Meet author Alyssa Schwarz

Contemporary romance author Alyssa Schwarz is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines with a Master’s in Geology & Geological Engineering. She also works as a professional watercolor artist along the Colorado Front Range and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Alyssa’s second full-length novel, The Glass Road, is set in the Colorado mountains, and is the third installment in her new series, A Prescott Family Romance. You can find her online at www.alyssaschwarzauthor.com.

Tell us about your newest book.

The Glass Road is book #2 in the Prescott Family Romance series. It picks up with Tess and her story (briefly hinted at in book #1). Training for the Olympics, an early season injury puts her on the sidelines. When all she’s ever worked for hangs in the balance, she is more than surprised to find God’s plan for her recovery involves a summer camp in the Rocky Mountains and an unexpected new friendship that quickly blossoms into something more.

What inspired you to write The Glass Road?

After writing The Glass Cottage, I wanted to give Abigail’s cousin, Tess, a chance to share her story. Each book in the Prescott Family Romance series centers around a different Prescott cousin: Tye in Dear Beth, Abigail in The Glass Cottage, and now Tess.

Growing up in Colorado, I’ve always held a deep love and appreciation for the mountains and all their quaint small towns. This book takes place just outside Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, a place I’ve gone back to countless times over the years. I remember school and church trips to the YMCA of the Rockies, hiking through the forest, drawing closer to friends and to God. I wanted to capture that sense of finding peace in nature, and I hope this book does just that.

How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?

At a summer camp set in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, two people must learn to work together—even if it means sacrificing the dreams they once strove so hard to protect.

At a glance, you can expect:

A funny meet-cute (that may include someone almost running the other one over!)
Sweet, slow-burn romance
A charming summer camp set in a small Colorado mountain town (anybody ever been to Rocky Mountain National Park?)
A wedding and some cute family time with the other Prescott cousins (if you’ve read either The Glass Cottage or Dear Beth, you’ll recognize a few)

What genre do you focus on and why?

So far, I’ve focused on writing contemporary Christian fiction romance. Although, as a reader, I love both contemporary and historical Christian fiction. They’re both so different from one another, but they both have the power to speak life and truth into our lives. I’d love to venture more into historical fiction, and I have a few ideas in the works, but I plan to finish this current series first and see how it all goes!

Why do you write?

God has opened so many doors for me to pursue this dream, and every day is a step in faith.

Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?

The main character of this book is Tess Prescott, a driven, head-strong, self-sufficient athlete who has built her life around trying to be the best in her chosen career. She has placed her identity in the fact that she is a professional triathlete, so when she gets injured and has to sit out for a season, she has to learn to see herself and her self-worth as God does.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?

I have another part-time job, so I mainly write Wednesdays through Fridays. Every day is a little bit of writing, editing, coming up with creative ideas for Instagram posts or marketing plans…

I probably should create more of a firm schedule to stick to, but the helter-skelter method has worked so far!

What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?

Everything that comes after the initial idea for a story! That and time management. And marketing…

What’s the best part of your author’s life?

I love that I get to do something creative. My background is in geological engineering, which oddly enough involves a fair bit of storytelling in itself, but it’s so much more fun getting to dream up stories all day.

What’s one unusual fact about you?

I am also a watercolor artist. About a year ago, my mom and I created our own art company, Sundog Studios Co, and we have been blessed to be able to showcase some of our artwork in a few galleries in the Denver Metro area.

How have you changed or grown as a writer?

This past year has brought with it a lot of challenges, and I feel (hope) I’ve grown from them all in some way. I’m still learning a TON from other amazing writers, and I look forward continuing to grow my craft in the future.

What is your favorite pastime?

I love to read, bake, paint, explore, and hike. I’d be happy spending an entire day doing either or all of those activities!

Do you have other books? We’d love to know.

Yes! I have two other books out in the same series: Dear Beth (a novella prequel) and The Glass Cottage. I’ve also written a handful of flash fiction stories for Spark Flash Fiction online magazine.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on the final book in the series, Fields of Glass. So far, I’m really enjoying this next story as it delves into the lives of not one but two Prescott cousins, Micah and Caden. They each make a minor appearance in The Glass Road, but there is so much more to their stories. Stay tuned for more!

Website:

Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHFH5147

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