Guest Blog

Coffee and Chocolate Power Tanya Eavenson

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Tanya Eavenson is an international bestselling and award-winning inspirational romance author. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate and reading a good book.

What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?
Tanya: I think the hardest part is writing the action scenes. I can see the scenes playing out in my mind, but telling it on paper for the reader to feel the moment is a challenge, yet very rewarding in the end.

What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing?
Tanya: Chocolate and coffee! And at times, more chocolate and coffee.

What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers?
Tanya: One of my favorite ways to connect with readers is at book signings. There’s something special about meeting people face-to-face, shaking hands and receiving hugs. It’s almost like a family reunion and the joys of being together.

Current book: To Gain a Bodyguard
Undercover agent Madi Reynolds spent years infiltrating a human-trafficking ring, but when her life is threatened, she has to leave the country with her bodyguard.

Connect W/Tanya
Website: http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tanya-Eavenson-129609683872033/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tan_eave
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyaeavenson/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tanya-eavenson-9d088e1d-ab19-49c0-a25a-72f623418d75?list=author_books
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tanya-Eavenson/e/B00B2UO5TE
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6913760.Tanya_Eavenson

 

rachel good

A Conversation with Rachel J. Good

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Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging stories of faith, hope and forgiveness. The author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Penn., the setting for her novels. Striving for authenticity, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.

When do you find time to write?
Rachel: I’ve always found the hours from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. are my most creative times. Not only is everyone asleep and the house is quiet, but something about the darkness soothes me and helps the words flow. It isn’t always easy getting up in the morning, especially when I have to take care of an active two-year-old during the day.

How do you connect with your characters?
Rachel: I believe we’re all alike under the skin, so we share the same longings, needs and feelings. Everyone meets their basic human needs differently, but if I can get in touch with a time I’ve felt those feelings, even if it’s on a small scale, I can imagine how someone else might react if they’re experiencing the same feelings, but much more intensely. This emotional connection allows me to develop a deep sense of empathy for my characters. It helps me see life through their eyes, even when I disagree with their point of view or actions. That way I can put myself in the mind of any character – even one who’s a villain.

And, of course, those who aren’t readers or writers may not understand how characters come alive. But I actually live with and talk to my characters as if they’re real when I’m writing a book. There’s nothing like sharing all your meals and activities with your characters to make a strong connection. My family often gets to know them as well.

Where do you get the inspiration for your plots?
Rachel: Because I write Amish novels, my greatest inspiration is spending time with my Amish friends and researching interesting aspects of their lives and communities. When I hear their stories about things that are happening with their friends and relatives, it often sparks story ideas. I won’t ever use their stories exactly as they happen because I feel it’s an invasion of privacy, but they form the seeds of an idea.

My biggest inspiration, though, is probably my imagination. I used to get in trouble as a child for having a vivid imagination (some people called my creative inventions lying), but it’s proved to be a helpful trait for writing. Every time I see or hear about an unusual event, I immediately begin constructing an elaborate plot and backstory for why it happened. It may not end up in one of my books, but just the exercise of imagining is good practice for developing plots.

What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers?
Rachel: Although it’s great meeting readers in person at book events, I also like to connect with them on Facebook. In person, you might only get to speak to readers for a brief time, but on Facebook, we can share our lives. To me, it’s always amazing the bonds you can form on social media when you’re open about your concerns and joys. I can encourage readers, and they’ve always been a major encouragement to me. I also appreciate the fact that we often pray for each other. There’s nothing like knowing readers are praying for you when you’re struggling to meet a deadline or when you’re dealing with a crisis. And I keep them in my prayers when they have health and family concerns.

Current book: An Unlikely Hero in Plain Everyday Heroes
Blind shopkeeper, Benuel, has honed his other senses to solve mysteries, including why an Englischer is stalking Amish twins.

