Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Just Let Go will be her eighth inspirational romance novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.

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1. ​What inspired the idea for Just One Kiss?
Truthfully, I was working out one morning and a Taylor Swift song ("Speak Now") came on. It's all about someone interrupting a wedding, and I started thinking that would be such a great way to start a romance. I was already about halfway into Just One Kiss, and there was no way an interrupted wedding would fit my story, but then I remembered how much I loved Carly and her son Jaden in Just Let Go, and how much she deserved a happily ever after. Josh wasn't the obvious choice for her, but I love second chance romance, so I set my manuscript aside and started a new one. In the end, there's no interrupted wedding in this novel either, but I suppose I have Taylor to thank for the shift in stories just the same!

2. What did you as an author take away from writing Just One Kiss?
Most of my novels are written during or after some sort of revelation God's given me. In this one, it mostly had to do with Jaden, who is diagnosed with a serious illness near the beginning of the story. My own daughter was diagnosed with cancer last year, so I think in some ways this was me processing some of that. But the takeaway is, as it often is, that God can take our pain and brokenness and turn it in to something beautiful. If we let him, he can use it, and no struggle is ever wasted. 

3. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
I'm currently working on my next Nantucket book. It's about an officer in the Coast Guard and a private concierge. A tragic accident drove them apart--can a childhood pact bring them back together? (That's all I can share because I'm still working this one out!...but I LOVE being back on Nantucket and I LOVE learning more about the Coast Guard--they fascinate me!) 

4. What top 5 books are currently on your TBR pile?
1) In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins (I started the series just to read some general market romance and expand my horizons a little and got totally hooked, so now I'm on the 4th book and loving it!) 
2) Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg. (I read this for endorsement, but on my computer, and I think in order to properly enjoy a book I need to hold it in my hands! I'm so old school!) 
3) Sweet on You by Becky Wade
4) The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey
5) Brunch at the Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano

5. What are some of your favorite summer activities?
My summer is almost exclusively made up of two things: Writing and Directing shows. My husband and I own a performing arts studio and summer is our busiest season. Once our current show Newsies, opens, though, I'm planning to spend a lot of time reading on my back porch--this is my favorite summer pastime! 

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1. Is there a favorite character or one you’ve felt connected with the most in this book or the series?
I think because Moriyah is really the core of the Cities of Refuge series, I’ve felt most connected to her character long term. It’s been interesting to follow a character from the age of thirteen all the way through her life journey until she is a great-grandmother and to explore how her life and witness has affected those around her. I hope that readers see Moriyah as an example of what it is to be a light to the world, even when your influence is relatively small.
 
2. What was your inspiration for starting this series?
I began this series because I wanted to explore what happened after Jericho and found myself fascinated with the Cities of Refuge and what life might have been like within the walls of such a unique place. I also just really fell in love with Moriyah in Wings of the Wind and felt that she was demanding that I tell her story.
 
3. How do you feel writing biblical fiction has affected your relationship with God?
I started writing biblical fiction not because I was all that invested in the genre but because I was so intrigued by my own personal research a story came out of it. I think what writing this type of fiction has done is forced me to place myself “within” the stories in the Word and to deepen my perspective about the people and places that are described within the pages of the Bible. The stories of Israel’s history no longer seem “far away” anymore; I feel like I am a part of them, as if they are part of my own history as well which has given me a greater connectedness to Jesus in many ways. It has also just given me a deeper appreciation for his care and concern for me, because without him sustaining me on a daily basis none of this writing stuff would even be possible.  
 
4. What’s one thing you wish readers would take away from this book?
I hope that readers are reminded that our Father loves us with boundless, everlasting love and that no matter how far off we’ve wandered, He is always waiting for us, arms outstretched, and our names written on his scarred hands.
 
