Bio: Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed
her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and
children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and
crazy.
Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction
infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that
displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her
characters.
Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She
writes from her country home in
Welcome
back, Misty. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to
be something else? I’ve always loved
reading, but never actually thought I could write a book. It wasn’t until my
late twenties that I began thinking I’d like to try. I added “write a book that’s
published” to my bucket list, and as I worked through that first book, I
realized how much I loved writing. Even then, I never imagined God would have
me doing this full time. Some days are hard, but writing really is my dream job!
I know how
that feels. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish? It
varies a little, but if I’m really focused on the writing, it usually takes me 2
to 2 ½ months to write a book. That requires focusing on writing and editing
for a significant part of each day. J
How do you
come up with themes for your stories? This question is hard to
answer! I usually start with developing my characters, and maybe a general idea
of the plot or their story goals. As I get to know their backstory, I begin to
learn how each character will develop through the story, and that usually helps
me understand the theme for the book.
Do you have
a schedule of when you write? I’ve learned that my most creative time is in
the afternoons, so I try to protect that time for writing new words. That means
I do a lot of the business part and editing in the mornings. I do have five
kiddos, so that time is often interrupted, but that’s the way I try to schedule
my workday.
How are you
able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing? I’m
not always sure I do! As I said, we have five kiddos (ages 3 weeks to 14
years), and we also homeschool, so there’s a lot going on in our home! It’s
usually pretty chaotic, but the kids are also good about trying to let me work.
I set goals with them (when Mom gets these last 3 chapters edited, we’ll go to
the library), and they encourage me. J
What
elements do you think make a great story line? Ooo, good question!
Definitely strong, interesting characters, with story goals that drive the book
forward. I love settings that really come alive. My books are often set in the
What was
the hardest thing about writing a book? Finding the right words.
J
Especially if I’m especially sleep-deprived, meeting my daily word count can be
SO HARD some days.
How many
books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite? I’m just starting my 32nd
book. In some ways, it seems impossible to believe I’ve written that much. When
I think of all those words and storylines, though, it feels like more than 32
books. J
Picking a favorite is hard though! There are some that feel like milestones,
like Hope’s Highest Mountain, my
first book published by Bethany House Publishers, or This Healing Journey, a book that earned a spot on the USA Today bestseller’s list. But there
are other books that are special for sentimental reasons, like The Lady and the Mountain Man, the book
where I realized how much I love writing remote mountain settings. Or This Courageous Journey, a book where my
oldest daughter helped me brainstorm the plot. I think it would be impossible
to choose a favorite!
Do you have
a favorite character?
This is even harder than choosing a favorite book! I love strong characters,
with courageous heroines and mountain men heroes. By the time I’m a third of
the way through writing a story, the characters have become dear friends. I
really love the hero and heroine in Honor in the Mountain Refuge. Chogan
(the hero) is a Blackfoot brave who’s been exiled from his village because he wanted
peace instead of their warlike ways. He’s such a good man, protective and
honorable and courageous. And Telipe (the heroine) is brave in her own right!
She’s a peacemaker, someone who reaches out to the outsiders. Little does she
know God uses that trait to bring her to the man He created for her.
Tell us about the story. I’d love to! After being cast out of his Blackfoot village for his kindness to the Nez Perce captives, Chogan travels west in search of meaning for his life. Meaning that doesn’t require killing or torturing innocent people. Though the lovely face of Telípe, a Nez Perce woman, is imprinted on his heart, he avoids her village. She deserves a happy life with her husband and coming child.
With her
husband dead and the birth of her babe imminent, Telípe’s reality looks nothing
like she planned. She’s been forced to return to the village where she grew up
and the chaos of her family’s lodge—with all her boisterous younger brothers.
She desperately desires to start a new life for herself and the babe growing
within her, but she can’t seem to climb above the mire of her past. When she
stumbles into the brave who’d shown her kindness during her captivity,
something ignites within her—a new hope.
Chogan’s
determination to stay and help Telípe is thwarted by her people’s fear and
hatred for his tribe—especially since he was among last winter’s kidnappers. It
doesn’t matter that he did everything he could to keep her and her unborn child
safe and comfortable during that awful event. But as a new predator threatens
the safety of the village, Chogan determines to take down the massive wildcat
that’s already injured several children—including one of Telípe’s younger
brothers. When the danger escalates, Chogan is faced with an impossible choice.
No matter which option he chooses, his life will never be the same—nor that of
the woman he’s come to love.
Please give us a peek at the first page of the
book.
Summer, 1831
The fine hairs along Telípe’s neck stood on end, and she turned to
scan the woods around her—not an easy feat with the babe weighing down her
belly.
Was there an animal watching her? Or could there be a person scouting
out there, unseen?
She peered through the summer leaves covering the trees, but all
appeared still. Maybe the sensation had only come from sweat trickling down her
neck.
Turning back to the fruit bushes, she pushed aside the branches and
reached for a cluster of chokecherries. At least the trees offered shade and a
bit of a breeze, unlike the hot, smoky lodge she’d escaped. With all her family
lounging or milling about the place—including Pisákas, the man her brother
seemed to constantly be placing in her path, and his young motherless son—she
could barely breathe, much less think.
Of course, she couldn't breathe well anyway, as the baby filled every
empty space inside her. She slipped a hand under her belly to better support
the mass at her middle, then reached for another cluster of cherries.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
I love to connect with readers! One of my favorite ways is through my
newsletter, and readers can get a free copy of my book, A Pony Express Romance, when they sign up for the newsletter.
Here’s the link for that:
https://mistymbeller.com/freebook
I can also be found at these links:
https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller
https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller
https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller
http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller
Thank you, Misty, for sharing this new book with
my blog readers and me. I have loved every book of yours that I’ve read, and I’ve
read almost all of them.
Readers, here’s a link
to the book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TZS9M57
Leave a
comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these
instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least
the state or territory or country if outside
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The only
notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to
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If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
I have read some of Misty Beller’s books and they really pull you in! I would love to read and review this one! Thanks so much for the chance!
ReplyDeleteWishing everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
Oh, I'm so glad you've enjoyed my stories, Jan! Praying you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an epic adventure!
ReplyDeleteCaryl K in TX
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the post and chance to win! This book sounds so intriguing!
ReplyDeleteWinnie T. in Utah
Definitely an adventure, Caryl!☺️ Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to read it, Winnie, and I pray you love Telipe and Chogan's story!! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteMisty, I loved this interview and your new story! Wow! 32 books. I knew you had a lot of books but didn't know the number. You are truly a wonder woman and blessed of God! And I love you for a publisher as well!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Elva Cobb Martin
Hello Misty Love this post please enter me in this giveaway I would love to read this book! Sarah Taylor from Ohio!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win one of Misty's books! Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteEnter me in your awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteNichols SC.