Mini-view with J.E. Grace

About the Author

J.E. Grace was born in California where she managed a campground for quite a few years.  In the late 60’s, she lived on a 4,000-acre horse ranch situated along the coastline of Northern California. She moved to the Midwest in 2000.
She has a background in Retail Management which she worked in for over 10 years and enjoyed very much.  After relocating to Missouri, however, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of working in Real Estate.

She is also a traditional oil/pastel painter, as well as, a digital artist.

​She has enjoyed writing since an early age and continues to educate herself in the craft.  She currently writes in the science fiction, mystery/suspense/romance, and Inspirational Christian fiction genres.  She writes for Winged Publications-Forget Me Not Romance.

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The Interview

1. When you are not writing, what other “hats” do you wear? I laid down my real estate hat in 2012 when I retired in 2012, but I still wear a “housewife” hat and have been happily married to my husband, Joseph, for almost 28 years.

When I’m not writing, I’m wearing several other somewhat related hats.  Like so many other authors, I have to put on my “editing” or “researching” hat quite often. Then, of course, there is my “advertising” hat.

I’m also a self-taught artist and on occasion my painting urge surfaces and I have to pull out my easel and do some landscape painting in either pastel or oils. So, I also have an “artist” hat.  My work is on Fine Art America, Society 6 and Zazzle under Julie Grace.

2. What did your writing process of Redemption at Shadow Lake look like?   I started with an idea and then started laying out character descriptions. I then choose a setting (place where the story takes place) and decide if I need to do research for that process. Sometimes I have an outline for the book, but for Redemption at Shadow Lake, the story just seemed to evolve as I wrote.  I typed everything down as it flowed. Then at the end, I started the process of cutting, correcting and re-writing portions of the book that needed it.
 
3. What inspired the idea for Redemption at Shadow Lake?
The abandoned mansion idea came from a castle ruin here in Missouri that was perfect for my story.
All of my books start out with an inspirational Christian theme and a romance. This one was a little different as I needed to research the historical part I would incorporate into my story.  Of course, I changed the names and embellished for the fiction aspect.
 
 
4. What did you take away from writing Redemption at Shadow Lake?  
I found myself really enjoying the mystery aspect of this book and through the process of writing it, discovered that I was leaning away from my outline.  It was like the characters were leading me where they wanted to go.  I had an ending in mind but was surprised that it wasn’t exactly what I planned. In the end, I liked it better.

I learned through the writing process on this novel, that when I pray before writing each day, the process goes smoother and the words flow more easily.
 
 
5. What is your current WIP? What can you share with us about this project? 
I actually have two that I’m working on.  The first one is another mystery/suspense novel set on Magnolia Island, S. Carolina in the present day (fictional place).

The Belmonte’s have lived on Magnolia Island for generations, but what secrets are they hiding?  Can a young female P.I. uncover the truth?
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A newspaper tycoon, a powerful investment group, and a female private investigator is in the mix of characters.  Not to mention a cold case and a new kidnapping for good measure.  I’m having a lot of fun with this one.  
My other project is Book 3 of the Pacific Cove series titled, “Love’s Enduring Legacy.”  It’s a continuation of the Sanders family covering Peter & Amanda as husband and wife at Pacific Cove Ranch.

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