Interview and giveaway with author Danele Rotharmel!!!

Today we welcome author Danele Rotharmel to The Diamond Mine! The third book in her Time Counselor series is out now! It's called Time Search and continues her riveting saga. Be sure to leave a comment for Danele to be entered in a drawing for a free copy of her book!

A nameless evil lurks in the shadows! Now it’s a race against the clock! –Time Search

In the wake of a recent wave of violence, TEMCO employees are left reeling. While some of the staff are put into hiding, others are left behind to discover the true identity of the mysterious nemesis who is determined to destroy them all. While Crystal, Marc, and Zeke search for clues to unravel the mystery of his real name, their enemy is lurking in the shadows searching for TEMCO’s missing leaders. It’s a race against the clock! And as the hours and seconds tick away, it’s anyone’s guess whose search will be completed first. It’s a classic battle of good versus evil, and the stakes couldn’t be higher!

Wow! Sounds like another awesome book by Danele!!
Hi Danele!

Nancy, thank you for having me on the Diamond Mine! It is such an honor to be here!

And it's an honor to have you. I have some questions for you! So let's get right to the interview! 
Do you write in short or extended bursts, or do you have time set aside each day for writing?

When I first began writing, I was very ill and in quarantine. Because I was trying to distract myself from pain, I wrote in huge, extended bursts. Sometimes, I would spend as many as 18 hours a day at my computer. I became so engrossed in my books that I would forget to eat and sleep. Later, as my illness subsided, I would spend the mornings writing new material and the afternoons editing my previous work.

 So you really poured your whole self into your work, coming from a challenging, vulnerable place. No wonder it's so compelling! I'm glad you found a productive outlet at such a time.

When you begin a story, do you jump right into the writing, or do you have an outline you work from?

The Time Counselor Chronicles simply flows from one chapter to the next. I just follow where the story leads. However, I do have a basic outline that entails how I envision concluding the series. This outline constantly changes because I’m continually surprised by my characters—they sometimes misbehave and throw curveballs that tend to disrupt my outlined plans. Because I write to entertain myself, I basically go with the flow and enjoy the process.

Oh, I like that. It's such a fun way to write!

During the writing of your stories, do you find yourself thinking constantly about your characters and plot, or are you able to easily leave the story and focus on other things?

When I wrote the first six books in the series, I was in quarantine, and TEMCO literally became my life. Because I didn’t want to think about my health, I focused on my imaginary world. Now that I’m feeling better, TEMCO isn’t my primary focus anymore. That being said, I still have a tendency to get lost in my stories. When I start writing, I have a difficult time stopping.

 It's hard to control the creative process sometimes! It has a life of its own.

Do you ever experience writer’s block, and if so, what do you do about it?

One of the most intimidating things in the world can be a blank page. When I can’t figure out what to write, I turn off my computer and lay down. I close my eyes, and try to imagine my scene unfolding like a movie. I ask myself what the scene looks like, what it sounds like, what the characters are wearing. Then, with my eyes closed, I compose dialogue in my head. For some reason, getting away from the computer always seems to help.

Wow, that's a really creative way of moving forward! Very helpful way to deal with those potholes in the writing road. :)

What made you decide to do a time travel series?

I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of time travel. The first book in my series, Time Tsunami, began as a short story for a college creative writing class. At the time, I was a cadet teacher working in a middle school. As I looked at my students, I wanted desperately to help them become the best they could be. Naturally, this desire became tangled up with my imaginings about time travel. Soon, I began thinking about TEMCO, a future organization that would send counselors back through time to help children and teens make the right decisions. When I composed my short story, my professor told me that I had a “sellable” idea. Later, when I became ill, I reread Time Tsunami and decided to craft it into a novel.

That's so cool! Your idea came out of a desire to help students. I love that, and it shows what a big heart you have!

Your third book of the series is releasing. Have the second and third books been easier to write than the first one, or more challenging?

Time Trap and Time Search were easier to write than Time Tsunami because I had “conquered the dragon.” In other words, I knew that I could write a book and most of my insecurities about being an author had been overcome. They were also easier to write because I’d already created my characters and fallen in love with them. I couldn’t wait to continue telling the TEMCO team’s adventures. Sometimes while writing Time Search, I was typing so fast that my fingers seemed like blurs on the keyboard as they attempted to keep up with my rapid thoughts. I would literally go to bed with numb hands.

