Interview with Jim Callan

Recently, I interviewed author Jim Callan.

Bio: After a successful career in mathematics and computer science, receiving grants from the National Science Foundation and NASA, and being listed in Who’s Who in Computer Science and Two Thousand Notable Americans, James R. Callan turned to his first love—writing.  He wrote a monthly column for a national magazine for two years, and published several non-fiction books.  He now concentrates on his favorite genre, mysteries, with his fourth book released in February, 2013. 

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

Jim:  I had intended to write books when I graduated from college, but soon found I could not support a family doing that.  So, I returned to graduate school in mathematics.  After a long career in math and computer science, one day I realized I didn’t have to support a family anymore – they were all out of college and self-supporting.  So, I went back to my first love – writing.

 WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

Jim:  I like the twists and turns of David Baldacci, the neat stories of Tony Hillerman, and the smooth flowing paragraphs of Dick Francis.  

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Jim:  Write. Write. Read, then write some more.  Do not edit yourself as you write.  When you finish the book, then go back and edit.

WHAT DOES YOUR WRITING SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?

Jim:  Haphazard.  I like to write six days a week, even if only for a short time.  Unfortunately, I seldom make that. 

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

Jim:  My latest suspense book is A Ton of Gold.  I asked myself if an old Texas folktale could affect people’s lives today. My heroine, Crystal Moore, would say definitely yes. Because of an old folktale, she faces murder, firebombing, and kidnapping.  And even as she tries to sort out the who and the why of those problems, the man who almost destroyed her emotionally comes back. This time, he can ruin her career.  So, she’s attacked on two sides.  She will need all the help she can get from a former bull rider, her street-wise house mate, and her feisty, 76 year-old no nonsense grandmother.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

Jim:  Not much before I begin writing.  But I try to identify what I will need to do.  I might note that I need some expert legal advice or medical advice.  Quite often I recognize that I will need to study the locations carefully.  In A Ton of Gold, for instance, I actually drove all the streets that were driven in the book so I would know how long it took to get from point A to point B.  For Murder a Cappella, I video-taped the Arboretum in San Antonio because an important chase occurred there.  That way, my descriptions and actions were accurate.  But most of this will come after I start the story, sometimes after I have finished the first draft.

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

Jim:  Most interesting?  Hmmm.  Perhaps the details of flying a powered parachute.  That came about for a book not yet published, the sequel to A Ton of Gold.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

Jim:  I have written eight books.  Three of those were non-fiction.  But fiction, specifically mysteries and suspense, is my favorite area.

 HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

Jim:  I live in the middle of a forest in east Texas. And I find it fulfilling to work on the property there. Then, we spend a lot of time at our home in Mexico. And my wife and I both love to travel.

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

Jim:  I have a website and a blog.  The website (www.jamesrcallan.com)  provides a lot of information on me and my books, plus I have included a lot of reviews on various books.  The blog (www.jamesrcallan.com/blog) has weekly posts. Many of these are interviews with other writers I know, so readers can get to know a little about the authors.  Of course, the website has a “Contact Callan” button to facilitate sending me an e-mail.

Thanks for inviting me to visit your website, Heidi.  It has been a pleasure.  

A Ton of Gold

A contemporary mystery / suspense novel

Can long forgotten, old folk tales affect the lives of people today? In A Ton of Gold, one certainly affected young, brilliant Crystal Moore.  Two people are killed, others threatened, a house burned and an office fire-bombed – all because of an old folk tale, greed and ignorance. 

On top of that, the man who nearly destroyed Crystal emotionally is coming back.  This time he can destroy her career.  She’ll need all the help she can get from a former bull rider, her streetwise housemate and her feisty 76 year-old grandmother.

A Ton of Gold

By James R. Callan

From Oak Tree Press, Feb. 2013

On Amazon, in paperback, at:  http://amzn.to/UQrqsZ 

Or the Kindle edition at:  http://amzn.to/12PeHJb    

Or from Oak Tree Press at:  http://bit.ly/WJXcWl 

Website:          www.jamesrcallan.com

Blog site:         www.jamesrcallan.com/blog

Book website: www.atonofgold.com

Interview and Giveaway with Nike Chillemi

CONGRATULATIONS TO BARBARA!

WINNER OF BURNING HEART

 

 

Please welcome Nike Chillemi to Sleuths and Suspects. This is her first time with us. I hope you learn more about Nike and her writing from the interview. I've just heard from Nike and she is going to give away a copy of her new book "Burning Hearts." She will choose from the best comment. Be sure to leave your email address and be a follower. Without further ado here we go!

 

 

 

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. 

Nike: I grew up in upstate New York. My dad was an English teacher who read to my brother and me and I've had a love of books since. I wrote the requisite teenage poems filled with angst, which I read to my parents quite frequently. They were very good about not running out of the room screaming. I worked in marketing in the bridal industry before seriously throwing myself into writing for publication. Every once in a while I give my bridal industry experience away by writing something like: The gown, of pink tulle, having a sweetheart neckline and tulip sleeves, floated at her calves as she glided into the room.

