Janet Sketchley Interview

Q: How did you get your start writing fiction and what genre do you predominantly write in?
A. Short answer first: my main genre is Christian suspense/mystery. And it all started with a dark “what if” question that wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it. Many years—and revisions—later, that turned into my debut novel, Heaven’s Prey.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release, Hidden Secrets?
A: The secrets of Captain Hiltz may not have died with him.

When Landon Smith returns to the Green Dory Inn, she finds innkeeper Anna Young still shaken by the recent vandalism and unable to cope when the inn is targeted in an online vendetta. Prickly neighbour Bobby Hawke can help with Anna’s cyber woes, but when the attacks escalate to physical threats, Landon and Bobby must work together to unmask the culprit.

A cryptic message about a tunnel points to the property’s original owner, a notorious Prohibition-era sea captain rumoured to have left hidden wealth. Contraband, treasure, evidence of things better left buried…

How far will Anna’s enemy go to claim the tunnel and its contents? Protecting Anna will require courage and faith as Landon battles the locals’ attitudes and the scars of her past. Even then, she and Bobby are tracing the faintest of clues. With Anna on the brink of emotional collapse—and danger rising like the tide—time is running out.

Q: What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Least?
A: There’s a bit of banter between some of the characters, which I enjoyed. Plus I’m very fond of some of them. And I have a thing about Corvettes, so I included one. Least pleasant part? That would definitely be discovering the depths of trauma in certain characters’ backstories. In the novel, some are healing and some are not, but what’s buried in the past is pretty dark in places. The heroine, Landon, is a survivor of human trafficking, and others’ lives were affected by a child molester. No wonder I had to add some light-hearted moments to lighten the tone!

Q: What is the main theme or spiritual message of this book?
A: Hope. Maybe the reason I needed to write about Landon as a survivor was to declare the possibility that even after extreme trauma there is hope of healing and of a good future.

Q: What does your writing space look like?
A: I plan and plot with graph paper and pencil, and you can find me anywhere for that stage. Once I start writing I’m in what my kids dubbed “the snuggle chair,” which is now wedged into a corner of my bedroom. Since my writing corner isn’t very photogenic, and since I’m in the planning/plotting stage while answering these questions, here’s a photo of where I enjoyed working this summer: on my back deck.

Q: What part of a writing career do you find most difficult?
A. Time management! Because I don’t check into an office or punch a clock, it’s so easy to allow household chores, errands, or email to erode my writing time. Once I start, I can focus, but so often there’s “just one more thing” to do first.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. There are at least two more stories in the Green Dory Inn Mystery series, and I’m deep into plotting the next one. It doesn’t concern the inn directly like the first two books have, but Landon is still based there. She’s involved in a mystery with Ciara, a minor character to date. Anyone who’s familiar with the series will know these two women have a strained relationship. As for me, I have a strained relationship with Ciara’s Chihuahua, Moxie. We’ll see how that turns out! We’ll also see if Landon and Bobby can get started on a relationship. If this series extends beyond four books, it’ll be because they’re such slow movers.

Q: If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?
A. I’m assuming I can’t say Jesus, or people now-dead. So… Teaching dinners! Preferably in small groups because I don’t like one-on-one with strangers. I’d love to hear how Timothy Zahn crafts such fantastic twist endings (and go a little fan-girl over some of my favourite books). And after listening to an interview with Jen Ledger from the band Skillet, I’d love to hear more from her on fear and faith.

Q: Do you have a favorite hobby?
A. I read so much that it feels like it’s just part of life, so I guess for a hobby I’d say I enjoy knitting and cross-stitch.

Q: What is the most rewarding thing you have ever done?
A. Raising three fine men in a world where we need more kind people. (Not that I can take credit for their choices!)