Category Archives: Interviews

Author Chat with F. John Hurr

30 Saturday May 2015

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Today I have a real treat for my Christian suspense fans. Joining us on Fiction With Faith today, is author F. John Hurr!

F. John Hurr is a biblical scholar, philosopher and free-lance writer. Light of the Damned is his first book of fiction. Major influences include C.S. Lewis, Henning Mankell, Arthur Conan Doyle and M.R. James. He lives with his wife in the UK.

Fred, from the brief description above we know a little bit about your background, those who have influenced your writing and where you reside, but what else would you like for our blog readers to know about you? For example, when did you first discover you wanted to be a writer?

I grew up in a poor family in post-war London in a very working class neighbourhood. I left school without any qualifications and was at work one month after my 15th birthday employed as a uniformed messenger boy in the busy London Docks. One rainy day I ducked into a library to escape the downpour. My eyes almost popped out of my head. I had never seen so many books and so many shelves of books. That was the first time I had been in a library. I was simply overwhelmed and I had an amazing epiphany … from that moment I knew I wanted to read as many books as I could. From that revelation came the desire to write. Over the next 10 years I wrote continuously, plays, poems, short pieces, stories and many unfinished novels filling boxes with handwritten and typed pages.

None of it was published. One Theatre Director read one play and threw it into the dustbin. When I became a Christian in my early 30’s I built a bonfire in my backyard and burnt all of it, not a line survived the fire.

I’ve heard other authors talk about how they burned up or threw away their earlier work as well, either because they didn’t feel like it matched up with their beliefs as a Christian or because they didn’t feel like it was any good. Whatever the reason was for you, we’re glad you’ve resumed writing, because Light of the Damned is a great novel. Now that you’ve picked up the pen and paper again, what does a typical day of writing look like for you?

I normally start in the middle of the night around 2am. I wake with visual scenes playing in my mind, characters speak and the story begins to evolve. I write it all down in a notebook in a scribbled shorthand that sometimes days later even I can’t decipher. This process is feverish and can last hours. Then over the next few weeks I try to put it down on my PC in the semblance of a story and it begins to take on bone and flesh.

Do you plot or outline your books before you write or are you more of a seat-of-the-pants (SOTP) type of writer?

I do not do any research. My life is my research. Everything is somehow stored deep in my subconscious and when I am writing it rises up and evolves. I don’t know what the plot or storyline is actually going to be until I am writing. I really do not know what is going to happen two pages ahead.

The vivid descriptions and breathtaking scenery of the small village of Penrhos Bay plays a crucial role in this novel. Why did you choose this particular setting for the battle of angels vs demons to take place?

For me a small town embodies everything that is good and all that is not, just like any great metropolis. North Wales is a stunning part of the UK and a perfect setting for the novel.

My wife organised a Christian concert in the largest church in Llandudno (Penrhos Bay in the book). Many people who came were not believers. The main singer, a famous Christian in the UK, preached the good news at the end and invited folk to come forward and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Many did. The minister whose church it was purposely stayed away that night knowing it was going to be an ‘evangelical’ event. Later that night another minister sidled up to me and said “You know Fred, that’s the first time the Gospel has been preached in this church for many years!” That comment started me thinking … what if the largest church in town was run by a selfish vicar who unwittingly set himself up for being manipulated by Satan? He was an easy character to develop … I guess I have met many just like him. It was fun to see what depths he would stoop to satisfy his own desires.

How did you come up with the title of the book?

It’s a quotation from the Old Testament. Job 18:5 ‘Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.’ I like paradoxes, especially in literature and the idea that the wicked could emanate light intrigued me. The personification of this thought is embodied in the charismatic fallen angel ‘Ganymede’.

Oh, yes. Ganymede. I shiver as I remember how smoothly he was able to manipulate and twist the truth of God’s word. His beauty was the perfect disguise for his deception. It’s scary to think how many people everyday are pulled away from the truth by crafty lies like his. Is this one of the reasons that you feel like stories like Light of the Damned need to be told?

Read Dr. Karl Payne’s book on Spiritual Warfare. He has tried to truthfully describe the spiritual battles that so adversely affect the lives of many Christians, particularly in the USA. His book had a profound affect on me and I wanted to tell a story that helped to propagate these truths.

An emotional connection with the reader is essential in writing. What has been the typical response that you’ve received from your readers so far?

Some read the book for enjoyment. It has had some success as a cross-over book. Non-Christians have written good reviews (see my website www.fjohnhurr.com) and many Christians have told me that it has opened their eyes to the truth about spiritual warfare which is vital in comprehending the full nature of the kingdom of God on earth and as St. Paul writes ’…and in the heavenlies.” A wise man once said that Satan’s greatest lie is to get people to believe that he does not exist. Even in Christendom he has largely succeeded.

