Jeff's Favorite Books Of 2014

by Jeff Reynolds

This is my last blog of the year, and I'll do as I did last year by giving the fifteen favorite novels I've read in 2014. I know this year's not over yet, and I'm planning on reading three more novels this year (all of which are sequels to books that are on the list), which will put my total at 26, by 21 different authors, a dozen of which I hadn't read previously. At first, I was going to give just the top ten, except it would exclude some good books I've read. They will be listed in alphabetic order by title.

Allow me to also throw down the guantlet. I'd love to see the lists for my other contributors, and also for the readers of this blog. It would be interesting to see how much overlap there is on the lists.
 
But first, let me start with the five non-fiction books that I most recommend for the year, in alphabetic order:

• Christian Theology of Public Policy by John M. Cobin. This book is challenging my thinking of the role of Christianity to the state -- I'm not sure I agree with all his points, but he did get the grey cells working.
• Creature Of The Word: The Jesus Centered Church by Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, and Eric Geiger. Excellent on looking at the role of the church and how it can be cenetered on Christ.
• Getting To Know The Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction by Brian M. Litfin. A good look at ten people who had an impact on Christianity prior to 500 A.D., including my long-time favorites Tertullian and Athanasius, and a new hero, John Chrysostom.
• Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. This edges out a similar book, Follow Me by David Platt. Both are good dealing with the cost of being a follower of Christ.
• Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul's Path To God by Gary Thomas. It develops the premise that there are nine spiritual temperments by which we worship, and gives tests on how to develop them.

I'll start my novel list with an honorable mention: Friend Me by John Faubion (interviewed Feb. 9, 2014). This was on my list from last year, but it wasn't released till this year.

So without further ado:

1. The Advocate by Randy Singer. When I interviewed him in February, 2013, his book Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales had yet to be released, but he was more excited about this story. Unlike his typical contemporary legal thrillers, this goes into history, giving a fictional look at the historic character of Theophilus (Luke 1, Acts 1). This book borders on being literary fiction.
   
2. Amberly by Mary Elizabeth Hall. Flirts between being a fantasy and a historical romance the setting is fictional but mirrors the time of the American Revolution. I love the politics involved in this story.
3. Amish Vampires In Space by Kerry Nietz (interviewed November 3, 2014). Sounds like camp, but this is a top notch, very creative science fiction story. 
4. Blown Away (re-released on e-book as Bumping Off Binky) by Nancy Mehl. I interviewed her June 3, 2014 about her latest book, Gathering Shadows. I loved this book because it's a great cozy mystery with a lead character who's both entertaining and smart (most cozy mysteries have a main character who's more one than the other).
5. Conspiracy by Suzanne Hartmann (most recently interviewed April 3, 2014). The second of the Fast-track thriller series. 
6. Dark Road Home by Elizabeth Ludwig (interviewed October 24, 2014). Second installment of the wonder Edge of Freedom trilogy.
   
7. Deadly Devotion by Sandra Orchard (interviewed July 3, 2013). Excellent suspense novel -- grabs you at the first sentence. Or is it a mystery? Actually, it's successful at being an excellent hybrid, fufilling both genres, a rare feat.
8. Death by the Book by Julianna Deering (interviewed most recently July 3, 2014). The second Drew Farthering mystery.
9. Heaven's Prey by Janet Sketchley (most recently interviewed two days before this one is posted). Another suspense story that plunges you into danger in the first chapter and never relents. 
10. The Merely Mortal by J. P. Leck (interviewed May 5, 2014). This horror story is very creative, with an intriguing writing voice, and characters that aren't ones you'd normally be associating with. 
11. Murder At The Mikado by Juliana Deering. Third of the excellent Drew Farthering mystery series, and my favorite of the three. If you like traditional mysteries, you'd love this.
12. A Newly Crimsoned Reliquery by Donna Fletcher Crow (most recently interviewed July 28, 2014). The latest in the Monastery Murders, featuring Father Anthony, one of my all time favorite fictional characters. A highlight is a debate between Father Anthony and an athiest. My favorite in the series was last year's An Unholy Communion, but this one isn't far behind.
13. No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig. One of the best woven stories I've ever read.
14. Prophet by R. J. Larson. The start of a fantasy trilogy, looking at a 17 year old girl called to be a prophet, and her encounters with various heads of state.
15. Son of Truth by Morgan Busse. Another fantasy story, this one being the second part of a trilogy.

I'd love to know what my fellow contributors consider the best books they read, as well as the readers here.

Interview and Book Giveaway with Janet Sketchley

by Jeff Reynolds 

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LIBRARY LADY!

 Last year, I had the privilege of interviewing Janet Sketchley about her Redemption's Edge series' debut, Heaven's Prey. Her follow-up, Secrets and Lies, is now off the presses. At the end of the interview, you can have an opportunity to win a print copy of this book if you live in the U.S. or Canada, or an e-book other-wise. Here's her bio:

Janet Sketchley is the author of Heaven's Prey and Secrets and Lies, two novels of suspense and redemption. She also blogs about faith and books. Janet loves adventure stories, worship music, tea and Formula 1 racing. Like Carol in Secrets and Lies, she loves music and tea. Unlike Carol, Janet isn't related to a dangerous offender, has a happy home life, and has never been threatened by a drug lord. May those tidbits continue to hold true!

Jeff Reynolds: Welcome back to Sleuths and Suspects. I'll get to your writing in a minute, but anything new going on with you outside of the literary world? Are you prepared for a nice balmy Canadian winter like last year's?

Janet Sketchley: I seem to recall shivering last winter, Jeff! After what the citizens of Buffalo endured in November, whatever we get, I'd better not complain. New outside the literary world: this summer, my husband and I celebrated our 30th anniversary with a European river cruise. Definitely the trip of a lifetime, although we catch ourselves scheming about doing it again someday.

JR:  Congratulations on your anniversary, newlywed! (My wife and I celebrated our 31st this past July.) On to inside the literary world: You've just released Secrets and Lies, the second book of the Redemption's Edge series. Sounds like it could be inspired by Washington (or, since you're Canadian, Ottawa). Would you like to tell us about the novel? And let me be psychic and predict that you'll give the previous question an affirmative answer.

JS: And this is why I enjoy your interviews – you make me smile as well as making me think. I like to write stories with happy (or at least hopeful) endings, and I'm not sure I could pull that off in a political novel. Here's a bit about my version of Secrets and Lies:

A single mother must protect her teenage son—from organized crime and from himself.

Carol Daniels thinks she out-ran her enemies, until a detective arrives at her door with a warning from her convict brother. Minor incidents take on a sinister meaning. An anonymous phone call warns her not to hide again.

