Welcome back, Beth.Why
do you write the kind of books you do?
I love reading romantic suspense, Lena ,
and have for years. Never tire of it. Probably because it’s a grown-up,
contemporary version of the fairy tales I loved as a child. Think of it—hero
and heroine fall in love as they fight against great odds to reach their
happily ever after. I think we all
desire a happily ever after of some sort, don’t you?
Yes, and my HEA is
with my husband James. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the
happiest day in your life?
You would think getting married to my handsome sweetheart,
the births of our two sons, and finally getting that first novel published
would top the list. But my happiest day was when Jim and I had made it to our
happily ever after. Married 47 years and I suddenly realized we were not only
dearly in love, but with all the wonder of those glorious days when we first
fell in love. We had come through many conquered challenges to reach that joy
and peace! That perfect love. Unfortunately, we only enjoyed that heavenly
place for a short time. Two weeks later and without any warning, Jim went to be
with Jesus.
I’m sure that is
hard. How has being published changed your life?
Being published has not only changed my life, it has become
my life during these six years since Jim’s passing. My first novel, Her Deadly Inheritance, debuted three
years later—the one Jim so believed in that he said he’d publish it if no one
else did. Its sequel, Her Deadly Reunion, released last
November while I was healing from two broken ankles.
Wow! Two broken
ankles. Must have been hard. What are you reading right now?
Currently, The Power
of the Blood by H.A Maxwell Whyte—a fabulous old classic that dates back to
1973. I lead a women’s Bible study at church, and we’re bowled over by what we
are learning as we draw intimately closer to Jesus and put its teaching into
practice. I’m also reading a lineup of romantic suspense novels by Christy
Barritt, Terri Reed, Lisa Harris, and Laura Scott. After that, I have so many
more TBR novels on my list.
What is your current
work in progress?
Her Deadly Vows,
the third book of my Jill Shepherd Suspense Series. Jill joins Clay in Haiti . While he
works on restoring an historic hotel, she works on the final preparations for
their wedding. Before long she realizes she may not live long enough marry
Clay.
We must feature that
book on my blog when it releases. What would be your dream vacation?
I’d love a 7-10 day Mississippi
riverboat cruise with tours of the southern plantation mansions still in
existence. Maybe because I’ve started a pre-Civil War romantic suspense series,
where my heroine winds up on a riverboat in the first and second novels. Onsite
research is so much fun! And I love fascinating architecture. Faster than
anything else. it propels my mind into the “What if?” of story possibilities
for my characters.
James and I have been
on cruises of the Caribbean, but never a river cruise. How do you choose your
settings for each book?
Strangely enough, they seem to come to me, more than my
searching for them. For my first novel, I knew I wanted a paper mill town and
an island. When I prayed about it, I ran across The Grand Island Story by Beatrice H. Castle and knew I’d found the
perfect setting for Her Deadly
Inheritance. For Her Deadly Reunion, a one-day senior
bus tour to the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee ,
Wisconsin , hooked me. Talk about
breath-taking architecture inside and out, and all the features I’d need for
that story. As for Her Deadly Vows,
even before the story started forming in my heart, the Lord surrounded me with
family and friends who are familiar with Haiti and its culture. And I’m
enjoying all the research. Unfortunately, I don’t expect ever to visit that
fascinating island. Though I hear such great things about its people.
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
When I was six years old, I would have said Roy Rogers. I
wanted him to wait until I grew up and could marry him. He struck me as being
kind and courageous—not to mention a terrific singer! What can I say? I’m a
music lover.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I work jigsaw puzzles and play games with friends and
family. Can you believe I love snow blowing my Wisconsin
driveway with my little Toro. Though--LOL--I guess we can’t call that a hobby,
can we? Does playing my Q-Chord and singing along count? How about camping in
my A-frame, fold-down camper? And this summer, I plan to get back to gardening,
making beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables grow.