Connect W/Rachel
Website: www.racheljgood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racheljgoodnovels
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelJGood1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelj.good
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14661177.Rachel_J_Good
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/racheljgood1
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-j-good
Newsletter sign-up: http://bit.ly/1qwci4Q

 

 

JoAnn Author Photo (Princess Cruise)

A Conversation with JoAnn Durgin

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JoAnn Durgin is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including the bestselling Lewis Legacy Series. She was voted as one of the “35 Essential Christian Romance Authors” by readers of Family Fiction magazine in 2018. A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn lives with her family in southern Indiana.

When do you find time to write?
JoAnn: I was able to transition from my paralegal position into writing full-time in August 2014. I trusted the Lord to provide for my needs, and I haven’t looked back since. You might find me in my pajamas at three in the afternoon on certain days. My days and nights can get mixed up at times, but my schedule is my own—and I love that! When a book is due, I’ve been known to stay up for 36 hours straight. As I write this in mid-September, I’m sitting on a deck near Myrtle Beach, S.C. (I can see Myrtle Beach farther down the shore). I’m finishing my next book and wondering if we’ll be forced to evacuate since Hurricane Florence is strengthening and headed in our direction. However, God always knows. No matter what happens, God is on His throne, and He will sustain!

How do you connect with your characters?
JoAnn: If I don’t understand my characters, then my readers most likely won’t connect with them. Among other aspects, I know their personal and professional background, relationship history, likes, dislikes, and personal quirks. I know what they look like inside and out. I know their heart condition and where they stand with the Lord. That helps me write them more realistically. To a certain degree, I call myself an armchair psychologist, which means I like to examine their underlying motivation for their decisions and actions. That helps me to develop a more well-rounded character and one the reader will hopefully want to get to know.

What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers?
JoAnn: I am a very accessible author. I love my readers and understand they’re a huge part of my success. They invest the time and money in my books, and I consider that an honor. If they write to me, I write back. I mentioned I’m at a beach house right now…at the invitation of one of my dearest readers. In fact, I’ll be meeting a number of my readers before I return home. It’s such a thrill to finally meet these wonderful people face-to-face!

How do you ensure your books are accurate?
JoAnn: I do a ton of research in order to get my facts straight. There’s always the margin for error, but I do the best I can. If it’s a true life setting, I usually include a combination of real and fictional restaurants, parks, places, etc. I wrote a book about a NASA shuttle commander, Pursuit, the eighth book in my long-running signature Lewis Legacy Series. That book was in progress for several years and included trips to Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center. I asked lots of questions, then I spent days researching the history of NASA and the former shuttle missions, including the two doomed missions. I found out the fun and interesting things as well as the more factual aspects of being a shuttle commander who leads a crew to the ISS. I thrive on the research and find it incredibly energizing (and try to present it in an interesting way with humor!).

Current book: Thee Will I Honor, Treasured Vow Series, Book 2
Wounded Army veteran Matthew Martin seeks a renewed purpose. Lesley Ann Randall is on a personal mission. Will they find more than they ever imagined?

Connect W/JoAnn
Website:  https://joanndurgin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin

 

Steph's Rools of Grammar-1

A Conversation With Stephanie Prichard

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Stephanie is an army brat who lived in many countries around the world and loved it. She authored humorous online devotionals and grammar articles for several years, and co-authored two novels with her Marine Corps husband, Don. They raised their three children in Indianapolis, and now enjoy 12 grandchildren.

What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)?
Stephanie: I had two wonderful dreams as a child. The first was to marry a farmer and have 12 children, with a horse, dog and TV for each kid. Fortunately, that did not come true—although I did marry a farmer’s son and have three children, with a fair supply of dogs, cats, canaries, parakeets, hamsters and guinea pigs. Only one TV, though—in the family room, with heavy restrictions on who watched what when. Aw, the sad realities of adulthood!

My second dream was to become a writer, as I loved reading and I loved entertaining my peers with stories. Fortunately, that did come true! But not until my husband, Don, who has dyslexia and seldom reads books (but is a big movie buff) decided out of the blue to write a novel. Eventually he asked me to join him, and eventually I did. We ended up making a great team—which is sorta romantic, you know! Sigh.

