Enter to win a copy of Secrets and Lies by leaving Janet a comment below or mention your favorite Thanksgiving food!
A little bit about Janet...
Janet Sketchley is a Canadian author with a passion for fiction. Like Carol in Secrets and Lies, she loves music and tea. Unlike Carol, Janet isn’t related to a dangerous offender, has a happy home life, and has never been threatened by a drug lord. May those tidbits continue to hold true! You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca. Christian suspense fans are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: http://bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.
How to connect with Janet...
Website: http://janetsketchley.ca/
Blog: http://janetsketchley.ca/tenacity-blog/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/janetsketchley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanetSketchley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetSketchley
Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/author/janetsketchley
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews
Author Interview | Janet Sketchley
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I started writing fiction as an at-home mom of toddlers, after an idea took root in my mind that I didn't want to daydream. I thought writing would get it out of my head, but instead it became my first published novel, many revisions and many more years later. What's kept me writing? When I quit, I feel miserable. When I write fiction, I feel alive.
Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...My novels are suspense and romantic suspense, but I think my favourite work might be a short story about a fictional character who comes to life and confronts his author about a plot point. It's fun, there's no emotional stress, and the character is my kind of hero.
If published, what was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...The hardest thing so far has been learning how to become my own publisher once my original publisher closed its fiction line. The easiest would be the happiness of holding a print copy of my own novel!
Your Writing Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
Carol Daniels thinks she out-ran her enemies, until a detective arrives at her door with a warning from her convict brother. Minor incidents take on a sinister meaning. An anonymous phone call warns her not to hide again....Secrets and Lies is a book 2 in the Redemption's Edge series. I met Carol through writing her brother Harry's story in Heaven's Prey, and I knew her life had not been easy. I also knew she needed the Lord. Secrets and Lies gives her the chance to find Him—unless her enemies find her first.
Now she must cooperate with a drug lord while the police work to trap him. Carol has always handled crisis alone, but this one might break her. Late-night deejay Joey Hill offers friendship and moral support. Can she trust him? One thing’s certain. She can’t risk prayer.
Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...You know what? It might be Joey, the deejay who listens so patiently to Carol's fears, prays for her, and keeps giving support even when she throws hostile words back at him.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I think the core message in this story is that God’s heart longs to pick up the pieces of our lives and not leave us walking wounded and alone. We can trust Him.
Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...It's a bit of both. They come from my imagination, but how much of that is really from my subconscious? To give an example, the detective's name was originally Norton—until I realized I'd named him after an Internet security program. Some things I keep, but that one I changed. He's now Detective Garraway.
...More closely based on real life: Carol has a strong controlling streak. That *ahem* may have come from some of my own personal tendencies. Shh...
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I want to give readers a story that lets them escape their own lives for a while and then sends them back into the real world with a sense of hope that God can make a difference in their circumstances.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...If you love writing, keep persevering. Even when it's hard, and even when there's no recognition. Finish what you start, revise it to be the best you can make it, then write the next book. It's a distinct advantage to have multiple books already written before signing your first contract (or self-publishing your first book). The revisions and all that's involved with promotion (you are your best promoter, even if you sign with a huge publishing house) take so much time that you'll be glad not to be trying to create fresh material at the same time.
You
What will you/did you do for Thanksgiving?
...I'm Canadian, and we celebrated Thanksgiving in October. This was the first year we didn't have the entire family home for the feast, so it was a bittersweet event. We still ate well!
What is your favorite food of the Thanksgiving dinner?
...Now that's a tricky question! It might be cooked carrots and turnips, mashed with real butter. Not very exciting, but it's the one thing I insist on making even if nobody else would miss it.
What are three things you’re thankful for?
...Jesus is my Good Shepherd, I have a loving family, and I get to write fiction.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Emilie. This has been fun. God bless!
______________________
Thanks for being my guest Janet! I love the line where you say, "God’s heart longs to pick up the pieces of our lives and not leave us walking wounded and alone." because it is SO true! Carol's story sounds very intriguing! Also love your advice to "finish what you start". Amen and amen! Those are great things to be thankful for as well.
Readers, don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Secrets and Lies.
No comments:
Post a Comment