Gift of the Magpie takes place in December a few days before Christmas. Richmond, Virginia has had a huge dumping of snow. I planned a scene in which Cam cajoles Amanda into putting her book deadline aside to build a snowman. But, for my story, building a snowman seemed such a cliché. Then I remembered, […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Lynne Tagawa learns to avoid preaching
The plot of A Twisted Strand is ordinary. Well, maybe not so ordinary as all that. A rogue virus comes to South Texas, genetically engineered by terrorists. But writing about bioterrorism wasn’t my main reason for writing the book. I’m not a Michael Crichton (author of such books as Jurassic Park), and my focus wasn’t […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Debra E. Marvin identifies the murder weapon
I recently had the great pleasure of writing a mystery for Journey Fiction’s Nosy Parker series based on ‘grown-up’ fans of the girl detective—girls of the fifties who’d obsessively read those books many of us also grew up with. My original idea was to have a 1950s heroine with a history degree become involved with […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Darlene Franklin cooks up a Christmas tale
I absolutely love writing Christmas stories. A full twenty percent of my books are Christmas-themed, and I hope to write a new nativity story every year until I stop writing! I’ve written historical and contemporary Christmas romance in settings ranging from Vermont to Florida, Rhode Island to Wyoming. I’ve written light-hearted romps and stories inspired […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Jenna Brandt interviews a character
The English Proposal is set in Victorian England and concerns Lady Margaret, a young noblewoman. But what is her maid Sarah thinking? Let’s find out. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do? “I would go into town and purchase a scone […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Regina Rudd Merrick learns to take critique
As a reader of christian fiction, I had no idea what was involved in the publication process. I thought surely the finished product from the author was so pristine that none would dare toy with the lilting voice of the writer. You believe that until you join a critique group. Or send it to an […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Linda Shenton Matchett always wanted to be a reporter
During my young adult and career years, my writing opportunities ebbed and flowed, but I kept my hand in “reporting” through school year books and newspapers, and employee newsletters, with the occasional article in a community publication. When my husband and I relocated to NH to open a B&B, I once again found myself involved […]
Behind the Scenes: Jenny Harrison discovers the theme of her book
I first had the desire to be a published author in 2012. Instead of letting go, the desire grew. I received the title for my first book by asking God what it might be. I received an instant answer in my spirit, something that doesn’t happen often. That title was The Maker and His Bride. […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Kassy Paris tells of a visit to a mountain cabin
Elaine Bonner Powell and I were best friends from the age of 15, so it’s no surprise that we liked to travel together. More surprising, maybe, is that we wrote novels together based on our travels. The idea for our Maggie Valley series came after we spent a week in a cabin in Maggie Valley, […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Judythe Morgan listens to her readers
It took me nine years to write, revise, edit again, and rewrite my debut novel, The Pendant’s Promise, a story set in the Vietnam era. As I held that first printed edition in my hands, I thought I’d finished. One year after publication, a reader sent me an email wanting to know more about how […]