Vanishing Act Interview

Today we're welcoming Nora James, the heroine of Vanishing Act, by Liz Johnson, August 2010.


Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
I had no idea that my dad was mixed up in a money laundering scheme until I was kidnapped by thugs. When he came to meet my kidnappers in an alley, I saw them shoot him, and I ran. I ran all the way to Colorado, where I hid out for a year and a half working at a mechanic. Little did I know that a ruthless assassin was after me until FBI Agent Nate Andersen showed up in town. I didn’t know he was looking for me, but I’m sure glad he found me!

2. So, during the book you met Nate Andersen. Tell us a bit about him. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
When I first met Nate, he was sleeping in his car, waiting for the mechanic to arrive. I was a bit annoyed that he immediately assumed I wasn’t the mechanic just because I’m a woman. I noticed that, and his steel-blue eyes. Shortly after that, he started showing up all over, including the class I was teaching at the community college. But when I started feeling like someone was watching me and then an SUV ran me off the road, I was so grateful to be able to run to him. Literally. When I was chased through the woods, I ran for his apartment. I think I first knew it was love he put a bag of peas on my ankle.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I surprised even myself at my fast I picked up the ability to fix cars. And when my boss asked me to fill in for him teaching the Auto Mechanics 101 class at the local community college, I couldn’t refuse him. Nate said I was a pretty good teacher, too. But I’m also pretty stubborn. When Nate tried to get me to go back to Portland with him, I refused to go. I had a good reason, of course, but I couldn’t be swayed.

4. What scares you?
I was terrified of being discovered by the men who shot my dad. Terrified of standing out in a crowd.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d definitely want to be braver during the hard times early on. I wish I hadn’t been so scared when I first started feeling like someone was watching me.
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
At the start of my story, I was afraid of trusting anyone. I was afraid of relying on someone else. I was worried that I’d let them down, just like I’d let my dad down. I couldn’t even trust that God could handle the things I was afraid of.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
By the end of the story, I’d learned that God was in control all along. He showed up by bringing Nate to me to help me through the most difficult time in my life. God rescued me and saved me even though I didn’t realize how much danger I was in at first. He proved himself faithful in my life, renewing my faith in His ability to control everything that scared me. That gave me new strength to face each day.
8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
My scripture is 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Clearly fear was a real problem for me, but God has overcome all of that and given me a spirit of power and love. That’s a promise.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

Well my life has certainly been filled with ups and downs, so I guess I’d be a great big bowl of Rocky Road ice cream.

Thank you Liz for sharing Nora with us today. This sound so exciting!