by Crystal Caudill | Sep 12, 2023 | Author Interviews
I had the honor of meeting Ruth Douhitt for this interview. Doing these interviews is one way that I can support other authors, and she took me up on the opportunity that I put out there in a writing group I’m part of. I’m so glad she did. Let’s get to know her together!
Former writing teacher Ruth Douthitt is an award-winning author of many books for middle-grade readers and adults in fiction and non-fiction. She is the winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Books Award-Bronze Medal for Best Book Series and the 2022 Christian Indie Awards First Place for YA. The Doors of Rome is the first book in her Christian-themed women’s inspirational fiction series. She currently works for Grand Canyon University and lives in Phoenix with her husband of 35 years and their little dog. When she isn’t writing, Ruth loves to run, draw, paint, and garden.
You can connect with her through: Website | Facebook | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Ruth with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
RD: Sweet
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
RD: Print
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
RD: Coffee
Morning Person or Night Owl?
RD: Night Owl
CC: Favorite Holiday?
RD: Christmas
Is there anything better than curling up to read a good book with a hot drink in front of a lit up Chrsitmas tree? Sigh. We’re getting closer!
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
RD: When my family said I was a good story teller. That was when I was in college.
CC: Familes can have such an impact on how we grow and what we pursue. I’m so glad they told you that you were a good story teller.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
RD: Being Indie published is difficult because of the marketing and publicity. I find it a challenge, but I am learning. I love learning new things, so it’s helped me grow as a person and writer.
CC: There really are so many aspects of being an author that stretch well beyond just writing the book.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
RD: I never intended to be a writer. I am an artist first, but I can clearly see how He guided me toward some story ideas and away from others. Just when I want to give up and quit, He’ll show me that this is the path He wants me on by my winning an award or receiving an excellent review. It’s that pat-on-the-back I need to keep going.
CC: It really is such a hard job. Praise the Lord that He is kind enough to carry us through and encourage us on that journey.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
RD: Read a lot and write something every day, even if it’s just 200 words. Writing is a skill that we lose if we don’t practice. So is reading! I recommend reading a lot to see what others are doing and what publishers are interested in.
Great advice!
Before we dive into questions about your newest release, let’s find out what it’s about.
A delightful, up-lifting story of an ordinary woman whose life is transformed by one simple task: Photographing the doors of Rome.
Salt-of-the-earth housewife, Millie Devonshire enjoys making a home for her husband and going on “therapy” jogs with her best friend, yet Millie feels adventure is missing from her life. Middle-aged, childless, and married to all-too-practical Walter, Millie is consistently told to wait until retirement for their adventurous life to begin. One day, she enters a photography contest and wins first prize—an all expense paid trip to Rome for two. Certainly Walter will agree to go on this free adventure with her, right?
When Walter declines because he’s up for a promotion at work, Millie decides to make her own dreams of adventure come true. She heads to Rome with her best friend and running partner, Edith instead. Yet Edith has her own demands: She’ll go only if Millie runs the Rome Marathon with her. When Millie and Edith arrive in Rome, they have no idea how their lives are about to be turned upside down and how many other lives will be transformed forever. Always kind, always cheery, and always hopeful, the indomitable Millie takes Rome by storm and learns some of life’s greatest lessons along the way: If you don’t invest in love, you’ll lose it and sometimes you have to leave someone behind to get their attention.
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: Where did you get the idea for The Doors of Rome?
RD: From our trip to Rome in 2018. I ran the Rome Marathon and almost had to quit. At the finish line, I told my husband about what happened and felt there was a plot for a book in there somewhere!
CC: Life does bring some of the greatest inspiration for books, doesn’t it?
What about this story drew you to it?
RD: I wanted to tell a story to encourage and inspire women in their 50s or above. I ran that marathon at age 51. I’m big into inspiration and using my stories to encourage and motivate people to personal growth. So, this story has special meaning in that it follows two ladies in their 50s on an adventure. Life doesn’t end when we get older! We can still reinvent ourselves.
