Friday, October 23, 2026
GETTING TO KNOW ME...
One of my favorite things is hearing from readers, especially when they have questions! Today, I'm answering a few more of them, and there are still plenty to come. I hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better through my answers!
I believed in God even as a child. I never questioned His existence. I grew up in a church that taught people they had to be members of that particular church to go to heaven. Every Sunday was just a list of the things we weren’t doing well enough. Even so, I went to church every time the doors were open, even when my mother and brother didn’t go. On Sundays, after I learned to drive, I carted my friends to different churches. I was searching for God.
When I was in my twenties, a friend of my mother’s loaned her some books by Hal Lindsey. Then she passed them on to me.
First, I read The Late Great Planet Earth. I found it fascinating. After that came Satan Is Alive and Well on Planet Earth. That was mind-blowing. My church never, ever talked about the devil.
Then came The Liberation of Planet Earth. This one was mind-numbing. Every chapter seemed to say the same thing: Jesus came to earth to die for our sins. We could exchange our unrighteousness for His righteousness.
I was incredibly bored and ready to stop reading it.
One afternoon, on my way to work, I stopped at a red light and prepared to turn left toward the building where I worked. The book was on the seat next to me. I looked over at it and thought, This is it. I can’t read another chapter. Every single one says the same thing. Jesus came to earth to die for our sins so we could exchange . . .
And then I stopped.
I’d been taught that Jesus was the Son of God. I knew He died on the cross. When I was baptized in the church I’d attended for so many years, I was asked if I believed Jesus was the Son of God. I said yes, and that was it. Supposedly, I was saved.
But at that moment, for the first time in my life, I understood the cross—that I could trade my sinful life for His righteousness.
If I were a cartoon, there would have been a light bulb over my head. This sounds nuts, but I swear I could see that light bulb!
That night, when I got home, I got down on my knees and accepted the great exchange.
When I stood up, I was a different person.
Eventually, I found another church where I heard the Word and discovered who God really was.
I never turned back.
Mary Gessner asked: I'd like to know how you got the (brilliant) idea to put the names of your fans in your books. It makes reading them feel a little like reading your own story, not to mention feeling somewhat immortalized. But most of all? It's FUN!
I honestly don’t know what made me do that. I might have seen another author do it. But it really is a blast. I use the names of readers and friends in my books—but only with their permission. I’ve never made any of them the bad guy—even though a few thought it might be fun!
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
WHEN LIFE GOES SIDEWAYS
By Patricia Bradley
I think I've posted about this subject before. That said, I don't know about you, but it seems the older I get, the more life goes sideways. This time, I had just received my edits, and they were due in three weeks. Did I say they were extensive?
But the death of a beloved family member trumped everything. Focusing on edits or anything else was impossible. What do you do when something like that happens?
You do the next thing, starting with prayer. Thankfully, my publisher was understanding when an emergency came up and granted me an extension, but what if it's one of many emergencies? That happens sometimes--you've heard of the rule of three, right? Actually, the rule of three doesn't exactly refer to things happening in threes, and is a whole other blog post, but have you ever noticed how bad things sometimes come in clusters?
Even with an extension and getting back to the new normal--don't you just hate that phrase, new normal? Anyway, I'm finding it hard to wrap my head around how to make the changes the story needs...Like, I need to take a character out, and that means a whole storyline...so what do I do?
I procrastinate.
But procrastinating can be bad, you say. Yes and no. Yes, it will put pressure on me a few weeks from now when the deadline approaches, but since I work better under pressure, that might be good. And no, procrastinating is not always bad because it gives the girls in the attic (guys call the subconscious the boys in the basement) time to sort out what I need to do.
Again, all of this is bathed in prayer, which is my first line of defense. Because bad things are going to happen. All.The.Time. We have to learn how to adjust to things as they happen, and if we're prayed up, it's easier. I'd also been praying that if my brain doesn't start working soon, could I have more time on the deadline?
