Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. 
Q: Would you tell us about your current book release? |
Rachelle McCalla interview with Susan Sleeman
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June 09, 2012
A. I’m a pastor’s wife and mother of four. When I’m not driving the carpool or rounding up food for the potluck, I write inspirational romantic suspense and inspirational historical romance. Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? A. I’ve wanted to be a writer since the fifth grade or so. I was an avid reader at that time, and realized I didn’t always agree with the way the author’s version of stories. So I started making up my own versions! Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break? A. My first book sold to Love Inspired Suspense in 2009. It was the first true suspense I’d ever written, and I immediately discovered that I loved the genre!
Protecting the Princess is the second book in the Reclaiming the Crown series, which is set in the fictional Mediterranean kingdom of Lydia. The Royal House of Lydia dates back to Lydia, a Christian who appears in Acts 16 in the Bible. But the Lydian royal family is threatened by an insurgent uprising, and each of the royal siblings has quite an adventure (and finds romance!) as they struggle to regain the throne. Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Protecting the Princess? A: I’d always found it intriguing that Christianity is like a family tree. We can trace our roots back two millennia, but we’ve lost track of what’s happened in between now and then. In creating the Kingdom of Lydia, I’ve established a window to look back through time at the romances and adventures of the people who are part of that family tree. In addition to the four books of the Reclaiming the Crown series, I have historical romances in the works that explore points in the past. The first of these, A Royal Marriage, comes out this December. Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story? A: Ultimately, this book is about the power of friendship and forgiveness. Princess Anastasia hasn’t trusted Kirk Covington for six years, ever since he was accused of murdering her brother. But over the course of their adventures, Stasi learns about Kirk’s devotion to her family, and realizes that he has never betrayed them, even though they’ve put him on trial and hated him. Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book? A: There are so many scenes in this book that I love! One of my favorites is when Kirk rescues Stasi from the insurgents and takes her to the Island of Dorsi, where the ancient crumbling ruins of a long-ago fortress provide a hiding place for her. Stasi is terrified because she doesn’t trust Kirk, and her family’s been attacked, and the ruins are supposed to be dangerous. But in the midst of all those dangers, Kirk provides a safe place for her. It’s very precious and very sweet. Q: What inspires you to write? A. I love hearing from readers who’ve been encouraged by my stories. I love it when readers leave glowing reviews on places like goodreads and amazon (in contrast to the mean grumpy reviews that make me wonder why I started writing in the first place!). When I can see that my words are touching the lives of readers in the positive way, that gives me the strength to plow through even the most grueling revisions. Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession? A: The publishing industry is constantly evolving, especially now with the e-book revolution and the demise of brick-and-mortar stores. It looks a lot different than it did when I was in the fifth grade, dreaming of being a writer. Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started? A: Write! Write a lot, write all the time, get feedback, read books like those you’re trying to write, and then write some more! It’s not like there’s a sneaky back-door entrance to the writing profession, and you have to find someone to give you the password. It’s just a matter of writing and writing and writing until you find your place on the shelf. Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now? A. I’m currently preparing a proposal for the books that follow the Reclaiming the Crown series. I can’t say too much yet, but they’re going to involve some of the characters readers have met in Protecting the Princess and the other stories. Q: What is something your readers might be surprised to learn about you? A. I studied Greek and Hebrew in college and seminary—which actually helped when I created the ancient language of Lydian for these books! Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do? A. I love to cook, especially healthy food. I’m always on the lookout for recipes that will get my kids to eat vegetables! Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us? A. You can learn more about the Reclaiming the Crown series, including a list of the books in the series, by visiting my website: www.rachellemccalla.com
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As far back as the fourth grade, Rachelle McCalla knew she wanted to be an astronaut. Her best friend wanted to be an author, and so they argued about whose chosen profession was better. Rachelle soon discovered she had no aptitude for science, math, or weightlessness. She’s been writing ever since.
Rachelle is a graduate of Hastings College and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where she learned her husband’s Greek skills far surpassed her own. Together they have served a variety of ministries in Iowa, South Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
When she’s not writing, Rachelle spends most of her time working on her servant’s heart with her four children as relentless but adorable taskmasters. In her free time, she is an overly-creative cook, a distracted reader, and an avid gardener whose black thumb of death strikes fear into plants everywhere. She is forever grateful to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his eternal love and forgiveness, to her family for their continued encouragement and support, and to her best friend from the fourth grade, who gave her the idea to write in the first place.
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