CC: I love that. So many stories are characters who are young, and the older I get, the more I appreciate older characters.
Who do you think will be the readers who most love this book?
RD: Readers of women’s adventure fiction (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, for example…) who like light romance, comedy, and scenic settings will love this book.
CC: Adventure fiction sounds like a good draw to me!
Who was the most challenging character to create?
RD: Judith. She’s the “villain” or main antagonist who irks and challenges the protagonist, Millie. She was difficult to write because I didn’t like her and I knew readers wouldn’t like her. She has everything yet complains. Her heart is filled with resentment, so she cannot see the beauty around her. That saddens me.
CC: It’s definitely hard to be around those types of personalities.
Which character was the most fun to create?
RD: Edith! She was so fun to write because I know many women like her. She’s blunt but kind. She’s interesting because she’s had a fascinating life. She has a sharp wit that I wish I had! Many readers told me they love Edith. She’ll appear in the other books.
CC: Yay! It’s always fun to see repeat characters.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing of The Doors of Rome?
RD: Researching the famous Boboli Gardens in Florence. That was a delight! I had to research some of the Vatican because I had forgotten. That was fun. But it was the FOOD that I enjoyed researching about the most. I have a family friend who is a sous chef from Sicily, so he helped me with the food, wine selections, and some of the language used.
CC: Oh, man. You have access to that sort of research? I’d be having my Sous Chef friend teach me all the ins and outs of cooking an amazing dish! How fun for you!
How did this story affect you as you wrote it?
RD: Yes! God reminded me of the importance of contentment and the poison of discontentment. As I wrote about a couple struggling with marriage, it made me appreciate my own marriage and my husband. God also reminded me about the time I relied on everything but Him to get me across that marathon finish line. Marathon running is very humbling.
CC: Such an important lesson to be sure!
What is next for these characters?
RD: What’s next for these characters? I am plotting out book two, which will follow Joy to Venice for her own adventure. Next, book three will follow Edith to Florence, where she’s inspired to write another romance.
CC: It sounds like readers have a lot to look forward to. Before we wrap up this interview, I have one last question for you:
Which animal is most like you?
RD: The Dragon. I have a tough scaly outer shell, but underneath, I am soft. I can be fierce when I need to be! I love dragons because they are paradoxes in that they can be hideously ugly yet gracefully beautiful. They can be fierce yet gentle. They are powerful yet vulnerable.
CC: I’d never thought about those paradoxes, but you are right! I have a new respect for dragons.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out The Doors of Rome and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, have you ever traveled internationally? Where did you go?
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY
Here’s your chance to win a signed print copy of The Doors of Rome. Comment on the blog and enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!
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by Crystal Caudill | Sep 5, 2023 | Author Interviews
Today I have the honor of introducing a new to me author, so it’s my hope she will be new to you as well and we can both add a book onto our TBR pile.
Linda MacKillop holds an MFA in Creative Writing and is a member of the Redbud Writers Guild. Her articles and essays have appeared in magazines and journals such as The Philosophical Mother, The MacGuffin, and Relief Journal, and her writing has been nominated for both the Pushcart Prize and Best American Essays. The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon is her first novel. Her second novel titled Hotel Oscar Mike Echo releases June of 2023 for middle-grade readers. Linda makes her home in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Linda with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
LM: Salty with a side of sweet.
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
LM: Print
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
LM: Definitely coffee!
Morning Person or Night Owl?
LM: Neither.
CC: Favorite Holiday?
LM: Thanksgiving
I think I definitely am falling into the neither category for Morning Person or Night Owl anymore. Although, I’m definitely not a morning person since I fell down the steps in my half-groggy state one morning in July.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
LM: When I was 16 years old and wrote a poem that caused me to sit back and feel like the words came from outside of me. The poem was on acceptance and taught me something new.
CC: It never fails to amaze me how our writing can teach us something–even when it “came” from our imagination.
