Anytime you pick up a work of fiction, you’ll find a plot. Writers often talk about plotting. Even way back, it sounded boring to me. Too similar to an outline. But when I sat down to write my recent novels, the first, Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult, published in 2013; The Lady […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Becky Melby tastes the cherries of Door County
If you look at a map of Wisconsin, Door County is the tip of the thumb of the mitten-shaped state—the part that gets frostbit on nippy winter days. This location, with its cooler spring months, makes Door County the perfect place for growing yummy, tart Montmorency cherries. At their peak in the 1950s, 700 cherry […]
Behind the Scenes: Author June Foster confronts flawed characters
Prescription for Romance is the sequel to Letting Go, both set in small town Alabama. Scott Townsend made a brief appearance in the first book and dated the heroine. He was a nice guy then. Unselfish, thoughtful, sweet. Or so I thought. He didn’t tell me much in that first book. It wasn’t until Prescription […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Gail Kittleson on War, Magic and Irony
Roald Dahl, who created the incredibly engaging tales my children and I used to read together, said “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” It may seem strange […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Zoe M. McCarthy and the igloo
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 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 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 […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Rose Verde sets her story in a national park
My publisher wanted some stories set in the National Parks across the US. So, I started doing some research. Finally, I zeroed on the Great Smoky Mountain Park. Next, I needed to figure out who my heroes would be. I then settled for a medically discharged US Marine. I wanted him to be a park […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Leeann Betts and the book you always wanted to write
So you have a great idea for a book. You’ve done some character sketches. You know where the story is going. The only thing that’s left, apart from the writing, is to decide where to set your book. Your hometown? No, too many people know you there. That little town where you went on vacation […]