A Question of Courage {Blog Tour and Author Interview}

Hi All!

Another blog tour! This time it’s Jessica Wheaton and her book A Question of Courage. This is a sequel. A sequel guys! This girl has it rolling! I admire her walk with Christ, her blog Whimsical Writing and her strange obsession with WWII.

About the Book

Rafe Sullivan never imagined the war would come to his doorstep.
Lily Wilson gives her all to help the hurting community around her.
Arthur Warrington saw the Navy as an escape from the life he left behind.

Three lives. One War. And a search for the Courage to go on.

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Author Interview

Hi Jessica! I’m so excited that you’ve been able to publish a SECOND book in the series. I couldn’t believe when I heard it. So happy for you!
So I have just a couple of questions. I know that a lot of people are going to do an author interview so I’m gonna ask you questions about yourself!

#1 When did you decide you were actually going to be a writer?
I’m not sure I exactly ever just ‘decided’ it. 😉 My family was going through a hard time, and it was during that season in my life that I saw that an author I loved was running a writing contest. So, I decided to give it a go. It was a nice distraction from everything that was going on.

Turns out, I didn’t win the contest, but it helped me discover my love for writing.

#2 Did you write your first book and then decide “Oh. I’m actually gonna publish this one this time.” or did you know this was going to be a published work from the beginning?
My first stories are never going to see the light of day! I wrote my first book/stories mainly for fun. It was a while later that I realized I wanted to get better in writing, so that I could write and publish a book. When I started that project, yes, I realized I wanted it to be published.

#3 Was it any different writing a sequel rather than writing the original? What did you find challenging? And did you have any issues making sure you got all your information and characters correct?
In a way, the sequel was easier because of that fact that I already had the background and setting established for the characters. What was challenging was to make sure that I had different personalities for everyone. It’s amazing how even the littlest details make a difference! There were several times I had to refer to book one and make sure I didn’t change their eye color halfway through. 😉 But other then that, I’d say the 2nd book was definitely easier to write.

#4 Do you know your entire story at the beginning? Or do you add characters and side plots by surprise as you write?
Umm . . . I knew the ending from the beginning. But I had no idea how I was going to get there. Side characters were pretty much added as I wrote, and the plot kinda unfolded as I wrote. What is nice about writing historical fiction is the fact that there are already guidelines in place. You can’t change the dates things happened, so in a way, that helps you hold your story together. And it also helps with the plot, because everything you write has to revolve around those events.

#5 What is your favorite thing about writing?
Definitely all the amazing characters I get to meet. Sometimes I wonder how I ever survived without having my imaginary characters to talk to. I also love the research that comes with writing historical fiction. There’s so much to learn about history, and I love unfolding little details that aren’t widely talked about.

#6 Why do you write WWII?
What originally got me into writing WWII was the fact that there were still men alive who had fought in it. After meeting some and hearing their stories, I realized that these stories needed to be told. Because if they’re not, we’ll forget the sacrifice they made. And that is something that should never be forgotten.

#7 Who inspired your two main characters?
Well, in “A Question of Courage” I have three main characters. They all have bits and pieces of people I know in them, but they’re not really based on any particular person. Reading historical accounts about men and women in the Pacific theatre was what inspired me to write them. To show, if only a little, just how much they sacrificed for our freedom.

Thanks so much! I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you so much for having me!

Jessica Wheaton