What's HOT in Inspirational Suspense by Mary Ellis

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? Daniel Schwabauer has a brand new suspense, Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney, releasing today from Enclave Publishing.

Here's a little bit about the story: Can Justice Save the Earth from Extinction? Maxine Justice is an ambulance-chasing lawyer desperate for relevance and cash when aliens hire her to represent them before the United Nations. An off-planet consortium wants to heal humanity of every natural disease in exchange for 30% of Earth’s gold reserves. The deal launches Max to legal stardom and makes her an international target for assassins. MediCorp, Star Cross, PharFuture—the big medical companies all have good reasons to want Max out of the way. Worse, she discovers her alien clients may be planning something more sinister than anyone has imagined. Can a lawyer who failed the bar exam three times find some way to save the world from global and interstellar conspiracies? Or will humankind’s future end in a galactic courtroom?

You can buy Maxine Justice, Galactic Attorney from ChristianBook.com HERE

Have a great week of reading! ~ Mary Ellis, Suspense Sisters 

What's HOT in inspirational suspense by Mary Ellis

 Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense? Kelly Irvin has a brand new suspense, Trust Me, available today from Thomas Nelson. 352 pages. 

 
Here's a little bit about the story: Her best friend is murdered the same way her brother was years ago. Is there anyone she can possibly trust? A decade ago, Delaney Broward discovered her brother’s murdered body at the San Antonio art co-op he founded with friends. Her artist boyfriend, Hunter Nash, went to prison for the murder, despite his not-guilty plea. This morning, Hunter walks out of prison a free man, having served his sentence. This afternoon, Delaney finds her best friend dead, murdered in the same fashion as her brother. Stay out of it or you’re next, the killer warns. Hunter never stopped loving Delaney, though he can’t blame her for not forgiving her. He knows he’ll get his life back one day at a time, one step at a time. But he’s blindsided to realize he’s a murder suspect. Again. When Hunter shows up on her doorstep asking her to help him find the real killer, Delaney’s head says to run away, yet her heart tells her there’s more to his story than what came out in the trial. An uneasy truce leads to their probe into a dark past that shatters Delaney’s image of her brother. She can’t stop and neither can Hunter—which lands them both in the crosshairs of a murderer growing more desperate by the hour.

In this gripping romantic suspense, Kelly Irvin plumbs the complexity of broken trust in the people we love—and in God—and whether either can be mended.

You can buy Trust Me by Kelly Irvin HERE

Have a great week, lovers of inspirational suspense and mystery. ~ Mary Ellis 

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

 

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

 

On Tuesday Patricia Bradley will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

 

On Wednesday, Nancy Mehl will talk about endings--the different ways books can end. 

And speaking of books, check out the ending of her latest book, Dead End.

And on Friday, Sharon Dunn will talk about what it means to be single on Valentine's Day and how that shows up in her romantic suspense books.

Check out her books on Amazon!

 

We love Books!

INTRODUCING A NEW SUSPENSE SISTER! (AND YOU'LL LOVE HER!)

I want to introduce our brand new Suspense Sister, A.D. Lawrence. She is one of the most talented people I've ever met! She can crochet (you should see what she made me!), she can play the piano, and boy, can she write! 

You'll love getting to know her. And watch for her upcoming book, THE PURPLE NIGHTGOWN! 

Here's Amy:

Hey, Ya’ll! 

 

I’m super excited for the opportunity to introduce myself and talk suspense with such a fun bunch. 

 

I’m A.D. Lawrence, and I write Christian suspense. My debut novel is releasing on March 1st as part of Barbour’s True Colors series. It’s titled The PurpleNightgown if you feel the urge to check it out. 

