What other books of yours are coming out soon? Though there are many I WANT to do—sequels to Hiding from Christmas and The Wedding Barter, as well as a third in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series—nothing is actually scheduled to come out any time soon. I’ve been struggling to write this year, but not because of the pandemic. Family health issues took priority for several months, and it’s taken me some time to get back into the swing of things. I’m trying to complete a book that God placed on my heart years ago—about spousal abuse—and am hoping and praying this is the year it will be finished. Something very different from what I usually write.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member), who would it be and why? Um, that’s a tough one—especially with this pandemic keeping me away from my family... It would have to be one of the first responders on the front lines—doesn’t matter who or what part they’ve played in the fight against the pandemic, as each and every one of them are vitally important. I would love to sit with one of these brave men and women and thank them for all they’ve done, give them the chance to just BE. No rushing around, no worrying about anything for an evening. A complete and total break away from what they’ve been going through. You know, to offer them comfort and respite as they have given it to so many.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? I’ve always been fascinated by stories of the Underground Railroad, so I’d have to choose Harriet Tubman as my person from history. She embodies a faith in God, bravery, and determination that you can’t help but admire and want to learn more about. And, getting the opportunity to hear it directly from her instead of through historical records would be incredible. The people she helped called her Moses—that, in and of itself, speaks volumes.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? When I finally determined that I was going to reach for my dream of becoming an author, it started with learning all I could through books like Writer’s Digest and many, many of the books they offered through their book club. I went over and over the instructions for submissions to various agents and editors, tried my best to choose carefully, and then crafted the best cover letter, synopsis, and whatever else requested that I could. Still, I ended up with enough rejection letters to paper the walls—and probably the ceilings—in the 1008 sq. ft. house where I lived. But, I didn’t give up. It hurt, was sometimes demoralizing, and made me question what I was doing. Yet in amongst all these thoughts was the one thing that kept me going—I felt deep in my soul that this was the direction God wanted me to go. And in those quiet times when those negative voices were stilled, I heard “Never, ever give up.” All this to say that if you believe this is what God wants for you, then you keep working, keep trying and continue to learn. And, listen to His voice.
Tell us about the featured book. Murder,
Mysteries, & Romance in Tarryton, Missouri is a four-book boxed set
which contains the full-length books that take place in the fictional
THE CASE OF THE
BOUNCING GRANDMA
WAS THERE REALLY A FOOT DANGLING OUT OF THAT CARPET?
Fifty-two year old Glory Harper is stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg, bored, and itching for some excitement. She doesn’t expect it to come in the form of a foot dangling out the back of a carpet as it’s carried into her new neighbor’s house. But Glory’s past “run-ins” with the police makes her latest report more difficult to believe. And, just when she thinks someone’s taking her seriously, Glory realizes Detective Rick Spencer, a Harrison Ford look-alike, appears more interested in her than in her story.
Despite little to no support from family and police, Glory is determined to solve the mystery—racking up laughs for the reader along the way!
THE CASE OF THE BOUNCING GRANDMA was a 2009 Finalist in American Christian Fiction’s Carol Awards in the mystery category.
THE CASE OF THE
MYSTIFIED M.D.
FIRST A FOOT, NOW A HAND—WHAT BODY PART IS NEXT?
When her puppy finds a severed hand on a walking trail, it’s obvious to “Bouncing Grandma” Glory Harper that the signet ring belongs to the missing college professor who caused a lot of trouble around town before his disappearance. Despite warnings from her boyfriend, Detective Rick Spencer, to stay out of the investigation, her insatiable desire to solve the mystery of his murder finds her in over her head with a community filled with secrets, blackmail, and arson.
With her sister otherwise engaged, Glory latches onto an unlikely partner and soon feels as though she’s stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone—where nothing is as it appears, and danger lurks around every corner . . .
THE CASE OF THE MYSTIFIED M.D. was the 2010 winner of American Christian Fiction’s Carol Awards in the mystery category.
THE WEDDING BARTER
NO WEDDING BUDGET? NOT A PROBLEM FOR THESE DETERMINED FRIENDS!
While Amy Lawton awaits her discharge from the Army, she’s left her best friend Riley in charge of arranging “a very small, intimate ceremony with no fanfare” for her and her fiancé. But this childhood friend has something else in mind... she just doesn’t know if it will work.
