Then she catches a glimpse of Jack MacGowan, the man who ruined her life years before. But even more shocking is the sight of Jack's five-year-old daughter Faith, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Shannon's own daughter Kylie. Is it possible that their similarities could be more than just coincidence? Could Faith be the daughter that Shannon has believed to be dead for all these years?
     

Favorite Verse:  Romans 8:28 - "For we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."(I saw this verse in action when the whole family was injured in a bad car accident in 1980 and we became Christians as a result).

 Our Interview with Colleen Coble

What inspired the concept for Lonestar Secrets?

 
I’ve always been fascinated by twins. We have some in my family, and I wanted to come at it from a different angle.

Is any part of Lonestar Secrets factual?  

No it’s totally fiction.

How closely is Lonestar Secrets based on your life experiences?
 
At one time the doctor suspected I might have MS so I studied up on it. And I have a good friend with the disease so when I decided Shannon needed an illness, I chose MS.

How did you choose the location for the setting?

I love the Big Bend area of Texas! It’s desolate but very beautiful in all its harshness. And I love cowboys. The first book in the series, Lonestar Sanctuary, needed a ranch for the abused horses I was writing about and I knew I wanted Big Bend. It’s the least visited of the national parks, but that’s a shame. If you ever get the chance, go visit!

How long did Lonestar Secrets take you to complete?

About six months.

What is the symbolism for the title Lonestar Secrets?

Most of us have secrets we hold close until we feel we can trust someone else with them. I wanted to show how impossible it is to have a real relationship while withholding a part of yourself.

Do you have a favorite character in Lonestar Secrets? Why?

Would you think I was weird if I said the horse Jewel? I was once obsessed with unicorns and loved the movie The Last Unicorn. I had to re-watch it when I was writing the book.

How much research did Lonestar Secrets take?

Not as much as usual because I already knew the area but I did do a lot of research about twins.

What was the most interesting fact that you learned while writing Lonestar Secrets?

I immersed myself in twin research and was fascinated to learn that identical twins often have amazing similarities in their lives even when separated at birth.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?
 
There are always time challenges. Editing one book while writing another and also coming up with the next idea. And in between all that, finding the time to market and connect with readers.

What aspects of being a writer do you enjoy the most?

I love it all! I’m an extrovert so I’m always excited to get out of the house for a booksigning or a speaking engagement. I love the editing part—it’s a happy day when I get my substantive edits from my two editors! The creation part is fun but it’s always great to get the help in the form of feedback.

What writing clubs or organizations do you belong to?

I’m a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. I’m also CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. If you have an interest in writing fiction for the Christian market, ACFW can’t be beat! Our conference is coming up in September and it’s has a fantastic lineup of faculty!

What is your writing style?   (Do you outline?  Write “by-the-seat-of-your-pants?   Or somewhere in between?)

I’m an in-betweener. I usually know the main conflicts and why the villain committed the murder. But I like to let my imagination have full rein (a scary thought!) when I’m actually writing. I recently attended a fabulous Michael Hauge workshop and I believe I’ll be doing a little more plotting beforehand now. I highly recommend the DVD workshop he did with Christopher Vogler called The Hero’s 2 Journeys.

Do your characters begin to take on a life of their own as you write?

They do! I think I know how a scene is going to go and they persist in taking me off in another direction. I love that about the writing process!

How do you keep coming up with fresh ideas?

They are everywhere! I watch documentaries, read about new non-fiction coming out in Publishers Weekly, listen to the news, read newspapers and magazines. There’s always something that piques my interest.

What other new projects do you have on the horizon?
 
I’m working on my first historical romantic mystery series. The first book, The Lightkeeper’s Daughter, will be out in January. I’m working on the 2nd book in the Mercy Falls series, The Lightkeeper’s Bride. The series is set in 1907 northern California in Mercy Falls, a town patterned after Ferndale and Eureka. The setting was inspired by CBD’s own Dianne Burnett!

Will there be any more books in this series?

Yes! Lonestar Homecoming will be out in March 2010. I think it’s my favorite so far.

Who was the person who influenced you the most with your writing?

I’d have to say my editor, Ami McConnell. I learn so much from her with every new book. She has an innate sense of story and character that inspires and motivates me to work on craft. Her influence has shaped my writing in a lot of ways.

What message would you like your readers to take from Lonestar Secrets?

I’d like them to step away from fear and be willing to be real in their relationships, especially with God.

What is your greatest achievement?

Raising two great kids who make me proud every day.

What is your goal or mission as a writer?

To challenge and inspire my readers while hopefully providing a great story.

What do you do to get away from it all?

I escape in a great book!  I love reading as much as I love writing.

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