While writing has always been a dream of mine, true crime drew me like a siren song from the time I was eleven. My parents weren’t huge fans of us watching cartoons, so I grew up on things like Forensic Files, Dateline, and Body of Evidence. From the time I was a teenager, I wanted to get inside criminal minds and figure out how they operated. Come to think of it, that might have been one of the plethora of reasons I didn’t have many friends growing up. While I was reading about John Wayne Gacy and developing a healthy fear of clowns, other girls my age were dishing about makeup and boys (not sure if that’s what they really talked about since I spent a good deal of time reading in my room, but that’s what I assume based on my limited knowledge of normal people from shows like Lizzie McGuire.)

 

I gave up my dream of writing for about a decade, figuring it was just that … a dream. I mean, how many people get to spend their life doing what they love? So I holed up in my house, watching Investigation Discovery, and thinking I’d try applying to the FBI--because that is so much more realistic. One day a few years ago, a friend of mine told me about a book she was writing. Her excitement breathed new life into the desire I thought had died. Turns out it was just lying dormant until God was ready to use it. I tried a few genres and learned that I’m terrible at writing anything romantic. You might be thinking, “Oh, you can’t be that bad.”

 

Trust me. I’m the least romantic person on the face of the earth. Those initial emotion-charged scenes are painful to read and they’ll never see the light of day. But through trial and error, I realized that my love of crime might translate into something usable in the story world. When I started writing my first suspense novel, I got this overwhelming feeling that I’d found God’s calling for my life. Even though so many people thought my fascination with investigations, serial killers, and all things crime was disturbing, God didn’t give me that inclination for nothing. 

 

Isn’t it a comfort to know that the quirky, misunderstood parts of us are useful to God? He made us as we are for a reason. To equip us for a task only someone with our talents and interests can accomplish. We just have to be willing. 

 

What is something you love that makes you unique? Let me know in the comments for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. I look forward to your responses and can’t wait to get to know each of you better.

 

Interview with Gina Holder

 

Good Wednesday! Today I'd like you to meet an author I recently discovered when I read her Shadows over Whitman series, starting with No Greater Love and then Forgiven Again. Gina is giving away a copy of No Greater Love! And I'll give away a digital copy of Forgiven Again. By the way, you can read my review of both books here and here.

So, let's get started.

What do you do when you're not writing? Any interesting hobbies?  

When I'm not writing, I spend my time reading and reviewing other Christian fiction. I also love spending time with my family. We love playing board games and watching TV together. 

Our new favorite game is Ticket to Ride. It's great for people of all ages. The initial concept is simple to understand but not too simplistic for more advanced players. 

 As far as hobbies, I collect key chains and have collected fifty or so. 

 My husband and I love to participate in Escape Games both virtually and in person. We've done six of them. I love trying to solve different types of puzzles. They really get my adrenaline pumping. For her 13th birthday, we are taking our daughter and her friend to experience their first escape room.

 No wonder you have such interesting twists in your books, Gina! What was your favorite book as a teen or child? 

When I was a child, my favorite book was If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. As a teen, my favorite book was The Measure of a Heart by Janette Oke. That book touched my heart on such a deep emotional level that I desired to do the same with my stories. It made me want to write in a way that as my characters overcome personal hardships that my readers can embrace the lessons they learn and apply them to their own lives. 

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers. 

I'm a fairly picky eater. There is a long list of foods I won't eat, and the older I get, the list seems to be lengthening. I love playing video games. But I'm not particularly good. One of my favorite dates with my hubby is going to places like Dave and Buster's. (Arcades) I don't play them much anymore, but I enjoy them whenever I can. I'm not competitive. At all. I feel bad when I win because my opponent lost. I prefer to make others feel good rather than win. That doesn't mean I don't put my heart into whatever I do; it just means I don't mind losing. 

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? 

My debut novel was a historical romance titled Whither Shall I Go? I love history and historical novels; however, to write them well involves not only a lot of tedious research but also the ability to use that research without bogging down the story. 

And while I still love the idea of crafting historical novels, contemporary fiction was simpler. I don't have to worry about whether a particular word was used, whether they had wall to wall carpet, and how long did it take to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a steamer ship. 

