QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS!

I wasn’t sure what to write about today so I decided to ask my Facebook friends if they had any questions for me. Boy, they came through big time! I’ll tackle a few of them today and save the rest for future posts.

Here goes!

Sue asked: “When did you realize you were a writer?”

Great question, Sue. I was working at a bank in Wichita, Kansas. I’d lost my dream job, the thing I thought I’d been called to do, and was pretty discouraged. I had no goals. No idea of what to do next. I’d been very blessed at the bank, but I knew this wasn’t the way I wanted to spend my life. I’d been watching “Murder, She Wrote”and kept thinking I’d really like to be Jessica Fletcher. (Without the high body count. LOL!) I loved reading, especially mysteries. So one day, during my lunch hour, I decided to see if I could write a novel. I started out with Chapter One, but by the third page, I was convinced this wasn’t for me. This was too hard! I couldn’t figure out what to write about, and getting the words down was almost painful. I’d decided to stop, delete what I’d written, and try to find something else to do with the rest of my life. But a little voice inside me told me to try one more time. So, I did. This time when I put my fingers on the keyboard, they began to fly. The words and ideas poured out and that has never stopped. Although I still had a lot to learn about the craft, I knew that day that I was a writer!

Pam asked: “How in the world did you come up with Kaely Quinn and her quirky profiling methods?”

I actually dreamt about her, Pam. This had never happened to me before (or since) but in my dream this female FBI profiler was sitting at a table. No one sat across from her. Then she began to profile an UNSUB (unknown subject). As she talked, a figure began to form in the chair across from her. Finally, someone sat there. The profiler had figured out exactly who they were looking for. Then the dream ended.

I was so excited the next morning I called my editor at Bethany House and told her about the dream. She gave me the go ahead to write about my unusual profiler. And so, MIND GAMES, FIRE STORM, and DEAD END were born.

I’m hoping God will drop another great character into my head sometime. I love Kaely.

Melissa asked: “Why don’t more authors include people with disabilities in their books?”

I can’t speak for other authors, but I hear you. Actually, I’ve created several characters with disabilities. In SIMPLE DECEIT I have a young man with Down Syndrome. I named him Drew. After the book was released, I heard from a young lady whose brother had this same diagnosis. And his name was Drew! She even sent me a picture of Drew. That really blessed me. I’ve also included several characters with disabilities into several of my Guideposts books.

But…I’m taking this as a nudge to make sure I continue to add different kinds of characters. That includes other ethnicities and those with disabilities. Our writing should reflect real life as much as is possible, shouldn’t it?

Jennifer asked: “Death, murder, crimes (especially against a person) can sometimes be hard to read. Have you ever had hard time writing about a specific crime or researching it? Have you ever had an idea for a crime that after you researched it, you changed your mind?”

Yes, sometimes it’s very difficult. The truth is most serial killers are motivated by sexual urges. These urges are usually satisfied in very perverted and disturbing ways. I don’t include this in my books. As much as I can, I try to present the crimes committed in my stories in a way that won’t upset readers. I try to focus on solving the crime and catching the bad guy. Not the crimes themselves. Murder mysteries and suspense novels are a struggle between good and evil and I like that. Although I try to keep readers on the edge of their seats, I don’t want to give them nightmares!

One other thing: In my books, children and animals are off limits. I won’t write or read mystery or suspense novels if a child or a pet is harmed.  

That’s it for now. I’ll come back with more of these questions in later posts. If I answered your question, send me a private message with your address. When DEAD END comes out, I’ll send you a copy.

I’ll also pick someone who comments below and send them a copy of DEAD END! Be sure to include your contact information. If I don’t know how to find you I can’t mail you a book!

God bless you all!




 


 

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 FBI's prestigious BAU.

Her newest book, FIRE STORM, book two in her Kaely Quinn Profiler series, is now available. Book three, DEAD END, will be released in March. 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 part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook.

 

What's Hot in Inspirational Suspense by Mary Ellis

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? 

Sarah Sundin just released The Land Beneath Us 

Sunrise at Normandy series, book 3 

With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal and the Allied invasion of France looming, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, though all the while believing his fate is to die in battle.

Growing up in an orphanage, Leah Jones longs to rise above her lonely upbringing and find a place to belong. With a job as a librarian at Camp Forrest, she uses her spare time to search for her real family-the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he also rescues her virtue by offering her a marriage of convenience. But can their new relationship withstand the trails of grudges, foreboding dreams, and D-day? Artfully blending emotionally rich romance and historical accuracy with heart-pounding battle scenes.

Buy it at Christian book.com here: https://www.christianbook.com/new-3-the-land-beneath-us/sarah-sundin/9780800727994/pd/727997?event=Fiction|1000643#CBD-PD-Description

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 Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

Wednesday Nancy Mehl will answer questions from readers. She’ll also be giving away a copy of her upcoming release, DEAD END, the final book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series.

When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have

seen before--Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn's father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.

Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She's always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she's hated for years.

As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?

Preorder it here.

Friday, we’ll hear from Suspense Sister Sharon Dunn. Check out her upcoming novel, MOUNTAIN CAPTIVE. (Released on March 1^st)

Trapped in a blizzard,

Can he complete his rescue mission?

