Talkshow Thursday: Meet Janetta Fudge Messmer

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Janetta Fudge Messmer

Linda: Welcome and thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your recent release, It’s a Mystery...Birds. Can you tell us a bit about the book and your inspiration for your plot? 

Janetta: It’s a Mystery…Birds is Book #5 in the Early Birds series. As I’ve said to my readers, my characters are not done talking to me yet. My hubby and I brainstorm ideas for my books, and when I came up with this idea of someone tagging along in Betsy or Rose’s RV, and I wanted to make it a mystery, he wasn’t so sure. I couldn’t blame him. It was my first time doing one, but what fun I had writing it. 

LM: You’ve written in a variety of genres. How do you decide which book/genre to write next? 

Janetta: I have to say it’s back to brainstorming. An idea pops into my head and I go with it. One I have in the back of my mind could be either a historical or contemporary. I’m just not sure I want to tackle another historical. 

LM: Research is an important part of writing. What sort of research did you do for It’s a Mystery...Birds, and is there a particularly intriguing tidbit you stumbled on you knew you had to include? 

Janetta: I don’t want to say I didn’t do research for this one, but the readers here today may not know

that my husband and I are full-time RVers. Since It’s a Mystery…Birds is about a famous author tagging along with my main characters, I thought it’d be fun to imagine someone coming along on our travels. What would I have to change in my lifestyle to bring along someone? What if they’d never camped before? How would we deal with having a stranger with us 24/7 in a teeny tiny space? Meals? Quiet time? Entertaining them? 

LM: What sort of routine do you have for your writing? (e.g. do you write at a certain time during the day, set up somewhere specific, etc.) 

Janetta: Since I don’t have a designated place to write, I’ve learned I work best in the morning hours, or when my husband is off doing something. Another reason I write in the morning; we like to go sightseeing in our travels. Getting my writing done early leaves the rest of the day free. 

Linda: What is your favorite part of the writing process? 

Janetta: Since I write Comedy, I look for comical scenes for my characters. The crazier the better. Those are the most fun to write. I enjoy when my readers tell me that my words made them laugh. Side Note: I also crack myself up at time. I tried being serious in my writing, but it didn’t work for me. I also enjoy editing. I’m an editor at heart. Back to writing, I’ve written long enough now that I can cut a scene if I don’t think it works. Years ago (i.e. first book – Early Birds), I thought every word was a precious gem. HA!!! 

LM: If money were no object, where is your idea of the ultimate vacation? 

Janetta: Taking around-the-world cruise 

LM: What is your advice for fledgling writers? 

Janetta: DO NOT GIVE UP. Take some time to pray about whatever they’re working on. Listen. The answer will come. 

LM: What is your next project? 

Janetta: Right now I’m editing a memoir. Next writing project is another Contemporary Romance. No title yet. 

 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Janetta: Janetta Fudge Messmer, Author of Christian Comedies (with a touch of Romance). 

 

Books are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01DWHA1EW 

E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com

Website: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

About It's a Mystery...Birds 

When Betsy Stevenson signed up for the writer’s conference, she thought she’d see her Houston friends and learn more about the craft of writing. However, rain, canceled flights, and a chance meeting with Dillon McCloud (a mystery writer and keynote speaker) turns her life into a back-to-back adventure. 

 

And the mayhem has to include Rose Wilford, Betsy’s bestest friend in all the world. Especially since she ‘happens’ to show up at the writer’s conference, and she isn’t a writer. While she’s there – Rosie invites Dillon to join them on a girl’s trip in her RV. The famous writer accepts.
 

Monday morning, they’re on the road. And they are no more than fifty-five miles when suspense and intrigue come knocking at the RV door. Not to mention seeing lingerie where you’d never expect to find undergarments. 

 

It’s a mystery, for sure. 

 

Follow the Early Birds, plus one, on a journey where snooping around leads them to more than clues. It may even include a little matchmaking amid criminal activity. Is there actually a crime, or is it all a marketing ploy for the mystery author to sell her latest novel?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2WzMslH

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Valerie Goree!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Valerie Goree!

Linda: Welcome back and thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on the release of Justice at Dawn. What was your inspiration for the plot? 

