Debut authors are my heroes! I remember the thrill of my first published book, the fruits of years of hopeful labor. Today, I rejoice with Susan Reinhardt and the release of her debut, The Moses Conspiracy. She was kind enough to stop by and tell us of her writing journey. Please welcome, Susan.
CARLA: Tell my readers a bit about your writing journey. How long have you been writing, and what’s been the biggest surprise?
SUSAN: Thanks for having me on your blog, Carla! I started writing non-fiction for publication about 10 years ago. Along the way, I discovered how fiction techniques could enrich my devotionals and short stories. This led to more acceptances.
In August 2005, I began writing my first novel, “The Moses Conspiracy,” which is part of a trilogy. Book 2 is in the editing stage, and Book 3 is in its infancy.
My biggest surprise: Writing is a lot harder than it looks! (If you take it one step at a time though, you’ll improve daily.)
CARLA: Amish books are very popular right now. How did you come up with the a fresh idea for The Moses Conspiracy? Is there a part of the story that comes from your personal experience?
SUSAN: While the Moses Conspiracy takes place in Bird-in-Hand, PA and has some Amish supporting characters, I don’t consider it an Amish book. I chose that setting because in my 2025 world, Christians were given more freedom in what was considered an important tourist zone.
The novel was born from an experience I had while standing in Gettysburg Square in December 2004, surrounded by old buildings. I “heard” the forefathers voices, but they were like fading echoes.
In August 2005, my husband and I were talking about “the Gettysburg experience,” when 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 caught the vision. The name changed to Echoes of the Past and eventually The Moses Conspiracy. I wrote the first draft in 4 months, but then had to learn how to write fiction.
I took 14 months off to care for him after he was diagnosed with leukemia. After recovering from grief, I continued working on the project in his memory and because I sensed the Lord directing me to finish.
CARLA: Give us a short synopsis of the book.
SUSAN: 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.
CARLA: What take away do you hope readers get from reading The Moses Conspiracy?
SUSAN: I’d like readers to see the faithfulness of God in difficult circumstances, the importance of making wise choices, and building solid family relationships.
CARLA: I’m on a fruit and veggie smoothie kick and am a long-time coffee addict. How about you? Coffee? Tea? Sparkling mineral water? Or . .
SUSAN: LOL! I’m a milk-and-dunkin’-cookies kind of gal. I never outgrew that habit and hope I never do. I also enjoy a good cup of tea (Earl Grey Breakfast Tea, French Vanilla, and Tazo Calm) and an occasional mug of coffee.
CARLA: Where can we find you on the web?
SUSAN: I blog at Christian Writer/Reader Connection on Mondays and Fridays. An assortment of writing, life experience, and encouragement topics fill Mondays, while I concentrate on book recommendations, author interviews, and links to interesting articles on Fridays.
You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter (@susanJreinhardt), Goodreads, and Pinterest. By the way, I LOVE Pinterest.
The Moses Conspiracy is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.com.
Susan is in the midst of a blog tour and is offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner. Here’s the Rafflecopter to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks, Susan! And much success with The Moses Conspiracy!