Readers like to have a spiritual connection as well as an emotional one. As an author, why is the Christian Fiction genre important to you?

The spiritual life is immensely important to me. I have read many books on the subject of how we can know God more by allowing His Spirit to commune with ours. One of the best speakers on this subject is Father Thomas Keating. Catch him on YouTube.

What would you like the reader to take away from this novel?

Enjoyment, deep thoughts, question what is truth and reality in ourselves and in our world and most of all somehow through the pages come to know that Jesus loves us and we can be alive to Him anytime, anyday. I did respond to Him when I was utterly lost in disbelief, intellectual arrogance and conceit. He was waiting for me to open my eyes and see.

Are there any other projects you’re currently working on?

In book 2, ‘Light of the Holy’ I tried very hard to make a place for Paul Stewart, the police detective, in the book. Loads of people identified with him and there is much of me in the character. But as hard as I tried to ‘fit him in’ it simply would not work. So I am also writing a novel where Paul (renamed John) Stewart, a police detective is the central character. It is a crime thriller where the murderer covers his tracks in surprising ways. I have done about 50,000 words so far and I think Stewart is mighty pleased he has been truly resurrected.

Yes! I’m so glad to hear that Stewart will be featured in his own novel and I can’t wait to read it. Please stop by again to keep us updated on the novel’s progress. Until then, how may our reader’s contact you?

Via the website www.fjohnhurr.com

I am always pleased to hear from readers and will respond. I like the interaction very much.

Fred, thanks again for stopping by. We look forward to hearing from you again soon!

For those who’d like to read my personal review of Light of the Damned, click here.

Kara loves to read and write supernatural suspense thrillers and is an ACFW Genesis 2013 Finalist in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category. BlogPhoto Resized

She’ll also keep you updated on the newest releases in Christian fiction and upcoming writing contests.

 

To contact Kara, email her at fictionwithfaith@gmail.com or by choosing one or more of the below links:

@KaraHunt2015 on Twitter

 

Proof

05 Sunday Aug 2012

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Good morning, Jordyn and welcome to Fiction with Faith. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into writing. ImageJordyn: I’m a wife, mother of two beautiful girls, critical care nurse of almost twenty years and suspense novelist. I’ve loved to tell stories since the time I could put sentences together. The active pursuit of publication started around 2006 and has definitely been a God led endeavor.

Speaking of endeavor, tell us about your debut novel, Proof.

Jordyn: Proof deals with the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free.

Is that how you were able to come up with the novel’s title?

Jordyn: The title was a joint venture between me and my publisher.

Where do you get the majority of your ideas to write about?

Jordyn: Good question. I definitely get ideas for my fiction from non-fiction sources. News pieces, documentaries of certain health conditions, and non-fiction novels which I will read as research. I am a true medical nerd at heart. I do enjoy reading medical textbooks for fun!

Does the medical nerd in you like to lean more towards plotting or outlining your books before you write, or are you more of a SOTP (seat of the pants) writer?

Jordyn: I would consider myself a combination of the two. I have found that it is valuable to work from a detailed plot synopsis—as much as I hate to admit it. You’ll need one for your book proposal anyway. A PS basically ensures that the structure of the novel will hold the story up but still allows for those fun twists and turns that happen during the writing process.

What is a typical day like for you as a writer?

Jordyn: I usually will spend an hour on e-mail/social media at the beginning. This helps me to settle into the writing piece. Then, I’ll reread a little of what I did the previous day but not really with a point of editing and then try to get my allotted word goal in—right now this is about 2000words/day. After that, it’s off to writing blog pieces, interview questions and wrap up additional e-mails. This is about 5-7 hours a day on the days I’m not nursing and I try to take one day off per week. I’ll have to be honest and say I haven’t found great success in doing that yet but I am trying!

An emotional connection with the reader is essential in writing. What are your tips on how to do that successfully?

Jordyn: Good question! The emotional aspects of writing tend to be more difficult for me. Generally, when I lay down a scene, I’ll sketch out the setting and then write the dialogue. Those are the easiest components. After that, I will add in the layers of emotion. When I first started writing, I felt that it was the reader’s job to let their imagination fuel the emotional elements as they read the story. What I found was that readers needed me to put the emotions on the page in order to feel a connection. I do find books like The Emotion Thesaurus helpful in adding these elements, too.

Sometimes readers like to have a spiritual connection as well as an emotional one. As an author, why is the Inspirational Fiction genre important to you?

Jordyn: Writing from a Christian worldview is important because my faith is the well from which my writing grows so I’m not able to separate the two. I want people to know that there is hope. Even in the worst circumstances, God is working.

