BREAKING POINT - Marji Laine - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m happy to introduce Marji Laine to those of you who don’t know her. She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex like I do. And I love her writing. The first book in the Heath’s Point Suspense series was wonderful. She writes three-dimensional characters and plots that keep the reader guessing. I’m eager to read this new book.

God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

That’s an excellent question. I’m overjoyed to be able to write again after it had been squeezed out with so many other things to do. But now, I have the third book of this Heath’s Point Suspense already moving. The second book of my Dallas Duets billionaire romance has been started. And I was just recently inspired to do a spin-off series from my completed Grime Fighter Mysteries. I already have 2 of those stories planned out.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m so glad you asked about my family! They are wonderful and so supportive. I have to give a shout out to my daughter, Breana! She’s been such a blessing to not let my sweet hubby and I drift into empty nest syndrome. She’s living at home while she pursues her teaching degree, and her twin sister is working on a degree in Humanities at a near by seminary. She wants to go into girls’ ministry. Their older sister is about to graduate with that same degree and plans to then get her teaching certification. She just got married about eight months ago – still newlyweds. My son, our oldest, is also married and recently bought his first house. I’m delighted that all of them still live close to us. We’re a pretty tight-knit group.

Our family is, too. It’s such a blessing to have them all living close by. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

My writing did change my reading habits. Instead of simply scanning the books, I found I read carefully what made this story one of excellence. And I began to critique what I read. LOL! Years under your tutelage, Lena! But now, with all of the editing I do through my publishing company, reading is too hard on my eyes. I do it all day long. So, when I “read” for fun, I generally listen to audio books, and I don’t critique them nearly so much.

What are you working on right now?

Having put out BREAKING POINT – ahhhhhhhh. Let me just ponder that a moment … Okay, moment’s over. I have a great new heroine that I want to highlight in several mystery episodes. I was inspired by old reruns of Perry Mason and his faithful gal-Friday, Della Street. That’s where the inspiration came from, but the mysteries are taking me in directions that I didn’t expect. I love it when they do that!

I do, too. I’m working on a proposal for an editor right now, and a week ago, God gave me a new first chapter, and I have to make the first first chapter into the second chapter and edit it a different way. What fun! What outside interests do you have?

I’m a huge sports fan. I’ve already started watching the Cowboy preseason games. I record all of the Texas Ranger games. I even tune-in to Women’s College Volleyball on occasion. But my favorite sport of all time is NASCAR. It marries the strategy of a chess board and the brilliance of a physicist at the speed of 200 miles per hour. I look forward to every race!

James and I are huge Texas Rangers fans. How do you choose your settings for each book?

My girls tease me about this. Anytime we’re together, there’s always a chance that I’ll comment on where in the area would be the best place to hide a body. I’ve chosen all sorts of places, from the underneath side of a rotating Christmas tree in the grand atrium of a local hotel to a clothing donation box. Generally, my settings will be in Dallas or a made-up small towns in East Texas, but the location of the body and the subsequent mystery are what inspire the stories for me.

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

You know this is a tough question. I’m inspired by the words of many people. But seriously, if I had the chance to inspire someone else—like Judy Garland or Marilyn Monroe—to help them not give up on life and heavenly Father who loves them so, that would be my choice.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I wish I had realized the viable option of indie publishing. I spent way too many years pursuing traditional publishing. I don’t think that pursuit has been all that beneficial to my writing or my career. And I feel I missed opportunities that I could have taken had I not been so focused on the traditional side of the publishing picture.

What new lesson is the Lord teaching you right now?

Patience. I’m in a waiting place – basically waiting for things to fall into place. In the midst of this waiting place, life continues to happen, but I have this ever-present unrest because some things haven’t been completed. I will be so glad when this waiting time is over, but I know He’s strengthening me through it.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Hmm. Third would be to learn at the feet of gurus—listen to podcasts or read blogs from experts in our field like Thomas Umstattd, Randy Ingermanson, Frank Ball, Mark Dawson, and Dave Chesson. They usually have something that I can apply right away to my writing or to my marketing plan.