 

Q: Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. 

Nike:  BURNING HEARTS (arson/murder, action, romance, and humor) is set on the south shore of Long Island in the mid-1940s. The story opens with an arsonist burning down a house, killing the owner. A young seamstress, Erica Brogna, make a rescue attempt, but the heavy smoke forces her to get help. Enter Harley Davidson riding Lorne Kincade, a WWII hero, who rushes into the inferno. The story is filled with action. The killer tries to frame Lorne for the murder. But it's also a "sweet" romance in which Erica and Lorne face trials together and fall deeply in love. It's actually my debut novel, which Desert Breeze first published as an ebook, but it's now come out in print and I'm very excited about that. I love ebooks and was completely happy with it in electronic format, but I do know there are readers who only read print and now BURNING HEARTS available for them.

Q: Why did you choose this particular genre? 

Nike: I love murder mysteries and detective stories. The vast majority of book I read fall into one of those two categories. I love to route for the good guys to win. My home, in New York City, has quite a few bookshelves filled with whodunits. I'm so wrapped up in this genre that I've been dubbed the Crime Fictionista. I write reviews of crime fiction and action-adventure novels for The Christian Pulse online magazine. I've judged several literary contests in the last three years, usually in the mystery/thriller category, but sometimes in the action-adventure category.  

Q: What was your journey to publication like?

 

Nike: It was filled with trepidation like everybody's. I had no idea what I was doing six and a half years ago when I wrote my first mystery novel. Not a clue. I keep the manuscript around just for laughs. It's that bad. I got a lot of help from more established writers and I hope I've returned that favor, helping newbie writers as they begin on their writing journey. 

Q: What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? 

The Roland March series by J. Mark Bertrand is one of my favorite Christian crime fiction series. He can't write them fast enough to suit me. COMES A HORSEMAN by Robert Liparulo is another. INJUSTICE FOR ALL by Robin Carol and EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by M.K. Gilroy are two others I couldn't put down. Right now I'm reading the New York Times best seller BURNT HOUSE by Faye Kellerman.

 

Q:  What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? 

Nike:  I'm leaving the world of historical whodunits w/romance and venturing into contemporary mysteries w/romance. I'm constructing a series with really strong, spunky private investigator and law enforcement heroines. My stalwart male investigators may find themselves exasperated at times by these impulsive, but very capable females. My heroes are three-dimensional and ultimately can handle relationships with complicated women. The first work to introduce this new contemporary series is a novella, HARMFUL INTENT. My heroine is a girl-next-door private investigator from Brooklyn, NY who travels to Abilene, TX where she is accused of murdering her husband of one year. There is a huge amount of humor, some of it all out funny, or zany, with moments of satire. I'd compare it with some of the works of Susan Issacs (humorous romantic suspense) or Jaqueline Girdner (comic California murder mysteries) or Chris Well (Earl Walker series, hilarious Christian mysteries).  

Q:  What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication? 

Nike: First of all, keep writing. In the beginning, don't worry about how good it is. Just write it. The first manuscript will most likely get rejected. I don’t know a single writer who submitted their first work and an agent went mad for it and published it. Everyone got the first one tossed back to them. At least everyone I know did. The other thing newbies should do is read in their genre. Read the very best writers in their genre. The ones who are winning awards. Then ponder what makes their writing so good. Don't copy them. Keep your own voice, but learn techniques from the best. 

Q:Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?

Nike: The one single thing that's helped my writing more than anything else is the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) critique groups. That's like bootcamp for writing Christian fiction. I highly recommend getting into an ACFW group. I've also taken ACFW writing courses and courses other groups have given. I belong to a crime scene writers group where a lot of the members are retired law enforcement personnel. That group concentrates on the police procedure and technical elements of writing crime fiction.  

Q: Please let us know where we can find you on the web. 

Nike: You can find me at Nike Chillemi ~ Crime Fictionista  http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/ 

Purchas Links:

BURNING HEARTS at Amazon, now in paperback. http://tiny.cc/7tojyw

The Sanctuary Point, historical murder mystery w/romance series at Amazon. http://tiny.cc/uwojyw



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bio: 

Like so many writers, Nike Chillemi started writing at a very young age. She still has the Crayola, fully illustrated book she penned (penciled might be more accurate) as a little girl about her then off-the-chart love of horses. Today, you might call her a crime fictionista. Her passion is crime fiction. She likes her bad guys really bad and her good guys smarter and better. 

She is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and is its Chairman, a reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 and 2012 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. BURNING HEARTS, the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long Island in The Sanctuary Point series, finaled in the Grace Awards 2011 in the Romance/Historical Romance category. GOODBYE NOEL, the second book in the series released in December, 2011 won the Grace Award 2011 in the Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller category. PERILOUS SHADOWS, third in the series released July, 2012, and DARKEST HOUR, the fourth in the series released in February, 2013.  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning). http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/



Interview and book giveaway with author Heidi Glick.

