Author Q & A
1. This is the second installment in a new six-book series. Can you give us a bit of
background on this series?
The Christiansen Family series is a spin-off of the bestselling Deep Haven
collection, stories about the townspeople of Deep Haven, Minnesota, a
tiny resort town on the north shore of Lake Superior. The original series
started with a book titled Happily Ever After and grew to include six titles.
However, one family began to stand out, and we decided their story
needed to be told. We wanted a series about a family with adult children
learning what it meant to carry on the legacy of faith into their lives. And I
wanted to write a series that would really let readers dig into the family,
feel like they were a part of their journey.
2. This Christiansen Family series is set in Deep Haven, Minnesota. Tell us about this
setting.
It’s a gorgeous place to set a story—on the rocky shores of Lake Superior,
in a tiny town where everyone knows your name. It’s a town with a rich
heritage, strong ties, and a place where people want to escape—in
fiction and in real life (as it is modeled after my town of Grand Marais,
Minnesota). You’ll find people from all walks of life here—and most
importantly, Evergreen Resort, run by the Christiansen family for four
generations.
3. What is your hope for this series?
Of course, I hope people fall as much in love with the Christiansens as I
have. They’re a great bunch—all led by John and Ingrid Christiansen, who
have tried to instill their values into their children. But each child has their
own path to walk, and part of the series is just watching as they walk that
path—through the good and the bad, trying to figure out where their faith
and their parents’ legacy fit into their lives. It’s a contemporary epic family series set in the wilds of northern Minnesota with romance, suspense, and
lots of great family drama!
4. What was your inspiration for this particular book and the main character
Eden Christiansen?
Eden Christiansen came from a number of places. Watching the siblings of
movie stars and athletes, watching my own daughter cheer her athlete
brothers, even watching my friends, parents who feel on the sidelines of
their children’s lives . . . maybe even a little left behind as they leave for
college. I began to wonder—what if you had an amazing sibling, and your
entire family focused on his or her successes, and you felt left behind, void
of your own amazingness? This is Eden—who feels like she hasn’t
accomplished anything and is sitting on the sidelines of her life. She feels
like she needs to “get into the game” but doesn’t know how or where to
start. And she feels like she really has nothing spectacular to offer . . .
But God has different plans . . .
5. Did you base the character of Jace Jacobsen on anyone in particular?
Jace was loosely modeled after famed Minnesota Wild enforcer Derek
Boogaard, who died, in part, due to the many concussions he suffered as a
hockey player. The problem of concussions with today’s athletes, especially
in hockey and football, can be life-threatening for athletes, and although
hockey (and football!) is played much differently today, it’s still an issue.
I wanted Jace to have the opposite problem from Eden—he is only good
at one thing. In fact, he’s spectacular at it, but he believes if he walks away
from it, he will be nothing. So same problem . . . different perspective. It
gave me a good opportunity as an author to examine our “worth.”
Of course, adding the John Doe element only rounded that theme out with
yet another perspective. I loved how these three angles came together.
6. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?
I think we all need to see our worth not in relationship to our external
successes but in how we work out the task God has for us. How we love
one another, how we use our gifts and talents. How we abide with God in
our daily lives. Hopefully readers will begin seeing their worth in a new way.
7. How do you expect this new series to resonate with your audience? How do
you want your books to make them feel?
I am hoping readers walk away from this book, and this series, with hope.
The sense that they belong to something—to God, to family—and the
feeling that our lives are not chaotic or out of control, but that God has a unique and amazing journey for each of us, and it’s lived out within our
relationships. I want them to feel as if they’d found a new set of friends.
8. Have you received any feedback from your fans on this series? What are they
saying?
People fell immediately in love with Darek and his sweet son, Tiger, in Take
a Chance on Me, and I think readers will really enjoy Jace and Eden’s
romance in this story. I’m thankful that people enjoy the work I put into
developing my characters and the romance, and I have loved diving into
these multilayered stories about people with realistic, everyday struggles.
9. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?
I loved writing about Minnesota in the winter. And I loved the story of John
Doe and uncovering who he might be. (I plotted it like a mystery, so it was
fun to revisit my mystery-plotting techniques). I especially loved the layers of
Jace, the hero, and how, with every turn, he became more intriguing.
10. What is the best advice or encouragement that you have received?
Try to up your writing game with each book, and just keep writing. Not
every story appeals to every reader, but I try to write a story I would
enjoy—and then hopefully my readers will also.
11. In your writing career, what are you most proud of?
I think I’ve stayed true to who I am and the kind of story I’m
supposed to be writing. I’m very blessed by my reader friends and
their constant encouragement. I am very blessed to spend my days
with the Christiansen family!
My review of It Had to be You by Susan May Warren.
I was surprised at how It Had To be You captured me from the first few pages. This is my first book in the Christianson family series. Although this book it is not a mystery you are holding your breath throughout the book wondering what will happen next or how the current situation with resolve itself. The book has a magic about it that captures you and doesn’t let go.
There are actually three very intense storylines and all three were very emotional and brought tears to my eyes. All of the characters in this book are incredible. There were no insignificant characters!!! Eden is a character you will instantly fall in love with. You will laugh, cry and be humiliated (hockey date) right along with her as she finds her purpose in life and possibly the love of her life. The opening letter touched my heart.
Jace is adorable. The author shares Jace’s point of view which just incites you to fall in love with him even more. The car ride to her parents was funny and oh so realistic :). Jace is a very successful hockey player and team captain of the team Eden’s brother just got recruited to.
Sam and Maddy’s story was heartbreaking. I was holding my breath not knowing what Susan would put us through.
I will be reading the rest of the books in the series!
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.