by Crystal Caudill | Mar 21, 2023 | Author Interviews
I had the honor of meeting Linda when she interviewed me for her blog last November, and I’m so glad for this opportunity to get to know her a little more. Let me introduce you to her officially:
Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historic places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire, where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
You can connect with her through: Website | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | BookBub | 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?
LSM: Sweet
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
LSM: Ebook and print
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
LSM: Tea
Morning Person or Night Owl?
LSM: Morning Person
CC: Favorite Holiday?
LSM: Thanksgiving
I’m right there with you on the tea, Linda! In fact, I’ve got a cup of Earl Grey in front of me right now.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
LSM: I’ve been writing stories since I was in elementary school after my parents gave me a package of pens and a notebook that featured a bouquet of pencils on the front! I loved creating characters, and for some reason, most of them when I first started out were animals who talked! I also published a family newspaper for a year when I was about 12.
CC: Oh that is fun! My friends and I created a school newspaper for the last two years of elementary school. In fact, I think I still have a few hanging around. I was in charge of the joke section. Imagine that. LOL I haven’t thought of that in YEARS.
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
LSM: My writing process is very regimented. Probably because of my career as a Human Resources professional, I come up with my protagonists’ jobs/avocations first, then I name and describe them. I have a spreadsheet that includes everything from their physical attributes to what irritates them or makes them especially happy. Then I come up with the premise of the story, and using another spreadsheet, I outline the story from start to finish. The other columns are texture (weather and location), date and time of day of the scene, the end of chapter hook, and any anticipated research necessary. That takes a couple of weeks. After that, I conduct the research, which is dangerous because I can do that forever! I love research. The final step is to begin writing. I have a full-time job but have a short commute, so I write for about an hour before work, then until lunchtime on Saturdays. It takes about 60 days to finish the first draft.
CC: Wow! That is incredible. I usually takes me about 6 months to complete my first draft.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
LSM: Balancing my full-time job and other responsibilities with my writing career is definitely my biggest challenge. Writing “feeds me,” so I sometimes resent the interruptions that pull me away. A close second is juggling the non-writing tasks with writing.
CC: It is such a struggle not to get upset when interrupted. There really just is so much to balance in life, isn’t there?
Now I’m excited to talk about your newest release, Maeve’s Pledge (Suffrage Spinsters, Book 11).
Pledges can’t be broken, can they?
Finally, out from under her father’s tyrannical thumb, Maeve Wycliffe can live life on her terms. So what if everyone sees her as a spinster to be pitied. She’ll funnel her energies into what matters most: helping the less fortunate and getting women the right to vote. When she’s forced to team up with the local newspaper editor to further the cause, will her pledge to remain single get cropped?
Widower Gus Deighton sees no reason to tempt fate that he can find happiness a second time around. Well past his prime, who would want him anyway? He’ll continue to run his newspaper and cover Philadelphia’s upcoming centennial celebration. But when the local women’s suffrage group agrees that the wealthy, attractive, and very single Maeve Wycliffe acts as their liaison, he finds it difficult to remain objective.
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: Where did you get the idea for Maeve’s Pledge?
LSM: To come up with the idea, I researched pivotal events during the women’s suffrage movement and discovered that Susan B. Anthony and a group of women presented the “Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States” during the July 4th celebration of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Further research unearthed the fact that the Centennial exposition committee reneged on giving women space in the main exhibit hall. So a group of women fundraised thousands of dollars in only four months to build their own exhibit space. These incidents struck a chord with me, and having attended the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, I had an inkling of what it was like to be at the exposition.
CC: I had no idea about it, but I’m not surprised. There were a lot of obstacles women faced on the road to equality and the ability to vote.
What about this story drew you to it?
LSM: As someone whose career started in the 1980s and who struggled to be taken seriously as a professional businesswoman, I could relate to these women’s desire to be taken as intellectual equals, to be able to hold office, and to vote in their representatives. Throughout a large portion of my career, women with identical experience and knowledge were paid a fraction of a man’s salary for the same job. I was hired into a large aerospace company with an undergraduate degree and was put into a non-exempt clerical position. A man my same age with the same degree was hired into a management position. No one seemed to think this was odd or out of line. I didn’t agree with the illegal activities the suffragists resorted to, but I could understand their feelings of desperation and willingness to do whatever it took to get the attention of legislators.