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
LM: I’m a “pantser” trying to learn how to be a plotter. For anyone who doesn’t know those terms, I write by the seat of my pants, but this practice causes problems when all the threads don’t come together or need a major overhaul in the end. Usually an idea in real life strikes me, and I begin to ask myself questions: What if it wasn’t a young woman, but an older woman? What if this setting in Illinois was moved to Virginia? What if the character had a lot of regrets in their past? But my favorite part of the writing process is revision when I get to fine tune and smooth out language while fleshing out the storyline.
CC: What if statements are such a fun and sometimes dangerous road. All those stories and not enough time to write them all!
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
LM: Finding a plot line that is both original and compelling for readers to keep them turning pages.
CC: Ugh! That is just absolutely petrifying to think about. Both original and compelling is a miracle from God.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
LM: He has fulfilled my dream of publication in my later years. Let’s just say I’m a late bloomer.
CC: Considering God called Noah when he was around 500 to build the Ark, I think you’re still a spring chicken. 😉
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
LM: Read lots of books, practice writing, and practice some more. Find your tribe of writers to keep you encouraged and growing.
Now I’m excited to talk about your debut, The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon.
Eva wants to run away from her life–if only she could remember how.
Failing memory has forced Eva Gordon to move in with her granddaughter, Breezy. But Eva hates the bustle of Boston. All she wants to do is move back to her quiet, cozy Cape Cod home and be left alone.
Then Breezy announces she’s getting married, and they’ll be moving to her new husband’s rundown family farm, where he lives with an elderly uncle. They’ll be one big family–but only Breezy and Brent think it’ll be a happy one.
It’s all too much for Eva. Too much change, too much togetherness, too much of an over-crowded life she never wanted. But as her desire for privacy collides with her worsening memory, Eva may find herself in a pickle she can’t get out of. Can an unlikely cast of misfit characters step in to woo Eva from her self-imposed isolation?
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook
CC: Where did you get the idea for The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon?
LM: My brother was dating a woman with two small children while living with our elderly uncle. I began to ask the questions, What if she didn’t have young children but was also living with an aging relative? And what if that relative hated the living arrangements? And what if that relative desperately needed people who would move toward her despite her abrasive personality rather than letting her repulse them? Eva Gordon was born!
CC: As a caregiver, I can certainly see the challenges faced by all. The concept is definitely a realistic one, or at least one I can relate to.
What about this story drew you to it?
LM: I have wondered for many years why some people in life could be such curmudgeons and difficult to live with, but also loveable. I’ve known a few of these people–but I’m sure to some folks, I am one of these curmudgeons!
CC: LoL. The older I get, the more curmudgeonly I feel!
Which character was the most fun to create?
LM: Mabel was so fun to create. She’s a bit zany with her idea of attending the funerals of strangers while having a really sacrificial side. I love her!
CC: That is really interesting. Attending the funerals of strangers. That might actually make for good story fodder . . . But I am getting side-tracked. Speaking of zany, I love to ask on fun question at the end of our time.
You are in the back of a police car on your way to jail. What did you do? and is anyone with you?
LM: I’m all alone, and I forgot to pay for my Target items before heading to Starbucks (also inside the store). After grabbing my coffee, I just left the store. This could really happen to me!
CC: LOL! It’s really easy to get distracted in today’s world. I can see that happening to a lot of people.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, have you ever had an elderly relative live with you? What were some of the good and bad things of it? If you haven’t, what do you think would be hardest about bringing an elderly relative into your home?
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 31, 2023 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s time for another month of the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge: Unlock an Adventure. I’m so excited to join you on an adventure this year with guest reviews from our reading challenge participants. If you want to submit a review for upcoming months, feel free to sign up for a month here and use the Google form to submit your review. As my time has become too limited to do a suggestions post each month, I encourage you to jump over to the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge page and ask for suggestions from there or from any of a number of amazing reader groups like Avid Readers of Christian Fiction or check out the Inspirational Historical Fiction Index.
