Author Colleen Coble - ANATHEMA - Free Book

Colleen, I'm glad to have you visit my blog. And I love your picture.

I've known Colleen professionally for many years. She received the first Mentor of the Year Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. I think for two or three years before I received the award. We share the same passion to help other authors.

Welcome, Colleen. why do you write the kind of books you do?

People ask that all the time. They say, “You’re so friendly and outgoing. Why do you write about murder and mayhem?” LOL It’s the way I’m wired. I grew up on Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. I think it’s my way of dealing with injustice. I can’t do anything about the bad things in the world, but I can make sure justice prevails in my imaginary world.

A good reason. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

It just happened! On Valentine’s Day my son and daughter-in-law brought me a newspaper article they thought I might be interested in. It read: Bestselling author Colleen Coble realizes lifelong dream of being a grandmother. LOL! It was their way of letting me know we have a little one on the way. We just found out our darling is going to be a GIRL! I’ve waited YEARS to be a grandma!

There's nothing like it. I have loved watching my grandchildren grow and develop into the people God wants them to be. How has being published changed your life?

Oh I love writing! It’s such a fulfilling career. I love all aspects of it—the writing, the promotion the editing (especially the editing!) and everything else. It’s given me more confidence and more purpose in my life. It’s brought wonderful friends into my life.

Our worlds really open up when we connect with other writers. What are you reading right now?

Blaze by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)

What is your current work in progress?

I just turned in a new Rock Harbor book called Cry in the Night. Bree’s dead husband Rob just might not be dead after all. . .

What a way to whet our appetites to read it. What would be your dream vacation?

I’ve been lucky enough to actually live some dream vacations. The best ones are with the whole family together. We have gone to Hawaii several times to research the Aloha Reef books (I research while the kids play) and it has landed us a soon-to-be son! Our daughter fell for her divemaster, Captain Mark Davy. The last time we went to Kauai, love blossomed. He flew to see her in Phoenix two weeks later then moved there within a month and got a job at Honeywell. They’re getting married in November 2008. On Kauai!

How fun. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I pick a place that interests me and that has the atmosphere I’m looking to get in the book. The book I’m about to start is set near Charleston and it’s a psychological thriller. Where better to set it than near black water?

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Stephen King. No one can write character like the King. I’d love to pick his brain. It might be scary but oh so fun!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Hobbies? What are those? Who has time for hobbies? LOL I used to crochet and quilt. Now whatever free time I have is spent on promotion, research, or just thinking about the next book. I do love to read though and I always make time for that!

I know. I always have a book that I'm reading laying around. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me is actually relaxing and not thinking about a book or the next book. Or the next. LOL I love it so much that it can become an obsession. This time when I turned in my book, I told myself I absolutely am not writing for a month. I’m going to take a break. We’ll see if I can actually do that. LOL

Let me know if you did. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read extensively in the genre you want to write. Attend at least one good conference a year. And never, never give up.

Excellent advice.

Tell us about the featured book.

Oh Anathema was so fun to write! It’s an Amish romantic suspense (different, huh!) and came about after a conversation with my agent. Karen Solem said, “What would happen if an Amish woman couldn’t forgive something horrific like the school shooting?” The story evolved from that thought so it’s all about forgiveness.

The Amish sect in the book is a little different. They’re Swiss Amish (they yodel!) and it’s set in Parke County, Indiana, covered bridge capital of the world. A young Amish woman comes home from a tryst to find her family has been killed with strychnine. She escapes with her Englisch beau but it’s a very bad decision, and she flees after five years of abuse. When he tracks her down several years later, he tells her the daughter she thought had died is still alive. The only way she can find out the truth is to go home, back into the sights of the murderer who still hates her.

I can hardly wait to read it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website address is http://www.colleencoble.com and I share a blog with my “girls” at http://www.GirlsWriteOut.blogspot.com

Readers, check out Colleen's web sites. Before you go, be sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a free copy of Anathema.

And check back to see if you won. I have a winner from several weeks back that has never checke, and the email address she left bounces.

One easy way to not forget is to sign up for Feedblitz under my profile. Then the posts come into your email inbox, alerting you that you need to get your mailing address to me.

Another benefit of FeedBlitz, it also alerts you to interviews where you probably will want to try to win the free book.