INTERVIEW WITH COLLEEN COBLE

USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com and connect at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/colleencoblebooks?ref=hl

S.S: How long have you been writing?

I’ve seriously been writing since 1990. However, I wrote my first story in first grade and have had the dream all that time. When my brother died in a freak lightning accident, it was a wakeup call that I needed to follow my dream.

S.S: Do you write full time? 

Yes, full time! I love getting to settle into my recliner and enter my dream world every day.

S.S: Tell us about the moment you finally felt like a “real author”?

I think it was when my first mystery, Without a Trace, came out from Thomas Nelson. I’d had 18 novels and novellas with Barbour before that, but they were shorter and weren’t on the shelves very long. Without a Trace came out in 2003 and has never been out of print. I really wanted to write romantic mysteries, and it was a dream come true when I finally reached that goal!

S.S.: Who has been your greatest supporter as an author? 

Oh definitely my husband, Dave! He has carted me all over the country to book signings, speaking events, and everything you can imagine. In the early days when I would want to give up hope of publication, he kept encouraging me. I’d be nowhere without Dave.

S.S:  Do you write in any other genres? If so, what?

I’ve written one children’s picture book for my granddaughter titled The Blessings Jar. And I’ve written 2 middle grade books with Robin Caroll set in Rock Harbor. But my main love is romantic mysteries. I’ve written both contemporary and historical in that genre, but mostly concentrate on contemporary stories.

S.S: How does your faith play into your writing?

I write stories with how I look at the world so my faith always makes its way into my books.

S.S: If you couldn’t write, what else would you want to do?

I’d be a naturopath. I am a health nut and am always dispensing health advice, much to my husband’s dismay!

S.S:  Tell us about your current release.

In Seagrass Pier after a heart transplant, Elin begins having flashbacks of her donor’s murder. When she goes to the police, the story is leaked and hits the news. The killer targets Elin, and she turns for help to FBI investigator Marc. It’s set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and readers have been loving it.

S.S: Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

I have a couple of friends who have had various organ transplants. With one of them, I noticed some personality changes and happened to run across an article about cell memory. The stories are incredible! Things like knowing the lyrics to a song the donor wrote and changes like suddenly liking different music. I got to wondering about what would happen if a recipient started remembering a donor’s murder.

S.S: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from your story?

I wanted to discuss identity in the story. Women in particular sometimes struggle as our roles in life change. In Seagrass Pier, Elin is also caring for her mother who is suffering from Alzheimers. Elin is worried about losing who she is as she notices some changes in her personality, and her mother is going through changes too. I want readers to remember that who we are at our core doesn’t change. God has us securely.

S.S: Who is your favorite character in this book and why?

I loved Elin and her courage to get to the truth and protect her daughter.

S.S: Who is your least favorite character in this book? Why?

I dislike people who hide behind a mask so sometimes I wanted to shake Kalianne.

S.S: What are you working on now?

I am putting final touches on The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, book 1 in the new Shadow Bay series set in Maine. It’s a bigger, more complex story than I’ve ever attempted, but it was super fun to write!

S.S: Any writing goals you still hope to achieve?  

Just to make every book a little better than the last!

S.S:  Now let’s get a little personal. Name two things on your “bucket list” that you haven’t done yet.   

I so want to see Australia and New Zealand. Someday!

S.S: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

Get up the nerve to send my book out to publishers. It’s tough to expose your baby to criticism.

S.S.: Where can readers find you on the internet?

Colleencoble.com

If you'd like to win a copy of Colleen's book, Seagrass Pier, leave a comment, along with your contact information.