K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 58

Sharon Dow's "Antipas: Martyr"

Title: Antipas: Martyr
Publisher: Deep River Books

Cover blurb: Young Antipas is steeped in the religion of Zeus but his belief that there must be more to life finds him rejected and driven away from his own family and home. Overwhelmed by his loss, he cowers in the darkness when an opportunity arises for him to leave behind his troubles and embark on a new life. On the ancient Roman road through the wilderness of Asia, Antipas finds a new friend in Epaphras who teaches him everything he can about Christ. Laying his life on the line, he lives in danger from his own father and brothers as he grapples with the forces of good and evil in an epic battle for his soul.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was reading in the book of Revelation chapter two where Christ is talking to the church of Pergamum. He mentioned Antipas, his faithful witness who was martyred where Satan lives. I was intrigued and did some research on him. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, and there is little historical information about him. I decided to write his story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As a new author, it is hard to break into the publishing world. Major publishing companies state on their websites that they do not accept manuscripts from new authors. One site directed me to Christian Manuscript Submissions, an online site where you can (for a fee) post information about your manuscript. I did this and was approached by Deep River Books. When they read my manuscript, they suggested I have it critiqued, which I did. Then I did a revision of the book and submitted it again. This time it was accepted!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I spent 27 years in the field of Education as a junior high teacher and principal of an elementary Christian School.
2. I have a great desire to travel to Russia. This country has long fascinated me as I have read many stories set in Russia prior to the Revolution.
3. I love politics and have harbored a secret dream to run for office at the federal level.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have completed the manuscript for 'Pergamum: Satan's Throne' which is the sequel to 'Antipas: Martyr'. I have over 22,000 words written on a third book titled 'Huldah: Prophetess'. This is a stand-alone book and is based on the life of Huldah found in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. She was a prophetess when Josiah was King.

5) Parting comments?
Writing for me is pure joy. It has been a life-long dream to write a book. Now that I have had my first book published, my dream has expanded. I now want to write 10. I have ideas for all ten and maybe more.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.sharondow.ca and I can be found on facebook – Sharon Dow and/or Antipas: Martyr.

Register to win Sharon Dow's "Antipas: Martyr"

We're happy to have Sharon Dow with us today. She's been kind enough to offer to give away a copy of "Antipas:Martyr" to one lucky blog reader! Please leave a comment with your email address at the end of each interview for your chance to win. In addition, place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to receive weekly email reminders about giveaways if you've not done so.

Title: Antipas: Martyr
Publisher: Deep River Books

Cover blurb: Young Antipas is steeped in the religion of Zeus but his belief that there must be more to life finds him rejected and driven away from his own family and home. Overwhelmed by his loss, he cowers in the darkness when an opportunity arises for him to leave behind his troubles and embark on a new life. On the ancient Roman road through the wilderness of Asia, Antipas finds a new friend in Epaphras who teaches him everything he can about Christ. Laying his life on the line, he lives in danger from his own father and brothers as he grapples with the forces of good and evil in an epic battle for his soul.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was reading in the book of Revelation chapter two where Christ is talking to the church of Pergamum. He mentioned Antipas, his faithful witness who was martyred where Satan lives. I was intrigued and did some research on him. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, and there is little historical information about him. I decided to write his story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As a new author, it is hard to break into the publishing world. Major publishing companies state on their websites that they do not accept manuscripts from new authors. One site directed me to Christian Manuscript Submissions, an online site where you can (for a fee) post information about your manuscript. I did this and was approached by Deep River Books. When they read my manuscript, they suggested I have it critiqued, which I did. Then I did a revision of the book and submitted it again. This time it was accepted!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I spent 27 years in the field of Education as a junior high teacher and principal of an elementary Christian School.
2. I have a great desire to travel to Russia. This country has long fascinated me as I have read many stories set in Russia prior to the Revolution.
3. I love politics and have harbored a secret dream to run for office at the federal level.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have completed the manuscript for 'Pergamum: Satan's Throne' which is the sequel to 'Antipas: Martyr'. I have over 22,000 words written on a third book titled 'Huldah: Prophetess'. This is a stand-alone book and is based on the life of Huldah found in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. She was a prophetess when Josiah was King.

