Tips for Creating Character Depth: Author Interview with Lori Soard

You have now published multiple books, but what inspired you to write that first book?
My first book. No one will ever see it. It is horrendous, but I learned a lot writing that book. I was always an avid reader, but I was bored with the same story. I had an idea for a romance novel with unique characters. They wouldn't leave me alone. I started writing for fun. My father-in-law was one of my biggest supporters in everything I ever tried. He loved that I was writing and bought me this electric typewriter. Back then, it would let you type a line or two and look at it before you put it on the page. It was a mini word process. It wouldn't be long until I bought my first desktop computer (they were expensive back then) and learned the world of full word processing, but that was my first foray into writing novels.

Tell me about your latest book.
I just released a new nonfiction book last week for burnt-out homemakers called The Burnt-Out Homemaker's Guide. My last romance was Meringue Melody, which is set in 1928 Maine in a tea room. It's part of the Apron Strings Tea Tales series with multiple authors. Each of our books is inspired by a fairy tale. I had the Little Mermaid. (I love this idea for a book series!)

What are your writing goals for 2026?
I'm releasing my first cozy mystery series. It will, of course, be clean and the main character is a Christian woman who has no qualms about witnessing to people when they are open to it. It will be called the Mildred Wiggins Mystery Series. Mildred is quirky and bold and so much fun. I hope my readers love her as much as I do.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
It isn't what you'd think. I've been traditionally published. For many authors, you'd think that would be the encouragement. What truly encourages me is when a reader emails me and says how something I wrote touched them or made them feel better or gave them new perspective. I pray over every book that God will use me as his vessel for just this purpose. When I get an email like that, it helps me see His greater plan. It isn't about book sales or accolades. It's about connection with other humans and sharing Christ with them.

Marketing is the biggest key to making sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
Building my newsletter list has been most effective over the past year, but it is constantly changing. Facebook just had a huge update to its ads and I'm still trying to figure out how to best use ads there again. It isn't easy to market these days. There are many people advertising. I would tell people to be themselves. Let your personality shine through and those who are meant to connect with you will.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
You need to make time to write every week. You can't sit on your story idea for a year, telling yourself you're blocked. Just write. It doesn't matter if it's awful. You can always edit, rework sections. You need something to start with, though. I would advise even the busiest person who wants to write more to spend at least 15 minutes a day.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
I used to work with Fern Michaels when I promoted authors a gazillion years ago. She was so sweet to me and offered to critique a chapter for me. She was encouraging but pointed out something that I've always remembered. She told me to get inside the character's skin more. I had my heroine broken down in a snow storm and unsure how to get to safety and she stopped to notice the beautiful sunset. Fern was like, "Would YOU stop and look at a sunset if panic was setting in other then to note it was getting dark?" It was a good lesson in character depth that changed my perspective.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
If you feel called to write, don't let anyone discourage you. You can learn better grammar, better plotting, hire editors. You have a unique story to tell that no one else has. God made you on purpose for a purpose and he can use that through your stories.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
My Mildred Wiggins mystery will release this summer. It is titled Murder on Mulberry Lane. Mildred notices some strange shenanigans at the house on the hill, because she's always watching over her neighborhood. When she sees the police at the house, she knows they need her help and insight.

That's all for today's interview. Since Lori writes in a few different genres, you're sure to find a book that grabs your attention. Here's how you can learn more about her books.

https://lorisoard.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriSoard/

And here are some bonus tips for my readers... If you sign up for her newsletter, you will get a free novella and she'll send some bonus materials to introduce Mildred Wiggins. https://authorlorisoard.eo.page/freestory

Plus...This post includes the cover for her first Mildred Wiggins book. You are the first readers  to see it as she hasn't done a cover reveal yet. Leave a comment with the title of that new book, and one person will  win an eBook of their choice. Write down that title now!

Write What You Love: Author Interview with Adina Senft

You have now published multiple books, but what inspired you to write that first book? 

My first published novel was my MA thesis! I was in the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, which was focused on genre fiction—romance, mystery, horror, fantasy, children’s. People think I’m joking when I say I was a romance major, but I really was :) One of my critique partners was a working private investigator, so he helped me with the technical details for my PI hero. 

I had been submitting to Harlequin for six years with no luck, so that winter I stood up at my local writers’ meeting and confessed, “This is the best I can do. If it isn’t accepted, I’m giving up.” Lo and behold, Harlequin accepted it, and it came out in 2003 (now titled Watch For Me. nor at the time) and I was on my way. 

 

Tell me about your latest book.