Now she must cooperate with a drug lord while the police work to trap him. Carol has always handled crisis alone, but this one might break her. Late-night deejay Joey Hill offers friendship and moral support. Can she trust him? One thing's certain. She can't risk prayer.
JR:  There are great suspense stories I enjoy reading, and there are great suspense stories that make me miserable, being a nervous wreck worrying about the characters as I keep turning pages. Your first installment, Heaven's Prey, was that kind of story. Is the sequel like that as well, or is it a different type of story?
JS:  This one's a much easier read. For one thing, it's a romantic suspense instead of suspense on its own, but the biggest difference is that in this story we're not inside the head of a serial killer.

JR:  I heard once that a person who puts soggy Grape Nuts in a sock, allows it to harden, and uses it as a weapon is a cereal killer, but let's get back to reality. There's a difference between the two stories that has nothing to do with writing. The publisher for Heaven's Prey closed its fiction line. How did you approach getting the sequel out?

JS:  Because I was blessed to know other indie writers who could answer my questions, I decided to take the independent publishing route. Working with the same editor and cover artist from Heaven's Prey helped me match the quality, and I practiced for releasing book two by reacquiring the rights to book one and republishing it myself over the summer. Releasing Secrets and Lies this November went surprisingly smoothly.

JR: Helpful advice. I had a publisher I wanted to target my novel for, and that publisher also closed their fiction line. With that in mind, I'll ask the same question two different ways:

1. What do you think is the future for Christian fiction, or is there much of one?
2. What advice would you give to a young aspiring Christian novelist?

JS:  I think there's a great future for Christian fiction, and the genre is widening to include something for nearly everyone who enjoys a clean read from a Christian perspective. People who haven't darkened a Christian bookstore's doorway for years would be pleasantly surprised. I think we'll see more independent publishing, because it looks like the traditional publishers are dealing with the changing dynamics by concentrating on trusted names and topics. Unknowns, especially with stories that break new ground, may have to publish independently (but it doesn't hurt to try to land an agent or a publishing contract with a reputable house).

In some ways the advice is the same as ever: write a quality novel that people will want to read; establish a network so readers can hear about the novel; make contacts within the industry. But I'd add this: consider writing your first three novels and polishing them well, before seeking publication. If they're a series, you may want to adjust the beginning once you reach the end. And when it's publishing time, editing and promoting book one won't leave much time for writing book two. If you choose self-publishing, don't do it until you can invest in quality editing, formatting and cover design. Many people can do some of this themselves, but we always need fresh eyes on our writing.

JR: How's your blog going? If you had a top ten list of books you've read this year, what would be on it? (BTW, I'll be posting my list on this blog in a couple of days.)

JS:  I look forward to your list, Jeff. Off the top of my head and in no particular order, these books stood out to me this year: 

• Words of Radiance, Brandon Sanderson 
• Blind Trust, Sandra Orchard 
• Fatal Exchange, Lisa Harris
• Ithaca, Susan Fish
• Consider the Sunflowers, Elma Schemenauer
• Soulminder, Timothy Zahn
• When God Interrupts, M. Craig Barnes
• The Patmos Deception, Davis Bunn
• Veiled at Midnight, Christine Lindsay
• Miranda Warning, Heather Day Gilbert

My blog's still active, with reviews on Mondays, devotionals on Wednesdays, and a variety of posts on Fridays.

JR: What's next on the horizon? I noticed that there's a part 3 to Redemption's Edge. Do you have any other plans after this?

JS:  I'm discovering book three now, and this is my favourite part of the process. After that, the ideas are pretty vague, although there may be something set in a seaside inn, with an author as a guest. I do want to branch into science fiction, but I'd like to write a few more suspense novels first.

JR: Thank you for your time, Janet. Can you remind us how we can keep up with your latest goings on?

JS: I'm most active on my blog, at janetsketchley.ca, and I invite Christian suspense fans to sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews. Newsletter subscribers often hear things first. Also:
Secrets and Lies page: http://janetsketchley.ca/books/secrets-and-lies
Sample Chapter: http://janetsketchley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Secrets-and-Lies-Chapter-1.pdf 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanetSketchley
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JanetSketchley
Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/author/janetsketchley
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/janetsketchley

Jeff Reynolds to reader: As promised, we'll be giving away a copy of Secrets and Lies. Three steps:

1. Leave a comment. 
2. Include info on how to contact you should you win, like e-mail. 
3. A question for you to answer: If you were running from bad guys, what would be the place you hide in and what occupation would you take up? If you want, you could also let me know if you'd change your hair color (I've thought about making mine indigo).

Interview and E-Book Giveaway with Nadine Brandes

by Jeff Reynolds

GIVEAWAY EXTENDED TILL MONDAY, DECEMBER 22!!! TAKE A CHANCE AND ENTER!

 
 If you knew how long you had left to the second, how would you live your life?

This is the premise of A Time To Die by Nadine Brandes, who I have the privilege of interviewing this month. We'll be giving away an e-book copy via Rafflecopter -- note the rules below.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Nadine. How did you get interested in writing?

Nadine Brandes:  Thanks for having me, Jeff! I’ve always been interested in writing. From the moment I knew what “story” was, it wormed its way in to everything I did. I used to tell stories to my younger siblings whenever we were on long road trips and eventually they said I should write books. That idea stuck and eventually set me on the road of being an author

JR:  You've just released your debut novel, A Time To Die, the beginning of your "Out of Time" Trilogy. Would you be interested in telling us about your book and the series? And any chance you'll be the first author to answer this question "No"?
NB:  LOL, no. As in, no, I won’t be the first author to answer “no.” :) A Time to Die is about a world where everyone has a Clock showing them exactly how long they have to live. My main character has only one year left to live when she realizes she’s wasted her life. She spends the book trying to discover purpose by rescuing others from her town’s crooked justice system. But things don’t go as planned (of course) and her time is running out.

JR:  What inspired the concept for this story?

NB: That’s a story in itself. But in short, an acquaintance of mine died and, through his death, I started asking myself how I was living. Was I living with purpose or was I wasting time? Then I thought, “How would I live if I knew when I’d die?” Thus the concept was born.

JR:  This book is published by Enclave Publishing, previously known as Marcher Lord Press. This company specializes in what's called "speculative fiction" -- I interviewed your fellow EP author Kerry Nietz. (I don't know if anybody remembers me talking about his book Amish Vampires In Space.) How would you define specualtive fiction?

NB:  Speculative fiction is fiction written without boundaries — these stories (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.) are free from the constraints of time, of space, of species, of laws, and of anything else that we’ve used to define the functions of our universe. Some people call it “the weird stuff”  because it is the most unusual genre.

