Is any part of "Ever Present Danger" factual?
Not a word – and every word. The characters are fictional and not based on anyone I know, but their struggles are universal. The setting IS factual, however – at least the San Juan Mountains and the western slope of Colorado. Phantom Hollow itself is fictional.

How closely is "Ever Present Danger" based on your life?
This is totally a work of fiction. The story is not based on my personal experiences or those of anyone I know.  But even though I haven’t struggled with drug addiction, I’ve certainly struggled with moral compromise and the consequences that followed.  And that’s what this story is really about.  And it’s everybody’s story.

How long did "Ever Present Danger" take you to complete?
About four months. I worked with overlapping deadlines because I write two books a year. Four months is a comfortable pace.

What is the symbolism for the title "Ever Present Danger"?
It’s two-fold.  The story is filled with dangerous situations that keep the pace moving and the reader turning the pages. But the true ever-present danger is moral compromise.

Do you have a favorite character? Why?
I loved Ivy’s seven-year-old son, Montana. It was fun creating a sensitive, lovable little boy that would ask all the right questions in such an endearing way that the reader would actually anticipate the answers and not feel preached to.

How much research did "Ever Present Danger" take?
I have two very reliable research people (a private investigator and an assistant DA) that helped me with crime investigation, forensics, and issues pertaining to the law.  I think I taxed them both pretty hard on this story.  Some of the research was done on the Internet – such as researching drug addiction, rehab, the effects of drugs, etc.

How many titles will be in the "Phantom Hollow" series?
Three: #1 "Ever Present Danger," #2 "Never Look Back" (October 2007), and #3 "The Grand Scheme" (April 2008).

What is your favorite verse from the Bible?
I Corinthians 1:18:  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

Do you prefer to write suspense fiction?
That’s all I’ve written so far, and it’s been fun.  I will say that it gets increasingly difficult to come up with a suspense plot that is unique.  My stories tend to involve equal measures of suspense, inspiration, and characterization.  As long as I feel satisfied with those components in my suspense stories, I’ll probably continue to write it.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?
Balancing my time is the greatest.  By nature, I’m a closure person.  But because I have back-to-back deadlines, I’m never really DONE.  The Lord uses this challenge to keep me disciplined.  Also, I have to deal with occasional bouts of writer’s block – which are exceedingly inconvenient when I’m on deadline.  And then there’s the inevitable spiritual attack that will hit sometime during the writing of each book.  I have learned to recognize it.  And I have a team of prayer warriors who help me fight it.