Check out my 90 second speed round interview on Instagram! But for the longer version, check out the questions below where I go deeper into Reckoning which hits Amazon on October 1!

Is it a murder mystery?

There’s definitely a lot of thriller elements and there are a lot of different twists that I don’t think you’ll see coming. But it’s not a legitimate murder mystery. We’re not trying to solve who’s been murdered.

Difference between this book and the first book?

The world is expanded completely. Cripple Creek feels larger and character’s arcs deepen. We truly get to know the Bradford brothers and we journey alongside them as they navigate marriage, relationships, threats from the Littlefields, and life on the ranch. Everything has come full circle. Whatever happened in the first book and whatever you thought was action packed, it’s nothing compared to this book.

What was the inspiration for it?

The inspiration for this book, of course, came from the person who inspired the first book. But mostly, the idea the plot itself came from God being able to rebuild anything. If you just give it to Him, God’s foundation is the best foundation. In the book, this is threaded throughout and it really imbibes into the perspective of individual characters’ suffering.

Why the Old West?

Growing up, I loved the Little House on the Prairie books. So to some extent, the pioneer world Laura Ingalls Wilder created has influenced me. As an author, we relive our childhood differently and in a much more mature way when we write novels. And this novel reflects that.

Who will love this book the most?

People who love historical fiction, romance, fans of westerns, and those who love a good generational saga. It’s got romance, grit, and the immersion of Cripple Creek is a character all in itself. So people who love more world building type of novels that show the landscape and character study will really enjoy it. I would say it’s a cross between Kristin Hannah’s Four Winds and Yellowstone (or any western).

Can it be read as a standalone?

It could… but I wouldn’t recommend it! There’s around 20-25 characters and like any good trilogy (it’s planned but we’ll see!), the backstory of the characters and their arcs beyond just Colt and Lark is crucial to knowing the world. It would be like not reading the first book of Harry Potter. You could do it but you might be lost because as character’s are introduced or elements of the world are explained, you’d miss the total picture from the first book.

What was the hardest scene to write?

The hardest scenes were ones where characters experience near death moments. One in particular made me cry and I imagine if you love that particular character and journeyed with them from the first book, you’ll probably cry too.

Did you learn anything new while writing the sequel?

The sequel started between the original and He Loved Her and finished after He Loved Her. My writing truly developed in He Loved Her so as the sequel completed, a lot of things needed to be fixed. I did go back and rewrite quite a bit from the first few chapters and even rework scenes. But beyond the writing itself, the thing I learned most was about my faith and its ability to endure even the scariest and most grief stricken moments.

Why is it named Reckoning?

Reckoning comes from Isaiah 18, particularly the verse “clear heat in the sunshine.” This means that God is silent until He acts. Then when He acts it’s inevitable, a reckoning of sorts where you’ll see the banner and the trumpet will sound. It’s the idea that He will and does act and we all face moments that the darkest hour is the storm rolling in before He breaks through like still heat in the sunshine. In many ways, He is the reckoning: the storm itself.

If Colt was sitting across from you right now, what would you tell him?

That as he said in the original MOCC, it’s all gonna work out. That whatever I put him through, it’s for the plot and it’s not personal. haha!

What character surprised you most while writing this book?

Definitely Dallas and Georgia. You’ll find out why but those character’s were so fun to write this time around and their arcs deepen in such funny and interesting ways.

Is there a line or moment that you’re most excited for readers to discover?

One of my favorite moments is between Colt and Lark on the porch of their ranch house. It’s beautiful and simple, but the dialogue is one of my favorites I’ve ever written. It’s just this gorgeous moment of her showing him her love with only her words.

What do you want the reader to leave with?

I would want you to leave with hope: hope that your life is going to improve, hope that Jesus has got your back, hope that anything that is bad or that feels as though nothing is gonna get better and that you’re cursed in your life, that you know that is not the final answer; and that God’s got something better for you in store. That’s the idea of the book; to give you hope.

Are you ready?

Yeah, are you ready? It’s been two years so of course I’m ready! Preorder your copy today or pickup your copy on October 1!