Behind the Scenes: Author Bonnie Engstrom answers reader questions

As soon as someone asks what you do, the first question is either “When did you start to write?” or “How long have you been writing?” No one ever asks how long you’ve been published.

Many people view writing a book like an ethereal cloud to grasp. They don’t understand how much hard work it is. I assume they assume if you write a book you can immediately get published. Lately, with Indie (self) publishing that is pretty much true. But, many of we old school, hard liners don’t want to go that route.

And, always the second question?

Again, an either/or. Either, how do you decide what to name your characters? Or, how do you plot or plan your story?

In my case, I don’t sit down to decide on names. For instance, in the Candy Cane Girls series the names just burst into my head, except for Noelle in the series’ debut. I knew she ‘needed’ a Christmas name since it was a Christmas story. So, she became Noelle Day. But, her Candy Cane sisters’ names just popped into my head. I should have paid more attention to my head. Almost all their names end with ‘ie’ or ‘y.’ Melanie, Cindy, Candy, Natalie, Connie. Noelle and Doreen are the exceptions. Maybe it was a testament to the era when parents named girls cutesy names. I remember my son’s first girlfriend in first grade was Traci.

Plotting and planning are easy. No one but another author would understand this, but the characters tell me. They tell me the story. I have a basic idea, especially if it’s a continuation of the series. In a series, almost every previous character must appear, at least briefly. Since I sometimes use real people in many of my stories I get to direct their characters and guide them, but not always tell them how to act or what to do.

Join me for the fun, and guess what the next Candy Cane story will reveal about “the girls.”

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Bonnie Engstrom lived in Newport Beach, California for thirty-five years where she and her psychologist husband, Dave, raised three children just a mile and a half from Corona del Mar Beach. They now live on a lake in Scottsdale, Arizona, with Lola and Sam, their two rescue dogs.

Bonnie has designed, edited and produced hundreds of newsletters and thousands of promotional materials. A former newspaper columnist, she has a passion for God, children and education, in that order. When not reading or writing Christian fiction, or babysitting her grandchildren, she moderates two online prayer chains. Please visit her website at www.bonnieengstrom.com.

ABOUT THE CANDY CANES

Natalie’s Deception is book number five in the Candy Cane Girls’ series, but it, as all the others before, and in future (yes, there will be more), can be read as a standalone. It might be more fun to start with Noelle’s story in Noelle’s Christmas Wedding, twirl with Cindy and Rob in Cindy’s Perfect Dance, jump on a Harley in Candy’s Wild Ride and find romance on a beach in Connie’s Silver Shoes.

In Natalie’s Deception, you’ll find lies, guilt, and stalking. Two handsome men vie for Natalie’s attention, traveling from Newport Beach to Scottsdale, Arizona to woo her. But one caused her back injury, and one strands her on the top of a Ferris Wheel knowing how terrified she is of heights, even though she took sky-diving lessons with him. Is love still possible?

Meanwhile, Natalie is helping Emily prepare for her wedding. What will this Feng Shui designer choose as a wedding theme? Certainly, not pink. And, hot dogs at the reception?

Will Natalie ever find love? She wants it badly, but is thrilled two Candy Canes are expecting babies. She will be an aunt again. But, when will she be a wife and mother?  BUY LINK