Often I write about fear. I think it’s one of the most universal human emotions. Fear helps us to learn vital lessons like don’t touch the stove when it’s hot or don’t run a red light because you’ll probably cause an accident. But fear can easily consume us. In my recent novel, Created, Paleontologist Travis Perego is tortured by fear. Fear of losing his job. Fear that beautiful Lenaia is hiding things from him. And fear of finding out the … [Read more...]
Author Janice Boekhoff Continues Her Earth Hunter Series With CREATED
After his sister’s death sends him into the loving arms of God, Paleontology Professor Travis Perego fights to reconcile the career he’s devoted his life to with his fragile new faith. His struggle between evolutionary theory and the Bible soon attracts the attention of the dean who makes at least one thing clear in Travis’s life. If he doesn’t figure things out soon, he’s fired. Then a former student tells him of an experiment designed to prove … [Read more...]
Author Janice Boekhoff: When Dealing with Writers …
Do you think us writers are just a little bit weird? You wouldn’t be the first. We spend hours behind a keyboard figuring out how best to torture dozens of people who don’t actually exist. It’s no wonder that many writers turn to alcohol to cope with the horrors they’ve put on the page. But don’t worry about me, alcohol is not my problem. Like many sober authors, I’m addicted to story. And there’s no denying that God made me this way. So … [Read more...]
Setting Spotlight: Costa Rica
One of the biggest perks an author gets is visiting the location where a novel is set. For Book Two in the Earth Hunters series, Created, I had to hunt for the perfect location. The plot required several special conditions for the setting: Plenty of room for a mysterious dinosaur-like creature to run around and cause trouble, yet stay hidden. A volcano and jungle close to each other so I could bring together my main characters, … [Read more...]
Is it Wrong to Manipulate Human DNA Like It’s Computer Code?
What makes us human beings? My 3rd grader could give the correct scientific answer—DNA. It gives all of our cells instructions and makes each of us individuals. Based on my heritage, I have blue eyes, brown hair that started going gray in my twenties, skin that tans easily, and a second toe that is slightly longer than my big toe (My sister and I used to tell our friends it was a sign of royalty. I think they might have even believed … [Read more...]
Janice Boekhoff: One Writer’s FAQ
When people find out I’m an author, I get two reactions. One: “Wow, that’s great!” Followed by many questions of what and how I write. Two: “Oh.” Followed by a subtle eye roll and somewhat condescending questions about how easy it must be to use my writing to get rich without doing much work. Thankfully, the first reaction is much more common, so I thought I would write up the answers to the questions I’m most often asked. That way the … [Read more...]
3 Ways that Releasing My First Novel Was Like Walking Down the Street in my Underwear (Plus a Giveaway)
In August, my debut novel, Crevice, released and I couldn’t be happier, but once it was out there I had this moment of panic. What did I do? My book baby was now on display for anyone to see. It was like those dreams I sometimes have where I've forgotten my clothes. I’m guessing I’m not the only one to ever feel this way, although I do tend to have control issues, so I thought I'd tell you why I felt this way. Note: keep reading to the end for … [Read more...]
Author Janice Boekhoff Tells Her Secret to Being Able to “Write Through the Fear”
No one would ever tell you to write out of fear (except maybe Stephen King), but for much of my life I wrote, or rather didn’t write, because of fear. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, I had many answers to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Wanting to be a veterinarian or archaeologist were safe things to admit. Things people would understand. But I had something else buried deep in the hidden part of my heart. A … [Read more...]
CREVICE Author Janice Boekhoff: Will the Real Lost Dutchman Please Step Up?
In my novel, Crevice, I created an elaborate background for Jacob Waltz, aka The Dutchman, and his relationship to the Lost Dutchman gold mine. But how much of what I wrote is true? Who was the real Dutchman? First, let me say, please do not try to find the Lost Dutchman gold mine based on my novel. Although, I did pick a physical place for the mine—a peak on the northwest side of the Millsite Canyon trail—I chose this because it was outside … [Read more...]
CREVICE Author Janice Boekhoff’s “Behind the Scenes: Is Setting a Character in Itself?”
I’ve heard many writers say that setting is just the place where your story happens. In a literal sense, this is true. Every character I dream up needs a place to lay their head at night, a place to fight for, and a place to fight with other people. But I’ve always thought setting should do more than provide a bed (or as in many of my novels, a sleeping bag) for my characters. I wrote the first several drafts of Crevice before visiting the … [Read more...]
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