Which authors have influenced your writing?

Jordyn: So many but my all time favorite is Dean Koontz. Just a master of the suspense genre.

With the exception of Mr. Koontz’s novels, what other books would be on your nightstand?

Jordyn: The Woman Who Can’t Forget by Jill Price, Red Tide by Peg Brantley, Fallen by Karin Slaughter, and Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler.

Are you currently working on any other projects?

Jordyn: Right now, I’m writing the third book in the Bloodline Trilogy currently titled Peril and developing my next book series.

What would you like your readers to take away from your novels?

Jordyn: A true understanding of the sacrificial nature of Christ’s love for us.

How may your fans contact you?

You can find me at my website at www.jordynredwood.com or e-mail me at jredwood1@gmail.com.

Kara—thanks so much for having me. It’s been a true honor being here.

The pleasure’s been all ours and we look forward to talking with you again soon!

Falling to Pieces

19 Friday Aug 2011

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In this first book of a three-book series, author Vannetta Chapman brings a fresh twist to the popular Amish fiction genre. She blends the familiar components consumers love in Amish books—faith, community, simplicity, family—with an innovative who-done-it plot that keeps readers guessing right up to the last stitch in the quilt

When two women—one Amish, one English—each with different motives, join forces to organize a successful on-line quilt auction, neither expects nor wants a friendship. As different as night and day, Deborah and Callie are uneasy partners who simply want to make the best of a temporary situation. But a murder, a surprising prime suspect, a stubborn detective, and the town’s reaction throw the two women together, and they form an unlikely alliance to solve a mystery and catch a killer.

Set in the well-known Amish community of Shipshewana, Falling to Pieces will attract both devoted fans of the rapidly-growing Amish fiction genre, as well as those who are captivated by the Amish way of life.

More from Vannetta Chapman 

How I became a published author.

Twelve years ago, I graduated with my MA in English and started writing articles for Christian magazines. I was thirty-six years old, had been teaching for two years, and knew I loved language!  After publishing over 100 pieces with Christian family magazines, I was bitten by the novel-bug. I completed 8 novels before selling A Simple Amish Christmas to Abingdon Press (2010).

So you have any Amish background? 

Maybe! While researching my first Amish novel, I learned that my grandfather’s family was from Albion, PA–so there might be Amish ancestors in my background!

What made you decide to write an Amish mystery series?

Sue Brower, executive editor with Zondervan, had read my submission, A Simple Amish Christmas. She loved the writing, but didn’t need a romance writer. She called and asked if I’d be interested in writing something different. I said yes! I love suspense–in books and movies. I never doubted this was an answered prayer, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to write something new and different for Zondervan.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d love to hear from readers. They can find me through my webpage (www.VannettaChapman.com) or on facebook (Vannetta Chapman, author). Also I post to my blog 3 times a week (vannettachapman.wordpress.com).

Her Abundant Joy

17 Wednesday Aug 2011

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Lyn Cote has had over thirty-five novels published. In 2006 Lyn’s book, Chloe, was a finalist for the RITA, and her book Her Patchword Family was a finalist for the Carol Award, two of the highest awards in romance. (Her Healing Ways is also a Carol finalist this year.) Lyn also features stories of strong women both from real life and true to life fiction on her blog http://BooksbyLynCote.com Writing books at her lake cottage in northern Wisconsin, Lyn hopes her books show the power of divine and human love.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing.

I started writing as a child, continued to learn more through high school and college, then began teaching and being a mom–both creative pursuits. Finally a story came to me that wouldn’t let me NOT write it down. 🙂

  1. Tell us about Her Abundant Joy.

Tagline: Can a beautiful young widow find peace in the arms of a Texas Ranger?

In 1846, young widow Mariel Wolfe survived the grueling voyage from Germany to start a new life in the “promised” land of Texas. Forced by circumstances to become a servant, Mariel is now determined to quit a harsh master. But how can a single woman face the frontier on her own? Texas Ranger Carson Quinn is responsible for leading her party of German immigrants safely through dangerous Comanche-held territory. As he watches Mariel hold her head high in spite of everything, he will stop at nothing to protect her.

But war is brewing: Mexico will not accept the U.S. annexation of the young Texas Republic without a fight. Honor bound to fight for Texas, Carson’s deepest longing is to lay down his rifle. As Mariel and Carson fall deeply in love, could her painful past or this new war destroy all their hopes?  Will the tide of history sweep them far from peace, far from a life together?

