Our own Voni Harris and her New Release Burning Rivals

Popping in to say, Voni is celebrating! And all of us here at the Diamond Mine are so excited for her. Her sophomore release, Burning Rivals hit the virtual shelf just a few weeks ago. It's an Alaskan adventure just in time for the boiling heat of July! Leave all that humidity behind along with those temperatures pushing passed ninety and pull up a iceberg for our chat with Voni!

Hey, Voni! So excited to highlight your new book. Refresh everyone’s memory and tell us where you are from and where you live now.

I live in the constant beauty of Kodiak, Alaska—a rain forest island— fishing village homes, mountains, the gorgeous and powerful Pacific Ocean, towering spruce forests, and the sky with a mix of colors, and bears, fish, sea lions, otters, all reminding me of God every day. Even on the rainy, icy, wintry days.

Of course it was also beautiful in Southern Indiana—rolling hills and farm country— where Rich and I lived after we were married…

…In Iowa, where we met in college in Des Moines. Also beautiful with corn farmland around and the Des Moines River running through town.

But I grew up in Wyoming, with mountains in the distance, and wind blowing with gusts that wanted to blow me away some days. Oh, the beauty and power of God!

Do you have pets?

You don’t know me if you have to ask that, lol. I’ve never been without dogs in my life, except you know, college where they weren’t allowed in the dorms. Rich and I have a black and white Australian shepherd (Sting, who thinks we exist to play tug every moment of the day.) and a black and white Boston Terrier (Kip, who thinks she must dart around and make us laugh, and beg for food every moment of the day).

What’s the most unusual animal you’ve seen in person not just in a zoo.

On our first hike in Kodiak, we saw Kodiak bears in the distance. A Kodiak bear several years later walked down our street. Another left some scat in our yard. Also, bald eagles are abundant here, majestic and threatening to small pets—one sat in our yard and ate our neighbor’s chicken with his partner.

Let’s talk favorites. Favorite recipe? Favorite dessert? Favorite color? Favorite book? Favorite Bible verse?

Recipe: I keep thinking of white chicken chili lately.

Dessert: Chocolate lava cake. Or butter pecan ice cream.

Color: I would say I don’t have a favorite color, but I love yellow with a soft green, yellow with blue, yellow with black, yellow with white, yellow with gray, yellow with red (not like a convenience store)…so, anyway, I’ll have to say yellow, especially a buttery yellow.

Book: Anne of Avonlea series from my childhood, or any Nancy Drew book. As a grown up, Dee Henderson books or Ronie Kendig or Lisa Phillips. I can’t pick one, lol.

Bible verse:

 [Jer 18:1-6 ESV] 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

God goes on here in Jeremiah to talk about His power to shape Israel and the countries of the world. But I also see here God shaping me and the awesome life He has given me. May my heart always be soft like the clay in the potter’s hand.

Do you have a job outside of the home? Did you ever work outside the home, and if so, where?

I worked in restaurants as a server for a while. I worked in a company who was putting newspaper articles online for searches. I tutored (sometimes still tutor). But mainly, I homeschooled our daughter all the way through. Now, I write.

How did you get into writing, and how did you get into writing suspense?

I was an obsessive reader—reading while standing on my head and I had to be reminded to stop reading while walking. So there’s that. Also, Mom was a newspaper reporter, then editor of the paper. And Dad was the law enforcement instructor at the community college, friend and teacher of the cops in the local police department. So how else could I NOT end up writing suspense?

Your book Burning Rivals is set in Alaska. Tell us how your experience in Alaska fed into the setting.

When Rich and I were in Anchorage, we drove out to the city that inspired the setting of the Chasing Fire: Alaska series. It was so fun, and so full of people driving from Anchorage to Denali, or just touristing. Such interesting pictures to take and send to the other authors in the series.

What was the most exciting scene to write in Burning Rivals?

You know, I really enjoyed writing the scene where Cadee and Vince have to go to help rescue the people in the village she grew up in. They choose to, but they are smokejumpers, so if they’re needed, they go. It helps open their eyes to each other, especially Vince seeing Cadee’s past, like her growing up years.

