Who else is a huge fan of suspenseful fiction? Well, it honestly doesn’t get more gripping than Lisa Harris‘ latest release The Traitor’s Pawn. There’s the trading of government secrets, kidnapping and of course, a little bit of romance!

Author Lisa Harris sat down to answer a few questions about the inspiration behind The Traitor’s Pawn as well as what she is working on next. Read on for more!

Want to order your copy of The Traitor’s Pawn? Click here! 

Q: What inspired the idea for your new book, The Traitor’s Pawn?

A: It actually started with a simply hunting scene gone very wrong that I couldn’t get out of my mind, where a woman survives and is a witness of an assassination of a senator. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to make the story more personal to the heroine, so things quickly evolved from there to a story where she is the one in the crosshairs and is being used as a pawn in a much bigger game.

Q: Two of the main characters in The Traitor’s Pawn, Jack and Aubrey, have history together. Without giving away spoilers, can you tell us a little more about their relationship?

A: Because my books usually take place over a very short time span, I love it when my hero and heroine have a complicated history. Something that kept them apart in the past but then, in the end, brings them together. Jack and Aubrey do have a long history, and this unexpected encounter between the two of them in the beginning of the story ends up reminding them both that the feelings they once had toward each other never completely went away.

Q: Did anything surprise you as you were writing the novel?

A: One of the fun things about writing is when I’m headed a certain direction and then a twist in my “author plan” takes me off guard. I always have an end goal for my stories, but there are definitely times where getting there surprises me. In this story, I was surprised when a couple of the good guys turned out to be not so innocent.

Q: Did you face any challenges in creating this story? What was the hardest scene to write?

A: Action scenes are always a challenge for me. For example, in the beginning of the story when Bree is trying to escape her kidnapper, I had to write a fight scene between two experienced fighters, I typically watch YouTube videos for ideas, then I will always block out the scene before writing it down.

Q: Do you see parts of yourself in any of your characters?

A: While I never plan to put any of myself into my characters, I know that I write from who I am. Because of this, the way I look at life, as well as my experiences, does have an impact on my characters. On the other hand, most of my characters – like Jack and Aubrey – who are in law enforcement, are very different from me. They run on adrenaline and don’t hesitate to risk their lives for justice. I would simply run the other way. One of the reasons I write stories like this is because I admire those who daily put their lives on the line to protect our country, and I’m grateful to them.

Q: What do you hope readers will gain from Traitor’s Pawn?

A: Besides a page-turning story that keeps them up all night (sorry!), I hope it reminds them that God redeems even the worst of situations. And that while he knows that life is often filled with injustice and suffering, God is about the long game. He’s more interested in who you become, even if the actual process is difficult. Not that God doesn’t care about the little things, but he’s more interested in our persevering and reaching the finish line.

Q: What new projects are you working on?

A: I’m currently working on a brand new series about a pair of US Marshals that will come out in the fall of 2020, and I am super excited about!

Order your copy of The Traitor’s Pawn by Lisa Harris by clicking here! 

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Fiction lovers rejoice! The bestselling author of series such as Montana Marshalls and Montana Rescue returns! Susan May Warren‘s latest book has just returned with The Way of the Brave, the first book in her new series, Global Search and Rescue.

Set on the high slopes of Denali, The Way of the Brave is a high-octane read that will have you hooked right from the start. Once you’re finished, we’re sure you’ll be hitting ‘Pre-Order’ on the next book in the series The Heart of a Hero!

Order your copy of The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren by clicking here!

Q: The Way of the Brave is the first book in your Global Search and Rescue series. Can you please provide a brief description of your new book?

A: The Way of the Brave is an epic adventure on the high slopes of Denali. When a trio of female climbers gets blown off the peak of the highest mountain in North America, a group of nearby climbers volunteer to rescue them. But finding them and bringing them all home safe will take the courage and skill of all the climbers – both men and women. But what will courage cost them? It’s also a story of second chances, survival, and the true source of bravery.

Q: How is your new series different from the Montana Rescue series?

A: Higher stakes, global settings, and a group of ex-military heroes who put their lives on the line, regardless of the cost. These stories are faster paced, with more dire situations, and a global threat threaded through the trilogy.

Q: The setting for your book is Denali National Park in Alaska. Why did you choose this location?

A: I’ve always been fascinated with mountain climbing and the courage it takes to tackle the cold, the heights, and the brutal weather. I’ve read many books on Everest, K2, and Denali and asked… what if you were in an accident, and survived… how would you rescue yourself and the others who depended on you? I wanted to put the story in the backyard of most of my readers, also, so they could imagine themselves tackling such an epic feat.