(Why does that name sound familiar?)

by Jeff Reynolds

WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THE BOOK GIVEAWAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY ZANDER

I'm sure the name and photo of my interviewee are familiar to those who regularly frequent this blog. It's my delight to interview co-contributer Heidi Glick.

But first, a little backstory. (Or should I wait till the middle of the section of the blog before dumping any backstory? Sorry. A writer's joke.) A couple of years ago I joined ACFW and joined the large critique group. My favorite stories to critique had titles like Ten Degrees From Normal, Fuller Island, The Letter, and Dog Tags -- written by Heidi Glick and Jackie Layton. Thus, it was an honor when I was asked to join these ladies and Deb on this blog.

A lucky reader will be winning a copy of Heidi's book Dog Tags. More info at the end of this interview.

Jeff Reynolds:  Heidi, welcome to Sleuths and Suspects. As if you've never been on this blog before. I know this is an eventful year for you. I believe your second most exciting achievement of 2013 is the release of Dog Tags, your first novel. Please give us a story summary. What inspired it?

Heidi Glick:  The story is about a marine, the woman he loves, and the stalker who is obsessed with her.

At first, Dog Tags started out as a romance novella. I subbed it to a publisher, and it was rejected. But the story wasn't ready for publication. I revamped it as a suspense novel. I wanted a hero with real struggles, and I wanted a villain who would capitalize on the hero's weaknesses. The book's themes include forgiveness, loss, and fear. Because these are common themes that most people deal with, I'm hoping that the book will speak to many readers. In 2011, my father died from ALS, and so I've used that experience to help me write this book as well as another work in progress (Ten Degrees from Normal).


 JR:  You might disagree with me, but I believe the real star of your novel is Sparky. Could you tell us about him and his real life counterpart? Is he involved in the marketing of the book? If I remember correctly, he had been interviewed once, correct?

HG:  In the novel, the hero owns a Schipperke named Sparky. In real life, I have a Schipperke named Sparky. He is a rambunctious dog, hence the name. He is involved in the marketing of the book. You are correct. I did interview him once:  http://queencityquill.blogspot.com/2012/09/interview-with-schip.html

JR:  Are you an outliner, a blank pager, or somewhere in between?

HG:  I'm somewhere in between but more of an outliner. I'm a planner by nature, and so I like an outline. When I first started out as a writer, I was more of a blank pager, but as I studied the craft of writing, I found that outlines save me time because I rewrite less when using an outline. Nonetheless, I still like to allow my characters to speak to me, and I like a few surprises.

 JR:  I've had the honor of critiquing this and a couple of your other stories in the ACFW's large critique group. Could you share how both the critiques of others on your writing and your critiques on your writing peers have helped your work on Dog Tags?

HG:  Singlehandedly, crits have helped me grow the most as a writer. I would not be published were it not for the crits of others. Other writers showed me areas of improvement.

JR:  People compare finishing and releasing a book with childbirth. Which brings me to your most exciting achievement of 2013. Would you like to tell us about that? How does this affect your writing and marketing? What is Sparky's take on this?


HG:  Let's back up a year. In 2012, I signed a contract with a publisher, but even more exciting than that was finding out I was pregnant (after infertility). In Februrary 2013, I gave birth to Aaron Samuel Glick. For more info. on the miracle baby:  I'm leaving my job to spend time at home with my son. He is my priority right now, so writing takes a backseat, which is fine with me. I still jot down ideas and work on writing while he naps, but I am allowing myself time to enjoy being a mother. Sparky whimpers when Aaron cries and likes to rush into the nursery to check on the baby. 

JR:  Okay, enough about the important things in life and back to writing. Am I correct that you have three blogs that you work on? Could you tell us about these, and how do they help you develop as a writer?

HG:  The Ohio State Parks blog is about some of my experiences visiting Ohio State Parks with my dogs. The Queen City Quill is a hodgepodge (posts on writing, authors, book reviews, etc.). Sleuths and Suspects is about mysteries, suspense, romantic suspense, thrillers, and anything related (book reviews, author interviews, and book giveaways).

JR:  I know you've been working on a couple of other stories. Do you work on multiple stories at the same time? How do you prioritize which one to focus on? Is there any "separation anxiety" with the stories you set on the shelf?

HG:  Sometimes I work on multiple stories at once. I prioritize by working on the story that I'd like to submit to a publisher next. So for example, I love working on my "Ten Degrees" novel, but I need to work on the Dog Tags sequel/spin off. I feel separation anxiety from the Ten Degrees characters.

JR:  Thank you for your time. Please share any websites you have, and any other information you'd like us to know.