5) Parting comments?
Writing for me is pure joy. It has been a life-long dream to write a book. Now that I have had my first book published, my dream has expanded. I now want to write 10. I have ideas for all ten and maybe more.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.sharondow.ca and I can be found on facebook – Sharon Dow and/or Antipas: Martyr.

Jeff Dixon's "The Key to The Kingdom"

Title: The Key To The Kingdom
Publisher: Deep River Publishing

Cover blurb:
Grayson Hawkes learns how imaginative and elaborate Walt Disney World is when he accepts an invitation that lands him in a world he never knew existed. Suddenly unraveling a perplexing puzzle and trying to solve a mysterious disappearance . . . Hawkes navigates through the Magic Kingdom where the knowledge of seemingly unimportant Disney facts and some divine help may be the only way he can discover the answers and get back out.

Soon the lines between right and wrong begin to blur. Telling the difference between the real and unreal becomes nearly impossible. Loyalty to faith, family, and friends is stretched to the extreme in a pulse quickening adventure through a place where dreams really do come true. In this world, Disney trivia is no game...and the ancient key is the only way out.

1) How did this story come to you?
The origin of the story actually began with a love for the creations of Walt Disney and a fascination with the powerful way the Disney company tells a story. As a preacher and storyteller I have always been on a quest to tell stories in a way that not only connects with the hearer but also can change their lives. I had the opportunity to sit down with a Disney Imagineer and ask how we as a church could learn to tell the story we tell each week better. I can still remember the Disney stories I saw and read as a child. The ability to tell a story that becomes unforgettable is in many ways a lost art form. I get the chance each week to tell the Greatest Story Ever Told and I desire to tell the story in ways that people will never forget.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had never written a novel before so I jotted down a notebook full of notes and ideas. Just like putting a puzzle together I began to sort through the pieces and started connecting them into a real storyline. I submitted a concept idea for the book through a manuscript submission group and was contacted by Deep River Publishing.

Once the contract was signed I took the rough copy of the story and began to tweak and fine tune it (or so I thought.) The most humbling moment came when the editors contacted me and told me that the story was way too long and I had to lose a significant number of pages. Working with the editor was fantastic because it really began to teach me how to craft a story that was not only readable but also how to bring characters to life and keep them moving at a pace the reader would enjoy. The end result is a page turning thriller and I am excited about the response people are having to the story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
First, I am part of a group of people building a Christmas theme park for terminally ill children and their families. It is a place where parents will bring their children to experience one last Christmas. It is called Christmas Dreams... because some children just can't wait for Christmas.

Second, I wrote the bulk of the original storyline for The Key To The Kingdom while watching college football. There is just something exciting about the game and there were moments that I was listening to the game and I just could not type fast enough.

Third, I actually have been Goofy at Walt Disney World. Now don't misunderstand me, I don't mean I was acting silly while visiting Walt Disney World. I really was the character Goofy in the theme park. It was fantastic and the job of a lifetime.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a sequel to The Key To The Kingdom. The reaction to the adventure of Grayson Hawkes has been phenomenal and I immediately began receiving mail asking "what next?" I am excited about answering that question and I think that fans of this story will like the next installment a great deal.

5) Parting comments?
I am just thrilled and amazed that people are connecting to this story like they are. I have gotten e-mail from all over the world and people sending me stories, pictures, and questions about their family vacations to Disney World and allowing me to catch glimpses of their lives. For people to want to open up their world just a bit and allow me to be a part of it means more to me than words can express.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.keytothekingdombook.com/
www.facebook.com/KeytotheKingdombook
twitter.com/keykingdombook
http://www.jeffdixon.org/

Marilyn Meredith's "Bears With Us"

Title: Bears With Us

Publisher: Mundania Press

Cover blurb: Deputy Tempe Crabtree has her hands full when bears turn up in and around Bear Creek, a young teen commits suicide and his parents actions are suspicious, a prominent woman files a complaint against Tempe and her preacher husband Hutch, a love affair from long ago comes to light, and a woman suffering from dementia disappears.

