Dear Readers, both of
these ladies are long-time friends of mine. We’ve grown in our writing
together, and I’m so glad I’ve known them so long and so well.
Bio: Elizabeth
Goddard is an award-winning author of over twenty novels, including the
romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies—winner
of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011. After acquiring her computer science
degree, she worked at a software firm before eventually retiring to raise her
four children and become a professional writer. In addition to writing, she
home schools her children and serves with her husband in ministry.
Welcome back, Elizabeth. How did your
stories for the collection come about?
Lynette and I have been talking about writing a story set in
Jackson Hole for a few years, actually. I’ve
visited the region often, first as a child on many family vacations, and then
again for many wedding anniversaries. For several years, my husband and I would
go skiing at Teton
Village for our
anniversary. We’d stay with his aunt and uncle who lived in a cabin. Settings
are usually the inspiration for my stories, so I knew I needed to write
something set in Jackson Hole. Writing a
novella collection with Lynette seemed like a fun idea to me. At first we
submitted a contemporary collection, but then our editor suggested a
generational. It didn’t take much for us to come up with stories filled with
the rich history of the region.
What are you reading
right now?
I’m reading A WOMAN OF FORTUNE by Kellie Coates Gilbert,
TRAPPED by Irene Hannon, The Bible (which should go without saying! LOL) THRILL
RIDE: 8 Pulse-Pounding Novels by several Christian fiction authors.
What other books have
you had published?
I have over twenty novels and novellas published with
Barbour, Heartsong Presents, and Love Inspired Suspense.
What is the hardest
thing about writing a part of a novella collection?
Obviously, getting all the facts straight. Making sure that
the few things connect within the stories remain the same. But Lynette and I
are close writing buddies, so we were able to easily work together.
How did collaborating
with this team impact you?
More than anything it was satisfaction in knowing that
something we’d talked about doing together for years finally got published—an
achievement for us, if you will.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Admittedly, I used to go to great lengths to research what
names mean, and though sometimes I still do, it’s mostly a random selection for
me. I’ll read through a list of names anywhere I can find it—phone books or the
list of the cast and crew at the end of a movie, until I find a name that goes
with the character I have in my head. When I meet someone with an interesting
name I’ll mentally file that away.
Please give a peek
into the collection.
This region of the country is rich with history and I
enjoyed researching to write my first historical.
Sam sat astride his spunky palomino, Ace, and watched Ann
atop Gracie, a gentle brown mare, as she stared across the Snake
River, the Tetons looming majestic, distinct peaks pointing to the
sky.
“I see snow up there?”
“Could have snowed in the summer, but likely it’s just old
snow from previous winters that never melted, or a glacier. You can get a good
close look at the middle peak glacier from one of the mountain trails.”
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to take her there, but he’d take
things slowly. Gauge her abilities before he took her out into the Wyoming wilderness.
Today he’d brought her to the Snake River that flowed from Jackson Lake
through the valley on its journey west, where it would empty into the Columbia River.
“I might not be here to greet the winter snow, but I
certainly came at the right time. The colors are beautiful.”
Cottonwoods grew up and down the riverbank, and Aspen peppered the
hillsides. Leaves were already turning brilliant gold and orange. Add to that
the evergreens, making the forest and mountain range look like a canvas that
God Himself had painted.
The autumn colors never failed to fill Sam with awe, the
same awe he now saw on Ann’s face. He smiled to himself. The sun had brought
just enough color to her cheeks that his gaze lingered on Ann longer than he
had a right. Dressed in the clothes more fitting for their endeavor, thanks to
their shopping excursion, Ann’s appearance had transformed.
What surprised him was that he couldn’t decide which Ann he
liked better—he actually missed seeing her in her pretty dress. But maybe he’d
get that chance again. Besides, she’d hired him to do a job. He had no business
thinking about how he liked the way she looked in her dresses or in her shirt
and breeches. No business whatsoever.
Her long sigh drifted to him on the cool breeze. “What’s
wrong?” he asked.
“I have a collection of photographs of the Tetons back home
taken by a local resident, Hank Crandall. Ever hear of him?” she asked.
“A course. Everyone knows him. Takes photographs of the
dudes in their drugstore cowboy clown suits, too,” he said. “Makes a good
living that way.”
There’d been plenty of photographers come to capture the
beauty, Ann wouldn’t be the first. But he’d keep that to himself. Likely she
knew already.
“But those photographs could never do these peaks justice,”
she said. “I could sit here all day and look at the mountains.”
Sam thought he could sit here all day, too, but Ann had
drawn his attention from the lofty peaks before them. He forced his thoughts to
the business at hand.
“Best get over that because if I guide you to unseen
territory, it’s going to take time to get there and back.” He figured they’d
need to prepare for a longer packing trip at some point, as well. Places that
would tickle her photographer fancy. Places that even other photographers
hadn’t seen. But there was no getting in and out in one day.
In fact, the possibilities were endless. She could stay a
year and never see everything worth seeing. But she had a month, and that was
it. Planned to leave before it started snowing, she’d said.
That was a shame. Nothing more beautiful than Jackson’s Hole in the
winter. Sam found himself thinking once again about driving her around in the
old Covington
horse-drawn sleigh. Unbidden thoughts, those.
“Might as well get to work.” She climbed down from Gracie,
speaking a few soft words to the mare.
True to her word, she was relatively experienced with
horses. Sam liked her soft-spoken ways with Gracie, too.
“I know I’m not the first to photograph the mountains from
this angle, but this is a good place to start.” She began unpacking her camera
from the saddle bags. “But I want my own pictures. Maybe I can bring out
something not already captured by others.”
All photographer-talk to Sam. “Might as well,” he said. He
slid from the saddle to join her.
