DEATH OF AN IMPOSTER - Deborah Sprinkle - One Free Book

Bio: When Deborah Sprinkle retired from teaching chemistry, she wanted to do three things: attend women’s Bible study, join a book club, and write a mystery novel.

After many years of honing her craft, Deborah realized her dream. Deadly Guardian debuted in May, 2019. Deborah’s second book in the series, Death of an Imposter, was published November 24th, 2020. And the third is under contract for November of 2021. She continues to win awards for her short stories, articles, flash fiction, and novels.

Deborah lives in Memphis with her greatest fan, her husband of 49+ years, and continues to be an ordinary woman serving an extraordinary God.

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

In my first book, Deadly Guardian, I based many of the details about the main character on my life. I was a chemistry teacher. Madison Long is a chemistry teacher. I lived on a small lake in the Midwest. She lives on a small lake in the Midwest.

As for personality traits, I realized that I allow certain parts of my own temperament to be highlighted in each of my characters—some of them not so good. In a way, it can be cathartic to write a character that struggles with jealousy or something else that I’ve wrestled with in the past.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was in college, my boyfriend (later my husband) and I volunteered at the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) road races outside of St. Louis. I was a communicator. Which meant I stood at one of the curves on the track with a set of headphones and reported back to central when the cars cleared our corner—or crashed. We wore white and had to stand so the drivers could see us and in case we had to run for our lives if one of them left the track!

I’m sure that was exciting. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I believe our lives have seasons. When I was preparing to retire from teaching chemistry, I suddenly felt the urge to write a mystery. It was like God was saying, “Okay. Here’s your next assignment.” But it wasn’t like poof, you’re a writer.

I retired in 2004 and it wasn’t until 2013 that my first book was published, Exploring the Faith of America’s Presidents. Not a mystery, but a devotional I co-authored with Kendra Armstrong. It’s now out of print, but she and I are working on getting it reissued.

It would be another six years until my first romantic suspense novel, Deadly Guardian, was released.

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

I spent most of my life reading only mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. When I retired, I joined a book club that meets monthly and discovered that there are so many other books out there that I love. Biographies for one. Especially those by David McCullough. Contemporary fiction like books by Fredrik Backman.

And when I began going to Christian writing conferences, I discovered inspirational fiction.

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

2020 brought our run, run, run world to a screeching halt. But slowly, we—me included—found ways to fill our days and soon found ourselves busy again. For me, daily meditation is a must. I need that time with God. Through that I’ve learned the importance of rest. I stop and relax—watch a movie, read a book, do a puzzle.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I listen to the names around me. I love to use unique names for my heroines. Madison. Bernadette. Zoe. Once, we had a waitress named Mercedes. That name will definitely be in one of my books! As for the remaining names, I use the alphabet to help choose, trying not to let any two characters have first names that begin with the same letter.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I can’t say I’m proud of anything because I’m nothing without the Lord. All that I do is in His strength and wisdom. But I will tell you what I’m most thankful for.

My husband and I have been married 50 years this year, and we’ve raised a daughter and son who are kind, considerate, and have a good sense of humor.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

This was a tough one because I watch a lot of nature shows. An animal has a rough life. And I’m not crazy about the thought of being a pet because I’m at the mercy of my owner for my food, water, and exercise.

But, if I have to choose, I choose a river otter. They live in family groups, have fun, and get to swim a lot.

What is your favorite food?

Another tough question because I love food. You’d think I’d say fish after the answer from above, but the truth is I really don’t care for fish that much. That might be a snag as a river otter.

I guess if I’m honest, it’s chocolate donuts. With sprinkles.

I love chocolate donuts, but I’m not fond of sprinkles. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

As a pantser, a writer who doesn’t outline but just sits down and begins to write, my biggest problem was hitting a roadblock. Where to go from there?

After much sweat and tears, I finally discovered a way to get around it that actually led to increased creativity. Before, I would have an idea for a scene later in the book, but wouldn’t write it because I wasn’t at that point yet.

But one day, I decided to write out scenes as they came to me no matter where they appeared in the book, and that was the key. As I wrote, ideas began to flow.

I’m a panster, too, but I write a timeline of events that have to happen. And I have to write in chronological order. Tell us about the featured book.

Death of an Imposter is the second book in a three book series named Trouble in Pleasant Valley. You’ll meet Dr. Daniel O’Leary and Detective Bernadette Santos.

Dr. O’Leary is in town on loan to the local hospital. At least that’s his story.

Detective Bernadette Santos is the newest ranking detective on the Pleasant Valley Police Force, and she’s determined to do everything by the book. Which becomes her greatest struggle in this case. She’s paired with Detective Jeannie Jansen, who as a seasoned detective, tends to bend the rules at times.

She’s strongly attracted to the good doctor, but he’s become the target of some unknown assailant, and can’t—or won’t—tell her why.  He knows things—has skills—that most doctors don’t have. Where did he learn them?

Bernie must solve the murder while discovering if Daniel is a victim or a cold-blooded killer. Her job demands it, and her heart requires it.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“If I weren’t such a crusty old bird, I’d have my feelings hurt.” Aunt Rose handed her nephew, Dr. Daniel O’Leary, a platter heaped with roast beef, sliced with surgical precision. “How long will you be working at our little hospital?”

“Maybe a month.” He forked a tender slab of beef onto his plate. The real answer was as long as it took to complete his real assignment. The one he couldn’t share with his aunt.

He knew when he started working for the organization it meant keeping secrets from Aunt Rose. Which hadn’t been a problem.

Until now.

He lived at one end of Ohio and she at the other. Misleading his favorite relative on a long-distance phone call was easy. But could he convince her of his lies face-to-face? More gray showed in her auburn hair, and more lines radiated across her face, but her gaze was as piercing as he remembered.

She chuckled. “I’m surprised your fancy hospital could do without you for that long. Or are you really here on some secret mission?”

Could she read minds as well? If so, he was doomed.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

https://authordeborahsprinkle.com/

https://www.facebook.com/deborah.sprinkle.5/

https://twitter.com/debbiejsprinkle

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860378.Deborah_Sprinkle

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-sprinkle

https://www.pinterest.com/deborahs4509/_saved/

Thank you, Deborah, for sharing your book with my blog readers and me. I love reading Inspirtional Romantic Suspense novels.

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/2XH9PY0

https://amzn.to/3bBE6Q9

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