“Her Abundant Joy is a wonderfully satisfying finale to Lyn Cote’s fascinating saga of Texas history. Riveting, engaging, unpredictable, it brings to the forefront a frightened and vulnerable German immigrant and a Texas Ranger whose family survived the turbulent years by grace and grit, faith and fortune. Not to be missed!” – KATHY HERMAN, author Sophie Trace Trilogy.

  1.         Did you have any experiences that prompted your love of historical fiction?

My mother always took us to any little or big museum we came across. I’ve always loved history. Supposedly through my mother’s family, I’m related to Sir Walter Scott, the author of the first historical novels. I don’t know if that all family story is true, but it makes sense. If not by blood, by affinity.

  1. How much time does it take to research your stories – what balance would you say there is between research and actual writing?

I love to do historical research so much that I have to limit myself to a few weeks at the start. I just get the major facts in place and start writing. As I write, I keep a list of questions to look up after the manuscript is finished. If I go back to research in the midst, I might not go back to story-telling. Getting lost in the stacks of a large library is close to heaven for me.

Kara, thanks for having me as your guest! I hope your readers will stop by and sample La Belle Christiane on my site.

On my homepage, I’ve posted my first never published manuscript, La Belle Christiane,. And I’ve archived the chapters on my site and will keep them there till the book is released in September. Its tagline is: Can the beautiful daughter of a French courtesan find a love that will last a lifetime?

Other places to find Lyn:

http://www.CraftieLadiesofRomance.blogspot.com

http://www.LoveInspiredAuthors.com

To purchase books, drop by http://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/books/historicals

Lost In Dreams

01 Monday Aug 2011

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Good morning, Roger and thank you for joining us today at Fiction with Faith.  First, let’s start with sharing with the readers who you are and where you’re from.

I’m just an almost sixty-five-year-old man who retired early to write Christian fiction.

Tell us about your latest release, Lost in Dreams.

Lost in Dreams is basically a continuation of Found in Translation, the first book in my Altered Hearts series.  Kim Hartlinger is returning from a life-changing mission trip to Mexico, only to face a major catastrophe that she thinks she’s responsible for.  She ends up with a major fatigue problem, but comes out of it at the prospect of a mission trip to California.  That trip has its own share of problems, though, and the ultimate question is what will free Kim from her guilt and allow her to live a normal life again.

Lost in Dreams is an interesting title.  How did you come up with it?

Thanks, Kara, but I have to be honest.  My editor came up with it.  The Barbour team didn’t think my original title, Prancing with Pebbles, would resonate with teen girls.  Even though I’d taken great pains to make Pebbles an irresistible title, I didn’t want to be a problem author—someone my publisher would find hard to get along with.  And I liked Lost in Dreams fine, so I didn’t protest.  It isarelevant title since Kim suffers periodic nightmares along with her fatigue.

Titles are not as easy to come up with as many may think.  How long did it take you to write this novel?

Asking that made me curious.  *G* I keep all of the old versions of my manuscripts and increase the version number by one every day.  It looks like Lost in Dreams took about five months.  That’s not taking into consideration the fact that I’d written the first chapter many months earlier.

What would you like the reader to take away from this novel?

I want teens to think about how important forgiveness is: God’s forgiveness, our forgiveness of one another, and—not at all least—forgiveness of oneself.  But I also want them to appreciate the importance of establishing and maintaining a good relationship with their parents—and keeping the channels of communication open no matter what.  Another important take away is the fact that jealousy not only hurts the individual, but can have a gigantic detrimental effect on a team.

This is your second novel.  Was there anything you learned from writing, publishing and marketing your first novel that made it easier this time around?

I learned a little extra patience.  At first, I didn’t fully appreciate the way an independent editor had edited Found in Translation.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was just helping me avoid potential reader objections.  I also learned that it’s impossible to do enough marketing.  I have to do what I can—and what’s appropriate for me—and leave the rest in God’s hands.  That’s where it should have been all along, don’t you think?

  

Yes, the perfect place for all our concerns is in God’s hands, but oh, it’s so hard leaving them there!  But thankfully, our God is a God of patience.  Speaking of patience, writing for the young adult market has its challenges.  There are so many other types of media vying for their attention.  What would you say to urge them to read your novel?

That’s an interesting question, Kara.  And my answer requires a bit of explanation.

I didn’t really have teens in mind when I wrote the first book.  But because it had an eighteen-year-old protagonist, it couldn’t be marketed any other way.  Adults seem to enjoy this series just as much as teens.  I suppose I was a little more teen-conscious when I wrote Lost in Dreams, but I definitely didn’t and don’t write down to teens.

Neither do I worry about trying to capture or imitate teen culture.  So perhaps I would say this to young adults: “You’re adults in the making.  You’re almost there.  I’m not pretending to be a teen anymore, and I know things have changed a lot in the fifty years since I was one.  But we’re both human, and I want to share my humanity with you, especially as it relates to spiritual issues.”

