Dog Tags Giveaway

We recently gave thanks for our veterans on Memorial Day, so I'm giving away an e-copy of Dog Tags, which features a fictional veteran.

About the book....

When disabled ex-Marine Mark Graham reconnects with his best friend’s sister, he finds himself falling in love. But Beth Martindale’s presence is a constant reminder of events he’d rather forget. Mark wants to move forward, but the secrets surrounding her brother’s death as well as his own confinement to a wheelchair threaten to tear them apart. When a psychopath who calls himself The Knight fixates on Beth, Mark is determined to give her the protection he failed to give her brother on the battlefield, yet he discovers that a wheelchair isn’t the only impediment he has to keeping Beth safe. Will terror win or can Mark find the strength of mind and body to rescue Beth and find his own redemption?

Book Trailer

About me....

What am I working on?

My first book was a suspense novel from Pelican Book Group, so I’m definitely working on something different this time.

I’m currently co-authoring an infertility devotional for Chalfont. My fellow co-authors include Donna Winters, Julie Arduini, Paula Mowery, Kym McNabney, and Elizabeth Maddrey.  

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

The devotional is written by six authors, and before we started the project, we looked at the available devotionals and discussed how ours should differ. We definitely wanted to provide readers with encouragement and to avoid sounding patronizing.

Why do I write what I do?

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us God comforts us so that we can comfort others. I’m co-authoring this devotional with the hope of sharing comfort and encouragement with women experiencing infertility.

How does your writing process work?

For this project, the group of co-authors divided the work into sections, and we’ve edited round-robin style. 

Author Bio

Heidi Glick has a B.A. in biology, a minor in Bible from Cedarville University, and a passion for writing Christian fiction. Additionally, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has written two articles for Intercom. Heidi’s debut suspense novel, Dog Tags, was released in June 2013. 

Author Interview

Link to interview by Fay Lamb in which I discuss the grief experienced by the characters of Dog Tags, as well as my own.

E-book Giveaway

1. Leave a comment about this blog post. 

2. Leave your email address. If you are concerned about spam, please spell out your email address, for example, yourname(at)gmail(dot)com. 

A winner will be announced on June 14, 2014. 

FINAL TRIMESTER by Dianna Benson

I'm so excited today to welcome Dianna Benson to Sleuths and Suspects.

Dianna Torscher Benson is a 2011 Genesis Winner, a 2011 Genesis double Semi-Finalist, a 2010 Daphne de Maurier Finalist, and a 2007 Golden Palm Finalist. In 2012, she signed a nine-book contract with Ellechor Publishing House. She’s the author of The Hidden Son, her debut novel. Final Trimester is her second release.
After majoring in communications and a ten-year career as a travel agent, Dianna left the travel industry to earn her EMS degree. An EMT and a Haz-Mat and FEMA Operative since 2005, she loves the adrenaline rush of responding to medical emergencies and helping people in need. Her suspense novels about adventurous characters thrown into tremendous circumstances provide readers with a similar kind of rush.
Dianna lives in North Carolina with her husband and their three children.
Website: www.diannatbenson.com


Dianna was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me.

Hi Dianna,

Let's start with...

Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been writing? Why suspense?
For the best answer…view the WRITING page on my website: www.diannatbenson.com

I noticed Final Trimester is set in Myrtle Beach. I love coastal Carolina. How did you pick this setting? (We try to vacation in NC every year. We love Holden Beach.)
Myrtle Beach, SC is only three hours from my house in North Carolina, so we often visit the area. I love Holden Beach, Carolina Beach and Sunset Beach, which are all in the same area at the southernmost tip of North Carolina, but Final Trimester needed a large beach city setting and Myrtle fits that description. I know a few people who grew up in Myrtle (they now live in NC), and I learned from their personal perspectives what life is like as a Myrtle Beach resident. I enjoy Myrtle’s diverse options for dining, activities, etc., especially Broadway at the Beach. July 2001, while my husband and I (along with our three small children) were enjoying Broadway at the Beach with another family for the evening, a tornado formed over the ocean in the near distance. Ridiculous, but we four adults – and hundreds of others – stood there watching the funnel grow while it barreled on the beach, heading inland. The destructive nature was so beautiful it was easy to ignore my inner terror recognizing the danger. So we tagged-team with our friends, taking turns: Two adults stayed with our five kids inside a safe area in the IMAX Theater, while the other two adults watched the tornado outside. When a bolt of lightning struck the ground nearby, the hundreds of observers – us included – took cover inside. Myrtle sustained minimal damage from that tornado, but the events of that day inspired me to write a book with Myrtle as the setting.


