Interview with Voni Harris

 

I'm so excited for the chance to interview Voni Harris! Her book, Surge, recently released and I can't wait to read it. 

Author Bio: With a law-enforcement instructor father and a newspaper editor mother, it’s no wonder Voni Harris grew up to write suspense novels. Voni writes from the home she shares with her legal-eagle husband on the beautiful and mysterious Alaskan island, where her creativity abounds. Her hubby and their Australian Shepherd and Boston Terrier all conspire to pull her from the computer out into the God-created rainforest…which inspires that creativity. Working with her mentor, Ronie Kendig, to write Surge, was a stunning learning experience.

Now, let's dig into the interview and learn more about Voni, her writing process, and Surge!

                What are your favorite books from childhood and why?

I fell in love with Laura Ingalls and Anne of Avonlea. Those characters are writers! (Well, Laura Ingalls-Wilder the author is, too.) I might could do that, too. And I wanted to! I wrote a lot, starting young. There’s even a “novel” written in a spiral-bound notebook about boarding school. Of course, there was Madeleine L’Engle. She created amazing worlds centered on amazing, strong characters. Then there was the Webster Dictionary. That was full of, you know, words! What is not to love about it? Definitions, pronunciations, spellings. AND Mom and Dad bought the international version, which contained foreign language words. Seriously, what was not to love?

What books are on your nightstand (or in a Kindle queue) right now?

I am still working on Susan May Warren’t Flash Point. The Line Between by Tosca Lee is waiting on me, as is Liz Bradford’s Under Fire, and Double Take by Lynette Eason, and Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle, and … okay, so this is just the top of the HUGE list on my Kindle and my nightstand. I can’t possibly mention them all! Frankly, it’s time for my writing routine to include more of the fiction reading I love, because I love it! 

     What do you love about the genre in which you write? 

       I started writing suspense specifically because I didn’t intend to, but every single idea I’ve been drawn to has been suspense. Then there is romantic suspense, which I love because the suspense part means the two main characters are struggling. It’s a dark time, an intense time, a time where they are not ready for a full-on romance. BUT they are getting to know each other. For real. And they’re learning to work together. This all means nothing but a strong relationship.

 

And there is the truth that is rooted deep in my soul. Sin is dark, Christ is light. In suspense and romantic-suspense, Christ shines His light. As He does in the dark times of our lives when we are struggling against sin and crisis in our own lives. Christ is Light.

     In the Bible, do you have a “life verse” that’s significant to you? Do you find yourself exploring this theme often in your work? 

     I am always drawn to many Bible passages, but my “life verse” is Jeremiah 18:3-4. “So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.”

 

It starts with Jeremiah’s obediently going down to the potter’s house, where God promised (verse 2) to let him hear His words. That is what my relationship with God means to me—the love and guidance in His word. Like Jeremiah God help me respond to You in obedience!Then in verses 3-4 is God’s object lesson: The potter molded the spoiled clay into a different vessel. I pray frequently that my heart will be soft like clay so that God, like the potter, can mold my will into His.

     Which part of the book creation process do you like best– brainstorming, writing, editing, marketing? 

      Well, in my home state of Alaska, our elections are set up with rank-choice voting. So I’ll do that here.

 

(1) Writing—It is so fun to see my idea appear on the page. But of course, my story often doesn’t appear on the page the way I want. I love that challenge. (1) Editing—Okay, it is illegal to rank more than one person (thing) first on your ballot. But editing is fun. It’s where I can fill out my ideas—like the potter in Jeremiah, reworking my manuscript. Having second eyes on the manuscript is a huge help to make the story appear on the page. I learned a lot writing Surge from Ronie Kendig, who created the series and mentored us authors to expand it. (2.) Brainstorming—VERY close to a first ranking, LOL. I love this part. Working with my writing partners and mentors is huge fun. And this, like editing, helps the ideas appear on the page the way they’ve appeared in my mind. (3) Marketing—Okay, okay, this I love, too. Seeing and talking with readers in person or online is the most amazing part of it. 

                Okay, okay … ranked-choice voting ain’t my thing.

Back Cover Copy for Surge, by Voni Harris:

Delaney Thompson isn’t just a dog trainer—she’s the key to preventing a disaster. With loyal Military Working Dog, Surge, by her side, she’s ready to prove herself on her first mission…even without military training. Her goal? Help the intense Belgian Malinois track down a specific chemical linked to a dangerous terrorist group before it reaches American soil. But to succeed, she must navigate unfamiliar terrain and an even more unpredictable partner.

Garrett Walker is a seasoned military operator, driven by duty and haunted by tragic losses. Reluctantly, he teams up with Delaney, whose lack of tactical experience makes her a liability as he leads them across Southeast Asia. Yet Garrett knows that mission success and the safety of countless lives back home hinge on his leadership, the Malinois’s special scent training, and Delaney’s unique skills.

The stakes couldn’t be higher: if Delaney and Garrett fail to locate and secure the toxic chemical, hundreds of thousands of Americans could die. As they hunt down the terrorists, their objectives are clear—find the stash, neutralize the threat, and try not to get killed. But with mutual distrust simmering between them, their greatest challenge may be learning to rely on each other.

A gripping tale of suspense, betrayal, and unexpected romance. Dive into this high-stakes adventure where every moment counts…and falling in love might just be the most perilous move of all.

You can order your copy of Surge here!

Here are some ways to follow Voni:

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Let me know if you made any New Year's resolutions in the comments for a chance to win an ebook copy of Surge by Voni Harris!