JR:  This book is in the sub-genre dystopian science-fiction. When I had the privilege of critiquing some of the early chapters of this book, I asked what that was. Could you describe it to the readers? And is it a genre that should encourage us that things could get worse than they are, or more of a warning that things probably will get worse? Any implications for the Christian in this genre?

NB:  Dystopian fiction are novels set in s society that is under the power of a single oppressive force, like a government. Basically, if you break down the Greek roots of dystopia, it literally means “bad place to live.” Think Hunger Games, Divergent, 1984, etc.

I think it’s always been too much of a stretch to view dystopian futures as predictions or warnings. I wrote my own dystopian book more to encourage believers that, whatever may come in our world, it can still be withstood with Christ as our foundation. Mine certainly isn’t an implication of the future.

The Christian has a huge opportunity to portray hope in this genre. Dystopian books are often hopeless but, if we have Christ, there is always hope. That’s something that is only just beginning to be captured in dystopian literature now that the CBA market is publishing the genre more.

JR:  One question I regularly ask: Are you more of a structured plotter, or are you more of a blank pager? What are the implication s of this both for A Time To Die and for the Out of Time Trilogy as a whole?

NB:  I’ve always been more of a blank pager with a rough plot/outline kept only in my mind. I think this has benefited the Out of Time trilogy because I’d originally planned it to be only one book. But since I was open, God adjusted the plot and showed me that it’s, indeed, a much vaster story than I ever imagined.

JR:  Since this is a trilogy, and you've just written the first one, I assume parts two and three will be in the future. Anything else in mind? Any chances of following a dystopian sci-fi series with a comedic historical romance?

 NB:  Ha! I definitely have books planned for the future after the trilogy is complete. I have an alternate reality book in the works and a portal fantasy I’ve been wanting to write for ages. There may or may not be a dystopian sci-fi comedic historical romance on the horizon. [wink]

JR:  Thank you for your time. How can we keep up with what you're up to?

NB:  Thank you so much for having me! You can find me on my website (http://nadinebrandes.com), Facebook (http://facebook.com/NadineBrandesAuthor), Goodreads (http://goodreads.com/NadineBrandes) or sign up for my newsletter to get monthly updates! (http://nadinebrandes.com/my-newsletter)

A Time to Die is available on Amazon (bit.ly/AmazonATtDpaperback) in e-book and paperback.

Jeff Reynolds to reader: It's time for the giveaway, the first on this blog (I believe) using Rafflecopter. In addition to leaving a comment, I'd like to ask what you would do if you knew you had only one year of life left.

<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2fb503a31/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="2fb503a31" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_4in0klrt">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>

I'm trying Rafflecopter, but if it doesn't work, leave a comment along with a response to the above question, and include a way to contact you.

Interview and Book Giveaway with Elizabeth Ludwig.

Do you all ever pay attention to the books advertised at the end of a novel you're reading? I do, and I noticed an intriguing book titled No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig, the first of her Edge of Freedom series: one of the best crafted novels I've ever read. Since then, I've devoured the equally good follow-up, Dark Road Home.

It's my privilege to interview Elizabeth Ludwig. She'll be giving away a copy of the final installment of the series, Tide and Tempest. Rules are below.

RENEE ANN? YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED AS A WINNER! 

PLEASE SEE BELOW COMMENT, AND LET US KNOW HOW TO CONTACT YOU.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Elizabeth. I'd like to hear a little about you, such as how you became interested in writing.

Elizabeth Ludwig:  Hi, Jeff! Thank you so much for having me on your blog. Believe it or not, I started writing in elementary school. I had a fifth grade teacher who really got into the creative writing stuff, and encouraged us to love it, too. I also LOVED to read, so I guess she thought it was a natural progression for me to also write. So when she learned of a contest for young authors, she pushed me to enter.

I told myself I was going to hate it, but as I got into the story, I found I really liked coming up with my own characters. I did spend most of my time daydreaming about books, after all. I guess that was the spark I needed, because I never forget what it was like to write and began seeking publication in 2001.

Well, I wish I could say success came immediately, right after I submitted my first manuscript. The truth is, I wrote for five years before I sold my first book, and I completed six full manuscripts, none of which will probably ever see the light of day.

JR:  Would you like to tell us about your Edge of Freedom series, and especially your latest release?

EL:  I’d love to! I am so excited for the release of Tide and Tempest, although to be honest, if everything had gone as I planned, this book would never have been written. You see, when I first proposed my idea to my publisher, I was only planning for a two book series. Later, I was asked if I could expand my idea. Of course I said yes, though at the time, I really wasn’t sure what the third book would be about. It wasn’t until I finished the first book, No Safe Harbor, that inspiration struck and I realized that everyone I’ve ever met has carried some kind of wound—either pain from a broken relationship, or grief, sometimes even loss.

When I sat down to write Tide and Tempest, I wanted to reach out to those who were hurting and offer some kind of hope. To do that, I had to reach into my own past, and touch on the pain and guilt I carried after the loss of my son. The grace I experienced through that traumatic time, the healing and restoration that God fulfilled in my life—that was the inspiration behind Tide and Tempest, and why I think the main character, Tillie McGrath, resonated so deeply with me.

JR:  I found the setting interesting -- while it takes place in New York a hundred years ago, it seems as concerned with Ireland as it does here. What was your inspiration for writing about this era, and how did you do the research?

EL:  You hit on a really crucial point of this series. It definitely required more research than anything I’ve published so far. Set in and around New York City with key scenes taking place on Ellis Island, I knew early on that I would need to conduct careful study on the more than twelve million immigrants who entered the United States through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. It wasn’t enough to know how they came, however. I wanted to figure out why, so beginning at the Ellis Island Foundation’s website, I began looking for letters, pictures, anything I could find that would give insight into the motivation behind so many peoples’ journey. This in turn led me to other sites, like Ancestory.com and the National Park Service website, which were full of information regarding not only the history of the island, but of the people who passed through on their way to a new life in America.

Along with filling the story with facts about our nation’s history, the Edge of Freedom Series is about an Irish family and a man with dangerous political affiliations, so on top of all of the historical facts I could dig up about New York in 1897, I had to research Ireland and everything that was occurring during the same time period there. That meant learning what I could about the conflict in Ireland—its origins and history. Once again, I tackled the Internet, beginning with a simple Google search on “why Ireland is divided”. This led me to a number of sites, including ibiblio.org and encyclopedia.com. Remember those research papers your English teacher made you do in high school and college? Researching my book was a lot like that!

