David Meigs is a novelist with a background in youth outreach, specializing in ministry to at-risk youth and their families. Though his writing is enjoyed by all ages, his novels provide a unique, life-changing quality, critical for the youth of today. David and his family lives in Seabeck, Washington.

I first met Bonnie Calhoun several years ago via our blogs. I was new to blogging and found the technical side more than a bit frustrating. It didn’t take long to discover that in addition to her skills as a writer, Bonnie possessed near-ninja-like technical prowess. It was through Bonnie’s blog that I first learned about a writing opportunity where best-selling author Brandilyn Collins was starting a fan fiction blog for her new Kanner Lake series. Bonnie earned a role writing as the character Sarah Wray, and I was fortunate enough to earn a spot writing as curmudgeonly old codger Wilbur Hucks. Good memories.

I read Cooking the Books by Bonnie Calhoun in one sitting. Once I started reading, it didn’t take long for the snarky humor and the full cast of quirky characters to win me over; however, don’t do as I did and read this book in public, or you too will break out into frequent bouts of gut-splitting laughter. This is one funny novel, but it is also so much more: a life-transforming story with a powerful message of God’s love. Cooking the Books has earned my highest recommendation.

A Brief Synopsis:
After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also “inherits” a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of neighborhood old people called the Granny Oakleys Book Club, who meet at the store once a week but never read books; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast-iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”

A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, she learns that someone is out to kill her. Can her life get crazier?

Interview

Congratulations on an excellent novel. I absolutely fell in love with your novel’s protagonist, Sloane Templeton. I could be wrong, but I thought I saw more than a little of your sense of humor written into her personality. Is there any truth to this, and are there any other similarities lurking within the story?

ROFLOL . . . I’m guilty! Sloane is me. I’ve taken a slight amount of poetic license with her, but on the whole, she acts the way that I would act . . . react. Oh, one difference: I’m not afraid of guns, and my aim is spot-on!

Which are your favorite characters,and are there any characters you “hate” for any reason?

Hmmm. Well, Trey is the ego of a person that I used to know. He met the same fate coincidentally, so I could say hate, but that is such a strong word. I’d say it’s more along the lines of a major, malfunctioning, chronic dislike that knows no bounds.

And my favorite would be . . . well, there are two! Aunt Verline embodies a pair of cooking aunts that I used to run from . . . er, uh . . . spend time with as a child. And Fifi is patterned after one of my sweet friends who is also a Penwright crit group buddy. (You can find her image in the book video.)

What is your favorite part of the story and why?

Hmmm. I have several but I’d have to say the climax scene in the top story of Sloane’s building, because I got to write it as total suspense without quips or quotes or anything extraneous to the action. Suspense is me, but sometimes I get scary for the average reader.

Besides having an excellent time reading the story, are there any lessons you hope to impart to your readers?

Most certainly! For the women readers: you can overcome anything―yourself, your circumstances, and your past. It sounds really simple, but all you need is faith that the Lord is with you and will help you overcome, if only you will reach out.

And the second lesson is for the men who think that the woman’s place is in the kitchen . . . that’s where the knives and gun are kept!

What kinds of trouble do you have planned for Sloane Templeton in the future?

Ohhh, lots of thought-provoking problems that are situated in daily life. (Actually, if I told you, I’d have to kill you so you couldn’t share the plots with the unsuspecting . . . er, uh . . . readers!)

When did you first discover the desire to be a writer?

As a teen, but I never really desired to be an actual author until I read the Left Behind series (We’ll leave that one alone.)

Tell us about your path to publication.

That’s difficult because I see all of it as God ordained, so I really didn’t have a concerted plan. I got my agent Terry Burns while having dinner with him (and I had an appointment to see a totally different agent for that conference). And my first publishing contract grew from an offhand comment that I made to the acquisition editor at the time. God was in the driver’s seat and I’m just a passenger. (Jesus, take the wheel!)

I can’t think of anyone with more irons in the fire than Bonnie Calhoun. In addition to managing Christian Fiction Online Magazine, CFBA blog tours, and running your own clothing design business, when do you find time to write?

All the time, in between the times, around the times, when I’m supposed to be asleep (sleep is sorely over-rated), actually any time I can fit it in. If I’m not busy with something, I feel I’m being nonproductive.

What can Bonnie S. Calhoun fans look forward to in the near future?

August of 2013 I have a Quilts of Love series coming out from Abingdon called Pieces of the Heart. This is not in the frame of Sloane Templeton snark, but it is actually back story for her character. Sloane is a third-generation battered woman, and this is her grandmother’s story during World War II.

Then prayerfully there will be other stories for Sloane. I have at least a half dozen lined up. And I’d also like to try to dabble in another genre: the dystopia. Maybe I can get some of this pent-up suspense aggression written down on paper in an interesting and thought-provoking manner!

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to let us get to know you a little better. I for one cannot wait to read Pieces of the Heart when it comes out next year. Until then, may God continue to bless your writing and all you do for Him.

AUTHOR BIO:
Bonnie Calhoun is the owner/director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance (CFBA), where she has 250+ book reviewer blogs that twice weekly do blog tours for the latest in Christian fiction. She is also the owner/publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine (CFOM), a three-year-old 50+ page ezine with columns and articles by the best and brightest authors and professionals in Christian fiction. Bonnie serves as president of the Christian Authors Network (CAN), and she is the Northeast Zone Director of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)