Meet author Patti Stockdale
Patti Stockdale loves hope, history, and a good happily ever after. She can’t remember numbers, so she married a statistician. Thanks to him, she’s lived all sorts of places and worked all sorts of jobs. She’s back in her home state of Iowa where she writes books, educational assessments, and magazine articles. Nothing makes her happier than spending time with her family.
Tell us about your newest book: Three Little Things is a historical romance about one forbidden love, two broken hearts, and three little things Arno and Hattie share as they exchange letters during WWI.
What inspired you to write Three Little Things? I returned to college as an adult and needed a project for a creative writing class. At the same time, my mom and her sisters found letters their parents exchanged during the war. I knew my grandpa, but we never talked about his war days. My grandma died two months before my birth, but I met her through her letters. What a blessing.
Why do you write? I write because God stirred a passion in my heart. In a high school English class, the assignment was to write a short story. I forced myself to stop at about the 30-page mark. Everybody else turned in five or six pages. I’m driven to learn something new every day and to polish my skills.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name? My main characters are Hattie Waltz and Arno Kreger. Their first names belonged to my maternal grandparents. It’s my way of honoring them for inspiring my story.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book? The first book took forever to write, so I tried something new with my second one. I wrote an outline and a synopsis before writing the first draft in 15-minute sprints. When I finished, I thought it probably stunk. However, it was only semi-stinky. Editing is my favorite part of the process, so I was able to salvage and tweak what I’d written. Since I wrote the book so quickly, I’ll probably follow the same path for book number three.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why? The hardest part is to stick with it and not give up after rejections. Persistence and sharpening my writing were key in finding a home for Three Little Things. Marketing and social media challenge me too. I’m tech-deficient.
What is the best part of your author’s life? The best part is doing something I love. From researching to editing, I learn something new each step of the way. I’ve always been curious and up for a challenge.
How have you changed or grown as a writer? I’ve learned to worry less that I’m not good enough. God deems me worthy, and that’s enough.
Do you have other books? When I lived in Pennsylvania, I belonged to a writers’ group, and we published an anthology called Voices of the Peace Tree. I also wrote a middle school novel about a farm girl, but it’s not published.
What are you working on now? My second historical fiction, Because It’s True, is with beta readers. I wanted to write about a scavenger hunt, but the first one recorded was in the late 1920s, and my goal was to stick with the WW I era. Instead, I wrote a book about a woman who learns she’s adopted and has two siblings. A war hero, longing for a fresh start in a new town, sets out to help her find her sisters, but he complicates everything.
Website: www.pattistockdale.com
Social media links:
Email: pattistockdale@pattistockdale.com
Website: www.pattistockdale.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PattiStockdaleAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PattiStockdale1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stockdalepatti/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pattilstockdale/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5103193.Patti_Stockdale
Meet author Adria Wilkins
Award winning author Adria Wilkins has an accounting degree from Western Kentucky University. She and her husband, Erik, live in Northern Virginia and have three children Katie, Blake, and Anthony. Her first grandbaby, Thomas will be born in January 2020. Adria enjoys telling a story, adding sprinkles of joy and a few extra dollops to liven it up. After suffering the unthinkable – death of three-year-old Blake, she found that Jesus sustains, and evens surprises His followers with joy.
Tell us about your newest book.
The Joy Box Journal includes forty devotions with journaling prompts, an assemble-it-yourself box and notepads. Jot down joy moments, blessings, and the things you want to always remember and keep them in your joy box for loved ones to read.
What inspired you to write your book?
The Joy Box Journal started in the beginning of my son, Blake’s life. Blake was born with multiple medical problems. I poured my heart out to God and wrote during my journey of grief and trusted God to give me joy during the hardest thing a mother could ever go through.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
The Joy Box Journal is 40 devotions, questions to journal, and a unique feature is there is a box in the front of the book, and six, small, note pads in the back of the book. A joy box note question is given at the end of each devotion. The reader writes the answer on the note pad and places the note in the box. The box and journal are designed to give to the next generation to let them know what has brought you joy.
What genre do you focus on and why?
I enjoy writing devotions because people are so busy and want a quick read. I want the quick read to be something inspirational and thought provoking for them to think about during the day.
Why do you write?
I love to write about everyday adventures. I love discovering unique things in God’s creation and sharing those in daily devotions to inspire people to be on the lookout for joy.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
The best part of being an author is seeing how God uses one idea of inspiration and after research and spending time in God’s Word it becomes a devotion to encourage others.