JR:  One question I regularly ask -- and I'm asking now -- is whether an author tends to be an outliner or a blank pager. Having read the first two books, however, I'm going to do something I've never done before and take a guess that you're an outliner, because of how well woven the stories are. Related -- was the outlining for the full series, or was it more one book at a time?

EL:  LOL! Thank you, Jeff! Normally, I would say yes, I am very much an outliner. I always chart out a detailed timeline from start to finish. I also search for photos, locate maps, make drawings of certain settings, and collect samples of historical details that I can incorporate. Only when all of that is finished do feel equipped enough to begin writing. It makes for a lengthier process, but I’m always satisfied when I finish that I did my best to make the story accurate and exciting.

BUT…since I had originally planned for this to be a two book series, I really had to adjust my thinking, and my storyline! Strangely enough, that wasn’t difficult once I had a grasp on what Tillie’s story would be about. From there, I was very careful to plot all the storylines to make sure that everything stayed consistent. Also, it doesn’t hurt that I have fantastic editors and a patient critique group who helped me keep everything straight. My editor even gave me suggestions for deepening my storyline!

JR:  I would consider your books Historical Romantic Suspense. When you enter contests or promote your books, how do you market them? Historical Romance? Romantic Suspense? Or, since I haven't seen a Historical Suspense category, would you consider it more straight historical?

EL: I guess it depends on the contest. If it’s a secular contest with an inspirational category, I usually enter there. Otherwise, I enter in the Historical Romance category, because most readers do not equate historicals with suspense. It’s not a perfect fit, because my stories always have a splash of mystery or a splattering of suspense, but I’d rather the reader felt like they got a little something extra than be put off by the fact that my books are historicals. I’m always afraid they’ll mark down if they think it’s in the wrong category.

On another note…I tried to write a straight historical romance once, and a third of the way through, I killed off one of the main characters. It’s like I have to put action on every page or it feels like there’s just not enough happening. Which, when I think about it, makes sense given that I live my life at 100mph and only slow down when I’m forced to go to sleep (see answer above). LOL!

But yes, I would so love to see a Historical Suspense category!!!

JR:  Since you've finished your series, what's next on the horizon? More historical, or maybe some contemporary? (Or perhaps Sci-Fi?)

EL:  The Edge of Freedom series has been such a labor of love, I actually kinda hated seeing it end. As for the horizon, well…I’d love to do another Historical Suspense series. I’ve never considered Sci-Fi, but I’m honored that you think I could! LOL!

JR:  What else do you do besides writing? Any interesting hobbies? What do you do for fun?

EL:  Well, let’s see…aside from reading and writing, I love to ski and I have a ridiculous number of dogs. Someday, I’ll write a book about my life and call it Downhill Dachshunds: Keeping up with the Pack.

JR:  I love that title. Thank you for your time, and I can't wait to read Tide and Tempest. How can we keep up with your writing?

EL: I have a website at www.elizabethludwig.com and a blog at www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com, but my favorite place to connect is still on Facebook. I hope you’ll stop by!

Jeff to the reader: It's time for the book giveaway! To enter the contest for a copy of Tide and Tempest, there are three easy steps:

1. Leave a comment.
2. Share your e-mail address -- it can be spelled out like AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com.
3. If you were to write about a group of imigrants or refugees, which group would you write about, and what time era (including the present) would it be set in?

Interview and Book Giveaway With Wanda Dyson

by Jeff Reynolds

It's my pleasure to have one of my favorite authors and victims ... I mean interviewees, Wanda Dyson back for another interview. Since then she has released two new books, and we'll be giving away a copy of the winner's choice of those two titles, which Wanda will be telling you about. Like most authors, I really had to twist her arm to get her to talk about her latest projects. (And if you believe that, I'd sell you the oceanside property next door to us in Indianapolis.)

Besides her awesome suspense stories, she also has helped with an autobiography which ended up on Oprah. If you'd like to read the previous interview which includes that experience, here's the link:
http://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/2013/07/interview-and-book-giveaway-with-wanda.html

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome back to Sleuths and Suspects, Wanda. It's exciting to know you have two new books out this year, but any thing else new going on in your life you'd like to share?

Wanda Dyson:  Well, it's been two years since I moved to North Carolina and purchased this house, and I'm STILL looking at white walls and trying to decide what color to paint. I would seriously like to get that done by the end of this year. That's the goal, anyway. In the meantime, the Lord has just been truly teaching me to rely on Him for everything. Since my husband died and writing doesn't bring in enough to pay all the bills each month, it's been a remarkable journey of watching Him provide each and every time. I'm slowly getting to the point of not stressing anymore about things. The Lord knows what I need and He's proving to me that He is the Lord that Provides, the Lord that Heals, the Lord that Saves, and the Lord that Loves.
   
JR:  When we bought our house, my wife picked out a color for our living room called Mr. Bluebird. Not just Bluebird, but Mr. Bluebird. But since this blog is about writing and not painting ...

Let me be a little atypical and start with the most recent release first. Hot off the press (probably an outdated expression in the era of e-books) is Retribution, the fourth installment of the Shefford Files. Could you give us a brief overview of the series and tell us about Retribution?

WD:  Well, I guess we can still say that to some extent since I'm releasing my books for both e-book download and paperback.

The Shefford Files is about a famous crime psychic named Zoe Shefford who, in book 1, is called in on a child abduction case. She is caught between an athiest detective who doesn't believe in the supernatural and a Christian mother who does believe and won't allow Zoe on the case. In trying to defend her gifts as being from God, she begins to question everything she believes in. She convinces the cop the supernatural is very real and finds the Lord in the proecess.  Book 2 teams up Zoe and the detective, JJ Johnson once again, but now the attraction between them is something Zoe must resist since JJ still isn't a Christian. She tries to stay away from him, but when several co-ods are murdered, they have to work together in spite of their personal feelings and solve the case. Book 3 brings back FBI Agent Donnie Bevere from book 1, but now he needs their help in locating his missing wife. Together, the three bring down a rogue general and a foil a terrorist plot, and JJ finally gives his life to the Lord and asks Zoe to marry him.

And then the publisher closed the suspense division and in spite of their popularity, the Zoe and JJ books ended. Until now. I've had so many requests over the years for more of JJ and Zoe that I finally decided to bring them back.
 Retribution finds JJ Johnson and the love of his life, Zoe Shefford, finally headed to the altar. Busy with wedding plans, when Zoe's instincts start raging that something bad is going to happen, she misreads it entirely, causing a fight with JJ that sends him off to Alaska to pick up a murder suspect. When the plane crashes in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, Zoe realizes that she may have just made a deadly mistake. She teams up with FBI Special Agent Donnie Bevere to move heaven and hell to find JJ. Severely injured in the place crash, JJ realizes that between a raging blizzard, a hungry wolf, and no food, it will take a miracle to survive. But his life or death struggle to make it back to Zoe takes a deadly turn when he realizes the entire trip had been a well-planned trap and that the cop he's traveling with is a hired killer. Now, he must rely on the skills of a woman he put in handcuffs to keep him alive while praying that the woman he loves will find him in time.

