Welcome to Nantahala, a beautiful, safe town, or is it? LAND OF THE NOONDAY SUN:

Readers asked...so here are the answers. Have more after reading...ask away! And, as you'll read at the bottom of the post, I do listen to readers. J

Land of theNoonday Sun 

Where did the idea of this book come from?

It’s a weird story actually and most people—unless you are a writer—may not get it, but here goes. 

I don’t sketch out my ideas or plot out my books. A line or a prompt will come to me via a song, a line I hear someone say, or simply walking across the floor of an outdoor center in high heels.  

Okay, sounds crazy but that’s exactly what happened. While shopping for a gift for my husband, wearing business attire and high heels, which were clicking along the hardwood floors in my favorite outdoor store in Charlotte, I thought to myself, “Who would believe I’m an avid hiker or whitewater kayaker?” 

That was all it took. I opened up my notes in my iPhone and started jotting down thoughts. My question: how does a city girl end up owning an outdoor store in the middle of nowhere? 

From there, I just start typing. Sometimes I even start in the middle of the story and then go back and fill in the blanks.

What genre would your book fall under?

Women's Fiction / Mystery / Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Without a doubt, now that he’s old enough, Zac Efron would play the lead male role.

I don’t know her personality, but Mila Kunis is almost exactly how I pictured Cassandra. (I couldn’t find an image that I could use, so please click link to see.) 

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams, they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known as Land of the Noonday Sun. 

How long did it take you to write it?

It takes me about two months to write a book, but I spend about eighteen months polishing it to where I want it.

What other books in your genre would you compare it to?

I don’t know that I could really pinpoint books that are similar to mine because I have tried to break out into a new style of writing. But… I’ve been told if you mix Nicholas Sparks, Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steel, and Iris Johansen, you’d come close.  

Then again, one reader said my first book, She Belongs to Me, reminded her of Twilight meets Pretty Woman—without vampires and streetwalkers, of course. I don’t know that I see that, but it certainly didn’t offend me. 

Which authors inspired you to write this book?

Hmm…again. No specific author inspired me to write this novel or any novel; I’ve been writing stories as long as I’ve been able to hold a pen. I will say that my first favorite writer was Sidney Sheldon, and if you look at my Goodreads profile, you’ll see I’ve read almost everything from Ted Dekker and Tina Wainscott/Jaime Rush. 

Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book. 

Land of the Noonday Sun was inspired by the beautiful town of Nantahala, where my husband and I have spent countless hours kayaking and hiking. The area is a stunning backdrop for a romantic-suspense novel with its waterfalls, mountains, deep gorges, and spectacular sunsets over the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Although I often start with tragic events that influence my characters’ lives, I make sure I introduce you to my protagonists so that you will have an intimate relationship, hopefully making you feel their pleasure—and their pain.

Now if this post interested you at all, you may want to get your copy now, because per readers' request, I wrote a spin-off, When Noonday Ends, which is now available.

See my interview of the Kayak Guide Hottie here!

Or, just download the book to meet my characters.

According to readers, Land of the Noonday Sun has… "Passionate characters, beautiful settings, true love, and a bang-up mystery"

Find both books at all Major eBook Retailers!

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Google Play
iTunes/iBooks
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Zac Efron image credit: harveysart / 123RF Stock Photo