Q: One of the main characters in your book struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Why did you decide to write about this topic?

A: I struggled with PTSD after our home invasion in Russia, and so I do know, in a very small way, the feels of panic, frustration, and helplessness. I wanted to tackle those very real feelings that linger long after the event or life situation that caused the PTSD, and explore just one of the ways God helped me, personally, to deal with it. Everyone is different, but I loved the journey that Orion and Jenny trek, emotionally, as they grapple with their regrets and fears and hold on to courage.

Q: In your new series, your characters are comprised of ex-military, former SEALs, and Pararescue jumpers who are bonded together in an effort to save and rescue the lost. What type of research was required to accurately portray your characters’ former careers?

A: LOTS! And I’m still researching. My husband served in the army, and my son is in the navy, so they’ve been great sources of information, as well as a plethora of books, memoirs, first accounts, and friends who have served. I’m so very grateful for the heroes and heroines who give their lives to protect our country.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading your new series?

A: Edifying entertainment that offers hope, encouragement, and time well spent. I am keenly aware of the entertainment choices out there, and my goal is to write stories that readers are glad they read, that give them truth and enrich their lives, even if only to let them fall in love with characters who inspire them.

Q: What is the title for your second book in this series and when will it release?

A: The Heart of a Hero! It hits the shelves in June!

Order your copy of The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren by clicking here!

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Are you a fan of historical fiction? Well, we have your next page-turning read! Bestselling author Laura Frantz is back with a new release, An Uncommon Woman. The book takes us back to the eighteenth-century, where we meet our protagonist, Tessa Swam. Born and bred on the frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with. When Tessa is taken captive, her hope lies in a commander charged with keeping peace with local tribes.

It’s a romance story full of action that will have you gripped from the very start. To learn more about her latest book, Laura Frantz answered a few questions about the inspiration and research behind An Uncommon Woman. 

To order a copy of Laura Frantz’ ‘An Uncommon Woman’ click here!

Q: Tell us what sparked the idea for your new book, An Uncommon Woman

A: I’ve long been fascinated by Indian captivity narratives and thought it would be interesting to create characters who have been shaped by that life-altering circumstances.

Q: This book is written after the French and Indian War. How did you become interested in this time period? 

A: This time period is a roiling one, rife with conflict and larger-than-life figures who built America. So much of our founding history has been lost or is unknown, yet it contains such amazing material for novels today.

Q: What type of research was required for writing your book? 

A: I read as many Indian captivity stories as I could, both fiction and nonfiction. I delved into the historical records for Jemima Boone, Mary Draper Ingles, and others who survived such events and even thrived in very hostile, heartbreaking situations.

To order a copy of Laura Frantz’ ‘An Uncommon Woman’ click here!

Q: One of the main characters, Clay Tygart, was raised by Lenape Indians. Can you tells us a little about his backstory? 

A: Clay is a conundrum of a frontiersman, born to Pennsylvania Quakers (Friends), captured and raised by Lenape/Delaware Indians, then redeemed and returned to white society. He is at war within himself, taking command of a fort named in his honor as a hero of the French and Indian War, yet desiring peace at all costs on a very embittered, embattled frontier.

Q: What do you hope readers can learn from An Uncommon Woman? 

A: The dedication page of his novel contains words from the ancient hymn Be Thou My Vision. My hope is that no matter what life hands us, we as believers can stand firm and say:

Heart of my own heart, what’er befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Q: What do you love most about writing historical fiction?

A: Preserving history is such a privilege and pleasure. Breathing life into actual events and people through fiction in a day when we’ve lost touch with our roots keeps me researching and writing.

Q: What new projects are you working on?

A: I leap back a century to 1634 with this next novel, set in James Towne, Virginia. And I thought the eighteenth century was conflicted!

To order a copy of Laura Frantz’ ‘An Uncommon Woman’ click here!

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Science Fiction fans, rejoice! Thomas Locke – the bestselling author of books such as Emissary and Merchant of Alyss – returns with a new book this November. Set in a dystopian future, Locke’s latest read, Enclave, will sweep readers off to another time and place for a riveting story of survival.

Thomas Locke sat down to answer some questions for readers about the inspiration behind his new novel. Here’s what he had to say…

Enclave by Thomas Locke releases November 20 – click here to preorder your copy.

Q: You stated that you have always loved fantasy and science fiction. What prompted your interest in these genres?