JR:  That sounds very exciting. But I'm wondering if that's the first new book I need to start reading? Earlier this year saw the release of The Restoration. (Is this year sponsored by the letter R?) Would you like to tell us about this book?
WD: LOL... had I realized I'd be writing and releasing Retribution, I would released The Restoration under a different title, that's for sure. The Restoration was actually the first book I ever wrote. It was picked up for contract several times but never made it into print, so I figured why not go ahead and release it on my own. It's the story of a young woman who buys a home with the intention of fixing it up and living in it, only to discover the house has a unique history and there are some willing to kill to keep anyone from ever restoring the place. She and Max Trent, the contractor she hires, uncover a deadly plot that will force them to choose to trust God with their very lives to bring about His will, or take the easy way out. 

JR:  Wanda, while your two books starting with the same letter (first two letters, actually), I think that pales to another author (Pamela Meyers) having Love Will Find A Way and her contribution to the Love Finds You ...  series within a month or two. But I'm not interviewing Pamela this month, so let's get back to Wanda Dyson. You've written some series and some stand alone novels. Do you know when you start writing which it's going to be?

WD:  I tend to write everything from page 1 with the idea of a it ending up as the first book in a series. Up until now, the publishers had the final say as to whether it went on to be a series or stayed a stand-alone. I've had many e-mails from fans who want more of The Prodigal Recovery Series and some who want to see more of Alexandria and Marcus (Judgment Day) but until I recover the rights from the publisher, I'm not free to write any more with those characters.

JR:  In an interview posted on this site a couple of weeks ago, author Sibella Giorello told my co-contributer Amanda Holland that art imitates life. I'll admit that watching the news can transform me into a conspiracy theorist. What are your words of advice in this world that can become a real life suspense novel at any time?

WD:  It sounds a bit cliche, but honestly, we have to trust the One who holds us in the palm of His hand and just rest in the assurance that He has and can keep us safe and sound. He can feed us in a food shortage like he did the Jews in the wildernerss, He can raise up an army of angels to fight for us like He did for Elijah. We tend sometimes, to see the world around us in one dimension and while there's a part of us that believes those Bible stories, there's a bigger part of us that stays one dimensional instead of truly trusting Him in every situation. We fret, we worry, we stockpile, we load our weapons and think about moving up into the mountains, away from it all, but He called us to bring HIM into every situation. When things turn ugly, He needs a people who will stand and say, "In the name of Jesus, I have what you need."

JR:  What's next on the agenda? You mentioned a historical suspense series last July -- any progress on that? Is there a sequel for The Restoration, or any chance for a new installment of Judgment Day (one of my favorite suspense novels ever)? And are the Shefford files officially closed?

WD:  I've been asked to write the autobiography of a remarkable woman no one has ever heard of, but her life story will inspire thousands. Most people think that the Lord chooses extraordinary people like ministers and evangelists and missionaries to do extraordinary things, but this woman who could barely read and write because of deslexia, chose to believe at a young age that every word in the Bible was true. Over her lifetime, she raised people from the dead, led hundreds if not thousands to the Lord, and changed the life of everyone she met. She was just a simple farmer's wife but the Lord used her in powerful ways.

I haven't heard anything back from my agent about the historical series, so that's on a back burner for now. I want to see how The Restoration sells. It's getting good reviews, so there's a strong possibility of a sequel. I did start one way back when, so I'd only have to go back and finish it up. Wouldn't take long. As for Judgment Day, I am trying to get the rights back to that so that I can do some more with Marcus and Alexandria. Keep your fingers crossed. And I don't think I'm closing the Shefford files just yet. I really do love those two and would like to see some more of them if the fans want more of them, as well. 

JR:  Thank you for your time, Wanda. Could you remind us about your websites for those who want to keep in touch with you?

WD:  The website is www.WandaDyson.com for more information on any of my books, as well as updates for future releases, and they can always write me at WandaDyson@aol.com or visit me at www.facebook.com/wanda.dyson    And thanks for having me, Jeff. It's always a pleasure.



Jeff to reader: As I mentioned, we'll be giving away an e-book of either The Restoration or Retribution, the winner's choice. Four simple rules:

1. Leave a comment. Obviously. We won't know you want to enter otherwise.
2. Include your e-mail address. One entry in the previous giveaway I promoted disqualified themselves by not including their e-mail. Yes, you may get notifications, but us contributors don't have access to notify you. Of course, you can spell it out, like AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com.
3. Which book would you prefer? 
4. If you could write someone's autobiography, who would you want to work with and why?

Interview and Book Giveaway With Donna Fletcher Crow

by Jeff Reynolds

I'm excited to have Donna Fletcher Crow back with Sleuths and Suspects. We'll be giving away a copy of her latest Monastery Murder (e-book) -- check to see what the rules are below.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ASE JOHANNESSEN!!!

This is the third time Donna has been here. Heidi Glick interviewed her about three years ago when the first Monastery Murder, A Very Private Grave, was released. Last year, I interviewed her about the third book, An Unholy Communion. If you want to recall those interviews, here are the links:

http://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-with-author-donna-fletcher

http://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/2013/04/interview-with-donna-fletcher-crow

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome back to Sleuths and Suspects, Donna. Let me start by asking you what's new with you both in the literary world and in the literal one (other than the most recent Monastery Murder) since you last visited us in April, 2013?

Donna Crow:  Thank you, Jeff. I’m delighted to be back. I always love visiting with readers. Top of the list in the “What’s new?” category has to be two new grandchildren. Our daughter Elizabeth in Calgary had Lucy Alexandra last September and our daughter-in-law Mindy here in Boise gave birth to Asher Hudson in March. That brings the grand total to 13 grandchildren.

In my writing life my 44th book, A Jane Austen Encounter, Book 3 in my Elizabeth and Richard literary suspense series came out last autumn.

JR:  The Monastery Murders are towards the top of my list of my all-time favorite series, and Father Anthony is my favorite fictitious character (I could make a joke that he took over from fellow Brit James Bond, but Bond was displaced when I was still in High School -- by Hercule Poirot as well as others). Would you like to tell us about the latest addition to the series?

