It is my absolute delight to sit down with author Megan Kinney to introduce you to her books and favorite reads. I’ve had the honor of acquiring and editing Megan’s novels, so I know what she creates, how creates, and what an amazing writer she is.

What I didn’t know was how many things we have in common! Despite all the years of working together, I was tickled to see how similar our reading pasts are (even though our books and current readers are a bit different).

Here’s a look at what women’s fiction/romantic suspense author Megan Kinney’s bookshelf.

 

Thank you so much for being here today! Let’s start with your earliest reads. What was your favorite picture book as a kid?

My favorite picture book is The Monster at the End of this Book. It is full of mystery and intrigue, and it engages children in the story by having them turn the pictures. It’s a brilliant way to create young readers. (I love that book!)

What’s the first chapter book you fell in love with?

The first chapter book I remember reading was when I discovered Nancy Drew books in my school library. I devoured every one from the old 1920s books to the ones fresh off the press. Every dollar of my allowance went to buy Nancy Drew books. The mysteries intrigued me, and the character development had me invested in their uncertain outcomes. (No way. I read all the new Nancy Drew books.)

Have you ever read a book that disappointed you? How did you handle that?

I read a book once that my mom lent me, and I hated it. The plot was riveting, and the characters drew me in, so it took me a while to figure out what it was that I didn’t like. Then it hit me. The main character had no hope. Every time I would read it, I was filled with depression and despair. There is enough depression in the news I don’t need it in my leisure reading. As President Snow says in the Hunger Games, “Hope, it is the only thing stronger than fear.” Without hope all else is lost.

If you could visit any fiction place, where would you go?

I’m currently reading Fahrenheit 451 for a homeschool class. I’d love to jump into the fictional world Bradbury created. To see the jetcars and two-hundred-foot billboards, fireproof houses, and TV walls, but I’d quickly want to leave because living in a world where books are illegal is the worst place to ever live.

If you could turn any book into a movie, which would you pick? Who would place the lead roles?

I would love to see Dakota Peace made into a movie, with its healthy dose of romance and suspense. The main character is an emergency dispatcher struggling with burnout from her job. There are tons of movies and shows based on first responders, but it’s the voice behind the scenes, coordinating all their efforts to get everyone the quickest and best help available, that often gets forgotten. I can see a Jennifer Lawrence type actress playing Natalia. She’s someone who can bring out the inner struggle of the character. For State Trooper Travis Wilkins, I’d love to see a Native American actor play him. (I can picture Martin Sensmeier as Travis!)

Who’s your favorite author?

Choosing a favorite author would be like picking a favorite child. In this season of my life, I’d say Tessa Afshar’s novels are my favorite. I love her biblical fiction. The characters I’ve read about in scripture for many years come alive in her novels. It’s like stepping into the pages of the Bible and seeing how people lived back then.

And finally, what’s on your TBR pile?

Next on my TBR pile is:
– Sarah Sundin’s new book, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, set in 1940 as the Nazis march toward Paris
– Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White, which is set in the 1920s
– Melanie Dickerson’s A Deadly Secret.
– Noah by Bree Livingston because it’s about an undercover agent hunting down a human trafficking crime ring, since that plot is similar to my newest book
– A Scarlet Cord by Deborah Raney

Fear says you can’t. Love says you must.

Elaine Kent hopes a new name, a new town, and a new job will help heal her wounded spirit. All she wants is a quiet life free from her traumatic past. When a battered female teen escapes into her store, Elaine has seconds to decide if helping is worth the risk. Helping the hurt teen lands Elaine in the middle of a human trafficking ring and back into a world of fear and danger.

When Judah Demski walks into Elaine’s store with his daughter to buy a present, life takes a quick turn toward relationship land. But Elaine wants to remain in the friend zone. Her past and their presence threaten to unravel her a new comfortable lifestyle.

To save herself, and Judah and his daughter, Elaine knows she needs a hero … or the courage to become one.

Megan Kinney is a police wife and homeschooling mother of four. She loves exploring the nearby Black Hills by hiking, kayaking, and camping. She has two free e-novellas for her newsletter subscribers. For more information about Megan, her books, or to sign up for her newsletter check out her website at megankinney.net and follow her on Facebook @megankinney,author and Instagram @megan_kinney_author.