CC: Then that definitely makes this an intensely personal story. I’ve not had to deal with it to the same degree, but I have experienced situations where I am taken advantage of because I am a woman, even in this “modern” age. I definitely look forward to heaven when that is not a problem.
What was some of your favorite research while you prepared for Maeve’s Pledge?
LSM: I loved digging into the Exposition, especially the woman’s pavilion. Because it was the country’s centennial, there was a lot of press coverage and photographs, so there was lots of primary source material. Ben Franklin’s great-granddaughter was the major fund raiser for the women’s pavilion, and she didn’t hesitate to use his name to get her audience with people to ask for money. By all reports, she didn’t suffer fools either! The numbers differ, but somewhere between 75 and 85 women had exhibits in the pavilion, many of them patented. Female engineer Emma Allison of Iowa operated the portable engine supplying steam power to the pavilion’s machinery, which included a printing press churning out a daily news sheet.
CC: That is really fascinating. It definitely makes me want to go look into it and research it more myself! And now as we wrap up, it’s time for one final fun question.
If you could be any superhero, who would it be?
LSM: Wonder Woman. Theoretically, she never gets tired.
CC: Never get tired. . . Yep. I could definitely do with that one!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Maeve’s Pledge and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, what do you know about the suffragist movement? Do you have any experiences were someone treated you differently because of who you were?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 7, 2023 | Author Interviews
I had the honor of meeting Shannon Redmon during an interview with the Suspense Squad, an awesome YouTube channel where a group of suspense authors for Love Inspired Suspense interviews other suspense authors. Not only was it fun to get to know her, I happen to enjoy her LIS stories. Allow me to introduce you to her properly:
Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown-up book she checked out from the neighborhood bookmobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.
Shannon is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and her greatest hope is to immerse readers into a world of suspense and escape while encouraging faith, hope, and love in Christ. She has two books published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line—Cave of Secrets and Secrets Left Behind with a third and fourth on the way—Mistaken Mountain Abduction and Christmas Murder Coverup.
She is also one of the Managing Editors for Acquisitions of Spark Flash Fiction Magazine, where she received her first official published byline. She won first place in the Foundation awards, was a runner-up in the Genesis contest, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
You can connect with her through:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Shannon with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
SR: Salty – I love a good potato chip!
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
SR: I prefer Print because I love beautiful covers but often I read ebooks on my phone because I can get more on there.
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
SR: Both – I love a morning coffee with creamer and then drink tea the rest of the day
Morning Person or Night Owl?
SR: Neither – I get up around 7am and often go to bed by 11pm
CC: Favorite Holiday?
SR: Thanksgiving – I love having a big meal with my loved ones without the stress of buying gifts!
I’m definitely a fan of Thanksgiving. I love cooking and baking, and yes to without the stress of buying gifts!!! Let’s move into some of the more in-depth questions.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
SR: I’ve always been a writer – writing poems, breakup letters for my schoolmates, and short stories that never got picked up by any teenage magazine. As I got older, I would start writing a story, get about ten chapters in and stop. In 2015, my husband told me I needed to finish one. I took his advice and finished my first book in 2016, which will never see the light of day. By the time I’d written my fourth book in 2020, I signed with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line.
CC: It’s amazing what perseverance will teach you, and what it can lead to!
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
SR: Typically, I come up with my characters first and flesh out who they are, what they look like, and what they do, then I create a plot around those characters with what I hope lines up with market needs.
CC: So you are definitely a character-first writer. Interesting to know!
What is your writing Kryptonite?
SR: I always go through a phase during my first draft of my books where I think the story is just stupid! LOL! I question if anyone will ever read anything I ever write again after this, but God always encourages me, and I keep going. Usually in the editing phase, I start to see the beauty in the story God gave me to write.
I’m so glad I am not the only one who faces this. It’s such a challenge to keep writing when the stories feel like they won’t be worth reading.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
SR: I’ve had to learn to wait well. Not everything comes together according to my timetable and God has taught me many lessons through waiting even though I struggle to this day with waiting.
CC: Man, do you feel you on this one! Learning to wait well is so hard.
How have you seen God working through your writing journey?
SR: My readers and writer friends have been such a blessing to me since I started this journey. They keep me encouraged when I want to quit and provide so much love for the stories God gives me to write. I love coming up with new ideas to share with them.
