Using the Past to Shape Your Story
Nancy Mehl
In Deadly Echoes, I use my main character’s past as a cornerstone for my plot. Sarah has struggled for years because of the murder of her parents – not only through trying to deal with their loss – but also because she and her sister ended up in the foster care system. Hannah, Sarah’s beautiful sibling, was adopted – but Sarah wasn’t. That situation, along with a careless comment by a social worker, has shaped Sarah’s image of herself. The insecurities born from that experience are still affecting her as an adult – and are center to the events that unfold around her as my story progresses.
Writers use the past a lot in their novels. Why? The past can help to “show” our characters so we’re not caught “telling” our readers who they are. The past is also a way to bring an instant connection between readers and characters. Almost all of us have ghosts that whisper from the past. Whether they come from tough situations, memories of people we’ve lost, or even a yearning to revisit a more pleasant time in our lives, we are all shaped somewhat through our previous experiences. If a writer can quickly present a character readers can identify with, it’s possible to form a bond at the beginning of your novel. If you can accomplish that, your readers will want to finish the story because they are emotionally invested.
In Sarah’s case, although she’s come a long way by the time the story begins, she is still influenced by loss and insecurity. As she changes and evolves through conflict, I hope readers will not only relate to her, but they will also find something in her developing relationship with God that they can connect to.
Bio
Nancy Mehl lives in Festus, Missouri, with her husband, Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored twenty books and just finished a new series for Bethany House Publishing. The first book in her Finding Sanctuary series, “Gathering Shadows” was released in May of 2014. The second book, “Deadly Echoes” became available in February. The third book, “Rising Darkness will release late in 2015. She is also working on an Amish cozy mystery series for Guideposts.
Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook.
Would love this book!
Would love to read! Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like an interesting book. I liked your cozy mysteries and hope you write more of them.
Thanks, Michelle. As a matter of fact, I’m working on a cozy mystery series for Guideposts! The first book comes out in June. 🙂
Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks
This looks like a great book.
I have to admit, I am not a huge Amish or suspense fan. However, I LOVED her first book in this series. Gathering Shadows (Finding Sanctuary Book #1. Nancy is a gifted writer.
Blessings,
Kym
Thank you so much, Kym. That means a lot to me. 🙂
Sounds like a great book-would love to read it.
Enjoy reading Suspense Sisters and am excited to read the second book in your series Finding Sanctuary, Deadly Echoes.
Thank you, Helen. 🙂
Thank you for the interesting blog. I would love to win a cupy of this book, please enter me in the draw. Many thanks.
Suspense is my favorite genre, and I’m always looking for different authors to read. Please enter me in your drawing.
This sounds like my kind of book!
Nancy, you are a brilliant writer! I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read and look forward to this one.
Nancy, I enjoyed your informative post. Very interesting. Your book sounds intriguing and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Nancy, I loved your Inescapable audio book, now I can’t find any more audio books as you being the author. Why aren’t there more of them? Older generation as I am 72, can’t read good anymore but can listen, why not make more audios? Let me know if you decide to do that for your books. Your a good writer and I loved the one I could get….thank you for loving our Lord and writing about it…..let me know what you think on my suggestion please….Have a blessed day…….Ruthie
I missed the Feb. due date on your latest book, hope you will enter me in your next one……have a Godly & Blessed day…….Ruthie McCord