*The list of prizes available from my prize shelf can be found here.*
August’s Theme: Bounty Hunter
September’s Theme: Time Travel
A Worthy Pursuit
by Karen Witemeyer
Review by: Crystal Caudill
Out of a need to have an audiobook to read this month, I had to abandon my original read in order to finish the reading challenge on time. Karen Witemeyer has long been a personal favorite–especially after her sweetness in sending my dying grandma a signed copy of Stealing the Preacher–the book we started to read during my goodbye trip. I can’t read a Karen Witemeyer book without remembering that sweetness and being grateful to the kindness she bestowed on my grandma. I now have that copy book, as well as the one we read together, as treasured possessions on my shelf. All the sentimentality aside, I knew that I couldn’t go wrong by picking up a book of hers that has long been on my TBR pile.
Karen never fails to bring humor, faith, and complicated characters to a wonderful story. They are light and airy while still being full of substance and the danger I crave. Stone and Lottie were two characters I thoroughly enjoyed. They were each strong individuals who sought to protect those who were defenseless, even at great cost to themselves and their reputations. Listening to the story as I prepared for a conference and tried to set my house to rights made the tedious tasks more enjoyable. I loved the antics of the children, Stone’s persistent calling of Dobbson as “gnome,” and the special talents of each character. Oh! And I LOVED all the ties to dime novels. I won’t give anything away where that is concerned, but I thoroughly enjoyed the real heroes of the West and not just their fictionalized versions. Overall, I definitely recommend this story for those looking for an exciting story with romance, laughter, danger, and a swoony hero.
For Fans of: westerns, swoony heroes, children in peril, bounty hunters, sweet romances
Genre: Historical Romance, Western
Plot Overview:
A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear?
Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.
Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.
When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is she villain or victim?
Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month and you will also be entered into the year-end Grand Prize Reader Basket. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced don’t the Rafflecopter widget.
*Open to all residents of the contiguous USA, legally able to enter, and an e-book format or Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to those outside that range who are legally able to enter.
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Recommendations for September:
- When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
- In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer
- Jody Hedlund’s Waters of Time series
- Lisa T Bergren’s River of Time series
- The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series by David James Warren
- Stephanie H. McGee’s Back Inn Time series
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 29, 2023 | Book and Writing Events
Welcome to the inaugural Back to School Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. We hope that throughout this hunt, you discover some new books and get to know a little more about us.
A few things before you begin:
This hunt is a blog hop. Collect the “clues” (pieces to the longer phrase) at each stop. Enter the individual giveaways along the way, then click on the link to the next stop and repeat until you reach #28, where you will input the full phrase as your entry to the grand prize drawing.
The hunt begins August 30, 2023, at noon EST and ends September 4, 2023, so you have plenty of time to visit each stop. If you need to step away and come back later, make a note of the last stop you visited, and go to Suzie’s post with the list of all stops on the hunt.
If you are having trouble viewing the posts, you may need to switch browsers. Chrome and Firefox sometimes work better than Microsoft Explorer or Edge.
It’s Back to School Time!
Hi y’all. If you don’t know me, I’m Crystal Caudill and I write “Dangerously Good Historical Romance,” aka historical romantic suspense. I have a complete series out about the Secret Service during the Gilded Age full of danger, romance, and strong faith elements. Check out this link to learn more about the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age Series.
Here in Kentucky, most of our schools start in August, so my youngest son is in the throws of tossing off his summer schedule and slugging through an early to rise early to bed schedule . . . and let’s just say, sleeping in was a favorite summer past time. While my brainiac whiz-kid will have no problem breezing through school and getting all A’s in all that he puts his hands to, that was not the case for me. He definitely has the brains of his father and not his mother, which is probably a good thing. 😉
Even though school was a bit of a struggle for me as I fought for every grade, that didn’t mean I didn’t have fun. I was very much my own person–embarrassingly so. Thankfully, I don’t have pictures anymore; it was long before the days of camera phones. My ninth-grade year was a fashion disaster of the utmost kind. I mostly shopped at Goodwill, and apparently, my goal in life was to wear the most outlandish and boy-detracting outfits I could find.
