Loretta Eidson is a Christian writer and author of three Love Inspired Suspense novels.
I love attending writers conferences and meeting fellow Christian authors. At the recent Midsouth Christian Writer’s Conference, I was blessed to attend a fiction writing workshop led by authors Loretta Eidson and Patricia Bradley.
I’m excited today to interview Loretta and share how she uses her writing as a ministry to encourage and uplift readers.
Interview With Loretta Eidson
Tell us about your Love Inspired Suspense books.
I presently have three Love Inspired Suspense novels. Two are in the Mountain Rescue Collection, and one is in The Protector series.
My first book, Pursued in the Wilderness, won first place in the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s (AWSA) 2023 Golden Scroll Award for Romance Novel of the Year. I cannot tell you how shocked I was when Author Jessica Patch messaged me, congratulating me on the win. This book is about 38-week pregnant Brooke Chandler, who must face her fears of the forest to save her baby. Three killers want her baby after killing her ex-husband for not paying his gambling debt. In her frantic and frightened state, she runs defenselessly through the wilderness and falls into the camp of a K-9 officer, Trent Williston, and his dog, Rex. They must get her to safety before her labor pains intensify.
My second book was Blue Ridge Mountain Escape, set in Georgia and the North Carolina mountains. Kendall Simpson, a forest service firefighter, finds Haley Gordan tied up and unconscious in her burning rental cabin. He scoops her up and rescues her but is separated from his crew by a fallen, flaming tree. Flames rush toward them, so he must find an alternate route to find safety. During their attempt to stay alive, they encounter the three escaped convicts who had broken into her cabin, bound her, and left her for dead.
Book three is The Marine’s Deadly Reunion. U.S. Marine Jake Fisher is called home after his sister and brother-in-law were murdered, leaving him sole custody of Emma, their eighteen-month-old daughter. An altercation happens and Officer Daria Gordon arrives on the scene, only to learn someone is after this innocent baby. Jake knows nothing about caring for a baby, but he knows about searching for the enemy. Daria must stand her ground as the authority in town and help him understand babies.
What led to your interest in writing romantic suspense?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved reading mystery and suspense books, especially the action-packed ones. My books lean more toward suspense, but they have a romantic thread throughout. The desire to write tugged at my heart as a way to witness to others in a non-threatening, preachy way. Since I already knew my favorite genre, suspense only made sense.
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
My book ideas come from different directions. First, I must understand what tropes my editor is looking for. Then I pray and start making notes when watching crime shows, reading the newspaper, or listening to people talk. Brainstorming with writing friends is another great way to get ideas.
How do you incorporate your faith into your stories?
Incorporating my faith in my books is my passion. Putting my characters in situations where they must trust God to pull them through their trials. I slowly weave in tidbits of faith throughout the book.
What message do you most hope to relay to your readers?
Because of all the trials and difficulties I’ve experienced, I want readers to realize that God will make a way where there appears to be no way. We must look to Him and put our trust in Him.
What is your greatest challenge as a Christian romance writer?
I don’t see being a Christian romance writer as challenging because I love writing them. However, balancing the faith thread and the romance thread can be a little tricky, as well as writing a story that offers truth in the midst of a fiction story.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
Oh, goodness. I have several favorite verses, but I think Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” This is the verse I quote every morning when I wake up.
Who is your favorite woman in the Bible?
Another tough decision. I’ll say, Deborah. She served as both a prophet and a judge. Through her role, she proved that God can call upon women to handle out-of-the-box responsibilities and astound those around her.
What are you currently working on?
I am re-editing a novel I wrote years ago in a trilogy while waiting to hear back from three different proposals. I’m excited about what my writing future holds.
Anything else you’d like us to know about yourself?
I am an AWSA certified coach. I enjoy encouraging aspiring writers.
I have fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Let's chat! What are your thoughts?