"Great Mystery" - Sprinkled with Sabotage by Allison Pearl - Interview
“Making it in the craft is being brave enough to take something from your brain, put it on paper and show it to somebody.” —Allison Pearl on making it as an author
Sprinkled with Sabotage
Lizzy Bennet loves life as a lawyer in the city. And not just because of the miles it puts between her and her ex. However, when she’s attacked on the street just hours after learning her identity was stolen, she tries to call home for help and ends up with the last person she expects: the very same high school boyfriend who broke her heart. He says he’s there to help, but she’s not so sure, and now, all the endless questions and regrets are clouding her judgment and preventing her from seeing the dangerous saboteur closing in.
Small-town auto mechanic, Koby Knightly, is looking forward to seeing a car show in the city. But when an unexpected call from his old girlfriend disconnects suddenly, he rushes to her aid. Throwing his plans out the window, Koby makes it his mission to protect her and discover the identity of the person trying to frame her. Will he also be able to figure out what went wrong between them back in high school or will a killer get to her first?
In the author's words . . .
Q&A with Allison Pearl
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
It does both. And somehow it does it at the same time. There are times during a first draft, when everything is so new, that I’ll sit down and start typing and the next time I look up hours have passed. I feel like I could write forever and what’s more is that I want to. I want to push through until I can write ‘The End.’ But on the second through fifteenth drafts—not an exaggeration—it feels like I’m constantly running up hill. My body is tired. My brain is telling me to stop. I need a break. But I know that when I reach the top, I’ll be in love again and ready to do it all over.
How does your faith inform your writing?
I don’t know that it informs my writing, it’s more like it’s woven into the fabric of it. It’s through my faith that I see and navigate the world. I couldn’t separate it from my books even if I wanted to. And I don’t. I want to write as well as read stories of characters that share my faith facing interesting, difficult, or seemingly impossible challenges. I want people to discover God, question God, and just be real. Because we can’t love God until we can be honest with Him.
Books & Benche: Beautifully put, Allison!
If you were to genre-hop, which genres would you most like to try writing?
I think I would go full sci-fi/fantasy. My book shelf proportions largely favor those genres. I seem to always have a Stephen King on my nightstand or whatever new fantasy novel is out at a given time. I love the near infinite directions those authors can take a story. There’s always something new or haunting that sticks with you long after you turn the last page.
Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?
I cannot write in silence. If I tried, I’d probably bite my nails to the cuticles while staring at a blank screen. That being said, I can’t listen to music with lyrics as I work either. The words distract me and I just end up doing karaoke at my desk. Movie soundtracks or classical is where I end up. If you’re a writer thinking about going that route though, beware. The wrong Hans Zimmer track might take your story somewhere you don’t want it to go.
Books & Benche: Karaoke would definitely be distracting! :)
Do you believe in the concept of a muse?
Not for myself. I think inspiration is a choice. You have to be on watch for it. Actively looking for it. When I think of a muse, it takes the responsibility off of me and the motivation away. Instead of brainstorming or exploring, should I sit and wait for some magic muse before I can type or write a word? No. If you want to write a story, grab a pen and paper or a laptop and start writing. Find the story. Don’t wait for it to come to you.
Books & Benche: Thank you for a lovely interview, Allison.
The Author
Allison Pearl is a small-town girl who’s lived just about everywhere. She loves books, tea, chocolate, and watching old movies with her husband, black lab, and orange tabby. She is a Christian Suspense author of the 'Love and Danger in St. Claire' series.
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Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Type: Novel
Release Date: October 27, 2020
Content Note: 1 Heart
1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Ends November 29, 2020. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Prism Book Tours.
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