Tell us a little about Final Trimester, Book One in the Quigley Triplets Series:
Paramedic Jodi Duncan recognizes the work of a serial killer before the Myrtle Beach PD even suspects a connection between the deaths of two pregnant women. Despite the vast differences in the two cases, Jodi urges Detective Nate Quigley to think outside the box. After digging deep into the separate investigations, Nate finds no evidence to support a serial killer theory, and he warns Jodi to back off police business, which only fuels her passion for the cases.

When a third pregnant woman is murdered, Nate is named lead detective on the case and works to link the deaths in order to unmask and stop the serial murderer, a disturbed man who believes God and the devil battle inside his head to bend him according to their wills. As he fights both voices, his interest fixates on Jodi when he discovers her obsession with ending his rampage.


Do you use some of your experiences as an EMT for your stories?
Being an EMT and a Haz-Mat and FEMA Operative for nearly a decade, I naturally integrate my firsthand medical and rescue knowledge and experience into all my books. The medical and EMS scenes I write are a combination of fictional and a ton of real-life EMS scenes I’ve worked throughout the years. The idea for the killer’s character in Final Trimester sprouted to development the first month I worked in EMS due to something I’d seen on an EMS call.


What would you like the reader to take away from this story?
Life is hard; relationships are super hard, but that’s that point – through our trials and tribulations, God is building our souls so when our flesh dies, our souls are developed to where God wants them to be for our life in eternity. In Final Trimester (and in all my books), I want readers to see how my characters don’t just “get through” or try to “get over” the difficult stuff in life; instead, my characters accept the pain difficult events in their lives cause and they move forward with a renewed sense of understanding in themselves, in life, and in God.


I saw you got a nine book contract with Ellechor Publishing House. Congratulations. What can we expect next from you?
I signed a nine-book contract in 2012. The Hidden Son, Book One in the Cayman Islands Trilogy, released March 2013. Final Trimester is my second release. Persephone’s Fugitive, Book Two in the Cayman Islands Trilogy, will release this November. Illusion of Safety, Book One in the MCI Series (Mass Casualty Incidents) will release in 2015. My fifth release will be the third and final book in the Cayman Islands Trilogy. I will release a new book once to twice a year from there.

What unique things can you tell us about yourself?
As a scuba diver, I’ve dove nearly 150 feet in the Caribbean Ocean in Grand Cayman. As a climber, I’ve reached the summits of thirty-three Fourteeners (in Colorado there are fifty-four mountains over fourteen thousand feet in elevation). In addition to scuba diving and climbing, I love to cycle and run. My father was a triathlete; he was killed in a bicycle accident when I was in high school. My oldest daughter competed at the 2012 US Olympic Swim Trials for a spot on the team that went to the 2012 Summer Games in London, but the Trials were only seven weeks after she endured scoliosis surgery (thirteen-inch spinal incision to insert two titanium rods and twelve screws), so she was unable to swim anywhere near her best.


Here's a blurb on Final Trimester:


Paramedic Jodi Duncan recognizes the work of a serial killer before the Myrtle Beach PD even suspects a connection between the deaths of two pregnant women. Despite the vast differences in the two cases, Jodi urges Detective Nate Quigley to think outside the box. After digging deep into the separate investigations, Nate finds no evidence to support a serial killer theory, and he warns Jodi to back off police business, which only fuels her passion for the cases.

When a third pregnant woman is murdered, Nate is named lead detective on the case and works to link the deaths in order to unmask and stop the serial murderer, a disturbed man who believes God and the devil battle inside his head to bend him according to their wills. As he fights both voices, his interest fixates on Jodi when he discovers her obsession with ending his rampage.

Where can we find Final Trimester?
My releases are available wherever books are sold. Below are the links to Final Trimester at the three biggest booksellers:

Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Books-A-Million

Here's a review by Heidi...

Grab your oxygen mask, you just might need it as you turn the pages of Dianna Benson’s latest novel, a fast paced and psychologically thrilling suspense story with an unexpected twist. In Final Trimester, a pregnant woman dies from an unknown cause, but this doesn’t sit well with EMT, Jodi Duncan. So she contacts Nate Quigley, a local police officer, with her concerns. Together, Duncan and Quigley unravel a sordid string of serial slayings of pregnant women. With a hurricane looming, Duncan races to stop the serial killer—a twisted villain with an arsenal of disguises at his disposal—before he can claim Duncan as his next victim. Though a dark tale at times, the story contains elements of hope and faith and points readers toward the Light (of the World).

