Interview with Historical/Romantic Suspense Author Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen was raised in Rexburg, Idaho and has been a writer for as long as she can remember. At her request, she received her first typewriter when she was ten years old because she wanted to write her stories more efficiently. She enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the world and especially loves historical sites. Besides writing romantic suspense novels for adults and fantasy chapter books for children, she is the author of numerous articles and short stories. Betrayed is her third romantic suspense novel.

Welcome back to my blog, Ronda. This book is sort of a mystery/suspense story with sweet romance. Please tell us about your new book.

Betrayed is about a young woman who protects a child from the ruthless gang who killed her parents and faces love and self-sacrifice at the brink of the Niagara Falls.

Here’s the blurb from the back of the book:

1851: Niagara Falls, New York. The evidence has been well hidden—the Thayers were confident that it was safe from the clutches of the ruthless Murphy Gang. But it has all been in vain. The lawless group is closing in on the family homestead, and seven-year-old Penny is given only one instruction: Run. After two long years eagerly anticipating her fiancé’s return, twenty-year-old Julia Barrett is ready to make a fresh start with Adam Wolcott—even if it means putting her dream of traveling west with the Mormons on hold. But when Adam’s return is overshadowed by the unexpected arrival of a young orphan girl in desperate need of help, Julia is drawn into a dangerous mystery that will threaten all she holds dear. Charged with the protection of little Penny, Julia quickly finds herself relying on the help of Tom Harrison, an endearing young man who has long admired her from afar. Torn between two suitors, Julia soon uncovers a shocking trail of corruption and deceit—a discovery that pulls her inescapably into the race to locate telling evidence that Penny’s family gave their lives to protect . . .

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

A variety of sources, but the first inspiration came while I was looking through my family history and found a story about a family who was crossing the plains when two men joined up with them. The men killed the parents and stole their wagon and supplies. They then tied the two children to a horse and sent them off, alone, into the wilderness. Later, after another family found and rescued the children, they saw the murderers in town, but hid so the men wouldn’t see them. That event led me to create Penny Thayer, the child in my story.

Wow! What an inspiration for a storyline! What kind of research did you do for this book?

First, my family and I visited Niagara Falls a few years ago, but beyond that I read a lot of historical books and web documents related to life in 1851, the town of Niagara Falls, the falls themselves, the Tuscarora Indians, and anything else I needed to learn to make the book as authentic as I could.

That’s great. I love to learn about an area in a book, at the same time read a fun story. Where can my readers find you online?

I’m always happy to hear from readers, and my website, www.rondahinrichsen.com, will likely give readers the most information about me as well as contact information. I’m also on FB and Twitter.

Thank you for this interview, Ronda. I love your website. It’s very informative.