This week I’m hosting Jenness Walker with Double Take and A.K. Arenz with The Case of the Mystified M.D. If you want to enter the drawing for the book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (Oct. 18th) evening.
Jenness Walker’s interview:
1. What made you start writing?
I’ve always loved stories—reading them and making them up. Writing was just a natural thing for me to do, and I don’t think I could stop if I tried.
2. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
In first grade we had a little writing/illustrating contest. I remember thinking I should have no problem winning. I guess that means I was writing even then. No, I didn’t win, but I kept at it. In high school I took correspondence courses and starting sending out short stories. In college I minored in creative writing and began my first novel. I sold for the first time (my fourth book) last December. How’s that for a Christmas present?
3. How do you handle rejections?
Rejections have never really phased me that much. I have a group of people who believe in me and always have, which makes it that much easier to believe in yourself. It’s not fun getting a letter that begins with: Thank you for submitting your story to us. We enjoyed reading it, however… But I believe in God’s timing. And that with each try, we get better and learn more. But I did have a wall of shame for a while that I hung the letters on. ☺
4. Why do you write?
The voices in my head make me do it. ☺ With all the ideas that hit me all the time, I think I’d probably be crazier than I am already if I didn’t write. As for my purpose for writing…I want to entertain, of course, but I want to go deeper in my own life through my writing–learn more about God and about having a relationship with Him.
5. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing?
I think that if I wasn’t chasing the writing dream, I’d try my hand at working in the interior design business. I love decorating. Or maybe I’d work more with my husband’s website design business. We’ve had several good ideas for online businesses that we just can’t follow through with because we don’t have time.
6. What are you working on right now?
I’m about to rework my first book—cut it down to fit with the Love Inspired Suspense series. It’s taken me a while to get to the place where I could allow myself to do that, but I’m getting excited about it!
7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters?
To some extent. I don’t think you can really help it, you know? Some of your favorite things or pet peeves rub off on them since they’re inside your head so much.
8. Tell us about the book you have out right now.
Double Take is a fast-paced romantic suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Here’s the blurb from the back: Cole Leighton can barely believe his eyes. A woman on his bus has just been abducted—in an exact reflection of a scene from the bestselling novel he’s reading. Someone is bringing the book to life…and isn’t above forcing an innocent woman to follow the story to its tragic end. Using the novel as his playbook, Cole catches up with the beautiful victim—but rescuing Kenzie Jacobs doesn’t keep her safe for long. The killer is writing his own ending, and none of the twists and turns lead to happily ever after.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Join the American Christian Fiction Writers if you haven’t already. Find someone who believes in you and your work and is willing to stroke your ego. Find someone else who believes, but isn’t too nice to kick you in the rear if you need it. If you really believe you’re meant to be a writer, write. And trust God for the rest.
10. How important is faith in your books?
It’s vital. I hope readers go away with a deeper understanding or fresh reminder of God’s love.
11. What themes do you like to write about?
Grace and mercy seem to pop up in most of my stories, although not necessarily on purpose. The concept that we’re forgiven even though we’re unworthy is just something near to my heart.
12. What is your favorite book you’ve written and why?
My favorite book depends on what day it is. ☺ Today I’ll say it’s the first novel I co-authored with Tracy Bowen. It was a really fun story about a young woman who was addicted to horoscopes until she found that the journey the stars had led her on actually introduced her to the Maker of the stars. Lots of humor and some really moving moments, and a bit of romance as well. It was a blast writing with Tracy. She has the greatest sense of humor, and it was nice having a built-in brainstorming partner. I can’t wait to work with her again.
13. What is your writing schedule like?
I like to write in the evenings. 9-12 is the best, sometimes later if the story is flowing.
