Discover more about
Nancy Mehl
and her romantic suspense
Gathering Shadows
Bethany
*******
A favourite childhood book of yours
I loved all of the Nancy Drew books. I also had one favourite that most people have probably never heard of. It was titled “Miss Jellytot’s Visit” by Mabel Leigh Hunt. I recently bought an old copy to add to my library. Believe it or not, I also loved every book written by Charles Dickens. My mom bought the entire collection for me, and I read them all before I was sixteen. I donated the collection to my son’s school when he was young. Someday, I intend to replace it.
Do you remember the title of the first story you ever wrote? What was it about?
I do remember. It was called “Danny Goes to the Circus.” I was seven. I wrote it (and illustrated it) for my little brother. Obviously, it was about going to the circus! LOL!
If you weren’t a writer, what career would you/did you/do you have pursued?
Actually, I spent many years working in social services before I started writing full time. I like helping people. But secretly I think I should have been in the CIA. Uh, oh. I guess it’s not a secret now!
Why do you write stories?
Because my publisher would be upset if I didn’t? LOL! Actually, I write because I truly believe it’s my calling. I take that calling very seriously and pray over every book I write, asking God to speak to my readers in whatever way He wants to.
Gathering Shadows
Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn’t take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can’t pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station’s photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.
Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town’s handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family’s past hides in the shadows, it’s clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she’s searching for hidden forever–even if the cost is Wynter’s very life.
Describe your novel in 5 adjectives
Suspenseful. Emotional. Spiritual. Mysterious. Romantic.
Please share a little about one of your main characters
I’m going to pick Zac Weikal, a young photographer who accompanies my main character, Wynter Evans, to Sanctuary, Missouri. This was a fun character to create because I used the name of a friend even though the Zac I know is very different from the fictional Zac. I decided to give my young photographer a ponytail. I’ve never had a male character with a ponytail, but I found that it helped to show his artistic, eccentric side. It was fun to tease the real Zac about the ponytail. I don’t think he’ll ever grow one though. LOL!
What spiritual theme or question does your story deal with?
Gathering Shadows is about a young woman whose life revolves around a moment in time – the day her younger brother was kidnapped. The rest of the family has moved on, convinced Ryan was murdered by a serial killer. But Wynter keeps having dreams that Ryan is calling out for her, asking her to find him. She’s never given up hope that she will see him again, but in the meantime, she is full of unforgiveness and is no longer willing to trust anyone.
Unfortunately, many people’s lives are hampered by the past and circumstances that can’t be changed. What happened to them is still alive and well in their hearts and minds, shaping their present and their future. Gathering Shadows deals with these kinds of strongholds in our lives.
Share a recent movie or tv show that you have loved, and why?
Actually, I love The Middle. The Hecks aren’t perfect and they make mistakes. Their lives seem to be made up of the things we’ve done and don’t want anyone to know about. For example, Frankie, the wife, rarely cooks. Picking up burgers and fries for her family is her way of “making dinner.” They are usually late for everything, and sometimes Frankie only has time to wash her underarms before going to work! Well, you get the idea. But the Hecks really love each other, and I adore them. None of us are perfect, but when I watch The Middle, I end up feeling much better about myself. And I also love their daughter, Sue. Her brother describes her as a “dork optimist.” No matter what happens, she always searches for the positive side of things. And she never gives up. I’m kind of the same way.
What novel are you working on now?
Book three of my Sanctuary series. Just started it, but I’m excited to write this one. It brings back two characters from my Road to Kingdom series. I felt as if I’d left them dangling in my previous series, and my publisher said I could move them to Sanctuary. Sophie Wittenbauer has changed her life and is now working for a major newspaper, writing obituaries and restaurant reviews. She needs a big story to help her move up the ladder. When someone she knew in Kingdom contacts the paper, claiming to know the whereabouts of a man who held up an armoured car company many years earlier, her editor dismisses the possibility that the robber is still alive. Seeing an opportunity, Sophie grabs the information and goes to Sanctuary, Missouri, hoping to uncover the story that will finally launch her to the top. After she arrives, she runs into an old friend. Jonathon Weise is now the pastor of a local church in the small town. Sophie has changed so much he doesn’t recognize her. Since she’s also using a fake name, he has no idea he’s talking to someone he actually knows. While trying to hide the truth from Jonathon, she begins investigating the residents of Sanctuary. Unfortunately, she will put pressure on the wrong person and not only ruin the opportunity to write the story of a lifetime, she will become the target of a dangerous serial killer.
