Virginia Vaughan is a former investigator for the State of Mississippi who left a promising career to pursue her dream of being a writer. Blessed to come from a large Southern family, her fondest memories include hearing stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself, delving into the genre of romantic suspense, armed with her passion for writing and the knowledge gained from her criminal justice background.
Visit Virginia Vaughan online
Cold Case Cover-Up
She’ll risk everything to uncover her past An infant is believed to have been murdered thirty years ago—but investigative journalist Dana Lang is convinced she’s that baby. Now someone’s willing to kill to stop her investigation. And only secretive deputy Quinn Dawson, whose grandfather may have faked Dana’s death to protect her, can keep her safe. But a killer’s dead set on burying the past—and them—for good.
- ISBN: 1335490574
- Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Interview with Virginia Vaughan
We're pleased to have Virginia Vaughan on the blog to celebrate the release of her newest romantic suspense novel. Cold Case Cover-Up is book #1 in the new series Covert Operatives.
Welcome, Virginia! What was your inspiration for your new release, Cold Case Cover-Up?
Cold Case Cover-Up is book #1 in my new series Covert Operatives. The idea for the series came after reading the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi. During one of the operative’s backstory, he mentioned being undercover in Delta and seeing a group of reporters who would like nothing more than to uncover his super-secret identity, something that would put he and his teammates in danger, cost lives and prevent him from ever working covert missions again.
My idea for Cold Case Cover-Up sprang from that comment. I played the what-if game. What if one of these reporters showed up in his hometown? What if she threatened to expose his super-secret identity? Or what if she was in town for another reason altogether and had no idea the biggest story of her life was right under her nose? The idea sparked my imagination and Cold Case Cover-Up as formed.
Which character in Cold Case Cover-Up was the easiest for you to write? What made that person easier? Which character was more difficult, and why?
My heroine Dana Lang was the most difficult character for me to write. While I had an easy time relating to her ambition and determination, I struggled to figure out how she discovered her connection to a thirty-year-old cold case murder that took place in Quinn’s hometown. I did a lot of research on adoption and foundlings and eventually found a way to make it all work.
Looking back on your journey to publication, how did God open those doors for you? What advice would you give to someone who’s not yet published?
I see God’s hand in every forward move I’ve made in my journey to publication. He’s guided my steps all along the way and I owe all I am to him. The best advice I can give to an unpublished writer is to read in the genre you want to publish. It helps you to understand what publishers are looking for and then write a book that’s similar in style.
What does your writing routine look like, if you have one? What obstacles or challenges do you face in making time to write?
Time is the biggest obstacle I have—there’s simply not enough of it! I’m raising kids for the second time in my life. One kid won’t go to sleep at night and the other wakes early in the mornings so it’s often hard to find time to write between caring for them and my elderly mother. But, I confess, organization is my weakest skill. I need to get better at planning my time and making writing more of a priority.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m raising two little boys so my non-writing time is usually spent listening to stories about Minecraft and Pokémon or playing with Legos, but when I can steal a little adult time, you’ll usually find me curled up on the couch lost in a book or binge watching a Netflix series.
If you could have coffee/tea/gratuitous amounts of carbs with any author, living or dead, who would it be? What would you ask him or her?
I would love to sit down and have large amounts of pizza (with no calories, of course!) with author Lynette Eason. I hope to emulate her success in Christian romantic suspense and would love an opportunity to pick her brain.
How can we pray for you?
As I mentioned before, I’m raising kids again later in my life. My great-nephews are nine and seven and come from a very troubled background. Some days are a struggle for us, but I’m determined to give them the best life I can. Any prayers for us would be greatly appreciated.
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Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of contemporary inspirational romance. Her contest wins include first place in the 2016 ACFW First Impressions Contest, the 2017 Great Expectations Contest, and the 2017 Phoenix Rattler Contest. Also a professional cellist, Amanda has been spotted onstage with the worship team at the ACFW Conference. A lifelong lover of the flatlands, she lives in Kansas with her husband and their three adorable Wenlets. Amanda is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
Welcome, Virginia! What was your inspiration for your new release, Cold Case Cover-Up?
Cold Case Cover-Up is book #1 in my new series Covert Operatives. The idea for the series came after reading the book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi. During one of the operative’s backstory, he mentioned being undercover in Delta and seeing a group of reporters who would like nothing more than to uncover his super-secret identity, something that would put he and his teammates in danger, cost lives and prevent him from ever working covert missions again.
My idea for Cold Case Cover-Up sprang from that comment. I played the what-if game. What if one of these reporters showed up in his hometown? What if she threatened to expose his super-secret identity? Or what if she was in town for another reason altogether and had no idea the biggest story of her life was right under her nose? The idea sparked my imagination and Cold Case Cover-Up as formed.
Which character in Cold Case Cover-Up was the easiest for you to write? What made that person easier? Which character was more difficult, and why?
My heroine Dana Lang was the most difficult character for me to write. While I had an easy time relating to her ambition and determination, I struggled to figure out how she discovered her connection to a thirty-year-old cold case murder that took place in Quinn’s hometown. I did a lot of research on adoption and foundlings and eventually found a way to make it all work.
Looking back on your journey to publication, how did God open those doors for you? What advice would you give to someone who’s not yet published?
I see God’s hand in every forward move I’ve made in my journey to publication. He’s guided my steps all along the way and I owe all I am to him. The best advice I can give to an unpublished writer is to read in the genre you want to publish. It helps you to understand what publishers are looking for and then write a book that’s similar in style.
What does your writing routine look like, if you have one? What obstacles or challenges do you face in making time to write?
Time is the biggest obstacle I have—there’s simply not enough of it! I’m raising kids for the second time in my life. One kid won’t go to sleep at night and the other wakes early in the mornings so it’s often hard to find time to write between caring for them and my elderly mother. But, I confess, organization is my weakest skill. I need to get better at planning my time and making writing more of a priority.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m raising two little boys so my non-writing time is usually spent listening to stories about Minecraft and Pokémon or playing with Legos, but when I can steal a little adult time, you’ll usually find me curled up on the couch lost in a book or binge watching a Netflix series.
If you could have coffee/tea/gratuitous amounts of carbs with any author, living or dead, who would it be? What would you ask him or her?
I would love to sit down and have large amounts of pizza (with no calories, of course!) with author Lynette Eason. I hope to emulate her success in Christian romantic suspense and would love an opportunity to pick her brain.
How can we pray for you?
As I mentioned before, I’m raising kids again later in my life. My great-nephews are nine and seven and come from a very troubled background. Some days are a struggle for us, but I’m determined to give them the best life I can. Any prayers for us would be greatly appreciated.
_________________________________________________
Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of contemporary inspirational romance. Her contest wins include first place in the 2016 ACFW First Impressions Contest, the 2017 Great Expectations Contest, and the 2017 Phoenix Rattler Contest. Also a professional cellist, Amanda has been spotted onstage with the worship team at the ACFW Conference. A lifelong lover of the flatlands, she lives in Kansas with her husband and their three adorable Wenlets. Amanda is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
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