Nancy Mehl Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. 

A. I’m married, with one amazing son. On Christmas day, 2012, I changed my name to Nana! My grandson, Aidan Jackson Mehl, is one of the biggest joys of my life. Last year, my husband and I moved from our hometown of Wichita, Kansas to Festus, Missouri, so we could be near my son, Danny, his wife, Shaen, and Aidan. It was one of the best things we ever did. We’re very happy here.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. I was forty-five years old before I finally gave writing a try. I’d been watching Murder, She Wrote and decided I wanted to be Jessica Fletcher! LOL!

Q: What do you write and why this genre?

A. I love mystery and suspense. It’s what I like to read so it makes sense that it’s what I’d end up writing.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up

A: A combination. I don’t think I’ve ever created a character solely based on a real person, but I have used certain qualities from people I know or characters I enjoy from TV and movies.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release, Gathering Shadows?

A: Gathering Shadows is about a young woman named Wynter Evans, a television reporter who has had to overcome tragedy in her life. When she was a teenager, her brother, Ryan, was kidnapped. The authorities believed he was captured and murdered by a serial killer who had been abducting young boys in the same area. But Ryan’s body was never found, and although the killer bragged about his other crimes, he never admitted to taking Ryan. Through the years, Wynter has had dreams about Ryan. In these dreams, he was calling to her. Asking her to find him. Then one day, someone shows Wynter a picture of a Conservative Mennonite family that lives in a small Missouri town called Sanctuary. The boy in the picture looks remarkably like Ryan. Wynter goes to Sanctuary, claiming only to be interested in including the small town in a special she’s working on about unique places in Missouri. She finds the boy, but before she can confront him or the people who call themselves his parents, they disappear. Now, along with Sanctuary’s handsome young mayor, Wynter is desperately trying to find them before the boy is lost to her forever. Unfortunately, someone else seems determined to stop her. As she tries to keep herself and her friends safe, revelations from the past will force her to rethink everything she thinks she knows about her life.

Be sure to check out this amazing trailer for the video.

Q: Where did the idea for this story come from?

A. My head. (Smile) It started out as an idea about a kidnapping and developed from there.

Q: Tell us a little about your main character and how you developed him/her?

A: I began to create Wynter Evans based on the idea of the kidnapping. How would someone react to a situation like that? Is there guilt? A feeling that she should have kept her brother safe? And how would the situation affect her family? Does she have a problem trusting people now? There were lots of questions I asked myself based on the very first premise. Little by little, I began to understand her, and from that, I was able to put her on paper.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A. Actually, I’m writing the third book in the Finding Sanctuary series. This story is rather unique. I’m bringing back two characters from my Road to Kingdom series, Sophie Wittenbauer and Jonathon Weise. Sophie is working as a reporter on a large Missouri newspaper. She’s gotten information that might lead to catching a man who robbed an armored car agency years earlier. Four people were killed and the mastermind has never been captured. Someone tells her that the man is hiding in the small town of Sanctuary, Missouri. She goes there and realizes that it reminds her of the community she left behind years earlier. The situation brings back unresolved feelings that she will finally have to deal with. She is also shocked to find Jonathon living there. He is the man she loved when she was a teenager. Although she has convinced herself that her feelings for him weren’t real – just unrequited puppy love – when she sees him again her ardor for him is reignited.

Q: What are some ways that readers of your books can help you as an author?

A. Buy them! LOL! And if you like my books, spread the word. Word of mouth is much more valuable than most people realize. Also, write reviews on sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and ChristianBook.com.

Q: What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

A. Don’t be offended it I can’t talk on the phone or spend a lot of time emailing you. I am usually on a deadline. Even though I’m at home, I’m not always available. It isn’t that I don’t like you – I’m just working!

Q: Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

A.  I am a Doctor Who fanatic. I hate the color orange. I detest most reality TV.

Q: Milk or dark chocolate? Coffee or tea?

A. Usually, it would be dark chocolate. Except for my very favorite candy, Lindor Truffles. I love those milk chocolate truffles!  Coffee. With Stonecold Creamery Cream from International Delight!

Q: Favorite TV show or shows?

A. Doctor Who, The Blacklist, Castle, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Blue Bloods, and The Middle.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? 

A. www.nancymehl.com, www.nancymehl.blogspot.com, www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, and on Facebook.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?  

A. Just thank you for allowing me to visit the The Suspense Zone!