PROTECTING HER CHILD INTERVIEW

Today we're welcoming Pete Worth, the hero of PROTECTING HER CHILD, by Debby Giusti, May 2009. 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.

Everything happens for a reason, and looking back, it’s easy to see God’s hand was guiding me. Growing up, Eve had been like a mother to me so when I saw her struggling I had to help. That meant trying to find the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty-four years ago. Young and unmarried, Eve had been forced to comply with her parents’ demand to find a home for the baby. At the time, no one knew Von Hippel-Lindau Disease would produce tumors throughout Eve’s body, eventually turning malignant. As much as Eve wanted to reconnect with her daughter, she also needed to warn Meredith about the life-threatening illness she may have inherited.

I went into research to find answers to VHL and to help all those who suffer from the disease, especially Eve. When I found Meredith – a pregnant widow on the run – I knew my main priority was to keep her safe from both VHL and the men who wanted her dead.

2. So, during the book you met Meredith Lassiter. Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

What’s Meredith like? Her smile reminds me of sunshine and soft, summer breezes over the South Georgia seaside where we first met. She makes my soul sing and my spirit soar, and without her I’d be lost. But she’s also strong and resourceful as well as determined and committed to protecting those she loves.

I fell in love with Meredith the instant I saw her, although I didn’t know it at the time. I just knew she was special and made me feel like I could and would do anything to keep her and her unborn child safe.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

As I said, my background’s medical research, and I’ve been in the military so I can take care of myself, which helped when Meredith and I were on the run. Because of what happened in the past, I’d always been a loner and carried some of the bitterness of that earlier time with me. By saving Meredith, I was also able to save myself. Once I learned the truth, I had my own healing of sorts.

My weakness had been my stubborn independence. When I met Meredith all that changed. I need her in my life. Actually, the way I feel now is that she is my life.

4. What scares you?

Not knowing whether Meredith had VHL scared me, and of course, when her life was in danger and I couldn’t find her, I didn’t know what to do. That’s when I had to turn to God. Since then, I’ve put my trust in Him.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

If I could go back in time, I never would have broken ties with Eve. She had been so important to me as a child, but my own pain and hurt got in the way. Probably pride too.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?

At the onset of the story, I didn’t need God. I could take care of myself. That’s a foolish way to think, and as you can imagine, I had a lot to learn.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

Thankfully, Meredith and Eve helped me turn back to the Lord and accept his forgiveness and love. I now know that if I put Him first, everything else falls into place.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. --Jeremiah 1:5

God is the Divine Creator. He fashioned all of us in His image and likeness. Man is inherently good, but we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Once I accepted the Lord, I was overwhelmed with love for the Father, for Eve, the baby and especially for Meredith.

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

Dessert? Apple pie a la mode. I’m patriotic and dedicated to the USA where dreams do come true. Mine did. I hope yours will too.

To learn more about Debby Giusti and her books, go to www.DebbyGiusti.com

murder and mercy

When the Barbour started up their mystery club, a few folks were startled that their Christian cozy mysteries had murders in them. How can killing fit into an inspirational book? The question amuses me because the most inspirational book of all, the Bible, is full of violence. As a matter of fact, the world is full of violence, wouldn’t you agree? That’s why we desperately need our Christian faith to give us something to hang onto in this treacherous world. So why put a murder in a Christian fiction book? Because it allows for the expression of that rock solid faith amidst the backdrop of spine tingling uncertainty. Faith doesn’t keep us out of trouble, and our books should reflect that fact. Plus, I need to confess, I do enjoy delivering that firm stroke of justice that often escapes evildoers in this life. In Christian suspense, you know the bad folks will be punished. You know spirits will be redeemed and the protagonists will wind up in a reasonably happy relationship. It’s what people long for in their day to day lives and we authors are blessed enough to deliver it in the pages of our books. Life and death, heartache and happiness, blend together in a soul satisfying read.

Famous authors and their pets

Hello, from a new craftie lady! I’m Dana Mentink, author of three Harlequin LIS books and a Heartsong Presents mystery series. I’d like to say I live a glamorous life with limo rides and people to follow me around and arrange bits of my life. In truth, I’m the farthest thing from glam that a middle aged mommy type can be. Recently, I decided to investigate the lives of some uber famous authors and see what their lives have in common with mine. You know what I found? What’s the one thread that binds me with the four great authors I researched? We all have faithful companions of the animal variety. I myself have a dog rescued from starvation and a turtle with foot problems. More on that later. Let’s check in with some rich and craftie authors, and see who hangs out in their lives.

Janet Evanovich shares office space with her beloved parrot Ida. He’s 24 years old and she describes him as “quite rude.” Janet gets up every morning at 5 a.m. to write when it’s just her and the parrot. How’s that for a faithful companion?

Ernest Hemmingway was a cat lover. He had 30 pet cats and the most unusual was a six toed cat given to him by a ship’s captain.

Sue Grafton is also a cat lover. She cares for Beau, a feral cat, and Molly and Emma, the more domestic variety. Emma insists on keeping a cardboard box in the kitchen so she can keep tabs on the comings and goings of the household.

Charles Dickens owned Turk the mastiff, but his favorite pet was a pet raven named Grip. When Grip passed, Charles had him stuffed. The bird now resides in the Free Library on Logan Circle in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

So there you have it! The key to being an uber famous author of mystery and suspense? Share your life with a pet! How many of you out there share your hearts with something furry or feathery? Write in and tell us all about it.

“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” –Charles Dickens

Julia Child was a SPY!!

With news this week that Julia Child was secretly working as a spy for the CIA during WWII, it got me thinking about our romance heroines. We write about ordinary women who find themselves in extraordinary situations. My favorite type of story! All that time we thought Julia was just baking pastry, she was living a double life! How cool is that?

I love stories about the WWII era for several reasons. Some of my favorite romantic suspense movies take place during that era. Shining Through, starring Melanie Griffith and Michael Douglas is one that I could watch over and over again. Every Time We Say Goodbye staring Tom Hanks is another wonderful romance.

But there are personal reasons why WWII is something of interest to me. My husband is first generation America. His parents lived through and survived WWII Germany. They were not soldiers. They were ordinary citizens who were caught in the crossfire. The stories I've heard from my mother in law, Johanna, about being bombed in the middle of the night, having to flee their home, having to scrounge for food, having to dig deep in her soul for courage when soldiers were marching just yards away as they slept, dealing with not knowing if her father was alive or dead after being taken from their home in the middle of the night and put in a concentration camp for refusing to put a picture of Adolf Hitler on his wall. Then being sent to the Russian Front. (I always remember how much Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes always shuddered at the thought of being sent to the Russian Front.)

They needed to rely on their faith in God to see them through. And when they survived, they came to America in search of freedom. I love watching my mother in law's face when she talks about coming into Ellis Island and seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. I always tell her that she survived just so she could come to America and bring me my family. She's a strong woman and a fabulous example of a great romance heroine.

These are stories that I've always wanted to pass on to my four children to let them know what their grandparents and great-grandparents went through to give them freedom. One day I will write these stories down and perhaps put them in stories that I can share with my readers. I love the fact that Love Inspired Historicals is including the WWII era in their lineup of books. I'll be sure to pick up every copy!