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Suzanne, thanks so much for taking the tine during the busy holiday season to answer my 

questions. You and I share an Arizona connection, so I’m curious to know about places 

you’ve lived and worked. What would you like to share with us about those things?

I’ve lived in Kentucky, Texas, Kansas, Arizona, Guam, and Arkansas. In Texas I taught junior high English and elementary school reading. In Arizona I taught a variety of English courses at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff). On Guam I taught English at Pacific Islands University. I think moving so much gave me a sense of the different personalities places have. 

I really enjoyed your book The Copper Box and found it to be very authentic in its setting. How important do you think it is to visit places that are settings in a book? With the technology we have today, do you think research online can work as well?

Most of my characters and plots start in a place I know well and keep returning to in my head. Each of my settings has its own voice that I identified by being immersed in the locale. I use the internet to jog my memory and add specific details. I think it’s possible but risky to set a story in a place you haven’t visited. Readers who don’t know your setting probably won’t be able to tell, but anyone who’s ever spent time there will catch blunders.

Share with my readers what The Copper Box is about.

JEROME, ARIZONA: the largest ghost town in America

Antiques expert Marty Greenlaw comes to Jerome to face the horror that haunts her dreams. Did she kill her little sister twenty-two years ago?

Historian Paul Russell is in Jerome to face his own horror: Was the car crash that killed his wife his fault?

Their lives become intertwined when an old lady dies on a long staircase in a vintage Victorian house. As Marty and Paul search the house for a small copper box Marty believes will unlock the mystery, accidents begin to happen. Someone else wants the copper box—someone willing to commit murder to get it. As Marty and Paul face the shadows in the house and in their lives, they must learn to put the past behind and run the race God is calling them to.

I know that most writers are avid readers. What genre of books do you enjoy the most?

That’s a hard question. I enjoy many genres. I love mysteries, romantic suspense, literary fiction, and nonfiction. I just finished Colleen Coble’s Sunset Cove books. Now I’m reading Mitch Albom’s The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto and Rob Bell’s What is the Bible?

What made you become interested in writing fiction?

A little blue biography of Louisa May Alcott hooked me! I read it in the third grade and decided I wanted to grow up to be Alcott. Life intervened, and I grew up to be Suzanne J Bratcher instead. Even though The Copper Box is my first published novel, I’ve been writing fiction since the third grade.

How is having your novel published different or similar to what you had envisioned?

The biggest difference has been discovering how much time the business of writing requires. Before The Copper Box was published, I focused on craft. Now I’m learning about marketing, newsletters, blogs, series, and book clubs.  

Every writer has to find the routine that works best for her. I admit to being not as structured as some. What about you?

You’ve put your finger on my biggest frustration. Once upon a time, I lived by the clock. When I first retired from teaching, I wrote from 8:00-10:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. These days, however, my Multiple Sclerosis dictates my writing schedule. “Listen to your body” is the motto I must live by if I don’t want to land myself in bed for a week. So I write when I have the energy for the intense focus fiction demands. Occasionally I manage an hour in the morning, but mostly I write in the afternoon or evening. Sometimes I write for thirty minutes and sometimes for three hours. I’m learning to trust God rather than the clock for meeting deadines. 

Do you have a work in progress? If so, tell us a little about it.

I’m working on the second book in the Jerome trilogy, The Silver Lode. 

JEROME, ARIZONA: billion-dollar copper camp

Historian Paul Russell is drawn into a web of murderous secrets by an oral history detailing the discovery of a rich silver lode seventy years ago. Antiques expert Marty Greenlaw becomes entangled in the web when her attempts to save a four-year-old girl threaten those very secrets. As Paul and Marty race to find Paul’s missing son, Scott, they must decide whether or not to become a forever family. 

What resources do you find most helpful in your writing?