 But I didn't set out to write romantic suspense, either. I'm a fearful person and get frightened easily. However, when I started No Greater Love, book 1 of the Shadows Over Whitman series, I was just writing along. (I'm a definite pantser.) Suddenly, this man is watching my protagonist leave the bookstore where she worked, and I thought, "Oh, hello. What are you doing there?" 

Since the male protagonist was a police officer, it just made sense to include a crime spree. And before I knew it, the crimes and the characters were all intertwined, and I had a romantic suspense novel. I found that I love leaving clues throughout the story plot and revealing details along the way. I can do it in a way that isn't gory or frightening but intriguing and page-turning. I write suspense in the way that I want to read them. 

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be? 

As a teen and young adult, I spent most of my time writing and bettering my craft, but when I married in 2007, I stopped and instead spent most of my free time watching movies or reading. It wasn't until I was homeschooling our daughter eight years later that I began writing again to have something to do while she did her classwork. I took the story that I had started as a twenty-year-old and reworked it until it became my debut novel. 

I wish I would have used my free time in those early years more productively. What is the most valuable piece of advice you'd like to give to unpublished authors? The most valuable piece of advice I'd like to give unpublished authors is something that I had to learn recently. If you believe God has called you to write stories, then write. And even if your book only ever touches one life, you have obeyed Him. And that's all He asks of us 

I so agree, Gina! Here are the two books in the Shadows over Whitman Series:

She's looking for her birth mother. He's looking for a thief.
Will each find what they are searching for?

Paige McDonald, an avid book collector, discovers a forgotten Bible. When the Bible reveals that she was abandoned on the steps of a fire department, she begins a journey to search for her birth mother.

Hamilton Bryant, a Patrol Officer, has sworn off romance, reserving his passion for the town he's sworn to protect. When Paige's arrival in Whitman coincides with random thefts and threats against the mayor, Hamilton is compelled to investigate the newcomer.

When the danger gets personal, can Paige save her reputation before she ends up in jail for crimes she didn't commit?

She’s running for governor. He’s a pastor.
Will they risk their lives to keep a secret?

Annie Staten, now known as Kathleen Phillips, has dreamed of pursuing a political career and following in her father’s footsteps. But Richard was a hated man during his tenure as governor and now his enemies will stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from winning the election.

Ryan Whitestone has loved Annie since high school, but his heart is broken by the woman she has become. When the daughter she gave up for adoption comes back into her life, can he help her heal from her pain and remind her of who she used to be?

Will Kathleen be able to forgive herself, put the past behind her, and find love again?   The continuing story of No Greater Love.

Gina Holder dreamed of being a writer from her early teen years and lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. When she's not homeschooling her daughter or working on her next novel, she enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking, singing, and playing the piano and organ. 

Her indie-published debut novel released in 2017. You can purchase both books for 99¢ each at Amazon.

I'm giving away a digital copy of Forgiven Again, and Gina is giving away a print copy of No Greater Love to one random-drawn commentor. (US Addresses only for print book) In the first book, Paige is seeking the mother who gave her up at birth. If you didn't know who one or both of your parents were, would you search for them? 

Be sure to leave your contact information!

Readers can contact Gina at:

Blog: http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/storiesbygina Instagram: http://instagram.com/storiesbygina Twitter: http://twitter.com/storiesbygina Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gina-Holder/e/B074HC9SHX Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gina-holder Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17074375.Gina_Holder

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE by Patricia Bradley

Patrica Bradley

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery?

Lynette Eason has a book releasing TODAY!

Sarah Denning is a military journalist with the Army in the Middle East when her convoy is attacked and she's taken hostage. When former Army Ranger Gavin Black is asked by his old unit commander--Sarah's imposing father--to plan an extremely risky rescue, he reluctantly agrees and successfully executes it.

Back in the US, Sarah is livid when she's discharged on a false psychiatric evaluation and vows to return to the Army. Until she learns of her brother's suicide. Unable to believe her brother would do such a thing, she puts her plans on hold and enlists Gavin to help her discover the truth. What they uncover may be the biggest story of Sarah's career--if she can survive long enough to write it.

