Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at a group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015, with the second arriving in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuts in spring 2016

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1. How did you get started as an author?  What or whom inspired you?
I've always created stories for as long as I can remember, but my grandmother saw the gift in me. She called me a 'writer' for the first time when I was ten. My parents would celebrate over my little stories...and now my big ones, and my middle school English teacher really fed the passion. I think God has always placed people in my life to water this dream He planted in my heart.

2. How many books have you written and in what genres?
Well, I've written more than I've had published. My debut novel (historical romance) arrived in May 2015 but it's the first of a 3 book series (2nd in Feb 2016 and 3rd in October 2016). I have a contemporary romance coming out in December 2015, and I hope to have more in the future.

3. What writing projects are you currently working on?  What can you tell us about these projects?
I have another contemporary romance series in the works as well two other historical series. One set in WW1-era Appalachia and the other in Victorian London during the time of Jack the Ripper

4. What does your writing process look like?
Snatches of time, is the best way I can describe it. I work full-time as a speech-language pathologist, am a mom of five, and wife to a music minister, so life is pretty full. I write late in the evenings, usually, and make wise use of my iPhone's audio recording abilities other times.

5. Where is your favorite place to write?
In a comfy chair in my living room - but that only happens after everyone else is in bed. Usually, I'm at my desk in our family's study.

6. How important are the names in your novels? How do you choose names for your characters?
Do you have any name resources you would suggest? This may sound rather superficial, but I care about the way the name 'sounds' and if it 'fits' the character. I do have a few 'name' books, though - and I love names with meanings that either support the character or contradict the character's personality.

7. What authors/novels that you enjoy would you recommend?
Anything by Laura Frantz or Siri Mitchell for historicals, or Deeanne Gist. I love Janice Thompson and Becky Wade for contemporary romance.

8. Where is your favorite place to read and why?
Same spot as writing...unless the weather is fine for going outdoors to read. :-)

9. What period of history interests you the most?
Right now? World War 1. I Love the changes going on at that time.

10. If you could choose someone famous to star in one of your books made to a movie, who would you choose and for which character?
Amy Adams as my heroine in my contemporary romance novel, Just the Way You Are.

11. What inspired the idea for The Thorn Bearer?
I was creating a character driven story at the same time I discovered a book about The Lusitania at a yard sale. I'd never looked into the Edwardian era much, and this discovery started a passion for the era. A good friend of mine told me her story of abuse and all of these pieces came together to finalize this novel.

12. What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
Well, I keep pretty busy with life, but I do enjoy singing and songwriting, playing amateur tennis, hiking in my lovely Blue Ridge Mountains, and hanging out with my family.

Check out my reviews for
THE THORN BEARER
THE THORN KEEPER

1. How did you get started as an author?  What or whom inspired you?
Susan (Mom): I’ve written stories since I was a child, and then I started writing nonfiction. I worked as a news correspondent and wrote magazine articles for several years, and then realized I had a novel running around in my head. I started writing fiction in 1999. Two years later, my short stories began to sell, and in 2004 my first book, Protecting Amy, was published.
Jim (Son): Well. . . . . it kind of runs in the family! I started writing books as a toddler, like many other members of the family, though naturally none of those early works were published, and few if any kept. The mere fact that books existed, and that I was able to write and draw (and scribble before that) inspired me to make early attempts, along with gentle nudges by my favorite author, Susan Page Davis. She has been my greatest inspiration and encouragement, but even without her I probably would have dabbled at it.  Other inspiration comes from practically every author I've ever read-- with the ones I like, I say, "wow, I would like to write something like this!" and with ones I don't like, I say, "Anybody could do better than that!"

2. How many books have you written and in what genres?
Susan: I have about 60 novels and novellas published. Many of them are historical romance. I also write cozy mysteries and romantic suspense, and I’ve done two chapter books for young people.
Jim: The Searfaring Women of the Vera B is my first book to be published, and it is inspirational historical fiction. Over the years I have written several yet-to-be published books in fantasy, speculative contemporary, apocalyptic, alternative history, and science fiction.

3. What writing projects are you currently working on?  What can you tell us about these projects?
Susan: I have two historical novellas about to release March 1. They are in collections called The Cowboy’s Bride (from Barbour Publishing) and Heart of a Cowboy (from Mountain Brook Ink). I’m working on a longer book for Barbour called My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains, and I’m also working on cozy mysteries for Guideposts Books.
Jim: In addition to working on the next book in the Hearts of Oak series, I am working on a pulp fiction alternative history set in a diverged World War II, and a philosophical apocalyptic work in the approximate vein of Animal Farm, 1984, Brave New World, Atlas Shrugged, etc., but with a more positive outlook.

