Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Alice Arenz!
Linda: Welcome back! You’ve got two new books out
which is exciting. Dark of Night seems
like a story that could have been torn from the headlines. Where did you get
your inspiration? Any chance it’s based on a true story?
Alice: Hi, Linda.
Thanks for inviting me to join you. The story is total fiction—based on
inspiration from God and my imagination. And, a correction here. Dark of
Night is my only new book—for the Kindle ebook, my publisher attached the
one-liner “Where nightmares become reality.” But the ebook and print are the
same.
I pray a lot before
beginning a project and then wait to hear an answer. First, I heard the title.
Next came the lead character’s name and just a bit of the scenario. It’s a
process that sometimes takes a little longer than I’d like and, at others, hits
me all at once. Maybe it depends on how much I’m really listening. I’m not
sure.
LM: How do you
come up with your characters?
Alice: Once again I have to say it’s prayer—and a
mixture of what comes about organically as I write. As a seat-of-the-pants
writer, I never know what’s going to happen until I’m in the middle of
something. Even then I don’t know the specifics and end up spending a lot of
time asking questions on the computer and to members of ACFW loops.
LM: If Dark
of Night were made into a movie, who would you like to play the main
characters?
Alice: Wow. This is a
question I can’t really answer. It would be awesome to have that happen, but I
wouldn’t have the first idea who would be good in the roles. I’m just not up on
the latest actors and actresses. Other than watching movies now and again on
the Hallmark channels, I’m at a loss.
LM: Did any of your
characters do anything surprising while you were writing the book?
Alice: All of
them. Constantly! As a pantster, I never really know what’s going to happen
next. God reveals enough to get me from one point to the next—especially when I
need to research something. But, that only gives me a generalized idea. I mean,
there have been times I’ve been “urged” to research something that doesn’t even
end up in the current story. All this to say that it’s exciting when the
characters suddenly divert from the direction I thought they were going.
LM: Here are some
quickies:
Alice:
Dinner or dessert? Dinner
Walking or driving? For now, driving
Dog or cat? Cats
LM: What is your
next project?
Alice: I’ve started working on a Christmas
book/novella. I’m hoping it will be a romantic comedy. But, since I never
really know. . .
LM: Where can
folks find you on the web?
Alice: My web site is www.akawriter.com. Unfortunately, the
computer and program I used to update it, quit working—broke my heart! As a
result, the site hasn’t been updated with DARK. 😢
About the book: Determined
to get justice for the brutal murders of her parents twenty years ago, Kelsey
Carol returns to the scene of the crime—Seaton, Missouri. But what she quickly
learns is that every clue brings more questions than answers. And, nightmares
really do come true.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2Rfz3Zi
