Day of Reckoning
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How did you come up with your title? I have the basic plot in mind before I decide on a title. I search for a scripture that contains a message to complement the plot, then either take a phrase from the scripture, or use some of the words. For example, the scripture I chose for this novel is Psalm 37:12-13, which reads in part, "…but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming." Hence, Day of Reckoning. |
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What makes this book special to you? Day of Reckoning is special for several reasons. When I introduced agent Lela Ortiz in Weep in the Night, the first novel in this series, I knew I had to write her story. She was feisty, in control, and her fellow agents appreciated her expertise. Lela is a strong Latina woman, and reminds me of my daughter-in-law. |
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What does your family think of your writing? My family has always been supportive of my writing. My husband will cook and clean so I can meet a deadline. He encourages me to attend conferences, and he carries my supplies when I attend book-signings. And, this is vital-he makes me hot tea whenever I need a cup. Our adult children help by being Beta-readers, and by supplying expertise from their fields of interest-IT tech and nursing. I dedicated this book to my mother. She resided in a nursing home for many years, and always had my books on her side table. Everyone who entered her room was asked, "Do you know my daughter? She wrote these books." Her sweet face shone with pride. |
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What is your next project? I've completed the third novel in this series which tells the story of an agent introduced in Day of Reckoning. However, my next project is extra dear to my heart. I wrote it many years ago before I knew anything about the Christian book market, or writers' workshops and conferences. Needless to say, when I did attend my first conference, I discovered my 'book baby' required major revisions. I put it aside and returned to my busy life. Wife, mother, teacher. But the writing bug nagged at me, so I kept at it. Now, five novels later, I'm tackling those revisions. The story is set in Australia during the 1980s, and is based in part on my mother's family. Armed with notes from our vacation there and online research, and with the addition of a suspense thread, the story God put on my heart is finally coming to fruition. |
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What is the spiritual takeaway for your reader? No matter what baggage we carry, God's grace will cover us. |
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What is your hero's main character flaw? Because of a traumatic event while serving in Afghanistan, Jay is driven to take care of his family, to make sure everyone is safe. This leads to him being overprotective, especially of his nieces and nephew, and to him blaming himself whenever anything goes wrong. |
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What is your heroine's main character flaw? Lela survived an abusive relationship. She has trust issues, and needs to be in control of her environment. She doesn't take kindly to offers of advice, especially from men. |
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What can readers learn from your villain? My villain didn't start out as a bad guy. He was a family man, worked hard, but he let bitterness eat away at his soul. He blamed others for his problems, and by the time he realized his involvement with the criminal organization required him to murder a friend, it was too late. What can we learn from him? Seek help at the first sign of a problem in your life. |
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What makes your hero heroic? Jay is heroic because he will sacrifice his life in order to keep his family safe. |
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what makes your heroine heroic? Lela is heroic because she is a survivor, she perseveres, and she is willing to take calculated risks to complete her assignment. |
