“I don’t always hop blogs, but when I do,
I hop these author blogs.”
(Image courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.)

Here’s a fun way to get introduced to me and a few other writers. My friend and fellow author C. Joy Allen tagged me to participate in this blog hop

What are you working on? At the moment, I’m gathering ideas for a new book and I don’t want to reveal too much of underdeveloped baby idealets . . . but I will say that the Pennsylvania Death Certificates database on Ancestry.com have me thinking about a medical history mystery. What if a character with no interest in genealogy or family history got roped in by a discrepancy with what she thinks she knows . . ? (That happens quite a bit anyway, doesn’t it?)

How does your writing process work? Generally, I brainstorm or outline on paper . . . then type the scenes . . . then print to rewrite/revise/edit . . . then rinse and repeat until it’s done. I believe it was a piece by Anne Lamott run by Writer’s Digest some time in 1996 or 1997 that first gave me permission to waste a lot of paper, and no one can take that from me now. Anyway, I really believe a pen engages different nodes of my brain than a keyboard, and I try to make the most of my brain. I’m a 21st century reader, writer, and genealogist. As a consequence of my generation, I tread the margins of both paper and digital texts.

How does your work differ from others in its genre? I write contemporary women’s fiction from a Christian worldview. However, my work differs from most other contemporary women’s fiction authors because it includes an ancestral twist–a historical subplot. In my debut novel, there’s a homefront 1942 story undergirding what’s happening in the present day. That being said, the timeslip category of women’s fiction is pretty popular. If you like Karen White or Sarah Jio (general market) or Nicole Seitz, Susan Meissner or Lisa Wingate (inspirational market), then you might know just what I mean.

Why do you write what you write? Oh, two main reasons, I suppose. First, it’s what God called me to. I used to read horror (Stephen King), speculative/teen horror (Christopher Pike), thrillers/murder mysteries (Dean Koontz, Iris Johansen) and dystopian (mainly classics in this category). I don’t necessarily turn my nose up at those now, but at this point in my life, the workings (and failures) of relationships, particularly in families, frightens and fasincates me much more than ghosts or governments. And this leads to the second reason: I an only write compelling stories where I am frightened and fascinated. When people tell me book ideas to write, I say, “Great! I think you should write it.” Passion (and the lack of it) shows in writing whether you mean for it to or not. I incorporate my faith in Jesus and my personal interests into my books because I know my future readers (it’s getting so close! Arg! 🙂 ) will sense my passion, and hopefully share in it.

And now, check out these authors as they pull back the curtain on their writing lives!

C. D. Gill – C.D. Gill writes contemporary fiction focusing on international cultures and issues like human trafficking and other injustices that we face today. As a member of ACFW, she enjoys connecting with other Christian authors and learning the craft. She is represented by Dan Balow of the Steve Laube Agency and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two dachshunds, Blade and Callie. Motorcycling, gardening, and reading take up a lot of her time when she is not enraptured in the writing world. Follow her on Twitter (@cgill6410) to stay connected to what’s going on around the world and to read different travel advice. She’s always looking for interesting travel and culture stories from others who want to share on her blog, cdgill.com.

Heather Weidner – Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and the Saturday morning cartoons. She and her friends raced through all of the Nancy Drews, Hardy Boys, and Agatha Christies at the Kempsville Library. And that just started a life-long love of everything mystery. Heather currently lives in Central Virginia with her husband Stan and a pair of Jack Russell terriers. When she’s not reading and writing, Heather enjoys kayaking, photography, and visiting the beach as much as possible. She is a member of Sisters in Crime International, SinC-Central Virginia, SinC-CV Critique Group, and Guppies. Visit Heather’s blog, Crazy for Words or her Facebook site: Heather Baker Weidner Author. She also tweets @CrazyforWords13. (Her answers for the blog hop are here!)