Interview with Lynne Gentry

About the Author

Lynne Gentry was a finalist in the WestBow Press’s 2010 fiction contest.  She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and three of her novels have been selected as finalists for the ACFW Genesis contest.  Lynne is a pastor’s wife and the mother of two grown children.

Lynne has written for numerous publications.  She is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright.  Lynne is an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer who love spending time with her family and medical therapy dog.

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The Interview

1. How did you get started as an author?  What or whom inspired you?
Unlike most authors, I did not aspire to write. But I have always been a storyteller. When I was a child, I would cram a stick into the ground, pretend it was a microphone, and tell stories to our barnyard animals. I went on to major in theater and spent several years writing skits and plays. For one of my plays I cast romantic suspense writer Lisa Harris. She thought I was a good storyteller and encouraged me to try my hand at writing a novel.

2. How many books have you written and in what genres?
 The Carthage Chronicles series has five books. Three full-length novels and to eshort prequels. Before this time travel series I wrote short stories for Guideposts, HCI Books, and Worthy. Tyndale published a humorous women’s fiction novel for me in 2011 (Reinventing Leona) which is no longer in print. I have also co-written a medical thriller with my writing friend Lisa Harris and a Biblical fiction that will probably never see the light of day.
 
3. What does your writing process look like?
I’m what writers call a pantser. Usually an idea comes to me in the form of a title and the main character. I start with research. Research fires all kinds of ideas in my head. But it is in the writing process that the characters begin to take shape. I love to experience the story along with the characters.

4. Where is your favorite place to write?
We moved recently and I was fortunate to have a very nice space to make into an office. Lots of light. My bookshelves. And a comfortable, well-lit desk.

5. 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?
Since my stories always have a basis in history, I try to pick names that fit with the time period. For modern names, my main character’s name almost always just comes to me. But if it doesn’t, I’ll have the character try on several names.

6. What authors/novels that you enjoy would you recommend?
I’m a very eclectic reader. Right now I’m wading through the David Wallace’s Infinite Jest and Orson Scott Card’s Speaker for the Dead. But some of my favorite books are written by Kate Quinn, Kate Furnivall, and Veronica Roth.

7. Where is your favorite place to read and why?
I keep a stack of books by the bed, by my chair to watch TV, on my desk, in my car, and always one in my purse.

8. What period of history interests you the most?
I’m crazy about the Roman time period.

9. 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?
I love the striking features of Zooey Deschanel. Her dark hair and fair skin create such a stunning contrast. I wanted Dr. Lisbeth Hastings to be a mixture of dark and fair.

10. What inspired the idea for your Carthage Chronicles?  How many novels are you planning on having in this series?
The release of VALLEY OF DECISION completes the five-book series. I was inspired by an article I saw in the newspaper about some tourists who disappeared from the Cave of the Swimmers in the Sahara desert. My imagination kicked in and I thought what if they dropped into another time? Then I heard about the third-century Plague of Cyprian and the story of dropping a 21st century doctor into that chaos started to form.
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11. What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?
I love spending time with my grandchildren. I also have trained a medical therapy dog. Roman and I love bringing joy to patients in the transplant units and the cancer center of Baylor Hospital. 

Check out my reviews for:
HEALER OF CARTHAGE
RETURN TO CARTHAGE
VALLEY OF DECISION