HG:  I'd be glad to. Here they are:

• http://heidiglickbooks.com
• http://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com
• http://queencityquill.blogspot.com
• http://buckeyebeautyparksofsouthwestohio.blogspot.com
• http://www.facebook.com/authorheidiglick
• http://twitter.com/sheglick
• http://pinterest.com/sheglick

Also check out the trailer for Dog Tags at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRQPwihJMrI

 Jeff back, talking to the reader. If you'd like to win a copy of Dog Tags (and who in their right mind wouldn't?), then there are four things you need to do.

1. Leave a comment on the blog. (That sounds tough, doesn't it?)
2. Become a follower of this blog. (Oh boy, I know how to make things difficult, don't I?)
3. Include your e-mail address (Is it my imagination each one gets harder?)
4. Now for the real challenge. Heidi has mentioned her Schipperke. Which out-of-the ordinary breeds of dog, or breeds of cats, interest you the most?

Ebook Giveaway with Harry Wegley

H. L. Wegley served in the USAF as an Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. He is a Meteorologist who worked as a Research Scientist in Atmospheric Physics. After earning an MS in Computer Science, he worked more than two decades as a Systems Programmer at Boeing before retiring in the Seattle area, where he and his wife of 46 years enjoy small-group ministry, their seven grandchildren, and where he pursues his love of writing.

He has a 3-book romantic-thriller series, Pure Genius Series, contracted with Harbourlight Books, Pelican Book Group and has been requested to write a 4^th book in that series. Book 1, Hide and Seek, released in February 2013. He also published his childhood adventures in a humorous memoir, Colby and Me: Growing up in the 50’s.

Blurb:

A computer security breach within a US defense contractor's firewalls leads investigators, Lee Brandt and beautiful, brilliant Jennifer Akihara, onto the cyber-turf of terrorists, where they are detected and targeted for elimination. Lee leads them on a desperate flight for survival into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Will Jennifer's pursuit of truth about the conspiracy, and the deepest issues of life, lead her into the clutches of terrorists, into the arms of Lee Brandt, or into the arms of the God she deems untrustworthy?

Excerpt (from chapter 6):

Jennifer pivoted towards his car and stopped. Her eyes lit up and checked out his Mustang like a scanner digitizing an image. She smiled warmly at him. “A classic. Very nice, Lee.”

It was the second genuine smile she’d shown him. What that smile did for an already beautiful face was incredible.

Good taste in cars. I wonder about her taste in men.

No, I don’t wonder anything about her.

Now in control, the right side of his brain turned a deaf ear and continued to savor the smile.

“I’ll swing by your parking spot and lead you to a shortcut through a couple adjacent lots. And about National Aerospace Computing Security…have no fear, Lee is here.”

Even in the dimly-lit parking lot he could see the rolling eyes. She strode down the lot towards her car.

In her presence he couldn’t turn a decent phrase. But he sure could turn a decent phrase into something stupid. He pulled out his keys, stopped, and snapped his fingers.

Jennifer’s visitor’s badge.

Randy wasn’t in the gate shack and he forgot to return her badge. When he glanced down the lot Jennifer was nearly to her car. He trotted towards her. “Hey, Ms. Akihara…Jennifer. I forgot—“

The area lit up like mid-day. A deafening boom sounded behind him. The shock wave blindsided him with the force of an NFL linebacker, knocking him forward to the concrete. He stuck out his arm to protect his face. His body rode on his right forearm for several feet, while the rough concrete rasped off his coat sleeve and much of the skin underneath it.

He lay sprawled out on the parking lot pavement. His mind struggled to comprehend what had happened. When he picked himself up, he shook his head to remove the cobwebs. There were too many of them. Blood ran down his right forearm. Pain brushed some of the cobwebs away.

Explosion.

Arm burning and ears ringing, he looked for the source of the blast. It came from what had been his car—from what was now only a blackened shell. The sense of loss hit him in his gut. He might never be able to replace that car. He brushed away a few more cobwebs. The clearing of his mind brought a bigger worry. Better a bombed car than a bombed body. But the bombing attempt had failed, so…

The air emptied from his lungs and he drew a deep breath. His pulse quickened. The realization hit him like a stinging slap on the face. They were in big trouble, but the incoming flak wouldn’t be the kind that got one fired. It would be the kind that got fired at one—bullets from people who killed to keep secrets.

Despite their delicate search on the infected computer their foray must’ve triggered attention and it wasn’t all coming from some hacker halfway around the world.

Comments from reviews:

"Mr. Wegley—let's see more of Jennifer & Lee. Either write faster, or get your publisher to publish faster. I'm waiting!"

Kate Hinke

"...the story really comes alive and pulls you along for a heart-stopping ride. Hide and Seek by H.L. Wegley is a definite keeper if you love suspense with a touch of romance. "

Ginger Solomon

“Wow, Mr. Wegley definitely keeps you on the run and out of breath through this whole story.”