A: I loved speculative fiction from my earliest days as a reader. I can still remember the joy of having my mother take me to the city’s main adult library, where she could leave me for the best Saturday afternoons of my life. The weekend librarians all got to know me and used to joke with mom over how I would sit utterly still with this huge pile of sci-fi and fantasy books in front of me, going through as many as I possibly could. I would count the minutes and rush to finish one more, because I could only take four home with me. Four books for a week’s reading? Who were they kidding?

Q: What was the first science fiction book you wrote?

A: My first science fiction story was the first book I ever wrote. It was pretty awful. I don’t remember the title. The manuscript was destroyed when flash flood inundated our cellar. All my readers should celebrate.

Q: Your books take readers away from what they know to be true and instead help them explore the what-ifs of science fiction. How did you come up with the plot for Enclave?

A: I have really enjoyed some of the dystopian fiction I’ve read. But I felt like here too there could be a great opportunity to insert a positive element, a heroic structure that lifted up the story – and, if we’re successful, the genre. No matter how bleak the setting, there are still opportunities for great deeds.

Q: Who is your favorite character in Enclave and why?

A: Kevin Ritter is a deputy sheriff who loses his job because he is discovered to be working for the newly reopened Underground Railroad. Only this time, they are helping refugees from northern cities seeking to relocate in Charlotte, North Carolina, where things are moderately safer. Kevin is a brawler by nature, the son of a very wise woman who knows he needs an outlet for his strength and rage. He grows because he trusts her to make moves he might not agree with but that guide him to becoming a leader. I like Kevin a lot. I think we’d be good friends.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading your book?

A: There is a visceral edge to the growth in the dystopian audience. These stories have been around for ages. Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five and Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 were two that impacted me deeply as a kid. The newer novels’ bleak hopelessness and their dire predictions nowadays represent a big change in how young people view their future. I want to address this where they live, in their chosen genre, and add a clear message that even here there is hope, if the individual accepts the challenge to grow. Even here.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: I am currently working on a new Bunn story, due for release this autumn – a suspense drama entitled Outbreak.

Enclave by Thomas Locke releases November 20 – click here to preorder your copy.

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Bestselling Amish fiction author, Jan Drexler returns with a new book that dives into the Amish community during the Civil War. ‘The Sound of Distant Thunder’ leads readers on a journey through a turbulent time in history and explores how this impacted the Amish faith. It’s a definite must-read for any lovers of Amish or historical fiction.

Drexler sat down to answer a few questions about the inspiration and research involved in writing this story – as well as what is on the horizon for the author…

Q: What motivated you to write about an Amish family during the Civil War era?

A: A big part of my motivation grew out of my fascination with the history of the Civil War. I wanted to look past the timelines and statistics of the war to the stories of the people who lived through that time.

Another part was my experience growing up in an Anabaptist family during the Vietnam era. The attitudes, beliefs, and actions that I witnessed in the young men just a few years older than I was turned into something I needed to explore and understand better.

Q: The Amish struggle with their religious convictions in regards to war. Can you explain their struggles and their belief systems when it comes to war?

A: The Amish call themselves “non-resistant”, which is a bit different from being a pacifist. While the two are similar in believing that war and violence are always wrong, a non-resistant person takes this belief to a more personal level. They will not resist an evil person or deed, even when it is directed against themselves or their loved ones.

During the Civil War, the Amish often found their beliefs put to the test. When the draft was instituted, the Amish as a whole didn’t support it. But the choice of whether to serve or not belonged to the individual. In this first story of the series, I try to present the elements that affected that choice for each of the characters and the consequences of those choices.

Q: What type of research was required for writing The Sound of Distant Thunder?

A: This series has involved extensive research into Amish beliefs and history, Holmes County during the 1860’s, and the Civil War, to name some of the broader topics. I also delved into the daily life of a soldier, trade embargoes between the North and South, how mail was sent between the soldiers and their homes, and if and how Amish men served in the military and under what circumstances. I read diaries, biographies and Civil War histories, and used my experiences of visiting Civil War battlefield sites and museums.

Two of the books I relied on the most in my research were Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War by James O. Lehman and Steven M. Nolt, and Unser Leit… the Story of the Amish by an Amish historian, Leroy Beachy.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading your book?

A: Besides a satisfying reading experience, I hope readers gain a further understanding of the Amish and their history, and also a deeper understanding of the Civil War, a conflict that still affects our lives today in many ways.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: The second and third books in The Amish of Weaver’s Creek series are at the top of the list, and after that, I’m still looking into possibilities. I’d love to continue exploring how the Amish lived during times of upheaval in the world outside their communities.

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