She looked at the top of the box camera. “Can you help me with
the tripod?”
Sam set to work. “That’s some sort of camera you got there.”
“Isn’t it spiffy? It’s a Rolleiflex Twin Lens Reflex. It
just came out this year. Daddy got me one as soon as it was available. I can
work much faster and it’s not as heavy.” Ann talked on about her camera,
explaining the new improvements.
She was passionate about her photography. It warmed Sam that
she was able to do what she loved. Her camera positioned to photograph the
Tetons, Ann stood back.
“Want to see?” Her eyes shimmered with contagious
excitement.
“Sure.”
“Look down through the viewfinder, like this, see?” She
showed him where to look then stood back, but not nearly far enough. He looked
through the window of her camera and into her world, and saw the mountains he’d
seen every day of his life made more special because of Ann.
Far too aware of her proximity, he cleared his throat and
pulled away from the camera.
“Well?” Her face was expectant.
“It looks like the mountains.”
“Is that all?” Disappointment laced her voice.
“No. . .well. . .” Unsure what to say, Sam peered through
her camera again.
His mother had charged him with preparing a dark room for
her. He’d set the trunk filled with the equipment and chemicals she’d brought
with her in the small closet across the hall from his room. At that moment,
he’d known that she was serious about her work.
“I’m sure you’re a talented photographer,” he said, “and I
can’t wait to see your photographs.”
She beamed. “Sam Covington, you have no idea what you’re in
for.”
He chuckled. Sam had the strong feeling that Ann was
entirely correct—he didn’t know what he was in for, where she was concerned.
What did you want the
reader to take away from your story?
My stories are meant to let the reader experience a place,
and to leave with that happy and satisfied feeling.
Are you a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?
Yes. I credit ACFW for getting me going in writing, and for
keeping me going.
What is the best
piece of advice you received as an author?
To never give up.
Where can my readers
find you on the Internet?
My website, of course, and please don’t forget to sign up
for my newsletter to receive the latest book news!
http://suspensesisters.blogspot.com
Now we're welcoming Lynette Sowell.
How did your stories
for the collection come about?
Beth and I have bounced ideas off each other and
brainstormed together for years, and we'd always said it would be fun to work a
project together. We talked about writing something set in Jackson
Hole, but our schedules and timing never meshed. Finally, last
summer we put together a contemporary set, with the common thread being a
special sleigh built by a Wyoming
pioneer, Zebulon Covington. Our editor suggested we make it a generational
collection, and my character, Zeb Covington, stepped right up and said, “Let me
tell you about how I won the heart of Belle Murray.”
What are you reading
right now?
The Healing Quilt,
by Wanda Brunstetter—I'm enjoying her view of the Amish-Mennonite village of Pinecraft,
in Sarasota, Florida, where my current series is also
set.
What other books have
you had published?
This is my 21st title, my second title this year. In May,
the first book in my Seasons of Pinecraft series released, an Amish romance set
in Florida
called A Season of Change. Book two, A Path Made Plain, releases in November.
What is the hardest
thing about writing a part of a novella collection?
Beth and I had a lot of back and forth with the stories—the
family tree, the local setting, and where we had put the Covington ranch, keeping the area's
historical facts accurate as the stories progressed. It was hard, but fun when
it all came together.
How did collaborating
with this team impact you?
Beth and I have also discussed writing a standalone novel
together. This confirmed for me that we'll be able to do it by bringing out
each other's strengths as writers and yet not stepping on each other's toes.
I'm looking forward to it, but again, we'll have to get our schedules
coordinated.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Sometimes I hear an interesting name, either on a television
show or an article, and I'll tuck it away. I also make sure I don't repeat a
name I've used in another recent book. I can only have so many Jacks, Johns,
and Joes, for example!
Please give a peek
into the collection.
In the first story, A
Wedding for Belle, Zebulon Covington promised his friend, Hamilton Quinn,
that he'd keep an eye on Ham's wife and sister-in-law if anything ever happened
to him. Well, something did happen to Ham—and his wife. Zeb encourages Belle Murray to get herself
back East before winter descends on Jackson's
Hole, but she won't listen to reason. She has some idea that she's going to
open a young lady's finishing school and hold onto her sister's claim.
Story two, A Mirage on
Show, features their only daughter, Emily, who's a musher and plans on
running for Jackson's
Hole city council. This was a fun snip of history to touch on, because Wyoming women had the
right to vote before women in other states. She encounters an old friend from
childhood, now a lawyer when he returns to Wyoming from back East.
Beth picks up the story line years later in Winter Wonderland, with Emily's
much-younger brother, Sam, and his budding relationship with a young
photojournalist from New York
who's out to prove something to her father.
Then, Beth rounds out the collection with her contemporary
story, Ribbon of Light, featuring
Sam's granddaughter, an artist who falls in love with a ski bum who's not so
sure he measures up to the rich Covington
legacy.
What did you want the
reader to take away from your story?
Wyoming
gets lots and lots of snow in the winter! I realized when writing my two
historical novellas in this set, that snow caused problems sometimes. On a
serious note, we all face obstacles in life and I want my readers to enjoy a
few hours away and feel encouraged when they come to the end of each story.
Are you a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?
Yes, I am. It is one way I keep in touch with other writers;
their conference is an excellent resource for writers in all stages of their
careers. For newer writers especially, the group has many, many other resources
that weren't around when I first started getting serious about writing.
What is the best
piece of advice you received as an author?
Never stop writing. Be open to change and keep working on
those finer points.
Where can my readers
find you on the Internet?
Pinterest: LynetteSowell
(come find my recipe board!)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor
Thank you, Beth and Lynette, for sharing this novella collection with us. I can hardly wait to read it.
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