1) How did this story come to you?
My grandson is an Aspen CO police officer and he kept telling about chasing bears out of people's homes and posting photos of the bears on Facebook. I emailed him asking lots of questions about how they knew the bears were inside homes, how they chased them out, what the bears did inside, and how they smelled. I knew my heroine, Deputy Tempe Crabtree would have some of the same experiences.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because I am writing a series, my publisher seems to be willing to publish the next one. This series does have a history though. The first four were published by a small press who put them out in mass market paperback. I had one earlier one that an e-publisher picked up. My publisher passed away and I met the publisher of Mundania at a conference and asked if he'd be interested in picking up the series. Thankfully, he said yes and I've been with Mundania for this series ever since.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. Though I've had over thirty books published, I've been rejected many, many times.
2. I've written in all sorts of genres, historical family sagas, psychological horror, Christian horror, romance with a touch of the supernatural, ghost stories, and of course, lots of mysteries.
3. And years ago, I went to a nudist colony. One day I ought to put something about a nudist colony in a book.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on a new Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery that has yet no name. The next one in that series, No Bells, will be out in

5) Parting comments?
Writing is an important part of my life—something I really enjoy. My characters all seem very real to me—and I hope they do to my readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My webpage is http://fictionforyou.com/ and my blog is http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Register to win Marilyn Meredith's "Bears With Us"

We're happy to have Marilyn Meredith with us today. She's been kind enough to offer to give away a copy of "Bears With Us" to one lucky blog reader! Please leave a comment with your email address at the end of the interview for your chance to win. In addition, place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to receive weekly email reminders about giveaways.

Title: Bears With Us

Publisher: Mundania Press

Cover blurb: Deputy Tempe Crabtree has her hands full when bears turn up in and around Bear Creek, a young teen commits suicide and his parents actions are suspicious, a prominent woman files a complaint against Tempe and her preacher husband Hutch, a love affair from long ago comes to light, and a woman suffering from dementia disappears.

1) How did this story come to you?
My grandson is an Aspen CO police officer and he kept telling about chasing bears out of people's homes and posting photos of the bears on Facebook. I emailed him asking lots of questions about how they knew the bears were inside homes, how they chased them out, what the bears did inside, and how they smelled. I knew my heroine, Deputy Tempe Crabtree would have some of the same experiences.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because I am writing a series, my publisher seems to be willing to publish the next one. This series does have a history though. The first four were published by a small press who put them out in mass market paperback. I had one earlier one that an e-publisher picked up. My publisher passed away and I met the publisher of Mundania at a conference and asked if he'd be interested in picking up the series. Thankfully, he said yes and I've been with Mundania for this series ever since.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. Though I've had over thirty books published, I've been rejected many, many times.
2. I've written in all sorts of genres, historical family sagas, psychological horror, Christian horror, romance with a touch of the supernatural, ghost stories, and of course, lots of mysteries.
3. And years ago, I went to a nudist colony. One day I ought to put something about a nudist colony in a book.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on a new Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery that has yet no name. The next one in that series, No Bells, will be out in

5) Parting comments?
Writing is an important part of my life—something I really enjoy. My characters all seem very real to me—and I hope they do to my readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My webpage is http://fictionforyou.com/ and my blog is http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Register to win Jeff Dixon's "The Key to The Kingdom"

We're happy to have Jeff Dixon with us today. He's been kind enough to offer to give away a copy of "The Key to The Kingdom" to one lucky blog reader! Please leave a comment with your email address at the end of each interview for your chance to win. In addition, place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to receive weekly email reminders about giveaways.

Title: The Key To The Kingdom
Publisher: Deep River Publishing

Cover blurb:
Grayson Hawkes learns how imaginative and elaborate Walt Disney World is when he accepts an invitation that lands him in a world he never knew existed. Suddenly unraveling a perplexing puzzle and trying to solve a mysterious disappearance . . . Hawkes navigates through the Magic Kingdom where the knowledge of seemingly unimportant Disney facts and some divine help may be the only way he can discover the answers and get back out.

Soon the lines between right and wrong begin to blur. Telling the difference between the real and unreal becomes nearly impossible. Loyalty to faith, family, and friends is stretched to the extreme in a pulse quickening adventure through a place where dreams really do come true. In this world, Disney trivia is no game...and the ancient key is the only way out.