Oh, and the scene with the river filled with dead salmon…fun to write, since they end up in that oily water. Typical Alaska during the salmon life cycle.

Can you come up with 5 things about Voni Harris that have nothing to do with writing?

1.      I am a whole 4’6”. My life is unique! Anyone wanna go shopping with me to reach the stuff on the top shelves for me? LOL.

2.    I have a degree in Radio-Television (Journalism)…but fiction writing is where I’ve always been headed, even while I thought it was just a hobby.

3.    I may be obsessed with movies—but call me a film buff. Okay, TV series as well. NCIS, Blue Bloods, etc. But doesn’t “film buff” sound so meaningful and consequential?

4.    Hubby and I love to travel. Of course, how else are we going to see family?

5.     Our family fills my heart. Daughter, Son-in-law, Grandson, and Granddaughter. 

What’s your next writing move? Writing? Editing? Publishing?

I am planning out my next book (I am a plotter!), but working on figuring out the backstory of the crucial computer…this is hard for some reason. But SO fun to travel down some fascinating research rabbit holes.

 Thank you for the opportunity to share the beauty and fun of the life God has created for me. And the fun of your questions!

And thank you for your answers and sharing your new release with us! Win a copy of Burning Rivals by leaving a comment of entering your info on our contact form. If you can't wait (and why would you?), follow the links to grab your copy of Burning Rivals by Voni Harris right now!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a super-spectacular reading day!

Author Kendra Warden Forges Riveting Suspense Series

Wow. You can get a copy of our new weekly author's~Kendra Warden~free novella! Just click that highlighted name. Violà! Free book!

Ooops, I spilled the beans on who's visiting this week. You guessed it, author Kendra Warden! She's a busy homeschooling mom who finds time to spin intriguing suspense novels. What to know more? Keep reading...

PT: Hi, Kendra! Let's jump right in. Tell the readers how you chose the genre you write in and why?

KW: First of all, thank you so much for hosting me on The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction! I feel like true book blogs are so rare these days and I absolutely love that you have one. :) And that you invited me to chat with your readers! 

To actually answer your question, I chose to write Christian romantic suspense because I wanted to be a part of the romance genre (and I read various subgenres within it!), but I also wanted the freedom to tell certain kinds of stories that spoke to my heart.

Suspense allows for some darker themes and more ‘grit’ than some other subgenres, in my experience. My books are all 100% Christian and clean – no smut, no swearing, no glorification of sin, active promotion of Christian values – but I also don’t shy away from tough topics. That, and I love a story where I can write a cute first kiss scene followed promptly by something exploding. Haha.

PT: I'm sure everyone want to know what region you hail from and if that setting finds its way into your books? Or do you do a google search for the next book background?

KW: Ha! This is kind of a funny question to me, because I’m from Ontario, Canada, and my current series is all set in Texas. Maybe I’ll do a Canadian series one day… but in the meantime, I really have to dig into researching my various locations. Often when brainstorming a new book, the setting pops into my head first, even before the characters! I try very hard to bring each locale to life. So far, the Forge Brothers Security books are set in El Paso, San Antonio, and South Padre Island… you’ll have to stay tuned for where my current project is going to bring us. ;)

PT: Don't you just love researching a place virtually? It's almost like being there. So, tell us, what else occupies your time besides writing? Work? School? Pets? Travel? Other?

KW: Being a wife and homeschool mom takes up the rest of my life, for the most part! My husband and I are blessed with three kids, and he works a lot, so my days are pretty crazy most of the time. I do try to sneak in time to go to church, read (of course!), chat with friends and readers, take long walks, and obsess over the latest planner. As of late, my awesome assistant, Jennifer, got me hooked on diamond painting.

PT: Now, I want to focus a little on your series, Forge Brothers Security. How did it begin and where is it going?

KW: I love this question - like most authors, I have a plan for where it’s going, but my characters sometimes like to mess it all up. Lol!

