Interview with Becky Wade

About Becky Wade:

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins.  These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending.  She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas.  It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing.  She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it.  She’s delighted to be penning warm, wry, and heartwarming contemporary romances for the Christian market.  She's the Carol Award, INSPY Award, and Inspirational Reader's Choice Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours, Meant to Be Mine, and A Love Like Ours.

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.

Interview

Which actor and actress would you choose to play the part of Will and Amber (from The Proposal)? 
Maybe Mila Kunis and Daniel Craig?  I'd choose those two because they most resemble the Amber and Will of my imagination.

Where do you get the inspiration for your characters (their personality, looks, circumstances, etc,.)?
My inspiration comes from lots of different places!  For example, Matt from My Stubborn Heart sprang from my desire to write about a hero who'd lost his wife.  Jake from A Love Like Ours came out of information I'd seen and read about veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Sometimes, I'll see a photograph or someone on TV and think, "Oh! I could write a character like that."  Sometimes inspiration arises from a story I hear or from real life experiences of friends and family.

Do you have a favorite male and/or female character from your books? 
I love them all.  I have a special fondness for Ty Porter from Meant to Be Mine, simply because he was so much fun to write.  He's very charming and confident and he strode onto the page full-blown and spouting dialogue.


How does your faith influence your books? 
My faith is the reason I write!  I do this job because I believe the Lord has called me to it.  He's the one who enables and equips me to pen novels.  My truest hope is to bring Him glory through the books and encourage readers in the process.

What do you find to be the hardest thing about being an author?
The writing of the first draft.  The more you know about the craft of writing, the more extraordinarily complex you realize it is.  That first draft is very difficult work at times.

What is your favorite thing about being an author? 
Completing a project!  My deepest satisfaction comes from finishing the work that God asked me to do.

Do you ever get writer’s block? 
I hit very challenging patches, but I always make myself forge forward. 

What does a typical day look like for you? 
I take my kids to school, work on the non-writing aspects of my job (like email/social media/blogging), clean my house, exercise, write, pick up my kids from school.  I spend the afternoons driving kids around town, or running errands, or cooking, or (sometimes) fitting in more writing.

What are two things that people might be surprised to know about you?
#1: I can't watch the tense/edge-of-your-seat type movies or TV shows that my husband loves.  They make me too anxious! 
#2: I'm not a morning person.  I do best when I can roll out of bed around 9 (which almost never happens).

What's your favorite book & favorite movie? 
This last year, I really, really enjoyed What Alice Forgot by Australian general market author Liane Moriarty and the movie Austenland.

What did you want to be when you grew up? 
A ballerina.

What three adjectives would your family/friends use to describe you? 
Reliable.  Kind.  Frazzled.

A big thank you to Becky Wade!! I have been blessed by your books

and I'm sure many others can say the same. :)

Christmas Specials

As Christmas is getting to be right around the corner I thought I'd do something special for the holdiay. To start off, I'm posting my review of Becky Wade's newest release, The Proposal; a short Christmas story about Amber Richardson who we've met before in the Porter Family Series.

That may not seem very special but just hold on, that's not all. We are also having an author interview with Becky Wade! Ever since I read my first book of her's I've wanted to get to know her more and now you can too!

And to top it off, The Booklover's Tranquility is hosting a giveway!! You will have the chance to win some of my most favorites books, Traces of Mercy and Finding Mercy by Michael Landon Jr. and Cindy Kelley. The giveaway starts on the 7th and ends on the 21st of this month so be sure to check back here within that time.

Let the festivities begin! :D

Interview with Lisa Tawn Bergren

I am super excited about posting this interview. Lisa Tawn Bergren is an author that will always hold a special place in my heart. It was her River of Time Series that got me hooked on books and those were the first books I reviewed on this blog.

Hope you will enjoy learning more about this amazing author as much as I did! P.S. I'd definitely recommend you to look up her books... :)

Author, Lisa Tawn Bergren

Where do you get the inspiration for your characters (their personality, looks, circumstances, etc,.)?

It all starts with a name. The right name seems to automatically give me a picture of each of them; but sometimes I find pics in magazines and then match a name to the model. Then I move into backstory--what made them who they are today.