1) How did this story come to you?
The origin of the story actually began with a love for the creations of Walt Disney and a fascination with the powerful way the Disney company tells a story. As a preacher and storyteller I have always been on a quest to tell stories in a way that not only connects with the hearer but also can change their lives. I had the opportunity to sit down with a Disney Imagineer and ask how we as a church could learn to tell the story we tell each week better. I can still remember the Disney stories I saw and read as a child. The ability to tell a story that becomes unforgettable is in many ways a lost art form. I get the chance each week to tell the Greatest Story Ever Told and I desire to tell the story in ways that people will never forget.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had never written a novel before so I jotted down a notebook full of notes and ideas. Just like putting a puzzle together I began to sort through the pieces and started connecting them into a real storyline. I submitted a concept idea for the book through a manuscript submission group and was contacted by Deep River Publishing.

Once the contract was signed I took the rough copy of the story and began to tweak and fine tune it (or so I thought.) The most humbling moment came when the editors contacted me and told me that the story was way too long and I had to lose a significant number of pages. Working with the editor was fantastic because it really began to teach me how to craft a story that was not only readable but also how to bring characters to life and keep them moving at a pace the reader would enjoy. The end result is a page turning thriller and I am excited about the response people are having to the story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
First, I am part of a group of people building a Christmas theme park for terminally ill children and their families. It is a place where parents will bring their children to experience one last Christmas. It is called Christmas Dreams... because some children just can't wait for Christmas.

Second, I wrote the bulk of the original storyline for The Key To The Kingdom while watching college football. There is just something exciting about the game and there were moments that I was listening to the game and I just could not type fast enough.

Third, I actually have been Goofy at Walt Disney World. Now don't misunderstand me, I don't mean I was acting silly while visiting Walt Disney World. I really was the character Goofy in the theme park. It was fantastic and the job of a lifetime.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a sequel to The Key To The Kingdom. The reaction to the adventure of Grayson Hawkes has been phenomenal and I immediately began receiving mail asking "what next?" I am excited about answering that question and I think that fans of this story will like the next installment a great deal.

5) Parting comments?
I am just thrilled and amazed that people are connecting to this story like they are. I have gotten e-mail from all over the world and people sending me stories, pictures, and questions about their family vacations to Disney World and allowing me to catch glimpses of their lives. For people to want to open up their world just a bit and allow me to be a part of it means more to me than words can express.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.keytothekingdombook.com/
www.facebook.com/KeytotheKingdombook
twitter.com/keykingdombook
http://www.jeffdixon.org/

Register to win your choice of young adult books from Michelle Sutton

Our sister blog at http://www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com/ is highlighting Michelle Sutton today. She'll be giving away your choice of her young adult books. Head on over there to register.


And, thank you so much to everyone who has purchased Mistaken Identity and for all the great reviews. Here's the last couple:

From Jeannie M. Campbell:
Now truly, can there by anything more dramatic in a young girl's life than to feel second-best to her best friend and have that very same friend set eyes on the guy of her dreams? Due to my job, I spend a lot of time with hormonal youth, and everyone of them need to read about young Eden, a girl who is trying so hard to live for Christ in an environment that's not always conducive to that.

High school is full of angst, and I think that's why this plot drew me in. Thankfully, I never had a tiff with a best friend over a guy...but I knew of plenty friends who did. Kim writes the emotions with sincerity and honesty, and my hope would be that young adult readers would think twice about their own situations in light of the similar fictional ones they read about in this book.

That's the power of fiction. Kim introduces young adult readers (and older adults like me!) into some very tough topics...and she does this "softly," which is my therapeutic term for describing a non-invasive, non-in-your-face way of bringing something up for discussion. She addresses premarital sex, alcohol abuse, reckless behavior of youth, cheating, self-image/confidence--all jam-packed into a romantic story that really will make your heart melt.

From Holly  Weiss:
Marry a talented Christian author and the popular genre of young adult fiction and you have a winning partnership. K. Dawn Byrd sensitively portrays the trauma of adolescent dating. She also has a knack for the voice of a teenager. Teens will relate to Eden and Lexi, two girls who fall for the same guy, but aren't aware of the other's feelings. Pertinent issues like GPA's, driving tests, broken families, under-age drinking and sibling rivalry will capture the audience of young readers who live close to home with these real-life problems.