My series follows five brothers (plus their cousin, Reilly, who you can meet in my free prequel novella, Forged in Darkness!)--Did I mention you can get this for free!-- who own a private security firm. They’re all passionate about fighting for what’s right, and they keep finding love on the way! I also explore their faith and how it impacts their lives throughout the series. The books stand alone, but I always include those little details that keep readers turning the pages and finding out how everything ultimately ties together. :) I’m currently planning 3 more books in the main series, but who knows where it may go after that…

PT: Your newest, Forged in Secrets, is set at the beach. Give us a little peek of Grace and Ben’s story.

KW: They were such a fun couple to write! The story kicks off right from the very beginning when sweet, bubbly Grace Hinton (who is a long-time friend of the Forge boys and works at their company) gets a phone call that one of her childhood friends has gone missing. She enlists the help of grumpy tech genius Ben Forge (who she may or may not have a crush on…) and they travel to South Padre Island together to figure out what happened to Katie Fairman, and why.

PT: What is next for Kendra for the next books/and tell everyone how you find time to do both.

KW: I’m currently working on Forged in Deception– Asher and Karlin’s story – and I’m really hoping to be able to pull off a late 2024/early 2025 release! It’s taking me a little longer to write this time, with a 9 month old baby in the mix and moving across our province, but I am absolutely in love with the story. 

Readers met Asher Forge in book two, Forged in Secrets, and he’s such a fun guy to write about. He’s kind of the Forge family goofball, and I’m excited to show everyone that his character has more depth than they may have originally thought. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I will say this: the topic of this book is pretty quirky and I doubt you’ll have read a romantic suspense like it!

PT: Gotta know where your writing nook is—office? Dining room table? Recliner? She-shed? Kitchen counter? Other? 

KW: We’re in the middle of moving, so I am including a picture of my old ‘office’, which was just part of our living room in our 2 bedroom apartment! 

Now I’m working on a real office of my very own, and I feel so unbelievably blessed to have it. :) I’ll definitely be sharing the progress on social media. 

I definitely am kind of a boring, habit-driven kind of person, so I usually like to write in the same place most of the time, with all of my pretty pens, planners, and copies of my favorite writing craft/author business books close at hand.

PT: Pretty pens seems to make everything more fun! On to my favorite. Name 5 things fast about Kendra Warden that have nothing to do with writing.

1. I’m really passionate about classical education! Yes, my eight year old is learning Latin. :P Our church uses Latin in worship, so it’s also very practical for us!
2. I enjoy gaming from time to time, especially the point-and-click Nancy Drew computer games! 
3. I love politics, religion, culture, and history. I read just as much nonfiction as fiction!
4. My husband is my best friend, and we’ve been married for four years. We got engaged less than a month after talking to each other for the first time, and I have no regrets.
5. I’m really outgoing and talkative, but actually a HUGE introvert. I love time alone or just with my hubby to recharge.

There you have it, readers! Another busy woman finding time to write entertaining fiction. Show her some love and leave comments about your busy life and how you manage it all. And, for heaven's sake, get your free novella courtesy of Kendra Warden!

A Visit with Author Kathy Cretsinger!

Happy Wednesday!

And welcome to the blog!

Are you enjoying Spring? Where I live, in Kentucky, we have a lot of false starts to the season, but the flowers and trees are promising us that warm weather is making a comeback. 

Today I'm so pleased to bring you one of my favorite people, and the reason I'm a published author today! Kathy Cretsinger!

Kathy and her husband, Jerry, moved to Western Kentucky from the hills of East Tennessee several years ago to be close to their children and grandchildren. This brought another change in their lives. Kathy began publishing her books and then decided to help other authors who were having a hard time in the publishing industry by starting Mantle Rock Publishing. Kathy loves being close to her family and enjoys growing orchids, which continue to multiply. Kathy is a board member at the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference and a member of ACFW. She has a bi-weekly blog on her website http://www.kathycretsingerauthor.com. You can also find her on Facebook at Kathy Cretsinger, and at Kathy Cretsinger, Author.