5. What do you find to be the most challenging when writing biblical fiction?
I would say the biggest challenge is the myriad opinions between scholars and archeologists and bible teachers. There are as many ideas and theories as there are people who study the Bible and the world in which its history takes place. There are times when the research is so conflicting and so confusing that I just have to pick a position that works with my plot and run with it, even if its not the most popular opinion. But since I am not writing history books and instead am telling a fictional story with history as the backdrop, if I can create a sense of verisimilitude hopefully readers will forgive any differing ideas or they’ll be so caught up in the tale they won’t even notice!
 
 
6. Can you share with us a book you have read recently, are currently reading, or hope to read soon?
I recently read A Curse so Dark and Lonely, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast that was quite well written and a fresh take on the familiar story. I am currently reading Finale, which is the third of the Caraval Series (kinda weird/unique fantasy but some really intriguing imagery and descriptive language), and I have a number of books up next on my TBR list such as Lori Benton’s The King’s Mercy, The Number of Love by Roseanna White, and Daughter of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischoff and lots and lots more. I’m kind of a moody reader both in genre and in style, so we’ll see what I feel up to reading first. It changes from day to day.
 
7. What's your preference/describes you best:
Early bird or Night owl? Night owl for sure, although my sleep patterns have been shifting lately for some reason and I’ve been waking earlier and passing out before 1am most night which is really abnormal for me.
 
Pepsi or Coke? Coke if I only have the two, but I’m a Diet Dr. Pepper girl when I drink pop. (Yes, I said pop, I’m from the Pacific Northwest).
 
Dogs or Cats? Cats for sure. I enjoy dogs (unless they are slobbery/shedding/jumping on me) but in our family cats are people too and there are usually one or more on my desk at all times. (And yes, there is one here now).
 
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate. No question. If there is peanut butter, coffee, or caramel involved with the chocolate, all the better.
 
 
8. Which part of Until the Mountains fall did you enjoy writing the most?
Without giving any spoilers, there is a very distinctive Part I and Part 2 within this story and during the interim my characters do a lot of changing. Some of it for the better, and some of it for the worse. So it was an interesting challenge to work through who they started out as and how they transformed, and then it was fun discovering my hero and heroine all over again after the shift and working through how they ultimately come together in light of the changes within themselves and the circumstances within which they interact.
 
9. Any scripture verses jump out as you brought this biblical based story to life?
Oh there are so many wonderful ones that speak to the Father’s love for our prodigal hearts, but here are a couple that are just perfect for Rivkah.
 
Isaiah 54:8 “In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.
 
And all of Psalms 103 is a great depiction of his mercy and grace, but this verse especially is applicable to UTMF—As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalms 103:13
 
 
10. How do you go about creating a story based on Biblical figures?
Since my style of biblical is a little different from most, in that I tell stories of fictional people that interact with non-fictional people, history, and settings, I have a little bit more leeway when it comes to story-building. But I always start with the Word and use its timelines and details as the skeleton of my novels first. Once I have those essentials, I can begin to weave in the characters and plots that I create. If I do slip in actual historical figures my preference is to make those interchanges brief and focus on how my fictional characters might react to those people and their actions. All in all I just do my best to stay as close to the Biblical narrative as I can while using any whitespace or unknowns to stir my imagination.
 
11. How do you achieve the characterization and how do you decide what the characters should be like?
Characters usually develop as I write the story. For the most part I try to know what their general backstory is and what their wounds are before I begin, but sometimes those things shift as I get to know the person on the page. At times it takes me the writing of the entire manuscript before I truly understand the character’s motives and goals and then I have to go back before submission and layer those traits into the story so it flows well and makes a smooth and realistic character arc.
 
12. How do you decide what themes you will lift from the scriptures to place in your books?
With Until the Mountains Fall I’d decided from the beginning that Rivkah’s story would be inspired by the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke but usually the themes of my stories develop as I write and sometimes it takes the entire book being nearly finished before I realize exactly which themes floated to the top. To me that is how thematic elements develop the most organically and avoid being “preachy” in the telling because they are related to the growth within the characters and not because I am trying to teach some sort of moral lesson to the reader. 
 
