Christian Books that can Entertain AND Uplift You

The “new and improved” version of my children’s mystery The Library Thief is coming to Amazon Kindle soon.  More below!

Marji Laine at Faith Driven Fiction invited me to a fun “blog hop”!  You can check out Marji’s answers to the blog hop book questions here:  http://marjilaine.com/2013/03/10/promoting-christian-authors/   I can’t wait to read her new book when it comes out!!  (You can also check out her co-authored books that are on Amazon.  I recently read Heart Bouquets and loved it!  http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Bouquets-ebook/dp/B00BE5Q5B8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363040320&sr=1-1&keywords=heart+bouquets )

So, here are my answers:

1. What is the working title of your book?  My book is The Library Thief.   Sorry, I can never change the title for sentimental reasons, for myself and my parents.  🙂  

2. Where did the idea come from?  I was 13 years old.  I loved mysteries and decided to write one of my own.  I was sitting in a room by myself, and suddenly I imagined someone coming in the front door of my empty house….!   (My imagination sometimes got me in trouble as a kid—sometimes I couldn’t walk down dark hallways…!)   Since I didn’t finish the book until 2010, my parents had to wait 27 years to find out who the Library Thief is.  🙂

3. What genre does your book fall under?  Children’s Christian Mystery (chapter book, for approximately ages 7-11)

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Grandma—Joan Hickson (Agatha Christie films:  Miss Marple)

Amanda—Emmy Clarke (Monk:  Julie Teeger)

Jane—Anna Sophia Robb (Because of Winn-Dixie:  Opal)

Nolan—Bailey Cave (Facing the Giants:  David)

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  The Johnson cousins and their friend work together to solve a 100-year-old mystery!

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The Library Thief is self-published as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

The new, improved version (including photos of real 100-year-old items!) will be available soon, maybe even this week!!

Let me know if you have the old version already, and I’ll email you the new one for free.  Eventually, I’ll also figure out how to offer it as a “free special” for a few days on Amazon, and I’ll post the link.  (Subscribe to my blog to keep up with the latest news.)

Here is a “sneak peek”:   The Library Thief sneak peek

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?     Hm.  The first draft took me probably five months or so back in 1983, plus another 20 months in 2009/2010.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?    I think the tone and length of my book is similar to The Boxcar Children series.  But there is definite Christian thread running through it.

 9. Give a poignant or profound quote from the story.   I don’t know if it’s profound or not, but my character Sierra (age 10) says, “Life isn’t about popularity.”  Maybe it’s profound for a 10-year-old.  🙂  

 10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Who was the intruder in Grandma’s little library?  What did he want?  Where is the treasure that Grandma’s fun-loving Grandma hid so many years ago?!  And what IS the treasure she left behind?

This mystery is full of children/youth who model kind, loving attitudes towards their siblings, friends, and parents (and Grandma).  The children love the thrill of the hunt and even learn a few things along the way.

Comprehension and discussion questions for your children are also included—handy for further learning and discussing!  (My prayer is that this leads children to grow in Christ, even though the main point of the book is a fun story.)

So, now I invite another Christian writer to step forward and do this as well!

K. Marie – http://thesongofmysoul.blogspot.com

Mention me and Black Hills Picture Books as your invite-er and spread the word!  Here are the instructions:

1. You write a blog answering the ten questions and post it during the week of March 25. Include links to the blogs of the writer(s) you invite (up to five writers). You also credit me as your host and include a link to the blog article I posted.

2. The writer(s) you invite answer the questions; each one puts that blog up the week after yours goes up. Each one credits you as their host and includes a link to your blog.

3. They, in turn, tag other writers, and the cycle continues.

YOUR TURN: Wanna play? Leave your blog in the comments section and ask me or the gal above to invite you! Plenty of room at this party!