Ask the Author: Bethany Turner
Answered Questions (8)
Bethany Turner
Hi Kenna! Thanks for the question. Some of my novels have that more overt faith thread, but the majority of them do not. Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck have the strong Christian romance storylines. Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish is much more subtle, but the faith thread is strong. My others (Plot Twist, The Do-Over, Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other, Cole and Laila Are Just Friends, and Wes and Addie Had Their Chance) are more classified as clean romance than Christian romance, though as a Christian author, I always try to write from the worldview of that faith and those principles/morals. I hope that helps! Thanks again for reaching out.
Bethany Turner
I currently work with my publisher on all of these services, but thanks so much for reaching out!
Bethany Turner
Hi, Rita! Thanks for the question. It's a great one! I have two sons (17 and 20) and they have both read some of my books. In fact, one of them we listened to on audiobook together as a family and talked about it as we went. (Now, for the record, romantic comedy isn't really their thing...but they were kind. 😉) My romances are made up of imperfect people, often making imperfect choices, so while the circumstances and events are sometimes unrealistic, I hope that the emotions and challenges ring true. (While, of course, still having the fun, romantic, happily-ever-after you want to find in a rom-com!) I hope that helps!
Bethany Turner
Oh, how fun! The truth is...I have no connection to Durham! When I was beginning to write The Do-Over, it was all about finding the ideal town to have produced the Keaton family. Durham was absolutely perfect. A big city with a small-town feel. Most of the Keaton family loves Durham and never wants to be anywhere else...but McKenna loves New York. (Until, of course, she comes to love Durham, finally... 😉) My husband and I visited Durham for the first time in February of this year (to visit locations in the book) and I absolutely loved it! And as for NC State over UNC and Duke, well...let me put it this way: I grew up in Kentucky and attended the University of Kentucky, and have always been a HUGE college basketball fan. And I don't exactly have a lot of love for UNC or, especially, Duke. So I will support you in your NC State allegiance! 😂 Thanks for picking up The Do-Over, and for asking the question!
Bethany Turner
Ooh! That really is like choosing your favorite child. Each novel is special to me in different ways for different reasons. Having said that...I’m pretty partial to Wooing Cadie McCaffrey. It was the first time I wrote from the perspectives of both the female and male leading characters. I had so much fun getting to know both Cadie and Will, and I loved sorting out their love story—as well as their faith story.
Bethany Turner
Great question! And the answer is...no. But I was pretty proactive about that, because it has always been something in the back of my mind. I have been in personal contact back-and-forth with several of the real-life people who figure heavily in the series -- and several of them actually have copies of the books. That was important to me. I never wanted to be disrespectful, though I realize that in the minds of some, I could be walking a fine line.
Thank you so much for your question!
Thank you so much for your question!
Bethany Turner
Music. For me it's almost always music. Each story seems to have a type of music which fuels the dialogue and defines the characters a bit more clearly. The Abigail Phelps Series was Billy Joel (as anyone who has read it will know!) and the Christian romance I recently completed was a strange and wonderful mixture of Fleetwood Mac and Francesca Battistelli. Sometimes the role the music plays in bigger than others. For instance, Fleetwood and Francesca are under the surface, while Billy Joel was literally a supporting character in The Abigail Phelps Series!
Bethany Turner
Right now I'm busy promoting the re-launch of The Abigail Phelps Series, I'm preparing for publication of a Christian romance I've written, and I am working on THREE other novels which are still in the early stages. It's a busy and wonderful time!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more