Irish Brigade, and one of their names appears on a list of injured soldiers. Desperate for news, Maggie heads for Boonville, where the Federal army is camped. There she captures the attention of Sergeant John Coulter. When circumstances force Maggie to remain with the brigade, she discovers how capable she is of helping the men she comes to think of as "her boys." And while she doesn't see herself as someone a man would court, John Coulter is determined to convince her otherwise. As the mistress of her brother's Missouri plantation, Elizabeth Blair has learned to play her part as the perfect hostess—and not to question her brother Walker's business affairs. When Walker helps organize the Wildwood Guard for the Confederacy, and offers his plantation as the Center of Operations, Libbie must gracefully manage a house with officers in residence and soldiers camped on the lawn. As the war draws ever closer to her doorstep, she must find a way to protect the people who depend on her. Despite being neighbors, Maggie and Libbie have led such different lives that they barely know one another—until war bring them together, and each woman discovers that both friendship and love can come from the unlikeliest of places. “Whitson celebrates the strong but unknown heroines who marched off to war with their men, as well as those who maintained the home front in this Civil War-era inspirational—based on true events, Daughter of the Regiment will capture the hearts of historical fiction fans.” --Publishers Weekly Ashley: What was behind your desire to write Daughter of the Regiment? Stephanie: Loving history means I’m always reading history. Being a woman of faith means I’m generally seeking the women’s side of historical events and asking myself how they managed to survive a dramatic event or a particularly difficult time. I learned about the real Daughters of the Regiment while reading about women in the Civil War, and the moment I “met” some of those women, I knew I wanted to celebrate their contribution. Ashley: Who are the main characters in the book? Stephanie: Maggie Malone is an Irish immigrant who really doesn’t want to have anything to do with the north/south conflict. In her opinion, her two brothers should “let the Americans settle it.” But then an Irish Brigade is formed in St. Louis, and Maggie’s brothers volunteer. She’s thrust into the middle of the conflict in a very personal way and forced into situations that challenge her idea about her own identity, both as a woman and as an immigrant. Elizabeth Blair is the mistress of her brother’s plantation in the part of Missouri known as Little Dixie. She’s been thrust upon him because of the death of her parents, and he sees her as little more than a tool to be used to help him get what he wants, which is political power and status. Like Maggie, Libbie hasn’t ever really questioned her personal place in the world. When her brother forms a volunteer militia and the plantation becomes first a campground and then a field hospital, Libbie is also forced into situations that challenge her idea about her own identity and beliefs. Maggie and Libbie come face to face in the aftermath of a battle. Libbie is looking for her brother among the southern dead, and Maggie is tending the wounded. Ashley: Would you share a fact about each main character that no one else knows? Stephanie: No one suspects that six-foot-tall Maggie Malone who farms and hunts and cares nothing for “feminine pursuits” would love to have a home and a family of her own. No one suspects that Elizabeth Blair, the epitome of a southern lady, feels trapped in a way of life that gives her no personal sense of accomplishment and no happiness. Ashley: In three sentences what is Daughter of the Regiment about? Stephanie: Two women from opposite sides of the social ladder must face events that force them to question everything they’ve been raised to believe about themselves, about God, and about their country. 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? Stephanie: I begin with a compelling character caught up in a moment in time—a moment of real history. The characters always take control of the story, and when they do, I know they’ve become real to me. That’s a very good thing. Ashley: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Stephanie: My books always change significantly as I write them. Some of that is because they are character driven and I don’t outline before I jump in. Some of it results from the superb input of my wonderful editor, who always has helpful “big picture” insights. Ashley: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Stephanie: We should all think through what we believe at a fundamental level about God and about our role in the world. Do we believe those things because we were raised to believe them, or do we believe them because we think they are true truth? Ashley: Expound on the spiritual themes in the book. Stephanie: I don’t generally begin a story with a spiritual them in mind, because I don’t want to force a message or preach a sermon. However, usually about two-thirds of the way through a book, I will have a moment where I realize what the book is “really” about, and that is always a spiritual truth. With Daughter of the Regiment, I realized that both Maggie and Libbie had the same needs from a spiritual point of view. Both women needed to realize who they could become if they let go of fear and stepped forward in faith. They needed to learn that physical circumstances or social standing weren’t really all that important in light of eternity. Ashley: Is this your favorite genre to write for? Stephanie: My heart’s in historical fiction. I’ve written contemporary fiction and enjoyed it, but when I returned to historical fiction, I felt like I’d come home. This is where I belong. Ashley: Why do you think historical fiction is so compelling for you as a writer? Stephanie: The “lightweight” answer to that is that women enjoy dress-up. In fact, historical fiction is sometimes called “women in costume.” I think there’s a more profound reason, though. Meeting women from the past by reading their diaries and reminiscences was a very real encouragement to me back in the 1990s when I was facing an unusually trying time in my personal life. In one calendar year, the beloved family dog/guardian ran away, my husband was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer, my parents both died within six weeks of each other, my best friend died of breast cancer, one of my daughters became very ill with a life-threatening chronic illness that took months to identify and treat, and my eldest daughter and I were involved in a head-on collision when another driver had a heart-attack and crossed the center line of the rode we were on. During that time of my life, I was reading about pioneer women who lost children and faced other devastating life events and still hung on to their faith in God. Their words reached across time and gave me perspective on my own troubles. That very concrete bond has never weakened. I feel a debt to the women who have gone before and I love telling their stories in the guise of historical fiction. Ashley: What sort of research was required for this book? Stephanie: I probably spend as much (if not more) time researching as I do writing a story. I don’t feel that I can move, feed, or clothe my characters until I’ve done some basic research about the time and place. I can’t understand my characters within the context of their time in history until I’ve read a lot about that time in history. I place imaginary friends into real events. Ashley: How do you strike an enjoyable balance in your book between romance & action? Stephanie: By thinking about the part of the story that will force my characters to grow and change in fundamental ways. Readers of historical fiction in 2015 expect a strong romance thread, so I provide that, but my books are all set in a time and place where “action” is a fundamental part of everyday life. As to “fact and fiction,” the facts provide the setting and many of the events, but the specific characters living those events are products of my overactive imagination (except for the occasional cameo). Ashley: Why did you choose to focus on a female protagonist? Stephanie: I generally focus on the female protagonist because women are my largest target audience. Ashley: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Stephanie: I’m having a great time learning about the Pony Express and putting