What do you consider the essential qualities of a leading woman and leading man?
I think it’s essential that a leading woman be: relatable, kind, intelligent, and brave.
I think it’s essential that a leading man be: sacrificial, sympathetic, strong, independent.
Do you base your characters on real people?
No, I prefer to build my characters in my imagination. I’ll visit Pinterest and find images that might suit a certain aspect of a character. For example, I’ll pin an image of the clothing my heroine might wear to work, or an image of a man who has a hair style similar to my hero’s.
Beyond that, I try to flesh my characters out—their quirks, their dreams, their appearance, their fears, and everything else that makes a person unique—in my mind. It’s only when I have the characters very clear in my own head that I can begin to make them “come to life” on the page.
What do you hope readers come away with after reading Falling for You?
Falling for You’s theme is reconciliation. I hope that this novel refreshes my readers’ hope in God’s powerful ability to reconcile all things—in His time and in His way. Because I write love stories, it’s also always my hope that readers come away from my books with a happy sigh, a happily-ever-after glow, and a smile.
Click through to learn how winning the Christy Award has impacted her writing…