I’ve attended so many conferences and participated in so many workshops that it’s hard to overestimate how important they’ve been. I think it’s the same with craft books. At the moment, I’m working with James Scott Bell’s Write from the Middle. I always use Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake software to pull my plot into shape, and I’m learning to use Scrivener for drafting. I’ve been in writers’ groups in years past, but now I work better with one or two people. 

This may seem like a ridiculous question, but writers write for different reasons. What is 

your biggest motivation to write?

I’ve probably asked myself that question a hundred times—whenever I think how much more time I’d have if I’d quit writing! I suppose I’m addicted to writing because it helps me process my life. I never set out to solve a problem in a story, but inevitably when I look at what I’ve written, I find a theme I was puzzling over. 

Tell us about activities or hobbies that you enjoy.

Quilts, birds, and cats! I enjoy piecing quilts and taking them to a professional with a long arm machine to be quilted. Arkansas is a great place for birds. Last week I counted twelve different species at my three feeders. I also enjoy my two indoor cats. Scamp and Mini Pearl keep me entertained with their endless games.

Please share below any links readers can access to stay connected.

http://www.suzannebratcher.com    https://www.facebook.com/authorsuzannebratcher/

Thanks again, Suzanne, for answering my questions. Happy New Year!

I am happy to welcome Amy Anguish to my Thursday blog! Amy, what would you like to share with us about yourself?

Well, I’m an author, obviously. But I’m also a wife, mommy, friend, Sunday-school teacher, and crafter. It definitely keeps me busy.

It is my understanding you have one book already published and another under contract. Tell us about those books.

My book that came out in November 2017 is called An Unexpected Legacy. In it, Jessica and Chad meet at a smoothie shop and start to fall in love. When they find out that their families come from the same town, it’s almost like God has pushed them together … until they realize that something happened between their families in the past that could push them apart instead.

My next book will come out in April 2019. The working title is The Greatest of These. It’s about two sister, Faith and Hope, who are forced to spend the summer together, despite not getting along. While they’re dealing with those struggles, as well as their own romantic relationships, life throws a few more curveballs their way. 

Who are your favorite authors?

I have so many! Of course, there’s the obvious favorites like Jane Austin, Louisa May Alcott, LM Montgomery, and Francine Rivers. But I’m also a huge fan of Karen Witemeyer, Katherine Reay, Autumn Macarthur, Sandi Rog, Christine Lynxwiler, and have just discovered Chautona Havig, who I’m really enjoying. Among others. I read a lot.

When did you first become interested in writing, and what do you do to improve and learn?

Like I said above, I’m a reader, and have always loved stories. But when my eighth-grade teacher let us know she was a published author, it was like a light clicked in my head. All of a sudden, it was a position achievable. I would love to think I’ve improved since then. Ha! I have surrounded myself in the last few years with great friends who are honest with me when they critique something, as well as reading blogs about the craft like seekerville.blogspot.com. And just doing something over and over again helps you improve, too, so I’ve got that going for me.

We readers often say that the book is better than the movie. Have you ever seen a movie that you felt did justice to the book? Or a movie that was actually better than the book? In my case, it is Gone With the Wind. For me, the book dragged.

I wanted to say this question was way too hard. So many times, the book is better. On a few occasions, I’ve seen that they were exactly alike. One movie/book that comes to mind is “Meet Me in St. Louis,” one of my all-time favorites. The film is practically verbatim to the novel. Both are lovely, but the movie has music.

Where do you see yourself as a writer ten years from now?

I’d love to have several more books published. I have about six or seven manuscripts on my computer right now just waiting for edits. Just have to find the right company to get them out there!

What gives you ideas for your stories?

What doesn’t give me ideas for my stories? Everywhere I look, everything that happens to me, it’s all story fodder. For example, my novel, An Unexpected Legacy started simply from eating at an iron table outside of a smoothie restaurant. I got to thinking, what if I were single, sitting here reading, and got interrupted by a cute guy? The story grew from that.

How much of real life (people, places, etc.) do you incorporate into your writing?