 

Valerie: Since this is the last novel in my Stolen Lives Trilogy, I wanted to return to characters from the first novel. Although they feature in the plot, the story revolves around Cooper, IRO’s training officer, and his new recruit. What does it take to become an IRO agent? What training do they undergo and what skills do they need? 

 

LM: What draws you to write in the suspense genre? 

 

Valerie: I read romantic suspense so it seemed natural for me to write in that genre. I love to create a hook at the end of a chapter to entice the reader to keep turning the pages. A story that only focuses on perfect characters and their wonderful lives would be boring, in my opinion. So I love to put my hero and heroine in difficult situations and ratchet up the trouble. 

LM: How did you come up with the idea for the International Retrieval Organization? Is there something similar in “real life?” 

 

Valerie: IRO is my creation, a detective agency on steroids, with superior technology and unlimited funds. What fun to create a story world where my characters’ ingenuity is supported by the organization’s resources. 

 

LM: Your story is set in California. Did you choose that location for a specific reason? Have you had the opportunity to visit the area where you set your story? 

 

Valerie: Weep in the Night and Day of Reckoning, books one and two in the Trilogy, are set in

California. Although IRO has branches in other states, I needed my hero agent to be based in San Diego for this plot. I have visited San Diego and San Juan Capistrano. Although I have not spent time in the Caspers Wilderness Park, I relied on Google maps and my imagination for the cabin scenes. 

 

LM: What authors have influenced your writing? 

Valerie: I’ve been privileged to be part of a critique group for many years. As I write today, I can “hear” various members’ comments from the past. Corrections to problems I always made, the comma guru adding or deleting, insightful suggestions to improve the scene. I appreciate all the help I received from Catherine Leggitt, Marcia Lahti, Marcy Dyer, and you, Linda. 

 

LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do? 

Valerie: I wish I could ice-skate. As a youth, I loved to roller skate, but since I grew up in a small town in Central Africa, we had no access to frozen ponds. When I attended university in the USA, I visited friends in Colorado one Christmas break. They took me ice-skating at Estes park. Well, I spent a lot of time on the ice but not on my feet. 

 

LM: What is one piece of advice you’d like to offer to fledgling writers? 

Valerie: Read novels in your genre, attend workshops or conferences, read craft books, join a critique group, but most importantly, hone your skills by writing, writing, writing. You can only improve your skills by “practicing”. 

LM: What is your next project? 

Valerie: One of my publishers is sponsoring a series of novels under the umbrella theme of “My Mother’s Secret.” My character’s mother worked in a genetic research lab. When Anna reads the will, she is astonished to discover… Aha. You’ll have to wait until that novel is published. 

 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Valerie: 

Website: http://www.valeriegoreeauthor.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMasseyGoree/

About Justice at Dawn:

 

Cooper Callahan has been an International Retrieval Organization operative for fifteen years. In all that time he has never worked with a trainee like Kitty Claire Briggs. Overflowing with energy, KC isn’t quiet long enough for him to think. But when the boss assigns them a training mission to follow Sadie, his wife, KC’s serious side emerges. Sure, former stunt double, KC, wants to be an agent, but she also has an ulterior motive to be accepted by IRO—she wants access to their superior technology. Can she locate her quarry without Cooper finding out? As Cooper shares the finer points of surveillance with KC, his waning faith is strengthened by her enthusiasm for the Lord and for the job. When the training exercise turns into a real abduction, will KC’s naiveté lead to death or to a successful conclusion to the case?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2V7lIZA

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Daphne Self

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Daphne Self

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. You formerly wrote under the pen name D.M. Webb. What made you decide to use a pen name and why did choose to begin using your real name?

Daphne: When I wrote under D.M Webb, that was my name at the time. I was a widow when my first book was published. When I remarried, I did publish one book under D.M Webb, but when I met with readers or vendors, they addressed me as “Mrs. Webb”. That felt odd because I was no longer a Webb. To me, it honors my husband to claim his name in all that I do, so I switched to Daphne Self.

LM: The age old question for writers – are you a planner or a “pantster,” and what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Daphne: I’m a hybrid. I will plot out certain guidelines, such as where I want my character to go, what I want him/her to do, what kind of conflict will they meet and at what time in the story. The rest is pure organic writing. I write as the story develops in my head.

LM: You write children’s and adult fiction. What is different about the two genres and what is the same?