Strap in for another breakneck nail-biter from bestselling romantic suspense author Lynette Eason that will have you up turning pages long into the night.

You can purchase Acceptable Risk at:

Amazon

B&N

Christian Books

Hot new Inspy suspense!

Twenty-year-old Claire Davis, newcomer to Juniper Creek and official sorter for Lochlan museum, has one question…
Who broke into the local thrift store, and systematically destroyed all the second-hand merchandise?

And… why?

Aided and abetted by Alec Collins, her twenty-four year old neighbor, and loaded with enough curiosity to kill a cat, Claire searches for answers.

Claire and Alec soon discover there’s more to the collectible killer’s motive than a hatred of collectibles, and that their harmless investigation…

…is anything but.

















Twenty-year-old Claire Davis, newcomer to Juniper Creek and official sorter for Lochlan museum, has one question…
Who broke into the local thrift store, and systematically destroyed all the second-hand merchandise?

And… why?

Aided and abetted by Alec Collins, her twenty-four year old neighbor, and loaded with enough curiosity to kill a cat, Claire searches for answers.

Claire and Alec soon discover there’s more to the collectible killer’s motive than a hatred of collectibles, and that their harmless investigation…

…is anything but.

GET THEM IN TROUBLE, OR HAVE THEM EAT SOMETHING

by E.E. Kennedy

“Get them in trouble, or have ‘em eat something.” That was the sage advice given to me by a writing teacher some years ago. It was what you were to do when your plot became stuck.

Plotting is the vital job of the fiction writer and there are many ways to go about it. Some folks like to be very systematic. I read somewhere that the famous humorous novelist P.G. Wodehouse would write synopses of individual scenes on 3x5” cards, tape them in a line along the wall running around the room. Then he would move the scenes around, delete one or two, or add some. Other authors like to write detailed outlines of their plots. It provides a handy skeleton on which to hang characterizations, dialogue and description.

All that is much too orderly for yours truly. I like to start with the germ of an idea, a vague overview of a story, then plunge in writing. I know where I’m heading, but not exactly what road I’ll be taking. As I write, I find new ideas and aspects popping up.

 Nonetheless, one day, there was a moment when I became mired. The story was getting boring. What could my character do? Amelia was walking home from church. It was around noon, so I had her step into a local diner and eat something. A few pages later, Amelia is sitting in her house, trying to figure out the meaning of the elusive initials, UDJ. All well and good, but something needed to happen. Again using the above advice, I got somebody in trouble. It was Vern, Gil Dickensen’s young nephew; he had witnessed a shooting and Amelia was the first person he thought to call.

I’m a fairly straightforward person, so it takes some effort for me to work up a circuitous plot. Nonetheless, readers expect complexity, especially if your book has been billed as a mystery. Nobody can just walk across a room, they must trip over something, or encounter a cat, or find a clue. Theoretically, everything, absolutely everything, in your story should move the plot forward. The eating thing can sometimes be a bit problematic for me because as everybody knows, Amelia is a terrible cook!

Another important rule of thumb is that your characters should want or need something important. Perhaps there's something they need to find out, or locate. Maybe they just want to know why. But whatever it is, it should be important enough to make the reader care whether the character achieves his goal. There are levels to this, and sub-plots. You can have two or three characters all wanting something different. Just make sure you don’t confuse the reader. In Gone With The Wind, Scarlett O’Hara wants to have enough money to “never go hungry again.” And Rhett Butler wants Scarlett’s love. By the end, Scarlett has her wish fulfilled, but we’re in some doubt about Rhett’s.

By the end of your story, something or someone--especially your protagonist--should have been changed in some way. At the end of my first mystery, IRREGARDLESS OF MURDER, Amelia’s life is radically different. She is living a new life in another house. And she is happier. Now, I favor resolution in my stories, but having a clear, definite and positive resolution in a book doesn’t necessarily mean a totally happy ending for everybody. By the end of IRREGARDLESS, Marie LeBow has experienced both a tragedy and a miraculous, bittersweet reunion.