CC:The people God has brought into our lives through writing is probably one of the greatest gifts we can receive. Truly, they are amazing.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
SR: Don’t write to be published. Write stories because you love to weave together a tale that entertains and takes readers on a fantastic journey. That passion will keep you moving forward when the road gets tough.
Wise advice. If your only goal is to get published, you’ll wonder why you wanted it eventually. It’s a hard road.
Now I’m excited to talk about your newest release, Mistaken Mountain Abduction.
Tracking a kidnapper
leads to a deadly pursuit
After her twin is abducted and mistaken for her, former army helicopter pilot Aggie Newton must move fast. She has to find her sister and figure out why she’s become a target—even if it means working with her ex. But Detective Bronson Young knows these criminals will do anything to stop their investigation. Can they dodge deadly attacks long enough to save Aggie’s sister and expose the kidnappers?
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: Where did you get the idea for Mistaken Mountain Abduction?
SR: I read an article about a female Apache helicopter pilot and was completely intrigued. I wanted to write a story about a character who had these massive skills.
CC: I love finding out about something interesting and working a story around it. I bet researching it had to be fun!
In fact, what was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for Mistaken Mountain Abduction?
SR: I researched hostage extractions and how the military completes these, which was very different than what I expected. I was able to interview military personnel and get first hand knowledge (at least what they were allowed to share) about how army units and military operations work.
CC: Oh man, I bet that was super fascinating. I look forward to reading about what you learned in the story.
What was your favorite part about this story?
SR: This by far has been my favorite book so far to write. I love that the story drops the reader right in the action on the first page and carries through until the end.
I love a good, fast-paced story. That means it will probably be a binge read for me. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you were a pirate, what would your nickname be?
SR: I actually played a pirate in one of our Vacation Bible School skits at church. I wore a large red pirate hat with a black feather and way too much eye makeup as well as a ton of costume jewelry. Unfortunately, I don’t remember my name!
CC: LOL, that is awesome. The things we do for Children’s ministry, right? I bet the kids loved it!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Mistaken Mountain Abduction 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 flown in a helicopter? If not, would you want to? Why or why not?
by Crystal Caudill | Jan 3, 2023 | Author Interviews
Last year I had the blessing of getting to meet Liz Tolsma when I was on her podcast Christian Historical Fiction Talk, and it was so wonderful to get to know her through an actual conversation instead of just email or Facebook conversations. Today, it is my pleasure to get to introduce you to her and her newest release, What I Would Tell You.
Long-time Wisconsin resident Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance and has been an award finalist on several occasions. She is a popular podcaster, speaker, and editor. Together, she and her husband adopted three children internationally. They reside next to a farm field with their youngest daughter. Their son is a U.S. Marine, and their oldest daughter is a recent college graduate. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.
You can connect with her through:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | BookBub | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Liz with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
LT: Both! I LOVE chocolate-covered pretzels!
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
LT: Ebook. I mostly read at bedtime, and my husband wouldn’t appreciate me leaving the light on or listening to an audiobook.
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
LT: Coffee but only if it doesn’t taste like coffee; otherwise, tea.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
LT: Morning person
CC: Favorite Holiday?
LT: Christmas! I was married on December 23, my husband was born on December 25, and my daughter on December 17.
Oh wow! That is a lot of really important events in December! No wonder Christmas is your favorite. Let’s move into some of the more in-depth questions.
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
LT: A big, old, sloppy mess. I start with an idea or a character or a historical event. I do a good bit of research, learn a little bit about my characters, and then I’m off to the races. The characters reveal more of themselves and their stories as I write, which often means I have to go back and change things. Sometimes plot lines will hit me in the middle of the book, which means more rewriting. I spend more time actually reworking a book than I do writing it. That’s why I’m thankful for a good editing team. They really help me clean my mess up and make it presentable to the world.
CC: That honestly makes me feel better as I’m really struggling to wrangle this story into some semblance of an order for a synopsis.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
LT: Juggling writing, marketing, editing, podcasting, and a family life. I wear a lot of hats, and it can get to be too much at times. I need to stay focused and disciplined, and it’s amazing how much I can accomplish if I do that. I also have to be sure to carve out the time that my husband and children need and deserve. My husband has been known to come by me on a Saturday afternoon, firmly close my laptop, and tell me that’s enough for the week. He helps me to stay balanced, so he’s good for me and my mental health!
