Frequently Asked Questions (Warning, contains spoilers!)

I've recently participated in two really wonderful book groups with like-minded women who had read Hope's Power—one in Calgary, Alberta and one in New Brunswick. As a newly minted author I love encouraging others to write anything—whether it's just a short journal entry or a novel or two—and I hope that in answering a few questions about my books and my writing more people will catch the bookworm bug. Also, feel free to contact me about visiting your book group! I would love to come via Zoom.

Q—How did you take a story from your ancestor's history and turn it into a novel?

A—That's the best part of writing Historical Fiction. You have some facts and information to start with (so you don't have to come up with a totally new idea out of thin air), but you get to make up lots of other bits. I loved the story of Margaret faking her own funeral, and I decided to start with that scene and see where it led me. As I wrote and rewrote that scene (it's definitely my most edited scene in the entire book), I pondered about Margaret. How did she get into that situation? Why did the Chief desire her out of all the women? Was it her physical appearance? Her grace as a dancer? Something about her personality that charmed him? How would it have affected her husband and the others in the company of pioneers? What in her past could prepare her to deal with this situation and get herself out of it? As I asked these questions, the person that Margaret was started to take shape, and I realized I needed a whole book to explore who she was.

Q—How did you decide to write a sequel to Hope's Power? Will there be a sequel to Faith's Birth?

A—I didn't intend to write a sequel to Hope's Power. When my beta readers complained that the book ended too soon I was surprised. Who wants to read more chapters about pioneers suffering as they cross the plains? I figured enough books had been written on that topic. So I appeased them by adding a few pages at the end of the book, indicating that Margaret and William would get out of this scrape and eventually have a family and settle in Utah. I thought that would be enough. But, it wasn't. I guess I was surprised that my readers wanted to know more. So I started thinking about how I would write a sequel with Margaret as the main character. I couldn't even begin the book. To write about polygamy from a first person perspective of a wife living it seemed like an impossible task—and still does! Then I began to get curious about Margaret's daughter, my great-great grandmother Martha. We had no information on her specifically, but plenty on her sisters and brothers, and it seemed too perfect to pass up. I could semi-invent her but have her deal with many of the issues that we still struggle with in understanding polygamy. Martha was easy to write—I really enjoyed getting to know her as a character and found that I resonated with her time and time again. Yes, there is a sequel in the works for Faith's Birth. It will skip a generation to my grandfather, Gail Halvorsen and my grandmother, Alta Jolley. It will hopefully be published in 2021.

Q—Do you only write Historical Fiction?

A—Nope! My childhood friend Marilyn Nelson Nielson and I are about to publish a totally different kind of novel together. We've written a magical retelling of Charles Dickens' book Our Mutual Friend, and we are so excited to publish it this summer. We also have an idea for another one in the same alternate magical world.

Q—What advice do you have for would-be writers?

A—Make time for it! Do it because you love it. Don't worry if you have no big ideas, write what you know and go from there. Don't be afraid to write things down—no one will make you share them. Don't worry about doing it one right way, just dive in. You could start in the middle of a scene halfway through the book and work out from there or you could map out the entire thing before you even write one scene; you'll figure out your style, just don't let it stop you from starting!