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Friday, March 13, 2020

MORE QUESTIONS!




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 BAU.

Her newest book, FIRE STORM, book two in her Kaely Quinn Profiler series, is now available. Book three, DEAD END, will be released on March 31st. 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 also very active on Facebook.
 


Today I’m addressing more questions from readers. If you see your question, send me your address and I’ll mail you a copy of DEAD END when it’s released.

Thanks for all these great questions!

Mary Ensing Zier asks: “When you research the career for your main character, do you find someone in the field to talk to or do you just do internet and book searches for the information? And when you give a character a mental issue or a strange behavior that is not typical, how do you research that?”

Great question, Mary. Whenever I can I use real people for research. I am so blessed to have access to a retired FBI Behavioral Analyst for the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series. And she’ll be a source for my new series which is set in the FBI’s BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit). More examples: When I wrote about a character who did makeup and hair for funeral homes, I got in touch with someone who worked for a mortuary. She was able to give me important information for my Curl Up and Dye series. In writing about Old Order Mennonites, I found a Mennonite historian who walked me through what I needed to know. I also have access to doctors who answer my medical questions. I still do a lot of Internet searches, and I have a lot of books that help me, but in my opinion talking to real people is the best way to make your characters and your scenes realistic.

As far as the second part of your question, it’s pretty hard to ask people suffering from a mental issue to explain their behavior to me. I don’t have access to any serial killers (thankfully!) so almost all my research comes from books. I found this part of your question to be especially relevant since I’m writing about PSTD in my new series. I believe I can write realistically about this disorder since there have been a lot of brave people willing to share about their experiences.

Patricia Brooks asks: “What's your least favorite genre to write?”

I can answer this without even thinking. Romance. Some authors are great at it, but it’s a stretch for me. I’ve been happy with several of my books that had romance, but writing them was tough for me. One of my favorites was UNBREAKABLE. I felt like I nailed the romance in that one. I was part of a Guideposts series titled the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. My book HORSE SENSE AND SENSIBILITY had a romantic scene I felt good about. There is also a scene in DEAD END that made me sniffle a bit. Let’s see how readers like it.

One last question from Kailey Bechtel: “What do you want readers to take away from your books?”

I want to give them an entertaining story. Something to help them escape their problems for a while. But the most important thing to me is that I say something that will remind them how much God loves them. I want to bring them closer to Him. If I accomplish that, I feel I’ve succeeded. 

Thanks for these questions. I hope to answer more in future columns. Again, if I addressed your question, make sure I have your address so I can send you a copy of DEAD END!

I'll also send a copy to someone who leaves a comment below! Be sure to give me your contact information. 

64 comments:

  1. Thank you for these Q & As. It is always fun to 'get inside' an author's head and see how they research their books and their hopes for influencing readers. I've enjoyed reading a couple of Nancy's books and am looking forward to reading more of them. Here's hoping re Dead End!!
    anne at rightler dot com

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Anne. I'm glad you enjoyed the column!

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  2. Such fun to read the answers to these questions. Can’t wait for Dead End.
    mindyhoung AT msn DOT com

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  3. Love these q&a sessions that you've been doing!
    csilyd (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. It's fun for me too. I love engaging with readers!

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  4. I loved the first 2 books in this series. Dead End is at the top of my tbr list!
    lhanberry1 at gmail dot com

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  5. My husband and I enjoy watching Criminal Minds on TV, I believe the group that centers on is the BAU! I will look forward to that new series.
    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I just finished the first book. I hope you enjoy the series.

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  6. I've been eagerly awaiting Dead End! I have also enjoyed learning about the job of a criminal profiler. Hearing the news that you'll be writing about the Behavioral Analysis Unit makes me intrigued already

    eclitton at gmail dot com

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  7. Thank you for the Q & A with Nancy Mehl. It's always interesting to learn about the research and path an author takes to get to the end result.

    "DEAD END" sounds fabulous and was already on my TBR list. Love the cover! When you first look at it and see the title you assume that the tracks dead end at the mountain, but as in life, not all things are as they seem.

    Thank you for the fabulous opportunity to win a copy of "DEAD END".
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. You're welcome, Kay. Thank you for your comment!

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  8. Your books are wonderful and well researched. Love these kind of stories. Looking forward to more in the future.
    Blessings
    Diana Lynn joeym11@frontier.com

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  9. It amazes me the research authors do for their books, it's no wonder I could never be one, lol, I hate research. I do enjoy a good book though so really appreciate all you do to make the stories 'true to life' for the area, situations and conditions.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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    1. I think the same way about historical fiction. The idea of all that research boggles my mind. But researching the FBI and criminal profiling to so interesting to me, it's fun. Not work at all! LOL!