Annie Paxton and her brothers Frank and Emmet into that exciting, pivotal time of western history. Ashley: How much leeway do you give yourself with facts in a Historical Romance? Stephanie: Not very much, and if I do give myself leeway, I explain exactly what it was and why I did it in a letter to the reader. Ashley: Where do you like to write? Stephanie: I’m blessed to have an office in my home. I’ve surrounded myself with historical artifacts, research books (20 running feet of floor to ceiling bookshelves) and clutter. Ashley: Are you a full-time author? Stephanie: Full time. Ashley: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Stephanie: Oh, my … that’s a tough one. I like to have at least a year, because with historical fiction there’s so much reading and research involved, but some of my story ideas “percolate” in my mind for years before they actually emerge as published books. Ashley: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Stephanie: My passionate interest in women’s history coupled with my love of reading. Ashley: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing world? Stephanie: It’s an exciting time to be a writer. I appreciate the potential e-books have given writers to find an audience. At the same time, I feel for all the wonderful people who’ve been affected in a negative way by the shake-up in “the way things have always been done.” It’s always difficult for a business to adapt to new technology, and I have dear friends who’ve been negatively impacted by the changes in publishing. Because many of those people are my sisters and brothers in Christ, I feel a burden to pray for them—and to pray for the grace to adjust to what God does in my writing life, as well. The only thing that is certain right now is that nothing’s certain—except, of course, for God’s hand on our lives and our writing ministry. So we are all learning, adapting, losing, gaining—I just saw a Charles Schultz cartoon with Charlie Brown and Snoopy sitting side-by-side. Charlie Brown is saying, “My entire life can be described in one sentence: It didn’t go as planned, and that’s ok.” I think all of us involved in publishing right now are working toward the “and that’s ok” part of that view of life. Ashley: What about you tends to surprise people? Stephanie: That one’s easy. No one seems to expect a woman who spends much of her time learning and writing about the 1800s to enjoy riding a motorcycle. I own a Honda Magna and named her “Kitty” when I first rode her home and my daughter commented on the sound and described it as a kind of “purr.” My husband has his own motorcycle as well—but I had Kitty first. We have a group of church friends who take dinner runs and the occasional longer ride together. My favorite of the latter to date was a trip from our home in southeast Nebraska to Door County, Wisconsin. Ashley: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Stephanie: Anything with a horse in it. The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley were special favorites, and I can still see the cover of the edition of Thunderhead I carried to my favorite reading spot in a mulberry tree in our back yard. Ashley: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Stephanie: I’ve already co-written a quilt history book with Kathleen Moore of Austin, Texas. It was a wonderful experience and I’d repeat it if she hadn’t had the gall to move out of my home state of Nebraska. Our book (Home on the Plains: Quilts and the Sod House Experience) required lots of quiltmaking together, and that’s not something that can be done long distance. While I have enjoyed collaborating with other novelists in a couple of novella collections, I don’t see myself co-writing in the normal sense of the term. Ashley: What are your hopes for your future as an author? Stephanie: To continue to provide stories that give hope based on the knowledge that through Christ, we can belong to a personal God who cares about what happens to us and who will walk every valley with us. Ashley: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Stephanie: I am constantly aware of God’s part in my writing life and convicted by David’s promise, “I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing” (2 Sam. 24). I struggle with finding the balance between writing and living life and I am continually asking God for help with that. Ashley: Coke or Pepsi? Stephanie: Root Beer Ashley: Favorite place to vacation? Stephanie: Paris Ashley: Favorite season? Stephanie: Fall (God’s paintbrush applied to the changing landscape delights me) Ashley: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Stephanie: Excellent quality, medium roast coffee. Ashley: Favorite color? That’s changing. It used to be red. Now I think it might be yellow. Ashley: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Stephanie: My favorites change often, depending on what books of the Bible we are studying in church and what I’m reading on my own. I reference 2 Thessalonians 3:16 when I autograph books: “ … may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance …” Ashley: Favorite pasta dish? Stephanie: Anything served at Angiolino Ristorante in Florence, Italy. Ashley: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Stephanie: I don’t. I like the silence. My office is in the basement of my Victorian era home. It’s deeper than many basements, with high ceilings and a lovely brick archway through which you pass to access the office. We call it “the catacombs,” and I adore spending time “down there” with my imaginary friends. In silence. Ashley: Thank you Stephanie for giving us such deep insight into Daughter of the Regiment and your writing process. It’s always fun to go deeper into the author’s experience of writing.  Author Website: StephanieWhitson.com
Author Blog: stephaniegracewhitson.blogspot.com Author Facebook: Facebook.com/StephanieGraceWhitson-official Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/stephgwhitson/  Interview by Ashley Eastman Featuring The Wishing Season Ashley: How did you come up with the idea for The Chapel Springs Series? Denise: The TV show Parenthood convinced me it was time for a family series. In an age where there are so many ways to communicate, we're so disconnected! I wanted to write about a close-knit family in a small town setting. Family ties come with the good and the bad, and the McKinleys share in all of it: Friday night BBQs, rumors, backyard ballgames, heart-to-hearts, secrets, laughter and tears. Each book is a stand-alone that feature the love story of 1 of the 4 grown McKinley kids. Incidentally, this is my first series set in my home state of Indiana. Ashley: Give us one fact about each character that no one else knows. Denise: Oh, how fun. I love secrets. :) The heroine PJ was a fun challenge in that she's my polar opposite. She's chatty and outgoing and over-the-top optimistic. She's newly graduated with a culinary degree (I hate to cook!), and she dreams of opening her own restaurant. She's dealing with the secret shame of having dated a man she later discovered was married. The hero Cole is steady and quiet (and a little annoyed by PJ's tendency to run off at the mouth). He grew up as a foster kid and dreams of opening a transition house for kids aging out of the system. Cole blames himself for the death of his family. Ashley: In three sentences, what is this book about? Denise: When an eccentric resident offers her ancestral home to the applicant with the best plan for it, PJ McKinley thinks her dream of owning a B&B/restaurant is about to be realized. But contractor Cole Evans has plans of his own. When the elderly woman can't decide which plan is better, she proposes a tie-breaker--the competitors will share the house for a year to show what their ideas are made of. Ashley: Can you give us a hint at the next book? Denise: Married 'til Monday is the last book in the Chapel Springs series and my first reconciliation story--it really packs an emotional punch. It features the oldest McKinley sibling Ryan who's attempting to win back his ex-wife and soul mate, Abby. Ashley: What is your favorite genre to write for? Denise: Contemporary romance is my sweet spot. I love love and all things associated with it, and nothing makes me happier than bringing my readers along on the emotional journey of falling in love. My goal is that happily-ever-after sigh at the end of each story. Ashley: Where do you get your ideas from? Denise: Oh, they come from all over the place. Music lyrics, Sunday sermons, newspaper articles, Dr. Phil. LOL Not kidding. I have a thick file full of story ideas. I'll never have time to write them all. Ashley: How long does it usually take you to write a single book in the series? Denise: I'm on a 6-month release schedule now, so no book takes me longer than that. Some books are easier than others. I think my record is 4 months, but it usually doesn't go that smoothly! Ashley: Coke or Pepsi? Denise: Diet Pepsi Ashley: Soft shell or Hard Shell tacos? Denise: Soft Ashley: Favorite place to vacation? Denise: Anywhere, so long as I haven't been there before! Ashley: Favorite season? Denise: Fall (which lasts about 2 days in northern Indiana.) Ashley: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Denise: Coffee. (Toomer's Costa Rican blended with MCT oil and a bit of Stevia.) Ashley: Favorite color? Denise: Red Ashley: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Denise: Philippians 4:13 Ashley: Favorite pasta dish? Denise: Mostaccioli Al Forno Ashley: Do you listen to music while you write? Denise: I find music very inspiring, but while I'm writing, I need quiet!  