"The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser" Book Review + Interview withAuthor Hosanna Emily

It's release day for The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser!

About the Book

  "Rosy growled, and I knew she was pacing the porch. I sensed her uneasiness. Something was wrong. Rosy never barked at cars; why would she choose this one?" 

   13 year-old Emily Kessler believes in God, but when she discovers someone trespassing in the middle of the night, can she learn to trust in Him completely? Will she have the courage to solve the mystery with her friends? And when everything falls apart, will Emily be able to keep those she loves safe?

My Review

I'm a huge fan of mysteries.  Between 4th and 5th grade I read all of the Nancy Drew books (usually 1 a night).  The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser fits right in with that.

I really enjoyed the way this book was written.  Hosanna has a beautiful style of writing that shows what is happening in an eloquent way.

Emily Kessler is a great main character!  She is actually scared to solve the mystery.  :)

Overall, this is a great book for people of all ages, even though it is a Middle Grade book.

You can buy this book here: Amazon

Interview with Hosanna Emily

Thank you so much for joining me today Hosanna!

When did you first get into writing?

I've been creating stories since I was really little. The first ones I wrote were basically one-page stories on notebook paper, and I didn't include any dialogue because then the story would be too long.   =)  But when I was thirteen, I did a curriculum for school that made me realize that I LOVED writing and that others enjoyed reading what I wrote!  After that, I was able to take more classes that led me through the process of writing a novel!

What inspired you to write The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser?

The first time I thought of the idea for The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser was when I was joking along with my mom.  I mentioned it half in jest, but somehow along the way it turned into a real idea.  Parts of the story are based on real things that have happened on our road (for instance, we really had a strange truck drive down our road after dark!).  Those ideas turned into a story skeleton, which turned into a real book!

Why did you choose indie-publishing? Would you ever consider traditional publishing?

I choose indie-publishing because a friend (who is also a self-published author) recommended it.  I also didn't want to wait many long months for people to read it!!  I wanted to get my novella out there as soon as possible.  I have also enjoyed being able to handle all the parts of editing...picking my own cover, deciding the formats, etc.  I'm not sure at all if I will use traditional publishing in the future or not...I have enjoyed self-publishing. =)

What is the best writing advice anyone has ever given you?

Hmm...probably just to keep at it!  I (often) forget to write when I get busy with other things.  Having others encourage you (thanks Alea!) helps a LOT!

How has your faith affected your writing?

My whole goal in writing is to bring God glory.  If that does not happen, then my work is basically worthless to me.  Sure it's fun to have "followers", but I want Him to be glorified.  I try to use the gift He has given me in the way He would want me to.  I want my readers to see how gracious and loving my Savior is!  That's the point of my writing—to point up to God!

About the Author

Hosanna Emily wrote her first novel at age fourteen.  She is a homeschooled, independent author who is the oldest daughter in a family of eleven.  She enjoys exploring the sparkling creek by her home in rural Kentucky, reading, drawing, learning American Sign Language, and spending time with her family and with her Creator.

To learn more, visit her blog at:
HavingaHeartLikeHis.blogspot.com