Gayla K. Hiss Interview

Q: How long have you been writing and what other careers or jobs have you had?
A. I’ve been writing in some capacity for most of my life. Before my first novel was published, I worked in the field of information technology, developing software applications and writing technical documents. Generating software is surprisingly similar to creative writing. It requires a good grasp of the language you’re using, a structure for combining words and symbols together that can be interpreted in a coherent way, as well as logic, analysis, and creativity.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Dangerous Ground?
A: It’s the second book in my Peril in the Park series and takes place at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the fall. The story begins when Deputy Marshal Kate Phillips, who was introduced to readers in the first book, Avalanche, receives an anonymous note that leads her to Tyler’s Glen, a charming rural community in the Smokies. Soon after she arrives in search of answers about her uncle’s suspicious death, Kate finds herself at the center of an ancient family feud and a land dispute. She also meets David Jennings, a handsome first responder who always seems to be there when she needs him. However, he has a disturbing obsession with her uncle’s property, as do a number of people Kate encounters. Secrets abound in the small farming community, including one that could threaten Kate’s life and any future she might have with David.
Q: Where did you get your inspiration for this story?
A: Having grown up in Tennessee, like my heroine Kate, I’ve always been drawn to the Smokies. Since all of my books in the Peril in the Park series are set in national parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the natural choice for this story. I’ve been to the Smokies several times, usually in autumn, around the peak foliage season, so when I think of the Smokies, I picture the mountains in full autumn splendor. That’s why the story takes place in the fall.

There is also has an underlying theme involving the land. Tyler’s Glen is a fictional farming community near Cades Cove, an actual historic settlement in the national park. Grace Holbrook is an interesting character who lives in an old farmhouse and raises chickens and sharecrops her land like my grandparents did in rural Kentucky. When I was growing up, I spent quite a bit of time with my grandparents on their farm, and I drew from those cherished experiences in creating the rural setting for the town of Tyler’s Glen.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: That in Christ we are never alone.

Q: How do you choose your settings for your books?
A. I mentioned earlier that each book in the Peril in the Park series is set in a national park. Since I like to include romantic suspense and adventure in my stories, I look for specific national parks that have interesting features with a lot of opportunities for adventure.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up?
A: All of my characters are fictional, but I’m sure they may have similarities to people I’ve come across. I usually start with a plot first and my characters evolve with the plot. It’s fun to learn new things about my characters as I go. They keep surprising me!

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. I’m writing the third book of the Peril in the Park series, called Wildfire. It’s set in Rocky Mountain National Park. The hero is Dylan Veracruz, who was a teenager in Dangerous Ground.

Q: If money were no object what vacation would you like to take and why?
A. Hmm. I’m not sure where it would be, but it would have to include a beach, sunshine, and great food.

Q: What is the silliest thing you have ever done?
A. I’m very double-joined and sometimes I like to see people’s shocked reactions when I flex my arms so they look like they’re backwards.

Q: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
A. To be honest, I think writing a good story is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever undertaken. There is so much that’s involved, such as research, creativity, analysis, etc. However, because writing a good story is so demanding, it’s also very rewarding when all the pieces come together.