My husband always jokes that I only include his bad traits. It’s not true, by the way. I try not to include too much REAL life into my stories, because I don’t want to accidentally hurt anyone’s feelings. I do take real events or places or even struggles, though, and change them up just a bit to fit my plot better.

What piece of advice have you received that has been most beneficial in your writing pursuits?

Don’t give up. 

What are obstacles to writing as often as you would like? Do you have a “fix” for that problem?

I think the main “fix” for my problem will be my children (ages two and four) starting school in a few years. Ha!

Tell us about any hobbies or interests that you have.

Like I said, I’m a crafter. I can crochet, sew, quilt, do some needlework, and dabble in painting. I also seem to do a lot of baking this time of year.

Please share below any links you would like for my readers to be able to access.

You can follow me at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com and http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor. I share my thoughts, book updates, author interviews, Bible class ideas, and more.

Thank you, Amy, for your time. And Happy Holidays!

Amy R Anguish

Author of An Unexpected Legacy

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Follow her at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com or http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor

Last week I interviewed fantasy writer Erin Howard for my Thursday blog. Today she shares a favorite recipe that she thought readers might like to have. With the holiday season in full swing, it’s perfect timing for this dish. Here in the South, sausage is almost a staple. If you missed my blog, be sure to check it out to learn more about her published and upcoming books. Thanks, Erin, for the recipe!

This is one of my favorite recipes that my mom has taught me to make and one that we always have at family dinners, especially at Christmas. Sausage Stars are super easy to make and very yummy. I never bring home any leftovers when I make them for parties. 

Sausage Stars 

1 pound sausage

1 ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or to taste)

1 cup ranch dressing (or to taste)

1 small jar green olives, sliced 

Diced red pepper (optional)

1 package wonton wrappers

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook sausage and drain thoroughly. Combine sausage with cheese, ranch, olives, and red pepper (optional).  Lightly grease muffin/cupcake pans. Press wontons into each cup with four wings sticking out. Lightly brush inside of wontons with olive oil. Bake 5 minutes or lightly golden brown. Fill each wonton with sausage mixture. Bake an additional 5-8 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

Not everybody loves Christmas. Some even hate it because it is a sad time or a stressful one. Me, I love it until it’s over. I love setting out my Thomas Kinkade village (thank you, Barbara!) and decorating the rest of the house. Once the celebrating is over, however, I’m ready to pack it all away.

Growing up in a time when kids never got anything except on birthdays and Christmas, it was my favorite time of the year. After all, how else could I get those toys I drooled over in the Sears Christmas catalog? Like a lot of kids, I didn’t always get what I wanted. One year my Chatty Baby, a doll, that talked when you pulled a string, didn’t talk. Mom exchanged it at Thrifty’s later. She kept that doll, and I now have it stashed in a closet. She no longer talks. After all, she is 54 years old. That’s old for a doll.

The next year all I wanted was a Barbie dream house. When I opened it and Dad saw that it was heavy-duty cardboard instead of plastic, he sent it back, saying it cost more than it was worth. I’m sure they gave me something to replace it, but I really don’t remember what was. One year all I wanted was walkie-talkies. I got a maple desk and a plastic model horse. I loved the horse because I collected them, but I’ve never quite figured out the desk, especially since it didn’t even get placed in my room. That 52-year-old desk is now my daughter-in-law’s vanity table. They painted it, and it looks pretty good.

Don’t get me wrong. I received some great presents over the years, and like the ones above, some not so great. My kids could say the same about my attempts at gift giving. And like all of us, once I grew up, the gifts weren’t the important thing anyway.

Religious beliefs aside, being with the people we love, whether family or friends, is what makes Christmas special and is also what makes some people stressed and others depressed. Christmas is not always a Hallmark movie or a Jimmy Stewart movie. Sometimes it’s more Christmas Vacation. Being alone is ten times worse during the holidays. Missing loved ones who live far away or have passed is magnified.