This book should appeal to fiction readers of all ages, especially those who enjoy suspense novels and thrillers.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review; however, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Please, leave your name and email if you'd like to be entered in a drawing. Thanks!

Bonnie Doran Interview by Deborah Malone, Review by Heidi Glick

 

1.               Tell us a little about yourself.  Got a few hours? Here's a short bio: I live in Denver, Colorado. My hubby and I have been married for thirty-one years and are owned by two Siamese cats. John is an electrical engineer who works with lasers for a living. He’s also a Mad Scientist who owns a 2,300-pound electromagnet.
                   My interests besides writing include reading, cooking, and Sudoku puzzles. I volunteer one afternoon a week at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I attend a local science fiction convention as well as various writers conferences each year. I'm a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, its North Denver Chapter, and the Denver Area Science Fiction Association.  
2. Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on.
   Dark Biology, a faith-based science thriller, is my debut novel. It released October 2013 by Harbourlight, and imprint of Pelican Book Group.
3. Why did you choose this particular genre?
   I've enjoyed science fiction since sixth grade when I read Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein. I also read thrillers, so combining the two seemed natural.
4. What was your journey to publication like?
                   Long! I started with school papers. When  working at my first full-time job in 1972 as a secretary, I approached the editor for a neighborhood newspaper and wrote a weekly column for 18 months. It was actually a devotional, but I didn't know that term at the time. I also wrote a couple of magazine articles.
                   In 1974, Far East Broadcasting Company offered me a short-term missionary assignment on Okinawa, Japan. For two years, I worked as a secretary and wrote public service announcements and inspirational pieces for the announcers. Eventually I hosted my own program.
                   When I returned to the States, I moved to the Central Coast and learned bookkeeping. I met my husband, married, and moved to Denver in 1983. A few years later, I heard about and attended Colorado Christian Writers Conference. My connections there over several years resulted in a few magazine articles and a number of devotional assignments.
                   A workshop leader challenged me to write science fiction novels. I wrote a YA sci-fi novel which will probably never see publication. At my fifteenth CCWC conference in 2012, I met my agent and my editor.    
5. What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?
                   I enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I'm also fond of the Bug Man series by Tim Downs. At the moment, I'm reading a secular novel series by Jonathan Kellerman.
6. What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it?
                   My working title is Terror on Targus Three. In this science fiction novel, a Christian agoraphobic linguist travels to a distant planet to translate the language of the first-discovered alien race. Blasting into space is not her idea of fun. Her blunders with the Targ result in a declaration of interstellar war. Before she can learn the correct ritual to appease them, the villain tries to kill her. So far, I haven't been able to get rid of him.  
7. What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?
                   Persevere! Take time to learn the craft. Don't seek an agent, editor, or self-publication before you and your manuscript are ready.
                   I recently realized that my jealousy over other writers' successes was really a lack of trust that God will lead me on the right road. Trust God to direct you to the right path for you.
8. Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?
                   Plenty! For an overall look at structure, I recommend Story by Robert McKee. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a great resource if you suffer from writer's block. Yes, it exists. For help in finding the right word, I use The Synonym Finder by J. I. Rodale.
                   Lately, I've learned craft and inspiration from a number of blogs by literary agents, including Chip MacGregor's agency and Books and Such. For tips on using social media, I like the Social Media Examiner.  
9. Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered?
                   There are so many good conferences that are wonderful ways to connect with fellow writers, editors, agents, and other professionals. We can't learn the craft in a vacuum. I regularly attend Colorado Christian Writers Conference, ACFW Conference, and Writer's Workshop at Glen Eyrie in Colorado. My wish list: Mount Hermon, Blue Ridge, and Pike's Peak Writers Conference (secular). 
10. Please let us know where we can find you on the web.
    Here are a few links:
    Website: http://www.bonniedoranbooks.com/
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bonniedoranbooks
    

    
    

    Dark Biology is a science-fiction themed thriller. In this suspenseful tale, author Bonnie Duran takes two popular fears—being trapped in space and a pandemic—and weaves them into the same tale. Think Apollo 13 meets Contagion.

    
    

    Hildi Hildebrandt, a vaccinologist, leaves her work at the CDC to complete a project for NASA at the International Space Station (ISS). There, she is paired with two men from her past, which complicates things, romantically speaking. At the same time, Hildi’s brother, Chet is upset at their father, a Christian marriage seminar speaker with a checkered past, and decides to unleash a relatively harmless flu strain at an upcoming conference. Conflict ensues as the virus strain turns out to be different than expected, and things on the NASA/ISS mission go haywire.