Do you have a favorite male and/or female character from your books?

Lord Greco from River of Time--because he surprised me. He was supposed to be the bad guy and yet I feel a little in love with him. Gabi from River, and Andriana from Remnants are faves too; I think I always “become” the heroine in my novels so I can feel whatever they’re feeling, experience whatever they’re experiencing, etc.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

THE BEGOTTEN. Medieval. Italy. Epic, spiritual suspense. Enough said?

How does your faith influence your books?

For me, faith is a part of my whole life, so to not include some aspect of faith--even a little--would seem like it was missing a piece. I never try to preach. Just bring up the spiritual when it makes sense for the character/story.

Do you find it difficult to write dystopian-fantasy novels?

Difficult, no. Challenging, yes. Before REMNANTS, I’d always written contemporary or historical series. Creating a world from scratch, with no basis (either in personal knowledge or history books) was hard.

What message do you hope your readers get out of your books?

No matter what I write, I hope readers come away with a deeper sense of love.

What do you find to be the hardest thing about being an author?

Getting my butt in the chair to write.

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Making stuff up and getting paid for it.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Rise at 7am. Coffee. Walk the dog. Shower. Facebook. Emails. Write. Work on ducks (RMrustic.com--our family business). Lunch. Grocery shop. More ducks. Facebook. More emails. Chill with the family. National news at 5:30. Dinner. Sleep by 10pm. zzzzz

What are two things that people might be surprised to know about you?

I’m an introvert and homebody. I’m perfectly content to be with just my family for days at a time.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher.

What’s the next book you're writing?

THREE WISHES: A River of Time California Novel (time-slip romance)

Thank you so much, Lisa Tawn Bergren for taking the time to do this interview!! I can't wait for your next books, Three Wishes and Remnants: Season of Glory. I'm so excited to know you're doing another time travel novel! <3 <3

Interview with Elizabeth Camden / Part Two

Author, Elizabeth Camden

What does a typical day look like for you?
It starts at 4am. My husband and I are both early birds and we like to hit the gym before work. It’s actually quite fascinating to go to the gym at this hour, because there are only a handful of people there. I’ve seen them almost every day for years, and yet I don’t know their names or the first thing about them. They are ‘familiar strangers.’  Then we both go to work at our day jobs. My husband is a high school teacher and I’m a college librarian. After work is cooking dinner, mowing the lawn, and all that fun stuff that comes with home ownership. Then at night I go to my moonlighting job…which is writing novels. I usually do a fair amount of daydreaming while commuting or at the gym, so I’m usually able to bang out a scene or two each night.

What are two things that people might be surprised to know about you?
My nickname in college was ‘Ice Princess.’ I guess I gave off cold vibes, but that wasn’t what I intended. I was just shy. A lot of shy people get mistaken for haughty and cold, but don’t believe it.

I also think most people who know me would be surprised that I write novels. For my day job I publish dull, dry nonfiction books and I didn’t want that getting mingled with my novels. I write fiction under a pseudonym in order to keep my work life and Elizabeth Camden life separate. So actually the online fans know a lot more about Elizabeth Camden than the people who work down the hall from me! I simply don’t talk about that part of my life at work.

What's your favorite book & favorite movie?
Book: The Chronicles of Narnia. That was the series that took a slow-learning, non-reading kid and turned me into a wide-eyed girl eager to devour novels. It will always hold a very special place for me. I loathed the movies though. Sorry, but for me they lacked the magic and beauty of what I saw in my mind.

Movie: Can I say a TV show instead? I am fanatic about Downton Abby. I love the characters, the drama, and the writing. It’s a fabulous show and I learn more about writing dialog from watching a single episode of Downton Abby than from an entire creative writing class. Also, I am dazzled by the new BBC series Poldark. I adored the original version that came out in the 1970s, but I think the new version may be even better. The first episode was ‘meh,’ but it has been magnificent after that. I love the epic scale, the passionate emotions, the drama and turbulence. And oh yes, the hot lead actor is easy on the eyes, too!

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A librarian. And I got to be one! Being a librarian is actually an incredibly cool career. If you want a management position in a library you need to get a master’s degree in Library Science, but it pays well, the benefits are great, and you get to buy books with other people’s money. What could be better?