Christian young people will admire Eden for her determination to follow God's path, despite the peer pressure surrounding her. We identify with Eden's list of six goals for the summer and feel for her when she realizes the fallacy of "everything will be fine if I just had a boyfriend" thinking.

K. Dawn Byrd is a prolific author of Christian historical romantic suspense, contemporary romantic suspense, young adult, and romance. She holds a master's degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. That education gives her insight into the minds and feelings of people of her characters. This Time for Keeps, an inspirational WWII romance, will release on October 15, 2011. K. Dawn Byrd's young adult Zoe Mack romance mystery will debut in January.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mistaken-Identity-ebook/dp/B0056AT186/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311508469&sr=1-1

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/mistaken-identity-ebook-k-byrd/9781612520537/pd/18918EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=933294&event=EBRN&view=details

Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok

Nan Corbitt Allen's "Watercolor Summer"

Title: Watercolor Summer
Publisher: DEEP RIVER BOOKS

Cover blurb:
If Kathleen could relive any moment, it would be the one in 1969. Not because of its sweet memories, but because it changed her life forever.

In the summer of 1969, Kathleen's thirteenth year, her mother drags her to yet another artist colony on the beaches of Northwest Florida. There, Kat's feelings of isolation and hopelessness, spawned by her parent's estrangement, develop into a selfish rage.

Malcolm, a mentally-challenged boy who lives at the artist colony, tries to befriend Kat, but his very presence annoys her to her core.

Though it takes a long and difficult summer for Kat to see it, Malcolm and his colorful guardian, Jeanette, are the examples of true and selfless love. Just as Kat's heart begins to melt, Malcolm's congenital heart problems become a concern. The canvas of Kat's life, first stained by pain and trial and now touched by love, begins to transform into a masterpiece.

1) How did this story come to you?
I'm a child of the 60's who grew up on the beaches of Northwest Florida, so the time and place weren't hard to imagine. Having been a 13-year-old girl myself once I understand what it's like to feel out-of-place and ignored as my main character, Kat, did. I decided to put my memories of this time, place, and feelings into a novel and let readers know how God can take any life and remake it to be something beautiful.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I went through three literary agents to help me find the right publisher. They all were unable to help me. Then I contacted Deep River myself. It took six months to write the book and maybe three more to find the right publisher.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
•I'm a song writer/musician who has written over 100 musicals and collections and 100's of single songs with my husband, Dennis. He and I are three-time Dove Award winners for musicals we wrote: two for children's choirs and one for adult choirs.
•Watercolor Summer is my third published book. I had my first novel Asylum published with Moody Press in 2004. I had a non-fiction book called The Words We Sing published by Beacon Hill Press in the fall of 2010. It is a reference/devotional guide that gives insights into lyrics that we sing on Sundays but hardly use otherwise, i.e. Abba, Redeem, Ebenezer.
•My husband and I are about to celebrate 37 years of marriage! We have two grown sons and two beautiful daughters-in-law and two exceptional grandchildren.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I will continue to write music, drama, lyrics, etc. but my next book project will probably be a historical fiction work based on the life of William Carey (the father of foreign missions).

5) Parting comments?
I hope the readers enjoy reading the book as much as I had writing it. It was such a blast!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.allenhouseproductions.com/

Register to win Nan Corbitt Allen's "Watercolor Summer"

Be sure and scroll down. We're giving away five books this week. (I carried over Tom Blubaugh's book because I haven't had it listed for an entire week.) Be sure and register to win them all! Just leave your comment and email address after each one.



We're happy to have Nana Corbitt Allen with us today. She's been kind enough to offer to give away a copy of "Watercolor Summer" to one lucky blog reader! Please leave a comment with your email address at the end of each interview for your chance to win. In addition, place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to receive weekly email reminders about giveaways.

Title: Watercolor Summer
Publisher: DEEP RIVER BOOKS

Cover blurb:
If Kathleen could relive any moment, it would be the one in 1969. Not because of its sweet memories, but because it changed her life forever.