    
    

    What I really liked about the book is that it is fast paced, and it keeps your attention. This book will have you turning page after page and keep you up late into the night as you follow the large cast of characters as they overcome one obstacle after another. This book should appeal to those who enjoy suspense, thrillers, and/or science fiction.

    
    

    Please note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own. 

    
    

    
    
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Interview and Book Giveaway With J. P. Leck

by Jeff Reynolds

I have the honor of interviewing a personal friend, J. P. Leck. There will be a giveaway for his first book, The Merely Mortal. Details for the contest are below, including a question that was inspired by a theme of Leck's novel -- I'm looking forward to seeing your answers.

One note of interest. In the interview, he refers to Irvington, which has become part of Indianapolis. The town is named after Washington Irving, author of many stories including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."  I mention this now because it fits his description later on.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects. What got you interested in writing in general, and what inspired your first book?

J. P. Leck:  Well, here in my 30th year, I've now been writing for longer than I have not. Storytelling started for me as a boy and I simply never stopped. I actually have a rather sizable box of manuscripts spanning two decades—none of which will ever see the light of day. Nothing in my past work reached the ludicrously high standard of literary value that I set for myself. I always knew that I wouldn't begin to publish until my skill caught up to my taste. And only now do I feel that I am there. 

Hence the emergence of The Merely Mortal. I remember when I decided to write it. I was on a late night walk through my then town of Irvington which, for those unfamiliar, is equal parts antiquated and atmospheric. Especially with an eerie fog lingering about. While on this phantasmal jaunt, I was inspired to do a historical, gothic novel and so I did. It is kind of a strange book, certainly as the opener to a series. I often assure readers that the novel is at its most appreciable in the greater context of the overall story, which is to span several books and leak out into some other mediums of storytelling, such as short films and radio plays.

JR:  I believe the sequel to The Merely Mortal is off the presses. Could you tell us about it? And will there be another installment of this series in the future?

JPL: The next book, The Strangely Undying, will actually go to print later this summer. And, yes, more are to follow in what promises to be a lengthy series. Whereas The Merely Mortal was my take on horror, The Strangely Undying will be more in the fantasy realm. It’s been a delightful challenge to have a single story bound from one genre to another.

JR:  What is the target audience for your book, and what kind of response have you had so far?

JPL: Though I've been told this isn’t completely true, I feel that my stories are very niche. I write for those increasingly few old souls like myself who enjoy the stories and styles of yesteryear. Moreover, if you've found yourself repeatedly disappointed with the vapid, uninspired twaddle that seems to pervade the whole of modern storytelling, I may have an alternative to offer you. As for the response, it has been great. I keep hearing from people who state that they actually hate to read, but really enjoy my work. That is supreme among the compliments I have gotten so far.

JR:  When you write, do you have a detailed outline? Or are you a blank pager, not knowing what will happen till you finish writing?

JPL: A little of both, I think. I always have a list of important plot points, but some of my best material comes when I simply make it up as I go. This is also the part of the process that I enjoy most, because it’s when everything is new to me. By the time a book of mine goes to print, I have most of it memorized, having slaved away on it for so long. 

JR:  I hope I'm not spoiling The Merely Mortal by saying one of the themes is that what makes a hero is his/her willingness. (In other words, I just revealed something that appears on page one of the novel.) Who are your heroes, both other authors you admire and the heroes in everyday life, and how have they shown the willingness you mentioned?

JPL: There's some pretty heavy philosophy in all of my books. One of them concerns choice. Choice is a gift that we've all been given. What people decide to do with their free will is of profound interest to me. Both in fiction and reality, the paths taken by individuals can make of them heroes or monsters. In regards to my personal or literary heroes, I try not to have them. A person will always fail you. But there is One who will never fail. He is my hero. And His willingness was, and is, without equal. 

JR:  How do you find time to write and market your books with your "day-job" and other responsibilities? What approaches do you take to marketing? And speaking of other responsibilities, would you like to tell us about your family?

JPL: My work is my storytelling, of course, but I do have a job as well, and it's not an undemanding one. However, I've been blessed with a madman’s work ethic. For one to say that he or she hasn’t the time to write is an excuse. Of course, not everyone has my indescribably selfless wife. I would accomplish nothing without her. Lindsay is my support structure and greatest advocate. We have two young children, Liberty and Hudson, who are as inspiring as they are motivating. As for marketing, I'm only now preparing to do so. Since the first novel went to print until now, I have been toiling over the second book, my website and other related projects. But I'll start spreading the word this summer, doing signings and possibly some readings.