What’s one unusual fact about you?
I was a cheerleader and captain of the squad in 8th and 9th grade at a Christian school. I always wanted to be a police officer or work for the FBI.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I have learned a lot about myself during my marketing campaign leading up to the release of The Joy Box Journal. I have learned that I get nervous speaking and being on camera. I have and am still relying on God to take the jitters away and give me a newfound desire to share joy with the world.
What is your favorite pastime?
I love to take naps and listen to Christian music.
What are you working on now?
I am working on four book proposals to send to my publisher in 2020.
Website: https://www.joyboxstories.com/
Link to book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Box-Specialty-Journal/dp/1633262103/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=joy+box+journal&qid=1575427791&sr=8-2
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-joy-box-adria-wilkins/1130406375?ean=9781633262102
Social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/adria.wilkins
https://twitter.com/joyboxstories
https://www.instagram.com/joyboxstories/
Meet author Carla Hoch
Carla Hoch is the author of the Writer’s Digest book Fight Write: How to Write Believable Fight Scenes. Her blog, FightWrite.net, is #11 in Writer’s Digest Top Websites for Writers 2019, a CAN Gold Crown Award winner and has a companion FightWrite podcast. Carla has training in almost a dozen martial arts and regularly teaches classes on the craft of writing fight scenes as well as the mechanics of fighting for writers.
Tell us about your newest book.
Fight Write: How to Write Believable Fight Scenes is the go-to writer’s resource for violence of any sort. It has an index of fighting styles and fight terminology and helps you pick a fighting style for your character.
What inspired you to write your book?
The book started as the FightWrite blog. People asked so many questions that I thought, hmmm, I wonder if I could write a book on this…
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
It is a writer’s go-to reference for the craft of writing realistic fight scenes and violence.
What genre do you focus on and why?
Because the book covers so many things, it can really be used by all genres. Yes, even if you write Amish romance, you could use this book. If Jedediah gets bitten by a copperhead, the FightWrite book will tell you what’s in store for him.
Why do you write?
I’m a writer. I have to write. All writers have to write or the ideas build up in our heads and stink.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
Oh glory, it is all over the place. I have a family and train four to five times a week in jiu-jitsu, more if I’m competing. I get up early to write before getting the kids to school then write until it’s time to train. I write when I get home from training until it’s time to get the kids from school. I don’t write well at night so I generally don’t unless I’m editing. Somewhere in there I do housework and keep my husband fed.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
For me it’s all the things I’m not doing when I’m writing. Laundry piles up, milk runs out and the fast food flows like wine! All that makes me very anxious and I get down on myself about it. If I were working a traditional job, I might not feel so bad which, actually, is another hard part of being an author. It’s hard work that just doesn’t look much like work to others. I’m also a thoughtful writer – which is the phrase I use for “slow writer with attention issues!” The process wears me out.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I get to create worlds for a living and put them in other people’s hands for them to live in. I get to be people’s escape, their happy place. And, with my non-fiction, a tow line when they are stuck in a scene. It means so much to me when an author turns to a scene in their book and tells me that my work helped them write it. I mean, are you kidding me? I get to help other people with their dream!!!
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
ONE thing? Wow. Well, I’m 47 and still compete in jiu-jitsu. Also, I was in the E.T. fan club. And, I’m a descendant of Shakespeare, plus, I was Sam’s Employee of the month once. And, I got in trouble with the FBI when I was in 5th grade. And, I was a high school Spanish teacher.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
Writing has a lot in common with fight training. When you first start out, you are pretty sure you know everything. The more you learn, the more you realize you have to learn. It’s very humbling. I’ve gotten more methodical with my writing and am mindful of the craft. And, I edit, edit, and then edit ten more times.
What is your favorite pastime?
Reading, watching movies with my family and jiu-jitsu
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Many moons ago I self-published a book called Breaking Reed. If you buy it, just know it’s the first thing I ever wrote. I’m also in several short story anthologies and am in an upcoming edition of Havok magazine.
What are you working on now?
I’m always posting to FightWrite.net, but, also, I’m jumping back into a little fiction writing. Just plotting things out and finding the voices of the characters at this point.
