books

Suspense & Thrills: Brenda Morgan’s Latest Book

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

My interview today is with Michigan author Brenda Morgan. I’ve known who Brenda is because she lives just down the road from me. However, until we met up at a library event, I wasn’t aware that she is also a published author. I’ve invited Brenda to be my guest today to find out more about her journey and her latest book.

Brenda, thank you for joining me today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m Brenda Morgan, a Michigan-based suspense and psychological thriller author who loves writing stories about strong women overcoming impossible situations. Before becoming an author, I spent more than ten years as a teacher, and now I balance writing with helping my daughter run her candle business, Candles by Madison, and babysitting my granddaughter.

I’m the author of The Woman Who Came Back and What He Left Behind, with my third novel, When He Came Back, on the way. My books are set in small-town Michigan and combine emotional storytelling, suspense, mystery, and psychological twists. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me with a cup of coffee, spending time with my family, or curled up with one of my pets and a good book.

We’re here to talk about your newest book, When He Came Back. What is your book about?

When He Came Back is the third book in my suspense series that began with The Woman Who Came Back and continued with What He Left Behind. The new novel brings together characters from both previous books as past trauma, hidden secrets, and unfinished battles collide.

After surviving years of captivity in the first book, Liz believed her abductor was finally behind bars for good. But when he escapes before sentencing, fear returns stronger than ever and the people closest to Liz become targets. Joined by Krista and Detective Charlie—characters readers first met in What He Left Behind—the group must work together to stop a man determined to destroy the lives they fought so hard to rebuild.

Now for some questions that my readers like to ask:

What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?

What first sparked my interest in writing was actually teaching. I loved teaching, but it could also be very stressful, and many nights I had trouble falling asleep because my mind was still going. To relax, I would make up stories in my head while lying in bed. Each night, I’d continue building on the story I had imagined the night before, adding new scenes and ideas as I went along.

At the time, they were pretty simple and still just the skeleton of stories, but that’s really where my writing began. Even now, I still have several story ideas written down as short summaries waiting to someday become full novels.

After I retired from teaching, I read books by a few local indie authors and started wondering if maybe I could write one too. At first, I only told a few close family members because I honestly wasn’t sure if I could do it. But once I finished my first book and shared it with others, people were surprised by what I had created—and that gave me the confidence to keep writing.

Do you reward yourself when a book is finished? If so, what is your favorite treat?

I do reward myself when I finish a book, but it usually isn’t with food or a special treat. Instead, I completely rearrange my office. About two-thirds of the way through writing a book, I always seem to get restless with my workspace and start wanting a change.

Once the book is finished, moving everything around and creating a fresh setup feels like a reset before starting the next project. Since I spend so much time in my office writing, having a cozy and inspiring space is important to me, and changing it up always feels rewarding after finishing a manuscript.

Were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?

There are always surprises when I’m writing. I usually begin with an ending in mind and include it in my outline, but by the time I reach the final chapters, the ending is often completely different from what I originally planned. Sometimes it changes so much that it barely resembles the first idea at all.

With When He Came Back, the ending evolved in a major way as I wrote. I also had conversations with readers of my first two books, and hearing their thoughts, theories, and hopes for the characters really inspired me. I love listening to what readers connect with and what they would like to see happen next. While I still stay true to the story I want to tell, those conversations definitely helped shape parts of the book—especially the ending.

Who was your favorite character to create?

My favorite character to create has been Liz. She was the main character in The Woman Who Came Back and returns as one of the central characters in When He Came Back. When I finished writing my first book, I never planned for her story to continue beyond that novel.

While writing my second book, What He Left Behind, I realized the characters were in the perfect town and situation for Liz to naturally appear, so I decided to bring her back for a small part in the story. After that, I discovered that readers loved and missed Liz just as much as I did, and many asked if they would ever get more of her story. That ultimately inspired the idea for When He Came Back.

Liz has become a character that feels very real to me, and as long as I continue writing books in this series and setting, I think she will always find a way to appear.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m probably a mix of both. I usually start with a basic outline of where I think the story is going and the major things I want to happen. It’s not overly detailed, but it gives me direction and helps me feel more organized before I begin writing.

Once I start writing, though, the story tends to take on a life of its own. Things happen sooner or later than I originally planned, scenes get removed, and characters sometimes change completely. In What He Left Behind, Kevin was originally supposed to be a good guy, but as I wrote, his character evolved into someone very different.