4. What does your writing process look like?
Susan: I usually start with an idea for a situation or event, and populate it with characters I think will make it exciting and fun. I begin with research, character sketches, and a detailed outline of the plot. Then I write the actual book, revise, revise, and revise.
Jim: I snatch minutes and hours from an incredibly hectic and demanding schedule, usually after everybody else has gone to bed. I almost always have as many tabs open as my browser will handle, where I conduct my research on the fly.

5. Where is your favorite place to write?
Susan: I am thankful to have a room which is my dedicated office. It holds my desk, printer table, four file cabinets, six bookcases (full) and piles of references for whatever I’m working on, usually on the floor around me.
Jim: I'm currently stuck with writing at my desk, where I have a laptop with a broken screen set up on an improvised life support with separate monitor and keyboard. Maybe one day I'll have a laptop that is truly portable, in which case I might start doing some of my writing at my favorite coffee shop, etc.

6. How important are the names in your novels? How do you choose names for your characters?  Do you have any name resources you would suggest?
Susan: They’re very important. I try to make them appropriate to the setting. Some resources I use are the US census lists of most common names in each year; the phone book; the book Character Naming Sourcebook, and baby name books.
Jim: Names are of a great deal of importance to me. I don't like to use names that are so commonplace as to be forgettable. If I must throw in some ordinary names like John, Tom, Mike, Anne, Jennifer, etc., I usually either, 1. make them minor characters, or 2. give them impressively memorable last names, or 3. Make the character so memorable in other ways that the reader has no trouble remembering who he / she is. I also like using extremely uncommon surnames, especially in historicals.

7. What authors/novels that you enjoy would you recommend?
Susan: I love mysteries and suspense. I recently enjoyed Stranded by Don and Stephanie Prichard. A few authors I like are Julianna Deering, Randy Singer, and Van Reid.
Jim: I would encourage people to read the Bible, and all the old works--let recent books be about 30-40% of what you read at most. I'm constantly digging up long-gone authors' works and reading them. I have enjoyed Kerry Nietz among Christian authors, and Suzanne Collins among secular work.

8. What period of history interests you the most?  Does this effect your writing?
Susan: I love learning about the past. The 19th century and medieval period are my favorites.
Jim: I enjoy writing about almost any period of history, but I have a real affinity for the 1840's through the 1940's. I enjoy writing about wars, conflicts, and other unbalancing historical events, such as gold rushes and new discoveries. I like to try to get a feeling of the "fervor of the moment" into my writing.

9. What inspired the idea for The Seafaring Women of Vera B.?  How many novels are you planning for this series?
Susan: I had read about a real woman whose husband was a ship captain and died in a foreign country. She took the ship home. Of course, she had the original crew to do most of the work, but I wondered, what if the crew deserted her? I found the perfect situation: during the Australia gold rush, dozens of ships sat idle in their harbors while the crews flocked to the goldfields. We’re already working on book 2.

10. What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
Susan: I enjoy reading, cryptograms and logic puzzles, genealogy, and needlework.
Jim: I enjoy reading and playing games with my kids, and inventing new games. I'm working on a board game now that involves international trade and warfare in colonial days.

Check out my review for
THE SEAFARING WOMEN OF THE VERA B.

Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. She was hooked on books by the fifth grade and even wrote a few of her own. She knew she wanted to be a writer even then. Her first published works are the “Super Spies Series.” These stories revolve around a group of friends who form their own detective squad and the cases they solve. “The Starlight Chronicles,” is the next series that Lisa created with musical misfit, Lark Singer as her main character.

Lisa resides in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys. Currently, she’s working on the next book in the Starlight Chronicles Series along with a few new ideas that may turn into stand-alone novels. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and reading.

1. How long does it typically take you to write a book?
It depends on the book and how much research I have to do, the more research the longer it takes.
 
2. When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I was in fifth grade when I started writing, but I didn’t pursue publication until I was home with my kids. I was forty-eight when I was first published.
 
3. What suggestions would you give potential author to help them become a better writer?
I would tell them to join a good Writer’s Group. I believe getting constructive feedback on your work is essential to improving it.
 
4. How frequently do you hear from your fans?
Quite a bit. I don’t hear from them every day, but it’s nice when they send me a quick note or leave a great review. Those things mean a lot to me. I love it when I hear from a parent whose child has started to enjoy reading because of my books.
 
5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Did becoming a writer ever cross your mind?
Yes it did. I knew I wanted to be a writer by the fifth grade.
 