Website: FightWrite.net, FightWrite podcast (itunes, google play, spotify etc)
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Write-How-Believable-Scenes/dp/1440300720/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fight+write&qid=1575411634&sr=8-1
Social media links: Twitter @CarlaHoch, IG @Carla.C.Hoch #fightwrite, #fightwritebook, #fightwritepodcast
Meet Amish author Molly Jebber
Molly Jebber’s Amish Historical Romance award-winning books have made Publisher’s Weekly Best Ten List, live interviews on news sites, and received near excellent ratings from RT, and featured in USA HEA. She’s a national speaker for Women’s Christian Connection, and guest lecturer at Ohio State University, libraries & conferences on writing, publishing, & marketing. She loves God, her family, and friends. She says yes to cupcakes, and no to coconut!
Tell us about your newest book.
Hannah doesn’t like change. She loves Timothy, but she not ready to court him. When she is, his sister reveals Charlene has been making her interest known in him. Hannah’s heartbroken and blames herself for waiting too long. And Charlene is bold and not who she seems, and she challenges Hannah often. Hannah’s not used to facing difficult decisions and confrontations. She’ll keep you guessing and you’ll root for her.
What inspired you to write Hannah’s Courage?
I wanted to write about a character who doesn’t like change, and show how it affects her life in many ways. How she stumbles and grows along the way. A person we can all relate to at one time or another. I bring Charlene into the story to confront her at every turn. You’ll root for Hannah as she goes through this tumultuous journey to find love.
How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?
Hannah’s life, like a long-cherished recipe, is satisfying just the way it is. She enjoys whipping up desserts at the bakery, tutoring local children, and socializing with dear friends. One of those friends, Timothy Barkman, has made his interest in Hannah clear, but she’s been in no hurry to change her circumstances.
No sooner does she feel ready to grow closer to hard-working, handsome Timothy than Hannah finds she may have waited too long. Charlene Shetler intends to become Timothy’s fraa. It is little wonder he’s attracted to such a pretty, forthright young woman, but is the newcomer all that she seems? Only when Hannah is willing to confront some difficult truths can she move bravely toward a life of abiding faith and love . . .
What genre do you focus on and why?
Amish Historical Romance. I have a sheriff and doctor in the Amish Charm Bakery Series who make the bakery their regular stop and share gossip and the latest big news from their paper to bring in historical tidbits. Since the Amish stay away from world news, it’s a fun way to have them discuss and share their thoughts. I also bring in other Englischers as customers or troublemakers to show the time period in their discussions.
Why do you write?
To put my stories swirling in my head on paper and share them with my readers who I now call friends. My readers support, encourage, and inspire me. I have an agent and publisher who also support and encourage me.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
I write a blurb about my idea with my internal and external conflicts, and then I choose a name appropriate for an Amish woman and man that I think fits each character.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I like to find new ways to market, and I enjoy speaking on a variety of topics and to different groups throughout the U.S. So my flaw in writing is that I tend to get off my schedule. But I get up early or stay up late to make sure I meet my goal of always turning in my story a little earlier than my deadline. I have a full outline to follow when I write the actual story, so this helps a lot.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
To balance my marketing and writing time. I love the speaking and marketing. Sometimes, I need to turn down a marketing opportunity and create a better balance for my writing.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I love the opportunities writing brings. God has opened doors for me to speak live for news, see my books on the shelves of bookstores, universities, and libraries about writing, publishing, and marketing. To speak to women’s groups who want to learn about the Amish. Through all these opportunities, I meet the kindest readers who encourage me to keep writing. Becoming an author has brought me fun emails from wonderful people and groups like CAN who offer me opportunities like this one.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I don’t take readers kind comments for granted. They are the reason I write. They’ve blessed me over and over again.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I went to conferences, joined writing groups, and learned as much as I could for two years before I wrote my first story. I danced all over the house when I got an agent and publisher. I never get used to seeing my book in a store or advertisement. I never would’ve thought I’d be speaking to large groups or that people would be asking me to do so. My confidence boosted as readers supported and encouraged me. I’m humbled by all they do for me.
What is your favorite pastime?
I love to spend time with my husband, Ed. My friends call him Mr. Wonderful, and he is. And Misty, my daughter. And Mitch, the best brother a sister could ask for. And my friends! I love my church activities, and to swim, read, write, travel, and a little golf.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Keepsake Pocket Quilt Series, Liza’s Second Chance, Ellie’s Redemption, and others
What are you working on now?