13. What percentage do you feel you are ancient historian, novelist, story teller, romance writer (or any other “hat” you wear as you write these books)?
What an intriguing question! I feel I am about 5% historian because really I am just someone who loves history and I have zero credentials to call myself anything other than a student. I am probably about about equal parts novelist and storyteller, maybe 40% each? Then perhaps 15% romance writer because I do love a good love story but it’s not my main goal as I develop my stories, and then I am about 10% just having a great time playing around with imaginary friends and making up stuff to entertain my own crazy brain. Is that 100%? I certainly don’t know because I am 0% mathematician.
 
14. As a homeschool mom, how did you start and then balance homeschooling with your writing career?
I have homeschooled my kids all the way through (with the exception of one very stressful week of Kindergarten for my son) and now have a 9th grader and a 7th grader (yikes! Prayer appreciated). Balancing homeschool has become a lot easier in the past couple of years because my kids are increasingly independent in their studies, are really intellectually curious, and I have found awesome homeschool enrichment classes that have freed up some time and brainpower for me while giving my kids opportunities to meet new friends and expand their minds.  This year my son is planning to write his own novel over the course of the year for a Creative Writing credit, since he has the perfect built in expert and we are looking forward to seeing how that develops. He’s already showing some intriguing talent for storytelling that I am hoping to encourage! For me the important thing is to schedule out my days well, keep to a reasonable word-count plan as much as possible, but also to be flexible and just know that some days school means spending the day (or a couple of weeks) exploring topics of passion instead of following a set curriculum. We love homeschooling and hope to continue it all the way through!
 
15. How detailed is your research for each of your books?
I spent five years writing Counted with the Stars in which I did a lot of detailed research into the ancient world of the Bible. So now with that base in mind, I do my best to mostly research the history, archeology, and the settings that pertain to each specific book as I go along looking at the broad view and then I concentrate on details that are pertinent to my character’s experiences as I write. If I am not careful I can get lost on historical rabbit trails while I am supposed to be writing, so if I have a question about something in particular I mark it with a $ sign in my manuscript and then research it later and plug it in. But I do my best to read as much as possible and spend lots of time on archeological and historical websites soaking it all in. Youtube videos can be super helpful, as can podcasts from great bible teachers and historians.
 
16. Did anything happen during the writing of this book that changed the trajectory of the story?
I had a fairly firm grasp on this story from the beginning, when I was plotting it with my plotting group but I did find some fascinating research about Edrei, which is one of the cities in which a portion of the story takes place. I read about an amateur archeologist and explorer named Gottlieb Shumacher who claimed to have visited the historical site in current day Daraa, Syria well over a hundred years ago with the help of local guides and discovered a series of tunnels and caves below the city. There is of course no certainty that this site he explored is actually the city of Edrei but the description was compelling to me and stirred my imagination. So the scenes that take place in and below that city are because of this captivating bit of information I just happened to stumble across.
 
17. Did the story change at all during the writing of the book?
My stories always shift and transform in the writing because I am not a firm-structure plotter. I begin with an outline and a list of chapters but within that structure I give myself plenty of room to explore. However without giving spoilers I can’t divulge too much of those changes within Until the Mountains Fall, except to say there was a secondary love story that I didn’t plan that just appeared on the page, along with a shift in the outcome for one of the secondary characters involved, and a resolution to a larger-arc thread that became much more prevalent as the writing progressed.
 
18. Will we see Rivkah and Malakhi again in future books?
We will definitely visit these two in Like Flames in the Night, which takes place eight years after the close of Until the Mountains Fall. There is more to tell about Moriyah and Darek’s family so fear not, I haven’t left you hanging without resolution to some of your burning questions.
 
