Today, I get to introduce you to another CrossRiver Author,
Melody Balthaser and her book, Seeking Sophie.
In 1858 New England, orphaned, indentured servant Sophie Stalz stabs her master to protect herself from rape. Now she must rely on her brother and his friends to protect her. Escaping through the Underground Railroad, Sophie finds herself stranded on an island in the hands of a stranger.
Surrounded by the sea and occupied with the duties of a lighthouse keeper, Jackson Scott just wants to be left alone with his memories. His fortress is about to crumble when his friend deposits Sophie on his doorstep. An old debt needs to be paid and the cost is dear.
As her master is Seeking Sophie, will Sophie and Jackson find a life together free from their past?
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Get to know Melody
Get to know Melody
MELODY BALTHASER lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband and their three children. She has traveled to Africa to help orphans in Zambia and worked in children’s and women’s ministry. She enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and canoeing, but when winter settles in she heads indoors to sit in front of the wood stove, while a classic chick-flick plays on the T.V. and homemade soup simmers on the stove. Melody’s passion is to encourage people to let God’s love free them of fear and rejection to live the adventurous life their Creator intended.
Have you always been a writer?I have not always been a writer and am still not a full-time writer. I was at home with my children, working part-time and homeschooling, when I began writing Seeking Sophie. The story unfolded over the next few years. I entered the first three chapters in the Genesis contest and got encouraging advice but did not place. I put the manuscript away for a few more years until I felt I was supposed to share it and God led me to CrossRiver Media.
What kinds of interesting things have you done in your life? I have had all kinds of jobs from hairstylist to service writer in a heavy machinery shop. I’ve raised goats, milked them and made cheese. I’ve been to Zambia and I’ve jumped out of a plane at 13, 500 feet!
What books have influenced your life the most? Francine River’s books have had the greatest impact on me, especially the Mark of the Lion Series and Redeeming Love. They really began to awaken me to the depth of God’s love.
Tell us about getting your mind in a creative mode? I am most inspired after being outdoors. Sights, sounds and smells of nature trigger my creativity.
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? I am not a very scheduled person and am pulled in many directions all the time. I am learning to accept and understand what works best for me and realize it may not look like anyone else’s process.
What advice, do you have for others aspiring to publish a book of their own/follow their dream? Open your heart and listen to what God is saying you. He will direct you and He will use you in ways you never expected if you stay humble and teachable.
What is your book about? Seeking Sophie is about a young woman finding her place in a male dominated nineteenth-century world and her struggle between the desire for independence and belonging.
What was your favorite chapter or part to write and why? Believe it or not, my favorite part to write was Damien’s POV. He is such an interesting antagonist and I enjoyed trying to get into his head and experience things from his perspective. I love writing dialogue for him. And what was the hardest? I have a hard time with POV and what I really want to do is a no-no in novel writing. I like head-hopping because I like to think about each person’s perspective of the same situation. It’s why sociology and psychology always intrigued me.
Do you plan on writing a sequel to this story? I am working on the second novel in what I’m calling Drawn to the Light series, Chasing Clare, in which readers will get to know Sophie’s best friend Clare. More of the mystery introduced in Seeking Sophie will unravel.
Connect with Melody
Melody, it's good that you recognize what works best for you when it comes to a writing routine. Forcing yourself into something will more than likely stifle your creativity. When I first started writing, it was never at the same time of day, but I did my best to write everyday.