 When the writing bug bit me and I began hanging out with writers online, I was repeatedly told, “You’ve got to meet Kathy Cretsinger!” When I finally did, out-of-state at a conference of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she invited me to attend her writing group, and I discovered she lived less than 30 miles from me. She, Susan Page Davis, and the late Sandra Robbins, along with several other amazing writers, took me under their generous wings, keeping me going until I was ready.

 

In the years since I’ve known Kathy, she’s written a series of historical fiction novels and is in the middle of a romantic suspense series. Both are based on places or situations near and dear to her heart, and I love them. She and her husband, Jerry, as mentioned earlier, are the former owners of Mantle Rock Publishing, where my first books were published. When they decided to retire, the new owners renamed it Scrivenings Press, LLC, and it continues to grow. Kathy and Jerry built a publishing family that continues today.

 

So, I call Kathy my “Book Mama,” and I’m thrilled to bring you an interview! She has generously offered a signed paperback copy of the third book in her Shady Valley Series, Shady Connections, as a giveaway to one of our readers -- all you have to do is comment to be entered!

 

And now, the interview! 

 

Regina: Kathy, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you on the blog today! I know you’ve got a lot to share, so here goes!

 

Real-life stories make the best foundation for events in a novel, I think. What is one story from real life that you’ve included in one of your books?

 

Kathy: This is the first time I’ve put this in a book. When my daughter, Diane, was in first grade, she had to ride the bus. I had to drive about two miles to pick her up. When the bus came one day, the bus driver got out with her and walked to my car. He told me he couldn’t let her ride his bus anymore because she was fighting. When we were settled in the car, I asked her what happened. She said, “That boy kept pulling my pigtails and I told him to stop. He kept on. You always told me to treat other people like they wanted to be treated, so he wanted me to hit him, or he wouldn't keep on pulling my pigtails.” We had a talk that night about doing to others. 

 

Regina: I would love to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation! LOL!! I can see the serious expression on her face!

 

Now to something to satisfy our readers’ curiosity … ;) 

 

Salad or Sandwich?

 

Kathy: Salad. Bread does not agree with me, but I do eat a Reuben and Big Mac occasionally.  

 

Regina: Going gluten-free has been a life-changing habit for you, I know, and one you’ve used as a catalyst for the characters in your “Shady Valley” series!

 

Here’s one of my favorite questions: What is your favorite Bible verse, and why?

 

Kathy: Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”  This has been my favorite verse since college. We have something to look forward to if we live according to God’s word. Nothing can harm us here on earth, we have a great reward in the end. 

 

Regina: Amen! Now let’s find out about what you like for entertainment!

 

What is your favorite movie and why?

 

Kathy: My favorite movie is “Dirty Dancing.” I like a movie that shows good in the end. This movie does. Two people are misunderstood, and they come to terms with themselves in the end. The movie is set in the mountains of North Carolina, cold creeks, beautiful scenes. You watch both main characters grow up in the movie.

 

Regina: Would you believe I’ve never watched it? I know. At 60, I have no excuse. I’ll try to watch it before we get together again! LOL! 

 

A lot of interviewers ask for your favorite book. That’s just not fair! What has been the most recent book you’ve read that excited you or moved you in some way? Why?

 

Kathy: The last book I read was The Songbird of Hop Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer. It releases in April. I’ve always loved reading Kim’s books. This one did not disappoint me. When I started reading it, I never thought I’d enjoy reading a book about a prostitute. She was so desperate with no family. It tells of faith, changes, love of others. I highly recommend it.

 

Regina: I’ll keep that one on my radar!

 

If you were on a deserted island with a laptop and no Wi-Fi what are two programs or apps you would have to have on your computer?

 

Kathy: The first one would be my Bible. If I’m stranded, I’m not going to be writing books, but I will be reading them. My Kindle app will have to be full. I may be there a while.