Thanks Nancy!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Get to know Nancy
Character spotlight on Lizzie & Noah
Review of Simple Secrets
Visit Nancy’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: Gathering Shadows (Finding Sanctuary) or Koorong
June 1, 2014 at 1:06 am
My favorite book as a child was The Monster at the End of this Book (Sesame Street). Guess my love of suspense started way back then!
June 1, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Melissa Oldaker » I think I was a bit scared of Sesame Street as a kid – LOL!
June 1, 2014 at 1:20 am
My favorite childhood book would have to be little house one the Prarie by Laura Inglles wilder
oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
June 1, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Danie » I think that was many a girl’s favourite, Danie 🙂
June 1, 2014 at 5:44 am
Oh sounds sad but fascinating.
(not an entry)
June 1, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Wow… favorite childhood book? I read so many that I absolutely loved that I could never pick a favorite! 😉 I did really enjoy the Mandie series and the Trixie Belden series as well as all of Lois Walfrid Johnson’s books. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
June 1, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Aerykah » Trixie Belden for the win!
June 1, 2014 at 3:17 pm
My favorite childhood book is Charlie Brown and Snoopy.I still have it and it sits on bookshelf.
June 1, 2014 at 6:22 pm
Jackie Tessnair » Charlie Brown! Love that you still have the book – I have most of mine, too, Jackie.
June 1, 2014 at 3:43 pm
My favorite childhood books were the Nancy Drew series and also Charlotte’s Web.
Thanks for the giveaway!
June 1, 2014 at 6:21 pm
Debbie G. » My sister was really into Nancy Drew but I preferred Trixie Beldon – think it was the tomboy in me!
June 2, 2014 at 7:52 am
Rel, I had totally forgotten about Trixie Beldon! I also loved the Little House on the Prairie series also. I’m hoping at some point to be able to slowly but surely add them to my Kindle library, would love to re-read them again. Great memories for sure. 🙂
June 1, 2014 at 4:33 pm
My favorite childhood book would have to be Where the sidewalk ends.
June 1, 2014 at 6:21 pm
I don’t know that one, Becky – will have to look it up 🙂
June 2, 2014 at 12:14 am
It’s a book of poems. I was a slow reader as a kid and always had a hard time with long books so I read poems instead.
June 1, 2014 at 7:25 pm
I can’t really say that I had any favorite books when I was a kid. It was in my teenage years early 20’s that I got into reading. About 1 1/2 years ago roughly is when I got into reading Amish fiction as these inspirational books do not have the junk in ’em like other books do.
June 1, 2014 at 7:53 pm
I loved the Happy Hollisters series.
June 1, 2014 at 8:56 pm
My favourite books as a kid was The Little House on the Prairie and Raggedy Ann books because I read them with my grandma…
June 1, 2014 at 8:59 pm
I liked Nancy Drew books as well as The Black Stallion books and many, many others. Thanks for the giveaway.
June 1, 2014 at 10:18 pm
365 Bedtime Stories
Haven’t seen that book since, would like to have it again
June 1, 2014 at 10:27 pm
I loved all of the Nancy Drew books but the one I remember reading first was The Case of the Old Clock.
Thanks for this giveaway!
June 1, 2014 at 10:30 pm
My favorite childhood book was probably the American Girl book series about Kirsten.
June 1, 2014 at 11:13 pm
I loved Monster at the End of This Book too! It cracked me up! As I got older I loved the Little House series, Where the Red Fern Grows and The Black Stallion series.
June 1, 2014 at 11:52 pm
My fav childhood book was “I Love My Grandma” and I can still recite most of it.
June 2, 2014 at 12:00 am
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was my favorite childhood book.
June 2, 2014 at 12:04 am
Little House in the Big Woods! Loved, loved Laura Ingalls Wilder books and the prime time show Little House on the Prairie.
June 2, 2014 at 12:41 am
I had many favorites but favorite was Black Beauty.