For me, writing is almost like watching a movie play out in my mind while I type. The story unfolds scene by scene, and I discover parts of it alongside the characters. When I get stuck, I go back to my outline, adjust it to fit the changes I’ve made, and keep moving forward. By the end, the story has usually transformed quite a bit from where it originally started—and that’s one of my favorite parts of the process.

What does your family think of your writing?

My family has been incredibly supportive of my writing journey. My husband and I were both teachers for many years, and he has become one of my biggest supporters by helping with editing and proofreading my books. My daughter also plays a huge role by helping with marketing, social media, and encouraging me every step of the way.

I’m also very lucky to have other family members willing to read my work before publication. My mom, sister-in-law, cousin, mother-in-law, and several others have all helped by proofreading, editing, and giving honest feedback about different parts of the story. Having that kind of support system has meant so much to me as an indie author.

Do you experience writer’s block?

So far, I really haven’t experienced writer’s block. I think part of that is because I always have an outline to fall back on if I get stuck or need direction. Most of the time, my challenge isn’t a lack of ideas—it’s finding enough uninterrupted time to write.

I babysit my granddaughter most days, so my writing time during the week can be limited. I’m not much of a morning person or a night owl, so daytime is usually when I write best. Whenever possible, I try to carve out longer stretches of writing time on weekends because I love becoming completely immersed in the story. Those are the moments when the book really comes alive for me and the scenes play out almost like a movie in my mind.

Brenda, thanks again for being my guest.

What’s next for you as an author?

After the release of When He Came Back, I plan to continue expanding the series and following several of the characters readers have connected with throughout my books. While Liz and her family will still appear, future stories will focus more heavily on Krista, Charlie, Nick, and new characters as they investigate crimes and uncover secrets in small-town Michigan communities.

I’m excited to continue blending suspense, emotional storytelling, and psychological twists while creating strong, realistic characters readers can grow with from book to book. My goal is to keep building a connected world where each story can stand on its own, but longtime readers are rewarded by seeing familiar faces return and evolve over time.

Where can our readers find out more about you?

Readers can find me online through my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/BrendaMorganAuthor It’s the main hub for everything related to my books, including my website, social media pages, places to purchase my novels, and links to leave reviews. It’s the easiest way to stay connected and follow along with new releases and updates.

BUY LINK TO AMAZON:

Dana Kenneth Johnson: Uncovering Michigan’s History

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

My guest today is an author from my home state of Michigan whom I met at the local library event in April. I’m impressed with the details in his books and how many of them he has published.

I’ve asked the author to tell us about himself and his books.

My name is Dana Kenneth Johnson – author, publisher, photographer, historian, and educational media producer, born in the U.P. but now living with my high school sweetheart and wife Ruth near Gowen, about 30 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. 

I graduated from Vestaburg High School in 1972 and have a college degree in Education Media Technology from Ferris State College (1975) and in Business Equipment Service Technology from Central Oregon Community College (1989), but my passion is in rediscovering Michigan’s lost history, exploring its many ghost towns, and finding historic old schoolhouses.

Altogether, I’ve published over 50 books on Michigan historical places and people, all of which are listed on the following pages and available to purchase on Amazon.com.

I travel extensively around the state to find, firsthand, the hidden historical treasures that await rediscovery in each county.

On one excursion, I spent an entire day – 14 hours – and drove 350 miles zigzagging north to south through Gratiot County to document and photograph every standing schoolhouse I could find, (39 remaining of the 184 that once stood in the county.)  I’ve devoted similar energy and resources to do the same in Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa Counties.  The result is “The Old School Project,” a series of books documenting the historic schools in each of those counties. Since then, I’ve started a series entitled “Michigan’s Lost, Forgotten & Unforgettable Places” which explores villages, hamlets, cities and historic sites – past and present – by county. My goal is to publish a book on every one of Michigan’s 83 counties. So far, I’ve covered 33 of them.

I have produced several series of PowerPoint presentations on historic schools, abandoned sites, rural communities, and ghost towns around West Central Michigan, and would delight in presenting them to groups in your area.

I also publish a bimonthly (6 issues a year) newsletter on Montcalm County History, with PDF format available free by email, or $12 per year for printed copy by USPS.

What is your book about?

Montcalm County Lost Forgotten & Unforgettable Places – The first book I published in the Lost, Forgotten & Unforgettable Places series was “Montcalm County Lost, Forgotten & Unforgettable Places” about the towns and sites in the county where I grew up and again live after returning from Oregon. It documents over 70 such sites in the county in current full-color and vintage photos, old and current maps, and a history of each place. The first edition was 75 pages, published in 2022. The latest edition, published in May 2024, is 360 pages, including a comprehensive index.

