INTERVIEW with Suspense Author Jerusha Agen

I'm so glad to welcome a long-time writer-friend to Suspense Sisters this week! Jerusha Agen has a talent for spinning stories illuminated by hope in Christ. 

So how did you get your start writing fiction? 

I started writing fiction from before I can remember! I was one of those writers who grew up inventing my own stories as a young child, when I would often put those stories into a little book made of cardboard and construction paper, complete with my poorly executed illustrations. 

I completed my first novel when in high school, and that was a contemporary Christian romance novel that later became the work now published as If You Dance with Me (after undergoing several revisions and edits to become the book it is now). 

After starting my journey with contemporary romance, my imagination kept wanting to insert dangerous and suspenseful elements into the stories! So now I’ve moved to predominantly writing Christian romantic suspense and other books that are Christian suspense with a breath of romance.

What has being published taught you?

Publishing has taught me a great many important lessons. Among the most life-changing is the need to daily depend on God for everything. I need to trust Him to provide the ideas for my stories, then the words with which to tell them, the keen eye for editing, and the opportunities to publish my books. 

And then begins the part of a book’s journey where I need to trust God for the results with the publication, to get the book into the hands of the right readers, and to generate the sales I need to keep writing!

 What is your favorite part about writing? And what about the least favorite?

My favorite part of writing is having written! Seriously, I do find the most joy in completing a book. That’s a moment of great joy, relief, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the story to reach readers.

My least favorite parts are tied, I think, between the outlining phase and the writing phase. Both can be incredibly difficult and require a great deal of discipline—something I don’t always have in abundance! 😉

 Are you a panster or plotter when it comes to your writing process?

As you can probably guess from my previous answer, I am a plotter! Early on in my career, I was more of a panster, and then I experimented with hybrid approaches, trying to find the fastest, most efficient method that had the best results.

I learned that I could dramatically shorten my production process by taking the time to plot my entire novel first. And, perhaps best of all, plotting essentially eliminates writer’s block and the need for revisions!

Oh, I agree with you there! I'm so excited about your new book!
Would you tell us about Unseen Danger?

Unseen Danger is getting such a wonderful reception from readers! I think the romance in this romantic suspense novel really shines between two very likable leads, Nevaeh and Branson.

Though Nevaeh is a security specialist who works with a protection K-9 partner, she struggles with fear and PTSD. Branson, a celebrity bodyguard, is pretty much fearless, and he also triggers Nevaeh’s fear from the get-go.

But I’ll share a behind-the-scenes tidbit that Branson is probably one of the most likable, sweet, and swoon-worthy heroes I’ve written. And he’s exactly what Nevaeh needs. It takes her some time to realize that, but together, these two have a fun chemistry that I loved writing and am thrilled to see readers enjoying now.

 What’s next on your horizon?

Right now, I’m part of Holiday Menace, a special ebook collection of Christmas romantic suspense novellas with nine other authors. You can preorder the collection on Amazon now.

Then up next in early 2024 is Lethal Danger, Book Four in the Guardians Unleashed Series! I can’t wait for readers to enjoy the story of Jazz Lamont, her K-9 Flash, and the thriller-author hero, Hawthorne Emerson!

Both of those books sound amazing! Thanks so much for joining us today, Jerusha! 

UNSEEN DANGER description:

This woman and her K-9 protect others. 

        Now who will protect them?

After a brutal attack, it took Nevaeh Williams six years to rebuild her life. Now a security specialist at the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency, she faces danger nearly every day. But when an old friend is targeted, her fragile stability begins to crumble.

Celebrity bodyguard Branson Aaberg could lose more than his career if he fails to end the mysterious threat against his client. Soon he’s more concerned with rescuing the tough but vulnerable woman who joins his security team.