After presenting her “wedding barter” idea to the groom, his conditional agreement is dependent on whether his best man, Mike Todd agrees to the strange proposal. And, getting the giant of a man on board seems next to impossible. Todd is threatening, overbearing, doesn’t like Riley or her ideas, and gives her an ultimatum: Produce results in three weeks or he takes over.
Todd might be tough, but Riley’s determined
to not only succeed in throwing Amy the wedding of her dreams, but to prove
Todd wrong. . . about everything.
HIDING FROM
CHRISTMAS
No matter how hard she tries, Maddie Kelley can’t seem to fit in at Ornamental, a company founded by her great grandfather and his best friend. Now, after yet another screw-up, she’s been sent into the “enemy’s” camp—two hours away from home for the next two months.
A punishment or a blessing?
Her life is turned upside down when the mundane turns unexpected, and she finally discovers where her heart truly lies.
This is the fourth novel set in
the fictional
Please give us the first page of the book (text only). Since there are four books involved in this set, instead of the first page of one, I’m giving you a little slice of each.
The Case of the Bouncing Grandma:
Confined to a wheelchair and bored out of my mind, I found watching the neighbors move in at the end of our cul-de-sac more entertaining than anything on TV. But the storm front that settled over us early this morning managed to take away even this questionable diversion.
Other than the mysterious man with a limp hanging around the moving van in the middle of a downpour early on, things were pretty dull.
Once it stopped raining, I expected the action to pick up, but it didn’t. Even the people who flocked to dead end streets for the sheer joy of driving around the circle at the top stayed away. Several hours had passed since I witnessed any real activity, and what I did observe seemed, well, a little odd.
The Case of the Mystified M.D.:
Thursday, August 11
I inhaled and almost choked from the heat as it seared my throat and lungs. The air was more than humid, it actually fit the meteorologist’s most recent terminology of juicy. The deep blue of the late afternoon sky was so hazy it seemed a bit out of focus. Or maybe that was just the sweat pouring down my forehead.
As I turned toward the sound of a tractor in the nearby field, an enormous horsefly dive-bombed, landing smack between my eyes. Batting at it only seemed to make it angrier. The more I tried to dodge its attempt to take out one of my eyes, the more determined it was to harass me.
All the activity increased the excitement of the puppy at my side. Misty took my strange gyrations to discourage the ardent bug as a new form of play and began barking. But it was her jumping around and tugging on the leash that nearly landed me on the asphalt walkway.
The Wedding Barter:
“You have to look at this!” I passed the pages I’d printed to Natalie, indicating she should give the extra one to Hannah, who’d already begun munching on a crunchy breadstick—one of Marcello’s specialties.
“Wha’s this?” Hannah spoke around the food in her mouth. A trim finger, with hot pink nail polish, covered her lips—probably to keep crumbs from falling out.
“It’s obviously important, Han, or
she wouldn’t have asked us to read it.” Nat flounced in her chair, or would
have if she’d been wearing anything other than jeans. She just naturally had
that attitude—all super girly girl. There was nothing pretentious about her,
never had been. Just because she was always “put together,” even when covered
with dirt, some people believed she was not only stuck up but stuck on herself.
Quite the reverse was true; Nat was an introvert on steroids—unless she knew
you well.
Hiding From Christmas:
“You can run, but you can’t hide!” My co-worker’s voice bellowed. “I know you’re back here, Maddie.”
Holly Denton lumbered past me, intent on searching the storage closet on the opposite side of the hallway. All the huffing and puffing should have made me feel guilty. I was, after all, the cause of the extra effort she expended.
I should feel guilty but didn’t. Did that make me a bad person? I hoped not.
Besides, I wasn’t hiding. Long before Holly became the official—in her mind—holiday queen of Ornamental, I’d created this secret little nook in the copy supply room. No one knew about it but me... and Daddy. He’d helped set up the false “wall,” brought in a comfy chair, a reading lamp, and an assortment of books. Of course, that had been a long time ago when I’d needed a place to hang out after school. He would never have guessed I’d still be using it fifteen years later when I was supposed to be working. If he was alive, he’d know right where to look.
But if he were, I’m certain I’d no
longer need a secret hideaway.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
FIND MY BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-K-Arenz/e/B004DTBXL4
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Thank you so much,
And thank you, Alice
for sharing this collection with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read all
the stories.
Readers,
here are links to the book.
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