JR:  If an aspiring author asked for advice, what would you suggest? Would you recommend them following your footsteps into self-publishing, or suggest they try a more traditional route?

JPL: That would depend upon the author and what he or she wanted to accomplish with their work. I chose to take the independent route because it meant that I maintained ownership of all my intellectual property and full, creative control which is of the upmost importance to me. Fortunately, we now live in a time when a storyteller no longer has to get around the so-called gatekeepers of the industry to make their work available to the world.

JR:  Thank you for your time. How could the readers keep up with your writing exploits?

JPL: For novels, short films and radio-plays, I have a burgeoning website: www.elsewhereworld.com Thank you very much for having me.

Jeff to the reader: As promised, we're giving away a copy of J. P. Leck's book, The Merely Mortal. Three steps for getting into the drawing:

1. Leave a comment. (But you knew that, didn't you?)
2. Include your e-mail address, which can be spelled out like AuntDotKahm (at) Ant (dot) com. (I'm sure you expected that as well.)
3. Tell us who in your life has been a hero or, if you prefer, a mentor/influence in your life, and how have they shown the willingness to be one?

I'm so happy to welcome V. B. Tenery to Sleuths and Suspects this week. Her new book Dead Ringer will release on May 9. She graciously allowed me to ask a few questions.

Is Dead Ringer your first novel?
No, it’s the second one I’ve published. Works of Darkness , also a inspirational romantic suspense, was published March 27, 2014.

Is there a lesson to be learned from Dead Ringer?
The lesson I tried to impart is that there is something to be learned, even from bad experiences. God never misses an opportunity to teach us a lesson.

How much of V. B. Tenery is written into your novels?
Actually, very little. I think my person values are reflected in the main characters, but I’m very boring and my characters aren’t.

What are you working on now?
2014 is a busy year for me. After Dead Ringer, I have the sequel to Works of Darkness, titled Then There Were None coming out in August. After that I have another stand alone novel, The Watchman that will be released October 3, 2014. I’ve been so busy marketing I’ve found little time to write, but I have a WWII romantic suspense on the back burner.

What is your favorite genre to read and to write? Mystery/Suspense with a couch of romance.


Weaving spiritual elements seamlessly into a novel seems to be a gift. Have you mastered the technique and if so how?
I try to make the religious elements in my novels flow seamlessly. I’m a great admirer of Sibella Giorello’s Raleigh Harmon series. She handles faith and religious elements so well. It’s a talent I hope to develop.


What is your favorite all-time novel?
I actually have two, one fiction and one non-fiction. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is good writing at its very best. Her characters are endearing and people you wish you knew. And Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place is the greatest example of living by faith I’ve ever read. I’ve read it numerous times and it still gives me chills to see what God did in the lives of the ten Boom family. Tradgic, of course, but it an inspiring example of being used for God’s glory. It should be required reading in every school.


What profession or job did you have before you became a writer?
I had a rewarding career as a middle management executive in the optical industry before taking retirement to write full time. I enjoyed it tremendously and met many wonderful people.

Any advice for new unpublished authors?
Don’t be in a big hurry. Learn the craft. Success as a writer takes time. Overnight success is like being struck by lightening, it rarely happens. Join critique groups and develop a thick skin, you’ll need it. Don’t let the work involved rob you of the joy of writing.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Dead Ringer will be half-price on its release date, May 9, in eBook format only, and only on the PBG website.
http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=dead+ringer+tenery

Feel free to contact me at any of the links below:

Website: www.vbtenery.com
Blog: www.agatharemembered.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/teneryherrin
FB Author Page: www.facebook.com/vbtenery

Review of The Rising by Lynn Chandler Willis

Recently, I read The Rising by Lynn Chandler Willis. This book is a finalist for the Grace Awards in the mystery/suspense/thriller category.

The story starts off with quite a rise as Detective Ellie Saunders receives a call from her superior that the her homicide victim, a little boy, is now very much alive and awake in the hospital morgue. As Ellie investigates the case involving the little boy, she is assigned to work with Jesse Alvarez, someone with whom she shares a romantic past. To complicate matters, as the story goes public, Ellie is barraged with painful reminders of a lost loved one and is forced to interact with her father, a retired minister, with whom she’s somewhat estranged.

This is a fast-paced novel that will keep you guessing. I only put the book down once, and that’s because I had to recharge my Kindle! The characters are imperfect, gritty, and real, not cookie cutter. Considering the book’s theme of resurrection and the fact that we just celebrated Easter, this is a timely read. This book should appeal to those who enjoy romantic suspense and thrillers.

*Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Author Bio:

Lynn Chandler-Willis has worked in the corporate world (hated it!), the television news business (fun job) and the newspaper industry (not a fan of the word "apparently" and phrase "according to"). She keeps coming back to fiction because she likes making stuff up and you just can't do that in the newspaper or television news business.

She was born, raised, and continues to live in the heart of North Carolina within walking distance to her kids and their spouses and her nine grandchildren. She shares her home, and heart, with Sam the cocker spaniel.

She is the author of the best-selling true crime book, Unholy Covenant. Her debut novel, The Rising (Pelican Book Group) was released in July 2013 and was recently named a finalist for the Grace Award. Chandler-Willis is the 2013 winner of the Minotaur Books/Private Eye Novel Writers of America Best First Private Eye Novel competition for her novel, Wink of an Eye. It will be released by Minotaur in Nov. 2014.

Book Blurb:

A little boy, beaten and left to die in an alley.  A cop with a personal life out of control. When their worlds collide, God intervenes. Detective Ellie Saunders's homicide investigation takes a dramatic turn when a young victim "wakes up" in the morgue. The child has no memory prior to his "rising" except walking with his father along a shiny road. Ellie likes dealing with facts. She'd rather leave all the God-talk to her father, a retired minister, and to her partner, Jesse, a former vice cop with an annoying habit of inserting himself into her life. But will the facts she follows puts Ellie's life in mortal danger? And will she finally allow God into her heart forever?

Interview and Giveaway with D. A. Featherling



Interview Questions/Sleuths and Suspects Blog

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
   Writing books has always been my dream. I’m blessed to be able to do that now, full-time, and decided to indie publish to be able to get my books out faster than the traditional route. As a result, I put my 5 –year-old home staging business on the back burner and started publishing and writing a little over a year ago. To date I have seven books on the market, in three different genres. Yes, I’m one of those multiple genres people. I call it my ‘fiction a la carte.’ Readers can choose their favorite from my menu of offerings.
2. Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on.
   My most recent book (Making Over Caro) is the last (Book 4) in a romantic comedy series (Second Time Around series). All of the books stand completely alone, the common thread is that one of the characters in the book is looking for love a second time around. Caro Arnold is a successful realtor who quickly becomes involved in trying to discourage an unwanted suitor from her past. It takes the help of her best friend, and a group called The Pink Flamingoes, to help her succeed. Lots of fun and laughter along the way.
3. Why did you choose this particular genre?
   I love writing humor, and I like writing first person, so for me, romantic comedy was an obvious choice. Plus the humor has helped me (and others) through some tough times in life, so I like the fact it can offer some relief from the trying events we all go through.
4. What was your journey to publication like?
   I’ve been writing since the late 90’s. I did all the usual things to get published for several years, then family illness and health issues intervened, and the writing went on the back burner. I later became a small business owner and that took up all my time. But in January 2013 I decided I was going to pursue my dream of publication, so I’ve been doing that ever since.
5. What is a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?
   I love Dee Henderson’s The O’Malley series. And Jan Karon’s Mitford series. So many talented authors out there. I do tend to mostly read mysteries/suspense…one reason why I also write mysteries, so my reading tends to focus in that direction. Right now, I’m reading “Accused” by Janice Cantore. Haven’t read her books before and am enjoying it.
6. What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it?
   As I said, I write in multiple genres…one of which is futuristic suspense. Book 1 of the Out of Time Series is entitled “Time Out” and is the story of a young woman who is accidentally transported into the future into the millennium. I’m getting ready to write Book 2, “Double Time,” which will advance the action in both the present time and future worlds as the millennium draws nearer its close and believers on earth are heading toward the Tribulation. My heroine is going to encounter bad guys both on earth and the future so she’ll have her hands full.
7. What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?
   Decide what’s important to you. How important is publication? Consider all your options for that – there are many these days. Then, don’t give up! Make yourself the best writer you can be. Produce the best work you can. There is so much information about writing out there today and so many resources, no writer can say they can’t get help in improving themselves. Be ruthless with yourself as well. Produce something you can be proud of.
8. Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?
   James Scott Bell has a couple of books out that are very useful. The Writer’s Digest series of “How To” books has some good titles in them as well. Look for books and/or websites that are written by people who have succeeded in their craft. You know what they did worked, so don’t settle for second best.
9. Is there anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered?
   My motivation for writing is to imagine a book I’ve written in the hands of a reader, who, when finishing the book and closing the back cover, has a smile on his/her face. That’s success in my opinion and what I hope folks will find with my writing.
10. Please let us know where we can find you on the web.
    My website is: www.dafeatherling.com and you can find my author page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/D.A.Featherling

Please leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win a copy of one of D. A. Featherling's mysteries.  



