Mistletoe and Mayhem Author Q&A with Janice Thompson
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
This book was inspired by a real life event that took place in our family back in the 90s. My mother and step-father lived on a 63-acre ranch in the Mabank Texas area. We always drove up from the Houston area to spend Christmas with this. On this one particular Christmas we saw smoke off in the distance as we drew near. When we got to their street we realized that the field across from them was fully ablaze and moving rapidly toward their property. We stopped to pray, then went to work, helping hose down their property. In the end, they were completely spared, a true Christmas miracle.
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
RaeLyn is the main character. She’s a Texas girl, through and through. When she’s not busy helping her family out at the ranch (or at the antique store they started in the barn) she’s solving local mysteries. Her fiance is Mason, who is a charming southern guy with a great personality and giving heart. In this final book in the series they are planning their outdoor wedding, a lovely Christmas event. They meet a huge challenge when a fire threatens to put a stop to their plans.
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
I’m always surprised by RaeLyn’s aunt, Bessie Mae. I see a lot of myself in her. She’s the head cook and baker in the household, but as a newlywed, she’s now living away from the family in a new home. I wasn’t sure how I would incorporate her into this final story, but I managed! And boy, did I have fun with her character!
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
Those of us who weave Christian stories are keenly aware that story is the perfect avenue to share godly truths. Jesus spoke in parables, after all! He knew the people love a good story. Don’t believe it? The next time you’re in church and the preacher says, “Let me tell you a story!” watch as the congregation sits up a little straighter. We see ourselves in characters, which is one of the reasons we so easily relate to fiction.
FF: What can readers expect from the rest of this series?
This is the final book in the series. I was sad to see it end and hope my readers enjoy the wrap-up.
FF: What kind of research did you do for this book?
My mother passed away in 2017 and my step-dad has been gone a lot longer than that. I live about three hours away from Mabank, so a trip was in order! I drove up with a good friend and we spent the day going from place to place, so that I could take pictures. We visited the lake, several of the local shops, and even had a delicious lunch in Gun Barrel City.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing mysteries?
Cozy mysteries are hard! There are so many suspects to keep up with, and each has his (or her) own motive. The stories are always filled with multiple twists and turns, and keeping up with it all is very difficult for me. (Hey, I’m the most A.D.D. person you’ll ever meet!) I always love it when the story comes together in the end.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
My favorite book—going all the way back to childhood—is Little Women. I think I felt connected to Jo March, who always had ink-stained fingers. These days my fingers are clean, but I carry the spirit of so many female authors who paved the way. Without them, the world would be a much drearier place.
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
My faith is everything to me. The call to write—and it is a call—is one I don’t take for granted. I could never managed to pen 80,000 words (let alone 8 words) if I didn’t feel called to write. God placed this “urge” in my heart to share the gospel message through story, and it has been a privilege.