I think the best answer to your question is not what I would say to urge them to read my books, but what other teens would say.  Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and—if my books touch lives the way I pray they will—teens will tell their friends.

What an inspiring answer.  One that I hope adults and teens alike will take to heart as they read your novel and share it with others.  What are some other novels that you’ve written?

I’ve written six other manuscripts.  I wrote one as a prequel to the Altered Hearts series but it’s not even really a Young Adult novel.  I have one other manuscript I consider strictly YA, one that’s kind of on the border, one that probably qualifies as speculative fiction, and several that probably fall into the category of general contemporary fiction.  One of those may even be women’s lit.  All of it is strongly Christian, of course.  I enjoy reading an occasional secular novel—I’m an avid Harry Potter fan (am I permitted to say that here?)  —but nothing else is important enough for me to write about.

Sure, you’re allowed to say that here!  Prayerfully, there are other Harry Potter fans reading this site.  Are there other projects you’re currently working on?

Absolutely!  Although I’ve plotted two more novels in the Altered Hearts series and written about 30% of the third book, Barbour hasn’t offered a contract on them yet.  However, they seem interested in a novel for teen boys that’s may be ten percent finished.  Because I’m a Preacher’s Kid and this book is about a pair of misfit PKs, it’s a lot of fun to work on.  I tried out the first few pages of it on a man friend recently, and he died laughing at all of the high school memories it brought back.

That sounds like a good read, so I can’t wait for that one to be released.  Some of the most recent books I’ve read have made me cry and I loved them, but I’d rather have a book in one hand while holding my stomach with the other.  Laughter truly is the best medicine.  How may our readers contact you?

I’d love to have your readers visit my website at RogerBruner.com or friend me at Facebook.com/roger.bruner.  I also have a Facebook author page.  One can never have too many good friends.  Especially if they’re big readers.  *big smile*

Thanks for stopping by Roger. Hope to see you here again soon!

Pursued

08 Friday Jul 2011

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Good morning Lillian and thank you for joining us today at Fiction with Faith. First, lets start off by telling the readers where you are from.

I’m from a small town in Ohio. We’re located about half-way between Columbus and Cleveland. When I say small I mean small. There’s one traffic light. I love living in a town where I know the names of the people I see on a regular basis, like the store owner, the librarians, and the pharmacist. And in fact it’s one of the themes in Pursued.

How long have you been writing and did you ever feel like giving up?

I started writing 16 years ago when I was 40. Yikes, that makes me so…never mind. And absolutely, I wanted to give up many, many times. And in fact, I did give up many times but I always started up again.

I don’t know any writer who hasn’t felt that way. The uncertainty of becoming a published writer can be frustrating and overwhelming at times to say the least. But if being a writer is your dream, you have to keep writing and waiting…and waiting…and…..

Writing and waiting some more. I don’t think there ‘s a writer out there that doesn’t get weary of the waiting process. But obviously patience has its benefits as your latest novel, Pursued is about to be released. Tell us more about this exciting story.

PURSUED  is a story near and dear to my heart. I wanted to write a story that showed some of the differences between “big-city” and “small-town” living, but in the end those differences are only superficial.  The important thing is a person’s character not where they live or what they do for a job.

How did you come up with your title-Pursued?

The original title was Just An Old Country Boy but that didn’t sound very suspenseful so I changed it to Pursued. In the story, Reggie is being pursued by an unknown killer, by the hero, and by God, so it made sense to me as a title.

Is there a message in your novel?

One of the messages I want people to get is to be open to learning from, developing relationships, and loving people who are different from ourselves. God made us different for a reason. And one of the reasons is it makes life a lot more interesting and fun!

I am, of course, a bookworm and my husband is an outdoorsy sort of man who likes to fish and garden and do other things that gets his hands dirty. In many ways, we are very opposite of each other, but together we have a wonderful and fun marriage.

Tell us about your hero and heroine?

My hero, Dylan, is a good old boy with a heart of gold who just wants to make life better for everyone around him. He’s sweet and kind, but in a very manly way!  Reggie can be a little difficult at times, but she has her reasons. You have to admire her for all she’s overcome in her life.

What makes this book special to you?

This book is about friendship. The kind of friendship where you put your life on hold to help someone in trouble.  And that’s what Jesus was talking about when He told us to love our neighbors–and our enemies. And since this book was about friendships, many of the secondary characters in the book were named after friends who were important to me in one way or another but died much too young.

Did you learn anything from writing this book?