I learned Friday that was a real possibility and I didn't even have to ask for it. The downside is that the book is being pushed back a couple of months, but at this point, I'll take it. But see what prayer does? God knew my brain wasn't ready to start working yet.
I guess the point of this rambling post is that when life goes sideways, do the next thing after doing the first thing -- pray. At least I'm really excited about this book, and I trust my editors, so the changes will make this a really good book.
So what do you do when life goes sideways? Leave your answer in the comments, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a $10 gift card. And don't forget to enter our $100 giveaway!
Monday, October 19, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
This collection was brought to my attention because the second part of the collection includes our own Suspense Sister Kristen Hogrefe Parnell! I'll be sharing that next week, when it releases, but for this week, here is the first part of this thrilling Christmas suspense collection!
Christmas Under Fire:
A Christian Romantic Suspense Collection
By Dana R. Lynn, Jenna Brandt, Jessica Ashley
Jenna Stone has spent her life believing she was adopted—until private investigator Brody Carson arrives with a stunning truth: she was kidnapped as a child. Hired to find her by the family who never stopped searching, Brody is determined to uncover the truth before Jenna vanishes again. But someone has spent years keeping her identity buried . . . and will kill to protect the lie. Haunted by the loss of his own little sister, Brody sees this case as a last chance at redemption. As danger closes in, Jenna must decide if trusting him will save her life—or cost them both everything.
A Hope for the Heroic Firefighter – Jenna Brandt
Brandon Holloway just got his dream job—fire chief of his small hometown. He’s barely settling into his new routine when a huge arson case falls into his lap, one so complicated he’s forced to call in the county for assistance. What he doesn’t expect is to find himself interested in the arson investigator sent to help him.
Desiree Garcia fought her way into the arson division after years of being iced out. Now that she finally has the chance to prove herself, she’s not willing to let anything stop her from solving her first big case, not even the handsome fire chief at the epicenter.
Will Brandon give into his growing attraction? Will Desiree let down her guard for a chance at love? And what happens when the danger surrounding the case threatens both their lives?
Proof of Life – Jessica Ashley
Maverick built his life on quiet control. He doesn’t even touch the alcohol he serves, but the bar he inherited from his grandfather is his sanctuary, far from the man he used to be.
Until she walks in.
Haunted and on the run, she’s everything he should turn away. Instead, he gives her a place where no one will touch her.
The closer they get, the more the lines he swore he’d never cross start to blur.
And when her past catches up, Maverick will have to decide just how far he’s willing to go to keep her alive.
Get your own copy of this first book of A Thrill Before Christmas HERE!
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley talks about what to do when life goes sideways. She’s also giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. Here’s something about one of her most recent releases – ON THE EDGE OF TRUST.
Sometimes the closer you get to justice, the deadlier it becomes
Tori Mitchell is a passionate crime reporter and podcaster who has dedicated her life to seeking justice. Her relentless pursuit of the truth has freed a wrongfully convicted man from prison, making Tori an enemy of the true killer. When her nephew is accused of a different murder, nothing can stop her from getting involved and clearing his name.
Soon after Tori and Scott reconnect on the case, shots are fired, leaving them to wonder which of them has been targeted. As the investigation intensifies, so do the threats and the sparks between them, but Tori's doubtful if she can extend grace and trust to Scott. They'll have to combine their skills and rely on their growing relationship to outsmart the killer.
Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Elizabeth Goddard, and readers who love faith-based fiction and edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this riveting, clean romantic suspense delivers heart-pounding danger and forced-proximity romance.
ORDER IT HERE
Friday, author Nancy Mehl will answer more reader questions. She’ll also talk about her newest release, FATAL FINALE.
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out.
"Run!" Kaely said.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
Nancy Mehl delivers thrills like no one else in the closure of her high-stakes Christian romantic suspense series full of action, investigations, cryptic clues, and dangerous threats. This promises to captivate fans of Criminal Minds, Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, and Elizabeth Goddard.