Author Website: www.DeniseHunterBooks.com Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/denisehunterauthor Author Twitter: DeniseAHunter  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Sabotaged Finally Returned Home, Reef McKenna Finds His Beloved Alaska Facing Its Greatest Threat Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now, working together as search-and-rescue for Alaska's arduous Iditarod race, a growing attraction seems to be forcing aside old arguments. Then Reef catches Kirra sneaking from camp in the middle of the night. Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing: Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life--but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen. “Pettrey keeps the pages turning with a wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters, while deftly handling deep emotional and spiritual struggles. Series fans will relish—and mourn—the conclusion of the McKenna siblings’ adventures.” —Publishers Weekly Brock: How did you come up with the idea for the Alaskan Courage series? Dani: I watched a movie about cave divers and it got me thinking what type of person would pursue such a dangerous job for a living. I find extreme athletes and people who pursue adventurous careers simply fascinating. I began diving into all the extreme sports and adventure professions and the McKenna family was born. Brock: What was your inspiration for setting your Sabotaged during Iditarod? Dani: It’s an idea I’d been toying with since the start of my Alaskan Courage series. The McKennas’ world revolves around adventure and extremes. There’s no place on earth where you find a better combination of the two than during the Iditarod. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Dani: Reef McKenna is the black sheep of the McKenna clan. He spent many years estranged from his family. Now he’s back and trying to set things right. Kirra Jacobs is driven, focused and kind, but she’s also been deeply wounded. Seeing these two vastly different characters interact has been a lot of fun. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Dani: Reef is allergic to avocados and Kirra loves the Hallmark channel, despite her aversion to all things romantic. Brock: In three sentences, what is this book about? Dani: Partnered on a search-and-rescue team, Reef and Kirra are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life--but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen. 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? Dani: I don’t plot. The thought of outlining gives me hives. I start with a story premise, a ‘what if’ question and just write. The typically means a lot of drafts to get it right, but it’s the process that fits me. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Dani: I believe we all face difficulties in life. We all have struggles. They may not be facing a villain intent on sabotaging the Iditarod, but they are just as real and trying. Seeing God at work in the midst of these struggles, watching a character navigate through hardship and overcome is extremely inspiring. I believe we all need inspiration and, more importantly, hope. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Dani: I love writing inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things I love--the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one's faith and plenty of romance. Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Dani: I do a lot of research with my books on the setting (Alaska), my characters’ professions (Search and Rescue) and the events surrounding the mystery (Iditarod being threatened). I try to have my facts as accurate as possible and then take fictional liberty to make the story unique. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Dani: Romantic suspense is a difficult genre. It’s important to have an equal balance between the two. Since I don’t outline or plot, it takes a lot of practice and numerous drafts to strike the right balance. Brock: Why did you choose to have two protagonists? Dani: In a romance it’s really important for readers to be able to see the story through both the hero and heroine’s eyes. To understand what each is thinking and feeling. Brock: Sabotaged is book five in the Alaskan Courage series. Do you need to read the books in order? Dani: Each book in the series features a different McKenna sibling and can be read as stand alones. Brock: Sabotaged is the conclusion of the Alaskan Courage series. What’s next? Dani: I’m working in a new four-book romantic suspense series entitled Chesapeake Valor. The first book will release early next year. Brock: How hard was it to say goodbye to a family who’ve spent five books with? Dani: While I’m thoroughly enjoying getting to know my new cast of characters, it’s definitely been an adjustment not spending time with the McKennas. Brock: Any chance you’ll revisit the McKenna clan? Dani: It’s definitely a possibility. Brock: Where do you like to write? Dani: I have an office in the sunroom off our kitchen. I love writing there because it’s so bright and sunny. I’ve got a desk and a loveseat for when I need a break from the computer. My black lab is always curled up on the loveseat while I’m writing. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Dani: I’m a full-time writer now that my kids are grown, but I do watch my grandson two days a week, which is an absolute treasure. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Dani: I started out writing a book a year, but my deadlines have definitely moved closer together. I now write a book about every eight months. Brock: Expound on the spiritual theme in Sabotaged. Dani: The theme for Sabotaged is hope in the midst of brokenness. God is able to bring healing and hope despite the worst of circumstances. It doesn’t happen overnight most times, but if we trust Him and wait on Him, He is faithful to bring healing—to turn our mourning into dancing. It doesn’t mean that all our questions will be answered, but we can hold tight to the promise that He will provide the grace we need to get through, even if it’s simply the grace to make it through day by day. God is faithful. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Dani: I have always loved daydreaming and making up stories. I dabbled with creative writing growing up, but set it aside. It wasn’t until after the birth of my youngest daughter and a bout with a serious illness, that I really felt God stirring me to start writing again. My kids were young, so I started slowly. I spent a lot of time simply reading novels, seeing how they worked, analyzing why I fell in love with certain characters and not others. I attended writing conferences, joined a writer’s group and devoted regular time to writing. I was also blessed with an amazing mentor who really shepherded me in the craft and writing life. I wrote for a number of years, entered contests and applied the feedback I received. A number of years ago, I attended the ACFW conference. I approached my editor after his Spotlight Session and he was gracious enough to ask to see the first three chapters. A few weeks later, I got a request for the full. A few weeks after that he told me they were going to present it for contract. The day I got ‘the call' was amazing. I had received my share of rejections, so getting the ‘go ahead’ on a story I loved so dearly was pure joy. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Dani: Reading books by favorite authors like Dee Henderson, Sue Grafton, Jane Austen and Agatha Christie really stir my creativity. Watching powerful movies also provides a lot of inspiration, but the greatest influence on my writing is my relationship with God. It’s all for Him. I pray I honor and glorify Him with every word that I write. Brock: What is the one author, living or dead, who you would co-write a book with and why? Dani: Dee Henderson. She’s my favorite author, a wonderful inspiration, and someone I would be incredibly honored to partner with. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Dani: My faith greatly impacts my writing, but I hope in a natural way. Just as my love of adventure permeates the stories I write, so does my faith. My relationship with Jesus is part of every facet of my life; it’s only natural to be part of the stories I tell. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Dani: Coke. Brock: Soft shell or Hard Shell tacos? Dani: Hard shell. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Dani: The beach. Brock: Favorite season? Dani: Summer. Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Dani: Coffee and chocolate. I’m really healthy, can’t you tell ☺ Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Dani: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV I love it because it explains why death is so hard for us to deal with. It is because God has set eternity into our hearts. We know He has created us for more than this life, this world. Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so what are some examples? Dani: I can’t listen to music while writing my first draft. I find it too distracting. However, I develop story soundtracks for all my books while working on the first draft. I listen to the soundtrack during revisions. You can listen to the soundtracks on my website. Brock: Did you learn surprising facts or trivia while researching the Iditarod? Dani: So many things. For example, race times have gotten twice as fast since it started. The first Iditarod took place in 1973 and took about 20 days to complete; currently, it takes about 10 days. Additionally, sled dogs need to consume 10-12,000 calories a day during the race. It goes without saying, but I am truly in awe at the brave athletes who compete in such a grueling and arduous race—both the men and woman mushers, and of course, the sled dogs. I loved seeing the musher’s devotion and care of their animals, as well as the bonding that exists between the two. It’s really touching. Brock: If you could have dinner with any fictional character who would you chose and what would be the first question you asked them? Dani: Jamie Sullivan from A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks. I would ask her how she could always be so brave. I know the answer. I know it was Christ filling her with strength, but I admire her steadfast faith so much. Brock: How do you celebrate when you finish a book? Dani: My family and I always go out to dinner to celebrate. My favorite treat is Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé. It’s a Belgian chocolate soufflé drizzled with raspberry coulis and accompanied by vanilla bean ice cream. It is out of this world. Then, I play catch-up on everything I’ve let slide during deadline craze—sleep, email, cleaning. Though I don’t suppose the latter part counts as celebrating ☺  Author Website: DaniPettrey.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/DaniPettrey Author Twitter: @DaniPettrey Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/DaniPettrey  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring Curio “From the moment I slipped into the pages of Curio I was transported. Evangeline Denmark has written an intricately webbed story that will make your heart race and your mind thrill. But, be prepared. The Mad Tock, powerful chemists, and wicked porcies roam these pages. Danger, adventure, romance, and imaginative settings galore! I haven’t been so enthralled since my childhood favorites of The Labyrinth and The Neverending Story.” ~Brandy Vallance, award winning author of The Covered Deep Evangeline Denmark isn’t exactly new to the world of speculative fiction. In fact, she grew up in it. The daughter of bestselling fantasy novelist Donita K. Paul, Evangeline is quick to credit her mother for fostering a love of the written word. “She read to my brother and me every night—everything from picture books to the Bible to The Hobbit.” Mother and daughter collaborated on two picture books, The Dragon and the Turtle and The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari, published by Waterbrook Press, the Penguin Random House division that published Donita K. Paul’s popular DragonKeeper Chronicles series. I’ve come to know Evangeline through book signings and school literacy events in the town we both call home. She and her mother seem to attract fantasy fans, enthusiastic readers, and budding writers eager to discuss the ins and outs of fiction. The excitement is mutual as the two eagerly encourage students and readers of all ages to delve deep into literary pursuits. I sat down with Evangeline at Jives Coffee Lounge, a Colorado Springs café decorated in the Steampunk genre aesthetic, heavy on the industrial feel with exposed copper piping, metal cage light fixtures, and a gear-shaped stage. The ambiance was perfect to discuss Evangeline’s debut Young Adult Steampunk Fantasy novel, Curio. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Evangeline: Grey’s brother, Banner, means everything to her. Before Whit started working in the mines, he had never been out of Mercury City. Blaise’s father is part of a matrilineal society. (purposefully vague *waggles eyebrows*) Brock: In three sentences, what is this book about? Evangeline: To avoid the reaches of the corrupt Chemist Council, Grey Haward escapes into an enchanted curio cabinet in her grandfather’s store. Inside the cabinet, Grey discovers a world of living porcelain and clockwork people on the verge of revolution and becomes embroiled in their fight. To get home, she must find the only other human, a boy disguised as the Mad Tock, whose secrets stretch from one world into the next. 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 have an idea where the story is going but I don’t outline. I like to be surprised. Or rather, I don’t have any choice but to be surprised. That’s how my brain works. Brock: So why the change from picture books to Young Adult novels? Evangeline: Actually novels have been my focus since I began pursuing writing for publication. The Dragon and Turtle books were fun opportunities that arose thanks to my mom’s dragon-loving fan base, but the stories that find their way into my brain are usually better suited to a longer format and an older audience. Brock: What is the biggest challenge involved in writing for the Young Adult market? Why do you enjoy it? Evangeline: Knowing the struggles and pressures young people face and wanting to do right by them. Wanting to say with my words and my characters’ experiences, “I see you. I know what it is to feel that you don’t belong, that you have to hide who you truly are, and that if anybody knew the real you, they’d turn away.” One of fiction’s most powerful tools is the capacity to let a reader know she or he is not alone. Someone else has felt the same way. As for what I enjoy most, it’s the freedom of emotion that comes with writing in the Young Adult genre. As adults we kind of lock things away because we have to function. And okay, that’s necessary to some extent. Otherwise we’d be like Sadness in Pixar’s Inside Out, flat on our backs with one foot in the air, moaning, “I’m too sad to walk.” But the point of that movie, and the point I’m trying to make, is that there’s strength in acknowledging our emotions and how they shape who we are. YA provides a canvas for exploring all the feels. Brock: What appeals to you most about steampunk as a genre? Evangeline: At first it was the aesthetic. Who doesn’t like corsets, top hats, and goggles? And I enjoyed the creative take on history and outside-the-mold characters. But it’s the punk aspect that hit home with me. Anything “punk” whether we’re talking punk rock or cyberpunk, is going to have an element of social challenge. It’s a sharpened viewpoint that leans toward cynicism and anarchy, but can also uncovers inequality and injustice, which is as necessary now as it was when Charles Dickins wrote. Brock: Can you give us a brief summary of what the book is about? Evangeline: To avoid the reaches of the corrupt Chemist Council, Grey Haward escapes into an enchanted curio cabinet in her grandfather’s store. Inside the cabinet, Grey discovers a world of living porcelain and clockwork people on the verge of revolution and becomes embroiled in their fight. To get home, she must find the only other human, a boy disguised as the Mad Tock, whose secrets stretch from one world into the next. Brock: A large portion of the book takes place inside this enchanted cabinet. How did you come up with that idea? Evangeline: I remember the exact moment when Curio began. I was driving and the word curio popped into my head. I instantly fell in love with the concept of curios and curio cabinets and knew I had to write a story about them. From there I moved on to thinking about the word curiosity and came up with the idea of a human girl trapped in a curio cabinet who would be a curiosity to the denizens of that world—porcelain and clockwork creatures. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Evangeline: Grey Haward is painfully aware that her height and stature draw attention in her home, Mercury City. What she doesn’t understand is why she’s compelled to intervene when her best friend is charged with breaking the law or why a strange mark shows up on her skin the morning after her rebellion. Grey’s family is hiding a secret, and the truth of Grey’s identity will change her world and another. Whit Bryacre is only a few months out of school and working in the mines when his attempt to rescue Grey lands him in trouble for breaking Mercury’s harsh laws. Angry and afraid, Whit embarks on a path of resistance that could cost him his life. Blaise Amintore has been trapped for one hundred years. He spends his time plotting revolution against the cruel ruling class of porcelains and fixing broken tocks and porcies desperate enough to seek help from the Mad Tock. But when another human arrives in Blaise’s world, both the revolution and Blaise’s personal crusade kick into high gear. Brock: Although there are two male point-of-view characters, Grey Haward is clearly the protagonist. What are some critical aspects of crafting a heroine for you? Evangeline: I have a passion for seeing girls and women embrace the many aspects of who they are, not just the roles that have been traditionally assigned to them. As human beings we have such varying gifts and strengths, and to deny someone’s contribution to the world based on their gender is ridiculous and harmful. Grey starts out in a very repressed environment where women are restricted and then finds herself in a place where women are objectified. Both societies are deeply flawed. When Grey steps into the destiny that is in her blood, she throws off the false identity constructs that have been forced on her and becomes the justice-minded warrior she was meant to be. Brock: Let’s talk a little about the process of writing Curio. Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Evangeline: I researched mining, alchemy, and Colorado’s early days as a territory. I also watched some of Jay Leno’s YouTube videos about steam cars and rubbed my own ceramic dishes together (gently!) to hear how porcie “applause” would sound. Brock: You mentioned the real history of Colorado. How much leeway did you give yourself with facts? Evangeline: Curio and the prequel novella, Mark of Blood and Alchemy, take place in alternate history, so a real time and place in our world, but with completely made-up elements and events that have affected the world. Steampunk and Clockpunk lend themselves to wild liberties with such small matters as facts and reality. I had great fun making gauntlet writers—the equivalent of tablets in the early 1900s American West—and a time machine in Mark of Blood and Alchemy that consists of a water clock and a funicular. Brock: Tell us a little more about the prequel? Evangeline: Mark of Blood and Alchemy is available now as an ebook. The novella gives the origins of the Chemists and the Defenders and follows Grey’s grandfather, Olan, as a young man fleeing a plague and tangling with a group of “magickers.” It’s short, full of action, intrigue, romance, and some fun clockpunk devices. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Evangeline: I love fiction with supernatural elements, whether it’s YA, romance, or steampunk. Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? Evangeline: I’ve had picture books published, but writing novels was always my goal. For a long time I struggled with trying to fit my stories into a certain mold that I thought was expected of me. This was a terrible idea, and my novels kept spilling over out of the box and getting wild and weird. When I finally let go of those expectations and embraced the wanderings of my imagination, I wrote the project that got a contract. It feels amazing to see my name on the cover of a book that reflects my creativity unleashed. Brock: Finally, how do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Evangeline: Questioning the way things work, whether that’s a scientific principle or a political system, is how we move forward as individuals, as societies, and as a species. It’s hard work and it’s often painful, but it must be done. When we wrestle with the tough questions—not only in our personal experience but on behalf of others—it becomes harder and harder to ignore things like poverty, injustice, and inequality. I believe teens have a deep capacity for empathy and tapping into that awareness is powerful. I hope Curio helps my readers question the status quo and connect with their compassion. Brock: Thank you Evangeline, for giving us an inside look only an author can. I’ve been following Donita Paul’s career for many years, and I have no doubt Evangeline’s career will be equally filled with amazing worlds, dazzling characters, and stories to awaken our imaginations.  Author website: EvangelineDenmark.com
Author Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorEvangelineDenmark/?fref=ts Author Twitter: twitter.com/EvangelineD Author Pinterest: pinterest.com/evangelineden/ Author Instagram: instagram.com/evangelinedenmark/ Laura Martin the author of the Edge of Extinction series sent me an Advanced Reader Copy of Book 2: Code Name Flood a few months back and I have to say, it's a great addition and conclusion to Book 1: The Ark Plan. If your kids love dinosaurs then this series is for them, if they love adventure then this series is for them, if they love post-apocalyptic books then this series if for them. A fantastic mix of Jurassic Park and City of Ember, the Edge of Extinction books will be new favorites of kids and parents alike. If you haven't read my Q&A with Laura Martin about The Ark Plan, check it out here. And take a moment and check out Laura's post on the evolution of a book cover. It's always fun to see how a cover comes together.   Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring the Light of the Last To Fight What Others Can’t You Must See What Others Don’t After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war. Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem–his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency. It’s up to the warrior angel Validus and his hand-picked team of heavenly agents to protect the unbelieving Drew. Validus now knows that the young man is at the epicenter of a global spiritual war, and the angels must use a millennia of battle experience keep Drew alive, for the Fallen want him dead. Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul. Brock: What was your inspiration for writing the Wars of the Realm series? Chuck: I’ve always felt that if we could actually see the spiritual realm for just a few minutes, it would change the way we live our lives forever. This motivated me to create a semi-futuristic story that would follow the life of a young man who could see the raging battles between angels and demons. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Chuck: Drew Carter is a young man with amazing potential, but is road-blocked by tragedy at every turn. An atheist with a good Samaritan heart, Drew has no idea that he will play a key role in fulfilling the End Times prophecy of the very book he considers mythology…the Bible. After a tragic accident leaves him blind, he slowly regains his sight and sees “invaders” that are influencing the affairs of men. Sydney Carlyle is the pursued and unwilling young Christian girl that gets caught up in Drew’s bizarre world of “alien invaders”. Her pure heart draws Drew to her even though she want’s nothing to do with him. And then there is Drew’s quirky genius friend, Benjamin Berg. Without Ben, the story wouldn’t happen. His intellect and savvy tech knowledge launch the three of them on a wild adventure that culminates in a global climax. But another key character throughout all three books is the angel warrior Validus. He is the last and least of God’s angels. We watch him rise in position and authority throughout six millennia until he becomes the North American Continental commander of the warrior class. Then he is “demoted” and reassigned to protect one single man…Drew Carter. Little does he realize it will be the most intense and challenging assignment of all ages. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Chuck: Drew Carter’s favorite movies are King Arthur, The Bourne Identity, and Pride and Prejudice, although he would never admit it. Sydney Carlyle is taking Tae Kwon Do classes without telling Drew. Benjamin Berg loves the Minions although he would never admit it. Validus marvels when he watches children play, wondering what it would have been like to be so small and so vulnerable. Brock: In three words, what is this book about? Chuck: Intense spiritual warfare 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? Chuck: I outline and create the primary scenes in my mind before I begin writing. Initially I am very plot driven. Then as the characters develop they literally take over the story, often giving new direction to the plot. In the end, the characters own the tale. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Chuck: Spiritual warfare is all around us all the time. My hope is that this story will open our eyes and inspire us to live like that warfare is real, as Jesus said it was. In the Air Force, fighter pilots have a saying, “Lose sight, lose fight.” That means that if a pilot is in a dogfight and he loses sight of the enemy, it is only a matter of seconds before he is dead. Often times as Christians we bee-bop through life ignorant and blind to the raging spiritual battle around us. I believe that if we lose sight of the enemy of God, we will lose the fight. This is evident in broken marriages, faltering churches, and young people leaving their faith in droves. I hope these books put a bullseye back on the enemy so we can stand victorious in Christ once again. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Chuck: This is tough. My previous books didn’t really fit into any genre. They are historical allegorical fiction. I love writing allegories like those first twelve books, but the Wars of the Realm books in the suspense/thriller genre were extremely enjoyable too. I am also considering science fiction for my next books so I guess the answer is that I don’t know yet! Brock: What is the biblical background or basis for the series? Chuck: Modern day pre-tribulation. Brock: How many books are planned for the Wars of the Realm series? Chuck: Three Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Chuck: Light of the Last required quite a bit of research. I love detail and want my stories to be as accurate as possible. I did extensive research on Sobibor death camp in Poland, the CIA, Chicago, Camp David, and viruses. Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book? Chuck: I can’t help it but I am a romantic at heart. All of my books have a measure of romance. I think romance is at the heart of everyone, including God. Why else would He liken the Church to being His bride? My wife however doesn’t like romance at all so she lets me know when I cross the line. She balances me. I also love action and details. I guess I’ve never thought about balance too much. It just happens because I’m a rather odd mix of it all. Brock: What do your readers think about your latest series? Chuck: I have had more enthusiasm from my readers for the Wars of the Realm books than any of my previous books. I have a bad habit of writing some major cliff hangers into my books. The response is pretty intense. I guess you could say they love to hate me and can’t wait for book number three. Brock: How does it feel to have your work published? Chuck: Light of the Last will be my fifteenth book published, and I can honestly say that I am as excited about this book as I was for my first one. God is so good! Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male protagonist? Chuck: I needed a male protagonist because my message and purpose aligns with Scripture as a result. Saying any more than this would be a major spoiler. Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned? Chuck: The scope of the story exploded on me until I was struggling to contain it within the agreed upon length. This was unexpected but necessary to bring closure to the plot and characters. Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example? Chuck: There were a couple of short scenes that were cut to keep the length of the book within limits. One was a scene between Drew Carter and the eye examiner at the CIA medical evaluation facility. The examiner refused to believe that Drew’s eyes were healthy. One of the angels intervened to keep the doctor from discovering the truth about Drew. Brock: Is it difficult to be accurate to a biblical perspective or biblical facts when writing fantasy fiction? Chuck: In regard to spiritual warfare, the Bible allows a lot of interpretation and speculation. I tried very hard to let the scriptures be my boundaries that I would not violate and then allowed speculation to take me the rest of the way. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Chuck: My books are YA. I hope that parents will use this book to open their kids eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare and prepare them for the roaring lion that awaits them. Brock: Where do you like to write? Chuck: In my mind. I love creating all the scenes and dialog lying in bed or driving on a long trip. When I sit at a computer I usually am just dictating from the story I’ve already written. That can happen anywhere, but usually it is sitting in my recliner near the fire place. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Chuck: I am part time moving to full time. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Chuck: Six months of consistent writing, four to five hours a day. Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series? Chuck: I hope readers are inspired to jump on the adventure God has waiting for them. I hope they can fully believe that we are in a war but that we are not to be afraid for greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world! Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in the series. Chuck: The major theme is spiritual warfare. Other themes are repentance, love, loss, faithfulness, reverence, freedom, salvation, and evangelism. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Chuck: I wrote my first book, Kingdom’s Edge, for my children in hopes of inspiring them to truly understand the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to open their eyes to spiritual warfare. After my wife read the story she encouraged me to publish the book so other families could enjoy and use the story with their children. I decided to self-publish this book and the next three. After five years of seeing God expand the reach of the series to families across the country I was exhausted and ready to turn it over to a publisher…if they wanted it. I asked a friend to make some calls and within a day I was talking to an editor from Multnomah Books. After a forty-five minute phone call, it was obvious that God was orchestrating events because Multnomah immediately caught the vision and offered a four book contract within the next few weeks. It was an intense and unusual journey to getting published especially since I didn’t really set out to be an author. Although I often refer to myself as an “accidental author”, I am grateful to the Lord for allowing me to minister to families and young people through my books. Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer? Chuck: Once I could see that the first book I had written was having a spiritual impact on the readers. I would much rather write than speak. Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing? Chuck: The Bible is number one, then my heart for family, marriage, and youth. Music also has a big influence on my writing. Brock: What’s your view on e-books and the new publishing revolution? Chuck: As an engineer and business owner, I learned quickly that only those businesses that embraced new technology survived. We must adapt and embrace the tech that is going to get life-changing stories into the hands of the next generation. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Chuck: John Christopher’s the Tripod Trilogy Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Chuck: My faith drives everything. It gives me motivation to know that I am doing something purposeful and eternal. Without faith, I wouldn’t write. So many of the popular dystopian series today appear to be so hopeless. It is my faith that drives me to inspire people to live victoriously for a great and good God. Brock: Coke or Pepsi? Chuck: Water☺ Brock: Soft shell or hard shell tacos? Chuck: Soft shell for sure. Brock: Favorite season? Chuck: Spring Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Chuck: Hebrews 4:12 and 1Peter 2:9. These are my two theme verses for my series. Brock: Favorite pasta dish? Chuck: Mostaccioli with Italian sausage Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Chuck: Yes! I have a Pandora station that plays adventure movie themes like Batman, Transformers, Avengers, and the Bourne Identity. It is very inspirational, but then later when I read my manuscript without the music it isn’t nearly as epic. I’ve hired my daughter to compose music for our audio dramas we’ve produced for each of the books and that helps. Of course the English voice actors with their cool accents don’t hurt either. Brock: If your life was a book, what would the title be? Chuck: An Ordinary Guy With and Extraordinary God Brock: What do you enjoy most about writing? Chuck: I love talking to young people about the Lord and books that inspire them to live great lives for His kingdom. I get to talk to thousands of families and young people from coast to coast and am so blessed to be able to share my enthusiasm for God in a way that they will take to heart. Thank you for the opportunity to share my heart with you and your readers!  Author Website: www.WarsOfTheRealm.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckBlack.Author Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/chuckblack1  Interview by Brock Eastman Featuring The Daughter of Highland Hall Fans of Downton Abbey, Jane Eyre, and Pride & Prejudice will enjoy this pure and inspiring romance taking place in Edwardian England amid a clash of cultures and changing times. Eighteen-year-old Katherine Ramsey travels to London with her family to make her debut into society and hopefully find her future husband. Her overbearing aunt insists she must secure a proposal from a wealthy young man who is in line to inherit his father’s title and estate. But Katherine questions her aunt’s plans when she gets to know Jonathan Foster, a handsome medical student and strong Christian who is determined to protect the poor and vulnerable in London’s East End. When a family scandal puts a damper on Katherine’s hopes for the season, she has time to volunteer with Jonathan, caring for children in one of London’s poorest areas, and romance blossoms. Katherine’s faith grows and she begins to envision a different future with Jonathan. But when Katherine’s work in the East End puts her in danger, Jonathan distances himself from Katherine to protect her. A wealthy suitor reappears, and Katherine must choose which path to follow. “Giving vivid entry into an Edwardian England setting, from genteel ballrooms to the gritty streets of London’s East End, author Carrie Turansky has created a cast of multilayered, delightfully written characters I found engaging from beginning to end. The Daughter of Highland Hall is at its heart a story of personal courage, one sure to please fans of Turansky’s The Governess of Highland Hall, as well as readers coming fresh to the series with this book.” —Lori Benton, author of Burning Sky and The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn Brock: How did you come up with the idea for the Edwardian Brides Series? Carrie: Early in 2012 I attended the American Library Association Conference in Philadelphia with another author friend. I spoke to an editor there and asked what she was looking for. She said she’d love to see and English historical romance series set in the same time period as Downton Abbey. I’d enjoyed watching the first season of Downton, and I especially liked the way the screenwriter gave equal time to developing the storyline following wealthy family as well as the loyal servants. I didn’t know much about Edwardian England, but I jumped into the research, and fell in love with the time period. The ideas for the characters and plot rose out of my research and the issues of the time. The first two books in the Edwardian Brides Series, The Governess of Highland Hall, and The Daughter of Highland Hall have been released. Book 3, A Refuge at Highland Hall will release in October 2015. Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique? Carrie: Each novel in the series includes members of the Ramsey Family and their loyal staff, but each story stands alone and is complete because different people step forward to take on the role of heroine or hero. In The Daughter of Highland Hall, Katherine (Kate) Ramsey, a wealthy young debutante, is poised to make her debut in London society who hopes to secure a marriage proposal from a wealthy, titled suitor. Then she meets Jon Foster, a young medical student who has a strong faith and wants to serve the poor, and that opens the door to another possibility for her life. Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows. Carrie: Kate loves to sing and wishes she could perform on stage. Jon rode elephants in India as a boy and would love to return to India do it again some day. Brock: In three words, what is this book about? Carrie: Finding your purpose 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? Carrie: My publisher asks for a synopsis, so I usually have a good idea of the main events in the story before I start writing. My editor gives me feedback after she reads the synopsis, and I often incorporate her ideas. But I like to let the characters show me how we will arrive at those turning points in the story. That’s the fun part. Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers? Carrie: I think readers will identify with Kate’s search for meaning and purpose in life and also with her journey to discover a deeper meaning to her faith. Jon’s struggle to balance his love and commitment to his family with his desire to follow a different path is also an issue readers will identify with. As Jon and Kate weigh their choices for the future, readers may do the same. Brock: What is your favorite genre to write for? Carrie: I have written inspirational contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and historical romance. I love that last genre most, because I like stepping back in history and learning about another time and place. I have especially enjoyed writing these last three stories set in England. Brock: What is the biblical background or basis for the series? Carrie: The theme verse for this book is Matthew 6:33. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” I chose this verse because it describes the heroine’s faith journey and her discovery of what is most valuable in life. Brock: How many books are planned for this series? Carrie: There are three books in the series. The Governess of Highland Hall, The Daughter of Highland Hall, and A Refuge at Highland Hall (Oct. 2015) Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination? Carrie: This series required quite a bit of research, including two trips to England and hours reading books about the time period, customs, and issues in Edwardian England. Understanding life “below stairs” was just as important as understanding the aristocratic England in the Edwardian era. I watched several documentaries that were helpful too. The ideas for my stories usually rise out of the research. Brock: What do your readers think about your latest series? Carrie: I enjoy connecting with readers on Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and through my blog and website. Their comments and reviews have been very encouraging to me. They are enthusiastic about the series and eager for the next book. The Governess of Highland Hall was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. The Daughter of Highland Hall has been nominated for an Inspy Award. Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a male or female protagonist? Carrie: I try to balance the number of scenes given to the family and the staff and weave those together. Most of my readers are women, so I give the heroine a few more scenes than the hero, but Jon has his scenes as well. Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series? Carrie: I just turned in the third book, A Refuge at Highland Hall. My editor will give me some notes and suggestions soon, then I’ll polish and be excited to share it with readers in October. Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series? Carrie: In Book 3, A Refuge at Highland Hall, readers will be swept away to England and France in 1915 as Penny Ramsey and Alex Goodwin face the challenges and losses of World War One, yet also experience the hope and triumph that comes as they put their trust in God to carry them through. The Ramseys welcome a group of orphaned children to Highland and must send members of the family and staff off to war. Readers will be thrilled by action packed scenes when Alex, a daring British pilot, chases German zeppelins across the sky over the Front Line in France. And they’ll be delighted by two pure and heartwarming romances: Penny and Alex, and Lydia Chambers and Marius Ritter, a lady's maid and a prisoner of war. But most of all I hope readers be inspired by the characters' examples of trusting God through whatever trials you might face. 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? Carrie: I’d say there is a combination. When I propose a series I write a paragraph or two about books two and three, but I don’t plot out the second or third book until I start writing them. Brock: How much leeway do you give yourself with facts in a Historical Genre? Carrie: All my books are inspired by real events. There is historic precedent for what my characters do, and I am often inspired to create a character based on someone who really lived through an event. In this book I wanted my heroine to be inspired by Christians who put their faith into actions, so I wove in the history of the Salvation Army in England and used parts of speeches given by actual people in that movement. But the plot and characters are fictional and the result of my imagination. Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids? Carrie: My husband writes parenting books and speaks at homeschool conferences, and when we are there, I often meet teens who have enjoyed my novels. Reading historical fiction is a great way for young people to learn about a time period, so hope parents will consider giving my books to their teens. Brock: What do you hope kids take away from this book or series? Carrie: My heroes and heroines are in their late teens and early twenties, so I think teen readers will be able to identify with the issues they face and be encouraged to see how their faith can help them as they move ahead in life. Brock: Where do you like to write? Carrie: I use a laptop, so I write in several different places in my house: in my kitchen, at my desk in the dining room, and in the living room. Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer? Carrie: I am a full-time writer, but also a full-time wife, mom and grandmom, and part-time ministry leader. Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book? Carrie: When I’m working on a series it usually takes me a year because I am revising the last book and promoting a book that is coming out, and writing the next one. Brock: What is your "how I got published" story? Carrie: Our family spent a year in Kenya, and when we came back to the US, I missed Africa so much I decided to write a story set there as a way to relive my experiences. I had written reports and papers in college, but never a novel. I poured out the story and enjoyed the process, but when I showed it to an editor at a writers’ conference, she told me I needed to learn fiction techniques. That was disheartening, but I joined a local writers’ group at my library and also American Christian Fiction Writers. I kept writing, reading, and submitting my books over then next five years. I finished five books before the first one was accepted and published in 2005. It was hard to keep going in the face of rejections and waiting, but through ACFW I met other writers who encouraged me and helped me improve my writing. You learn to write by writing…so that’s what I needed to do. Brock: What was your favorite book as a teen or child? Carrie: My Great Aunt Frances was a teacher and loved books. She often gave me award-winning books as Christmas gifts. Some of those early picture books are still some of my favorites: Make Way for the Ducklings and One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey. Then I read Charlotte’s Web, Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Bronze Bow, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables. All were wonderful stories that have stayed with me all these years. Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing? Carrie: My faith is the central core of who I am, and that comes through in my writing. I believe God has answers for the struggles we face, and I like to show how my characters wrestle with their faith and discover how God is at work in their lives. I am learning a new level of dependence on Him as I write and pour my heart into these stories. He is a wonderful creator, and it’s exciting and fulfilling to partner with Him as I write. Brock: Favorite place to vacation? Carrie: England, especially the Lake District! Brock: Favorite season? Carrie: Spring Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers? Carrie: I’m a tea drinker…Earl Grey….Plantation Mint….Good Earth. Brock: Favorite color? Carrie: Blue Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples? Carrie: Yes, I like to listen instrumental soundtracks from movies while I write. A couple of my favorite are Little Women and Cider House Rules. Brock: Can you tell us about your research trip to England? Carrie: My husband and I visited England in 2012 and focused our time in Oxfordshire, the Peak District and the Cotswolds. Our tour of Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is set was the highlight of that trip for me. I loved seeing all the rooms where Downton is filmed, including the great hall, the library, the upper gallery and bedrooms. The gardens and greenhouse were lovely, and I had those in mind for several of the scenes in The Governess of Highland Hall. But I wanted to find a unique estate and setting for my books. My online research led me to Tyntesfield, a beautiful estate near Bristol in southwest England. It was a perfect choice. Tyntestfield is featured on the cover of The Governess of Highland Hall, and I used the interior design of this house to help me envision the scenes in my novels. I was very excited to visit Tyntesfield in May 2014. What a thrill to see all the rooms and take a private tour of the day nursery and the governess’s bedroom! It’s even more beautiful than my online research revealed. If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit to Tyntesfield. I have a Pinterest board filled with photos to help me remember everything I saw there. Brock: How was culture changing during the period in which you wrote, and how does The Daughter of Highland Hall reflect that? Carrie: As the Victorian era came to an end, the moral climate became less strict. This is reflected by incidents in both The Governess of Highland Hall and The Daughter of Highland Hall. William Ramsey, the head of the family, is impacted by the choices of other family members and must decide how to respond. The differences between the classes were also changing. Working-class people were less satisfied with being “in service” as maids and butlers, and they wanted increased wages and benefits, putting pressure on the upper class. Taxes, especially death duties, put tremendous financial stress on families who inherited large estates. This plays a role in books one and two in the series. All these changes were even more apparent in the later half of the era because of the changes World War I brought to English society. The Ramsey family and the staff at Highland will be going through World War I in book three, A Refuge at Highland Hall.  Author Website: CarrieTuransky.com
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