Win a copy of "Stranded." A novel, by Don and Stephanie Prichard.

Congratulations on your debut novel! Let me start with asking you to tell us a little about yourself. Also, enlighten the readers on a few things you enjoy when you're not writing. 

My husband, Don, and I are co-authors of Stranded: A Novel. We’ve been married forty-nine years and started writing together ten years ago. After a long day at our keyboards, we pretty much relax by watching a movie or episodes of a TV series on Netflix. We love analyzing them for what makes them successful. Aside from that for recreation, we love our church and participate in many of its activities. 

Please tell the readers about Stranded.  

Sure. Here’s the back cover blurb:

All Marine Corps reservist Jake Chalmers wants is to give his dying wife a last, romantic cruise to the Philippines. Unable to save her in a mass murder aboard ship, he washes ashore a jungle island, where he discovers three other survivors. Heartbroken that he failed to save his wife, he is determined not to fail these helpless castaways.  

Federal prosecutor Eve Eriksson rescues a young girl and her elderly great-aunt from the same ship. They badly need Jake's survival skills, but why is he so maddeningly careful? She needs to hurry home to nail a significant career trial. And, please, before Jake learns her secret that she's responsible for his wife's death.

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When did you first discover that you loved writing? How did you become co-authors?  

The interesting thing here is that I always loved reading and writing, whereas Don rarely touched a book and preferred movies—yet it was he who initially wrote the book! In 1999, a storyline began occupying his mind as he drove to and from work until finally he started writing it down. Five months later he suffered a stroke and lost all ability to read. Happily, writing Stranded became his therapy and he taught himself to read again. After a few years he asked me to help him with the story. At first I thought I’d just correct the grammar and spelling, but I fell in love with the story and we started our “career” as co-authors. 

What about the story attracted you to join him?  

I was captured by the fast-paced adventure with all its twists and turns. My husband is a Marine Corps reservist, so he has all kinds of fascinating details in the story that help it come alive. He also wanted the protagonist to be a Christ-figure, so I got to have fun adding the dimensions of faith and symbolism to the story.

What was your writing process?  

For the most part we had a division of labor. He scripted the original draft and I rewrote it after we discussed and reshaped the story. We overhauled it at least three times over the years as we kept “learning how to write” from attending writers conferences, taking online classes, and being part of a critique group. 

Where can readers find you and your novels?  

Our novel is available for $2.99 on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQGJBUY.  

Other links:

http://donandstephanieprichard.wordpress.com     

www.pinterest.com/stephprichard

www.facebook.com/4u2read

Thank you for the interview, Mary!

It was fun having you on my blog Steph. I wish you much success.

Don’t forget, until Dec.4th you can comment for a chance to win an eBook copy of “Stranded.”