I know all that, which is why what I’m about to post may come across as . . . well, wrong.

You see, my husband and I have lived in the same town as our parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. our entire married life. My brother and his family are and were miles away, but other than that, the rest were all right here. We saw each other on a regular basis. Very regular.

Every Christmas, we had a minimum of three places togo. No one was willing to celebrate on any dates other than Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so we went to my parents’ house, his parents’, his grandmother’s, and my aunt’s. We were expected to eat everywhere we went. You might know the drill.

When we had children, this became nothing short of a nightmare. Have you ever taken a six-month old baby to one set of grandparents early Christmas morning, then to church, then to the great-grandmother’s for the huge extended family get-together, then to your aunt’s for another extended get-together, then finish at the other grandparents’ house? Any idea what mood that baby was in by the end of the day, not to mention his weary parents?

Not all Christmases were like that. But they were always busy, and it got harder and harder to pull the kids away from their toys to go to someone else’s house for more presents. And food.

In 1994 or 1995, though, everyone in my family of four got a stomach virus about a week before Christmas. We took turns, so it took a full week to go through it all. I think I was the last one to get sick, and Christmas Eve was the day I finally started to feel better.

But no one wanted to risk catching it. So we told them to go ahead and celebrate without us.

And it was one of the best Christmases we ever had.

That sounds harsh, I know. Keep in mind, though, that we saw most of our loved ones on a regular basis. Spending time with them was great, but it wasn’t extra special because it was the norm.

The boys played outside all day, my oldest with his street hockey set, my youngest in his pedal racing car. We have a very long driveway, and it was their playground that day and the weeks that followed. I cooked a normal meal, nothing special, but o one cared The working mom and dad had a relaxing day off, and the boys enjoyed their new possessions to their heart’s content.

Don’t get me wrong. Several of those people with whom we once shared Christmas are now gone, and we’d love to have them back with us. This is not meant to disparage their memories in any way.

But that year, the relaxing day that the four of us shared was worth more than any present money could buy. It was family time, all right. A very special time for our little unit.

Whatever your circumstances, I hope your holiday is one that brings you joy, not pain; laughter, not tears; and peace, not stress.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

When I was still teaching high school, I noticed many of my students who liked to read were devouring fantasy books. Males and females. I asked them why they enjoyed fantasy, and when they talked about it, their enthusiasm was contagious. I am not as familiar with the genre as the younger generation, so I really enjoyed learning more when I interviewed Erin Howard for my blog. I know you will enjoy it as well.

Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed for my blog, Erin! Before we talk about your writing, share a little bit about yourself.

Hi, Pam! Thanks for having me. I’m married, have three kids (14, 10, 5). When I’m not writing or editing, I love spending time with my family (we are big movie and board game fans), and I will admit that I’m addicted to new craft ideas and supplies. I’m always searching on Pinterest for new ideas to try.

Before our youngest son Gabriel was diagnosed with leukemia in December of 2016, I owned and operated a retail store that sold handcrafted items from local artists. I taught a variety of craft classes like crochet, Wilton Cake Decorating, door hanger paint parties, and string art. I just got a wood burning kit not long ago, and I’m currently learning how to make Christmas ornaments. 

What is your background in writing?

My love of writing started in middle school. In the sixth grade, we had to keep a daily journal, and I asked my teacher if I could write a story instead. In high school, I started writing poetry. I always had the dream of writing a book but kept starting new stories and not finishing them. Right before I had my third child, I went back to school and received my BA in Creative Writing/English. Shortly after graduating, I completed my first novel and published it with Mantle Rock Publishing.  

Your book, The Seer, is fantasy. When did you become interested in that genre?

I grew up reading the Fear Street series by R.L. Stine, so my love of speculative novels started when I was in middle school. As I got older, I branched out to other genres. I even started writing chick lit for a while, but fantasy is my favorite.  

