COTT: Interview with Judith Rolfs
This week we have a special treat! Author Judith Rolfs has been
published in every genre. As an author and professional marriage and
family counselor, Judith focuses on motivating people to live their best
lives – emotionally, physically and spiritually. In her thirties, she
researched the complexity of the natural world and moved from
agnosticism to faith in God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Today, she
talks about her latest novel, Never Tomorrow.
Tell our readers about your new mystery novel Never Tomorrow.
Thanks for asking. It’s like having a new baby – I welcome a chance to
talk about Never Tomorrow after literally years in the writing. This is
a powerful murder mystery, plus more – a psychological thriller that
probes the marriage relationship, infidelity and forgiveness. I use my
insights and experiences as a psychotherapist for three decades to
instill deep emotions in my characters– the grieving, the loves, and the
deep joys, that we all experience in real life. These are integrated
with a compelling murder mystery.
This is your seventeenth book but only your third mystery novel. Tell
us about your switch to fiction from non-fiction.
My previous books were how-to books about marriage and parenting and
family issues, also a devotional and a teen book. Mysteries are a huge
change. They are much more difficult to write, but seem to have a
greater impact on readers.
Which leads to my next question. I understand your slogan is
Mysteries With A Message. Explain please.
My mysteries center on real life family issues while keeping the
suspense steaming. Directive 99, my first self- suspense novel is about
conflict between a woman’s career vs. family priorities. She makes major
life changes when her husband is kidnapped. My next mystery novel
Bullet in the Night with Prism Books is about genuine
rehabilitation leading to life change and the value of nurturing
friendships. I want readers to have a takeaway to ponder that can help
them face situations in their own lives with more wisdom and
confidence.
Tell us about where you like to write and a bit about your
process.
My favorite writing places are my cottage in the woods in
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake and a winter beach condo we rent in Venice, FL. I
need solitude to create the story and develop my characters, but then I
love to edit in coffee shops where I’m immersed in the energy of people.
Relationships have always been fascinating to me, which is why I became
a psychotherapist. Of course it’s helpful as an author to develop
well-rounded characters. I also love to travel. In fact, Never Tomorrow
starts out in Ballybunion, Ireland which I researched during a
three-week trip there.
How and when did your writing career begin?
My writing career began at age ten creating stories for neighborhood
children. I wrote newspaper editorials in high school, and was part of
the Superior Student program at Marquette University, which published me
in their literary journal. I love everything about writing especially
contact with readers and other authors who are so gracious! I recently
met Pat Gussin, New York Times Best Selling Author of After the Fall and
she offered to read Never Tomorrow prior to publication. She blessed me
with an amazing review: “Layer upon layer of intrigue—laced with
murder–propels this novel to the pinnacle of suspense. An ingenious
plot, dynamic and complex characters, and an insight into the troubled
avenues of human behavior rarely exposed make NEVER TOMORROW a stand-out
for readers of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense.”
In closing, where can we find your new book baby?
Never Tomorrow is available through Prism Book Group, on Amazon
and Barnes
& Noble and through local libraries. If it’s not at the local
library I hope readers will request it. Thank you for featuring me on
your blog. It’s been a pleasure.
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Visit Judith at http://judithrolfs.com/Dr._Judith_Rolfs/Home.html
A compelling mystery with a powerful theme of forgiveness and
healing…
Journalist
Whitney Barnes investigates the mysterious death of her mother and
three women from Cortland City seeking the thread that links them to an
enigmatic killer. Why are women being murdered with no apparent motives
for their death? Police are mystified at the lack of clues and a growing
sense of fear surrounds the community. Who will be the next victim?
Determined
to find the killer, Whitney discovers these women were dealing with
wounds from their troubling pasts, but what was their connection? She
teams up with Dr. Sarah Stevens, an expert on women’s issues, to ferret
out information while TV talk show host Rich and real estate broker
Jordan vie for Whitney’s affection.
Whitney discovers new
strength within her, but is it powerful enough to cope with this dark
force of evil? Suspense escalates as Whitney becomes the killer’s next
target.