DC: What wonderful company for Father Antony! And I’m sure he’s very honoured. But I’m afraid Antony needs all the support you can give him this time because he really has his hands full in A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary. Felicity is off to do a spot of translating for a community of nuns in Oxford and in spite of Antony’s warning her not to get into trouble we all know her proclivity for running headlong into danger. Then he learns that he must rush to the bedside of his Uncle Edward who raised Antony and his sister. All that just a few days before he is to lead a seminar of students in Oxford. Then he finds out that Felicity has forged an uneasy friendship with his estranged sister Gwena and expects him to make peace in the family. Then one of his students is killed in a ghastly accident. Or was it an accident?

JR:  In your previous interview you referred to this book as A Muffled Tolling. What led to the renaming of the book?

DC:  That’s right, Jeff. A Muffled Tolling was my working title for this book because English change-ringing and the tradition of muffling, or more specifically half-muffling, bells for funerals and commemorations of the dead—something that has always fascinated me—is such an important part of this story. This seemed particularly appropriate because the book is set at the time of All Souls’ and my daughter had told me about her experience of muffling bells at Oxford for the commemoration.

My editor, however, didn’t feel it sounded sufficiently mysterious. We worked very hard on this title, e-mailing long lists of possibilities (some of them quite dreadful) back and forth until the word “crimsoned”  jumped out at me from an Easter hymn. Reliquaries are an important part of the plot as well, so bells were abandoned for the title. “Newly” was my editor’s contribution. This was all quite a process, but I’m pleased with the results in the end.


JR:  Hope you don't mind if I regress to your previous installment, An Unholy Communion. That story had a very strong spiritual warfare theme. What inspired that focus, and how does that focus relate to us in the U.S. in 2014?
 
DC:  One of the reasons I write murder mysteries is because they so clearly illustrate the clash between good and evil in our world and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Certainly that struggle is presented more concretely in An Unholy Communion because my characters are faced with actual satanic worship. This was a very hard book to write because I had to research the occult and learned things I’d really rather not know about. I chose the theme, though, because I wanted to show the reality of evil in our world. None of the demonic manifestations in my plot are made up. They are all based on experiences recorded by priests working in Deliverance ministry.

JR:  An interesting thing about spiritual warfare is that it often manifests in the physical realm, and A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary gives some illustrations of it, dealing with persecution believers endure both from unbelievers and from those who claim the name of Christ. Do you see persecution of Christians as a threat in our society? If so, how can we prepare for it?

DC:  When I was a child demonic practices like those in An Unholy Communion were something missionaries told about when they returned from foreign fields. Certainly nothing that would happen here. And the persecution of Christians happened in Roman times and behind the Iron Curtain. I am constantly amazed at how close to home all of that has come just in my lifetime. I think the only possible defense is a strong prayer life and a supportive community of believers.

JR:  The highlight in this novel (I could say the highlight in the series, though the youth pilgrimage in An Unholy Communion rivals that) is the debate between an atheist and Father Anthony. So let me ask my usual multi-part question: First, should apologetics be a part of our lives as a believer? Second, is telling stories more effective than dealing with, for example, the classic arguments of God's existence which Father Anthony considered using?

DC: You never do ask easy questions do you, Jeff? That debate was nothing I had ever planned to write. I usually try to make my arguments less combatively, but debating is such a hallowed Oxford tradition (my model for the evening was actually the Oxford Union, but I didn’t call it that) that the scene just fell into place.

I certainly believe we need to know what we believe and why we believe it. I believe theology is very important. The question is how to present it best to a world that really doesn’t want to listen. For that, look to the Scriptures: Jesus told parables. The Bible itself is a narrative—the story of God’s redemptive acts among His people. 

JR:  What's next, both in the Monastery Mysteries and in your other fictious endeavors?

DC: Last week I sent The Flame Ignites, an Elizabeth and Richard prequel to my publisher. This goes back to 1984 and tells how Elizabeth and Richard first met. All the books in that series have literary figures in the background and for this book it’s the beloved American novelist Elswyth Thane and Rudyard Kipling.

Later today I will start the next Monastery Murder, which I’m calling An All-Consuming Fire. Antony has been asked to narrate a BBC documentary on the English Mystics Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton and the author of The Cloud of Unknowing. Felicity is determined to stay quietly behind in the Community of the Transfiguration because her mother (remember the prickly Cynthia from A Darkly Hidden Truth?) is coming over to spend Christmas with her and help her prepare for their Epiphany wedding. I am wondering just how well that will work out.

JR:  Thank you for your time, Donna. To refresh everybody's memory, how can they keep up with your latest activities?

DC:  Thank you, Jeff. It’s always a delight to visit with you and I love the opportunity to get acquainted with your readers.

To read more about all of my books and see pictures from my garden and research trips, including my bell-ringing lesson with the Oxford University Society of Change Ringers, go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/  and I would love to have you follow me on Facebook at: http://ning.it/OHi0MY

Jeff to reader:  At this point, it's time for a giveaway of an e-book version of A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary. Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment. That easy enough?
2. Include your e-mail address so we can notify you. You can write it out if you wish, like AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com.
3. Finally, what do you think is the best way to prepare for persecution/spiritual warfare/defending the faith? Or do you think these issues are better left to theologians and ministers?

Interview/Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering, Author of Murder at the Mikado

 by Jeff Reynolds

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO PATRICIA BRADLEY!!!
 

Does this author pictured here look familiar? Could it be that this is the third time I've interviewed her in the past twelve months? Would this be an indicator that a new installment of the critically acclaimed Drew Farthering Series? (Since I do book reviews on Amazon, I could be considered a critic, so the series is acclaimed by at least this critic.) And is there a possibility that we're giving away that new book? Of course -- details below.

I am going to assume that the majority of you have read the other interviews, so I'll be trying to ask new questions. For those who missed one or both previous interview, here are the links:

Sleuths and Suspects: Interview and Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering, August 28, 2013

Sleuths and Suspects: Interview and Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering, March 13, 2014

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome back, Julianna. Since this is your third interview here on this page in the past year, I'll try to make this more challenging. Let me start by asking you what three items you most want us to know about you.
 
Juliana Deering: Hmm . . . three things I haven't mentioned before? Number one, I deeply and utterly despise hot weather. It's expensive and tiresome and icky and there's no hockey. So, yeah, summer is not my favorite time of year. Number two, I want to have a little tuxedo kitten called Crazy Eddie. Number three, I very much would like to have an indoor swimming pool. I suppose I used up all the serious stuff already, though I am serious about not liking hot weather.

