My good friend, Susan J. Reinhardt, published her debut novel last month. I’m thrilled to present her and her latest release, The Moses Conspiracy, to you. I met Susan first at a writers’ conference and we became fast friends. She has guest-posted here on my blog in the past. Her writing is simply stellar. The Moses Conspiracy is a fast-paced Christian page-turner set in the near future. Here’s the synopsis followed by my interview with Susan.
Here’s the synopsis:
A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.
Convinced it’s now safe to visit D.C., Ellie and her firstborn, 8-year-old Peter, travel to the nation’s capital. Both mother and child make an effort to enjoy the sights, but they’re unprepared for the challenges they face. Her nightmares come true when she and Peter are separated.
Back home, John witnesses a neighbor’s buggy accident. The suspicious circumstances and law enforcement’s refusal to take them seriously prompt him to take on the role of detective. He and a tenacious reporter band together and vow to find out what’s happening in Bird-in-Hand.
Extended family squabbles erupt when John’s sister, Annaliese, faces off with Ellie for blowing her D.C. experiences out of proportion. She’d rather ignore the warnings than deal with the growing danger.
John and Ellie can’t decide whether her trip and his involvement with the accident were such a good idea. People are getting hurt, and their own family receives ominous warnings. Turning back the clock is not an option, but going forward could initiate more violence.
The small community is shattered when the unthinkable occurs. Will family, friends, and neighbors band together or allow fear to prevent them from taking action?
Caught between strained family relationships and a faceless enemy, the couple rely on God for wisdom and protection. Little do they know that He’s working on their behalf each step of the way.
The scabs of a past tragedy get ripped open, and the truth of their second child’s death is revealed. While they may expose the culprits, will they survive the heartache it brings?
And here’s the interview with Susan:
Tell us a bit about yourself and about your other writings.
Thanks for having me on your blog today, Susan! I’m a widow, a stepmom, a daughter, and a follower of Jesus Christ. Writing is like second nature to me, but for a long time I didn’t think of myself as a “writer.” About 10 years ago, my late husband urged me to pursue publication. I’ll never forget the day when an editor asked me if I would write a devotional for her ezine. It was a total deer-in-the-headlights moment. Since then I’ve written numerous devotionals, short pieces, and been published in 3 anthologies. I’ll talk about the major shift into fiction when I answer the next question.
What inspired you to write The Moses Conspiracy, a futuristic faith-based novel?
My husband and I spent a day in Gettysburg around Christmas 2004. As we stood in the town square, surrounded by old buildings, I “heard” the voices of the forefathers, but they were fading away like distant echoes. When we arrived home, I tried to write a poem, a short article, anything, but failed. After 8 months, we were discussing the Gettysburg experience, and he said, “That’s it! That’s your book, and you’ll write it in 4 months and call it Ghosts of the Past.” I thought he was crazy, but soon caught the vision. The title changed to Echoes of the Past and later to The Moses Conspiracy. In 4 months, I had a 55,000 word manuscript. After going to a conference, I discovered my fiction skills were less than stellar, and the long process of creating something publishable began in earnest.
If The Moses Conspiracy was made into a movie, who would be your ideal choices for casting the characters?
LOL! I haven’t given it any thought at all. One thing I do know: I’d want whoever played the characters of Ellie and John to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
What is your favorite scene from the book?
I have a lot of favorites, but it’s tough picking one without creating a spoiler for the reader. Let’s see, the chapter where Ellie is in the ER was both fun and gut-wrenching to write. I drew upon my many trips to the hospital with my husband, mother, and myself over the years. I was convinced they were going to put our names on one of the cubicles and reserve it for us.
What’s up next for you?
There are 2 more books in the trilogy that I’d like to see published. One has a working title of, “The Scent of Fear,” which features a character from, “The Moses Conspiracy.” Ellie, John, and Peter also have roles in this book. The first draft is finished, but the manuscript needs editing. The third book has a working title of, “Lost and Found.” I’m not crazy about that title, and it will probably change. Most of this book is still bouncing around my brain, begging to get out.
You can order the book from: Amazon, B&N, or Kobobooks.com
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