 

Regina: Bible apps are wonderful! I think, with the book count on my kindle at over a thousand, I’d be okay for a while. If we could be stranded together, we could SHARE! ;)

 

Thanks for the interview, Kathy! I love getting to share you with our readers!

 

Now, here’s some information about Shady Connections, the third in Kathy’s Shady Valley Series!

 

Nothing shady ever happens in Shady Valley, Tennessee, but shady things happen everywhere.

 

Bruce Howard and Grace Manis decide to elope in November, and they find they are expecting a baby soon after their marriage. They are in their 40s, and they never expected to have a family.

 

Bruce is having dreams of being abducted. A stranger suggests Bruce is a dead-ringer for his brother who was murdered and his son abducted. Can Bruce be that child?

 

An old acquaintance enters Shady Valley and memories flood back. Is he the abductor?

 

Daisy Greer is also expecting, and someone is trying to steal her baby and Grace’s. Can the perpetrator be found before the babies are born? Well, nothing shady ever happens in Shady Valley. Or does it?

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this, and will comment below! Thanks to Kathy’s generosity, one commenting reader will receive a paperback copy of Shady Connections! I loved it, and I think you will, too!

If you can't wait until the drawing, you can purchase Shady Connections HERE!

 

Until next time, enjoy a good book – or ten! 😊

Interview and Giveway with author Linda Rondeau!!

  Today we welcome author Linda Rondeau to The Diamond Mine!! She is offering an ebook of choice to the winner of the drawing. To be in the drawing, just click on the 'post a comment' tab at the end of the interview and leave a comment along with your email. That's all there is to it!

Today we're showcasing her recent book: Wolf Mountain Legacy!

A widowed history teacher seeks to prove a Victorian mistress’s innocence from scandal, but first she must prove her current right to walk among the sane.

What about the 150-year-old ruins atop Wolf Mountain keeps drawing Marci Henderson to the site? Village legend says the beautiful wife of the older railroad tycoon, after setting fire to their mansion, ran away with his accountant. Was there no way to prove Felicity’s innocence? First, Marci must prove she had the right to walk among the sane.  

 Dr. Blake Montgomery, a college professor, has come to Collins Bend to work on his book, Adirondack Railroad Development. To aid in his research, Blake hires Marci Henderson, his former student, one he never stopped loving, who is now a widow. When Marci is insistent people are following the two of them, Blake wonders if she is headed for another psychotic episode.

 Old emotions surface as the two embark on a suspenseful journey leading them closer to solving the age-old mystery of Wolf Mountain, a journey fraught with suspicion and murder. Along the way, Blake’s faith is challenged, and Marci searches for spiritual truth about the God she had never known.

Sounds wonderful! Now let's get to the interview!

Can you tell us some more about your book?

Set in the Adirondack Mountains, Wolf Mountain Legacy’s heroine, Marci Henderson, a widow, is recovering from a long-term hospitalization following a psychotic episode after the death of her unfaithful husband. As she fights to prove she is now whole, she hikes up Wolf Mountain, a museum site that has drawn her for many years.

 Marci identifies with the denigrated young mistress of the Wordsworth estate, said to have run off with her husband’s accountant after setting a house fire that killed both her husband and her maid. Marci believes Felicity Wordsworth was innocent but has been unable to find any proof.

 On a climb in June, she experiences a near fatal fall and discovers strange remains on the mountainside, as well as a mysterious child who presents her with a pebble. Unable to make sense of what she sees, she believes her delusions have returned and retreats to her reclusive lifestyle.

 Her sister manages to convince her to attend a college alumni fund raiser. But when she arrives, she learns the event is hosted by a history college professor, her once romantic interest while a student at Briarcliffe. He is in Collins Bend to do research on his book about Adirondack Railroad Development and much will include the Wordsworth legacy to the industry.

When Professor Montgomery offers to hire her as his assistant, Marci is resistant. However, the opportunity might help her find the answers that may prove Felicity Wordsworth’s innocence. Marci accepts Blake’s offer.

