Author Chat with Sarah Hamaker on her New Novella in the Collection, Holiday Menace

Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Sarah Hamaker on her podcast, The Romantic Side of Suspense, and our conversation left me feeling as though we were friends and not just acquaintances. She is a gifted, award-winning author whose Christian romantic suspense should absolutely be on your bookshelf.

Please join me in welcoming her to the blog today as she shares about her new Christmas novella, Christmas Cold Case, in the collection, Holiday Menace. For the record, Christmas is only twelve weeks away, and it’s never too early for Christmas novellas, in my opinion.

Q: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a child dreaming up stories and writing them down. I still have a few of those stories, and every once in a while, I take a look at them to remind myself of how far I’ve come and how many stories I’ve thought of so far in my life.

Q: What inspired the idea for your novella, Christmas Cold Case?

I’d been wanting to write a second Christmas novella for a while, set in my fictitous town of Twin Oaks, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, with a secondary character from that novella (Mistletoe & Murder), David Keener. I thought David deserved his own happily-ever-after but didn’t know what that might be until the idea of a woman wanting to solve her parents’ double murder on Christmas.

Q: Is there a theme that runs throughout this collection of Christmas novellas, and if so, what is it?

The only theme is Christmas coupled with satisfying endings—the villains are caught, the couples end up together by Christmas. There are not many Christmas-themed romantic suspense novellas, so that also makes this collection unique.

Q: What is something you enjoy, aside from writing, that makes you a better writer?

Like many writers, I read as much as I can, both in my genre and outside of it. I enjoy historical fiction, particularly WWI-era, and nonfiction books on a variety of subjects. To fuel my writing passion, I read or sit outside on our front porch swing to let my mind wander. My latest obsession is watching BritBox (my four kids got me a subscription to that for Christmas/Birthday/Mother’s Day combined!), which gives me good ideas for plots and twists for my mysteries.

Q: How can readers connect with you?

The best way is to join my newsletter list! I offer subscribers exclusive giveaways from other Christian romantic suspense authors and share about my writing journey, along with any contests or other fun reader events I participate in. I also give new subscribers my romantic suspense novella, Deadly Diamonds, for free when they sign up. You can sign up here: https://sarahhamakerfiction.ck.page.

Q: Can you share about what next project you have in the works?

Right now, I’m hard at work on proposals for my agent to send to publishers, but after that, I’m going to start writing book 2 in my Beacon of Truth series that I hope to start indie publishing sometime in 2024. To be honest, I’m always thinking about the next project—so many ideas, so little writing time!

About the Author

Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. She’s a member of ACFW; ACFW Virginia Chapter; and Faith, Hope and Love, as well as the president of Capital Christian Writers Fellowship. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four teenagers, a preschool foster child and three cats. Visit her online at sarahhamakerfiction.com.

About Holiday Menace

Will Christmas be merry and bright? Lives are in danger when menacing pressures threaten to derail Christmas in this heart-pounding suspense—plus a little romance—collection of 10 brand-new novellas from some of the genre’s most popular Christian romantic suspense authors!

Join Jerusha Agen, Mary Alford, Lori Altebaumer, Danielle Grandinetti, Sarah Hamaker, Kendall Hoxsey, Karen Kirst, Pat O’Brien, Hope Welborn, and Terri Weldon on a dangerous Christmastime journey of mystery, suspense, romance, and faith.

Midnight Clear by Jerusha Agen
Her worst fear is another Christmas alone. Until she isn’t alone.

Christmas in the Crosshairs by Mary Alford
This Christmas, Hailey Lansing is caught in the crosshairs of a deadly terrorist plot and must turn to the man who broke her heart to save her life. CIA Scorpion Team Officer Gray Beaumont never expected a second chance with Hailey, but he’ll risk everything to bring them through the threat to rebuild the love he once shattered.

Silenced Night by Lori Altebaumer
No one thinks of murder on Christmas Eve. Now Everleigh Greene has seen too much and someone wants to wish her a silenced night.

Escape with the Prodigal by Danielle Grandinetti
Only a Christmas miracle will save an unwed mother and the lumberjack protecting her. A holiday romance filled with danger, redemption, and sacrifice.

Christmas Cold Case by Sarah Hamaker
All she wants for Christmas is to solve the decades-old murder of her parents—and stay alive.

An Imminent Christmas Threat by Kendall Hoxsey
Claiming a family legacy is not for the faint of heart. A holiday suspense novella.

Smoky Mountain Rescue by Karen Kirst
Jasper’s brother is missing, and the one person who can identify his abductor is the very woman he promised to stay away from. Can Jasper and Natalie overcome their differences to bring Nick home for Christmas?

Deadly School Break by Pat O’Brien
An art teacher is drawn into a deadly trap with a man she once trusted. A story fraught with chilling suspense, romance, and forgiveness.

Hidden by Hope Welborn
Trapped by a relentless Christmas snowstorm, an unknown threat shadows her every move. To survive, she must rely on the one man she swore never to trust again.

Murdered by Christmas by Terri Weldon
A serial killer has targeted Wynter Blakely and the only man who can protect her is her first love, Detective Max Holloway. Can they set aside the past long enough to keep Wynter from being Murdered by Christmas?