 
19. What is your favorite children’s book?
My favorite children’s book is probably Anne of Green Gables, since I was fairly enthralled with it when I was young and absolutely wanted to be Anne. Although the Narnia series is of equal value to me, and in particular the Magician’s Nephew, which is my favorite of the bunch mostly due to the enthralling description of Aslan’s Creation of the world with song. To me those scenes had to have been divinely inspired and they give me chills whenever I read them, just as they did when I was a kid.
 
20. What advice would you give to a young person who wants to write books?
Read. Read. Read. Read books that challenge you, that are a little bit tough to get through or are outside the style you might gravitate toward. Explore different genres. Write down and hoard lovely words and lines that capture your imagination. Don’t allow any negative self-talk as you are learning or tell yourself that you aren’t good enough, just enjoy playing with language and write stories and poems and lyrics that you want to read and connect with your own emotions. And don’t limit yourself to writing what is “popular” at the moment. There’s always room for interesting, out-of-the-box writing that breaks the rules or crosses genres. But above all, just write words, every day and in whatever form strikes your fancy. You never know how God will use your passion for writing in the future! I’m proof of that!
 
 
21. Is there a secret to writing an emotional scene that makes the feelings jump off the page?
I think the most important thing to know about a character is their wounds. Understanding what hurts they harbor will affect how they perceive the world around them and how they will react in certain situations and if those things are explored effectively, the reader will feel the impact more deeply. Also, I draw on my own emotions as I write. Whether or not I’ve actually experienced a moment like the person on the page, I can always think back to a time I’ve felt pain or grief or joy or frustration or fear and remember the visceral reactions I’ve had to those emotions. Writing is much like acting in that way, so tapping into your own emotions and then applying them to whatever character you are embodying as you write is the best way to make your reader feel those things as they live out the story in their minds. Brain science has shown that we actually feel the emotions along with characters in well-written fiction, so if I find myself crying or laughing or sighing as I write out a scene, chances are my readers will too. And I’ll just tell you, I cried a lot during the writing of Until the Mountains Fall. Fair warning.
 
 
22. Do you get a say in the design of your book cover? What is the process?
The first part of the process for me is creating a secret Pinterest Board with all sorts of images that relate to the story I am building. Characters, settings, details etc. When my editor asks for inspiration I can then share that board with her and the cover designer at Bethany House and I also include notes about the story and characters and any pertinent details that might be helpful. And then, I wait. And wait. And wait. And then one day I get an email with the subject “We have a cover!” and I squeal and gasp and hold my breath as I open the attachment and then I spend hours and hours staring at it and thanking the Lord that Bethany House is my publisher. Each one has perfectly captured the emotion of the stories and my heroines and I have adored each one. If there are little details that perhaps don’t quite fit I can always let them know and see if they address it, but honestly I’ve only done that once and I was super pleased with the result afterward. You can tell how much I love my covers because I put them on photo canvas and decorate my office with them, where I will continue to stare at them for years to come. 

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1. What inspired the idea for the Tales of Faith Series?
At first, it was just going to be a short story from a one-question idea: “What if the beast was Belle’s father?” That, of course, turned into a novella, and then people started asking me if I’d do other retellings. So, I guess you could say it was inspired by one question and morphed into something much bigger!
 
2. What did you as an author take away from writing each book in the series?
This series has been a huge growing point for me as an author. From “Befriending the Beast,” I learned not to cut myself short but to actually let the idea come to full fruition. “The Secret Slipper” taught me a lot about adding angst and tension to my story. And in “Protecting the Poor” my lesson has been more that God’s in control of my schedule, as I had hoped to publish it a year ago. As authors we get so trapped into our agenda and preferences we forget to seek God not only on the messages of our stories, but also the timing of when to publish and release them. Or at least, I can say such for myself.
 
3. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
This one is exciting! I am working with three other super sweet ladies to compile a four-novella collection: “Librarians of Willow Hollow.” Each of our stories can be read stand-alone, but they feature the same fictional Appalachian town and several townspeople. Our projected publication date is late 2020, Lord willing.