Keep writing. You can’t direct a boat that isn’t moving or turn a car that isn’t running. In the same way, you can’t improve your writing – turn a corner – unless you are indeed writing.

I think the top thing is to have a teachable spirit. I think that’s important in life as well as in writing. As Christians, Micah 6:8 deals with this teachable spirit when he tells us to “… walk humbly before God.”

Tell us about the featured book.

I’m so excited to put BREAKING POINT out finally. This was actually the first novel I completed way back when. And Lena, you were one of the ones who helped me in our critique group. Granted, that was five rewrites ago. The story of how this book came to be is a whole ‘nuther article. Seriously! But I can tell you that it’s got something to do with hidden treasure. But treasure isn’t the only thing that’s hiding. A kind and good-hearted man has suddenly died. When his prodigal daughter comes into town to help her mom through it, she suddenly starts having these “accidents.” Her life is routine, pedestrian … okay, boring. So why does it seem like someone is trying to end it? Get BREAKING POINT at this Amazon Link

Please give us the first page of the book.

This is a little more than the first page, but it has a natural break:

 “What do you mean he’s missing?” Lt. Jason Danvers set his fishing pole aside. Myra Stone wasn’t given to panic. He’d never even noticed the lady flustered. Until this phone call.

“I found a note this morning. I thought he’d taken an early walk, but then I saw that his car was gone and found the note taped to the kitchen faucet that he’d gone to the store for some of his hot chocolate.” The older woman’s voice broke, though she struggled to lower her volume. “And I called his phone, but it was plugged into the charger in the office.”

He pulled a pad out of his jacket pocket and the stub of a pencil. “When did you see him last?”

“I went to bed last night at about eleven. He was watching a baseball game that we’d recorded earlier.”

“And you don’t know when he left?” Who ventured out in the middle of the night for a silly can of cocoa? Jason jotted the quick details in case he needed to remember them later.

“No. I didn’t hear him leave, and didn’t … Oh, dear.” She was losing control.

“Myra, I’ll call Chief Tate, and we’ll start a search.” He needed to do better than that if he wanted to settle her tension. “He probably ran out of gas or maybe had a flat. With no phone, he couldn’t very well call for help.”

She stayed silent for a moment. “Yes. I’m sure you’re right about that. Please find him for me.”

Her plea ripped at a piece of his heart. He ended the call and reeled in his empty line. He’d pack stuff up later. Palming his phone, he jogged to his black Jeep and climbed in.

Pulling onto the gravel road that ran alongside this forgotten branch of Grayson Lake, he called Heath’s Point Chief of Police and filled him in on the details. “I’m north of town, but I can swing west a few miles and try some of the back roads from Dallas.” That late at night, Ellis would have had to go into the city or at least the suburbs to find his favorite chocolate powder.

“You take that side, and I’ll check in town for his car.” Chief Dell Tate’s normally gruff voice held a tone of worry. “Chances are he came in for donuts or something and just forgot to pick up the note he’d left before going fishing.”

Reasonable. But Jason would still feel better when they found the man. He turned onto the county road and tuned in his police radio. He tried to keep the darn thing off on his free days, but this situation warranted his monitoring the feed. Setting it to scan the local agencies, he tried to relax. Ellis Stone would be found. He’d be fine. This would be a non-issue.

But something in his gut argued against all of that.

God, please, calm Myra right now. Help us find Ellis, so she doesn’t have to worry.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I keep my website, MarjiLaine.com updated, but the best way to keep up with what I’m doing is to sign up for my email list (https://marjilaine.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f3a4ae8273e3fa5ce2844bf3&id=f495731505)—and I give away free books with every monthly newsletter—or to sign up for the Write Integrity Press email list (https://writeintegrity.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c4fffdcd526bebde6faad4913&id=d869d622fb). WIP is my publishing company and we have serials, new releases, free books, and sales all the time. You can also find me at my Facebook page (http://Facebook.com/MarjiLaine).

Thanks so much, Lena, for letting me join you today!

It’s always a pleasure to host you, Marji. Keep me in mind when the other books release.

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