That is so important to have a family that helps you stay balanced. I’m struggling with doing it all as well, and last year was pretty brutal. I don’t know how you podcast on top of everything. I feel like I’m drowning with much less on my plate.
How have you seen God working through your writing journey?
LT: He has really used this process to grow my patience. I’ve had to trust his timing to be perfect for my first contract. I’d been writing for almost ten years when that first came along. I’ve had to place myself in his hands with each subsequent contract and not allow my fear of never getting a contract again to take over if I don’t have a deadline. I’ve also learned so much from my characters’ story arcs. As they learn things about the Lord and about the Christian life, there are lessons in there for me as well.
CC: Amen and amen. What a blessing it is to see how you lean into Him for the whole writing life.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
LT: This sounds so simple, but my advice is to write. You can’t be a writer if you don’t have words down on paper. If I had a nickel for everyone over the years who has told me they want to be a writer but never wrote a word, I’d be able to write from my private Caribbean island! Even if it’s only a couple of hundred words a day, it’s amazing how fast they add up and become a book. Once you have them down, then you have something to work with and to improve on.
Sage advice.
Now I’m really excited to talk about your newest release, What I Would Tell You.
Determined to resist the invading Nazis, a Greek Jewish woman’s greatest dream has become her worst nightmare, and now she faces an impossible choice whose consequences echo across the generations.
1941—The pounding of Nazi boots on the streets of Salonika, Greece, reverberates in Mathilda Nissim’s ears, shaking her large community of Sephardic Jews to its core and altering her life forever. If only her people would rise up and resist their captors. At great risk to herself and those around her, she uses the small newspaper she publishes to call them to action, all to no avail. Her husband encourages her to trust God to watch over them, but God has once again deserted His people. Amid the chaos, Mathilda discovers she’s expecting a longed-for child. Still, nothing stops the occupiers’ noose from tightening around their necks, and she may have to resort to desperate measures to ensure her daughter’s survival.
2019—College student Tessa Payton and her cousin take a popular DNA heritage test only to discover they don’t share any common ancestors. In fact, the test reveals Tessa is a Greek Sephardic Jew. This revelation threatens her tenuous faith. Always the overlooked child in her family, she empties her savings account and jets off on a journey to Greece to discover where she belongs and which God demands her allegiance. The enchanting curator at the Jewish museum guides her as she navigates life in Thessaloniki, helps with her genealogical research, and loans her a fascinating journal written by a Jewish woman during WWII. Tessa’s search, however, may open old wounds and uncover long-hidden secrets that could fracture her family forever and leave her with more questions than when she started. Based in part on true accounts of Jews in Salonika, Greece, What I Would Tell You traces two women’s journeys, delving into what faith looks like and where it leads us as they navigate difficult circumstances and impossible choices that have ripple effects across the years.
Split time fiction: WWII and 2019
Stand-alone novel
Approximate book length: 91,000 words
Includes author’s notes
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Christianbook
CC: Where did you get the idea for What I Would Tell You?
LT: I can’t prove this because I can no longer find the source anywhere, but I read an article about a Greek Jewish woman faced with an impossible choice during WWII. I know I didn’t make it up because I knew nothing about WWII in Greece before I read that article. I didn’t keep the source anywhere, but the kernel of an idea that became this book never left me. It’s been so wonderful to finally get a chance to write it and to see it out in the world.
CC: I hate when I lose my sources, but what a neat thing. I love how the real-world inspires fiction.
What about this story drew you to it? Does this story have any special meaning to you?
LT: The compelling nature of the story drew me to it. I just couldn’t imagine what I would do if I ever found myself in my heroine’s position. I can’t say too much more without spoilers, and I wouldn’t want to do that! The story really took on flesh when I was able to travel to Greece to research it. It was 2021, Covid was still raging, and my daughter was waiting to hear about a missions trip she hoped to take to Greece that summer. Just about the time Greece reopened to US citizens and she knew she’d be going, I got the contract for What I Would Tell You. I knew I needed to go. Alyssa and I had a fabulous two weeks together researching the book. She traipsed all over the city of Thessaloniki without complaining, took notes for me, and was a fabulous navigator. It helped that she’d been in the country for almost three months at that point, so she was familiar with the culture.