Donna M. Basinow

Learn more about Harry and his writing:

HLWegley.com

https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley
https://twitter.com/hlw154thThe Weather Scribe
Trailer: http://youtu.be/oWG7IbsbeG0

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Wegley/e/B00B1XMR56

Barnes & N: http://bit.ly/11uiZ8m

Christianbook: http://bit.ly/Ufqeit

Pelican Book Group: http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/hide-and-seek-softcover

How to enter the Hide and Seek giveaway:

(1) Be or become a follower of Sleuths and Suspects.

(2) Leave a comment for Harry.

(3) Leave your email address in your comment [you can spell it out to deter spam, for example, bob (at) gmail (dot) com]. Please leave an address that you check on a fairly regular basis. 

The giveaway ends June 8th! A winner will be announced June 9th. The winner has one week to respond to my congratulatory email before another winner is chosen. Thanks for participating! 

Interview with Pam Meyers

About a year ago, I had been reading a batch of suspense stories. I had thought of reading a novel by my favorite author, Randy Singer, who specializes in legal suspense. But I felt a need for a break, a breath of fresh air. Well, one of the books just below the one by Singer was a title I won on-line – Thyme For Love by Pamela S. Meyers. That book was exactly what I needed. It kept me guessing on who did it, but I also found it lightened my spirits. (I love suspense, but you could say cozy mysteries are my literary comfort food.)

It is my privilege to interview Pamela Meyers this month. Besides her writing, she's very active with American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) as the Genesis Contest Coordinator. I'll mention that I had sent her the questions a couple of months ago to give her time to write this.

Jeff Reynolds: Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects, Pam. Your web-page states that while your debut novel came out in 2011, your desire to write Christian fiction has been around a while. Can you tell us when you first caught the writing bug, and how you got from there to where you are now?

Pam Meyers: I think the desire to write was in me for many years. When I was 8 I asked for a diary for Christmas which I received and I began recording my daily activities in it – which lasted about a month. I may have stopped making regular entries in the little book, but I still came back to it many times over the years -- now it's a hoot to read.

As an adult I have always journaled, mostly related to my spiritual walk, but it wasn't until I returned to college and entered an accelerated adult program where most of the assignments were written reports that the writing bug really took hold. I took all the writing courses I could and was flabbergasted when my writing prof suggested I pursue writing for publication. It was several years before I focused on fiction, but once I did, I've never looked back. Even then, it took a long time of learning the craft, networking, and growing as a writer in many ways. I like to say that when I began the fiction-writing journey Bill Clinton was in the White House and gas cost $1.15 per gallon.

JR: During that time, you had several articles published. Some of them have great titles: "Snared by the Internet", "Finding Mary", "How I Overcame Grief" and "God Helped Me Forgive." What inspired these, and how did these aid you on your road to the publishing of A Thyme For Love?

PM: All of these articles were based on personal experience. "Snared" appeared in Today's Christian Woman and was about getting caught off guard in the new frontier of social networking. I "met" a man on a chat list and before long our private exchanges went a direction I hadn't expected them to go. I shared that experience through my article to help other women. I wrote the story anonymously and just recently learned from the woman who was Editor of the magazine at the time that my article garnered more reader mail than any had up to that point. That was very humbling to know.

Finding Mary was in Ancestry Magazine, published by Ancestry.Com. The article chronicled the steps I took to find an elusive ancestor I knew existed but could not find anything to document who exactly she was. She turned out to be a sister of my paternal grandmother :-). The "grief" article and the "Forgive" article were both in Victory in Grace Magazine. They are short articles relating how God helped me through some difficult periods of my life. As far as how they aided me on my journey to writing my first contracted story, other than being writing credits I'm not sure they helped. I think developing my fiction writing skills really helped with some of the articles as I incorporated those skills in the anecdotes I included in the articles.

JR: Let me deal with where you are now. In the last two months you've had two new releases. Can you tell us about Love Will Find A Way and Love Finds You In Lake Geneva, Wisconsin?

PM: Love Will Find a Way is the sequel to Thyme for Love. Both are romantic mysteries. When Thyme for Love ended my main characters, April Love and Marc Thorne had finally reconciled after an 8-year separation that had begun when their engagement ended. After April had to turn amateur sleuth to find the real killer of their boss before Marc would be falsely accused, they realized they really did love each other. Now that the mystery was solved, they wanted to start dating as a normal couple. In Love Will Find a Way April's eccentric Aunt Kitty buys her an old Victorian to house her new catering business, but before renovations can be completed it's apparent someone doesn't want April's business to open. She's ready now for Marc to pop "the" question, but too many roadblocks keep cropping up which makes her wonder if they ever will get married.

Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is set in my hometown, a beautiful picturesque small town on the shores of Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin. I have dreamed a long time about setting story there, and when I was given the opportunity to do so, it was a real blessing from God. The story is set in 1933 during the Great Depression--the same year the Riviera Ballroom was opened on the lakeshore. The building still stands today and is featured on the book cover. My characters, Meg Alden and Jack Wallace both work for the Lake Geneva News Tribune, the town's weekly newspaper. Meg aspires to be a news reporter for the paper but, like most in the news biz of that time, her boss believes that news reporting is a man's job. Women should only write society fluff. This creates a lot of conflict because Jack is hired to fill an open reporter position--the position Meg thought should be hers. She doesn't want to fall for Jack but she is. I had a lot of fun researching for the story and writing it. And I learned a lot of things about my hometown I never knew. Through the research I found myself falling in love with my hometown all over again. I could go on and on about the book. It truly is the book of my heart.

JR: These stories both have the words "Love" and "Find(s)" in the title, but they're different genres. (I won't mention that one of them shares a title with one of my favorite Pablo Cruise songs.) Did you have the luxury of writing one at a time, or were they written more or less simultaneously? If the latter, how did you manage to balance the creation of two unique stories?

PM: I actually had nothing to do with the titles of the books. Love Will Find a Way was a title my editor at OakTara gave the story, and Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is part of the "Love Finds You" line from Summerside Press. They are from different publishers, and are different genres. One has no connection with the other. I had written LFYLG long before I wrote LWFW. I did not have to write them both simultaneously. I would find that difficult to do, although I know that some authors work the way.

JR: Not only do you have two books to market, but at the same time you're also coordinating ACFW's Genesis Contest. How are you managing your time between these various activities?

PM: Well, you see how long it's taken me to complete this interview :-). LWFW was to release in November but, as sometimes happens, the publisher delayed the release date and it ended up coming out just as I was kicking the LFYLG promotion into high gear. And, as you mentioned, I am overseeing the ACFW Genesis writing contest for unpublished writers. Because LFYLG is set in my hometown and we have a specific window of opportunity over the coming summer months to promote the book during Lake Geneva's tourist season, my focus has been nearly 100 percent on that book's promotion. I have scheduled several appearances. I gave a Power Point presentation at the Geneva Lake Museum on April 27th, followed by a signing the next day at a popular gift shop in town, which went very well. I took my two mystery romances with me and sold quite a few of them at the museum event. As a reslt of that weekend, I've been invited to present and sign at several other events in Lake Geneva throughout the summer. I plan to mention my other books and have some with me to sell. Once the major push for the Lake Geneva book is over, I'll focus more on getting the word out about LWFW. The Genesis's biggest time consumer is the first round and that ended May 3. The second round judges are now judging the semi-finalist entries and I will soon be gettinb back into writing some proposals and the first draft for my WIP, a story tht takes the reader further back into the early history of the Lake Geneva area.

JR: Speaking of Genesis, how long have you been working with that contest? Any highlights from your work there? (I'm not sure about lowlights -- it might scare me off from entering it.)

PM: I had been a category coordinator for Genesis for several years prior to taking over as head coordinator last year. I had very big shoes to fill when Camy Tang stepped down as contest coordinator. Last year we had an unprecedented 620 entries and it quickly became apparent that we did not have enough volunteer judges. Every entry requires three judges. I relied a great deal on prayer and the willingness of many volunteers to make themselves available. That was truly the highlight of the year for me, when I came to the end of myself and told God I couldn't do it, and He'd have to take over. He provided and then some. This year we have had a new challenge in that the entire contest is now automated with a new software program our techies built. As with any new software, there have been our share of "bugs," and troubleshooting those has been a huge time-grabber. But the highlight of this year has been the team effort by the category coordinators, the techies and other ACFW staff to get it done. Again, all of it is bathed in prayer.

JR: I'll be honest: sometimes the only way I find to keep encouraged to keep writing is to bury my head in the sand and avoid watching the news. I'm sure I sound like Chicken Little, but it's easy to doubt that things will be stable long enough for me to publish my novel. Is there anything from your experience writing and working with Genesis you can encourage me with? (Sometimes I think I spent too much time bonding with my Uncle Eeyore.)

PM: I agree the news can be very unsettling and I do wonder where we're going to be in another year or two. Will the publishing world look the same or will some of the major players even be around by then? Then I come back to where is God in all this? He is still in control and will be always. He's not surprised by any of the negatives that have happened and I just have to trust in Him. If he wants my books, your books, or anyone's books published, it will happen. There are some fantastic gifted writers around, and He keeps giving us more and more ideas for stories to write. If He wills it for you, it will happen.

JR: Thanks for the time from your very busy schedule. I'll be looking forward to your books.

PM: I've enjoyed it, Jeff. You ask some very good questions. Thought-provoking and challenging.

Jeff to readers: Hope you've been encouraged by this interview with Pam Meyers. How do you find encouragement/motivation to keep on in the slow phase of getting published or in our uncertain times? How do you manage your many hats between writing and non-writing duties? Any other thoughts this interview encouraged?