What three adjectives would your family/friends use to describe you?
I’ll say it in two words: Dream Killer. That sounds rather scary, doesn’t it? We jokingly have Indian names in our family which describe our characters, such as: Running Mouth, Mighty Wind, Fierce Peanut…..anyway, I am Dream Killer. My husband gave me the name because I am the ONLY practical person in my family. For example, when it’s time to buy a new car, my husband wants a Porsche. I want a car we can all fit in and afford, so I veto the Porsche. Dream Killer! My husband wants to go out for Sunday brunch and order artery clogging omelets, and I think we should stay home and have a bowl of healthy bran cereal. Cheap and healthy, right? Nope! Dream Killer strikes again.  

What's the next book you're writing?

I’ve got a beauty & the beast type story coming out in December (Until the Dawn). It features a difficult, despondent hero who is lost in darkness and despair until he meets a wonderfully luminous woman who simply won’t allow him to wallow in his misery. It’s set in a gothic estate in the Hudson River Valley with a centuries-old mystery driving the action. Here’s a link for more information. http://amzn.to/1gEdwpP

(Missed part one of this interview? Here's the link: Part One)

Hope you all enjoyed this author interview with Elizabeth Camden! I know I sure did. I always love to learn more about the author themself... A BIG thanks to Elizabeth Camden for taking the time to answer these questions!

Interview with Elizabeth Camden / Part One

Here's the next author interview that I mentioned I'd post...As noticeable in the title this interview will be posted in two part segments, so be on the lookout for the next part sometime next week!

For any of you who haven't had the chance to read some of Elizabeth Camden's books I would highly suggest going to your library or favorite bookstore right away!

Author, Elizabeth Camden

Where do you get the inspiration for your characters (their personality, looks, circumstances, etc,.)?
I usually start with a ‘what if’ question. What if a librarian working for the Library of Congress fell in love with a congressman? (Beyond All Dreams). What if a boy from the wrong side of the tracks fell in love with a girl out of his reach, but then grows up to become one of the richest men in America? (The Lady of Bolton Hill). This kind of question is a starting point, then I have to put flesh on the bones and make sure the chemistry between the characters will catch fire.

Do you have a favorite male and/or female character from your books?
Easy…it is Trevor McDonough from With Every Breath. I feared readers wouldn’t care for him because he is a tough sell.  He is moody, difficult, and appears to be quite mean at first…but by the end of the book he emerges as the most compassionate and heroic character I’ve ever written.  He is a doctor who works only with terminally ill patients, so he has an ice-cold persona he hides behind simply as a survival mechanism to avoid getting close to people.

Out of all the books you've written, do you have a favorite?

With Every Breath! Kate and Trevor are both complicated people, but from the moment they meet, the fireworks ignite. I’ve always believed a romance novel lives or dies based on the chemistry between the leading characters, and sadly, this is a hard thing to conjure up, but when it happens it makes the book terrifically easy to write. With Every Breath is a wildly romantic book with heavy themes, but I hope the sparkling humor between Kate and Trevor keep readers eager for more.

 

How does your faith influence your books?

I usually have a pretty light hand in delivering overtly religious messages, but all my books have a strong, optimistic outlook based on solid values. I have often been inspired by fiction, and hope I can plant similar seeds through my own books.

 

Why do you write historical fiction?
Because this is how I got my first contract! I’m good at historical research because I am a research librarian by day….but I could just as easily put that skill to use in romantic suspense, thrillers, or contemporaries. I will probably start writing contemporaries someday, but I doubt I’ll ever abandon historicals.  They are too much fun for me to write.

 

What do you find to be the hardest thing about being an author?

No complaints from me! Life is hard and bellyaching rarely makes it easier. I love being a writer and don’t take the privilege for granted.

 

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I love reading letters people write me. I wrote FIVE manuscripts that were rejected, so when I finally got published and saw my book in print it was such an amazing sensation. When someone takes the time to write me a letter it is confirmation that yes, there really are people out there reading and enjoying my books. That makes everything worthwhile.