Here’s the back cover for The Seer:

Viktor has one order to follow:

Kill the girl before her eyes are opened.

For thousands of years, his job has been to torment and kill seers: humans that have the gift of seeing the spiritual realm. So it was no surprise when his brother Matthias was once again sent to stop him and protect the girl.

Now the last of the seers’ bloodline hangs in the balance, as the estranged demon and angel brothers are forced to work together to save a girl’s life and escape to the sanctuary city of Bethesda.

What are the key elements of fantasy?

Fantasy falls under the vast umbrella of the speculative genre, but basically, it uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and setting. My series is an urban fantasy, which is a sub-genre of fantasy. I have supernatural elements, but the story takes place in our world. 

As a high school teacher, I observed several of my students reading fantasy books on a regular basis. They loved them. I often told them I got confused with the unusual names of people and places. When you are writing fantasy, do you keep a record of those names, or are you able to keep them all in your head?

I have a journal/notebook for each new novel that I write. I keep all the essential information that I need in those journals. Everything from character’s names to the outline of the story goes in the notebooks.

I try not to have unusual names that would confuse the reader, but I do pick certain names because of their meanings and how they can tie into my stories. 

Describe your writing process, and include any “secrets of success” you have learned, if any.

My series started with a “what if” question, and from there, I started putting all the pieces in place. I sketch out an outline, answering those key questions, but also let the characters take over. I write the entire rough draft before I edit. If I don’t, I will get stuck on a chapter trying to make it perfect and never get anywhere. Once the rough draft is in place, I go back and edit and rewrite. I love the rewrite phase because that’s when I get to make everything shine and see it come together. 

A tip that I learned from a writing retreat is never to start writing with a blank page. If a page is blank, it seems to taunt me, and I freeze up. However, if I end my writing session in the middle of a page or even a paragraph, it helps me to pick up where I left off much easier. 

What other genre of fiction are you interested in writing?

For now, I’m happy with fantasy and would love to write in a few sub-genres of fantasy like dystopian and fairy Tale retellings. 

Do you have another book coming out in the near future?

Yes! Book two in The Kalila Chronicles, The Soul Searcher, releases on 2/19/19. I’m currently working on the third book, The Silencer, and a brand-new novella series with new characters, but in the same story universe as my current series. 

The Soul Searcher:

Elnora’s parents gave her one rule:

Stay hidden away at all costs. 

Elnora Scott is used to her survival depending on the decisions of others. Locked away in her safe house, it is easy to follow her parents’ dying wishes until an angel, demon, and seer show up on her door step. Now, waking up in a dirty cell, she wishes she would have gone with them when she had the chance, because the very ones who unknowingly ushered the kidnapper to her location may be the only ones who can save her now. 

When Thea learns that Elnora may be in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to go find her. However, the events leading up to Thea’s arrival in the sanctuary city of Bethesda have set off a chain reaction of unimaginable consequences. She thought stepping through the portal would be her greatest obstacle, but it only reveals a more sinister threat. How can Thea save Elnora when every decision she makes puts someone else in danger?

Just for fun, tell us your favorite:

Music genre: I enjoy a mixture of genres: Christian, rock, country, and the 80s. 

Singer or group: I don’t have a single favorite singer or group.

Movie: The Pirates of the Carribean, Ever After, The Princess Bride, Pride and Prejudice.

Book: The Hunger Games 

Food: Mexican 

Vacation spot: St. George Island

City: Senoia, GA. I’m a huge “Walking Dead” fan and seeing some of the filming places was amazing. I fell in love with the downtown area.  

What is the most interesting or unusual thing that has ever happened to you?

My husband and I were youth leaders for a long time before our youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia. In 2006, I was able to help chaperone one of our teen’s high school choir trip to France. We spent twelve days sightseeing, and they performed in several places. My favorite was when a tour guide asked them to sing in a monastery that we were visiting. It was beautiful. 

Share below links to your social media, website, blog, or anything else you’d like readers to know.

