Kade McKendrick is scarred and beat-hardened cop. But when a boy is found hiding in a dumpster clutching a book and too scared to speak, something softens inside of him. All he knows about this boy is that his name is Davey and that he instinctively trusts Sophie Bartholomew. As Kade tracks down Davey’s family and starts to solve the mystery, Sophie teaches the boy (and Kade himself) to trust and smile again. But Kade and Sophie are not only uncovering Davey’s story… they may just be writing their own.
WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE THE CHRISTMAS CHILD?
I knew I wanted to write a Christmas story for my Redemption River mini-series from Love Inspired, and this particular plot seemed to be a natural extension of the historic town, the eccentric old Dumpster divers and the sassy octogenarian handywoman. When I read an article about a mute child, my head starting spinning with ideas, and The Christmas Child began.
STARTING OUT, WHO WERE THE AUTHORS WHO INSPIRED YOU? WHO INSPIRES YOU NOW?
When I first began the quest for publication, there was no Christian romance that I knew of, so my inspirations were secular writers like Sharon Sala, Lavyrle Spencer, Victoria Holt, Nora Roberts. When I discovered Dee Henderson’s Christian romance, I knew I’d found what I wanted to write – wholesome books that rang real and true. Today, I’m inspired by all the authors dedicated to this important genre.
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
My faith is me, and so are my books. I don’t think I could separate the two. Even when I wrote secular books, I would write the faith element in the first draft. Though I don’t write specifically as a ministry, I realize my stories have depth and meaning beyond a few hours of entertainment. That’s important to me. I want God to be pleased with me in whatever I write.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
Since junior high school when I was forever scribbling poems and painfully melodramatic stories.
WHAT DO YOU MOST HOPE THAT READERS GET FROM READING YOUR WORK?
I want them to entertained, of course, but on a deeper level, I want them to feel hope and encouragement and to realize that God loves them no matter where they’ve been or what they’ve done. We all fall down, but if we let Him, God will pick us, dust off, and “make all things new”. I think that’s a powerful message.