 ...Coming Soon: Interview with Elizabeth Camden / Part Two
 

Interview with Karen Witemeyer

What made you decide to become an author?
I had always been a bookworm as a kid. I’d go to the library and come home with a stack of books I could barely carry, devour them, then go back for more. I would daydream stories in my head with myself as the heroine, of course, while on bus rides to school or while lying in my bed at night waiting to fall asleep. However, I never really considered becoming an author myself. One of my college professors told me I had a talent for writing based on a research paper I turned in, but that was so far from the world of fiction, that I discounted it. Yet, he’d planted a seed, and a few years later, when I was a stay at home mom, I started toying with the possibility. Could I really write and sell a novel? But three kids in diapers kept me too busy to even try. Then in 2003, my husband’s position was downsized, and all of a sudden I felt pressure to contribute to the family income. I know! I’ll write! Ha! As if writing a book was that easy and selling it automatic. Boy, did I have a lot to learn. But learn I did. I went back to work and started writing on the side. Learned the craft, attended writing conferences, and educated myself on the industry. Then in 2009 I signed my first three-book contract. My first book, A Tailor-Made Bride, hit the shelves in 2010.

Is there someone whose writing inspired you to write?
All the books I ever read and loved. How’s that for specific? Actually, once I got serious about writing and knew I wanted to focus on Christian fiction, the author who inspired me the most was Deeanne Gist. She wrote historical romance with a witty voice and feisty characters, the same blend of humor and heart that I wanted to create in my own stories.

Out of all the female characters in your books which one is your favorite (and why)?
Picking a favorite is so hard. It’s like trying to choose among your children. I guess I’ll pick Adelaide Proctor from Head in the Clouds. My reason is because her faith journey mimicked my own in my writing life. I wrote her story before I gained my first writing contract. I was stuck in the limbo of waiting on the Lord’s timing and trying not to grow discouraged when things didn’t work out the way I’d hoped. Halfway into the writing of the book, I received a rejection from the publisher I most wanted to work with. Adelaide, too, dealt with myriad disappointments and was forced to wait on the Lord’s timing after making a mess of things when she took matters into her own hands. She eventually got her happy ending, and I did too. That publisher I wanted to partner with, asked me to submit another manuscript for consideration. I did. Adelaide’s story. And though they didn’t choose it as my debut novel, they liked it enough to sign me to a contract and include it as my second release. God’s timing really is best.

Out of all the male characters in your books which one is your favorite (and why)?
This choice is a little easier - Levi Grant from To Win Her Heart. There was just something special about him that grabbed my heart and spoke to my readers as well. I get more comments about him than any other of my heroes. He is the strong, silent type. An ex-prizefighter turned blacksmith who battles a lisp. In order to hide his speech impediment, he reads extensively to enlarge his vocabulary so he can avoid words with “s” sounds. That’s how he meets the heroine, Eden, who happens to be a librarian. But it is faith journey that really tugs on the heartstrings. He is a prodigal. A criminal who spent two years in prison after accidentally killing an opponent in the boxing ring. He finds his way back to God and vows to never fight again. For any reason. That vow nearly kills him, but he keeps it, and wins Eden’s heart in the process.

Out of all the different genres of books why did you choose to write Historical Romance?
Simple - Historical Romance is my favorite genre to read. I rarely read anything else. I enjoy a variety of time periods, but I almost never read contemporary. Maybe it’s the big dresses or the escape of traveling back to a simpler time, but the historical aspect adds more of a fairy tale feel to the story for me. And being a Disney fan and a huge romance sap, the fairy tale feel is exactly what I’m looking for in a novel. I’m a firm believer that authors should write what they love to read. It’s what gives a book passion.

 What are two things that people might be surprised to know about you?

• I live next door to my in-laws and actually love it.
• I love to crack “punny” jokes with my kids while my husband rolls his eyes.

What's your favorite book & favorite movie?
My favorite book of all time is The Secret by Julie Garwood. My favorite movie - hmm...I’m going to say Disney’s Enchanted. That one had me tearing up from laughing as well as sighing with fairy tale satisfaction.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I can remember going through many possibilities. Math Teacher, Athletic Trainer, Lawyer. I ended up getting a degree in School Psychology but I never made a career out of it. Now I work as a Testing Coordinator for Abilene Christian University and write novels. Only God could have figured this one out.