I love to hear from my readers, so please sign up for my newsletter and connect with me on social media. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/E.R.H.Fiction/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinRHoward

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinrhoward/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/erinrhoward/

Blog: https://erinrhoward.wordpress.com/

Website: https://erinrhoward.com/

Thank you, Erin, for your time. Best of luck with your writing! 

Thank you, Pam. I had a blast!

My deepest apologies to my readers and to Hope Dougherty for my mistake yesterday, I posted just half the recipe! I am so sorry. So here it is in its entirety. And remember, check out Hope’s books Irish Encounter and Rescued Hearts on Amazon. Isn’t there a reader Christmas list who would love one or both of these books?

In Rescued Hearts, Gigi makes sweet potato biscuits for her grandson, Brett. The following recipe comes from my mother’s head, not a written page, so the amounts are my best guesses. If you want the directions with pictures to help you understand the process, visit my blog https://hopetolerdougherty.com/sweet-potato-biscuits/.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 medium baked, sweet potato (about ¾ cup)

1-2 tablespoons sugar

2 cups self-rising four

4-5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup buttermilk (may need more—or less)

Directions:

Combine the sweet potato and sugar.

Make a well in the flour and add the butter. Cut the butter into the flour with fingers until part of the flour resembles coarse peas. (You may want to use a pastry blender.) 

Begin adding the buttermilk to the well of butter and flour. (One hand is mixing the dough, and one hand is pouring.) As you add the buttermilk, drag in more flour from the sides of the well. 

Once you’ve incorporated about half of the buttermilk, add the sweet potato mixture to the well. Mix the sweet potato and buttermilk, flour, and butter mixture.

Keep adding the buttermilk and flour until you have a pretty good sized batter. Then add only enough flour to make the dough. Once the batter forms a loose dough, knead it lightly. Too much kneading will result in tough biscuits.

Now. The next step is where my family differs from most biscuit recipes. My cousin who has written several cook books calls how we make biscuits “choking them off.” We don’t roll out the dough and cut with a cookie cutter.

We hold the dough in our hands and pinch off the end to make a biscuit. This way saves steps and some clean-up, too.  Roll the pinched-off bit lightly in the palm of your hands. only a couple of times. Depending on the size you make them, you may have about twenty biscuits.

Place the biscuits on a sheet pan. I use a baking stone. Then following what my grandmother always did, I give each biscuit a nudge with my knuckles before placing the pan in a 450-degree oven. 

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Enjoy these biscuits hot or at room temperature. 

*Readers, I tried to be more specific with this recipe, but making biscuits is kind of an art. You get a feel for what the batter should look like and what the dough should feel like. If the dough is soft but still holding together, I know the biscuits will be good, not tough.

My advice is practice, practice, practice!

Last Thursday I interviewed fiction writer Hope Toler Dougherty for my blog. Today she shares one of her favorite recipes. Check it out, and while you’re at it, go to Amazon and check out her books Irish Encounter (the heroine is middle aged, love it!) and Rescued Hearts (the suspense starts on the first page).  Thank you, Hope, for sharing your recipe with us.

In Rescued Hearts, Gigi makes sweet potato biscuits for her grandson, Brett. The following recipe comes from my mother’s head, not a written page, so the amounts are my best guesses. If you want the directions with pictures to help you understand the process, visit my blog https://hopetolerdougherty.com/sweet-potato-biscuits/.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 medium baked, sweet potato (about ¾ cup)

1-2 tablespoons sugar

2 cups self-rising four

4-5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup buttermilk (may need more—or less)

Directions:

Combine the sweet potato and sugar.

Make a well in the flour and add the butter. Cut the butter into the flour with fingers until part of the flour resembles coarse peas. (You may want to use a pastry blender.) 

Begin adding the buttermilk to the well of butter and flour. (One hand is mixing the dough, and one hand is pouring.) As you add the buttermilk, drag in more flour from the sides of the well. 