June 2, 2014 at 1:08 am
My favorite childhood book was Winnie the Pooh. Even now at 70 yrs old I still love Pooh & all his friends!!
June 2, 2014 at 3:16 am
So many great books mentioned. And I’ve read most of them. I wish I had more books from my childhood. Over the years, most of them disappeared. Now that I have a grandchild, I may begin rebuilding my collection.
June 2, 2014 at 3:35 am
Heidi was a favorite of mine!!
June 2, 2014 at 4:29 am
My favorite book was The Secret Garden.
June 2, 2014 at 7:40 am
My favorite childhood books would have be The Wizard of OZ and The Secret Garden!
June 2, 2014 at 9:45 am
The Pokey Little Puppy
June 2, 2014 at 10:38 am
Anne of Green Gables.
June 3, 2014 at 2:09 am
My favorite childhood book was actually the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series, Little House in the Big Woods.
June 3, 2014 at 1:02 pm
One of my favorite childhood books was Princess Penelope’s 365 Dresses by Jaklien Moerman.
June 4, 2014 at 3:35 am
My favorite childhood book was Nurse Nancy.
June 4, 2014 at 4:03 am
My favorite book was “Sheep, Sheep, Help Me Fall Asleep” by Arlene Alda
June 4, 2014 at 8:06 am
I read everything I could find and had all the Trixie Belden, Little House and quite a few Nancy Drew. Also loved The Five Little Peppers, Little Women and The Bobbsey Twins.
June 4, 2014 at 9:27 pm
My favorite was the Sweet Valley & Sweet Valley High series, I could really relate to the girls in the books and grew up with them. Thank you for the giveaway!
June 4, 2014 at 10:22 pm
I loved the Nancy Drew books as a child. Thank you for the giveaway!
June 4, 2014 at 11:24 pm
I loved lots of books and stories but I remember discovering “Misty of Chincoteague”… from then on I would put a horse on my birthday and Christmas list. (I may have spelled that title wrong…my apologies in advance).
June 5, 2014 at 1:30 am
Nancy Drew books and Little Women (enjoyed the rest of the series too)
June 5, 2014 at 3:50 am
I hsd a 365 story fairy tale book. One for each day of the year. It was my favorite and then I was on to bobbsey twins and then nancy drew and the rest is history .
Thank you for the contest
June 5, 2014 at 5:16 am
I also really enjoyed the Nancy Drew books! If I go further back though, I’d say the book Petunia by Roger Duvoisin. 🙂
June 5, 2014 at 6:22 am
I, too, was a Nancy Drew junkie. I also enjoyed the Hardy Boy series.
June 5, 2014 at 10:04 am
Trixie Beldon & Little Women were my faves. I also enjoyed Grace Livingston Hill books. I also really enjoyed reading the Anne Frank Diary–so I was thrilled to be able to visit the Anne Frank Museum when we went to Amsterdam.
I LOVE Nancy’s books, and would love to win this one–thanks for the opportunity.
Vicki
June 5, 2014 at 11:00 am
I loved books as a young child. The series that launched my life-long love of reading was the Happy Hollisters. Thanks for the opportunity!
June 5, 2014 at 11:02 am
Must be the incoming storm, I can’t see my comment. It was the Happy Hollister series. Thanks for the opportunity!
June 5, 2014 at 11:22 am
My favorite childhood books are from Judy Blume & Beverly Clearly….such great memories of the books I read as a kid. 🙂
June 5, 2014 at 11:41 am
As a very young child, my favorite book was Pokey Little Puppy! When I started reading myself, my favorite birthday gifts were The Bobbsey Twins books.
June 5, 2014 at 2:15 pm
My first favorite book was Miss Suzy by Miriam Young. When I discovered the library though I loved the “Childhood of Famous Americans” series and Nancy Drew and the “Little House” books.
June 6, 2014 at 1:15 am
My favorite childhood book is a series of books Nancy Drew
June 6, 2014 at 1:55 am
I loved the Bunnicula series by James Howe.
June 6, 2014 at 2:54 am
Diary of Anne Frank, Sara Plain And Tall
June 6, 2014 at 1:50 pm
The Story of Holly and Ivy