In the sequel to IRREGARDLESS,  DEATH DANGLES A PARTICIPLE, I got to use the "eating" device in the school lunchroom. It was fun describing how appealing--or unappealing--the food was. Plus, there's a mini-mystery about why Amelia suddenly finds coffee so obnoxious! As for getting someone in trouble, I think being accused of a brutal murder fills the bill there!

Book three of the Miss Prentice series, MURDER IN THE PAST TENSE, begins with eating. In a flashback, Amelia and her friend Lily are at the local teenage hangout, enjoying ice cream floats and contemplating being in summer theater that summer. She gets in lots and lots of trouble, too, involving the mafia, a missing person and an Adirondack hermit!

In book four, INCOMPLETE SENTENCE, I decided to do something a little different. Toward the end of the book, Amelia has gotten good and sick of running into bodies, and who can blame her? As she puts it, she has had her life threatened at least four times and has testified in two murder trials. She's just plain tired! Don't worry, though, I still got her in trouble and getting out

of it definitely involves food! 

So here I am, working on book number five (THE VILLAGE IDIOM), and I must admit, it's a challenge finding something new and fresh to befuddle the reader. I am working with the ghost of an idea, a plot twist "stolen" from Agatha Christie. It involves Amelia going back to teaching, a new and extremely obnoxious school principal and a "bad seed." And that's all I'll be saying about that!

_____________________________________________________

The Miss Prentice books are available in Ebook or paperback at Christianbook.com, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

If you'd like a chance to win a Kindle Ebook copy of the mystery of your choice, just leave a comment below WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. I'd love to hear from you and/or answer any questions.

Hot new inspy suspense!

Traces of Guilt, by Dee Henderson

Gabriel Thane is the sheriff and lifetime resident of Carin County Illinois, committed to upholding the law and keeping the residents safe. Lieutenant Evie Blackwell is a State Police Detective skilled at investigations. She launches a new task force to reexamine unsolved crimes across the state. She begins work with the sheriff’s department on a few of its most troubling missing-persons cases, a deputy, his wife and eleven-year old son’s disappearance, and in an unrelated case involving a six-year-old girl abducted from a hotel. As she examines old evidence, she finds a connection to a third cold case.

Springing into a new season...with a crazy spring contest!

Spring has sprung around here. What's that mean? My flowers are sproinging to life, deadlines are looming, and my teaching job kicks into high gear with standardized testing. Busy, busy, busy as the bees on my lavender plants! I thought I'd provide some fascinating facts that you might not know about the zingy, springy month of April.



- Of the eight US presidents who died in office, three died in April.


-April is the first month of the year with exactly 30 days and the only month with an “i” in its name.



-“April” is an anagram of “pilar” which means “hairy”.



-April begins on the same day of the week as July every single year.


April also means it's time to spruce up my newsletter subscriber list, so I'm doing an extra fun contest. The details are in my YouTube video so click the link and check it out if you'd like to participate. https://youtu.be/j0ac0Xp0560

Finally, tell me what you love about spring!

Lessons Learned from Walks on the Beach by Mary Ellis

Do you remember the age-old story about the starfish? As told to me as a child, a young girl was walking along the beach with her grandfather when they happened upon thousands of starfish left behind with the tide. When Grandpa picked up one to fling back into the waves, the girl did the same. One by one another they returned the creatures to the sea before the scorching summer sun killed them. After a while the child peered up and wailed, “This is hopeless! There’re only two of us and thousands of them. What difference can we make?”

The sage grandfather pulled another starfish from the sand, its glistening surface almost completely dry, and flung it as far as he could into the surf. “You’re right. We can’t save them all, but I’m sure we made a difference to that one.”