 

Interview and Book Giveaway with Suzanne Hartmann

by Jeff Reynolds

This is the second time I've had the privilege of interviewing Suzanne Hartmann on this blog, and we'll be giving away a copy of her latest book Conspiracy.  Rules are below, including how to get an extra entry into the drawing. Also, don't miss her telling about the details of the Facebook launch party for Conspiracy.

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations to Heather Day Gilbert!

Jeff Reynolds:  Last time you were on, I asked about the inspiration for your story, but I neglected how you got started in writing. Do you feel it was more an interest you always had or a call?

Suzanne Hartmann:  Actually, the two are intertwined. I mentioned in my previous interview that the stories which eventually became the first story in the Fast Track Thriller series began as scenes I created to entertain myself while sitting through my kids’ various activities. But the idea to craft them into a novel didn’t even enter my mind until a thought popped into my head while I was taking a walk. It came out of the blue, and it took several weeks of prayer to determine that it was a God-nudge not an early mid-life crisis. So I began researching NASCAR (since I wasn’t at fan at the time), and a couple of months later started writing. Since then, God has led me on an amazing journey full of doubts, anguish, inspiration, and joy. But He has faithfully encouraged me every step along the way

JR:  The second installment of your Fast Track Thrillers has just crossed the starting line. Could you tell us about the series and your new release?SH: Conspiracy picks up only a few months after the dramatic, surprise ending to Peril, and we rejoin Joanne Van der Haas, a top-secret agent with enhanced strength who works for the nation's most clandestine intelligence agency. Her boss is accused of selling government secrets, and she must choose which to trust: the man she's worked with for many years or the NSA’s evidence. When the heat turns up and a traitor threatens those she loves most, Joanne’s friend, NASCAR champion Stuart Jackson, is the only person she can trust to help her follow the trail of clues. Although untried in the intelligence field, Stuart is willing to face the danger in order to bring the truth to light and keep Joanne from being implicated.

JR:  I have the impression that you've dealt with several obstacles both on the writing track and off. What has it been like, and what lessons has God taught you through the false starts?

SH:  Yes, I have, Jeff, both the typical obstacles any new author must negotiate as well as medical issues, including a major surgery last year that led to another trip to the OR in the midst of the editing process for Conspiracy. The main thing I’ve learned from both types of obstacle is the need to keep my eyes on Jesus. When I put my focus on people, I will inevitably be disappointed. But when I lay my troubles at God’s feet, I can rest in the knowledge that He will meet all of my needs. Much easier said than done, but He continually shows His faithfulness when I look to Him as my provider.

JR:  In the previous interview, I asked you about your non-fiction book, Write This Way and you shared about filtering as it relates to POV. Any other interesting facts that might help writers here in their literary qualifying attempts?

SH: Another stylistic error I address in Write This Way that I don’t see talked about much is the unnecessary use of small movements: turning, reaching, walking across the room, etc. Every action involves multiple smaller actions, but we don’t want to bore our readers with every single, tiny action required to accomplish something. For example, I could write, “James made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” That involves many steps, from reaching into the cabinet to pull out the jar, to spreading the jelly. But since readers are familiar with how make a PB&J, we don’t need to include every little step. In the same way, readers automatically fill in little actions like reaching out before touching someone, or walking across the room to answer the door, or turning towards the window before looking outside. So we can leave these small motions out when writing.

JR:  Speaking of writing, I found your characters captivating, including supporting ones like George. What helped you develop that good a pit crew to keep the story running?

SH:  Thank you so much! I tried hard to create the type of characters readers want to get to know and read more about. The fact that you found them captivating thrills me more than you can know. The main thing I did to generate such characters is to make sure they were realistic. A huge factor in doing this is motivation. Whether for one of my protagonists or someone only in one scene, I continually asked myself, “How would this character respond?” “What would she do next?” and “What would make him do that?”

JR:  Again in the earlier interview, you mentioned getting writing ideas while driving your children around and how your daughter got interested in NASCAR. Could you tell us about your family? And have you ever made it to a NASCAR race?
SH:  My wonderful husband Steve and I celebrated twenty-five years of marriage this year, and we have three children: Andrew, David, and Rachel. We have homeschooled for sixteen years, and graduated both of the boys, so it’s just Rachel and I at home now.