Daphne: I’ll start with what is the same: I have to capture and keep their attention. The difference is that with children, I don’t need a lot of details. Their imaginations fill in the gaps. And I also don’t show the nitty-gritty side of life. My children’s books are meant to be fun and engaging to the readers. As for my adult fiction, they can be read by teenagers, too. Depending on the story, I will show the consequences of sin, but never the graphic part of sin. I like to bring hope and healing to my stories. And because my life is centered around Christ, it is only natural for me to have that in all my books.

LM: How do you decide which project/genre to work on?

Daphne: It depends on which one is calling out to me the loudest. I’ve already submitted my nonfiction book that chronicles the daily ups and downs of being diagnosed with a chronic illness. And now I’m working on another novel that is set in South Carolina. Their story calls to me because it deals with a lot that we see in the world today. My side projects are the next children’s book of the series, a sci-fi novella, and a romantic comedy.

LM: What’s the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Daphne: My life is quirky, but honestly, I can’t remember anything that is the quirkiest. I guess you could say I surprise people on the elevator when I strike up a conversation with them. I’m a southern gal living in the Midwest. Apparently, people up here don’t understand that Southerners know no strangers. They are taken aback by me doing this, but they eventually relax, chat, and leave with a smile. Oh, there are times on social media that instead of a post, I tell my how my day went by using GIFs. I like to emoji talk.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Daphne:

Sweet or salty foods? Give me a combo!

Ocean, lake, or mountains for your vacation? I love the ocean but have found a fondness for the mountains. Been on vacations at the Gulf of Mexico and at various lakes, so I think I would like to try the mountains next.

Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter as your favorite season? I love fall, the crispness of the air and the change that can be felt. The world prepares to sleep, and it all seems quieter. Winter is my next favorite. I think because my favorite holiday happens during that season.

LM: What is your next project?

Daphne: I have two releases that will happen next year: Alabama Days and Journey On. And I’m working on Sons of Carolina, a 3-part story about brothers. Then I am writing The Case of the Vanishing Teddy Bear. This is the second book in my children’s series The Adventures of Wilhelmina. And I’m working on a romantic comedy, which is the first time I will write in 1^st person.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Daphne: I have a blog turned website: www.authordaphneself.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordaphneself/

Instagram: @authordaphneself

Twitter: @DaphMichele

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/daphne-self

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorDaphneSelf/

I can also been found on Goodreads, Amazon, and The Book Club Network (bookfun.org)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Mary Ball

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Mary Ball

Linda:  Welcome back. You’ve recently had two books release back-to back. What was it like to juggle the two projects?

Mary: At times, challenging. I have to keep focused on the deadlines.

LM: Did you always want to be a writer or did that desire come later, and if so, how?

Mary:   Later. When I stopped public work to keep my oldest grandson, I found time on my hands and started writing Christian articles for Exmainer.com. From there an idea for a fiction novel began and a year and half later Inspired Romance Novels published my first novel, Escape to Big Fork Lake.  

LM: You’ve written multiple books. Where do you get your plot ideas, and are they ever based or inspired by true stories? 

Mary: Not really. I believe I get inspiration with the Lord’s nudging. An idea forms and will tug at me, until I begin to put it down on word.          

LM: What sort of research did you have to do for Awaken the Past?

Mary: I live in a small town but didn’t have knowledge of the police procedures in small towns so I needed to find out a few things. I also researched gas lines on older model cars.    

LM: How have you dealt with writer’s block?

Mary: I try not to let it grab hold of me for long. Most time, if I open my WIP file and read the last chapter, or the one I’ve started, it won’t be long before I’m diving into it again.   

LM: How to you prepare yourself for writing? Do you have a routine you follow?

Mary: No. I’m busy with church obligations and my youngest grandson so I have to make use of every chance I get to sit down with at my desktop or with my laptop.

LM: What writing projects are on your plate right now?

Mary: I have a Christmas novella due in September that will part of Romancing the Christmas Angel boxed set by Winged Publications. The stories are set in 1930-1945 and are based on a good-hearted, caring heroine. I choose 1945 (when war ended) as my date because this is my first Historical and I knew I’d need lots of research. During that period, many men came home from WW11 wounded. My hero deals with being an amputee. While researching, I was astonished to discover The National Academy of Sciences (an American governmental agency) established the Artificial Limb Program in 1945. The program began the many improvements made and changed the quality of life for many.

