Welcome back, Dawn. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I�ve read a lot of Christian fiction, and one day it dawned on me: the market is glutted with Amish, historical, sweet romance, and romantic suspense genres. Not that I didn�t enjoy them. It�s just that there is a certain type of story the traditional Christfic market seemed to lack: stories about the type of people I encounter every day in my home city (Portland ). Stories dealing with issues unique to the 21st century� stuff that was unthinkable twenty, thirty years ago. Like same-sex marriage, social breakdown, new-age philosophies. Stories with those elements�edgy fiction� seem to be a rarity in the Christian market. So I made it my aim to write those �missing� stories. Thus, Hot Topic Fiction was born.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
When my oldest son was born 28 years ago. I fell so madly in love, and still haven�t recovered J
How has being published changed your life?
It actually hasn�t changed my life as much as I thought. Maybe if I were better known, and sold more books, it might.
What are you reading right now?
Among others, I�m reading June Foster�s book about a young Christian man battling homosexual temptation � Ryan�s Father. I chose it because, as mentioned above, very little Christian fiction covers this topic, and I was curious to see how she handled it. I�m about one-quarter through it.
What is your current work in progress?
Paint the Valley � sequel to Paint the Storm. This one covers a school shooting � another all-too-frequent occurrence this century. Not to give away too much, but Meg�s son gets caught in the middle of a shooting spree in his college class and is seriously injured. Turmoil ensues, and � well, you�ll just have to stay tuned!
What would be your dream vacation?
A tour of Ireland ! I have a soft spot for the Irish culture and history.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
I choose a place that�s familiar enough to write about. My first book and trilogy is set in Seattle , my second book and series is set in the San Francisco Bay Area (Golden State Trilogy). I spent a few years in both places. My third series is going to take place right here in Portland , and I�m going to call it Rose City Trilogy.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
My oldest son, because I rarely see him. J
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Hiking! I also am involved in various community activities involving singing and dancing. Those were my two passions before I started writing. I still enjoy singing and dancing, but writing has definitely captured my heart.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
My full-time job really interferes with my writing and other author-related activities like marketing and blogging. To overcome it, I try to get as much done on weekends and evenings as I can, but many times I�m too drained. I also take as many vacation days as I can. Alas, I�m not in a position to retire yet, although that�s my wish and my prayer.What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Develop a thick skin. Get objective feedback from other authors � join critique groups, find beta-readers. Enter contests � the feedback is invaluable. I entered contests almost as soon as I started writing seriously three years ago, and I tell you, that feedback went a long way toward assuring me I had the talent to keep going. In my first contest, they were like, You have the gift, now develop the craft.
Tell us about the featured book.
A conservative Christian mother wearies of her constant clashes with her defiantly gay daughter. When she is challenged by her prayer group to love Linzee as Christ would, she struggles to put it into practice. Then Linzee goes missing, and Meg finds herself uniting with the unlikeliest of allies as she searches for her daughter.
You can read the full blurb on the Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Storm-Christian-Contemporary-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01M0SQY8H/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Please give us the first page of the book.
Meg swept ruby red acrylic across the canvas, forming a span over gray-blue water. Streaks of raspberry pink infused the Golden Gate Bridge
Her phone chimed just as she added a dab of silver-gray to the fog rolling over the Bay.
Linzee�s picture graced the screen.
�Hey, you.�
�Hey, Mom.�
Instead of dull brown rock, vibrant kelly green formed the lookout spot at Point Bonita, complete with blinding white lighthouse.
�What time is Uncle Brad�s Fourth of July shindig?� Linzee said.
�Noonish.� More ruby red stretched to the sky. Those famous towers, supporting the weight of the structure on their graceful shoulders. Not everyone could paint and talk on the phone at the same time. But, like most moms, she could multi-task with the best of them.
�Good,� said Linzee. �I�m going to bring Nena.�
Meg paused, her red-tipped brush suspended above the canvas.
�You and the family will finally get to meet my significant other.�
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Thank you, Dawn, for sharing this book with us.
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