What was the catlyst and inspiration for your book?

My interest in Michigan history began in 1985 when I moved from Michigan to Central Oregon and found such spectacular scenic beauty that I felt compelled to photograph it.  Beginning with natural settings such as rivers, lakes, mountains, falls and forests, flora and fauna, I found the architecture equally intriguing, especially regarding the old Reid School in Bend that had been preserved as the Des Chutes Historical Museum.

When I came back to Michigan in 2014, I continued photographing old schools, along with other historic buildings and sites.  My interest grew as I discovered more and more of those old school houses still standing, in various states of repair or disrepair.

Further investigation included finding the history of each school and discovering their locations from old plat maps.  Inevitably, I realized that these  buildings needed to be documented before they were lost to history and the elements, so I started compiling books, starting with Montcalm County, since that’s where I live.  After publishing eleven books on historic schools, I expanded into historic rail stops, villages, towns, cities and sites in Michigan’s 83 counties. So far, I’ve covered 33 of them.

How do you find so much time to gather information and write?

After working in over 40 jobs between 1975 and 2014 when I retired, I devoted my free time to compiling information on Michigan’s historic places by county.

Were there any surprises as you wrote this book?

I had been aware of the term “podunk” as it refers to backwater towns and out-of-the-way hamlets, but it was only upon examining various old maps that I discovered that Michigan had ten towns that were actually named Podunk, including one in the southeast corner of Montcalm County.

Do you experience writer’s block?

Writer’s Block? – No such thing! Researching the history of each place in each county is just a matter of digging into old maps and photos, extrapolating their locations on modern maps, researching their history, and visiting the site to see what’s there, sometimes finding no trace remaining, and other times finding a thriving town or city.

What’s next for you as an author?

To publish a book on places in every county in Michigan, all 83 of them. I have 50 more to go.

Thank you for joining me today. Where can readers find you online?

on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DanaKennethJohnson/ and on Amazon by book title or ISBN.

Contact information:

Dana Kenneth Johnson

Gowen, Michigan  49326

541-419-6491

Photojournalist, Historian, Author, Editor, Publisher, Educational Media Producer, Audiovisual Specialist, Lecturer

Note from blogger Carol Underhill:

This is the link the author’s book about Mecosta County, where my home is. It was fun to look up my little village and read details about its history. I’m impressed with the amount of research he has put into each book.

Reflecting on Life: Age 61 and Sweet 16 Memories

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

61 is 16 backwards!

I turned 61 on Tuesday May 26.

It dawned on me that age 61 is age 16 backwards.

So it got me thinking about what life was like for me at 16.

I was “Sweet 16 and never been Kissed.”

I thought something was wrong with me.

A couple of boys had tried when I was out with friends to kiss me but I shied away from contact. I wasn’t interested in them.

My first kiss came at 17 from a very nice boy who I didn’t appreciate at the time.

However, at age 16, I was writing stories with romance using my limited imagination, having never experienced romance in real life. I had read a lot of books, though, so I parroted some of what I read.

Although I had a few kisses in college and in my early 20s, I didn’t receive the kiss that really mattered until I was 24, when I had my own fairy tale romance with the man of my dreams. We fell in love and had a beautiful wedding. It was all a dream come true for me. Our marriage was good, until “til death do us part” actually happened when were still in our 40s. I lost him in a work accident.

I’ve written romances since he passed away, but now most of my characters are widowed or in some cases divorced.

Second-chance romance, a concept that was foreign to me at age 16.

Had someone told me on my wedding day that I would only have 20 years with the man of my dreams, I would have been in an even bigger hurry to say our vows. I know that because I wouldn’t have wanted to miss a moment of our lives together.

Through all the changes that have happened since I was a teenager, one constant remains. My faith in God has been with me on every step of my journey. I became a believer at a young age and was baptized. I never strayed toward the partying lifestyle. In part because our church started a youth group around that time. The fellowship and social activities gave me a place to belong, when I didn’t feel like I fit in at school.

Doors opened for me in high school that led to the opportunity to go to a Christian college and live in the dorms.
It was in college that I received my second kiss. From a nice upperclassman. Nice, that is, until he broke my heart. I can laugh about my “heartbreak” now, because it was so meaningless in comparison to really getting my heart broken when my husband passed away.