And now you have these great books to show for it! Bravo!

Which characters have you most enjoyed creating?

I love all of my characters, but my favorite is Crystal Stuart because she always makes me laugh. She is so much fun!

And I'm so glad you're sharing her with the  rest of us!

What do you like best about your time series?

There are three things that I like equally well about my series. I love my books’ suspense, my plot twists, and my characters. My goal has always been to craft exciting books that keep readers on the edge of their seats. And I’ve always wanted my characters to come to life and feel like friends.

And they sure do!

Do you write in other genres besides science fiction?

On my blog, https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/, I write short devotionals. These articles discuss the spiritual lessons I’ve learned down through the years—especially the lessons I learned during quarantine.

And your blog is a blessing to everyone who reads it.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I am editing the fourth book in my series, Time Awakening. Time Awakening was one of the six books that I wrote during my illness, and I’m enjoying polishing it up. I’m especially enjoying the funny scenes between Marc and Crystal. Sometimes, I spend my days giggling while I edit.

That's a great visual. Writers have more fun than people realize!

I want to thank you so much for being here and sharing yourself with us!

Thank you for allowing me to talk about Time Search, Nancy! I’ve had such a great time! 

Me too! 

Okay readers, here's an excerpt from Time Search:

Taking a deep breath, Crystal entered Drake’s apartment with Marc and Agent Ruthford. Her mind kept flashing back to that horrible moment when she’d regained consciousness and realized she was locked inside a burning building.

“We’ve already searched the premises,” Agent Ruthford said, walking to the center of the room. “We didn’t find anything.”

Attempting to forget that Drake had tried to burn her alive, Crystal replied, “We’re searching for different things. I’m sure Drake left us clues to his identity. With his ego, he would’ve thought it amusing.”

Studying her surroundings, she shuddered. Although at first glance, Drake’s home was like many other student apartments—something was a little off. It was as if she could feel an undertone of evil oozing from the walls.

Marc came and stood by her side. “What’s bothering you? What do you see?”

“It’s what I don’t see,” she replied. “This room is twelve inches shorter than the living room.”

Moving to the northern wall, she spotted a blotch of ink. Her mind recoiled in horror. Springing back, she stuttered, “T-this is a false wall. Drake’s hiding something behind it.”

“I think you’re right about the dimensions of the room,” Agent Ruthford said. “I’ll have my team check it out.”

As Agent Ruthford contacted his agents, Marc touched her arm. Crystal jumped nearly out of her skin.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Can’t you feel the evil in this room?” she replied. “It’s oppressive.”

Marc looked around. “Everything looks normal to me.”

“Everything is a lie.” Running her hands over her arms, she whispered in a voice full of horror, “I don’t want to be here when that wall comes down.”

“Why? What do you think is behind there?” he asked.

“Nothing good.” She pointed at the tiny, black stain on the wall. “That says it all.”

Kneeling down, Marc studied the blotch. “It seems like an ordinary stain to me.”

“It’s not ‘ordinary’ at all,” she replied. “Look closer. It’s a black half-circle with one short line and one long line dangling down. It’s the ancient Egyptian symbol for Amenta. It was used to represent where the Egyptians buried their dead.”

Oh boy! We're in for another great story from Danele!

Here's a short bio from her, as well as her social and purchase links, and  a preview of her blog tour for Time Search!

Danele Rotharmel’s life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace was poisoning her. This poisoning triggered Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, causing her to be put in quarantine. For seven years, she could only talk to friends and extended family through a windowpane. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.  Although her journey back to health was difficult, it provided her the opportunity to grow closer to God and write her books. For that, she’s forever thankful. To learn more about Danele, visit her blog:  https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

Social Media Links:

Danele’s Blog: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

Danele’s Testimony: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/welcome/

Danele’s Books: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/my-books/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14782632.Danele_J_Rotharmel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danele.rotharmel

Time Search Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY7RGFJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484259046&sr=8-1&keywords=danele+rotharmel+time+search

Time Search’s Blog Tour: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/time-search-book-launch-20-stop-blog-tour/