Today I’m happy to welcome Christian fiction writer Hope Toler Dougherty to my blog! Hope, I’m curious to know a little of your personal background. What would you feel comfortable sharing?

I’m so happy to be here! I’m a North Carolinian married to a Pittsburgher. That’s why I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers! In 2004, we moved our two daughters and twin sons from Pittsburgh to NC and built a house on land passed down from my great-grandfather. I come from a long line of farmers and readers.

Eons ago, I used to teach English on the college level. I’m a passionate supporter/volunteer for our public library.

When I read your book, Irish Encounter, I wondered if you had spent time in Ireland or just did a very good job of researching. Why did you set this book in Ireland, and how did you research?

My family and I have done three home exchanges to Ireland—one to Galway, one to Bandon in County Cork, and one in Blessington, County Wicklow (near Dublin). Those extended vacations gave me plenty of time to learn about the country and were a tremendous experience for all of us. My favorite city is Galway even over Paris and Rome because it’s an international city but small enough that I felt comfortable navigating it alone. 

I didn’t realize those trips were research trips, however. Our last exchange happened in 2007, and I began Irish Encounter in 2009. I had lots of travel books, my journal, and pictures to help me remember details, and I Googled other specifics I needed.

What is your biggest challenge as a writer? Have you discovered a solution that other writers might try?

Right now I’m having trouble getting started because I have so many questions about the next story. I sometimes have to force myself into my chair to write yucky stuff so that my screen won’t be blank all day. I probably have more problems with rough drafts. Writing is kind of scary for me. 

I’m such a nerd. I love searching for the best word, the best way to put together a sentence. It’s like a puzzle or a challenge for me.

I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. If I get stuck and don’t know what happens in the next scene, I usually leave the laptop and ride my bike or play the piano or bake something. Notice I didn’t say clean. Getting away from the writing position leaves my mind free to work on the story with no pressure. That and praying, of course!

I am assuming you’re an avid reader, as most writers are. What books did you enjoy while growing up?

I loved The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner as a child. I loved reading the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Engalls Wilder, the Betsy-Tacy and Tib series by Maud Hart Lovelace, and the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery to my children.

When did you first begin writing?

I wrote and published sporadically in local magazines and newspapers as I reared my children, not enough to put food on the table but enough to update my clippings portfolio. In May of 2009, our oldest daughter was weeks away from high school graduation. I knew I needed to consider employment options since my chronic volunteer/stay-at-home-mom gig would end in the next few years as my three other children finished high school.

One afternoon I wrote a title on a yellow legal pad of what I hoped would be an article for Guideposts Magazine. I immediately began day dreaming of Ireland, not the topic of the title on the page. That day dream became one of the early scenes in Irish Encounter, but I didn’t know it at the time. I thought I was just having fun. I called it a “writing project” until well into 50,000 words. My children called it “Mom’s book” before I did.

When a writer finally finds a publisher, she may be confused or surprised by the actual process. What, if anything, was a surprise to you?

By the time I was published, I had been attending writing conferences and studying the business for several years. I knew the process took time, a lot of time. I didn’t know how hard it’d be to market the books or how hard it’d be to have readers write Amazon reviews or how important those reviews are.

What advice would you give to writers who have not yet found a publisher?

Keep going—attending writing conferences, reading craft books, reading well-written novels. Most importantly, keep writing. Writing is one of the important ways to learn.

Why do you write Christian fiction? Any plans for mainstream projects?

I write Christian fiction because those are the stories God gives me. Seriously. I would never have chosen to write Christian Romance because as a former college English instructor I’ve seen and heard how some people disparage both Christian writing and the romance genre. 

Steve Laube, of the Steve Laube Literary Agency, told me to own it when I ended up sitting beside him at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference last September. He related this gem: Literary authors look down their noses at mainstream authors who look down their noses at romance authors who look down their noses on their way into the bank.