I’m also looking forward to my next mystery novel project with age 50+ heroines, set in a small town.

                  

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

Mary: 

Website: http://www.marylball.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracefulbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inspires4mary
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8757890-mary-l-ball

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authormary/                   

 

About Awaken the Past:

Everything Laurel believed about her childhood suddenly changed.

During her mother's illness, Laurel discovers unsettling things from her past. She travels to the small town of Silver Springs, North Carolina to search for the truth. She arrives in town and senses people watching her every move. Even the easygoing police officer Chad Wilkes gives her the cold shoulder.

With trouble following her, the Lord is the only one she can trust. Can she find the secret to the past and open her heart to more changes?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2XwoZRl

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Alice Arenz!

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

Talkshow Thursday: Sarah Hamaker

Talkshow Thursday: Sarah Hamaker

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. You write both fiction and non-fiction. How is the process for writing both genres the same for you? Different?

SARAH: Totally different! For fiction, I have a general idea where the story’s going, but let the characters “tell” me what’s going to happen next. For nonfiction, I follow a more specific outline.

LM: How do you decide what project to work on next?

SARAH: It depends on if I have any contracts. Naturally, I’m working on projects that have a firm deadline over projects that might not have found a publishing home yet. It’s always good practice to fulfill your obligations first, then write what you want.

LM: Research is an important part of the writing process. What are some of the ways you have researched your books?

SARAH: I’ve based my fiction books so far where I live, and so I use my own knowledge of the geography, plus Google maps to fill in the gaps. The Internet can be so wonderful to look up quick facts and find statistics, but it can be difficult to make sure you’re looking at reputable sites and not getting sidetracked down too many rabbit holes. I also belong to a crime-writing listserv, where I can ask technical questions to make sure my romantic suspense novels are as accurate as possible.

LM:  How do you balance working from home with the chaos and activity that can be associated with family?

SARAH: Now that all of my four kids are in school, it’s a little easier to put in the hours with just my cats for company (although they can be rather needy at times too!). But I’ve also been purposeful with my time and have learned to say no in order to meet my deadlines. Also, by thinking about my writing as a business and not a hobby, I guard my writing time and structure my day in order to have time for both my freelance writing clients and my book projects. If you don’t think of yourself as having a writing career—whether or not you’re published—you will find it easier to put off writing or let your writing time be consumed with other projects.

LM: What advice do you have for fledgling writers?

SARAH: Write every day! And stick with it for the long haul. I’m still learning what I don’t know about writing. Have a teachable spirit, and for writers, that means, have an editable spirit, one that takes feedback on your work and seriously considers the merits of the suggested changes. No one writes perfectly the first draft (or second, third, …), and learning how to receive critiques will help you grow in your writing a lot faster than if you don’t.

LM: Here are some quickies:

SARAH:

Favorite vacation spot: It’s a tie between East Machias, Maine, and Sanibel Island, Fla.

Favorite childhood book: Nancy Drew, the original 1930s editions

LM: What are you currently working on?

SARAH: The first of a planned romantic suspense trilogy.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

SARAH: http://www.sarahhamaker.com

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Johnnie Alexander

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Johnnie Alexander

Linda:  Thanks for stopping by. Congratulations on your upcoming release, Match You Like Crazy which is part of the Resort to Romance series. What was your inspiration for that and how did the opportunity come along?

Johnnie: Authors Jill Kemerer and Jessica Patch came up with the premise for this delightful series. I didn’t hesitate a second when they asked me to join the group. All the titles needed to have the word match in them so that was my starting point. My mom, who died a few years ago, and her oldest grandson used to say to each other, “I miss you like crazy.” That was the inspiration for my title, Match You Like Crazy. The story idea flowed from there!

LM: You’ve done a lot of traveling. What has been your favorite trip thus far? And is there one special place you want to make sure you visit?

Johnnie: Two years ago, my sister and I landed in Barcelona, Spain with Eurail passes and a vague itinerary. For the next few days, we traveled by train from one European city to the next before flying to Lisbon where we stayed in a Home Away apartment for a week. We saw the ruins of a Roman coliseum in Nimes, ate lunch at sidewalk cafés in Milan and Madrid, bought chocolate in Switzerland, and just had a great time.

We’re hoping to go to Vancouver in a year or so. I’ve never seen the Pacific.