The latest one came out in August: The Amish Cowboy’s Wedding Quilt. It weaves in a family tradition that says that if a woman begins a wedding quilt, she’ll meet the man she’s meant to marry by the time she finishes it. But Patricia King can’t imagine that—she’s on Rumspringe and having too much fun with Englisch boys. And that nosy Gideon Miller is always getting up in her business. They were a fun pair to write, and I got a chance to exercise my suspense chops, which I haven’t done in a while.

 

What are your writing goals for 2026?

I have a giant wall calendar that tells me these things.

January: Revise Death on the Graf Zeppelin, book one of the Lady Hay Investigates cozy mystery series set in the 1920s with a real person as sleuth, for my publisher

February: Finish Rose’s July Surprise, book 7 in the Amish Romance Birthdays series with 11 other authors

March: Write The Aeronaut’s Heir, the next Lady Georgia Brunel steampunk mystery

June: Write Death at the Beach House, Lady Hay Investigates book two

(ME: Wow! that is an intriguing mix of book genres!)

 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? 

My author friends are the most generous people in the world. Without their encouragement right from the beginning (to say nothing of plotting parties and marketing retreats) I don’t think I’d be as far along the path as I am today. As for advice, the most freeing for me was “Don’t write what you know. Write what you love.” And I still do. I can always research to solve the first. But without that spark of love for what I’m doing, the second would be really hard.

 

Marketing is the biggest key to making sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?

Marketing frustrates me because it’s so unpredictable. But the smartest thing I did was to hire someone to do my Amazon ads who loves data and strategy and the thrill of the chase. The second smartest thing was listening to Erin Wright, western romance author, talk about how to succeed on the various retailers—and then doing what she said.

 

What do you know now about writing you wish you had known sooner?

That with traditional publishing, I should treat publication like a business, not like an undeserved honor bestowed upon me. Speaking up for oneself doesn’t come naturally to many of us, but the older I get, the more I do it :)

 

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

An aspiring writer cornered me at a party once and demanded to know how to get published. “My art! My art! It deserves to be out into the world.”

I said, “Art is all very well, but what are you offering your readers?”

“My art!”

“Your art will never be published unless you realize that an editor or agent is your first reader. What are you offering that person?”

He took his drink and walked away.

 

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?

This business isn’t for the faint of heart, or for those who aren’t willing to work. But when you love it and gain the skills, it’s the best job in the world.

 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

 The Amish Cowboy’s Journey comes out February 25, 2026. When I was researching the Amish in Lancaster County, I met a young Amish woman in the fabric shop who told me she’d just returned from a van trip to visit twelve of the national parks. I filed that interesting experience away in my brain, and this book is the result—an “enemies to true loves” crossed with a “road trip”!

 

Here are some of the details... Unlike his siblings, who have put down roots in the Amish community in the Siksika Valley, Seth Miller is the restless one—always looking to the horizon and wondering what lies beyond it. When a group of Amish Youngie plan a van trip to visit several national parks, Seth decides to join them. It’s only for a couple of weeks, and it might satisfy that urge and help him settle down.

 

Shy Beth Stolzfus, who seems to be invisible most of the time, surprises everyone by announcing she wants to go, too. She’s tired of being overlooked and underappreciated—maybe this trip will give her a chance to stretch her wings and be someone different. Someone who might catch the eye of one of the other Amish adventurers. Not Seth Miller, that’s for sure. He’s already made it clear in a hundred ways that he’s not interested.

 

Except that travel can bring out the best in someone as well as the worst. Beth proves to have a level head when one of the other travelers needs help. And her eyes seem to speak a language all their own. Surrounded by the beauty of God’s handiwork in nature, Seth slowly comes to realize that what his heart has been longing for may not be over the horizon after all. It may be much closer to home.

 

Sounds like an intriguing story. If you'd like to learn more about Adina's writing, click on the links below. 

Website: https://www.shelleyadina.com

Shopify store: https://www.moonshellbooks.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shelleyadina/amish-cowboys-of-montana/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adinasenft

And here's a bonus for my readers, leave a comment on this post and we'll pick one reader who'll receive an eBook copy of one of  Adina's eBooks. Here are the options she is offering.

If you like steampunk (written as Shelley Adina), the winner can choose the two-book set that launches her Magnificent Devices series. 

If you prefer Amish romance (written as Adina Senft), the winner can choose The Amish Cowboy, the first of the 12 books in the Amish Cowboys of Montana series.

So add that comment now. It can be as simple as I want to be in the giveaway. We'll chose a winner next weekend!