Imagine something like this, but not form-fitting, and you can see the cuffs and skirt lines.
I still remember one outfit my dad nicknamed “The Red Nun.” It was bright red–no exaggeration, the same color as this font color. And don’t think for a moment that the material was fancy or flattering. Nope. That particular dress was almost sweatpants material. I still can’t believe I didn’t sweat out of existence. Although, maybe my youngest son has more in common with me than I thought. That child will wear a heavy winter jacket all day long, all year long, if you let him. But I digress . . .
The thick turtle neck stretched all the way to my chin in a fold-over layer. The elastic cuffed sleeves went past my wrists, and I could hide my hands if I wanted. And then there was the skirt. The dress had to be homemade, for the line between the bodice and skirt was obvious, and the skirt kissed the tops of my sneakers that I’d wear with it. I was a hot mess. No wonder none of the boys I actually crushed on would give me a second glance–except maybe out of utter horror.
However, I DID have a penchant for attracting the “bad boys” of the school. I’ve always had a heart for the unseen and the rejected, probably because I felt that way myself. I always tried to treat people with kindness and genuinely listen to them. This led to some interesting boys crushing on me. I still remember the one guy who tried to impress me with all his talks about his street fighting prowess, showing me his scabbed-over knuckles and brass knuckles as proof. I genuinely thought he was a good person, just misguided. And I was on a mission to show that he didn’t have to behave that way to impress people or be accepted. I never allowed the relationship to go anywhere. We parted ways at graduation, wishing each other well.
Aggressive young gangster with brass knuckles to fight isolated on white background
Fast forward a few years into my marriage. My husband and I were visiting my parents and stopped at the grocery store. Who should I run into but him? He was so excited to see me. He hugged me and introduced me to his wife, “This is Crystal, the girl from high school I told you about.” Y’all, the daggers of jealousy his wife sent me were palpable. I still laugh over the memory. That woman had nothing to worry about from me. I was glad to see him happily married, just as I was happily married. I’ve never made it back to a high school reunion, and honestly, I never will if I can help it. High school–and school in general–was wrought with lots of challenges for me. But I do sometimes wonder how he turned out.
So there you have it. A small piece of my high school existence. Now you no longer wonder why I write romances filled with challenging characters, danger, and sometimes funny behaviors. I write from experience. I can say without hesitation that my favorite part of school was counting down the days until sweet Christmas Break freedom–filled with carols, baked goodies, and family traditions. That’s why for this scavenger hunt, I’m featuring my upcoming release, We Three Kings: A Romance Christmas Collection.
This unique collection follows the legacy of three Weise men moguls, from a Gilded Age ocean voyage to Monuments Men World War II to a contemporary essential oils empire. Love, laughter, hope, and German Christmas traditions abound in this trio of stories I, Cara Putman, and Angela Ruth Strong wrote. You can read more below, and DON’T FORGET to go all the way to the bottom for your Scavenger Hunt phrase AND an extra giveaway.
About We Three Kings
IN THIS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, WEISE MEN STILL SEEK JESUS–AND LOVE
Best-selling romance authors Caudill, Putman, and Strong follow three generations of the Weise family in this third collection of Christmas novellas from Kregel that will prove just as popular as the previous award-winning volumes.
“Star of Wonder” by Crystal Caudill
The Christmas-themed maiden voyage of his family’s grand steamer ship was supposed to be Aldrich Weise’s chance both to instill investor confidence and to romance Celestia Isaacs. Instead, he must foil a criminal and leave his lady love behind forever.
“Beauty Bright” by Cara Putman
Lieutenant Charles Weise served as a Monuments Man after World War II and now works to restore stolen art to rightful owners. Captain Lillian Thorsen pairs up with him not only to return treasures but also to fix the war-torn lives around them.
