Best-selling Christian Romantic Suspense author Colleen Coble‘s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 5 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers.
In this interview, Colleen talks with us about her latest book, Break of Day.
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
Readers have loved my Rock Harbor Series so much, and I wanted to catch up with the gang there. I decided a spin-off series made more sense, and I love 2nd chance romance stories. There are always unresolved conflicts in those kinds of novels that make for a fun story to write. There’s a surprise twist early on in the series that took 3 books to work out, and I hope readers enjoy it!
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
Annie Pederson is a law enforcement park ranger. She’s a widow with a daughter and she’s driven to find out what happened to her little sister who was kidnapped when she was five. That’s an important thread that weaves through the series. Jon Dunstan is an orthopedic surgeon (I know way more about orthopedic surgery than anyone should know from firsthand experience! He and Annie broke up when he went off to college. It takes a lot to resolve all their issues!
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
Annie knew a lot more about survival in the woods then I realized going into the series.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
There is emotion attached to story, and it penetrates to the heart in a personal way. As readers, we experience those same emotions and understand what our characters understand. I’m a voracious reader and always have a book in my hand. Story helps me see so many perspectives other than my own.
FF: What can you tell us about your next book?
I’m super excited to share my next standalone with readers! Fragile Designs is a story I’ve thought about for twenty years. A widow with an infant, Carly Harris finds a mysterious egg in her great-grandmother’s belongings, and it plunges her headfirst into mounting danger as she unravels the secrets of a missing Faberge egg.
FF: How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for your genre/audience?
I love romantic suspense. It’s what I read myself. I always travel to the location as well, and this time, I spent some time reading nonfiction about the great woods up north. I needed that sense of isolation and foreboding.
FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
There are several layers of 2nd chances, and I hope readers remember it’s never too late to make amends.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your specific genre?
Since I write suspense, it’s important to me to make sure readers still end up with hope at the end. I try hard not to dwell on the power of evil because God always wins. Yes, bad things can happen to us, but it’s not the end. There’s a popular song right now I love titled “Fear is Not My Future.” Nothing that happens in this life is our future—God is. Heaven is our future. Nothing can overcome us in this life because it’s not the end.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
My dear friend and fellow author, Diann Hunt, went home to be with the Lord 10 years ago this year, and I’ve been thinking a lot about her impact on my life. She faced ovarian cancer with such courage and faith. She taught me to face adversity with humor and a deep love for Jesus, no matter what. I was by her side when she stepped into heaven, and I caught a glimpse of it that night. If you’ve never read a Diann Hunt novel, find one! You’re in for a treat of laughter, love, and faith.
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
My faith is the lens through which I see the world. As I write this, I’ve been through a 2-week ordeal of not being able to see after cataract surgery. Yesterday the blurry lens that wasn’t working for me was replaced with a different kind and everything is suddenly vivid and true again. That’s how my faith impacts my life—it lets me see things clearly so I’m not consumed by fear.
Break of Day
An Annie Pederson Novel Series #3
Colleen Coble
Thomas Nelson
Genres: Mystery/Suspense Romantic Suspense
Release Date: July 4, 2023
ISBN-10: 0785253785
ISBN-13: 978-0785253785
Book Summary:
Annie Pederson’s happily ever after is finally within sight—If she can stay alive long enough to grasp it.
Law enforcement officer Annie Pederson’s life has been rocked by tragedy, but things finally seem to be heading in the right direction. Her relationship with the love of her life—who’s also the biological father of her precious daughter—has never been better, and it looks like an engagement ring is in Annie’s future. She’s also slowly building back trust with her sister, Sarah, after a separation that lasted for decades.
When a man escapes law enforcement custody and Sarah’s safety is suddenly in question, Annie’s personal and professional lives once again merge. Meanwhile, her investigation of hikers who have gone missing in the remote woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula puts her in the crosshairs of a deadly game.
Now, Annie is the one being hunted. When she discovers the terrible truth about the men who are stalking her, she realizes that she’s in for the fight of her life if she’s going to redeem the sister she once lost, build the family she dreams of, and keep all those she loves safe.
CLICK TO BUY
Buy Break of Day from the FF Store HERE!
CLICK TO BUY
Buy Break of Day from Amazon HERE!