Book Nook: StarPassage 3 - Honor and Mercy

I've previously reviewed installments of the StarPassage series, and I had a chance to review the latest - Honor and Mercy.

One thing I really appreciate is the handling of religion. It's clearly written from a Christian perspective, but isn't heavy-handed. This book does include the Biblical story of Lazarus and other references to God, but it's not heavy-handed or overly preachy; the discussion of faith feels natural. The suspense is strong enough that I read the whole book in two days, even though we had other things going on. It's a great conclusion to the trilogy, that also manages to leave open the possibility of more books.

I had a chance to share this interview to learn more about the author and the series.

wesome.

1. Where/When do you best like to write? I get up early and in the quiet hours of the morning I sit in my favorite recliner chair, lean back with my computer on my lap and disappear into different worlds. It is awesome.
2. When you are struggling to write/have writer’s block, what are some ways that help you find your creative muse again? See above, don’t really get it. Once in a while if I’m stuck I go on a long bike ride or swim and it clears my mind and things start to flow again. Also I get thoughts when I am waking or in the middle of the night and I keep note pads around so I can jot them down and remember them later.
3. What do you think makes a good story? Strong characters and a meaningful, intriguing story. The roller coaster ride of adventure is always there to keep the pages turning but its about the story and the characters. Do they draw you into the story so you have an experience with them and not just read. That’s the secret.
4. What inspired your story? Current topics. I am tired of the pop culture narriative that if you can’t have it exactly how you want it then give up. That’s a stupid narriatve. We become great because of the challenged and trials and “Monsters” in our lives. Heroes in literature could not be so without them either. Our trials are what give us the opportunity to be great. They are tools of success, not weapons of destruction. It is what you dwell on that matters. You can choose that. My characters lose physical, emotional or social capabilities often in sudden change. I want my readers to know that they can use even the worst events in their lives as stepping stones to be heroes rather than as excuses to become helpless, hopeless victims.
5. What was your greatest challenge in writing this book? Coming up with additional passages that took the story somewhere meaningful. I always knew about where it would end but the road in between makes all the difference. I could not just have gratuitous passages and throw them at people. They had to move the story along and tie together in a logical and compelling way. It had to stay fresh and exciting and introduce new twists. You can’t just rely on the things that work for book one.
6. What’s the best writing advice you have ever received? Take all the advice you can but never give up your own voice in your works.