Although I enjoy historical, Christian, paranormal, suspense, and everything in between, my books all have one thing in common--I love to surprise my readers with the unexpected. I currently have 7 books available for kindle, nook, and paperback. My family and I live in a small Idaho town where the number of cows outnumbers the number of people.
What is your favorite color? blue
What is your favorite food? I could never narrow it down to one, but always in my top rankings are strawberry pie, cinnamon rolls, and French fries
How has your upbringing influenced your writing? I was raised by wonderful Christian parents who always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. My parents and family have always and still support me in every way possible. They instilled a love of books and reading early on, and some of my favorite books are still those read aloud to me by my parents. Many of my own books are inspired by or have elements of my memories and experiences. Everything from my sister’s taste in books to my dad’s technical knowledge influence what and how I write. I guess you could say that my writing is an extension of who I am, and who I am is an extension of my family and upbringing.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I don’t remember a time when I did not want to be an author. I think I probably fell in love with writing in junior high when one of my English assignments was to write a book. I’ve always made up stories in my head, just for my own entertainment. Now I get to write them down and share the stories with others.
What inspired you to write your first book? My sister is an avid reader. A few years ago she was frustrated with the endless search to find good books (she tends to be picky ) She wanted an adult noel that read like a young adult one. She tends to like fantasy and romance, but doesn’t like the female lead to be overly stupid or the romance sappy. She likes Christian books that are clean but well-written. She also likes books that are exciting and hard to put down. Probably partially in jest, she asked me to write her a good book. So I did. Well, I originally wrote a short story, but then I kept going. I had started writing other books before, but this was the first time I’d actually finished one. Thus, Yesterday and The Locket were born as a birthday present for my sister.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general? Right now, time is what challenges me most with writing. I am a very busy mommy to three adorable little boys. I do the vast majority of my writing at night when they‘re asleep. It is difficult to say the least. When I start dreaming mid-sentence, I know it’s time to put the laptop down and go to sleep.
Have you developed a specific writing style? I haven’t intentionally developed a writing style, and I reserve the right to change any said ‘writing style,’ J but all of my books so far do have similar elements. They are all very fast-paced, exciting, and hopefully difficult to put down. I tend to almost unconsciously end chapters on mini cliffhangers. I like to think out of the box, making my plots unique. I don’t write fluff. Everything that happens in one of my books is important in some way, even if you don’t realize it at the time. My heroines are smart and strong. They save their guy just as often as he saves her. I also like to surprise the reader, so my books usually have plenty of twists and hopefully the unexpected!
Can you share a little of your current work with us? I have a long line of books waiting to be written in just about every genre. I don’t think I would ever have time in my lifetime to write all the books I currently have ideas for. I just released my 9th book, a novella entitled, The Assumption of Guilt. Next on the list is The Choice, which is Book 4 in the Yesterday series.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? This is a Christian time travel series, which is unique in the Christian market. As in all my books, the Christian theme, or message, is subtle, and hopefully very natural. In this series, the paranormal element functions to illustrate the underlying message, which in a nutshell, is illustrated in the verse in the dedication at the beginning Book 1—Psalm 139. This series is an extra-ordinary example of God miraculously arranging the events of a young woman’s life to make her who she is and poise her to accomplish the plan he has for her. I hope readers enjoy the story just for it’s own merits, but I would love it if it also made them consider God’s provision and the lengths He goes to accomplish His will in our lives.
Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot? My books frequently have some of my own experiences or ones I have personally heard. Characters or details are often similar to those in my own life, though I tend to disguise them well. For this series, some of Hannah’s quirks are my own. For instance, Hannah has a fear of driving, especially having someone else drive for her. I frequently battle the same fear. Our house is at the top of a steep, windy road (with no guardrail). When my husband is the driver, I sometimes close my eyes, figuring if we are going to go off the cliff, I’d rather not see it happen!
Yesterday
Her yesterday was five years ago. What will her tomorrow bring? When HANNAH KRAEGER saves a family injured in a car accident, she has no idea she has changed events in the past. Waking the next morning, Hannah discovers her yesterday was really five years ago. Each trip Hannah takes through time changes the timeline and her own life. With help from DR. SETH MCALLISTER, Hannah must unravel the mystery of why she time travels and who she actually is before the strange ability costs her future, the man she loves, and even her life. YESTERDAY is a thrilling Christian Romantic Suspense filled with unexpected twists, mystery, and romance.Amazon
The Locket
Hannah suddenly finds that she has time travelled once again, but this time is different. After helping save a woman's life, Hannah discovers that she has completely altered the timeline and thrown her very existence into jeopardy. Facing life-threatening effects upon returning to her own time, Hannah is then given a death sentence: if she time travels again, she will die. Now, Hannah must solve the clues to her own identity and find a way to save her own life before she is once again sent spiraling through time. Will her mother's locket hold the key to both her past and her future? Has she just found the love of her life only to lose him? Could God have a plan for Hannah amidst the chaos?Amazon
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