Monday, February 13, 2017

Fatal Accusation (Windy Ridge Book 2) and An Interview with the Author Rachel Dylan

About the book:

Attorney Olivia Murray hopes her life will get back to normal after a hard fought trial. But she soon finds out that the forces of evil have not given up their pursuit to win the hearts and minds of those in Windy Ridge.

An embezzling scandal breaks that rocks the community church to its core. The New Age groups are ready to declare victory when a high profile prosecutor files criminal charges against the local pastor. However, Olivia is not willing to give up on the community she's come to love. She takes on the defense pro bono knowing it could destroy her career, but it's a case that she is called to defend.

The battle will be fierce, but she's not fighting it alone. Her friend and fellow attorney Grant Baxter is by her side. Olivia must use all the tools in her arsenal to combat those who seek to destroy the believers in the community. If Olivia can't prove the pastor's innocence, more than her career is on the line. The entire community of Windy Ridge could fall to the forces of darkness.


My Thoughts:

This book picks up where Trial and Tribulations ended. As with Trial and Tribulations I was pulled right into the story from page one. The battle between good and evil was real, front and center. Rachel's writing reminds me of Frank Peretti's. Having another author who writes about the supernatural is a treat, as there aren't very many who write like this. I love how the characters are still learning about their faith and how these battles stretch and strengthen their faith.

I have a treat for you, an interview with the author Rachel Dylan.




What inspired you to write The Windy Ridge series? I noticed in the acknowledgements of Fatal Accusation you thank Sarah who understands how much these stories mean to you.

I actually set out to write a completely different book. It was a CIA novel and I got about a chapter or two in, and I wasn’t feeling it. Then suddenly the idea of two New Age companies fighting each other in a law suit came to me. Olivia popped into my head and that’s how it happened! Sarah is my wonderful literary agent, and she embraced these stories from the start.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

I don’t think there is just one message. I’m hoping that readers will get different messages depending on where they are in their lives. I also hope readers see the role of faith, and the fact that you can always come back to God or find Him no matter how far you’ve gone astray.

How much of your books are realistic?

All of my books have a very realistic legal element to them. Since I’m an attorney, I try my best to bring that background and experience into the story. For the Windy Ridge books, I believe spiritual battle is very real (Ephesians 6:18), but those stories have components that most would not consider realistic. Having said that, I have no doubt that spiritual warfare exists. My other books are more “realistic” than that series.


What books have most influenced your life most?

This is a tough one! Since we’re talking about spiritual warfare, I would have to say that I read This Present Darkness when I was in high school, and it was a game changer for me.


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
 
I don’t have a mentor in the traditional sense, but my friend and wonderful author Alison Stone has taught me a lot. It’s been amazing to have a friend who understands what this writing journey is all about.

What books are on your nightstand?
 
I don’t actually have physical books on my nightstand, but I do have my phone and my kindle which is how I read. Right now, I’m doing an online bible study so I’m reading Finding I Am. I like to read a lot of non-fiction. I also have Still Life and that is going to be my reward once I meet my weekend writing goals!

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

They aren’t brand new but I definitely am impressed with Lynn Huggins Blackburn and Dana R. Lynn.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? 

I’ve always loved to write since I was little. I was coming up with stories as a child and didn’t even realize how active my imagination was. I wrote all kinds of things—songs, poems, journaling. But it wasn’t until a few years ago that I wrote my first novel.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
 
Time! I still work full time so I use the weekends to write. Sometimes that can get tough because I don’t have much downtime to rest and recharge.

Do you learn anything from writing your books and what was it?

I think I’ve read a good chunk of the non-fictional literature on spiritual warfare to write the Windy Ridge series. I learned a ton and grew tremendously in my spiritual journey by reading those books.


Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
 
Write! Writing isn’t easy and the only way to get a book finished is to write it. It sounds simple, but sometimes people get caught up in the idea of writing without actually doing the writing itself. Writing is very hard work and it requires a lot of self-discipline to write a book.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

That I hope my stories provide you with hope and that you are inspired by them.


Why Christian fiction? 

The short answer is that a few years ago I made the decision to re-dedicate my life to the Lord. And in that process I decided that I wanted my writing to glorify God.

Writing is obviously in your blood – was there a particular person who encouraged you to nurture your gift??

Both of my parents encouraged my love of reading and writing. I also had a lot of teachers who saw promise in my writing and encouraged me.

Tell us how you felt/what you did when you found out you had your first contract. .

When I sold my first Love Inspired Suspense, I definitely cried. Although that was more from the journey I had been on and less about the actual contract.

What is your favorite movie and favorite line from a movie?

I have to be completely honest here. I’m not a big movie person so I don’t have anything good on this one. LOL

Please share some of your faith journey…

Well, I could write a book about thisJ I grew up in a Christian family and am a preacher’s daughter. So faith was a part of me from a very young age. But I went astray for a bit starting in college and thereafter. A few years ago, I started to reconnect with my faith in a strong way. My writing has been a huge part of my spiritual journey, and I believe God has used my writing to impact me personally in a big way.






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