CC: Wow! I love how God aligns things so beautifully! And what a special time with your daughter that was. I can’t imagine all the special memories you two have stored up.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for What I Would Tell You?
LT: So much of what we saw and did on the trip made it into the book. I mention many of them in the author’s notes at the end. It was very sobering to visit the Jewish sites in Thessaloniki knowing that less than 2000 of the city’s 50,000 Jews survived the Holocaust. The Jewish museum brought me to tears, as did the train station where they were transported to Auschwitz. I did end up falling in love with Greek food, and a good bit of that made it into the contemporary storyline. If you look at my pictures from that trip, there are more of the food than there are of my daughter. Of course, my favorite part had to be when we did some research in a nearby beach town. It was tough, be we did it so the story could be the best possible story LOL!
CC: LOL more pictures of food than your daughter! I can relate. I love eating foods unique to the culture I’m visiting. I love how so much of your research made it into your story.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
LT: This is a story about where we belong and who we belong to. I hope that readers will take away that our identity and belonging ultimately lie in Christ. Even if the entire world should forsake us, He never will. He will be with us to the end of the age. If they come away from the story with nothing other that, I hope that will be what stays with them long after they finish the last page.
That is such an important and powerful message. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
What animal is most like you?
LT: I’ve always said that if I believed in reincarnation, I would want to come back as the cat of an old woman who has no grandchildren. I know that’s super specific, but that way I could just curl up and sleep without anyone interrupting or bothering me.
CC: LOL, that would definitely be the life. As a previous author once said, I tend to live as a sleep-deprived pigeon, so a life of napping sounds amazing.
Readers, I hope you’ll check out What I Would Tell You, and come back next Friday to learn more about what stories Liz has written, what she has to say about my upcoming release Counterfeit Hope, and for a chance to win an e-book of Slashed Canvas from Liz Tolsma.
Reader, what do you know about Greece’s experience during the World Wars?
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 20, 2022 | Author Interviews
The Christian writing community is wonderfully supportive, and I met Laura DeNooyer when she hosted me on her blog in September. (You can read that post here.) She is a sweet and encouraging woman, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to her here.
Laura DeNooyer-Moore thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. She is president of her American Christian Fiction Writers chapter. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, playing pickleball, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip. For a FREE prequel from Laura DeNooyer, join her monthly newsletter: www.StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Facebook | BookBub | GoodReads | Newsletter
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Laura with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
LD: Dark
CC: Print or E-book?
LD: Both. Two years ago I would have said print, hands down. But ever since my daughter gave me a Kindle, I’ve grown to love it.
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
LD: Dog.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
LD: Night Owl
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
LD: Summer
I used to be a print-only person too, but having access on my phone has been pretty handy. Now onto the more in-depth stuff.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
LD: Ephesians 1:3-14 is a favorite because of the reminder of all God has lavished on His children, and the blessings of an unshakeable, undeserved inheritance in Christ.
Here are the verses for reader reference.
“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.
We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him for the administration of the days of fulfillment — to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.
We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.”
What are you reading right now?
LD: I’m usually reading two or three books at a time, at least one paperback and one on my Kindle, at least one fiction and one non-fiction:
- Jesus through the Eyes of Women (Rebecca McLaughlin)
- I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (Hannah Green, 1964)
- Shadows of the White City (Jocelyn Green)
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
LD: In second grade. Our unconventional teacher had us writing and illustrating our own books, a remarkable feat for the 1960s. I discovered story writing was the way to go, and became prolific that year. I decided to be an author when I grew up.
CC: That sounds like an amazing teacher, someone who knew what was best for her students.
What is your Kryptonite?
LD: Wordiness. In the spirit of brainstorming, I used to pack every possible word into a scene, figuring I could cut it down later. But after spending multiple hours (weeks, actually) trying to winnow three ridiculously long novel manuscripts, I changed my philosophy. However, I can still be tempted into wordiness.
What has been your biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
LD: Originally, my biggest challenge was learning how to accept criticism and separate the wheat from the chaff. Being in a writers critique group helped immensely in developing broad shoulders, and has been a vital part of stretching and growing as a writer. More recent challenges include having patience with the publishing process and jumping through the necessary (but not always so fun) hoops.
CC: I understand all of those things. This writing journey is no easy thing.
Now let’s talk about your book All that is Hidden.