 Marci continues to have strange sightings, a man in a blue tuxedo who disappears from her view while at the banquet, a man she met at the banquet and a fisherman who seem to be following her, and a white osprey that seems to be everywhere she goes.

 Intrigue increases as Marcie becomes more and more convinced they are being followed, more so as they discover important clues regarding the 150- year-old scandal. But Blake refuses to believe her until the elderly Alfred Donahue is murdered, Blake’s friend and colleague. But to what end? Why an innocent Irish professor and author?

As the two move toward danger and intrigue, their old romance begins to resurface. Are they only looking for what once was or is something new happening between them? Is a romance at this time, considering all the bridges between them, even wise?

 Each will be spiritually challenged. Blake is tested in his new faith, and Marci begins to realize the God she has resisted is ready to both forgive and to help her forgive … not just others from recent and her far past … but herself.

 I love the fact that it takes place in the Adirondack mountains!! My family went camping there many times.

How did you get your idea for this story?

 I’ve long thought mental health disorders are largely overlooked in Christian Publishing. I’m not sure if the stigma is still there, the outdated belief that real Christians should be immune to these things. Perhaps my many years in the human services field has helped me understand the physiological and emotional causes of mental health are not indicators of an ineffective spiritual walk. Our God cares and is ready to help us find healing … sometimes through physicians and counselors. My counselor in Wolf Mountain Legacy, is a Christian who is helpful in Marci’s journey to faith and healing.

 Secondly, having lived in the Adirondack region for most of my married life, I find the history and beauty of the area make great backdrops for intrigue and suspense as well as romance. The town of Collins Bend is fictional, however is inspired by both Lake Placid and Saranac Lake in the high peaks area of the Adirondacks. Wolf Mountain is also fictional but is inspired by the well-known White Face Mountain.

 I agree completely that mental health issues are often avoided in Christian circles, but I know from personal experience that God cares very deeply about our mental health, and that is one of the main healings that happens when we continue to walk with Him.

What made you decide to be a writer? 

Like most writers, the creative bent for story-telling is inbred. From an early age, I enjoyed writing short stories in school and entertaining my fellow students on my bus. When I decided to go to college, I wanted to major in creative writing, but opted for a degree in English with a minor in Secondary Education. However, after a marriage failure, my life took a downturn as I grappled with spiritual truths. I remarried seven years later and began a career in Human Services, the experiences running the gamut of social services options including elderly, family services, and children’s services. In 2000, the Lord recalled the writer in me. I left the human services field to become a writer. I don’t recommend new authors leave the day job; however, for me, it was God ordered. I have not regretted it since even though  another eleven years would pass before I received my first book contract (though having published and won awards for many shorter manuscripts during that time.)

My first book contract was offered eleven years to the date I left my employment. That book was also an Adirondack Romantic Suspense, The Other Side of Darkness, which won the Selah Award for debut novel.

 Like the plot twists of many a novel, this writing journey has been fraught with setbacks, disappointment, and challenges I never expected, but I would not trade this journey for anything.

 A writing life is worth the challenges!! Do you write from an outline, or just from inspiration, or both?

 My writing process is more from a mental outline than a written one. I generally know my BME (beginning, middle, and end), major characteristics of my main characters, and my message (which I believe is the controlling aspect as I write). Most of my narrative is inspiration, but the said inspiration is followed by putting my seat to the chair and just writing. I revise according to a five-point plot system (initiating event, inciting event, a crisis event, a climax event, and a resolution (dénouement).

 What an interesting process you have! Do you have any common  underlying themes that you want your readers to come away with?

 My theme is on my website: With God, our worst past becomes our best future.

 That's beautiful! Do your characters share any traits with you or someone you know?

 I use my experiences and life lessons to develop many of my characters, or they are inspired by people I knew. I think I identify with Marci’s faith struggles. After my divorce, I didn’t believe I could be a true Christian since I failed God. Everything I thought I knew about being a Christian was questioned. But God met my resistance, showed me his unwavering and unconditional love, and moved me forward to an abundant life.

That's a great testimony! God is so good to us!

Do your characters ever surprise you?

