Guest Blog

A Conversation With Sherri Wilson Johnson

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Sherri Wilson Johnson is a multi-published novelist, virtual assistant, self-publishing coach, and a Georgia peach to her core. She and her husband are empty-nesters, and her Chihuahua is her writing partner. She loves spending time with family and friends, reading, going to the beach, researching her family tree, and swimming.

How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels?
Sherri: I wanted to establish myself as a Georgia writer, so even though some of my novels take place in Florida, there are strong ties to Georgia in all my characters. I’ve never lived anywhere but Georgia and haven’t traveled much, so I know Georgia. In Grafted into Deceit, the opening scene takes place on a dark and scary road, which happens to be a few miles from my house. I travel this road every day, and on foggy or rainy nights, it’s the perfect setting for a romantic suspense.

What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)?
Sherri: I started writing stories when I was eight years old. I’m sure I was telling stories long before that. I’ve always wanted to be a storyteller, and I’m thankful God let that dream come true.

What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers?
Sherri: I love connecting with readers on my Facebook page, but connecting in person is even more fun!

Current book: Grafted into Deceit
Disappearing business funds and a missing dead body have Marina Acres doubting everyone — including the detective who can’t solve his case without her help.

Connect W/Sherri
Website: www.sherriwilsonjohnson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherriWilsonJohnson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/swj_thewriter
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/3/105718090337306850230
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swj_thewriter

A Conversation With Gayla K. Hiss

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Gayla’s inspiring novels combine her love for the great outdoors with romance, suspense and adventure. She and her husband often tour the country in their RV, visiting many state and national parks. She enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling, and lives in the Pacific Northwest.

What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress?
Gayla: Visits to state and national parks always inspire me with new story ideas. Since all my books are set in the national parks, it helps to experience those settings in person. Just recently, I took a vacation with my husband to Yellowstone National Park. The beautiful scenery and our experiences there stimulated my imagination so much that I had to take copious notes so I wouldn’t forget all the new ideas. I also like to spend time away from writing to get to know my characters and think about their family history, what it is that motivates them, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Usually, when I return from my trips, I’m eager to get to work incorporating the new ideas and insights into the story.

Why do you like writing romantic suspense?
Gayla: That’s a great question! I’ve always been drawn to redemption stories, where good triumphs over evil. I also love romance. The romantic suspense genre allows me to combine all of those elements, but it’s also very challenging to write. I enjoy thinking of plot twists and mysteries. In many ways, it’s like designing a complex puzzle, and sometimes I’m not sure how all the pieces will fit together until the very end. I’m constantly researching and learning new things, so I never get bored.

Where do you get the inspiration for your plots?
Gayla: The idea for Avalanche, the first book in my Peril in the Park series, came when I was hiking in the Cascade Mountains. I noticed some trails were closed due to the avalanche danger. At the time, I thought that was odd because I didn’t know avalanches could occur in summer, so the idea intrigued me. I chose North Cascades National Park for the setting because it is the perfect place for a wilderness adventure. Its spectacular mountain scenery and rugged backcountry are a hiker’s dream, but there are a few hazards too. Naturally, the heroine had to be a park ranger.

Dangerous Ground is the second book in the series and is set in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Having grown up in Tennessee, I’ve always been drawn to the Smokies. I have many happy memories of fun hikes in the mountains and leisurely strolls through Gatlinburg. In writing this book, I drew from those experiences as well as the times I spent at my grandparents’ farm in Kentucky while growing up.

My books blend romantic suspense with outdoor adventure. A common theme in my stories is getting back to the simple things in life, like faith, family, and the land. It’s hard for me to visit a national park and not be inspired. These books are really an expression of that wonder and awe of God’s creation, as well as the danger that lurks in the wild.

Current book: Dangerous Ground (Peril in the Park series)
Deputy Marshal Kate Phillips comes to the Smokies after her uncle’s suspicious death and finds herself in a land dispute with handsome neighbor David Jennings.

Connect w/Gayla
Website: www.gaylakhiss.com
Facebook: https://goo.gl/BrIW6P
Goodreads: https://goo.gl/sB3R0d
Amazon Author Page: https://goo.gl/WrzGcD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylakhiss
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gaylakhiss/

A Conversation With Hope Toler Dougherty

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Hope holds a Master’s degree and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her novels include Irish Encounter and Mars…With Venus Rising. A member of ACFW, RWA, SinC, she writes for SeriousWriter.com. Residing in North Carolina, she and her husband enjoy visits with their daughters and twin sons.