LM: You’ve written historical and contemporary fiction. Do you prefer one genre over the other?

Johnnie: I always feel a bit like a mom with a favorite child answering this question. I mostly write contemporaries—and I love writing them—but my heart is with historicals. The World War II era is my favorite.

LM: Do you have a set routine to prepare for writing (e.g. listening to music, etc.) and is there a time of day you are more productive?

Johnnie: Usually I spend the morning taking care of emails, social media engagement, and my to-do list. But after lunch it’s just me and whatever world I’m inhabiting at the time. (Currently that’s eastern Tennessee in 1944.)

Chris Pratt (vanityfair.com)

LM: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you like to see play the main characters?

Johnnie: The main characters are based on and named for my son and his lovely girlfriend—Nate and Bre. Could they be in the movie?!?! One of the supporting characters is a Chris Pratt lookalike.

LM: What is one thing you’d like to learn how to do?

Johnnie: I’d like to learn how to write a screenplay. And play an Irish whistle.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Johnnie:

Favorite Season: Spring

Favorite childhood book: The Secret Garden

Favorite Bible verse: “Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” (Ecclesiastes 11:7).

LM: Can you tell us what writing projects are on your plate right now?

Johnnie: I’m writing a historical novella, “Blue Moon,” for Barbour’s Hometown Heroines Collection which will be released next year. My heroine is in a Women Officers of Public Safety unit (WOOPs) who goes undercover to find a saboteur at the atomic bomb research facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during World War II.

Annie’s Fiction has contracted me to write three novels for their Inn at Magnolia Harbor series. These are light-hearted stories set in a bed-and-breakfast near Charleston, South Carolina. The first of those is drafted and the other two are outlined.

And . . . I’m very excited to be part of the Mosaic Collection, an international group of award-winning, best-selling authors writing contemporary novels in a variety of genres—romance, mystery and suspense, women’s fiction—which will be releasing once a month beginning this August.

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

Johnnie: I mostly hang out on Facebook so please join me on my Author Page or Profile. For exclusive content and the chance to win fun prizes, please subscribe to my newsletter at http://wwwJohnnie-Alexander.com.

Match You Like Crazy Book Blurb:
They have everything in common. So why aren't they a perfect match?

Bre Fisher wishes she'd said no when her grandmother gave her a trip to Matchmaking Week, especially when Nate Hunter takes the seat beside her on the puddle-jumper to Joy Island. He's the last person she expected to see.

Nate figures he might as well not go home if Bre is his match. The longstanding business rivalry between their families makes romance with a Fisher impossible.

Yet in addition to the same family expectations and obligations, Bre and Nate have the same interests-maybe even the same dream.

Will a week on Joy Island spark another feud? Or prove they're a crazy perfect match? 

Pre-order (release 04/30/19): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ND4N2Q5

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Author Kathleen Neely

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Author Kathleen Neely

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your upcoming release (tomorrow!) The Street Singer. It sounds like a wonderful book. Where did you find your inspiration for the story?

KATHLEEN: I love novels that focus on relationships, particularly inter-generational. I also enjoy reading stories that involve the legal system—law suits, court cases, attorneys. The Street Singer is actually my second novel, although the first to reach publication. When I finished my first novel and breathed a bit sigh of relief, my mind went to work weaving story lines, building and discarding ideas, until I decided on what eventually became The Street Singer. It’s about Trisha, a final-year law student, and Adda, a once famous recording artist known as Adaline. Although it’s their story, everyone loves a little romance. That keeps things interesting.

LM: Research is an important part of the writing process. What sort of research did you do for The Street Singer? Did you unearth anything that was totally unexpected?

KATHLEEN: I wouldn’t say ‘unexpected’ but I believe it holds some interesting elements. Most people know a little bit about the legal system. I knew enough to get myself in trouble if I hadn’t consulted an expert. Actually, two experts. I reached out to an attorney who read the legal portions of my manuscript and provided feedback on my misunderstandings, then passed it along to her husband whose area of law was more closely compatible.

An interesting sub-theme shows the renovation of an older home. That research was easy for me. My husband has worked for decades in every area of home building. He walked me through each phase of the work.

LM:  What is your favorite part of the writing process?