“Perfect Light” by Angela Ruth Strong
Essential oils mogul Brendon Wise is drawn to Lacey Foster, the event planner for his huge Christmas lights festival. But when he inadvertently makes a spectacle of her on television, Lacey wants nothing to do with him. Will a chance to give gifts to those in need at Christmas be the key to discovering common ground–and maybe love?
Scavenger Hunt Details & Extra Giveaway
Here is your next clue: hand has
Next Stop: Lee-Ann Brodeur
BONUS GIVEAWAY
How to enter: Comment on this post with what your favorite high school memory is and then enter the Rafflecopter. Entrants must comment on the blog first to qualify. Other entries are just extra.
Prize: Booklight with $10 Starbucks gift card (because the beginning of the school year requires coffee), and a homemade book sleeve.
Open to all legally eligible participants (determined by your country’s laws) from August 30 to September 4 11:59 pm EST. By entering, the winner agrees to be contacted by email. An email will be sent out on September 6th, and the winner will have until September 13th to respond before a runner-up will be drawn and contacted.
*International winners will get an Amazon Gift card
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What’s a high school memory that sticks out to you?
by Crystal Caudill | Aug 22, 2023 | Author Interviews
I have had the privelege of not only getting to know Sara through my writing journey as a friend, but I’ve had the pleasure of sitting at her feet and learning how to be a better author. Now it is my joy to introduce you to a woman who writes stories you don’t want to miss.
Sara is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, Historical Romance author whose super power is converting caffeine into novels. She loves those odd little tidbits of history that are stranger than fiction. That’s what inspires her. Well, that and a good love story. But of all the love stories she knows, hers is her favorite. She lives happily with her own Prince Charming and their gaggle of minions. Three to be exact. They sure know how to distract a writer! But, alas, the stories must be written, even if it must happen in the wee hours of the morning. Sara is an avid reader and enjoys reading and writing clean Historical Romance when she’s not traveling. Her books range from the Czech lands to the American wild west and from ancient Egypt to the early 1900s. Some of her titles include The Lady Bornekova, Hope in Cripple Creek, The General’s Wife, Trail of Fears, and the Convenient Risk Series.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Sara with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
SRT: Sweet . . . usually
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
SRT: print for nonfiction, ebook for fiction (for the most part…), and audiobook for both!
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
SRT: coffee….I like tea, but I cannot discount my extreme love of coffee
Morning Person or Night Owl?
SRT: I am naturally a night owl, but life has made me more of a morning person
CC: Favorite Holiday?
SRT: Christmas
I’m right there with you on the night owl vs morning person. Although, I’ll never be happy about being up in the morning.
What does your writing process look like in general from beginning to end?
SRT: I started as a complete and total pantser. But, over time, I have found that if I spend some time getting to know my characters first, it is not wasted. It enhances my experience of the characters and, in turn, deepens the reader’s experience. I also have added some simple plotting…more of a skeleton outline that is subject to change. I have read and enjoyed many plotting methods. And every book’s journey looks a little different for me. But that is, in general, what happens on this end of things.
CC: I feel you on the pantser to loose plotter.
What has been the biggest challenge in your writing journey?
SRT: I struggle with a mood disorder. And, as anyone who has been challenged by depression or anxiety or both, it creates obstacles from time to time with motivation, energy, and follow-through. As well as throwing a wrench in that creative flow.
CC: Ugh. I SO feel you on the wrench in the creative flow. It’s definitely something messing with my current story as well.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
SRT: I am convinced that He has called me to write and to partner with Him…sharing stories about people (characters, that is), overcoming things within themselves and around them with His help, His guidance, His strength. Because that is what I know. And I believe He is in the business of redeeming. It is my truest desire that others see that in my stories and that they will be edified in the pages of my novels.
CC: Amen, and I can totally see it in your books. Hugs.