JR:  Of course, since this is your third interview, the third installment of the Drew Farthering Mysteries must be out. (One of my favorite mystery series, by the way). Would you like to give a brief summary of the series and tell us about the latest chapter -- well, technically twenty chapters.
 
JD: I'd love to! The series is about Drew Farthering, a rich young Englishman in the 1930s, and his perky American sweetheart, Madeline Parker, who solve mysteries. They are my take on the classic cozy mysteries of that era. The latest book, Murder at the Mikado, starts out with the murder of a well-known local actor. The chief suspect also happens to be a former flame a Drew's, the beautiful and irresistible Fleur Hargreaves. Madeline, of course, wants Drew to stay focused on their upcoming wedding and not on Fleur. It seems that, no matter what he does, he's going to be in hot water with someone, poor chap.

JR:  For those who are culturally challenged, the Mikado is the best known of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Were you a G&S fan before writing this? If not, how did you research it? If so (and even if not), what's your favorite of theirs?
 
JD: Oh, I love Gilbert and Sullivan! I've been a fan of theirs for decades. I think my favorite is the Pirates of Penzance, especially the amazing version with Kevin Kline, but there are so many others I enjoy, too.  The Mikado is probably my second favorite. It's also nice that their works are old enough to be in public domain, so I don't have to worry about when I reference them in my story.

JR:  There are times when a character meets the reaper in a mystery and I think, "Why did that nice person have to get killed off?" One of those times occurred in Murder at the Mikado. In a previous interview you mentioned you knew who did it when you get started, but how do you decide who the victims are? And while a lot of the murderees probably deserved it, is it hard knocking off one who deserves better?

JD:  Mostly I kill off the person whose death works for my story. For example, if I make it look like Mr. A is the killer and then I want to totally destroy that theory, how better to do that than have Mr. A be the next victim? Or perhaps I need to drive someone to do something he would not ordinarily consider, like take the law into his own hands. What's more likely to make him do that than for him to find the love of his life with a knife in her back and the police insisting it was suicide? Of course, I don't like having to dispatch the nice characters, but I usually know they won't be around long and don't let myself get too attached to them.

JR:  It's only been four months since your most recent book has been published, and the first one is less than a year old. I'm assuming Bethany House is a full service publishing company, but what activities do you do to promote your book besides answering my questions?
 
JD:  I'll admit right off I'm not a very good marketer. I'm too busy trying to write new books. But I do mention on Facebook and Twitter and my blog whenever I have news or special offers. For example, Bethany House sends me the most wonderful bookmarks and notepads for each of the books, and I'd love to send them out to readers.  All they have to do is write me at P. O. Box 375, Aubrey, Texas 76227 and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (one at least 7" long with one first-class stamp for a bookmark and one at least 6" x 4" with 70 cents postage). Besides that, I do a lot of online interviews and giveaways and even some book signings. Mostly though, the best way to promote your books is to keep writing the best ones you can. Nothing else will last.

JR:  As you mentioned in a previous interview, there's a lot of difference between Drew Farthering's home in England of the 1930's and your real-life residence of 2014 Dallas, Texas. I have a suspicion that the spiritual climates were quite different as well. Is it much of a challenge giving spiritual challenges in our post-modern, post Christian society from a time where the Judeo-Christian worldview was alive and well and served with tea and crumpets?
 
JD: Actually then, as now, there were a lot of social Christians, people who attended church because it was the expected, proper thing to do and not because of a genuine relationship with God. My hero, Drew Farthering, started off as just such a person. He had a nebulous belief in a God of some sort but didn't think He was interested in our day-to-day affairs. I think the main difference between then and now is that Christianity was considered expected and proper in the 1930s. Now, thanks in many ways to the influence of the secular media, it is something to be ridiculed or, at best, distrusted. Are Christians perfect? Not by any means, but the ones I know try their best to live in a way that pleases God and shows love to those around them. I guess that's one of the reasons I like writing historicals more than contemporary mysteries.

JR:  Has your evil twin DeAnna Dodson (or are you her evil twin) written anything recently? And what else can we expect from either of you?
 
JD:  Well, she doesn't commit nearly as many murders as I do, so I suspect I'm the evil twin, though she may be catching up now. She's working on a new book for a new series from Annie's Attic. It's called Annie's Secrets of the Quilt, and it's about a woman who inherits a quilt and a diary that talks about the fabrics in the quilt and how they're connected to famous people in history. I'm writing the second book in the series, Lies of Splendor, which focuses on a girl who was a lady-in-waiting for Marie Antoinette just before the French Revolution.

I am very excited to tell you that I just came to terms with Bethany House for three more Drew books. Dressed for Murder is due out in the Spring of 2016. I don't have titles for the other two, but they should follow in Fall 2016 and Summer 2017. That seems a long time off, but I have a lot of work to do before then.

And if you are clever with languages, you might want to check out the German version of Rules of Murder:  Mord mit Stil ist auch nicht Besser (Murder with Style is also not Better). I'm not sure exactly how they came up with that, but I'm really delighted to see my book in another language.  I just wish it was French or Spanish. I might be able to read a bit of it. I understand there will be a Norwegian version, too.  Then I'll be really lost.

JR:  Thanks again, Julianna Dodson  -- or is it DeAnna Deering? (Just joking.) Once again, in case we've forgotten, do you have any web-pages or blogs or upcoming interviews that you'd like to pass along?
 
JD: I just have to share this beautiful blog from New Zealand. I love how they have it set up. http://www.christianfictionsite.com/blog/featured-author-interview-deanna-julie-dodson#.U7HXCbEwLqz
And here are my other links:  www.deannajuliedodson.com  https://twitter.com/deannajuldodson  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering

Thank you, Jeff, for letting me visit again. If you or your readers have more questions or think of something we didn't talk about here, please comment.  I'd love to chat.

Jeff to readers: You've just seen the invitation from Julianna to ask any other questions. Also, it's time to enter the contest for Murder at the Mikado. You just have to follow these three easy steps:

1. Leave a comment. That's easy, isn't it?
2. Leave your e-mail address so we can contact you. You can spell it out, like AuntDotKahm(at)And(dot)com.
3. If you had used a setting for a story like Julianna used the Mikado, what would you use? For example, it could be a play/musical/operetta, a concert of a specific artist, or a sporting event (if they had hockey in '30's England, I'm sure Drew Farthering would be at a game).

Interview and Book Giveaway with Nancy Mehl

by Jeff Reynolds

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, DEBORAH SHAWVER!!!

For those unaware, I'm officially a former ACFW member, due 100% to time and direction I'm heading overall, 0% due to the organization. One thing I really enjoyed about my three years there was being part of the suspense loop, hosted by author Nancy Mehl. Nancy, who happens to be my victim ... er, interviewee this month, has just released her eighteeneth book which we'll give away (see below).