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1-What inspired the idea for By Hook or by Rook?
Supporting characters that demanded a story, haha!

2-What did you as an author take away from writing By Hook or by Rook?
I found a new appreciation for the girls who want so much but can’t seem to get it. This book was instrumental in forming inspiration for the Spinster Chronicles series, actually!

3-What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
My current WIP is a new sports series with my pals! If you’ve read the Belltown Six Pack series, you’ll love what we’re up to next!

4-What top 5 books are currently on your TBR pile?
1)The Friend Zone by Sariah Wilson
2)A Lady’s Maid by Jen Giegle Johnson
3)Beneath the Italian Sky by Stacie Henrie
4)My Not So Wicked Boss by Jennifer Peel
5)A Provision for Love by Heather Chapman
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5-What is one of your favorite summer activities?
Ugh. I actually kind of hate summer. But I do love hanging out at my uncle’s pool in Chicago. And bonfires in the evening. And fireworks. I really love fireworks.

1-What inspired the idea for Awake at Widmore Manor?
I love bringing fairy tales to life and making them feel like they really happened, or could have happened. I've done Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, but I wanted to try one I hadn't seen done as much. The original Princess and the Pea story is pretty short with very few details, so it was a fun little (huge :)) challenge to bring it to life. I knew it had to have three main elements: a young woman caught in a storm, a sleepless night, and a test that she had to "pass." Beyond that, I got to play and write and rewrite. And rewrite again. :)

2-What did you as an author take away from writing Awake at Widmore Manor?
I was surprised by how much this story touched me personally. It started out as a light-hearted, almost comical story, but as I got deeper into it, I found meaning and depth that I hadn't expected. There were themes such as loyalty to family, growing in trials, selflessness, and perseverance. Mostly, this story ended up being mostly about friendship, the different forms it can take, and the lengths we can go to show love and support for our friends. I found the perfect Shakespeare quote about friendship that really shaped the book. I put it right at the beginning to give the reader a little direction and inspiration before they dive in. :) This story is almost unrecognizable from where it started for me at the beginning, but I really love it. It's a sweet story that helped me want to be a better person, and a better friend. 

3-What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
I'm actually taking a teensy break from writing right now. Writing in the summer with everyone home all day is pretty much impossible, which is actually great. It's nice to clear my head every once in a while. In the fall, I'm actually thinking of starting a non-fiction inspirational book. I've thought about it for years, and have done some presentations on the topic. It has to do with choosing to live our own happily ever afters. I just can't stay away from fairy tales! 
 
4-What are the top 5 books currently on your TBR pile?
1)I'm going to cheat and count the first four books in our Once Upon a Regency series as one. :)
2)The Goose Girl (which I've read before, but wanted to read again) by Shannon Hale
3)Bringing up Moral Children by A. Lynn Scoresby
4)The Path Between Seas by David McCullough
5)The Pioneers by David McCullough

5-Now that it's summer, what are some of your favorite activities?
We got a puppy at the end of April, so my goal is to teach that crazy, funny, huge puppy not to tackle us. He sits, stays, and shakes. We're working on rolling over. He's been so much fun! I love taking my kids to water parks, on hikes, and camping. I love quiet morning where I get to read to them and just relax before friends come over and everyone scatters. I also love taking morning walks with my husband before he heads to work. My absolute favorite place to be in the summer, if you ever need me, or my kids can't find me in the house, is sitting on the porch swing, usually eating a popsicle. :) We just hang out there and talk, laugh, and watch for hummingbirds to come to our feeder. It's my favorite thing in the world. 

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1. What inspired the idea for A Provision of Love? 
About a year ago, my best friend Amanda showed up to my house with a page protector in hand. She said, “Hey, I found this paper in my basement like seven years ago and have been saving it. I realized you would know exactly what to do with it.” Of course, inside the page protector was an AMAZING advice-list on picking a husband. So, after some time, I came up with the idea of using the list as a provision for an inheritance. 