Are secrets worth the price they cost to keep?
Ten-year-old Tina Hamilton finds out the hard way.
She always knew her father had a secret. But all of God’s earth to Tina are the streams for fishing, the fields for romping, a world snugly enclosed by the blue-misted Smokies. Nothing ever changed.
Until the summer of 1968. Trouble erupts when northern exploitation threatens her tiny southern Appalachian town. Some folks blame the trouble on progress, some blame the space race and men meddling with the moon’s cycles, and some blame Tina’s father.
A past he has hidden catches up to him as his secret settles in like an unwelcome guest. The clash of progressive ideas and small-town values escalates the collision of a father’s past and present.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Barnes & Noble
CC: What was the most challenging character to create?
LD: The mother, Jennie. I knew what I needed the father, Drew, to be, as well as Tina, the daughter and narrator. But I couldn’t decide what kind of a woman Jennie was, couldn’t even visualize her—until one day when I was out to lunch with friends. The minute our waitress came to the table, I knew it was Jennie. This sounds weird to most people, but some novelists can probably relate. Suddenly, Jennie had a face, mannerisms, and a personality, full blown with quirks. I suddenly knew what kind of a wife and mother she was, and had no trouble writing her after that.
Which character was the most fun to create?
LD: Tina, the protagonist, was fun to create. In the story, she’s an adult looking back on one particular year of her childhood. So I had to think like a child, think of how she would perceive all the adult mayhem going on around her, and as a daughter how she would view her father’s decisions and idiosyncrasies. She’s also a tomboy and gets herself into scrapes.
What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for All that is Hidden?
LD: Back in the 1980s without the benefit of the internet, I found a book of Smoky Mountain idioms. Reading through that was a blast—all the colorful phrases! I had to decide which ones to use in the story. Fortunately, I had a literary consultant indigenous to the area. He read the entire novel to check for accuracy of cultural details and language.
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
LD: My initial learning occurred when I first visited western North Carolina in college years ago. It was culture shock for a Midwestern kid who grew up surrounded by people chasing the American Dream. These mountain folks found happiness and contentment by different means, and it deeply touched me. That’s part of what I wanted to bring out in my story, with characters who had no trust in big cities or city folk who climb the ladder of success. I got to thinking: what would happen if one of their own people lived in the big city for a while and came back? As I wrote the story, I identified with these folks even more.
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
LD: Misjudging others is a common theme in my stories. Besides peeling back the layers of a culture that might be unfamiliar to some readers, I hope people see the complexity of factors that lead a person down an unexpected pathway. I always want to encourage empathy over judgment.
CC: That peeling back of other cultures and not misjudging is so important in our culture, yet so often overlooked. I’m glad that is something you hope to help readers with. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
LD: Perhaps invisibility. Think of all the fascinating situations and conversations you could be privy to if you were invisible! Good storytelling material, for sure. But it could also get a person in trouble. So maybe I’d rather fly instead.
CC: Invisibility is definitely a troublesome temptation. But oh how much fun that could be.
Reader, what cultures have you discovered through reading that you might not have otherwise?
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 13, 2022 | Author Interviews
I discovered Clari Dee’s book The Pinkerton’s Pursuit of Justice earlier this year and absolutely fell in love. . . to the point I stalked . . . errrr . . . searched out the author online and then emailed her. I’ve since had the privilege of meeting her at the ACFW conference in September, and am chomping at the bit in hopes of a second Pinkerton book’s arrival. (Hint, hint, Clari. 😉 ) But until then, I will have to satisfy myself with introducing you to Clari so you too might fall in love with her writing. Whether it’s historical western romances you seek or contemporary romances with a musician focus, she’s got it. Without further ado, here is Clari.
An avid reader by age seven, Clari loved to hang out at the public library, and the local bookstore staff knew her by name. Her favorite books ranged from Marguerite Henry’s horse stories, to Louis L’Amour’s westerns and Grace Livingston Hill’s romances. Her fascination with books and libraries continues, and she now works as a public librarian by day and a writer by night.
You can connect with her through:
Facebook | BookBub | GoodReads | Amazon
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Clari with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
CD: Both. Because chocolate!
CC: Print or E-book?
CD: Both! I love the portability of an E-reader but I still love print books. And need more bookshelves.