6. What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
I love spending time with my kids and I love to hike through the woods. I really enjoy being in nature. I also run, although not quite as fast as I used to. ​

Check out my review of
THE STARLIGHT CHRONICLES

Camille Eide writes romantic, inspirational dramas about love, faith, and family. She lives in Oregon with her husband and is a mom, grammy, bass guitarist, and a fan of muscle cars, tender romance, oldies Rock, and Peanut M&Ms.

​1.How long does it typically take you to write a book?
Oh boy, I haven't had a typical book-writing experience and I'm not sure I ever will. My first book---my first baby---was a work in progress while I studied the craft, then it underwent a strenuous revision at my agent's request. After Like There's No Tomorrow was finally contracted and underwent more rounds of edits, it took on a nice shine. From first cursor click to print release: 7-1/2 years. I cut most of my writer teeth on that one. By the time the second book was underway, I'd worked diligently on my craft in hopes of avoiding any more strenuous revisions. Like a Love Song took me about two years to write and won the Genesis Award in 2011. The Memoir of Johnny Devine took about 8 months and was anything but typical. It was a true God-send as it was both divinely inspired and assisted. I have no clue how long the next one will take to complete. 3 months or 3 years, probably. :)
 
2. When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I believe I was 7 and it was a book about Snoopy. I even designed the cover from a cereal box. But my first published book, Like There's No Tomorrow, was the first book I wrote in hopes of becoming published. I was forty-something, my 3 kids nearly grown, youngest still in high school. And I'd recently discovered I loved the work of Jane Austen because I'd finally had the chance to sit down and read more than 2 pages of a book at a time.
 
3. What suggestions would you give potential author to help them become a better writer?
READ, STUDY, & TRUST. Read GREAT writing to train your gut instincts.Study & practice the craft until you are deadly precise in structure, grammar, story, deep POV. etc. Then forget everything you've studied and Trust your Jedi instincts.
 
4. How frequently do you hear from your fans?
Mom calls nearly every day. :)  I am pretty active on social media, so I am in regular touch with readers. I get an occasional email or message, which is wonderful! And funny you should ask: just today, I got a phone call at my day job from a local reader (who knows where I work) who called crying about the Johnny Devine story. She just wanted to thank me for writing it. She wasn't even finished reading it yet! That was a first. :)
 
5. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Did becoming a writer ever cross your mind?
Absolutely. I already had Peanuts & Snoopy sequels ready to go if Shultz ever asked. I also wanted to be a concert pianist and an actress. In Jr High, my English teacher loaned me books and encouraged my writing, so I think she planted The Bug. Praise the Lord for intuitive teachers. :) Long before I picked up a pen to write a novel, I'd been writing plays and scripts for church dramas, so I don't think there was a time I wasn't writing something.
 
6. What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
I read, play bass guitar for the church worship band, bake cinnamon rolls when wheedled into it, and play with my busy little granddaughter.

Check out my review for
THE MEMOIR OF JOHNNY DEVINE

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.

Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please connect with her on:
Goodreads      Facebook      Twitter      Amazon      Websit

​1. How did you get started as an author?  What or whom inspired you?
I started writing when I was still teaching school. I wrote as a hobby. The first time I wrote something, it was because I had forgotten a book to read. I've always been an avid reader, especially of romances. I love to make up stories with happy endings. : )

2. How many books have you written and in what genres?
I'm not sure how many books I've written, but I've published around fifty since 2000. Most of my novels are romances, either contemporary about the Amish or historical romances set in Texas right after the Civil War or in Chicago during the 1893 World's Fair. I currently write about 5 books a year.

3. What writing projects are you currently working on?  What can you tell us about these projects?
I always work on more than one book at a time. I'm currently writing A Sister's Wish, which is the third book in next year's Charm Amish series, and a historical set in Texas, which is part of a men of honor series I'm writing for Harper Collins Christian Fiction.

4. What does your writing process look like?
Ha! It's a mess! I usually start out with the best of intentions to follow a synopsis, but I usually only go where the characters take me. I can't tell you the number of times I've had to write a note to my editors explaining why the book is a little different than what had been expected.  

5. Where is your favorite place to write?
Although I often write on my laptop outside, I usually write best in my office. My desktop computer has a big screen and a big keyboard, which is helpful to me. It also had no windows, so I don't get as distracted. I write 10 pages a day, six days a week.

6. How important are the names in your novels? How do you choose names for your characters?  Do you have any name resources you would suggest?
Oh! Fun question! My names are fairly important. I get all my Amish names from The Budget Newspaper, which is the Amish Newspaper. I also have a baby book name that I use a lot. It's just one of those books expectant parents might buy. I never name characters after people I know.

