Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and president of the Christian Authors Network among other honors, Bonnie Calhoun is no stranger to the intersection of faith and fiction. In her latest novel Cooking The Books, she crafts the story of Sloane Templeton – a woman who’s life has just been turned upside down and inside out after her mother passes away of a heart attack…
WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE COOKING THE BOOKS: A SLOANE TEMPLETON MYSTERY?
I have a penchant for strong women action characters. I’ve always been a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider kinda girl, and then I found Stephanie Plum who is the antithesis of that, yet totally entertaining, so I decided to create my own character that melded both of those personality types together. Okay so maybe it’s really just all the voices in my head that want to get out … who knows?
STARTING OUT, WHO WERE THE AUTHORS WHO INSPIRED YOU? WHO INSPIRES YOU NOW?
That’s easy … way back it was Stephen King … yes I’ve read everything he wrote up to his accident in 1999. Coming into my writing journey though … and in order are … Jerry Jenkins, Brandilyn Collins, Robert Liparulo, and Janet Evanovich. Jerry made me decide to write, Brandilyn taught me suspense, Robert taught me action, and Janet taught me comedy.
I’m still reading Brandilyn and Robert, but I’m checking out some authors of dystopia. It has a nagging interest for me. There’s something about it percolating in my brain …
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
There’s no separation. My writing is an extension of my faith. My talent is to entertain. That is my gift from the Lord, and as long as what I write continues be edifying for those who read it, I will continue to write.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THAT YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
Technically since I was a teenager. I had been writing short stories and poetry, but most of it I chalked up to teenaged angst. To get to the ‘serious, really wanting to be a writer’ part … that came about since I read Jerry Jenkins’ Left Behind series.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
I’m working on a new novel for Abingdon Press. They have a new Quilts of Love series starting later this year, and I’m writing one of those called Pieces of the Heart that will come out in August 2013. And then hopefully more adventures for Sloane, and maybe even a dystopia.