Giveaway and Interview with Deborah Malone by Deborah Malone

MURDER IN MARIETTA

BY DEBORAH MALONE


CONGRATULATIONS CINDI
WINNER OF "MURDER IN MARIETTA"

Okay, it's my turn to interview an author. It didn't work out with the author I'd planned on interviewing so I'm going to interview none other than moi. I have two cozy mysteries out, "Death in Dahlonega" and "Murder in Marietta." I hope these questions will give you a little insight into my life and I hope you enjoy reading about me. Don't forget to leave a comment about this interview and be a follower for a chance to win a signed copy of "Murder in Marietta."

 

 

Here are the questions. Answer any and/or all of them. Some of them may be answered within other questions so just pass over any repeats.

Sherri, thank you for having me on you blog. I hope my readers learn a little something about me they didn’t know. I always love to hear from my readers.

Tell us a little about yourself. (Where you grew up, how many siblings you have, when you came to know the Lord, a little about your life now, etc.)

My dad was from Opelika, AL and my mother was from Cincinnati, OH. It’s so true when they say opposites attract. My dad had moved there to work for General Electric. While they were there they had my two older brothers, Bill and Curtis. In the early 1950’s they moved to north Georgia where my dad was transferred to work at GE. I wonder sometimes how I would have turned out if we’d stayed in Ohio – I’d be a *&^% YankeeJ This past summer we had a reunion of twelve cousins in Cinn on my mother’s side. Some I hadn’t seen for 40 years. It was so much fun!

 My mother had RArthritis, but Dad never missed a church service taking us kids to church.  I have had my ups and downs with my faith, but I’ve never given up on God. I’ve come to the conclusion there are some things we will not have the answers to while on this earth. And that is alright – in Pro. 3:5 we are told to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” That is the verse Trixie holds on to in “Death in Dahlonega.”

Tell us three things about you that would surprise your readers.

 I went back to college in my early 40’s and graduated at the age of 45 in 1999.

I’ve had Fibromyalgia since 1992.

I’m a novice photographer and love macro shots of nature. I’ve had a showing of my photographs at our local hospital.

Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you read?

Yes, yes and yes. I’ve been saying lately that I came out of the womb readingJ Mysteries have always been my favorites and I loved Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon.

What is your favorite genre to read now?

Gee – would you believe mysteries? LOL  However, since I’ve been reviewing books for my blog I have read just about every genre there is and I feel I’ve opened a whole new world of reading for me. I would encourage others to read outside their safety zone –favorite genre – and discover a whole new world.

As a child or teenager, did you ever dream of being an author?

Yes – When I was a teenager I started a mystery. I think I made it to page 3 or 4.

When did you first begin writing, and why do you write still?

I started writing when I went back to college and took a creative writing course. I knew then I wanted to publish something. In 2001 I published my first article in a historical magazine “Georgia Backroads” and I’ve been writing for them since then. I still write because I still have goals in my writing I haven’t reached yet. Also, I love it and it helps me keep my sanity in a stressful world.

How long did you write before you sold your first book?

I found a floppy disk dated 2002 when I began, but life got in the way. I wrote and edited consistently for three years to finish it.

How many books do you have published?

My debut cozy “Death in Dahlonega” published by Lamp Post Publishing was my first book.  “Murder in Marietta” will be my second book so that is two I’ve had published. I’m working on my third in the series, “Terror on Tybee Island.”

Tell us about your latest book.

Trixie and her best friend Dee Dee go to Marietta on assignment where Trixie is going to spend the night in the supposedly haunted Marietta History Museum.  She has convinced Dee Dee to spend the night with her. When the director of the museum woke them up the next morning they thought he was having a heart attack – but he had just seen a dead body. Add in the antics of Trixie’s great-aunt Nana and you have a recipe for murder and mayhem.

Do you put yourself into your main character, or do you find yourself borrowing from family or friends as your characters develop?

My goodness yes – but that’s all I’m going to say.

Is there any scene in your book that came from a real-life happening?

There are several in my first book “Death in Dahlonega.” At the beginning when they are going to Dahlonega and eating trail mix is reminiscent of when my friend and I took a trip to Dahlonega. I don’t think there are any scenes in “Murder in Marietta” that really happened.

Are you a plotter, a pantster, or somewhere in between, and can you elaborate on your answer?

I’m definitely a panster. I have a general outline on how I want the manuscript to progress, but that’s it. Then I might do a general outline for each chapter, but none of it is done in detail. Now after I’ve written a chapter I will go in Microsoft One Note and detail the chapter so I can keep up with my characters, timeline, setting, etc.

Share something about your day-to-day life that might help a reader to feel as though they know you a little better. As I’ve mentioned I have fibromyalgia which limits how much and how often I write. I also have an adult daughter, Niki, who is severely disabled. About five years ago I needed help with her care. So now I have caregivers who come every day to help with her care. There are people coming in and out during the day so there is never a dull moment.

Do you have a favorite scripture? If so, why is it your favorite?