Where do you get the inspiration for your plots?
Stephanie: Well, that’s part of how my hubby and I make a great team. He’s the plotter, and I’m the pantster. He writes the basic plot, then I take it under my wing and, well, rewrite it. He is all about action, action, action (and quite good at it), but the characters are flat and the setting is minimal. As a pantster, I happily develop the scenes and add dimension to the characters and color to the setting. I also do the research and shape the theme. By the way, none of this happened at the snap of our fingers. We attended writing conferences, took classes, and joined a critique group. At the end of 10 years, we finally felt ready to be published.

What has been most rewarding about writing romantic suspense?
Stephanie: I love combining the fast action of suspense with the slow simmer of romance. Sort of like the combo of sweet and salty so popular today. Delicious!

What is absolutely essential for you to write?
Stephanie: There are three essentials for me as a pantster-writer. First is an unending supply of coffee—yep, I’m the embodiment of that definition of a writer as “a person capable of transforming caffeine into books.” Second is absolute quiet with no distractions (whew, we’re empty-nesters). Third is a block of time because I don’t write the story, I weave it. That requires a lot of concentration to keep hold of all the threads, and my progress is painfully slow. Snatching minutes here and there simply isn’t a reality for me.

Current book: Stranded: A Novel
A Marine Corps reservist on an anniversary cruise with his dying wife ends up shipwrecked and bereaved with three survivors, unaware that one is responsible for his wife’s death.

Connect W/Stephanie
Website: donandstephanieprichard.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/4u2read

 

Author Pic

A Conversation With Angela Ruth Strong

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Angela lives in Idaho with her hubby and teenagers. Her books have won both Idaho Top Author and the Cascade Award, and she’s had her novels selected as TOP PICK for Romantic Times. She also started IDAhope Writers to encourage other aspiring authors along their journey.

What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?
Angela: For me, I want to make jokes when things get scary. In writing my first cozy mystery, I was finally allowed to do that!

What’s the weirdest way someone has died or been killed in your novels?

Angela: The murder in this book is based on a real life situation. My husband’s coworker ended up in the hospital with what felt like a heart attack. His heart was fine, but they found the caffeine level in his blood was that of having drank over 30 cups of coffee. He’d only had one cup that morning, so he was puzzled how his caffeine levels got so high. If he’d had a heart condition, this could have been deadly.

When he got home and told his wife, she said, “Where did you get the coffee?” He said, “I made it.” She replied, “We don’t have any coffee grinds.” He pulled the bag out of the garbage to show her and realized it was instant coffee. When putting instant coffee granules in a coffee pot for drip coffee, he’d caused himself to overdose on caffeine. Mystery solved. I had to put that in a book.

Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Why?
Angela: I wouldn’t say I regretted it, but my daughter was mad at me. We were both sitting on the couch when she was reading my story, and when she got to that part, she kicked me. I was actually kind of proud of how much emotion I’d caused. Writers are mean that way.

How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels?
Angela: Tee-hee. This is usually my favorite part. I love researching locations, but this book is a little different for a few reasons.

  • I pitched this series because the producer who optioned a couple other books of mine said a particular television network was looking for a mystery series set in a coffee shop or tea house. This producer likes to film in the four states with the best tax breaks for filming. I researched the four states and picked Ohio based on the quirky small towns I found there.
  • Rather than set the story in a real place like I have always done with my other books, I created a town for this series. That gives me a little more freedom for adding town traditions or tourist attractions.
  • Here’s the juicy part. In writing for another line of books, I got frustrated with their stringent publishing guidelines. I ranted to my writer friend, “Why reads these?” She said, “Little old ladies in Ohio.” So my agent had me print out a picture of a mean little old lady, name her, and yell at her when I got frustrated with the writing process. Her name is Opal. And if you read close enough, you’ll find her in A Caffeine Conundrum.

Current book: A Caffeine Conundrum
When a shop owner is killed before selling her business to the coffee lover or the tea drinker, both become suspects and team up to solve the crime.

Connect w/Angela
Website: www.angelaruthstrong.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong

 

 

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