What three adjectives would your family/friends use to describe you?

• Goofy
• Task-Oriented
• Nurturing

How does your faith influence your books?
Faith is an integral part of each story I write. It is why I write. My characters are usually mature believers who still struggle with temptation, patience, worry, trust - all the things we as Christians continue to struggle with even after years of walking with Jesus. In fact, most of the spiritual issues my characters battle mirror what I’m battling in my own life. My goal is to tell an entertaining story . . . but deeper than that, I want my stories to touch readers in such a way that they gain encouragement in their own faith journeys.

What's the next book you're writing?

My next book is called A Worthy Pursuit and it will be out in June. Here’s the official blurb:

Be on the lookout for my review on A Worthy Pursuit.
It will be posted in the next couple of days.

Thank you so much, Karen for taking the time to do this interview. I know for myself I totally enjoyed learned more about the person behind some of my favorite books. :)

Q & A's with Jody Hedlund

Here are the Q&A's with Jody Hedlund that I promised. I was really excited to post this. I hope you all will enjoy reading this as much as I did. A big thanks to Jody Hedlund for taking the time to send this! For all of you readers out there, I highly recommend checking out her website at jodyhedlund.com. And now finally...
 

Question & Answer's with Jody Hedlund 

 

What was the very first story you ever wrote? Was it ever published?

The first story I wrote was probably in first grade in a spiral notebook, a book about princesses, princes, and happily-ever-afters. And of course, it’s long gone in the trash! But as far as my adulthood writing career, I wrote five novels that are collecting dust in a closet. They were my practice books, the books that helped me grow and become the writer I am today.

Why do you write?

I write because I love telling stories. I love the quote by Toni Morrison because it sums up part of why I write: "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." Essentially I write the stories that I LOVE to read! Of course there are other, deeper reasons I write too. But that's one of the main ones.

 

What essential ingredients do you strive for in your novels to ensure an authentic love story emerges?

I always try to incorporate the elements that I like to see in the romances I read. That includes deep emotions that are birthed out of a character's past. I also like to have a relationship that evolves organically throughout the book. I try not to have my characters being antagonistic to one another the whole book and then finally falling in love in the last chapter at the last minute. I want the couple to move from friendship to falling in love gradually and to have a growing attraction (with the sparks flying!) throughout the book. At the same time, however, I don't like to have the love relationship resolve too early in the book. Readers don't want the "happily-ever-after" moment to come until the end. So while the relationship is developing, it's important to find ways to keep the couple from being fully together until the end.

 

What has made you grow the most as a writer?

If I had to narrow down one specific thing that has helped the most in my quest for publication, I’d have to say this: My careful, ongoing, and thorough study and practice of writing techniques has been the single most beneficial aspect of my writing career. In other words, I read writing craft books, studied fiction-writing basics, and then put what I learned into practice. All the studying has been the number one thing to help me in my writing career.

 

Do you have any writing quirks?

I don't have too many quirks, other than needing a cup of coffee on hand while I'm writing (especially in the morning!). One of the things I like to do to help me keep on track with my writing is give myself half hour word count challenges–a specific goal of how many words I can get written in a thirty minute time span. Doing these mini-challenges keeps me from getting too distracted by other things while I'm in a writing mode.

 

What is your dream vacation spot?

I’d love to take a research trip to England or Germany and visit castles. Castles totally fascinate me and I'd love to visit as many as I possibly could!

 

What are your hobbies?

My main hobbies when I'm not writing or reading? Drinking coffee and eating chocolate—of course! No seriously. At this stage in my life because I’m busy being a mom, I don't have much time for hobbies. However, I do make a point of running and keeping my body fit. And I also try to carve out fun family time each week. I love taking family bike rides, playing games, and having family movie nights.

Interview With Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson is one of my most favorite authors. Not only do I love her books but she's an inspiration to me in my writing. Here's an interview with the writer behind the books...

What made you decide to become an author?

I always loved to write stories and poems, almost as far back as I can remember, but I stopped writing when I started college. I started writing again when my children were preschool age, at first because I was trying to think of how I could work and make money and still be able to be home with my kids. As soon as I started writing again, I was hooked and I knew it was what I wanted to do, and what I was meant to do.

