Nancy Mehl

Nancy Mehl’s first novel was published in 2001. Since then ten books have followed, including an omnibus edition, Cozy in Kansas, which contains three of her previously published Ivy Towers’s mysteries. Book three in the series, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Mystery Book of the Year award (now called the Carol Award) in 2009. She is currently busy writing a new series for Bethany House.

Nancy’s main writing interests lie in mystery and suspense. “There’s a touch of mystery in everything I write,” she says. “The truth is that the lines between suspense and mystery are closer than most people realize. I think the mystery influence will always show up in my novels.”

Nancy’s books have all been set in Kansas. “I love Kansas,” she says. “We’re a lot more interesting than people think. Using Kansas in my novels is easy. We have everything – big cities, small towns, rolling hills, rich farmland, culture, history, odd locations (look up The Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas!) and a friendly hometown feeling. “We also enjoy all four seasons. This allows me to set my stories in different weather conditions. Winter is my favorite season. Throw lots of snow in a story and your plot can suddenly go in an interesting direction.”

Nancy lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband Norman and her very active puggle, Watson. She is president of a volunteer organization, Wichita Homebound Outreach. She is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She and her husband attend Believer’s Tabernacle.