Now, I haven’t experienced “laughing all the way to the bank” with my royalty checks, but if Steve Laube says, “own it,” I think that’s pretty good.

I don’t have any plans to write for mainstream because this is the way God has gently led me to share about Him. I never was a very vocal Christian. If people asked me questions, I’d gladly share, but I never initiated conversations about God. Shame on me!

God has given me a way of doing what Christians are called to do (sharing about Him) in a non-threatening way with gifts and talents He gave me. Incredible!

Do you have a favorite Scripture or devotional author?

Two come to mind: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 and “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20.

How much of a role do your personal interests play in your writing?

Family is always important in my stories. Libraries are important, and they show up either in a quick comment or as a subplot. At least one character always crochets, and I always mention food, food, food! I love to cook!

How do you get ideas for projects?

Each story has begun differently. Irish Encounter began a day dream. Mars…With Venus Rising was my attempt at writing a story set in the US since we couldn’t find a publisher at first interested in a story partially set in Ireland. 

Rescued Hearts really hit me in the head one afternoon as I rode my bicycle by an abandoned house. I thought, “What if a bike rider saw a tangled kitten in front of an abandoned house? What if she stopped to free it? What if a criminal pulled her inside?” I was surprised by those questions because I’d never written suspense before. When the characters began talking, I knew I had to write the story.

Tell us about one of your book Rescued Hearts. What’s it about?

Here’s part of the back cover copy for Rescued Hearts:

Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain enters the house.

Discovering the kidnapped, innocent woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.

Some readers may be surprised by the intensity of the beginning of the story. Don’t worry. This novel is Christian Romantic Suspense!

I enjoyed writing this one because I had to interview our sheriff. He connected me with two undercover agents who helped me get the details right. They were very generous and kind through the whole process with someone who didn’t know anything except what TV shows depict!

Where can readers obtain your books?

My books are on Amazon.com. If you’re local and see me driving in town, I always have books in the back of my car!

Do you have a current project?

I’m making notes on a project. I’m having trouble with fleshing out the characters, the plot, the conflict…pretty much everything! 

What activities do you enjoy in your free time?

BEING WITH MY FAMILY.  My children are all over the world right now—NYC, North Carolina, Ranger School in Florida, and Iraq—so family time gets more difficult to come by.

I love to read, cook, crochet, and travel.

Please share links to your website, social media page, etc. In the space below.

http://hopetolerdougherty.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AUTHORHOPETOLERDOUGHERTY/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13941031.Hope_Dougherty

https://www.pinterest.com/hopetdougherty/

https://www.instagram.com/hopetolerdougherty/

Thank you, Hope, for answering my questions. Best wishes in your writing endeavors!

Thanks for having me, Pam!

Tuesdays are recipe days on my blog, but last week I dropped the ball! Many apologies to those of you who follow my blog expecting a Tuesday recipe, and a special apology to Christian fiction writer Beth Westcott, whose recipe was scheduled to appear last Tuesday. Beth’s recent release Meadow Song became available on Amazon the week of Thanksgiving and was featured in my blog on Thanksgiving Day.

With the Christmas holidays approaching, you may be looking for something different to prepare, and as a person who doesn’t much care for the cranberry relish in a can, this looks like the perfect (and better) alternative. Thanks, Beth, for sharing this with us.

Recipe for Cranberry Gelatin Salad

My mother used to make this for family dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s sweet and fruity. We ate it with our meal, but it could be a dessert. I love the red color—appropriate for the season. Easy to make.

1 pkg. (6 oz.) cherry gelatin

1 ½ cups boiling water

1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple

1 can (16 oz.) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 ½ cups seedless red grapes, halved

¼ cup chopped pecans

Dissolve gelatin in water; stir in pineapple and cranberry sauce. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Stir in grapes and pecans. Pour into 2-quart serving bowl. Refrigerate until firm. Yield: 8-10 servings