Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
I am very excited about The Molech Prophecy. The back cover summary reads:
Former gang member Tommy Cucinelle thought he had left his old life behind when he became a Christian. That's why he's surprised when his pastor asks him to use his old "skills" — finding people who don't want to be found — to locate the church secretary after she mysteriously disappears and the church is vandalized. The police don't have any leads.
Tommy's investigation brings him face-to-face with the unpleasant memories from the past that threaten his new identity, but turmoil is soon the least of his worries. A local Wiccan church is at the heart of the mystery, and Tommy's search uncovers a startling prophecy about child sacrifice to the pagan god Molech. When the missing woman's sister--Tommy's newfound romantic interest--disappears as well, the quest becomes personal.
To explain the inspiration … well, this is a long-winded answer. Bear with me …
In 1995 I began my professional writing career with the sale of my first short story. From there, I went on to sell more than 70 short stories and articles until in mid-2000, my first secular novels were published.
By 2003 I had five mystery novels under my belt. And then in April, everything changed.
I became a Christian.
It wasn’t that anyone told me to stop writing, or to change the way I wrote. It was that I realized the books I’d written did nothing to honor God. With sex, bad language and graphic, senseless violence filling my pages, I knew I needed to take a break.
It was bad timing for my then-publisher. My first hardcover had recently been released, and I decided not to do much to promote it. As a New Christian, I was confident that the works I’d written — as I said — did nothing to bring honor and glory to God. At that point, I quit writing, more or less.
But, eventually, I got into writing weekly devotionals for my church’s e-newsletter.
In late 2005, I began a journey into a deep, dark valley. I felt like God was testing me. As time went on, I realized, the valley only got deeper and darker. In the fall of 2006, I was inspired to write a new mystery novel. But this would be a Christian themed work.
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