Though I have an idea of how my book should evolve, often, in the course of actually constructing the book, God leads me elsewhere than I originally intended. I am the kind of writer who allows for God’s intervention and detours. But having a concept of where I want to go and the message I want to convey helps me from going down unintentional rabbit holes. 

Oh, those rabbit holes!! Do you have a favorite character in your books?

I love all my characters like a mother loves all her children. But I think my favorite was Ahmed Fared, a Muslim raised by adoptive Christian parents, from The Fifteenth Article, a futuristic political thriller. An honorable man, he is caught in a whirlwind of dramatic political upheaval and can find no path to a reasonable solution until he surrenders his pride and arrogance to someone greater than himself, surrendering to the Savior of his adoptive parents.

What are you working on now?

My work as a managing editor for Elk Lake Publishing keeps me busy … work I love to do. But I am also a writer and have a need to continue my creative spirit. My next work in progress is a speculative/Biblical fiction, Babel’s Children, (how’s that for contrasting genres?), a book I have been working on for twenty years … just not quite been able to see the book in it’s message and entirety. I am a third of the way into the book now but had to put it aside to do some intensive Biblical research. I now know my BME and my characters’ major conflicts and how they will be resolved. I am anxious to resume my work. First however, I must complete work on several special projects for Elk Lake. Theses are fun so I don’t mind. All in God’s good time. (Sounds like another book I should write?) I also have an incomplete Adirondack Suspense I’d like to get back to. I have two more releasees in 2021: The Ghosts of Trumball Mansion and my first middle-grade sci-fi, G.L.I.C.K. I am contracted for a completed devotional series, Lessons Along the Way, release date uncertain at this time, based on my ten years of articles for my hometown newspaper. The column is no longer running and the rights reverted back to me and have subsequently been picked up as a devotional series by Elk Lake Publishing.

Well, Linda, thanks so much for the interview!! I really enjoyed it!

Okay readers, remember to leave a comment to be in the drawing for a free copy of your choice among Linda's books. Here is a bit more about Linda and also some of her links:

Known for her stories of encouragement and hope, veteran social worker Linda Wood Rondeau now lives in Hagerstown, Maryland with her husband of over 40 years. Having lived in Northern New York for nearly thirty years, the author is no stranger to the Adirondack Mountains, the perfect backdrop for mystery, romance and intrigue. When not writing, the author enjoys the occasional round of golf, movies, and visiting museums. 

The author has been fascinated with the beauty, history, and mysteries encompassed in the Adirondack region, the perfect backdrop for Wolf Mountain Legacy. Find out more about the author on her website, www.lindarondeau.com, where you can read her blog, Snark and Sensibility, and sign up for her newsletter to stay informed. The author is a available to speak to groups, in person or online and will answer all emails from interested readers.

Find her at these additional locations:

Facebook author page: https:www.facebook.com/lindawoodro deau

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lwrondeau

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlindawoodrondeau/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-wood-rondeau

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5352394.Linda_Wood_Rondeau

Giveaway ebook of choice (Amazon author page) 

https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Wood-Rondeau/e/B006FNG1B1

 

 

 

 

 

Shoop, Shoop, Shooping with Kerry Johnson for Some Snowstorm Suspense!

Welcome! Set your ski poles by the door and waddle on in. We're ushering in snow with this new debut author, Kerry Johnson with her Love Inspired Suspense book, Snowstorm Sabotage. And Kerry is giving away one paperback book to one blessed person who leaves a comment or leaves their information on our contact form! Before we freeze over, let's find out more about our guest.

PT: So glad you are here this week, Kerry. Tell us about your genre, how you chose this it, and how the writing bug bit you.

KJ: I’d written several stories before signing my first book contract in 2020, and three of them are part of a middle grade speculative/adventure trilogy that’s near and dear to my heart. I adored writing the action scenes in those stories. I mean, I’d choose a Marvel movie over a rom-com most days (except Christmastime, when I love me some While You Were Sleeping). After writing the middle grade trilogy, I tried contemporary romance, a full length one and a shorter, category romance-length. Then an author friend nudged me to try writing romantic suspense—and I was hooked. It mixed exactly what I love most—action and romance.

