Do you have a favorite character? Why?
I loved Ivy’s seven-year-old son, Montana. It was fun creating a sensitive, lovable little boy that would ask all the right questions in such an endearing way that the reader would actually anticipate the answers and not feel preached to.

How much research did "Ever Present Danger" take?
I have two very reliable research people (a private investigator and an assistant DA) that helped me with crime investigation, forensics, and issues pertaining to the law.  I think I taxed them both pretty hard on this story.  Some of the research was done on the Internet – such as researching drug addiction, rehab, the effects of drugs, etc.

How many titles will be in the "Phantom Hollow" series?
Three: #1 "Ever Present Danger," #2 "Never Look Back" (October 2007), and #3 "The Grand Scheme" (April 2008).

What is your favorite verse from the Bible?
I Corinthians 1:18:  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

Do you prefer to write suspense fiction?
That’s all I’ve written so far, and it’s been fun.  I will say that it gets increasingly difficult to come up with a suspense plot that is unique.  My stories tend to involve equal measures of suspense, inspiration, and characterization.  As long as I feel satisfied with those components in my suspense stories, I’ll probably continue to write it.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?
Balancing my time is the greatest.  By nature, I’m a closure person.  But because I have back-to-back deadlines, I’m never really DONE.  The Lord uses this challenge to keep me disciplined.  Also, I have to deal with occasional bouts of writer’s block – which are exceedingly inconvenient when I’m on deadline.  And then there’s the inevitable spiritual attack that will hit sometime during the writing of each book.  I have learned to recognize it.  And I have a team of prayer warriors who help me fight it.

Are there any other new projects on the horizon?
I’m mulling over an idea for another series set in the Smoky Mountains. But it’s not on paper yet. I still have two more books to complete in the "Phantom Hollow Series" first.

Who was the person who influenced you the most with your writing?
I can’t honestly say I was influenced by anyone prior to writing my first novel.  I know that seems strange, but I never aspired be a novelist.  The idea never entered my mind until I couldn’t seem to write a children’s book . I will say that my editor, Rod Morris, who worked with me on my first eleven books, including "Ever Present Danger," was a wonderful mentor.

What advice would you give to a person trying to become a fiction writer?
Stay teachable!  If you have a passion for storytelling, don’t stop trying to get published.  But don’t stop writing in the meantime!  Keep those fingers moving and those ideas flowing.  Your writing muscle can only be developed by using it.

What message would you like your readers to take away from "Ever Present Danger"?
I want my readers to close the cover on "Ever Present Danger" with a clear picture of the fragile territory believers enter when we build close relationships with individuals whose values are in serious conflict with our own.  I want them to see that it's easier to get sucked into the darkness than to walk in the light.  And that the best way to avoid the trap of compromise is never to take that first step over the line.

What is your goal or mission as a writer?
God’s Word tells us what we should do, and I believe story shows us how. My goal is to create believable and unforgettable characters that struggle to live out their faith in a world that fights them at every turn.

  
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