I always love hearing how authors come up with the
inspiration for their stories. Sometimes the story behind the story is great,
entertaining and so much fun. But sometimes it’s rather boring. Except to me, even
that is interesting. To see how someone can come up with an entire story idea
from staring at a rock is pretty impressive. 😉
So where did the idea for Solve by Christmas come from? It
was one of those that kinda evolved over several weeks. I knew I wanted to
write a Christmas story. So I had that much. Then I decided I wanted something
with a firm deadline.” If this
doesn’t happen by this date, everyone
dies” sort of thing. Then “By Christmas” popped into my head and flicked on a
light. What if Christmas was the deadline?
I’ve always loved detectives and mystery stories, and they
go perfectly with deadlines. So, then I thought, what if a detective must solve
the case by Christmas or death wins?
Sometimes, as an author, there are ideas and thoughts that
seem to come out of nowhere. Almost like God dropping a card into your mental
mailbox. The next point of Solve by Christmas was that way. What if a detective was assigned a case that
he had to solve by Christmas, but it wasn’t a real case –at least not the type
of case he wanted—but something completely different? From there, the story
began to really take shape.
The next phase of my brainstorming took me to the pages of
history. I don’t remember why I decided on Denver, but I liked that setting, so
I began researching it. I discovered the monstrous blizzard that happened in
1913 and decided it would be perfect to plop my detective down right in the
middle of that mess. I also discovered that a group of “militant unionists”
were waging free speech fights in Denver that year, which upped the tension
even farther for my hero and provided him with an antagonistic force. By then I
had a solid story idea and enough inspiration to begin the writing process.
There you have it. The scoop behind Solve by Christmas. I’d
love to hear about some real-life deadlines that you’ve had to meet.
Leave me a comment
with your real-life deadline for your chance to win an ebook copy of Solve by
Christmas!
Blurb:
When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.
“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”
Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.
As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?
Long BIO:
Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest". A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and has been awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Newsletter & updates: http://www.amberschamel.com/
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19 comments:
A real life deadline I had was sewing multiple school uniforms for a Christian school in two months. I made it but ended up giving up other activites to complete the project since I had my job and home to take care of too.
Solve by Christmas set in Denver during a blizzard is prefect as that's not a norm setting for a mystery.
Hi Marilyn! :D
Wow! That sounds like quite a project. I'm so glad you were able to finish it though. That's what it usually takes, making it a priority and setting aside other things to get it done.
Thanks for stopping by!
Way back to May and June 1967. Finishing my first and only year of college, sewing my wedding dress( machine broke had to borrow two others) planning my own wedding(mother in college, father working) family moved to a rented house because family was renovating our house. Oh yes and waiting for orders from the Navy so we knew where we were going! We've been married 48 years now!
Oh , I forgot, I had mono, too!
Wow!! This story has everything!! A mystery in an unlikely setting and my favorite: CHRISTMAS!! I cant wait to resd this book. I have had many tight deadlines that i didnt think I could make. The hardest was my youngest daughters wedding. I was doing everything for it except her bouquet and cake. Well 45 mins before the wedding I run to florist to get her bouquet( i made the tgrow bouquet, boutineers , bridesmaid flowers, centerpieces), but she wanted real tropical flowers in bright colors. The floridt had not used the flowers we picked, but had put light colored pastel flowers. My daughter was so upset. So i managed to find some bright colored lilies and changed out the pastels. Whew!! Then we went to get cake and they had given our cake yo another wedding and gave us theirs. Luckily we knew the other party so we quickly got ahold of them and went and swapped cakes. Got back with everything just minutes before wedding started. It turned out beautifully!!
Wow, Paula, that's amazing. Congratulations on 48 years!
Oh my, what a nightmare! I am so glad you were able to work it out. I'll bet it was a beautiful wedding.
I always have a deadline at work. I work at a hospital so labs, diets and appointments to be made. Never ending. But I love it done this job for 15 years wouldn't change a thing. Love the challenge
I usually always have some kind of deadline I am working towards. Many days it is just a deadline I set myself to get certain chores and things done before the kids get home from school. But probably the most pressing deadline beside a paper for school or something was when I was getting married and I went to pick up my dress 2 weeks before the wedding, and it didn't fit! You talking about stressing! I was stressing! I had to end up finding a whole new dress in less than 2 weeks. Thankfully, I was able to find something I liked, but I had no fingernails left after the stress and worry of it all! Lol!
Sounds like a great book! Would love to win a copy! Thanks for the opportunity!
jtabalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
The only deadline I can think of is having 6 months to plan a wedding. Then we got married about 3 weeks before my last year of college.
I'm amazed at how many of these deadlines have to do with weddings! Wow!
I'm a deadline person too, Tiffany. I almost always have a copy town clock set to something or another.
Did you need an email address? paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
My deadline was trying to make last minute changes to our live Children's Christmas Play the morning of. I received a call that morning from a mother who said her child was throwing up and couldn't be in the play. I told her not to worry and to take care of her child. Panic mold set in. Two hours before the play and I had to figure out who was to replace one of the stars of the play. My son looked at me and said" I can do it.ive been to every rehearsal and have memorized the entire play." So the play went on and no one knew that only a few hours before my big deadline loomed over my head. My son did a great job. I was sad that the child had gotten sick on his big day, but it may me realize I had forgotten about including my own son. I was so worried that someone would think I was playing favorites and gave him a small role. God had other plans that day.
jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com
As a Commications Officer in the Michigan National Guard, I stepped in one year for another unit who had lost their Commo Officer. Three days to pull everything together before the unit arrived. Radios, telephones, and the systems to support them. I had a blast...and I accomplished it! I got an award, also! j4hibdon at yahoo dot com.
Congratulations to Paula
What a lifesaver, Deana. I bet you were so grateful for your son that day!
Wow! Congratulations, Jennifer. That sounds like it must have been a challenge.
I am in awe of all these amazing stories.
Thanks for the book. I look forward to reading it! Blessings
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