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.