ORDER IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Interview with Suspense Sister Marji Lane
I'm so honored to have the privilege of interviewing our very own Marji Lane regarding her latest release, D-Valued! Let's dig right in to the interview and learn more about Marji and her book.
What first drew you to writing suspense, and what makes you keep coming back to the genre?
I was a fan of Christian mystery and suspense before I started seriously writing. The “Smart Chick” mysteries by Mindy Starnes Clark inspired me to stop dabbling and actually finish some of the stories I’d started. I had an agent interested within the year and writing mysteries with suspense became a delight. Like a mid-week vacay when I could shut everything else down and delight in the stories the Lord gave.
How does your faith influence the stories you write?
That has developed throughout the last couple of decades. I guess how my own faith has grown, the faith of my characters has become more prominent. I’ve always written broken characters in impossible situations who have to rely on the Lord and the people He puts into their paths for their very survival. In this series, Tasha’s faith has grown over the last few years, stemming from a difficulty in her past. In this book, she’s reeling, trying to turn the page to a new chapter in her life. Her faith-filled habits take a back seat for a short time until she recognizes her self-reliance. The same self-reliance that has made terrible problems for her in the past. But this is a developing part of her full story – the complete series. It’s gonna take a while for her to go beyond all of her issues. I look forward to walking with her through it.
I love reading characters who grow over time! Can't wait to see how Tasha develops! What do you love most about writing characters who are facing fear, danger, or impossible choices?
Usually, my characters have no idea that they wear a target on their backs. The reveal of the truth of that is one of my favorite parts of the book! In fact, revealing truth to the characters, and revealing Truth through the characters, has to be one of my favorite parts of writing. In this book, Tasha believes all sorts of lies that she tells herself. She has a lot to sort through, from past situations and new people in her life. She comes in like she’s living as closed as a clamshell. Her friends and her aunt have trouble breaking through, but the desperate situations that develop shatter her shell at the most inopportune times. Bringing characters to that position is the most fun part of writing for me.
How do you balance darkness and danger with themes of hope, redemption, and faith?
Funny you should ask. In a recent introduction, when I told the man that I wrote Christian murder mysteries, he asked, “How does murder and Christian work together?”
I thought my answer was clever. “How does murder work with anything?” But the truth of the matter is that sometimes we have to be brought to the pit before we recognize our need to look up.
Being an author, I get to experience the joy (and often write with tears streaming down my face) of that situation again and again. In a recent manuscript, a man who has lost everything and assumed he’d lost his faith looks up at the sky and says, “I’m trying to trust You. I just don’t know how.” I find that question is true for believers as well. That’s what the growth of our relationship with the Lord is all about. As the old hymn says, we have to learn to follow - to Trust and Obey. I think authentic faith displayed in the characters is essential.
Authentic faith in relatable characters is a great way to show Christianity without getting heavy handed. What is something about your writing process—or your personality as a writer—that might surprise your readers?
I am a planner. A HUGE plotter. I outline the tar out of my stories. And my characters grow from a six-page list of questions. I even take the characters through a personality test. I’m not exaggerating when I say that those initial 6 pages of questions quickly become little miniature novels all by themselves.
Even with all of that planning, at least once in every book, I have an unexpected situation. I realized early on that the inspiration just jumped into the stories. Writing a book about a woman who had fled her home and gone into hiding, she visited a library and opened the news of her hometown to see if her disappearance warranted a news story. In her search, she found a picture of an empty burned out lot. Then suddenly she realized that she was looking through the lot to her backdoor neighbor’s house. The lot had been her house. The shock of that moment almost 15 years ago still resonates. And something similar happens at least once in everyone one of my stories.
If your readers walk away from this book with one thing besides a good dose of suspense, what would you hope they take with them?
I hope Tasha stays with them. She’s complex and still has so much more to reveal – as do her friends. This series has twists and turns that I haven’t even fully fleshed out yet, but I’m excited to see where it goes!
I love behind the scenes information on how great books are written! Get your copy of D-Valued by Marji Lane here. Or comment below with your favorite part about fall for a chance to win an e-book copy.
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