HER DEADLY REUNION - Beth Ziarnik - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to have Beth on my blog again. I loved reading Her Deadly Reunion. The cover reminds me of the Gothic novels I read for years. The dark mysterious setting. And as I read the story, it was a lot like one of those novels. I’ve always loved trying to figure out the mystery in them. With this storyline, Beth kept me guessing. I loved the heroine and hero. They quickly pulled me into their story. It is a real page-turner with a satisfying ending. Thank you, Beth.

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:

bethziarnik.wordpress.com

facebook.com/authorBethAnnZiarnik

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 - Paperback
Her Deadly Reunion (Jill Shepherd Suspense Book 2) - Kindle

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