Author Marta Perry - FINAL JUSTICE - Free Book

I'm happy to welcome Marta Perry to our blog today. The book we'll feature is Final Justice.

Welcome, Marta. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I’m really not sure how to answer that. I suppose all of my characters, including the villains (!) have a little piece of me in them. When I start imagining a character, he or she just starts to grow. When I can hear his or her voice in my head, I know I’m ready to start writing.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am both introverted and conventional--quirky isn’t a part of my vocabulary!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was about eight and read my first Nancy Drew mystery. Most girls that age get to the end of the book and want to be like Nancy. I wanted to be like the author—able to tell an exciting tale that other people would want to read.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I enjoy reading classic British mysteries, and if there are no new ones to be found, I’ll re-read my Agatha Christies and Patricia Wentworths. I read a lot of non-fiction on whatever I’m writing about at the moment. I recently read THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL by Philippa Gregory, even though I don’t usually read historicals, and found it fascinating. I also re-read all of CS Lewis periodically—there’s always something new to be learned.

James and I went to see the movie Prince Caspian last week. We loved it. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

FINAL JUSTICE is my 31st published book. My most recent releases include the three books in my THREE SISTERS INN series set in Amish country: HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT, A CHRISTMAS TO DIE FOR, and BURIED SINS. Before that, I wrote the seven books in my Flanagans series.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I’ve learned how to say ‘no,’ much to my surprise. There are lots of good things to be done, but I’m not necessarily the one God picked to do all of them. I focus on my faith life, my family, and my writing, and fit other things in as I can.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Usually the characters come to me with names attached, so I guess they choose their own.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising three children who have turned into responsible Christian adults. And the bonus is that I end up with six beautiful grandchildren!

Oh, yes, we do love those grandchildren. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A cat, because cats are solitary creatures who can still be very loving.

What is your favorite food?

My grandmother’s recipe for chicken with homemade noodles. It’s a lot of trouble to make, but eating it takes me right back to my childhood.

Mmmm, sounds good. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I spent a lot of time writing all kinds of different things, and while I learned something from all of them, I eventually realized that I had to find the one thing that I was meant to do. God closed a lot of doors and opened the right one, and fortunately, I was listening.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Read, read, read, and write, write, write. Don’t be in a rush to get published—take some time to figure out what you really want to write and where your talents lie.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

FINAL JUSTICE is the last book in the Reunion Revelations series from Love Inspired Suspense. The series is about a group of college friends who come back together again after ten years apart, only to find themselves threatened by a killer. I happened to be writing this book at a time when I was going back to my own college reunion and getting together with friends I hadn’t seen for years. I think that experience added a ring of truth to my story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m at www.martaperry.com. If they write to me at marta@martaperry.com, I’ll be happy to reply with a signed bookmark and/or a copy of my booklet of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.

Thanks so much for inviting me! I’ve enjoyed it!

Thank you, Marta. I've loved spending this time with you. I'd love to have a copy of the Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.

Readers, I've read the whole Reunion Revelations series. You'll want all of them. Check out the reviews of the books in the last few newsletters on my web site: www.lenanels0ndooley.com

Leave a comment if you'd like to win a copy of the book.