KATHLEEN: Unlike what I hear from many authors, I enjoy editing—not the line editing checking for every punctuation mark. Once the skeleton of a story is written, I enjoy embellishing it, bringing it to life with words. I go through my manuscript many times, looking to add sensory details and thinking through the emotions that should be evident.

LM: You are a retired educator and an avid reader. Who are your literary heroes/heroines?

KATHLEEN: I have so many authors that I admire. I can’t name a favorite, but I’ll tell you some specific works that live in my heart. Charles Martin’s Water for the Heart, Lisa Wingate’s Before We Were Yours, and Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale.

LM: What has been the most challenging part of the road to publication for you? What advice do you have for fledgling writers?

KATHLEEN: The hardest element of publication has been the unknown. I like a step-by-step outline of what comes next. It’s very exciting to receive the first acceptance, but it would have been great to know that, from that point, things would move s-l-o-w-l-y. I’m a buckle your seatbelt and get it done personality.

My advice for fledgling writers is this—surround yourself with people in the industry. Garner all of the help they can give you. I’ve found writer’s to be the best and most willing mentors. Read trade books on writing and attend conferences.

LM: Here are some quickies:

KATHLEEN:

Favorite season: Definitely Spring

Favorite vacation spot: Hilton Head Island

Favorite place to write: I have a home office where I often write, but when no one is home, I love to take my laptop to the kitchen table where natural light is abundant.

LM: What are you currently working on?

KATHLEEN: I’m working on a story about a mother’s love. After a teenage pregnancy, she gave her baby up. Twelve years later, she has another chance to be part of his life. Until the unthinkable happens. That’s all you get. No spoiler alert.

LM: Sounds intriguing! Where can folks find you on the web?

KATHLEEN: The best way to reach me is my website. Readers can sign up, learn more about me, and read about my three upcoming releases at http://www.KathleenNeely.com.

I can also be reached on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/kathy.neely.98

Follow my Twitter page at www.Twitter@NeelyKneely3628

The Street Singer:

Trisha Mills, a student in her final semester of law school, has fond memories of listening to the music of Adaline, a once famous recording artist. She learns that Adaline, now Adda Marsh, is a street singer in Asheville, NC. Adda’s sole means of support in her senior years comes from the donation box. Along with her meager possessions, Adda has a box labeled, “Things to Remember.” Adda agrees to show Trisha the contents. With it comes her story. Adda reveals her journey by sharing a few items at a time, beginning as a sharecropper’s daughter in Mississippi, to fame in Nashville, and to poverty in her old age.

Trisha is busy cleaning out the home of her deceased grandfather, preparing to sit for the bar exam, and planning her wedding to Grant Ramsey. However, she cannot overlook the injustices that Adda has experienced. Aided by Rusty Bergstrom, an attorney who will work pro bono, Trisha convinces Adda to seek restitution. Will her growing friendship with Rusty Bergstrom affect her engagement to Grant?

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Kimberly Rose Johnson

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Kimberly Rose Johnson

Linda:  Welcome back, and congratulations on your latest release The Sleuth’s Dilemma (book 2 in The Librarian Sleuth series). What was your inspiration for this particular story?

Kimberly: As I was writing the first book Anna’s story started percolating in my head. At the time I wrote these books I worked in a high school, so I think my daily life there also helped to inspire Anna’s story.

LM:  I love series. Did you set out to write The Librarian series, or did that come later? How many books are planned?

Kimberly: I set out to write this as a series. Three books are contracted, with an open door to write more. That being said, my schedule at this time doesn’t allow for more than the three books. But you never know.

LM: What do you to prepare yourself for writing? Do you have a process you must adhere to in order to be productive?

Kimberly: I like to ease into my day lol and that applies to writing too. For example rather than jump into my story world at seven in the morning, I’m choosing to work on this interview. J I have found this to be a helpful way to “ease” into writing. The one thing I need to do before I start my creative writing though is spend time with the Lord by reading my Bible. My day/writing goes 100% better when I take some time to be with Him first.

LM:  Do you write a part of yourself in any of your characters? Or how about friends and family? Are they in any of your books?

Kimberly: Yes. Most of my characters do have a piece of me in them, some more than others. I would say this series is the least like me of all my books, but I did use the high school aspect of my life in this book.

LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do?