The next Amish Charm Bakery Story
Website: http://www.mollyjebber.com
Link to book: http://www.mollyjebber.com
Social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/molly.morrisjebber
https://twitter.com/mollymjebber
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/molly-jebber
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8435934.Molly_Jebber
https://www.pinterest.com/mollyjebber/
https://www.instagram.com/mollyjebber/
Meet author Megan Kinney
A foster mom and police wife, Megan Kinney combines her experiences and love of writing in her debut novel. When she’s not behind a book or computer, she’s enjoying the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband and four daughters.
Tell us about your newest book:
My debut novel, Dakota Peace, is about an emergency dispatcher, Natalia Brynner, who struggles with burnout after a traumatic call and flees, ending up in a rural South Dakota town. She meets state trooper, Travis Wilkins, who is searching for a kidnapped foster child. With the support of her new friends and her blossoming relationship, Natalia starts to believe she could finally experience a peaceful life, until an armed madman threatens it all.
What inspired you to write Dakota Peace?
Years ago, I attended the funerals of two local police officers with my husband. Following a heartfelt message, they asked us to be quiet for “last call.” After a series of beeps, the dispatcher called the ID number for the fallen officer twice, only to be met with blaring silence. After the third time, she adds his name, then ends by giving him permission to go home. The dispatcher that gave “last call” also dispatched the call when the officers were shot. My heart hurt for her, and I couldn’t get that experience out of my head. The story of a dispatcher struggling with burnout wouldn’t leave and I had to write her story.
What genre do you focus on and why?
I write contemporary women’s fiction with a touch of romance. I like writing about women with complex personalities who rise above their fears and show amazing strength.
Why do you write?
I write because the characters and plots come to me, and I can’t stop thinking about them until I write their story.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
The main character is Natalia Brynner. I wanted something unique but not difficult to pronounce. I searched for Russian names, both first and last, and liked this combination.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
I try to spend the first three hours of the day writing. I homeschool two of my four kids and this is their independent work time. In the afternoons I can usually find some time to write or edit. If I have a deadline almost everything gets pushed aside so I can focus on writing or editing.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
The hardest part for me is editing, especially if I have to cut scenes. Even though I understand why they need to be cut so much of my creativity went into those scenes. I love the idea of offering deleted scenes to my newsletter readers.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I love creating the story, the characters, and composing the first draft. I also love being able to work from my home, or the lake, or on a trip, and not be tied to an office.
What’s one think your readers should know about you?
The hero of Dakota Peace is a Native American state trooper. I chose his ethnicity and profession because of major plot points. Because we adopted three Native American sisters from foster care seven years ago and my husband has been a state trooper for sixteen years my imagination was grounded in my experiences.
How have you changed as a writer?
I used to sit down and write without much forethought or planning. Now I write out my main characters’ background, personalities and physical traits, the challenges they will need to overcome, and the major plot points. It helps my writing to be consistent and keeps me focused on the task they are trying to accomplish.
What is your favorite pastime?
I love to explore the Black Hills of South Dakota, which are only twenty minutes from my home, by hiking or kayaking.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the very beginning stages writing a sequel to Dakota Peace about a timid shop owner, Elaine, with a felony record. Elaine is the most unlikely of heroes, but when a teenager, escaping a human trafficking ring, stumbles into her, Elaine becomes the hero she’s always needed.
Website: megankinney.net
Link to book:
You can purchase Dakota Peace once it releases at LPCbooks.com or on Amazon.
Social media links:
m.facebook.com/megankinney.net
instagram.com/megan_kinney_author/
twitter.com/MeganKinney19
Meet author Joy Avery Melville
Joy Avery Melville’s heart’s desire is to be the author God has called her to be by sharing Him with readers in such a way they long to have a deeply committed personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord. Surrendering to the genre God placed on her heart has given her new insight into the hearts and lives of those who too often hurt in silence. She loves to hear from her readers.
Tell us about your newest book.
My Contemporary Christian Women’s Fiction with a strong thread of romance is a character driven story, involving a young woman who’s been kidnapped, kept for weeks, assaulted by one man and raped by another repeatedly. She’s left in a woods in a freak snowstorm to die, but is found by a ten-year-old girl while she is out deer hunting with her father. The heroines’ journey to joy holds lessons in trust and love as her brother and his friend travel her road with her.
What inspired you to write Meant for Her? 