I actually learned a lot from this book. It was the first book I had critiqued with the large critique group from ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Critiquing is a very humbling process. In the beginning of the critiquing process, I thought the others didn’t know what they were talking about. By the middle, I thought I should give up writing forever. By the end, I knew I was a much better writer than I’d been at the beginning. And the proof is that this became my debut novel with a traditional publisher.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

I hate thinking up names for my characters.  I once wrote a manuscript and as I was editing it, I realized I had used the name of the characters and actors from the old TV series Gunsmoke. I had Miss Kitty, Matt Dillon, Amanda Blake, and James Arness. But no Festus!

What makes this book a must read and why?

If you love suspense or romance, then this is the book for you. The suspense plot will keep you reading past your bedtime and the romance will make you say “aaahhh.”

What is your next project?

I have another book coming out in the fall, DECEPTION. It’s full of intrique and action. Along with that I’m working on three other manuscripts in varying stages that will hopefully become books in the future including a sequel to PURSUED.

How may our readers contact you?

My website is:  www.lillianduncan.net

Thanks for taking time to spend with us today Lillian. Blessings on your upcoming release!

The Edge of Grace

05 Tuesday Jul 2011

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This morning we bring you Christa Allan, author of “Edge of Grace”. Below Christa describes in her own words the reasons behind her writing this timely and inspiring novel.

The Edge of Grace, which just released, grew out of my own struggles when my brother told me he was gay. At a writer’s retreat several years ago, I shared the first few chapters not knowing what sort of response to expect. From the first page, there’s no doubt that the subject of the novel is a woman finding out about her gay brother. And, as part of the tagline I use, that’s definitely not your usual Christian fiction. Their response was overwhelmingly encouraging  and, to a person, every writer there had either a gay sibling or relative or co-worker. Obviously, I wasn’t the only Christian who had struggled with this issue.

When I started writing for publication, my first idea was a romance novel.  Girl meets boy, they hate each other, then they like each other. Five pages in, and I was done. My husband suggested I write a mystery. I couldn’t even figure out who the killer was, so surely that wasn’t going to work either.  The notion to write about a woman alcoholic emerged after sharing with a co-worker that I’ve been a recovering alcoholic for over twenty years.  Her surprise that an average teacher-mommy-wife who led an otherwise average life was ever an alcoholic was my epiphany. In Walking on Broken Glass, the woman’s experiences as a drinker and in rehab, are loosely based on my own.

I never intended to write about issues. They found me first.  And when I first discovered Christian fiction, I wanted, needed, characters with whom I could identify.  Sure, I found some novels with characters that were alcoholics, or gay, or parents of special-needs children. But, generally, they weren’t the protagonists or their situations didn’t mirror life as I saw it.

What I hope readers will take away from both of my novels is that we never know, just by looking at people. what’s going on in their lives.  So many people look so bright-faced happy and pretty on the outside that we’re duped into believing they lead charmed lives.  Like those families in the picture frames sold in stores (who ARE those people, by the way?!). But turn those pictures over, and what’s there…nothing.   That’s not the life God planned for us. He wants our lives to be framed by His love. We are called to compassion, and to consider that all those “pretty people” might just be waiting for someone to take them out of their frames.

A true Southern woman who knows that any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, Christa Allan’s novel Edge of Grace will release in August. Her debut women’s fiction, Walking on Broken Glass, was published by Abingdon Press in 2010. Her next three novels are scheduled for 2013 and 2014.

Christa is the mother of five, a grandmother of three, and a teacher of high school English. She and her husband Ken live in Abita Springs.

Angel In The Storm

30 Thursday Jun 2011

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Lisa Grace’s, “Angel in the Shadows Series” – Has been named by AOL as a Christian alternative to the Twilight series. Here’s more about this fascinating book and its author: 

Angel in the Storm, Book 2

Fifteen year-old Megan’s younger brother Max has been kidnapped by Judas, an evil angel, who is determined to make Max hate God and lose his soul. Framed for Max’s murder, Megan, along with the help of Johnny who is a good angel, and her friends, must stay one step ahead of the police and an approaching hurricane in an attempt to save Max’s life and soul before it’s too late.

Main Characters

Megan Laughlin – The heroine, a fifteen year old who has the “gift” of seeing angels, demons and other spiritual creatures.

Judas – A handsome evil angel bent on destroying Megan, her classmates and everyone she loves.

Johnny – A warring angel sent to earth to fight Judas.

Seth – Megan’s boyfriend who is now a target.

Vania – a Gothic girl who was almost destroyed by Judas and now helps Megan battle this evil angel.

Robby – Seth’s best friend, a boisterous, handsome jock who gets pulled into the fight between good and evil.

What is the setting for your novel? 