2. What did you as an author take away from writing A Provision of Love? 
I felt like I took some risks in this story—mostly with humor. I love to laugh, but sometimes I shy away from using it in writing because I worry that people won’t understand my humor. However, after watching multiple talks by Brene Brown (including her Netflix special), I decided, “What the heck?!? I’m going for it.” Writing more freely was so much FUN. I laughed as I wrote certain scenes, and I hope readers will too. I am learning to be more vulnerable in my efforts. 

3. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
My current work in progress… HA! I just finished this one, and it’s summer; MY KIDS ARE HOME! So, I’m taking a nice little break while they run amok. Also, my mom is dealing with cancer, and so I am not in the greatest frame of mind to write. However, I know what my next project will be: another regency book! I am working out the plot in my mind and hope to start in a month or two :)

4. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
Oh boy. SO MANY. 
1) Educated by Tara Westover
2) Miss Adeline’s Match by Joanna Barker
3) Along the Broken Bay by Flora J. Solomon (I’ve never read hers, but this one looked great!)
4) The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg
5) The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms (Also a new author)

5. Now that it's summer, what are some of your favorite summertime activities?
Favorite summer activity… BEING OUTSIDE. I am so excited to play with my kids outside. Summer in my Idaho farm town is lovely. I am excited to hike and camp, to enjoy the small-town festivities for holidays like July 4th, to swim at Lava Hot Springs, and to float down the river. 

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1. If you could travel anywhere in the world for book research, where would you go and why?
I love this question! It’s a dream of mine to travel to Europe, both for research and to see the places I’ve read about since childhood. Right now, France, Germany, Poland, and England are at the top of my list!

2. What inspired the idea for My Dearest Dietrich?
They say every story has a seed. The seed for My Dearest Dietrich emerged when I heard the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for the first time. I’m from a very literary family, and our dinner conversations often revolve around the books we’re reading. When my mom read Eric Metaxas’s Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness, she shared the story of Bonhoeffer with us. But I wasn’t inspired to write about him until I came across a quote from Love Letters from Cell 92, a compilation of the letters Bonhoeffer exchanged with his fiancée during their engagement. When I read the quote, the dots connected in my mind. “Wait. Dietrich Bonhoeffer had a fiancée?” Instantly, a question begged to be answered—What kind of a woman would capture the heart of a man like Dietrich Bonhoeffer? I set out to discover the answer, and in doing so, came to tell their story.

 3. What did you as an author take away from writing this story?
So many things! I could spend pages sharing. As I was researching and writing, I was challenged and even convicted again and again by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s lived-out discipleship. In 1939, right before the outbreak of WWII, Bonhoeffer left Germany for America because he knew he couldn’t participate in the kind of war Adolf Hitler would wage. While in America, he felt intense unease, an inability to pull his thoughts away from his friends in Germany. Twenty-six days later, he boarded a ship back to Europe, because he believed he couldn’t return to Germany after the war and help with reconstruction, without first standing with its citizens during the dark days ahead. Following his return, he became involved in the conspiracy attempting to overthrow the Nazi regime. He spoke out against the persecution of the Jews when it was almost unheard of to do so, stating “Only those who cry out for the Jews may sing Gregorian chants.” As I pondered those words, they deeply convicted me, and I wondered: Are we as Christians today seizing the call to leave behind comfortable Christianity? Bonhoeffer trusted God’s will above all else, even unto death. His final message hours before his execution was: “This is the end. But for me, the beginning of life.” He spoke those words knowing his earthly life had only hours remaining, knowing he would never marry the woman he loved, see his family again this side of heaven. His trust and faith profoundly impacted me, and I count it a true privilege to share his story with readers.

4. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it?
In 2020, I have another WWII novel releasing with Kregel Publications. It’s based on a true story of resistance, courage, and hope, and I can’t wait to share more about it with readers in the months to come.

5. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile? Currently, I’m reading Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes. It’s a rare novel that takes hold of my heart and imagination as this one has done, and I know I’ll be thinking about it and recommending it for a long time to come.  Next, I’m looking forward to All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner, Becky Wade’s Sweet on You, Rachel McMillan’s Murder in the City of Liberty, and Cathy Gohlke’s The Medallion. 

​Allison Wells is a new author, but for the most part she’s a Southern wife and mother. With four active children, she spends most of her time in the car, but when she can she loves to sit down and read or write. Allison is a graduate of Clemson University in the beautiful foothills of South Carolina and she still lives close enough to hear football games on Saturdays.

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1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I began writing my first book - a seventh grade murder mystery - when I was twelve. It was written in a spiral notebook and it was terrible. I mean terrible. But I’ve always wanted to write.

Fast forward many, many years and I found myself reading the work of Liz Curtis Higgs, who is an amazing author and encourager. In addition to reading her fiction, I also read several of her Bible studies and emailed her on behalf of a study group I was leading at the time.

She replied to me and was so uplifting and sweet. I had told her about my hope to one day become a published author and she was nothing but encouraging to me. She told me to keep trying, to never stop writing, and to always keep my eyes on the Lord.
I took her advice and here I am! Thanks, Liz!

2. What type of research did you do so you could write War-Torn Heart?
I'll be honest, I did not do a ton of research for War-Torn Heart. The main storyline was drawn from things I already knew of the setting and time. The story is told solely from one perspective, so there was no need to learn too much about the daily ins and outs of WWII.

I did, however, do research into the Clemson cadets who joined the war effort after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, as well as making sure my picture of the university was accurate for 1941. I also did a good bit of research on fashion and hair of the day, and proper vernacular for the characters.

3. What inspired the idea for War-Torn Heart?
War-Torn Heart was inspired by Clemson University’s rich military heritage and the small towns that surround the school. Not many books are written to take place during WWII, Christian historical fiction often takes place during the Regency or Victorian era, so I wanted to do something that would be a little different.

4. What did you as an author take away from writing War-Torn Heart?
As an author, I have learned to never give up. I began War-Torn Heart in 2005. Here we are a whopping fourteen years later and it is just now being published. I knew in my heart that God intended for me to be an author, I just had to wait for His timing. I faced a lot of rejection and especially a lot of busyness in raising four children, so having the perseverance to not give up and keep trying to become published has meant a great deal to me.

5. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
Currently I have three books in progress. It’s too much, really, but I have to stop when the characters tell me to take a break.

One book is a modern retelling of the Woman at the Well. I’m struggling with how to end this one, but I have faith that it will come to me soon.

A second book is also a present-day story based on the Spin Doctor’s song Two Princes. We have a young woman who is being courted by two men and she has to choose one. I’ve never written a love triangle before, so we’ll see where that goes.

Lastly, and the one I’m most excited about, is a story of three generations of women who are slaves in South Carolina in the early 1800s. Their faith to overcome their obstacles and come out on top after the Civil War is the main focus of the book.

L.A. James graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Illinois with a B.A. in English. She has written for diverse businesses and non-profit organizations, published in various print media, and taught English to domestic and foreign students. In the end, she has looped back to what she has always wanted to do - write her own books.

You can visit L.A. James at www.jameswritinganddesign.com

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I don’t have an exact who, or a specific what, to pinpoint why I became an author. I’ve always loved everything about books. They were escapes from the mundane of life. They were the friends that were always waiting to tell you something. They were great teachers about life. Books are filled with all kinds of treasures, and for as long as I can remember, I always wanted to make one to share with others. 
 
2. What inspired the idea for If Only ~ Biblical Truth for Children?
If Only ~ Biblical Truth for Children popped into my head one day when I realized how often I heard the words “If Only.”