Kimberly: Crochet. My mother-in-law had planned to teach me once I graduated college but her life was cut short and that never happened.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Kimberly:

Favorite color: It depends on the day and what it’s for, but I’m often drawn to purples and blues.

Favorite actor or actress: Candace Cameron Bure

Favorite food: Avocados with a little salt. Yum!

LM: What is your next project?

Kimberly:  I am currently writing the third book in this series. J  After that I will be working on a Christmas screenplay. I quit my day job so I’d have time to pursue my other passion too—writing for movies.

LM: How exciting! Where can folks find you on the web?

Kimberly: 

Website https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimberly-rose-johnson

About The Sleuth's Dilemma
Anna loves her job as a high school English teacher until everything goes sideways. The one bright spot in her life it Titus Gains, the school counselor, who is there for her at every turn. Titus' boss complicates his ordered world when she tasks him with running a meeting that changes everything. How had he not noticed Anna earlier? Someone is out to destroy her, and he can't let that happen.

As the head of the English department, part of Luke Harms' job is to make sure everything runs smoothly. Things went haywire when Anna was put in charge of the big writing contest. Entries are missing, Anna appears to be in danger, and her job is on the line. Luke is investigating and wants to make things right for this woman he's starting to care about.

Can a trio of school officials along with Nancy Daley, the town sleuth, stop the saboteur before it's too late? And will Anna choose the right man, or lose them both?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2DSwHuA

Talkshow Thursday: Meet April Smith

Talkshow Thursday: Meet April Smith

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your debut novel Loving Grace. What was your inspiration for the story?

April: Thanks for having me! I’m happy to be here. As far as inspiration goes, I knew I wanted to write Christian fiction for teens pretty much from the start of my writing adventure. That part was easy. Figuring out where I wanted the story to take place was also a pretty easy choice for me to make. All of these one liners (mostly said by Grace) kept popping into my mind. And because most of the things were in some way related to a watermelon farm or a watermelon queen, I knew where Grace’s story would take place. So in some ways, the inspiration came from my time working in my best friend’s family watermelon farm during the summer and my time as a watermelon queen.

LM: The age old question for writers – are you a planner or a “pantster,” and what is your favorite part of the writing process?

April: For the most part I’m very much so a planner. I have a color coded outline and each scene is mapped out. I use a notebook for each manuscript, and I record things that I might need to remember or pictures I see that inspire me for a particular scene. I like to see where the story is going and know what my ending will look like too. But with that being said, it’s very important to leave yourself room as a writer for inspiration.  Even with Grace’s story, entire scenes got switched around from their original outlined order. Some scenes were not even in the original outline, but I’m thankful that I allowed myself a little bit a “pantster” attitude so that when inspiration hit I was free to go with it. This is also one of the things I like most about writing—getting an idea and seeing where it takes the story.

LM: How did you get started as a writer, and how did you decide to seek publication?

April: Well, it really started in high school when my high school English teacher saw something in my writing. And then again in college when one of my professors mentioned it. And then as a middle school English teacher myself, writing is pretty much a large part of my day—every day. But as far as writing my manuscript, it started a couple of years ago when I was reading a book, and it inspired me, that maybe I could do this too. I knew I wanted to write Christian fiction, and that I wanted to write for teens. So I wrote a manuscript, went to a conference, had the manuscript critiqued, and most excitingly of all, the person doing the critique liked it! That gave me the courage to submit it, and to begin the road to publication.

LM: Other than being a watermelon queen, is there any part of yourself in Grace?

April: I wouldn’t say there is any particular part of me in Grace. I do always try/hope to create characters that people can identify with though.

LM: Here are some quickies:

April:

Favorite childhood book: The Secret Garden.

Favorite food: Watermelon salsa…it’s the truth, that stuff is so good.

Favorite vacation place: The beach! Warm sand and the sound of crashing waves is my favorite way to relax.

LM: What is your next project?

April: I’m working on two right now. One that is also set in the world of watermelons. There are some new characters as well as old characters in that one. The other one is about two totally different people who have to work together to achieve their separate but equally important goals.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

April: You can connect with me on Instagram (aprilsmith_books) and Twitter (@aprilsmithbook). I also have my website: www.aprilsmithbooks.com or my Facebook page.

