Nancy
Mehl is a USA Today best-selling author. She’s been a finalist for the Carol
Award twice and won the award once. She was also a finalist for two Reviewers’
Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews and was a finalist for the coveted Christy
Award.
She lives in Missouri with her husband, Norman, and her Puggle, Watson.
She’s authored almost forty books and is currently working on a new series for
Bethany House about an FBI profiler working with the BAU.
Her
newest book, FIRE STORM, book two in her Kaely Quinn Profiler series, is now
available. Book three, DEAD END, will be released on March 31st. Also look for
her books in The Mysteries of Lancaster County series (Guideposts) – co-written
with her daughter-in-law, Shaen Layle.
Readers
can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is also very active on
Facebook.
Today
I’m addressing more questions from readers. If you see your question, send
me your address and I’ll mail you a copy of DEAD END when it’s released.
Thanks
for all these great questions!
Mary
Ensing Zier asks: “When you research the career for your main character, do you
find someone in the field to talk to or do you just do internet and book
searches for the information? And when you give a character a mental issue or a
strange behavior that is not typical, how do you research that?”
Great
question, Mary. Whenever I can I use real people for research. I am so blessed
to have access to a retired FBI Behavioral Analyst for the Kaely Quinn Profiler
Series. And she’ll be a source for my new series which is set in the FBI’s BAU
(Behavioral Analysis Unit). More examples: When I wrote about a character who
did makeup and hair for funeral homes, I got in touch with someone who worked
for a mortuary. She was able to give me important information for my Curl Up
and Dye series. In writing about Old Order Mennonites, I found a Mennonite
historian who walked me through what I needed to know. I also have access to doctors
who answer my medical questions. I still do a lot of Internet searches, and I
have a lot of books that help me, but in my opinion talking to real people is the
best way to make your characters and your scenes realistic.
As
far as the second part of your question, it’s pretty hard to ask people
suffering from a mental issue to explain their behavior to me. I don’t have
access to any serial killers (thankfully!) so almost all my research comes from books. I
found this part of your question to be especially relevant since I’m writing
about PSTD in my new series. I believe I can write realistically about this
disorder since there have been a lot of brave people willing to share
about their experiences.
Patricia
Brooks asks: “What's your least favorite genre to write?”
I
can answer this without even thinking. Romance. Some authors are great at it,
but it’s a stretch for me. I’ve been happy with several of my books that had
romance, but writing them was tough for me. One of my favorites was
UNBREAKABLE. I felt like I nailed the romance in that one. I was part of a
Guideposts series titled the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. My book HORSE SENSE
AND SENSIBILITY had a romantic scene I felt good about. There is also a scene
in DEAD END that made me sniffle a bit. Let’s see how readers like it.
One
last question from Kailey Bechtel: “What do you want readers to take away from
your books?”
I
want to give them an entertaining story. Something to help them escape their
problems for a while. But the most important thing to me is that I say
something that will remind them how much God loves them. I want to bring them
closer to Him. If I accomplish that, I feel I’ve succeeded.
Thanks
for these questions. I hope to answer more in future columns. Again, if I
addressed your question, make sure I have your address so I can send you a copy
of DEAD END!
I'll also send a copy to someone who leaves a comment below! Be sure to give me your contact information.