I attended numerous NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series races during the four years I volunteered with Midwest Raceway Ministries at Gateway International Raceway in the St. Louis area. It wasn’t until two years ago, however, that my husband and I attended our first Sprint Cup race at the Kansas Speedway. While we were there, we were blessed to be able to meet Jimmy Makar, the General Manager of Joe Gibbs Racing and the person who wrote the foreword for Peril, as well as Billie Mauldin, CEO of the Motor Racing Outreach, who handed out a hundred copies of Peril at the 2012 spring Bristol race. Both of these gentlemen realized even more than I did that my novel could be a powerful and unique outreach tool, and I am thankful that God led me to a connection with each of them.

JR:  I know that you're working on Revenge, the third leg of this series. Have you thought about what you'll do when your trilogy has crossed the checkered flag?

SH:  Although I have been pondering the idea of a prequel, I have decided to move on when I finish Revenge and concentrate on two partially completed novels. One is also NASCAR-related, but it is a romantic suspense novel. The other—like the Fast Track Thrillers—has a twist of the unusual, but it is women’s fiction.

JR:  Thank you very much for your time. As I've mentioned before, I'm looking forward to reading Conspiracy. Any web pages you want to mention so your admiring fans can keep cheering you on?

SH:  Thank you for hosting me on Sleuths & Suspects again, Jeff. Your readers can find out more about Peril and Conspiracy at my Fast Track Thrillers website at www.fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com, and I invite all of your readers to the Facebook Release Party for Conspiracy on April 10 on my FB Author Page (https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneHartmann.Author ) For more information about Write This Way: Take Your Writing to the Next Level, readers can visit my blog at www.suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com, where they will find tons of advice about writing.

Jeff to the readers: 
Now is the time to enter the contest. Three simple steps.

1. Leave a comment (that's not hard, is it?)
2. Include your e-mail address so we can communicate with you -- you can spell it out like AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com
3. Suzanne included NASCAR, a sport that she wasn't familiar with, in her story. If you were to include a sport or hobby in a book you wrote that you aren't familiar with but would love to research, what would it be?

BONUS!!! 

Suzanne is offering an extra entry into the contest to anyone willing to allow her to add your e-mail address to her update list. (Don't worry about getting inundated -- it only comes out a few times a year.)

EXTRA BONUS!!! 

I will add yet one more bonus point to the first person who correctly guesses whose endorsement is on the front of Conspiracy. And key word is guess -- no fair peeking at the top. And the person who wrote it wouldn't be guessing.

Review of Water Walker by Ted Dekker

I’m a Dekker fan; I’d go so far as to say his writing has influenced my own. So I jumped at the chance to review, Water Walker, the second book in his Outlaw Chronicles series. For my review of the first book in the series (Eyes Wide Open), click here.

Like Ted’s other stories, the story concept is original. Ted does a good job of writing what I’d refer to as allegorical-type stories. I think this type of story might appeal to someone who is a seeker or is de-churched (that is, they’ve attended church before but no longer attend). I wished that at the end, there was some discussion to guide readers toward Ted’s intended point (maybe included at the end of the book). I think Christians can see the themes easily, but I think a guide would be nice for seekers.

The story starts out with a young girl named Alice who does not remember the past six months of her life and has been placed in a foster home. A man shows up claiming to be her biological father and wants to kidnap her; he tells the girl her name is Eve. Alive/Eve must decide who she can trust. A shadowy figure known as Outlaw appears and shows Alice/Eve she can become a water walker and that her body is just a costume. Like I mentioned previously, I think that many Christian readers will easily identify Christian themes in the story.

What I didn’t like was the way POV was handled. I think Ted is sort of a maverick when it comes to POV. For Immanuel’s Veins, I noted that he switched back and forth between chapters using first and third person. Ted also mixes things up a bit in this story as well. I felt like it worked in the other book, but for this one, I felt like POV could have been deeper. At least one shift could have been handled better with a scene break, at least in my opinion. Also, in my opinion, I felt it was odd that a character had lost their memory, but then a chapter or two later, recalls something from the past casually, but doesn’t find this odd that they suddenly remembered something. Maybe it was supposed to be written that way, but it felt like an “oops.” I’d also like to note that a curse word was used, and it really didn’t need to be. I understand going for realism, but realism is different than literalism (see post by Author Donn Taylor for more discussion on this subject). I get that the character would swear, but an author can show this without using the literal term that a character would use.

*Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.