Valerie Massey Goree is an American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner who resides with her husband on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.
After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Glenn and Valerie moved to Texas. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs. Now retired, Valerie spends her time writing, and spoiling her grandchildren.
In this interview, Valerie shares her thoughts on her latest novel, Justice At Dawn.
FF: What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have OCD tendencies, which impact my writing in a couple of ways. Each new novel is given a pocket folder where I keep info, details of the plot, or photographs of interest. Before I begin a story, I get a colored piece of paper (to make is easy to locate in my folder) and I write the alphabet down the right hand side. I usually have the names of my major characters in mind already, so for Cooper Callahan, for instance, I put a check mark to the left of the C for his first name, and a mark to the right for his last name. I do this for each character and also make a list of names I’ve used.
When I have to name a new character, I can see which letters haven’t been used and pick a name accordingly. That way, I don’t end up with two one-liner characters with the same name, and neither do I have several characters whose names begin with the same letter. That might not bother most readers, but for me as an author, I just can’t do it. One time I read a novel where – no kidding- 9 characters’ names began with the letter J! MY OCDness noticed! I keep my hand written notes and plot points, and characters descriptions etc in my folder, near at hand, which suits me perfectly.
FF: Introduce us to your hero and heroine. What are their strengths and weaknesses?
My hero is a gentleman, always on the lookout to help others. In this story, he helps an unaccompanied minor child at the airport. He listens to his coworkers, does his job without fanfare, and realizes his limitations. He puts life at risk to help others. He even risks causing permanent damage to his leg to keep his partner safe, [but] he has allowed an event from his childhood to color his present relationship with God.
My heroine is full of life although she’d been through adoption and a severe illness. In her words: “That’s why I grab life by its pointy little ears, and I intend to make the most of every opportunity.” She is adventurous, cares about kids, and is passionate about her faith, [but, she] talks too much, and she knows it. She even gives her trainer a little stop sign to use when she becomes too verbose. She doesn’t value herself without knowing why her mother abandoned her.
FF: What is one message readers can get out of your story?
Vengeance never pays. Holding grudges will cause bad mental health; not accepting personal responsibility will backfire. “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.” God is not a Satellite system. We need to pray over all decisions to access His guidance.
FF: Is there anything you’d like to add?
I can’t wait for readers to meet my heroine.
Justice At Dawn
Stolen Lives Series #3
Valerie Massey Goree
Pelican
Genres: Romance
Release Date: July 30, 2021
ASIN: B08V5L4Q91
Book Summary:
Cooper Callahan has been an International Retrieval Organization operative for fifteen years. In all that time he has never worked with a trainee like Kitty Claire Briggs. Overflowing with energy, KC isn’t quiet long enough for Cooper to think. But when the boss assigns them a training mission, KC’s serious side emerges.
Former stunt double, KC Briggs wants to be an agent, but she also has an ulterior motive to be accepted by IRO—she wants access to their superior technology. Can she locate her quarry without Cooper finding out?
As Cooper shares the finer points of surveillance with KC, his waning faith is strengthened by her enthusiasm for the Lord and for the job. When the training exercise turns into a real abduction, will KC’s naivete lead to death or to a successful conclusion to the case?
CLICK TO BUY
Buy Justice At Dawn from Amazon HERE!