Author Interview--Peggy Blann Phifer

Anne: Our Interviewee this morning is the talented romance writer who wrote the nineth story in Kathi Macias's 12 Days of Christmas. My review of that story (called Best Laid Plans) can be read HERE. Peg, would you please tell us what inspired this story?

Peg: After leaving my heroine and hero (Erin and Clay) unmarried in my debut novel To See the Sun, the "epilogue" just seemed to fall into place. It was "understood" that the two would get married, but it was too soon after Erin's husband's death. When Book 2 comes out, they are well married. J so I thought it would be fun to have their wedding take place in this short story.

Anne: How did you choose the location?

Peg: Book 1 was set in Las Vegas, Nevada, as it will be in Books 2 and 3, so Best Laid Plans had to be there, too.

Anne: Are you a panster or plotter? [A panster writes by the seat of their pants (very little planning); a plotter plots out the entire book before starting.)

Peg: I'm a panster. Most of the time when I sit down to write, I have no idea what will flow from my fingers. Oh, I do have a mental idea of characters, setting and plot, but I do not plot. Instead, I will open a blank screen in Word or Notepad and just do some What-if, and What's next. Random, disjointed rambling, is what it is.

Anne: How long did it take you to write Best Laid Plans?

Peg: I procrastinated a lot with this. Long story. But actual writing once I got started, about two weeks.

Anne: Why do you write?

Peg: I'd like to say I write because I can't NOT write. While that is true in part, the reality is, I love to tell a story. Even as a little girl I'd make up things and often found myself rewriting the ending for some of my favorite books. However, I am able to leave writing for long periods of time. Too long when under contract!

Anne: Tell us a little about the prequel?

Peg: To See the Sun is a full-length romantic suspense novel set in Las Vegas. Here's the back cover blurb:

"Pregnant and widowed hadn't been part of her 'happily ever after' dream. And now someone was trying to kill her….

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, any more than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls and a strange homeless man who seemed to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan stumbles upon Erin at her husband's grave site, he is totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, is predictable. But clay can't let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin's life is in danger.

With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay's help…and it just might be her undoing.

(Link on Amazon HERE)

Anne: Last but not least, would you tell us about your next book?

Peg: The next book is the sequel to To See the Sun. Working title: To Hear the Wind. This is the story of Erin's surrogate mother and best friend Magie Gifford. Erin and Clay will be there, but as secondary characters. My prayer is to see it released later this year.

Anne: Looking forward to the next one, Peg, and I'm so glad you could be here today! God bless your writing, and may it all bring glory to our beautiful Lord!.