That story has stayed with me my entire life, the concept returning in various applications: I recycle my water bottle instead of adding to a receptacle overflowing with plastic. I attempt to purchase green cleaning supplies and recycled paper products despite the plethora on the shelves. Americans are continually challenged to do the right thing ecologically…or as Christians. In the modern world it’s tough to walk the narrow path with every thought, word, and deed. How about the Bible’s command to introduce the saving power of Christ to non-believers? With the world’s population only thirty-three percent Christian, how can a humble fiction writer from Ohio have any impact whatsoever? But perhaps like the starfish dying in the sand, it might make all the difference in the world to the few I do reach. Each journey must begin with a single step, whether we’re reducing waste, helping the sick, or introducing a reader to the positive influence of Christian fiction.

Mary Ellis has written twenty-one novels. Her debut book, A Widow’s Hope, was nominated for a 2010 Carol Award. Living in Harmony, won the 2012 Lime Award for Excellence in Amish Fiction while Love Comes to Paradise won the 2013 Lime Award. She is currently writing Secrets of the South Mysteries. Book one, Midnight on the Mississippi, was a finalist for the RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award, and finalist for Daphne Du Maurier for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Book two, What Happened on Beale Street, won the Judge a Book by its Cover for Inspirational Romance. Her current book is Sunset in Old Savannah.  www.maryellis.net or www.facebook.com/Mary-Ellis/Author

Please leave Mary a comment along with your email address for a chance to win a signed copy of Sunset in Old Savannah. US and Canada only.

An interview and a giveaway with Lynette Eason!

We are so excited to welcome amazing author Lynette Eason today! Please enjoy her bio and the blurb for her newest book, Moving Target. Lynette has graciously offered to give away a copy of her book, Moving Target, to one lucky commentor! Let's meet Lynette!

Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award-winning author of almost forty books including the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, the Hidden Identity Series and the currently releasing Elite Guardians series. She writes for Revell and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists. She has won several awards including the 2013 and 2016 Carol Award in the Romantic Suspense category. She also placed in the top ten (out of thousands of entries) in the James Patterson 2016 co-writer contest. Lynette teaches at writing conferences all over the country. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of RWA as well as the Kiss of Death (KOD) chapter. Lynette can be found online at www.lynetteeason.com and www.facebook.com/lynette.eason and @lynetteeasonon Twitter.


Blurb for Moving Target:
The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.

But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she's next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.

Bestselling author and fan favorite Lynette Eason drops readers right into the action in this fast-paced new series with a unique twist. Readers will love these strong female characters who put it all on the line to save lives.


Here are some questions to help us know Lynette better:

1.  Of all your dozens of published works, which holds a special place in your heart and why? It’s always the one that is most recently DONE. LOL. Although, right now, I have to admit, I’m leaning toward Moving Target. I REALLY had a good time writing that.

2. What hobbies do you have outside of writing? WHAT? There are hobbies outside of writing???? Okay, okay, when I’m not writing, I’m usually reading. Or eating. (Notice I didn’t say cooking.)


3.  Where's the most amazing place you've ever been and why? Oooh, tough one. I’ve been A LOT of places. I would say, I loved Europe.  Paris, London, Prague, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Amsterdam, Brussels, and more. It’s hard to pick!

Thank you so much for being here, Lynette!

Fall Fun Survey...What's on YOUR plate this fall?

Honestly, though the weather here in Northern, CA is still in the 90's during the day (this drought is JUST not going away), we're seeing signs of fall. First off, my box turtle is slooowwwwiiinnnngggg dooowwwwwn. She reacts to the number of daylight hours and the cooler nights, so she's even better than a groundhog at predicting the weather. Second, there's an avalanche of pumpkin themed foods in every grocery store. 

Since fall is definitely on the way, I thought it would be fun to see what's "falling" in your life right now, peeps. Answer the questions below if you'd like. I'll pick a participant who will win a print or digital copy of Abducted, my newest suspense with Love Inspired Suspense. (If you've already got yourself a copy, I'm happy to give away any of my other titles, if I still have them. ) Ready? Here goes!

