Shannon here: I invited Ellen E. Withers back to share a bit more about her book and creating her characters. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a copy of Show Me Betrayal. Deadline: June 17th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Ellen:
A fun aspect of being an author is getting to create interesting characters. Characters that differ from me. But I’m only fooling myself. When I start the editing process, my habits, mannerisms, and characteristics have morphed from my fingers to the computer monitor screen. Other authors might be immune to this personal revelation, but my characters reflect some similarities to my personality and life.
Liesl Schrader is my main character and we share the joy of being raised in the picturesque town of Mexico, Missouri, although decades apart. A big bonus to growing up in a small town is having lifelong friends. I’m almost sixty-five years old and I have some friends from Mexico I’ve known since nursery school. I gifted Liesl with the blessing of great friends she’s known almost her entire life. Friends are God’s gift and I wanted Liesl to have that joy.
An innate sense of curiosity and an unwillingness to be defeated by obstacles in our paths are personality traits Liesl and I share. Solving a mystery requires these traits plus an ability to track every detail, no matter how small. The minor details are the key to unlocking the mystery. As an insurance fraud investigator, I investigated suspected arson and theft. This allowed me to bring realism to the murder and arson investigations in Show Me Betrayal. The future of the series will include some other fascinating types of investigations, too.
Over the years, my faith has pulled me through a lot of heartache and taught me to count my blessings. Liesl and I share the sorrow of losing our parents too soon. By the time I was twenty-three, both my father and mother had passed. I experienced love from extended family members, those who stepped up to fill the gaps. They blessed me with their love during my life, so I wanted Liesl to have the same experience. Liesl’s great aunt and uncle raised her after she was orphaned during childhood. They gave her their faith and their love.
I have a brother seven years older than me. Because of the age difference between us, sometimes we were the only child at home. This personal experience led me to believe I could write Liesl from the perspective of an only child. I surrounded her with cousins because I’d robbed her of the joys of having a big brother. My motivation was to give Liesl the large extended family I’ve always appreciated. That extended family lends itself to fun and quirky characters. I hope readers enjoy some of the fun characters from Liesl’s family in Show Me Betrayal, book one of the series. Additional characters will join them for more adventures as the series continues, to add a special zest of entertainment and mystery.
I had some concerns about being able to relate to the character’s age with a main character much younger than me. With my life experiences, I resisted giving Liesl a perspective she wouldn’t have as a young woman. I purposely wrote Liesl as someone who is instantly judgmental, making snap judgments. Once she gets to know someone or learns the explanation of their “questionable” actions, she realizes snap judgements are flawed. Because I’m old, life has already taught me to take my time when evaluating someone’s character.
Liesl went to college with dreams of being a writer. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a child. By the time I entered college, my focus was on a more stable career path. Great things such as being married and raising a family became priorities in my life. About twenty years ago, writing became a priority in my life because I believe God gives us the gift of storytelling so we can share His message.
Thanks to all the readers who’ve enjoyed Show Me Betrayal. I invite you to read the rest of the series. Each will incorporate an interesting mystery with uplifting messages to carry with you long after you’ve solved the mystery in the books.
Question for Readers: Which book or movie character is most similar to you in personality and mannerisms? Which book or movie character would you choose to be like?
About Ellen: Ellen is an award-winning fiction writer,
freelance writer and retired insurance fraud investigator. She is excited about her mystery/dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri. Scrivenings Press will release the first book of the series, Show Me Betrayal, May 16, 2023.
She is also proud to be one of three contributors to a Christmas novella collection titled A Gift for All Time, due for release September 26, 2023, from Scrivenings Press.
Ellen is also hard at work on a nonfiction book to help writers win writing contests. Magic Words: Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins for Novels, Short Fiction and Nonfiction is scheduled for publication by Scrivenings Press March 2024.
More information about Ellen’s books, writing tips and guest author highlights can be found at her website. Follow her column on how to win writing contests in Writers Monthly Magazine PDF.
When not writing or reading, Ellen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the world with her adventurous friends and performing with Top of the Rock Chorus, a Sweet Adeline chorus in central Arkansas. Learn more & connect:
Ellen’s Website Ellen’s Facebook
Ellen’s Instagram Ellen’s Bookbub
Ellen’s Goodreads Ellen’s Amazon Profile
About the book – Show Me Betrayal:
A joyous event years ago turned into a horrible nightmare. Has the nightmare returned?
Two deaths occur decades apart. Is it possible these deaths are related? What motivates a killer, who got away with murder sixty years ago, to kill again? Was it uncontrollable rage or the hope of silencing someone who fit all the puzzle pieces together and deduced who committed the crime?
Set in the picturesque town of Mexico, Missouri, Show Me Betrayal takes flight in words and emotions of rich characters woven together into a dual timeline story you won’t want to put down.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Get your copy now!
Come back June 9th for Pat Nichols!
This is an interesting question. One of the most amazing compliments I ever received was that I reminded someone of Marty is Jeanette Oke’s book, Love Comes Softly. I didn’t picture myself with that much patience and strength, but I was honored. I see myself more as Jo March in Little Women. The writer in the family, not the beauty. Determined to be a leader, she controls her emotions and just works her way through every challenge on the way to building a happy and productive family of her own.
I confess I haven’t gotten very far into Ellen’s first book but I intend to correct that problem very soon. I am so honored to count this author as a friend.
I’m most like my character, Devree Malone in Counting on the Cowboy. I put me into her. From not liking humidity or sweating, to hating bugs and being afraid of fish hooks. I’d like to be like Molly Bennett in Lake Season by Denise Hunter. She’s bubbly, energetic, and loves books. I’ve got the loving books part down.
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I can really relate to Elizabeth Barrett from Pride and Prejudice. I could see us being friends in real life. I think that is part of why it is my favorite classic books.
I have a winner! Patrice Whynott won the drawing. I appreciate Ellen for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.