Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. I’ve been an author and journalist for over 40 years. I was an investigative television reporter for the NBC affiliate in Idaho. I covered the crime and court beat, which has been very helpful in writing mystery/thrillers. I have five children, including two sets of twins. I also have eight grandchildren. I live on a ranch by the Snake River in Eastern Idaho with my husband, who is a veterinarian. We have lots of animals, including horses, sheep, and chickens.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “The Still Small Voice”?
A2. I wanted the book to represent and resonate with the people who live in that part of Utah where the novel is set. There is a lot of family drama along with the murder mystery and I wanted to make sure I captured those emotions and struggles accurately.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. Jodi Picoult, Jeffrey Eugenides, Alex Michaelides, Margaret Mitchell, and many more. I feel every book I’ve read over my life has had an influence. The authors I mentioned are just a few of many.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. San Diego, California. It’s where I was born, and even though I only lived there for a short time, it’s where my family went each summer. I moved a lot as a child, and it’s the place that makes me feel at home. I love Idaho and have lived here the longest I’ve lived anywhere. It’s very different from San Diego, so it’s nice to have that contrast as well.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘The Still Small Voice’?
A5. I grew up in the LDS church (Mormon), and even though my family left the church years ago, I use those experiences in many of my novels. All my books are mysteries with twists, and it was the perfect backdrop for the story I wanted to tell.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘The Still Small Voice’?
A6. It took just over a year. I took trips back to the area in central Utah where the novel is set to do research. It was a place I had spent quite a bit of time when I was young, and it’s changed so much, but the one thing I noticed was the mountains. They were obviously there when I was young, but they seemed so immense from what I remembered. They play a large part in the book- some readers have even said they are like one of the characters in the story.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. The book is available on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and most other platforms. It’s available in hardback, audiobook, paperback, and ebook formats.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Still Small Voice’?
A8. The title is from a passage in the bible that those in the LDS church talk about often. The still, small voice is the holy ghost or your conscience. The story focuses on the power of shame and the use of that emotion to keep people in line with religious beliefs and teachings. I felt it represented the storyline perfectly. The book cover was designed by graphic artists, and I feel they really captured the book’s tone.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. I write what I’m feeling at the moment. Some of my stories come from things that happen or that I see going on in the world. Even my historical fiction has themes that I feel are relevant today. Being a journalist, my fiction often comes from things I’ve written about or experienced while doing the news. And many of my characters have qualities- both good and bad- from those I’ve interviewed for stories. None of my characters are based specifically on real people, but many of them have traits that are.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. I was told to keep at it even when it didn’t seem like anything would be published or read. You are sitting by yourself with only your thoughts when you’re writing. Sometimes, your stories are published, and sometimes, you spend months, even years, without anyone reading your stories. It can be lonely, frustrating, and discouraging, but I’ve never quit writing. I’ve been fortunate to have my books published and read, and that can be one of the greatest feelings in the world. It makes it all worth it. I have a screenshot of a book reviewer on Instagram hugging my novel. What could be better than that?
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