1.  What is your favorite fall activity? 

2. What is your favorite fall food? 

3.  What is the weather like in your region in the fall? 

4.  Of course, what book is on your bedside table for those long cool evenings? 

And just for fun, I've included this TOTALLY SERIOUS VIDEO I made a while back to welcome fall. Think Masterpiece Theater here, peeps. 

Interview and a giveaway with LIS author Jessica Patch!

Let's welcome author Jessica Patch! Jessica has graciously offered to give away a copy of her new Love Inspired Suspense, Fatal Reunion! Post a comment to be entered to win! 

SS: What genre do you write and why? I write romantic suspense and contemporary romance.

I’ve always loved romance and falling in love, so naturally it’s going to be in all my books. And I find that the greatest love is the love of Jesus. It’s a Divine romance of pursuing so I can’t help but weave that through the pages. I also write suspense because I love a good mystery (I tend to write more of a whodunit) and my main message is always hope. The world is full of evil and horrific things. When I write suspense, I have the opportunity to show love, grace, mercy, and the opportunity to rise above frightening circumstances and find hope in all that darkness. 

 SS: Tell us about your current release. Protective Duty is my 2nd Love Inspired Suspense and it follows Eric Hale, who was a minor character in Fatal Reunion, and FBI agent Bryn Eastman. They’re working to solve a serial murder case in Memphis, TN. It’s a little tense since they were once a couple until a tragedy ripped them apart, not to mention the killer sets his sights on Bryn. I love a reunion romance!

 SS: Where did you get the idea for this book? Good question. As I wrote Fatal Reunion, Eric Hale was written for comedic relief but as the story unfolded, he let me know that he had a story to tell. So…I guess it came from my fictional character. Ha!

 SS: Tell us about your main character. Bryn Eastman, is my heroine. She was once a swimmer with dreams to be a swim coach but a terrible event put her on a new path and she’s now an FBI agent specializing in victimology. She’s strong and brave, but vulnerable and trying to reconcile everything she’s been through in the last eight years. Eric Hale is a homicide detective for the Memphis Police Department. Eric is funny, brave, protective, and an all-around good guy. He hates how he and Bryn left each other but there really isn’t any way they can be together after what happened. So he’s just been getting by so to speak. 

 SS: Is there a spiritual message in your book? If so, what is it? The spiritual message of this book is: Sometimes our purpose is born from our greatest tragedies.

 SS: What are you working on now? I am about to start the final edits for my 3rd Love Inspired Suspense (Concealed Identity), polish a proposal for another series with Love Inspired, and I’m going to begin a romantic comedy for a collection coming out in the spring. I’m staying busy! But I love it.

 SS: Tell us three things about yourself that would surprise your readers. 

1. I once sort of cheated on my husband during church. Ha! During prayer, our pastor asked us to pray with our spouses, so leaving my eyes closed, I scooted up on my knees, wrapped my arms around his neck and with my lips against his neck began to pray. It was then I realized, he didn’t smell or feel the same…I wasn’t latched on to my husband but the man who had just been released from prison (if I’m lying I’m dying) and was trying out church for the first time. My husband invited him to sit with us and then during altar time, my husband quietly went to pray. I had no idea! I didn’t know what to do, so I finished the prayer! Yes, I did! Then sat down humiliated. 

2. I once crashed into a cop car in the turn lane, shattering his window all over him so he couldn’t get out. I didn’t get a ticket because technically it was his fault. The people gawking were wild. 

3. I don’t like getting flowers. I know, I know. Flowers are romantic and I write romance but I’d rather have the cash. Isn’t that terrible?  

SS: Where can readers find you on the Internet? I’m always on Facebook, Instagram, @jessicarpatch on twitter and of course my website. 

 SS: Anything else you’d like to share with us? I’d love for you to subscribe to my newsletter Patched In. I only share book-related news, sometimes FREE books, and I never give out your email address. Subscribe on my website to the Patched In.