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  10. Thank you for the interesting Q&A. Can’t wait to read the book!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  11. It's a great blessing that you're able to meet people who have knowledge about the realities represented in your stories. I'm glad you've never meet a serial killer!
    racheltirzah(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Me too, Rachel. Although when my husband and I owned a building maintenance company, we employed Dennis Rader's (BTK) cousin. Close enough for me. Yikes!

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  12. I love hearing about how you research and plan your books. I can't wait to binge read the entire series!
    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
    Perrianne Askew

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  13. It is always so much fun getting better acquainted with Authors through the Q & A’s. I love this Blog. Stella(dot)potts77(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I'm stealing this idea, Nancy! Great post. And I look forward to reading Dead End!

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    1. Steal away, Pat! I love getting questions from readers. So much fun!

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  15. Yay! Another great read! And I know it will be great because you research so much.
    cluedn {at} embarqmail {dot} com

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  16. I am enjoying the different questions from readers and your answers. Kaely is certainly an intriguing character!
    Blessings,
    Connie
    cps1950ATgmailDOTcom

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  17. Those were great questions!
    duellonlysisataoldotcom

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  18. Great questions and answers!! I love hearing these!! Can't wait to read this one!

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  19. Hi my name is Crystal Stewart and I have some questions.
    Have you ever wrote paranormal books?
    How do you choose your book covers?
    How do choose your characters and name them?
    Why are your book covers so dark?
    Dead End sounds like a great read. Would love to read the paperback version format of this book. You write my kind of books.
    I look forward to reading your books.
    Hope you choose my questions?
    I will gladly give you my email and if you email me, I will gladly send my address to you so you can send a paperback book for me to read and review.
    Email is: don(dot)stewart(at)zoominternet(dot)net
    Thanks,
    Crystal Stewart

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    1. Thanks for your questions, Crystal. I might pick one of them in a future column. Right now, I have all the reviewers I need, but thank you so much for your offer! I appreciate it.

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  20. I have enjoyed all of your work for a number of years starting with Ivy Towers series. Whatever genre you have written has been a great read. I'm always looking forward to your next book.
    Neva.
    lthouselucy@msn.com

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    1. Awww, thank you, Neva. That means a lot to me. God bless you.

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  21. I enjoy your writing, and I'm eager to read DEAD END! It was fun reading your answers to these questions. I'm not a huge fan of romance myself, so I appreciate authors like you who don't make it a huge focus. I'd much rather read about fascinating people and dramatic situations that captivate my attention. :-)

    PatchesDanny at Yahoo dotcom

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  22. Thanks for the great post! I enjoy learning more about authors and their writing. Your new book sounds so intriguing!
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  23. I enjoy reading the questions and answers. Thank you for the chance.
    leliamae54(At)aol(dot)com

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  24. Are you going to ACFW StoryFest? jarning67@hotmail.com

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    1. No! I wanted to but I found out about it too late. :(

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  25. So excited for this release! paralegal7@hotmail.com

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  26. Nancy, I'm excited to read this series!
    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  27. Hi, I enjoyed reading these questions and answers. Your series sound so very good. Thank you for the chance. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  28. Thank you Nancy for sharing so we can learn more about you and your writing life.
    Kaely sound like such an interesting character and this sounds like a great series I would enjoy reading.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry

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  29. I'm so excited about your upcoming release!!! ❤️
    This has been my favorite series by you! ��
    And I've liked all ��.
    Thank you fo the opportunity.
    -Jessy
    My email is txjessy1@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks Jessy. I'm so glad you're enjoying it. ;)

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  30. I love learning more about authors! These are some great questions everyone asked :-)

    Thank you for the giveaway chance Nancy.

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  31. I've enjoyed reading the questions and your responses. The brief introduction mentions you have a puggle named Watson. That is such a great name! How did you choose that name?

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  32. I love Sherlock Holmes, so he's my Watson! LOL!

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  33. I can't wait to read "Dead End!" Love this series!

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  34. All of your books are excellent and suspense is one of my favorites.

    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. This was so interesting! I just found this blog and it is fascinating to have access to author's Q&A. I enjoyed this. Thank you to the author and blogger.
    Donna D
    xercisebug61@gmail.com

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