I had a couple of other boyfriends, one in college and one in my early twenties, that never went beyond a few kisses.
During those years, I did a lot of living: Studying, then teaching in Mexico; Leading youth group at my local church; Bible studies; and working full time at a couple of different jobs.

But I didn’t write any fiction during those years. In fact, a friend in Mexico told me that Christians shouldn’t write fiction. So I came home from there and threw out all the stories I’d written in high school.

That was a blessing in disguise, because I am embarrassed now at some of the things I wrote. I’m glad none of it was ever published.

After I married, we started a family. I became a stay-at-home mom. Suddenly, I spent all day with a baby, then a second one, without a lot of interaction. I suffered with undiagnosed postpartum depression. I disliked house work. I loved my kids and my husband, but I was bored and often lonely.

When my kids became toddlers, creativity once again blossomed in me. I wrote even through the darkest times in my life.

I wouldn’t become a published author until 2007, long after high school ended.

These days currently I have a lot of free time on my hands. I am widowed, two adult children share my house but live their own lives, and I don’t have a car, by choice, because I’ve chosen not to drive anymore due to medical issues.

Now that I have all the time I need, I have writer’s block. I haven’t written anything new for a while.

I have a few projects in various stages of completion that I’d like to finish. I have a book in the editing stages that I hope to release this summer.
I may struggle to get the words typed into a document, but one thing I am convinced of:

God is not done writing MY story.

I thought I knew enough about life to write at age 16. I do know a lot more about it at age 61. But I will never stop learning what God has in store for me, as He does something new in my heart every day.

My struggles with social anxiety have made me a recluse of sorts, but God is helping me extend my “box.” I hope to make great strides this summer with participating in life outside my four walls again.

And as I begin a new year of life, at age 61, I pray that God will help me to be a blessing to others and grow my faith.

And maybe, just maybe, to complete some of the writing projects I’ve neglected.

From Country Roots to New Dreams: A Spiritual Reflection

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

This post was previously published in October 2024 under Sweaters and Knee Socks.

Today I’ve added an update to the original post to share how God has directed my path.

Sweaters and Knee Socks

I grew up in a family that didn’t have much money for extras. We didn’t buy name brand clothes. We shopped at garage sales before it became popular. Mom made sure we had a couple of new outfits for school each fall and new dresses for Christmas and Easter. Sometimes they were homemade.

Fashion was all about Izods and Calvin Kleins when I was in high school. I don’t think not having name brand jeans and shirts really mattered to me. But one trend I wanted to have so badly was a wool skirt with a wool sweater and knee socks. That outfit was really popular and something I yearned for.

My senior year, a cousin bought me a wool sweater for Christmas and my aunt paid me in wool skirts for babysitting her boys. When I went off to college that fall, I was ready to be in style.

Only people in college didn’t dress that way.

I had missed out on wearing the trend. Now my clothes were out of style at the small college I went to.

My country roots were showing.

(Things got better at the end of my freshman year when a settlement from a driver’s ed car accident came through, giving me spending money above what my college costs were. I bought parachute pants. {Cringe} I actually wore them!)

However, the outdated style didn’t stop me from making friends and experiencing some of the fun the conservative college offered.

One experience I remember well early on in my freshman year was a spiritual retreat. I don’t know where the campground was, but the girls’ bathroom were all open-stall toilets. Needless to say, I didn’t feel the urge to go.

There were also really tall, old growth trees. When we all took a walk through the trees, the leader told us to lay down on the ground and look up. I still remember how majestic the treetops looked from that point of view.

Experiences like this spiritual retreat helped cement the faith that I had experienced in high school and made me a stronger Christian. A sophomore year trip to Mexico gave me new confidence.

I began to walk my own path. Things that had mattered before weren’t important anymore. I had new plans, new dreams.

Forty years have gone by since my college days. (Yikes, I’m THAT old!)

I felt recently like I have finally “come into my own.” I had confidence in myself and in my plans.

Then news I hadn’t expected put a roadblock in my path and I’m not sure what the future holds for me.

I love this verse and have had it memorized since I was a teen:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

As I have done for most of my life, in these moments I put my faith in the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Father who created me and loves me. He will direct my paths. The NIV says, “He will make your paths straight.” I like that translation also.

I am praying and waiting to see what He will do, even as I take each step that I know is right for that moment. No, I can’t see ahead, but that’s okay. He will make my way straight and clear.

Now thinking back to that long-ago retreat, I realize I am not the same person. I have a deeper, abiding faith and more life experiences to know that God will, indeed, fulfill the promise in Proverbs 3:5-6. As I trust in Him, He shall direct my path.

