Interview with Misty M. Beller

Thanks for stopping by to check out the Interview with Misty M. Beller. She’s discussing her upcoming release, A Pony Express Romance. It releases December 27th so don’t forget to pre-order it! Feel free to say hi (in the comments) and ask questions!

Mara Reid is thrilled to finally meet the man of her dreams, and the fact that they both want to raise horses in the Sweetwater River valley seems like confirmation straight from God.

But when the Express shuts down and Mara’s family home is in peril, the danger looming over Mara’s life may not be half as destructive as that threatening her heart.”

Pre-order: Amazon, B&N, iTunes

After growing up as an orphan, Josiah English wants nothing more than to have his own ranch and raise Arabian horses. Riding for the Pony Express seems like the ticket to his dream. And when he meets the stationmaster’s beautiful sister, it seems he may be within reach of the happy life he craves.
Mara Reid is thrilled to finally meet the man of her dreams, and the fact that they both want to raise horses in the Sweetwater River valley seems like confirmation straight from God.

But when the Express shuts down and Mara’s family home is in peril, the danger looming over Mara’s life may not be half as destructive as that threatening her heart.

Sounds fantastic! A Pony Express Romance is Book 1 in the Wyoming Mountain Tales. Could you give us a hint about Book 2?
Oh, yes! I’m working on the final chapters now, and am loving this next story!

Zeche Reid is on a journey to find himself, and the Wyoming mountain country seems like the perfect place. But when he stumbles upon a lady and her professor father holed up in a remote cabin, his protective instincts won’t let him leave them unprotected. Especially when the father’s haunting memories from the War of Succession put his daughter’s safety at risk.

Greta Michelly is fighting her own demons from the war, but they’re not anything compared to the memories that haunt her father. The haven they’ve found in these Rocky Mountains seems to be the solace he needs to find peace. Until a mysterious sojourner appears on their cabin doorstep. She can’t help but be drawn to the wild aura that surrounds him, but that strength seems to be that very thing that resurrects her father’s struggles. 

As Zeche is torn between his craving to protect Gretta, and the awful realization that he’s the one putting her in danger, he’s forced to make the decision he dreads. But when a run-in with an elk changes his plans, Zeche is faced with a danger he can’t control. But the love for Gretta that’s taken root in his heart may be worth the risk.
 
Wow! I’m loving your blurbs. But, let’s get back to A Pony Express Romance. Why did you write this novel? What message do you hope readers will leave with?
Part of the story is loosely based on an experience in my own life, and I had a burning need to write the story to see how it could have happened. You know, that “What if?” question writers love to ask! I wrote the story early in my writing career (it was my third book), then put it on the shelf because I knew it wasn’t time yet. Now, seven books later, I’m nervous to bring it out. I pray Josiah and Mara’s experiences will help readers see anew how God truly does plan to give us the very best! It’s almost never in the timing we plan, but it will always be better than we dream!

Amen! Since this is a historical romance, what kind of research did you have to do?
Lots of research! For every book I write, the details of the story often develop around my research. In A Pony Express Romance, I was excited to include many real events! For example, the Rock Ridge Pony Express stop where Mara’s family lived was a real stop along the Sweetwater River. And several of Josiah’s more memorable Express runs were based on true rides experienced by the famous Buffalo Bill Cody. And the epic scene in the climax of the story really happened! (although to different characters)

I’ve always admired the way historical writers weave their research into ficiton.
How about some fun questions? Do you listen to music when you write or do you need total silence?
Silence! And with three young children (ages 9, 5, and 9 months), that’s hard to come by!

I’m the opposite! 🙂 Do you watch movies that have been books or opt out?
Honestly, it’s rare that I watch movies anymore. Between writing and the family, any spare time I can find is usually spent cleaning the house (which accounts for the less-than-Martha-Stewart condition of our home right now). But if time were not a constraint, I like to watch the movie AFTER I read the book.

Here here! Last question, if books were being eradicated and you could only keep 3, which ones would you chose?
What a horrible thought! (lol, it really is.) Just three? Hmmm… The Bible, Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell, and my journal. 🙂

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. 

Writing is a dream come true for Misty. Her family–both immediate and extended–is the foundation that holds her secure in that dream.