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
CD: I’ve had both, but currently I have four cats and no dogs.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
CD: Both. So I am a perpetually sleep-deprived pigeon. Hee hee!
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
CD: Summer! Definitely! Cold weather and short daylight makes my internal batteries run low. I need warmth and sunlight.
A “sleep-deprived pigeon”, LOL! Boy do I feel you on that one! Now let’s dive into the meat of the interview.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
CD: I don’t think I can pick just one. The chapter of Psalm 27 is a section of Scripture I have quoted to myself a lot this year. I love that the chapter starts with God’s promise to be my strength and ends with His promises to strengthen my heart.
That is a psalm I’ve often repeated to myself as well, especially during the early days of writing when I felt God had called me to an impossible task. For my readers, here is Psalm 27:
My Stronghold
Davidic.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation —
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life —
of whom should I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart is not afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
still I am confident.
4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord
and seeking Him in His temple.
5 For He will conceal me in His shelter
in the day of adversity;
He will hide me under the cover of His tent;
He will set me high on a rock.
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about You,
“You are to seek My face.”
Lord, I will seek Your face.
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
do not turn Your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper;
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.
11 Because of my adversaries,
show me Your way, Lord,
and lead me on a level path.
12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing violence.
13 I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and courageous.
Wait for the Lord.
What are you reading right now?
CD: Robert J. Morgan’s 100 Bible Verses That Made America and Karen Witemeyer’s In Honor’s Defense.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
CD: I like being outside, going for a walk or a horseback ride.
CC: I haven’t been horseback riding in forever. I’m not sure I’d even be able to get back up on a horse at this point. LOL
Now I’m really excited to talk about the story that introduced me to you, The Pinkerton’s Pursuit of Justice.
He’s searching for justice. He just didn’t expect it to be her.
Pinkerton agent, Tremain Taggart, has dangerous criminals to investigate and apprehend. He doesn’t have time to escort a petty thief to Denver, but the quicker he completes the assignment his superior ordered him on, the quicker he can return to more important cases. However, the straightforward task promptly turns into the most complicated, chaotic chase of his career, and if he ever gets his hands on the elusive Miss Justice, he will be sorely tempted to wring her neck.
All Emmalena wanted was a tiny corner of the world to call her own. But after running away from the circus—the only life she’s ever known—all she’s found is trouble. And now she’s on the run, again. This time with a disturbing Pinkerton hot on her trail. If she can’t outrun or outwit him, she might have to risk her heart and actually trust him.
She’s the assignment he didn’t want. He’s the complication she didn’t need. But together, they might be exactly what they were each searching for.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Bookshop.org | Indiebound
CC: What was some of your favorite research for The Pinkerton’s Pursuit of Justice?
CD: Researching circus was a lot of fun, and I found that a large provider of horses, mules, and all sorts of circus animals once lived in Northern Missouri (the state I call home). It was said that children in that county didn’t have to run away from home to join the circus because the circus had run away to them.
CC: The circus culture really is intriguing, and a topic I’m dipping my toes in for some research myself.
Who was the most fun character to create?
CD: Emmalena. Pitting her circus-knowhow against Tremaine’s Pinkerton skills is hopefully as much fun for the reader as it was for me.
CC: I know I absolutely adored all of those moments. It’s definitely a reread for me.
How do you select the names of your characters?
CD: For my historicals, I like looking at old census records to see what names were in use during those decades I am sometimes surprised to find names that I would’ve guessed were more modern if they weren’t on an 1850 or 1880 census.
CC: That has surprised me in my research as well, and I’ve sort of shied away from using them because I’m afraid of reader kickback. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot?
CD: My writing buddies insist that this answer has to be cat. Because there is usually one in my lap and/or in the basket on top of my big roll-top desk and/or on the back of my easy chair watching the birds at my feeders and/or on the floor under my desk chair. This is a Sugar, Spice, Smoky, and Pickles approved answer.
CC: LOL, that is great! I just have one very annoying dog. Thank you so much for joining us. Readers, I highly recommend you pick up her story The Pinkerton’s Pursuit of Justice ASAP.
Reader, what stories have you read that feature circuses or Pinkertons?
by Crystal Caudill | Dec 6, 2022 | Author Interviews
I am so blessed to know Danielle Grandinetti and get to read her novels, rich with history, danger, and romance. It’s my favorite combination, and she does it so well. Allow mt to introduce her to you and her books.