PT: Suspense grabs us doesn’t it? Now, what’s your motivation for writing?

KJ: Books and stories feed my heart and soul. They’re inspiring and comforting. I grew up reading tons and making up stories in my head in the woods of Connecticut, talking to trees and acting out scenes. For many years, I truly thought I was a weirdo. Nope, I was just a budding author. 😊 Friends have told me I said I wanted to be an author even back in elementary school, so there you have it.

PT: What helped hone your writing craft?

KJ: Entering contests, writing more books (this is a biggie; don’t spend years focusing on one story like I did—keep writing more!), finding critique partners who have different strengths than I do, and reading craft books. Oh, and attending writing conferences! Those connections and friendships are so important.

PT: Where is Snowstorm Sabotage set?

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KJ: It’s set at a New England ski resort, in a fictional town in Vermont called Maple Creek.

PT: Have you been in a real live blizzard?

KJ: Yes, growing up in Connecticut we had a couple blizzards in the 80s. I enjoyed them because we got to make fires in our fireplaces and snuggle up together as a family, and of course, school was cancelled. Also, my toddler years were spent in Columbus, Ohio, and my parents often recount a huge blizzard in 1977, I believe? Or maybe 1978. Obviously, I don’t remember that one.

PT: Do you ski?

KJ: The ironic thing is that I’ve water skied but never snow skied. So, I watched lots of videos and researched snow skiing for Snowstorm Sabotage.

PT: Do any of the characters in the book have similar personality traits to you or someone you know?

KJ: I would say Everly, my heroine, is very independent and take-charge. I’m independent, too, though not as strong-willed as Everly. I’m not sure I’d be up for running a ski resort like she does.

PT: Is there an inspirational/Biblical theme in this book?

KJ: Yes. The verse I chose for Snowstorm Sabotage is 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” For Everly, it’s trusting God even though it feels like He’s abandoned her. For Isaac, my hero, it’s about recognizing he has value despite what others say about him, because God values him.

PT: What’s your current favorite Bible verse?

KJ: I have so many I pray and recite during the day, Prov. 3:5-6 being one of the main ones. But lately it’s been Psalm 147:3. “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” My dad just passed away after a brief, difficult battle with cancer, and I’ve clung to this verse as my family and I mourn.

PT: On behalf of our readers and myself, we are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family. So, what direction are you headed in now in terms of writing?

KJ: I’m currently finishing revisions for my next romantic suspense, then sending it to my editor at Love Inspired. I’m excited about this new story, and hopeful it turns into a series, because I so enjoyed creating these characters. For NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, in November), I’ll be finishing up a timeslip story that I started last year. For now, though, I love writing romantic suspense for Love Inspired!

PT: My favorite part! Tell 5 things about you that have nothing to do with writing.

KJ: I’m highly distracted by babies and animals.

I’m obsessed with peanut butter.

I love lizards of all kinds and would own ten if I had the room and money, etc…

I tell my bed I love you, bed at night sometimes (this is sadly not a joke. I just love that feeling of slipping into a comfy bed at the end of a long day, especially if it has newly washed sheets)

My husband and I went to high school together, but we never met until we both worked at a local Burger King. He made Whoppers and I did the drive thru. We were sixteen.

PT: Well, that's a wrap. Let's hit the slopes! (You know, turn on a Youtube fireplace and snuggle up to read Snowstorm Sabotage!)

Kerry is giving away one paperback copy of Snowstorm Sabotage. Please leave a comment with your email or contact me on the contact form.

Kerry Johnson has been conversing with fictional characters since her childhood in the Connecticut woods. A long-time member of ACFW, she’s a seven-time Genesis Contest finalist and two-time winner. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her engineer husband, two teenaged sons, her nine-year-old niece, and way too many books. She loves Jesus, long walks, all creatures great and small, and iced chai tea.