My friends would say it. My kids would say it, and I found myself saying it. I started thinking about how these little words make you dissatisfied with life, yet I don’t think this is how God wants us to live.

I then related he “If Only” thoughts to cats because we can see things differently when we as people are removed from a story.   
 
3. What inspired Be ~ Biblical Wisdom for Children?
Be ~ Biblical Wisdom for Children came about one day when I was thinking about legacy. We all have a legacy we will leave. It’s a sobering reality, and it can be a downer for a lot of people. I started thinking about my children, and what key truths I wish they would always remember. To live for God is the most important thing I can teach them. In the scope of life, it is all that matters.

Yet, I wanted to define what I felt were some key points within living for God, and I started planning this book.
 
The book became a compilation of key talks I had with them, and verses I felt defined what I wanted them to keep forefront in their minds. I wanted it to be something they could always reference, think about, and hopefully share with their children someday. I wanted it to be timeless, and I wanted the artwork to be enjoyable for them now as well as for them when they get older.   
 
4. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
My next book is going to be about the wonders of God. The earth is filled with fascinating creatures, and many of them I had never heard of before I started my research. I find it crazy that I didn’t know they existed. I want to showcase these animals because I think they reflect God’s wonder to us. 

5. When you are not writing, what other hats do you wear?
I have five kids who range in age from six to eighteen, so I wear a lot of hats, but I bet most mothers feel this way. Nevertheless, the most important hats have names, and they are as follows:

• Mother –Mother to five great kids. I have four girls and one boy.
  
• Partner – Life is hard. We need a partner, and I am a partner in life to the father of my kids. We have been married close to twenty years now.
  
• Teacher – I think we are all witnesses and teachers to someone. As a mother, you are automatically a teacher, and this role is hard and time-consuming. To be a good teacher requires you to be a good student, which brings in hat number four.
  
• Student –I’m always learning things. I am naturally curious, and I think life is more interesting when you learn something. Plus, I want to impact my children for the greatest good, so I try to stay up with the things that are happening in the world. 

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1. If you were to go to brunch with one of the characters from Brunch in Bittersweet Cafe, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t mind joining Rachel, Ana, and Melody at their usual weekend brunches, especially since I modeled the restaurants on some of my favorite spots in Denver. If I had to pick only one person, though, I think I’d sit down with Jessica, Justin’s older sister. She didn’t get a lot of page time, but I really like her. She’s kind, strong, and determined, and I know she would make a good friend.

2. What type of research did you do so you could write Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe?
I had the baking part down pretty well before I began, since I’ve been studying pastry with the help of some culinary school textbooks for a while. The aviation component was the most research-heavy—I had to figure out a reasonable backstory for Justin based on actual pilot qualifications, then learn the structure of a fractional aviation company, basic aeronautics, and how to actually fly the planes that he flew. It took a lot of reading FAA documents, watching YouTube videos, and scouring pilot forums to get enough background to write him in a convincing way.

3. What inspired the idea for Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe?
I never can give good answers to this question because I don’t fully understand how my creative process works. “It just came to me” doesn’t sound like a very good answer, but it’s the truth! Probably, it has something to do with my thought process when I’m developing characters and asking what are the best and worst things that could happen to them, but as I came up with this idea over four years ago, I honestly don’t remember!

4. What did you as an author take away from writing Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe?
One of the main themes in the book is faith, namely how we can think we have faith, but we’re really indulging in wishful or magical thinking. Faith is only true when it’s tested, and writing the book really made me think more deeply about what I believe and why.

​5. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
For the first time in three years, I don’t have a work-in-progress! Book three in the Supper Club series is already complete, and I’m considering what I might like to write next. I’m grateful that my publisher built in a lot of lead time to these books, so I’m left with some time to relax, read, and consider. Most of my ideas come out of the spiritual matters I’m mulling in my own life, or even just newfound interests; without the time to explore new ideas, there would be no more books!