What is your most difficult
writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Truthfully, my most difficult writing obstacle is getting
the seat of my pants in chair. But I’m working on that because the moment I
start writing, I get lost in the story and time disappears until I emerge from
the lives of my characters again. And I actually enjoy editing.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Write! You can’t be a writer unless you write. (I tell
myself that all the time!) Try to write at least 15 minutes a day. Once you
start, you’ll find it hard to stop. Find a local, or online, Christian writing
group and join it. Writers need other writers who understand their passion,
encourage them, and help them grow in their craft. Go to a Christian writers’
conference. Yes, every year. You’ll be amazed how fast you’ll advance in your
writing dream.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Jill Shepherd is desperate to meet the father she’s never
known. She accepts his invitation to spend the holidays at his home in Milwaukee , Wisconsin .
Upon her arrival, she’s not only met with hostility from his family but finds
him gravely ill. When his nurse secretly shares suspicions that someone is
trying to kill him, Jill attempts to find out who at the house might have a
motive.
Her father’s condition worsens. Jill and her boyfriend Clay
Merrick are ordered from the house, and suddenly find themselves embroiled in a
race to outwit a mysterious killer and unmask a bitter plot that has been years
in the making. With the life of her father hanging in the balance, how can Jill
and Clay prove her innocence and stop the killer before it’s too late?
Please give us the
first page of the book for my readers.
Never look for your father! Promise me!
Minutes from her birth father’s home, her mother’s words of
pleading echoed through Jill Ashley Shepherd’s heart, growing more insistent.
Was she making a terrible mistake?
Seated beside Clay Merrick, she gazed at his dear face as he
steered his old Ford F-150 truck through Milwaukee ’s
snow-filled streets. Was it only six months ago they had fallen in love? So
strong was their bond, it seemed they had already loved for a lifetime. How she
treasured his emotional support at a time like this.
A stray curl of his dark hair fell against his forehead as
he glanced at her, his gray eyes soft with concern. “Are you sure you want to
go ahead with this?”
She blinked and swallowed hard, then turned to stare beyond
the windshield at the large, lazy snowflakes drifting from a white Wisconsin sky. Snowy mounds frosted the edges of business
windows displaying Christmas delights and grew on streetlights festooned in
evergreen wreaths and bright red bows. Cheery Christmas lights winked at
passersby from every direction.
But reminders of Christmas failed to lift her spirits.
Was this the right day to meet her birth father?
“Absolutely,” she squeaked out.
Clay’s raised brows said it all.
For years, she had dreamed of the father-daughter
relationship she’d been denied. For years, she had wondered, did she resemble
him? Would her father have a place in his heart for her? What had separated her
parents so long ago?
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Since I’ll have a new website up around the end of this
month, Lena , readers can best find me now at:
Thank you for having me back on A Christian Writer’s World, Lena .
And thank you, Beth,
for sharing this book with me and my blog readers.
Readers,
here are links to the book.
Her Deadly Reunion - PaperbackHer Deadly Reunion (Jill Shepherd Suspense Book 2) - Kindle
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13 comments:
Hi, I am from West Texas. I enjoyed the interview, and the book sounds real intriguing! Sure sounds like a book I would love to read. I really like the cover, makes me want to read it even more! God Bless you.
This sounds like an interesting story. I'd love to read it. Linda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Great interview. I've read both of Beth's books and treasure them as favorites in my bookshelf. If you love romantic suspense, you'll love Beth's books.
Ruth from Wisconsin
sounds interesting! Shelia from Mississippi
Sounds like a good one!
Melanie Backus,TX
Sounds like a good mystery to find out who is trying to kill her father and why. Vivian Furbay of CO
Thanks for introducing me to a new author.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
Would love to win, thank you.
Lourdes in Long Island, NY
This sounds very intriguing! Thanks for sharing.
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Beth is a new author to me and this book sounds like a real page turner I would enjoy reading.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
Loved the interview. I was drawn to the father/daughter relationship or the lack thereof interests me.
Marty of Pennsylvania
Sounds like a gripping novel!
Melissa from TN
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