This week we’re going to shine the spotlight on her novel, A Convenient Risk.
He never imagined her heart would be so hard to reach.
Forced into a marriage of convenience after her husband dies, Amanda Haynes is determined she will never love again. Not that it bothers Brandon Miller. He needs her husband’s cattle. She needs financial stability and long-term support for her son and herself. But she never expected to care so much about the running of the ranch.
Butting heads over the decisions of the ranch, adding to her frustration and grief at her loss. Her wellbeing is soon threatened as their lives become entangled with Billy the Kid and his gang.
What has she gotten herself into? What kind of man has she married? Is there any way out?
Purchase your copy at Sarah’s Store | Amazon | Universal Buy Link
ALERT: This book is FREE on ebook right now, so hop over and snag your copy while you can.
CC: Where did you get the idea for A Convenient Risk?
SRT: For A Convenient Risk…strangely enough I got the initial seed of the story idea from a cemetery. Now, I am not one who makes visiting cemeteries a pastime. But I have a writer/history fanatic friend who loves it. So, I went with her (in the daylight…let’s be clear about that) and we looked at especially the older stones and imagined (as writers do) about that person’s life. There was one set of stones that sparked an idea…it was a woman who had first married a man much older than she, then he died, and she married someone closer to her age. It got me thinking about marriages of convenience/for advantage and second marriages that involved a death in particular. And also how we tend to memorialize loved ones who pass…remember the good times and glaze over the challenges. And how that might affect a second marriage.
CC: I love how you explore that. For me, that’s the most fascinating part of a marriage of convenience.
Who was the most challenging character to create?
SRT: Honestly, the heroine of the story, Amanda, was the most challenging. She is brave, but broken. And struggles with her view of God due to her life experiences. Having a very different life and walk with God made this character a little stretching for me to get in her head and walk in her shoes, as it were. To not only understand how she arrived at that place, but to relate in a real way so I could make her relatable.
CC: It’s so difficult to walk in other people’s shoes, but creating characters makes it an intimate experience which can be exceptionally challenging.
Which character was the most fun to create?
SRT: I really enjoyed one of the minor characters – Dorothy (also known as “Cook”). She is sassy and fun and wise and real. When my narrator gave her a voice, I was even more hooked. So much so, that I later wrote a collection of short stories with Cook as a main character. Now that was a blast!
CC: Oh fun! I love it when minor characters take on lives of their own and spur on the creation of other stories.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
SRT: That no one is perfect. We all have struggles, hurts, and hang-ups. But God, in His infinite mercy, will meet us where we are. It is His desire to use our stories/experiences to bring us to a deeper knowledge of Him and His grace.
CC: Amen and amen. Now for a sign-off fun question.
If you could be any superhero, who would it be?
SRT: Oh, friends, I AM a superhero. You probably don’t realize because of my alias. But I’ll tell you. My superhero identity is “Random Girl.” My mind moves so much faster than my mouth and so I end up coming out with the most random stuff in daily conversations. My friends and family know that this means “Random Girl strikes again.” If I am faced with criminal activity, I suppose my superpower is helpful in that I can utterly confuse and stymie the evil-doers until the authorities arrive. You’re welcome.
CC: That is HILARIOUS and PERFECT!! I love it.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out A Convenient Risk and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, how do you feel about marriage of convenience stories? What things do you wish you saw more of?
Former writing teacher Ruth Douthitt is an award-winning author of many books for middle-grade readers and adults in fiction and non-fiction. She is the winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Books Award-Bronze Medal for Best Book Series and the 2022 Christian Indie Awards First Place for YA. The Doors of Rome is the first book in her Christian-themed women’s inspirational fiction series. She currently works for Grand Canyon University and lives in Phoenix with her husband of 35 years and their little dog. When she isn’t writing, Ruth loves to run, draw, paint, and garden.
A delightful, up-lifting story of an ordinary woman whose life is transformed by one simple task: Photographing the doors of Rome. 