A television newscast in August 2011 about a local girl who faced the same situation, only in her case, resulting ultimately in death. It caused me to ask myself a LOT of What-If questions if the 20-something-year-old had lived and had to face life with that trauma haunting her.
What genre do you focus on and why?
An excellent question, Susan. I loved writing Historical Romance, but when I heard that newscast, God continuously brought it to mind, nudging me into those What-If questions, and kept prodding me to write Women’s Fiction, asking me to show that there can be joy at the end of a horrendous interruption to one’s journey.
Whether He’s chosen to use me to help hurting readers or show hope to those who may not know or understand how. It took me several months to surrender my will to His and the outcome has been blessing upon blessing for having obeyed Him.
Why do you write? What drives you?
I write in answer to a call by God to write for Him. To share His message of hope, healing, ultimate joy with readers.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?
My schedule varies, dependent on research I may find myself needing to do as I get into the story line itself. Usually I write, starting between 7:30 am to noon, with the occasional trip out of doors with our 1-yr-old Yorkie. I grab something quick to eat but am back at my desk about 1pm. I write until time to fix supper for my husband of 46 years. Depending on how absorbed I am in the novel – how well the story is unfolding or is shaping up – I may go back to work in the evenings until about 8 pm.
Due to health issues, I’ve curbed writing time considerably these last couple of years due to issues caused by lengthy sitting and typing. My books are full length novels of over 100,000 words and once I get one started, I don’t have a lot of starts and stops, with the exception of finding I’m in need of more research in a specific area. I am determined to make sure, even though the book is a work of fiction, that I keep those things that are pure fact accurate.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
For me, the most difficult part of being an author in this day is the amount of marketing one has to do for their stories. I have a very active creative portion of my brain – techy -not so much. It takes someone with a promotional prowess to do a very good job of selling their stories. I much prefer writing them to promoting them. When it came time to begin marketing Meant For Her, panic set in. I asked God to please open doors of promotional opportunities. He reminded me, it was His idea I write the story, and I’m to leave the book in His most capable hands as to getting it where He most wants it. Again, once I surrendered the book to Him, He opened doors of opportunity to spread word about it. Praise His name.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
I believe the ONE of the best parts of being an author’s life in my case, is seeing characters form and come to life on the blank page.
The OTHER best part of being an author is the way God has provided human resources. There have been writer friends of mine, who once they learn what my stories are about, say something to me about asking their relative or friend if I may interview them. In one instance of writing Meant For Her, I was interviewing an equine expert, and the gal with her asked what I was asking all the questions for. After she learned about my victim, she asked for my business card and later contacted me privately to tell me her story. There’ve been many contacts with people who have had their journeys interrupted, often by tragedy, and have shared how they’ve coped (or not) with what’s happened to them.
The reason I believe this is the best part of this author’s life is how often and how many different ways God has brought me close to people I’d have otherwise not met. Several have become like family over the course of time my books have been underway.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I am a Christian first and an author second. I make no apology for the fact my characters are either transformed Christians or newly believing Christians by those last words of a book – THE END.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
With each story I tell, I learn more about what motivates people who are hurting – deeply hurting – and it’s touched my life in unbelievable ways. My prayer life has changed, my tone toward those in dire circumstances is much more empathetic.
What is your favorite pastime?
Due to changes in my body, way beyond my control, I haven’t as much time to enjoy the knitting and crocheting I used to do regularly. I’ve done a lot more reading in place of those things and have several favorite authors I follow these days.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
I have three other books completed and two partially underway. Kept For Her is the second book in this Intended For Her Series, Promised For Her will be the third in the series with the potential for yet another one.
I have a wounded warrior story next up, waiting for edits/revisions, entitled Sown In Peace with a second book started in the Operation Return To Peace Series.
I also have a third book completed, entitled Redefined, which was intended to be a stand-alone novel, but has since become the first in a series that has a bed and breakfast as an integral setting to each of the novels.
12 – What are you working on now?
Next up are the edits/revisions to Sown In Peace, which is to release in 2020 along with marketing and promotional work for Meant For Her
Website: https://www.joyaverymelville.com
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y8RJFJ1 (Ebook Pre-order)
Social media links: Email joyjournaling@gmail.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/Journeystojoy
Website https://www.joyaverymelville.com
Blog https://www.journeystojoy.net
Facebook Author Page http://facebook.com/jamauthor
Facebook Personal Page http://facebook.com/joy.averymelville