And I realize that if I were to lie on the ground and look up at the treetops, I wouldn’t be able to get back up! (Not gracefully, anyway).

Update: February 9, 2026

More than a year has passed. I wasn’t shown a direct path after I posted the original. I tried a couple of things that didn’t work out to my benefit. One endeavor was partially responsible for a mental health crisis mid-summer. It took 3-4 months for my mental health to stabilize. I didn’t work on anything during that time.

In December, I set up a booth at a local event in the school I used to attend. From the sales that day and contacts made that month, I sold 32 books. The most I’ve ever sold in one month.

The New Year didn’t start on a very positive note, but my mental health had improved. I spent two lovely days with my sisters. Then I started to feel the depression and the wait of some of my grief coming back. I made an appointment with my counselor. However, a few days before I saw her, inspiration came to me for my writing projects.

It feels good to be inspired and even better, to see some of my dreams for my writing come to fruition.

I will publish 4-5 new books in 2026. Maybe more as God directs and finances come through.

My faith in God is stronger than ever. I feel very blessed.

Balancing Writing and Life: Tips from Allison Pearl

/ Carol Underhill / Leave a comment

Good morning, today I’m interviewing author Allison Pearl.

Allison, thank you for being a guest on my blog.

Let’s start with you telling us a little bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Allison Pearl, a Romantic Suspense and Cozy Mystery writer. I love writing about close-knit worlds in both small towns and big cities inspired by the many different locations in which I’ve lived. When not plotting fictional crimes, I run an online book club (https://allison-pearl.com/allisons-book-club/) and regularly release a newsletter (https://allison-pearl.com/home/newsletter-signup/) with bookish blog posts, giveaways, and reading updates.

What is your book about?

Battered & Torn centers on Nora, a woman hiding from a murderous family while working at a billionaire’s estate, and Archie, the guarded heir who can’t ignore his growing attraction or the secrets surrounding her. As their connection deepens and danger closes in, trusting each other could lead them to the truth or cost them everything, including their lives.

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find time in your day to write?

During my non-fiction writing hours, I write executive resumes and social media content for professionals looking to transition to a new role. Finding time to write fiction is not easy, and based on my progress balancing both, I only have bad advice 😉 I’ve tried better scheduling, getting up earlier, and more, with unpredictable success. What works today often doesn’t work tomorrow. At the end of the day, I just try to write when I can.

Are you a night owl or morning person?

Definitely not a morning person, but not the most successful night owl either given how much I love an early bedtime. I have some concentration and attention issues that make consistency a challenge which means everyday seems like a new game plan. The older I get, the more I realize that the harder I try to put myself in a box or rigid schedule, the quicker I fail. Ultimately, I’ve learned to give myself permission to adapt day by day.

That’s great advice for all of us.

Are you a plotter or a panster?

Definitely a pantser. I have so much respect for writers who plan and wish I could be them when I grow up, but I just end up turning story plotting into procrastination and avoidance. The only reason my books get finished is because I sit down, start writing, and see what happens. Honestly, my plot twists shock me as much as they shock my readers.

Do you experience writer’s block? What do you do to get through it?

All the time. How I get through it changes case by case, but one strategy I always try when I’m really stuck is good old pen and paper. I close my laptop, sit down with a notebook, and just start writing something. I don’t know why it works for me, but something about writing that way always helps me find my way out of whatever maze I’ve trapped myself in.

Another great tip!

Do you reward yourself when a book is finished? If so, what is your favorite treat?

Sometimes, I reward myself for finishing a chapter 😉 Some days the words come easily, while other days you have to fight for every one of them, so rewards feel like a necessity. I’ll usually go grab a treat or a coffee, or sometimes even take a walk around the store.

What does your family think of your writing?

I think their reactions usually fall somewhere between pride and confusion. Let’s just say a snarky, sailor-mouthed woman revealing a career writing faith-based romantic suspense may have seemed a little inexplicable, but despite the confusion, my family has been incredibly supportive and the best marketing team a person could have.

Allison, it was really great chatting with you.

What’s next for you as an author?

Right now, I’m working on the start of a cozy mystery series about a Pittsburgh-based mobile bookstore owner who has a knack for continually finding herself in trouble.

And before we go, where can readers find you online?

Readers can find me online at allison-pearl.com, where I share book updates, blog posts, giveaways, and newsletter sign-ups, as well as on social media under my author name, Allison Pearl.