In the summer of 1969, Kathleen's thirteenth year, her mother drags her to yet another artist colony on the beaches of Northwest Florida. There, Kat's feelings of isolation and hopelessness, spawned by her parent's estrangement, develop into a selfish rage.

Malcolm, a mentally-challenged boy who lives at the artist colony, tries to befriend Kat, but his very presence annoys her to her core.

Though it takes a long and difficult summer for Kat to see it, Malcolm and his colorful guardian, Jeanette, are the examples of true and selfless love. Just as Kat's heart begins to melt, Malcolm's congenital heart problems become a concern. The canvas of Kat's life, first stained by pain and trial and now touched by love, begins to transform into a masterpiece.

1) How did this story come to you?
I'm a child of the 60's who grew up on the beaches of Northwest Florida, so the time and place weren't hard to imagine. Having been a 13-year-old girl myself once I understand what it's like to feel out-of-place and ignored as my main character, Kat, did. I decided to put my memories of this time, place, and feelings into a novel and let readers know how God can take any life and remake it to be something beautiful.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I went through three literary agents to help me find the right publisher. They all were unable to help me. Then I contacted Deep River myself. It took six months to write the book and maybe three more to find the right publisher.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
•I'm a song writer/musician who has written over 100 musicals and collections and 100's of single songs with my husband, Dennis. He and I are three-time Dove Award winners for musicals we wrote: two for children's choirs and one for adult choirs.
•Watercolor Summer is my third published book. I had my first novel Asylum published with Moody Press in 2004. I had a non-fiction book called The Words We Sing published by Beacon Hill Press in the fall of 2010. It is a reference/devotional guide that gives insights into lyrics that we sing on Sundays but hardly use otherwise, i.e. Abba, Redeem, Ebenezer.
•My husband and I are about to celebrate 37 years of marriage! We have two grown sons and two beautiful daughters-in-law and two exceptional grandchildren.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I will continue to write music, drama, lyrics, etc. but my next book project will probably be a historical fiction work based on the life of William Carey (the father of foreign missions).

5) Parting comments?
I hope the readers enjoy reading the book as much as I had writing it. It was such a blast!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.allenhouseproductions.com/

Karin Kaufman's "The Witch Tree"

Title: The Witch Tree

Cover blurb:Four days before Christmas in Elk Park, Colorado, genealogist Anna Denning discovers a client's body. When she starts asking questions no one wants answered, she becomes the killer's next target. Still grieving the death of her husband, Anna must draw on her wounded faith to enter a world of wicca and paganism -- and discover the secret of The Witch Tree.

1) How did this story come to you?
Several things came together. First, I've loved mysteries since I was a kid and I've always wanted to write the kind of mystery I like to read. Second, about ten years ago I started researching my family tree, and as anyone who's done that knows, genealogical research is a lot like detective work -- or at least how mystery writers imagine detective work to be! (I should mention that the "tree" in the title is a family tree -- in this case, one full of witches.)

And finally, in my twenties, even though I considered myself a Christian, I dabbled in wicca. I feel tremendous empathy for young people caught up in wicca, witchcraft, and paganism. I completely understand what draws them to those "paths."

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Although I wrote a lot as a child and off and on as an adult, I didn't complete my first mystery novel until about seven years ago. A couple years after that, I wrote my second mystery. Neither book was fit for publication, but I learned a lot as I wrote and received some encouraging feedback. After I finished The Witch Tree, I realized that the world of publishing had changed a great deal, so I decided to change with it and publish my mystery as an indie ebook.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. In my early teens I played guitar in an all-girl rock band. We were ahead of our time!
2. When I lived in Los Angeles, I worked on the sets of two low-budget movies produced by the king of B movies, Roger Corman.
3. I dislike summer, and since weather plays a big part in everything I write, I may never write a mystery that takes place during the summer months . . . though a Christian horror novel and August seem made for each other.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on some short stories (mysteries with a touch of romance) and the second novel in my Anna Denning mystery series.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me, Dawn! I love connecting with readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website: http://www.karinkaufman.com/
My blog: http://www.karin-kaufman.blogspot.com/
I'm also easy to find on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.