I Broke The Rules Again...

Hello Seekerville, and thanks to Audra for this wonderful opportunity to come visit again.  I always feel at home at Seekerville because the readers and bloggers here possess something that I have an abundance of.  It’s called “Faith.”

I was raised Catholic, so imagine my surprise when I suggested to my then agent that I write a Catholic inspirational.  She quickly nixed the idea, saying Catholicism isn’t recognized in the mainstream of Evangelical Christianity.  At a conference someone said to me, “There are Christians and then there are Catholics.”  So For years, I veered far from writing something so absolutely intrinsic to me.  After all the industry professionals know best, right?

All right.  No one would let me play in their sandbox, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t put the tenements of my beliefs into my secular novels.  In The Past Came Hunting, from Bell Bridge Books, the theme of redemption is huge in that story. 

Still, I was raised in New Mexico, in the Four Corners area, and I am nothing if not influenced by that state’s rich Hispanic and Indian culture.  To leave Catholicism out of a potential story set in New Mexico was like leaving the fish out of the ocean.  I also LOVED stories like The Trouble with Angels, or the stage production of “Patent Leather Shoes Reflect Up.”  Those stories summed up my Catholic education.  And I’m hardly a political or a “tell all” writer.  I simply write romantic suspense and mystery, and the more people that told me no, the more DEADLY RECALL called to me.   (Kind of like those check marks I received in parochial school for failure to conform.)

So I wrote Deadly Recall, against expert advice, knowing I was taking a risk, and the outcome of its success or failure remains to be seen. (This is not a Dan Brown, Davinci Code novel, mind you).  It simply a mystery that takes place in a Catholic Church setting.  I found out quickly what I was up against.  In the Linda Howard Award of Excellence, I received two perfect scores, one of the judges, a multi-published author wrote, “I can’t wait to see this in print.” I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I confess I was hugely disappointed when it came back from the final round judge/editor as an Honorable Mention.   

I could have stashed it in the drawer at that time, (maybe I should have) but there’s that check mark thing again, and I’m stubborn.)  I entered the Golden Heart, and Deadly Recall went on to become a 2010 Golden Heart® finalist.  What this was telling me was that readers liked the story, but industry professionals weren’t sure what to do with it.

I admit I had severe doubt when writing the story.  My mother who is exceedingly Catholic and my first reader said of the opening, “You can’t do this.  Flipping more pages, she said, “You can’t do this.”  Eventually, though, she said, “All right.  You can do this.”  Good.  I had my mother’s blessing ;)

For me, this story has been an emotional rollercoaster and so far, a month after its release I have 15 five and four star reviews.  Two in particular make me smile, one because I wondered myself and the other because the author clearly understood what I was trying to do in this story:

~~ I loved Bell's first novel, and feared that she might be a one-hit wonder. I found Deadly Recall edged out The Past Came Hunting by a nose. Now I can't wait for her next work.  ~ Bill Abell

~~ I enjoyed Deadly Recall. Having a detective fight an attraction to someone on the "dark side", a cute public defender, made for great dialogue exchange and character interaction. Having the mystery in the Catholic Church, without pulling too many PC punches, was nice as well. The plot was realistic and kept my attention. For mystery fans, this is lightweight on the blood and gore, with a reasonable taste of violence, so you can kick back and enjoy watching things play out without too much "shock" factor. Nice solid story I definitely recommend.  ~ C. Hope Clark

As I mentioned, I’m big on writing redemption stories as part of my happily ever after and the theme of forgiveness lives on in this book.  Amazingly, I felt lighter at the story’s end so for that I’ve already been paid in full in writing it.  I’m happy I wrote Deadly Recall, and delighted that Bell Bridge Books saw fit to publish this mystery.  And about those rules I always seem to break . . .

Pablo Picasso wrote, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” 

So I ask you Seekerville readers, have you ever been told no but stubbornly persisted?   What were the results?  Success or failure?  I’d love it if you’d share your stories.  I’ll give one commenter in North America a paperback or digital copy of DEADLY RECALL.  

Thanks for having me, my Colorado buddy and Seekerville.  Always a pleasure.

A terrifying memory is locked deep inside her.  A killer wants to keep it that way.

Nine-year-old Eden Moran thought she was saying good-bye to her mentor that fateful day in St. Patrick’s.  She had no idea she’d witness the nun’s demise, or that her child’s mind would compensate.  Now seventeen years later, Albuquerque cops have unearthed human remains, and the evidence points to Eden as being the key to solving Sister Beatrice’s murder.  When a hell-bent cop applies pressure, Eden stands firm.  She doesn’t remember the woman.  Unfortunately for Eden, Sister Beatrice’s killer will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.

News Flash! Amazon has just selected Deadly Recall as its Kindle Deal of the Day (tomorrow) Friday, April 5 at a deeply discounted rate!! Don't miss this opportunity! 

Donnell Ann Bell is the author of The Past Came Hunting and newly released Deadly Recall from Bell Bridge Books.  Both books were nominated for the prestigious Golden Heart from Romance Writers of America.  Her website is www.donnellannbell.com  

Hi Everyone, Audra here. As always, I love having Donnell as my guest in Seekerville. And isn't that a great Amazon promotion tomorrow? Don't miss out! Of course, leave a comment and look for the Weekend Edition on Saturday to see if you're the lucky winner of a copy of Deadly Recall. Thanks, Donnell for playing with us today!! To start off the morning, I've brought my special recipe Cherry-Almond Oatmeal to share. It took all night in the slow cooker to blend the flavors to perfection. Pour some milk over the top and enjoy!!