Book Blurb:  Loving Grace

Grace Summer lands herself in a melon load of trouble when she becomes torn between the boy of her dreams and the boy almost next door. As the newly-crowned watermelon queen, she is thrust into the spotlight, meets the dreamy Warren Hartley, and continues trying to get oven an accident that rocked her world. Mix in working with Beau Baron who Grace happens to fight with just about as much as breathing and the metaphorical sparks fly.

Like most things in life, Grace must learn to take the good with the bad. While the good is the handsome and fun Warren Hartley, the bad is Beau Baron—or at least being around his annoying and rude self way more than she would like. For Beau, Grace is nothing more than aggravating and an irritating reminder from the night of the accident. Tensions soar as Grace and Beau fight to love themselves and maybe, just maybe, each other.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P56KDT

Talkshow Thursday: Author Ellie Gustafson

Talkshow Thursday: Author Ellie Gustafson

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your newest publication An Unpresentable Glory. How did that come about and where did you get the inspiration for the title?

Ellie: It all came from a real-life incident, as related in the Preface:
The night before my husband’s dad died, I volunteered to take the night shift, as a bladder infection made him restless and required constant attention. I sat beside him, serving him—my father-in-law—as needed. But through those difficult hours, I felt I was on holy ground, the room peopled with angels.

This awkward stint of servanthood affected me profoundly, eventually moving me to write An Unpresentable Glory. Whatever hidden, “unpresentable” ways He asks us to serve may reflect God’s glory more vividly than our more well-dressed benevolences. Places or situations that are awkward and not for public view may become God’s platform for displaying His love. This love could be for all to see (presentable) or only for the eyes of the participants.

LM: You have published several books. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Ellie: Editing each book—at least fifty times! Writing the first draft is really hard, but I find joy in pruning and scrubbing and polishing text until it shines and sings. Each re-edit comes from a fresh perspective.

LM: Research is an important part of each book. Can you describe a time you had an “aha” moment while researching one of your books?

Ellie: I needed the Teddy Roosevelt National Park to be open on Christmas day—which it’s not. However, I learned that the public road that runs through from south to north has to remain open to provide a corridor for people who live north of the park. YESSS!!!

LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example, do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?

Ellie: I can’t write while listening to music. Music speaks its own emotional language and requires its own attention. I can’t work “bi-lingually.” I prepare for each day—whatever I’m doing—with a time of Bible and other devotional reading, along with prayer. If I don’t keep the right focus, nothing—writing included—amounts to much.

LM: You live in New England, a beautiful area of the country. If money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?

Ellie: That’s a hard question. I don’t think in those terms. Vacation, though, is different from destination. I think, at my age and stage, going on a pre-planned tour, with people to feed and water you, take care of your luggage, and drive you to gawk at whatever swell place, sounds really good.

LM: What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Ellie: Place: Supai Canyon, Arizona. Occasion: Visiting an Indian mission at the base of a thousand-foot cliff. People involved: Four—me, husband, father-in-law, missionary. Activity du jour: Climbing the thousand-foot cliff. Quirky event: Halfway up, I, wearing old and fragile slacks, feel the seam giving way. Soon, only the hems at the bottom of each leg hold the slacks together. Me—with three men fore and aft—my unpresentable moment! Response: A good laugh for all.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Favorite Color: I don’t have a favorite color. I’m waiting for the new colors I’ll see in heaven.

Favorite Food: Hot, homemade bread!

Favorite Season: Spring

LM: An Unpresentable Glory is your final novel. What big plans do you have for retirement?

Ellie: Right now, unprogrammed, uninterrupted sleep sounds pretty good.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Ellie: www.eleanorgustafson.com

Book Blurb: 
Linda Jenson leads a relatively quiet life in Westchester County, New York, as the owner of a highly-acclaimed garden. Inherited from her parents, the garden is her pride and joy. What is not so joyful is finding a strange man sprawled near her delphiniums! The mysterious man is sick, unable to do anything more than drink water-and beg for secrecy. Ignoring all alarm bells, Linda sees to his needs, but her caring act takes on unexpected significance, an unpresentable glory.

Seeds of trust, and perhaps love, are planted in Linda's garden haven. But as secrets are revealed and scandal hits the headlines, the act of caring for this man threatens to tarnish both of their reputations. Like weeds in Linda's garden, circumstances threaten to choke out their fledgling relationship, and small moments prove to be the biggest influencers-on a national scale.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DTFFL9R