How do you connect with your characters?
Hope: Several years ago, I took a class with Ramona Richards. She gave a character development chart with almost 200 questions relating to a character’s physical appearance, favorite things, background, occupation, attitude, and goals. The chart ends with several interview questions for the character. I try to complete those questions with as much detail as I can. I don’t use all the answers in a story, but the answers help me know my character. A kaleidoscope may not be mentioned in a scene, but I know one is resting on the character’s end table.
I also use free writing as a get-to-know-you exercise, but I pretend to be the character writing to me, the author. I used this technique with Brett Daniels in Rescued Hearts. His free writing entry began with something like, “I don’t really want to tell you anything. I don’t trust you with my secrets.” He was a tough nut to crack at the beginning of the writing process.

Where do you get the inspiration for your plots?
Hope: Plots come to me in different ways. Irish Encounter began as a daydream. For Rescued Hearts, the first scene began germinating during a bike ride. I live out in the country and ride on two-lane roads. One afternoon, I took a short cut down a dirt path. I know the area, but for just a few minutes I couldn’t see any roads or my house. It was a little creepy. I started thinking what if a bike rider on an old path saw an abandoned house. What if she noticed a little kitten tangled up in vines near the front porch? What if while the bike rider tried to free the kitten, a man dragged her into the house?
Those questions wouldn’t leave me alone, and I started writing the story.

What is one of your favorite ways to connect with readers?
Hope: I try to have a good presence on social media outlets. Facebook is fun, but my favorite way to connect with readers is through speaking engagements, author events and book clubs. Whether I’m the featured speaker or I’m chatting with one person at a book fair booth, I love to talk about the writing process, the inspiration behind my stories, God’s leading in my writing journey, or anything book related. I’m a former English teacher-turned author. I love sharing about books!

Current book: Rescued Hearts
An innocent bike ride leads to a hostage situation, jeopardizing an undercover mission and two stubborn hearts.

Connect W/Hope
Website: hopetolerdougherty.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/hope.t.dougherty
Twitter: @HopeTDougherty
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/hopetdougherty/
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/13941031.Hope_Dougherty

 

A Conversation With Gail Pallotta

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Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. Gail’s a former regional writer of the year for American Christian Writers Association and a 2013 Grace Awards finalist. She’s published books, poems, short stories and articles.

How do you connect with your characters?
Gail: I visualize the characters in my mind. Then I write brief character sketches, which includes the physical descriptions and some basic personality traits. As I write and the book grows, the characters grow too.

What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing?
Gail: I have several, all important. One is my husband, who will tell me I have characters stuck in my head, and I have to let them out. Another is my daughter who will tell me the world needs my book, LOL. The third, writer friends are invaluable for a pick-me-up because most of them understand. I’m fortunate to have several who will encourage me.

What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true?)
Gail: I wanted to be a private detective. I ended up with a major in English, but I’m a detective in my books.

Current Book: Breaking Barriers
Ann Jones defends the faith she loves. James Crawford wants to protect her.

Connect W/Gail
Website: www.gailpallotta.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore
Twitter: @Hopefulwords
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/102322508340385269334
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-pallotta-b368b220/

A Conversation With Susan Page Davis

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Susan Page Davis is the author of more than seventy published novels. She’s the winner of two Inspirational Readers’ Choice Awards and two Will Rogers Medallions, and also a winner of the Carol Award and a finalist in the WILLA Literary Awards.

When do you find time to write?
Susan: Writing is pretty much a full-time job for me now. I am at my desk by 8 a.m. and spend most of the day on writing or writing-related tasks.

What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing?
Susan: Hot black tea. Even though I live in Kentucky now, I still drink hot tea.

Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Why?
Susan: Yes, there’s actually a character I’ve become fond who will be murdered in Book 5 (The Labor Day Challenge). He was sort of annoying in the earlier stories, but he made a good foil for my nice guys. Now I’ll need someone else to needle my heroes at the police station.

What did you want to be as a child (and did that dream come true)?
Susan: I wanted to run a hotel. No, it most certainly did not come true!

Current book: The House Next Door
Captain Harvey Larson and his wife Jennifer buy the house next door, never suspecting the terror it will cause. A chilling discovery gives Jennifer’s brother and sister-in-law second thoughts about moving in.

Connect W/Susan
Website: www.susanpagedavis.com
Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor
Sign up for Susan’s occasional newsletter at https://madmimi.com/signups/118177/join

 

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