7. What authors/novels that you enjoy would you recommend?
I like too many authors to list. I like anyone who can tell a good story, especially a story that I don't feel I could write. I read from all kinds of genres, and usually read about two or three books a week.

8. Where is your favorite place to read and why?
I either read on our back patio or in one of the chairs in our bedroom. Or in the living room. Or at the table while I'm eating lunch. Or when I'm on the treadmill. <g>

9. What period of history interests you the most?
I enjoy American history. I loved researching the late 1890s and of course, the West in the 1870s. I've written two books set during Prohibition in the 1930's. Those never sold but I loved writing about gangsters and speakeasies! 

10. What inspired the idea for the Amish Brides of Pinecraft series?  How many novels are you planning on having in this series?
I first came up with the idea about Pinecraft when I noticed some of my Amish friends were tan and I asked them about that. When they started showing me brochures of the Pioneer Trails bus service, I knew I was hooked. I was so, so happy when my editor gave me the okay for this series. There are four full books and one short novella in the series. I loved writing them!

11. What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
We have a bike trail in our town. I love to go there and walk our dog, Butch. He's a little dachshund. We recently had to put his best friend to sleep so I'm currently trying to find another dog who would be a good match for Butch! Our daughter is also engaged, so her wedding is also my hobby! That keeps me busy!

Jessica Leake is author of Arcana, a historical fantasy with a heavy dose of romance, and The Order of the Eternal Sun, the next book in the series to be released summer of 2016. She writes every chance she gets, which is basically just during bedtime or whenever the kids are in preschool since she's a stay-at-home mom to three beautiful children under the age of 4 (with another on the way!). She loves blending different genres in her books, but almost everything she writes has to have an element of fantasy and romance. What's life without love? She's represented by Brianne Johnson of Writers House, and she lives with her husband, 3 children, and 2 dogs in Greenville, SC. She invites you to visit her online at jessicaleake.com. 

1. How did you get started as an author?  What or whom inspired you?
I’ve been writing since I was in elementary school, and it was actually a series by Bruce Coville called The Unicorn Chronicles. It was one of those stories that appealed to every aspect of my child self: unicorns, fantasy land, strong heroine. I actually just bought copies to replace the ones I lost! But of course I’ve had many more inspirations since then: Robin McKinley, JK Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Jane Austen, Phillipa Gregory, Julia Quinn…even my own cousin who’s a fellow writer. It’s in our blood.
 
As to how I got started as an author, it’s thanks to how helpful the writing community is online. When I started out, I knew nothing about how to get a book published. All I knew was that I loved writing—enough that I knew I wanted to make a career out of it. So I started learning about the basics—how important a critique group was to learn editing skills and hone your writing craft; how to find a literary agent; how to write a query letter; how to prepare a manuscript for querying. And then I got to work! It took 3 querying tries (and many, many rejections) before I finally landed on the manuscript that landed me an agent--Arcana. J

2. What writing project are you currently working on?  What can you tell us about these projects?
I’m currently working on the edits for The Order of the Eternal Sun, the next in the Sylvani series, which focuses on the sister of the main character in Arcana. I’m also working on a YA set in medieval Russia, but I probably shouldn’t say much more than that!

3. How long does it typically take you to write a book?
2-3 months when I’m drafting and really on the ball, and maybe another 2 months for editing—again, when I’m on a tight deadline (self-imposed or otherwise!).
 
4. What authors inspire your writing?
Anyone I’m reading can inspire me; reading eclectically and widely is a good way to hone your own writing craft because it’s always so fascinating to see how other writers do things—unique formatting, interesting plot twists, complex characterization. All of it can help make your own skills stronger.
 
5. What period of history interests you the most?  Does this influence your writing?
I think anywhere from the Regency Era to the Edwardian Era interests me the most in history—I just love the beauty and romance inherent in those elegant eras. 

6. What inspired the idea for Arcana?
I was watching Pride & Prejudice (with Colin Firth!) and I started thinking…what would happen if you added a fantastical character who wielded magic to a time period like the Regency Era? What about the Edwardian Era like in Downton Abbey? Ultimately I picked the Edwardian time period since I find it especially fascinating to have some modern advances—electricity, trains, cars, photography—but still with those rigid social mores. 
 
7. What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
I’d like to say I have more hobbies, but the truth is, writing and reading are time-consuming enough when you factor in taking care of 3 little ones 4 and under :). 

Check out my review for
ARCANA