Is there someone whose writing inspired you to write?

I was inspired most, I think, by Harper Lee and Margaret Mitchell. When I was a kid dreaming of being a published novelist, I thought a lot about Harper Lee, who grew up about 40 miles from where I grew up. She made my dream seem possible, since she was also from a middle-of-nowhere kind of place in the poor rural South. And Margaret Mitchell inspired me also because she wrote about the South, and Gone With the Wind was just so wildly entertaining. I wanted to entertain people like that too.

Out of all the female characters in your books which one is your favorite?

That is a really hard question. I really don’t think I can pick a favorite. I identify with all my heroines, and they all embody traits from my own personality and reactions that I’ve had in the past, so it’s almost like asking me which part of myself is my favorite! ☺

Out of all the male characters in your books which one is your favorite?

This one is not much easier. Ha! I really like my tortured heroes, though, like Ranulf from The Merchant’s Daughter and Sir Gerek from The Golden Braid, which comes out in November. They are all pretty appealing. Handsome, noble hearted, some of them are romantic and the others are just hopelessly in love. And they all have a strong love for God. What’s not to like?

Why did you decide to retell fairy tales?

I’ve always loved fairy tales, and I love Medieval history, so it’s almost as if I was meant to retell fairy tales. But I never actually sat down and said, Oh, I think I’ll be an author who writes fairy tale retellings. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I got the idea to write The Healer’s Apprentice when I was watching Sleeping Beauty with my daughters. Of course, I’d already seen it many times, but for some reason I started thinking about how unrealistic it was that the prince would fall in love with a peasant girl after only seeing her once in the forest, even though he was betrothed to someone else. I started thinking how to make it realistic, how to flesh out the plot and the characters in a way that was historically accurate, as it might have actually happened. It seemed like a fun challenge, so I started writing. Then I started thinking how fun it would be to write a whole series of books based on popular fairy tales. And that’s how it happened.

What are two things that people might be surprised to know about you?

I won an award at my community college for being the outstanding sign language student one year, and I beat up a boy in my kindergarten class once because he jumped on my back.

What's your favorite books & favorite movie?

Another tough question. I have so many favorites. My favorite book is the Bible, which I have lost count of how many times I have read. I guess my favorite novel is Pride and Prejudice. Jane Eyre is probably my second favorite. As for favorite movie, again, it’s Pride and Prejudice, the long version with Colin Firth, who is just such a wonderful Mr. Darcy. I also love a lot of other movies based on Jane Austen’s books—Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. And I love Penelope. If you haven’t seen that movie, you should, because it’s a great twist on Beauty and the Beast!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was six, I wanted to be a ballerina. For a while after that, I wanted to be a reporter, and in high school I wanted to be a novelist and a missionary. But I went to college to teach deaf and hard of hearing kids instead. So I was a teacher for a while, then I quit to be a missionary. Then I got married and finally ended up being a novelist. But the ballerina thing . . . ain’t gonna happen.

What three adjectives would your family/friends use to describe you?

Hmm . . . I think my family and friends would say that I am loving and affectionate; my husband and kids would say I am uptight, especially when it comes to technology problems; and thirdly, easy-going my daughter says, “but only sometimes.”

How does your faith influence your books?

I really don’t know how to write a book in which the characters change and grow without God. My faith is such a big part of my daily life and my thoughts, and I write my main characters that way. I am also writing a Regency series, and God and faith seemed to be much more in the background of people’s lives in Regency times. But it’s still hard to think about showing change in a character’s life without faith. Just as in Medieval times, in Regency England, nearly everyone went to church and at least believed in God and heaven and hell. I guess the bottom line is, I like exploring spiritual issues, and that’s what I do in my novels. It feels very natural to me.

What's the next book you're writing?

I have just been doing edits on my Rapunzel story, The Golden Braid, and I’ve been writing the second book in my new series. It’s tentatively called The Margrave of Thornbeck Castle and is kind of a cross between Princess and the Pea and Beauty and Beast. Can’t wait for everyone to read it! I’m having a lot of fun with it.

Thanks so much Melanie Dickerson! Looking forward to reading your next books.

-Hope you all will read her books if you haven't already!-