This is not Nancy's first visit to Sleuths and Suspects; she had the privilege of being interviewed by Jackie Layton last year. If you want to go back and read Jackie's good interview, it's at this link: http://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/2013/02/unbreakable-by-nancy-mehl.html

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome back to Sleuths and Suspects, Nancy. In your previous visit, you mentioned you started writing in your forties. What did you do prior to then, and how does that background relate to your writing?

Nancy Mehl:  Before that, I worked as an Underwriting Director for a Christian radio station. I edited the station’s newsletter, so that helped some. To be honest, the thing that contributed the most to my writing was all the reading I did. I started reading as a child, always having a book nearby. I could read four or five books at a time. I’d even stay up all night and read with a flashlight under the covers!

JR:  My favorite movie line of all time -- since I was a kid -- is the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz saying, "Some people go both ways." I think you can relate to another line from the same movie: When Dorothy tells Toto "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." Would you like to tell us about your move to Misery ... I mean Missouri? What do you like about the new locale and what do you miss? And do you happen to have a dog named Toto?

NM:  No dog named Toto, but I have a Puggle named Watson.  LOL! We loved our home in Wichita and left behind wonderful friends that I miss. Our decision to move was because we wanted to be near our son, our daughter-in-law, and our grandson. The things I love here? Being near our family, of course. I also adore the scenery here. The house we’re renting backs up to trees and we have a lot of visitors. Birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer – and we even spotted a fox! Now that we’ve experienced this, we know it’s what we’ll look for when we’re ready to buy a house. I haven’t regretted this move for even a second. 
 
JR:  Besides having a new state of residence (the state I most frequently reside in is Confusion), you have started a new series. Would you like to tell us about your latest release?

NM:  Gathering Shadows is about Wynter Evans who is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis. But even a bright future doesn’t take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can’t pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station’s photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town’s handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family’s past hides in the shadows, it’s clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she’s searching for hidden forever—even if the cost is Wynter’s very life.

JR:  I believe this new set of stories is your fourth series. Could you tell us about the other series, and the connections between your current books and your previous work?

NM: Actually, Finding Sanctuary is my fifth series! The first two (Ivy Towers and Curl Up and Dye) were cozy mysteries. They have a very direct connection to my other two Mennonite-themed series (Harmony and The Road to Kingdom) because they’re all set in small towns. The charm and hometown theme continues through each and every series. 

JR:  Last visit, you mentioned you like writing both mystery and suspense. One book I read -- Writing Killer Fiction: The Funhouse of Mystery and the Roller Coaster of Suspense by Carolyn Wheat -- pointed out that the two genres are completely different and that true hybrids are rare. Are you a mystery writer who works some suspense in your tales, or are you a suspense writer that includes a mystery? And while you're at it, are you more of an outliner, or are you a blank pager?

NM:  Wow. Some great questions. First of all, I have to disagree about the difference between suspense and mystery. Most suspense contains mystery. With suspense we may actually know who the bad guy is from the beginning (think Die Hard), but the mystery lies in how the hero will overcome evil. Some suspense (think Shutter Island) has a twist at the end. Mystery usually ends the same way. The differences? Suspense uses events to propel the plot forward while mystery uses clues. I combine clues and events to craft my plot. Although an event is used to present the climax (and solution), I also sprinkle clues throughout the story. That way mystery fans have the chance to figure out what’s going on before I reveal the solution.

As far as your question about what kind of writer I am, I would have to say that I’m a mystery writer who works suspense into my novels.

I try to outline, but so far, I’ve never followed one single outline yet. My characters tell me where we need to go, and twists in the plot present themselves that are usually much better than my previous ideas. I always go with my characters and the inspiration that comes as I write.

JR:  Even though there are Mennonite themes in your book, you're not Mennonite yourself. (Maybe a Womennonite?) What have you learned about that denomination? How does it compare with your upbringing/home church, and how has it affected your Christian life/philosophy?

NM:  No, I’m not Mennonite. Even when writing about Old Order or Conservative Mennonites, I create characters that choose to dress conservatively and wear prayer coverings because they want to. Not because it’s the right thing to do or because it’s some kind of regulation. I just can’t support that belief, nor can I encourage it in my writing. We are under grace, not law. I can’t, and won’t, write anything that encourages bringing back regulations and laws when Jesus gave his life to bring us into His wonderful grace.

As far as learning from the Mennonite faith, my answer is a resounding yes. When researching their beliefs of non-resistance (some call it pacifism), I saw some things that readjusted my thinking. I’ve always been against the death penalty. I know many good Christian people disagree with me, but personally I can’t understand how we can support the law (that we’re free from), and say killing is okay when Jesus told us to forgive. Reading about the Mennonite beliefs that emphasize turning the other cheek reinforced my opinion about this teaching.

JR:  You have had the privilege of hosting the Suspense loop for the ACFW. What have you most enjoyed about that? How has it helped your writing and other areas in your life?

NM: I like the contact with other suspense writers, but I would like to get more conversations going. Maybe we’re all too busy writing. And that’s a good thing! 

JR:  On your latest blog, you have pictures of some birds (I also love birds, especially Cardinals, Blue Jays, Laughing Kookaburras and Tawny Frogmouths -- the former two appear at our feeder; we need to go to the zoo for the others). Besides birdwatching, what hobbies do you have? How do they overlap with your writing?

NM:  I love finding antiques, and I collect signed books. Right now, since we’re renting, most of my things are in storage. When we finally buy a house, all my books and collectibles will get to come home! I also enjoy several good TV shows. After an entire day of writing, it’s hard for me to read more words so TV relaxes me and gives my mind some rest. My favorites are Dr. Who, Castle, The Black List, 24, and The Middle. 

JR:  Thank you for your time, Nancy. How can we keep in touch with you, your writing, etc?

NM:  My Web site is: www.nancymehl.com. I also have a newsletter that is located at: www.nancymehl.blogspot.com and work with several other authors on a great blog called The Suspense Sister at: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com. I’m very active on Facebook with a personal page and a Fan Page. I love to making new friends, so everyone’s welcome!

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of Sleuths and Suspects, Jeff. God bless you!

Jeff to the readers: Now is the chance to win a copy of Gathering Shadows. Here is the way to do it:

1. Leave a comment.
2. Include your e-mail address (e.g. auntdotkahm(at)ant(dot)com)
3. A question to answer: Have you moved from one state to another, and how has that impacted your life? (Or are you like me, spending you life in the state of confusion?)