Angel in the Shadows, takes place in the present, starting at a summer camp, in North Carolina, and then back in Megan’s hometown of Clearwater, Florida, in time for the new school year. Megan’s high school becomes a battlefield in the fight between good and evil. Book 2 picks up right after Book 1 leaves off, and takes the gang on a trip to New Orleans in an attempt to rescue Max.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing stories when I was five years old. I requested a typewriter for Christmas that year so I could write “Star Trek” scripts. I always have an idea notebook on-hand.

What is your motivation?

I love books about the supernatural. There are so many about vampires; but hardly any of the books out there deal with the supernatural from a biblical point of view. Angels and demons are mentioned over four hundred times in the Bible. Other supernatural creatures are discussed too. Few of the books make it cool to be human. We have a soul and a spiritual war is going on whether we choose to “see” it or not. Our soul is important. I think this is a frightening and awesome prospect. I wanted to write novels from these perspectives.

I also wanted to confront the issues teenagers are facing today, drugs, sex, teen pregnancy, abortion, etc… The Angel series characters are dealing with these problems head-on.

Who or what was your inspiration?

My main inspiration came from the Holy Spirit. They are in the classic style of good vs. evil, saved vs. unsaved. I think all teens will enjoy how my human heroines and heroes find the strength to do the right thing.

The people I admire the most are the ones who do the right thing day in and day out because that is who they are. I know several in my community.

What are your future plans?

I plan to write several books for the Angel series since there are so many problems teenagers face in their high school years that I haven‘t touched on yet. I am currently working on the third book in my Angel series which is planned for release in November as an ebook.

Also, I have started working on another series called, Society of the D. E. A. D. It will be in the same vein as Angel in the Shadows but with a twist to the main characters you won’t discover until the end of the novel. When I’m not writing or reading, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

What is your next book?

My first book, Angel In The Shadows, ends with Megan’s younger brother Max, missing. In book two, Angel in the Storm, we find out that Max has been kidnapped by Judas the evil angel, and sold to a human trafficking ring. In the book I will be touching on the issues of child pornography, runaways, homelessness, and hunger as Max makes his way home. Evil angels and demons are hunting for Max while Johnny, Megan, Seth, and Vania search for him.

At the same time, a hurricane is brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. Help and danger appear from unexpected sources and one of the main characters will die at the end and book. Book three will continue the saga.

Where did you grow up?

I lived part of my childhood in Milwaukee and had to walk five blocks to school, even in the snow! In the summer we would head to the north woods of Wisconsin and stay in cabins or go camping in tents. In my teen years I grew up in Clearwater, Florida, where my friends and I would take the bus to the beach in the summers and stay all day. I also spent many hours volunteering at the Clearwater Public Library and acting with the Clearwater City Players.

Where do you live now?

I spend part of my summer in the northwoods of Wisconsin, and live full-time along the Gulf Coast of Florida. I just saw a wild turkey in the backyard yesterday. I was going to post a picture of it on Facebook asking, “What kind of seagull is this?”

We visit Knoxville, Tennessee as often as we can to see my brothers. One lives in Knoxville and another lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Who are the authors that you admire?

The writers who inspire me the most are those who clearly define good versus evil. My author friends: Frank Perretti, Janalyn Voight, Debby Mayne, Katie Weiland, Linda Yezak, John Robinson, Jen Jones, Jill Williamson, Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky, Jeff Gerke, Christina Berry, Jerry Jenkins, etc…

And then those I don’t know: C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, Lee Strobel, and Dean Koontz. I admire Stephen King’s work ethic, his book On Writing, and some of his works like The Green Mile, Needful Things, The Stand, and the novella, The Long Walk. I still don’t understand why no one’s made that one into a movie.

Why do you write?

I write because I have stories to tell. Behind the story is a truth. I’m afraid not to write them. I don’t want to get to the end of my life and say, “What if…” Also, I honestly believe if I don’t write them, someone else will. When I write the story the characters take on a life of their own. Many of my plot twists come to me as I’m writing and are not planned in advance.

When did you realize that you wanted to write a novel?

I’ve always considered myself a writer. At the age of five I asked for a typewriter so I could write down my Star Trek scripts. This last few years I finally got disciplined and set a goal of writing two thousand words a day, no matter what, day in-day out. That advice came out of Stephen King’s book, On Writing.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

No, I haven’t had a problem with writer’s block. I just ask myself, “What if…” or “What happens next?” I just have them go to the next place, take the next step and voila an idea pops into my head of where the story, plot, or character is to go. If you get in the car and drive, you’re bound to wind up somewhere. Getting to where you want to go from there just might be the best part of the drive.

When do you write?

