Mary Alford Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I am a native Texan. My husband and I both have lived here all our lives. We’ve been married for 36 years and we have two sons, and three beautiful granddaughters.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. As soon as I learned to read, I was never without a book in my hand. I loved Nancy Drew, who first got me hooked on suspense. When I was a pre-teen, I discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and fell in love with the books they wrote. Soon, I tried my hand at writing and failed miserably. I didn’t try again until much later when I entered the Love Inspired Suspense “speed dating” contest and ended up getting a contract with them. Amish Country Kidnapping is my seventh Love Inspired Suspense book. I recently signed a contract to write 4 more Amish books.

Q: Do you find certain themes reoccurring in your books? If so, what are they and why? If not, what is the theme in your current release?
A. I like to grab the reader from page one and take them on a rollercoaster ride that will have them guessing who the bad guy is until the very end.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Amish Country Kidnapping?
A: Amish Country Kidnapping is my first Amish Suspense for Love Inspired. It brings together two people who were once in love as teenagers. Noah Warren broke Rachel Albrecht’s heart when he left without so much as a reason why, though their romance was destined to fail from the beginning since Noah was not Amish.
When someone breaks into Rachel’s home and tries to kidnap her, she is saved by Deputy Noah Warren. Soon, a deadly web of danger and past secrets unfold. Rachel’s life depends on her unraveling the secrets locked away in her head.

Q: Where did the idea for this story come from?
A. I love writing stories that bring together former love interests. There’s just something about second chance romance that stirs the heart. When you add in danger, and life and death situations, that’s my kind of story.

Q: Who/what has influenced your writing career the most?
A. I’ve been blessed to have many amazing Christian authors who are willing to answer any question I ask. I love that about them. And I thank them all.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. I am currently working on the first book of a new series from Love Inspired Suspense tentatively entitled Amish Family Honor. It will be coming out in November of this year.

Q: Is you were a dessert, what would it be and why?
A. Texas Best Chocolate cake, because I love it so much.

Q: Is there something about you most people wouldn’t know?
A. I am a huge Mountain Men fan. I love the whole idea of roughing it, living off the land, but I don’t think I could ever do the things those men and women do. I know my limits.

Q: Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?
A. Alaska. I would love to visit there one day. It seems so unspoiled.