Private investigator Jude Trainor won’t give up on finding a kidnapped little girl—even after the suspect runs him off a mountain road and sends bullets his way. But when Lacey Conrad steps in to help Jude, the criminal sets his sights on her. Can Jude and Lacey outlast a snowstorm and a person who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks?

Preorder it here.

The Suspense Sisters

We love books!

What Are You Reading on Valentine's Day?

by Patricia Bradley

Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd tell you about a couple of romance stories I've read recently. One is Janet Ferguson's Star Rising. It's a sweet romance perfect with lots of conflict, especially since the hero is convinced the heroine is trying to scam his mother. But can you blame him? Star is a recovering alcoholic and druggie. Here's the back cover copy:

Star Youngblood has always been a fighter–a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.

After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray—a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted—his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.

You can purchase Star Rising at Amazon for $4.99!

Another book I've read lately is Secrets, Lies and Crawfish Pies. Isn't that a great title for a book! This one's a cozy mystery and it has the promise of a romance that I think will take place over the course of several books. Here's the back cover copy:

While this story is set in East Texas, it could be set anywhere in the South, especially my home state of Mississippi. Dr. Romaine Wilder returns kicking and screaming to her hometown of Roble, Texas. She thinks this is a temporary move, but her Aunt Zanne has other ideas. And what Aunt Zanne wants, Aunt Zanne gets.

When a body is found in the family funeral home, Romaine feels she has to get involved in solving the crime when Zanne becomes a prime suspect. I like that Romaine’s occupation isn’t your usual one for a cozy. I’m looking forward to more stories from Abby L. Vandiver!

You can get this book on Amazon for $2.99

So that's it for Valentine's Day for me. I'm making my honey Chicken Alfredo with sun-dried tomatoes and bow-tie noodles from scratch. I've never made it before and if it turns out well, I'll post the recipe on my next blog post. If it doesn't...

 What will you do for Valentine's Day? Leave me a comment about the books or your plans and I'll enter you in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card!

The story behind a new historical mystery and a GIVEAWAY

Happy Wednesday, suspense readers. Mary Ellis here. Today Suspense Sisters welcomes back Donna Schlachter who has a brand new historical mystery, Double Jeopardy. I asked Donna to tell us about the history behind her story:

When most people think about opening up the Wild West, they picture cowboys, wagon trains, and, of course, the gold rush. And all of those would be true and very important to the reasons why folks left the relative comforts of the East—that being everything east of the Mississippi—to head into the Great Unknown. Some were adventurers, like Becky’s father, who simply couldn’t let a horizon stay in front of him but wanted to see beyond every mountain and every body of water separating him from “over there.”

The Colorado Gold Rush started in 1858 and lasted until around 1861, bringing thousands of miners, and just as many ancillary workers such as drovers, liverymen, blacksmiths, prostitutes, saloon keepers, and swindlers. However, apart from a few areas such as Cripple Creek, which saw its biggest mining deep into the 1890s, most of the gold petered out as quick as it was found. An interesting tidbit is that silver was discovered because so many were looking for gold. Exactly twenty years after gold was first discovered, silver was found in the area of Leadville and covering a three-hundred-mile swath from the San Juan Mountains to the Foothills west of Denver.

Here's a little about Double Jeopardy: Mining, murder—and a mock marriage? New York City socialite Becky Campbell inherited more than a speck of her father’s wanderlust. Now his murder bequeaths her a mystery, a ramshackle homestead, and a silver mine. Zeke Graumann signs on as Becky’s foreman to keep his portion of his family’s ranch. He shares the workers’ reservations about a woman boss, especially one who burns water and prances around in dungarees. Even though she did look awful good in the dungarees. Then a series of accidents add threat to tension. Can Becky trust Zeke, find her father’s killer, and turn her mine into a profitable venture? Will Zeke be forced to give up his ranching dream to win Becky’s heart?

Double Jeopardy is available at https://shoplpc.com/double-jeopardy/ Amazon.com, and fine booksellers in your area.
 

Donna Schlachter lives in Denver with husband Patrick. As a hybrid author, she writes historical mystery under her own name, and cozy mystery under her alter ego of Leeann Betts, and has been

published more than 30 times in novellas and full-length novels. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, Sisters In Crime, and Christian Authors Network; facilitates a critique group; and teaches writing classes online and in person. Donna also ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management. 

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com
www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Leave Donna a comment for a chance to win a signed print copy of Double Jeopardy. US readers only. Drawing in one week. 

What's Hot in Inspirational Suspense by Mary Ellis

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery?

Tom Threadgill has a brand new mystery 

just released from Revell. 

 

Tom Threadgill might be new on the mystery-writing scene, but he’s no stranger to the genre as a full-time author, editor, and a member of the thriller/suspense publishing board for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. With a riveting storyline and memorable characters, suspense fans will be turning pages well into the night with his newest novel, Collision of Lies.

Three years ago, a deadly collision between a freight train and a school bus full
of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But what if one of the children may still be alive? When an unexpected lead turns up, San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez must convince others—and herself—that despite the evidence, law enforcement does not know the whole story. With time running out, Amara will do everything in her power to bring the missing child home.

Buy it from Christian book.com here: https://www.christianbook.com/collision-of-lies-tom-threadgill/9780800736507/pd/0736500?event=Fiction|1000859#CBD-PD-Description