I write whenever I get a block of time. The most important thing is getting in the two thousand words per day. I pour myself a cup of coffee, sit down at my desk, close the door, and get into my character’s world.

How did you feel when you finished your novel?

Validated as a writer. Elated that I could say I am a novelist. Thankful to God that one of my dreams had come true. And now that I’m starting on my fourth, (a third one is in the editing stage right now) I realize I can do this for a living.

What other careers have you had outside of writing?

I used to work in the computer industry, I was a Sales Director for eight years at major cosmetic company, and most recently I was a Musical Theater Director for a dance academy in Florida. I’ve also served as a volunteer at a Crisis Pregnancy Center. I enjoy helping to rehab wild animals and letting them go. I’ve been blessed to have followed many of my dreams.

What obstacles did you have to overcome to finish your novel?

My largest obstacle was time management. I am married and have a seven year-old. Also, I was still working on a major production of Cinderella for the dance academy and teaching Sunday School, all while writing my two thousand words a day for my first novel.

Are there any of your own life experiences in the book?

Absolutely. I loved going to camp as a kid and a young adult. I still do. Also, my volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, gave me a window into the conflicts and mixed messages society gives teenagers.

Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

Yes, two things.

AOL picked the Angel series as the Christian alternative to the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers for their Top Ten Most Challenged Book List of 2010, and the best pet I ever had was an opossum. A full-size Virginian Opossum. He was paper-trained and we had him for almost four years before he passed away from old age. He would talk lovey talk, cuddle on our laps, and travel in a cat carrier. Opossum’s deserve more respect as America’sonly native marsupial!

AOL named it the Christian alternative to the Twilight series. see link: http://shopping.aol.com/articles/2010/05/07/top-ten-most-challenged-books/

Angel in the Storm, Book 2 by Lisa Grace is an ebook available on Amazon.com for 2.99 July 1st, 2011

Contact the author at lisagracebooks@yahoo.com and http://www.lisagracebooks.comto read an excerpt from her 2nd novel in the Angel series, Angel In the Storm.

Angel in the Shadows

Book 1

Megan Laughlin, a fifteen year old sophomore in high school has the gift of seeing  angels and demons. Megan then attracts the attention of Judas, an evil angel, who wants to destroy her, her classmates and loved ones. Megan must deal with being a target of Judas and still handle all the problems of a normal teenage girl. She manages to save some teens from over-dosing at a rave, confronts damaging gossip and watches her best friend make a life altering decision. Meanwhile, Megan feels helpless as Judas manages to destroy two classmates and sets out to seduce or destroy Megan in the process. Can Megan save others while being a target herself?

Angel in the Shadows, Book One by Lisa Grace, hard cover is distributed through Ingram Books and is available through Barnes & Noble, www.Amazon.com

The ebook launched May 24th, 2011 and is available through http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052AI5W8 for 99 cents. It has been on the Teen Top-Twenty Amazon List since its debut. See Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_12?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Akindle+books%2Cn%3A%211000%2Cn%3A28&bbn=1000&keywords=kindle+books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307412306&rnid=1000#/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Akindle+books%2Cn%3A%211000%2Cn%3A28&page=2&bbn=1000&keywords=kindle+books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307412318

Long Time Coming

08 Tuesday Feb 2011

Posted by in Interviews

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I decided to read this book after my book club had a discussion on it and their comments peaked my interest. If I had saw this book on the shelf at my local bookstore I’m not sure I would have bought it. So I’m very glad that the book came up for review at the book club. This is a story I would not have wanted to miss.

Warning: This story is a real tear-jerker, so keep the Kleenex handy.

The story follows two women. Deidre, a grade school principle who strives to follow after God’s heart and Kenisha, a 23 year old mother of three, who could care less about God, and she figures He feels the same way about her. She is dying.

The women’s paths cross when Kenisha’s treatments interfere with her picking up her son from school. However, Deidre isn’t aware of Kenisha’s condition and things are said between the two and it becomes quite clear that they won’t soon become fast friends. But God had other plans.

“Long Time Coming” by Vanessa Miller is a story of faith and sorrow. As you journey with these women through their story you learn a lot about understanding the hearts of those who have hurt them deeply as well as those that they have hurt. Then being able to learn to forgive them and accept forgiveness. And in Kenisha’s case, that also includes forgiving God.

I give “Long Time Coming” four stars because of its riveting storyline and the poignant way this story was told. My only disappointment was the predictable ending. However, this is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It will inspire you to reach into your own heart and your own past to see if there’s anything there that you still need to give to God. This is one book that I would love to see made into a movie.

Highly Recommended. Buy a copy for a friend. Trust me, they will be eternally grateful.