Trixie’s favorite scripture for “Murder in Marietta” is Eph. 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.

How do you choose names for your characters?

I use the phone book, internet, and I also ask other writers to give me suggestions.

What is the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you?

Several years ago I decided to let my hair grow out. I used a curling brush/iron on my hair. One day it got tangled and I couldn’t get it out. I had to unplug it and go to my neighbors and ask for their help. They had a good laugh about it.

 Where can your readers find you on the internet?  www.amazon.com,   www.barnesandnoble.com

www.deborah-malone.com

www.deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com

www.sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com

www.cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction at www.deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com.   You can also catch her at www.sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com and www.cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com.



  

 

 

 

 



Interview and Giveaway with Susan J. Reinhardt

I recently had the opportunity to interview author Susan Reinhardt.

Susan J. Reinhardt's journey to publication began as a non-fiction writer. She's been published in The RevWriter Resource, Devotions Magazine, A Secret Place, Vista, Live, and numerous other compilations and periodicals. Her appreciation for using fiction techniques inspired her to use fiction as a vehicle for truth. Her novel, The Moses Conspiracy, was released on March 16, 2013.

A widow, stepmom, daughter, and active church member, Susan enjoys reading, couponing, gardening, and searching for small treasures in antique shops.

Interview:

How many books have you written?

Thanks for having me on your blog today, Heidi! The Moses Conspiracy is my debut novel. My second book is in the editing stage, while the third novel is mostly in my head.

Why do you enjoy writing?

I'm an avid reader. As a child, it wasn't unusual for me to read 5-7 books per week. I definitely qualified as a bookworm! I tried my hand at writing early on and eventually produced short pieces for Christmas, skits, and Bible studies. It's not something I thought about a lot, but did as a need arose. When I began pursuing publication, I discovered I enjoyed the whole process from the initial concept to the social media/business end. There's something satisfying about knowing your words are impacting people's lives and meeting a need.

Tell me about your latest release. What is the theme of the book?

The Moses Conspiracy released on March 16, 2013. Here's a short blurb:

A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.*

*Note: You can read almost 3 chapters free on Amazon.com.

The main themes are: the faithfulness of God in difficult circumstances, the importance of protecting our freedoms, and the value of family relationships.

How do you spend your time when you're not writing?

I'm an administrative assistant, a daughter, active church member, and a stepmom. Aside from wearing those hats, I'm a reader, wannabe gardener, couponer, and antique hunter. Veggie gardening season is here, and I can't wait to get my plants in the ground. I think I inherited a farmer gene somewhere along the line. :)

How much time do you spend conducting research? What is the most interesting thing you have learned from your research?

Great questions! I spent quite a bit of time researching The Moses Conspiracy, but it was spread out over several years. I visit Bird-in-Hand, PA at least 2-3 times per year to get a flavor for the area, familiarize myself with the geography, and observe the customs. I also researched names and historical information online, and talked to a couple of experts.

Please note that while the bulk of the story takes place in Bird-in-Hand, the main characters are not Amish. They do interact with Amish secondary characters, and the culture is an important element in the overall story.

It's tough to narrow down the most interesting thing I learned while researching this book. While researching surnames for my main characters, I discovered the name Zimmerman means, "carpenter." Since the hero is a carpenter, it was the perfect choice for his last name.

Susan is giving away a copy of The Moses Conspiracy (see synopsis below).

Synopsis:

A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.

Convinced it's now safe to visit D.C., Ellie and her firstborn, 8-year-old Peter, travel to the nation's capital. Both mother and child make an effort to enjoy the sights, but they're unprepared for the challenges they face. Her nightmares come true when she and Peter are separated.

Back home, John witnesses a neighbor's buggy accident. The suspicious circumstances and law enforcement's refusal to take them seriously prompt him to take on the role of detective. He and a tenacious reporter band together and vow to find out what's happening in Bird-in-Hand.

Extended family squabbles erupt when John's sister, Annaliese, faces off with Ellie for blowing her D.C. experiences out of proportion. She'd rather ignore the warnings than deal with the growing danger.

John and Ellie can't decide whether her trip and his involvement with the accident were such a good idea. People are getting hurt, and their own family receives ominous warnings. Turning back the clock is not an option, but going forward could initiate more violence.

The small community is shattered when the unthinkable occurs. Will family, friends, and neighbors band together or allow fear to prevent them from taking action?

Caught between strained family relationships and a faceless enemy, the couple rely on God for wisdom and protection. Little do they know that He's working on their behalf each step of the way.

The scabs of a past tragedy get ripped open, and the truth of their second child's death is revealed. While they may expose the culprits, will they survive the heartache it brings?

Links:

Amazon

Facebook

Twitter

B&N

How to enter the giveaway:

(1) Be a member of this blog. 

(2) Please respond to the following question from Susan: 
What types of books do you enjoy reading?

The winner will be announced on May 25th.