Whether in her historical romantic suspense or contemporary sweet romance Danielle Grandinetti crafts characters finding home in hard times. She is also an avid reader and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.
You can connect with her through:
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | BookBub | GoodReads | Amazon
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Danielle with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
DG: Dark
CC: Print or E-book?
DG: Print
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
DG: dog
Morning Person or Night Owl?
DG: Mornings
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
DG: Fall
I’m not really sure how morning people exist, but I’m glad that works for you! LOL Now let’s dive into the meat of the interview.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
DG: I love to cook. It’s hard to find the time to craft a meal with little kiddos, but putting together a meal is one of my favorite ways to let my creativity renew itself. I also enjoy photographing nature, especially Lake Michigan, and crocheting. Like cooking, these activities are often done in small, rare snippets, but I enjoy them whenever I get a chance.
CC: Oh the life of being a mom with littles. Those activities definitely sound renewing, and I’ll never be opposed to having someone else cook for me. . . or at least someone who enjoys cooking. 😉
What is your writing Kryptonite?
DG: Description. To compensate, I leave room in my word count to go back through after the initial draft to layer in the description. It keeps me from getting bogged down during the first draft and helps me bring each scene to life one at a time.
CC: Aren’t you so glad our stories don’t have to be done perfectly the first time around? That editing is really where we get to clean up our weaknesses and let God really shine through.
What is your writing schedule like?
DG: As a mother of young boys, I have to snag writing time when I can. When they’re playing well together, I pull out my computer. Or we all snuggle on the couch to watch a movie while I write. Sometimes, one of my kiddos will even grab a toy computer and pretend to write with me!
CC: That is so sweet. And grabbing time when and however you can is the only way to survive.
Let’s talk about your Christmas story, As Silent as the Night.
He can procure anything, except his heart’s deepest wish. She might hold the key, if she’s not discovered first.
Chicago, 1933―Lucia Critelli will do anything for her ailing grandfather, including stand in a breadline to have enough food to make him a St. Nicholas Day meal. When she catches the eye of a goon who threatens her grandfather, she discovers the end of Prohibition doesn’t mean the end of the mafia’s criminal activity.
Retired Marine Scout Giosue “Gio” Vella can find anything, especially if it helps a fellow Italian immigrant, so he has no doubt he can locate his neighbor’s granddaughter, who has gone missing from a local church. Keeping her safe is another matter. Especially when he chooses to hide out with his Marine buddy in Eagle, Wisconsin, the site of a barely-held truce among striking dairy farmers.
Will Christmas bring the miracle they all need or will Gio discover there are some things even he can’t find, particularly when he stumbles upon the most elusive gift of all: love.
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: What was some of your favorite research for As Silent as the Night?
DG: The opening prologue of As Silent as the Night is based on a real event that occurred. It was also fascinating to learn more about the Chicago mafia during the years when Al Capone was in prison. Add in the challenge of the Great Depression, when half of the city, one full of immigrants, was out of work and it gave me plenty of fodder to create Gio and Lucia’s story.
CC: It’s always fun to play with criminal organizations. There is so much fascinating research involved with that.
Who was the most challenging character to create?
DG: Believe it or not, Gio was my hardest character. He was so beloved as a side character in A Strike to the Heart, that when I wrote As Silent as the Night, I worried whether I’d get him right. It’s also hard to layer flaws into a character everyone loves. Not to mention the challenge of putting him in life-threatening situations. Hopefully I have done him justice, because he is one of my favorite characters, too.
CC: That is a real challenge, but I believe you handled it beautifully!
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?
DG: That no matter your hardships, especially this Christmas season, you will remember the Light that shines in the darkest times. There is always hope, even when the world seems bleakest. And that Jesus came to bring love and peace to the world, and to you.
CC: Amen and Amen. It’s definitely one of those hard seasons for our family this year, and that reminder is so needed. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you could travel anywhere without worry to cost, where would you go?
DG: I want to go back to the Alps! I saw a glimpse of them along the Swiss/Italian border and again from the air, and I’ve wanted to explore them more ever since. Ciao! Buon Natale!
CC: Thank you so much for joining us. Readers, I recommend you pick up her story As Silent as the Night for an exciting Christmas read.
Reader, what Christmas reads are you diving into?
Pledges can’t be broken, can they? 
