Christine Hill Suntz 2025

When did you feel called to become an author?

I read Anne of Green Gables when I was 10 and it captured my imagination. I learned everything I could about the author Lucy Maud Montgomery, and I decided I wanted to write stories, too. Of course, I tucked this dream away for many years while I was starting my teaching career and my family. But it never left me.


What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned how hard it is to write a book. A good author draws you into the story and makes it feel effortless. Only when you sit down to craft your own book do you realize the time and energy that goes into each paragraph.

What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?

Maybe the dichotomy of romance. Readers want romance to fulfill their expectations and deliver the tropes, character journeys and happily-ever-afters they look for in the genre. I know I do. But as writers, we also have to wrap all these familiar story strands in a plot that’s new and fresh and stands out from other books. It’s tough.


If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?

Some searches are very mundane. I spend a lot of time figuring out what building materials were used for roads and houses and trying to find first-hand accounts of what Toronto looked like in 1837. All the things I need my characters to notice so that the world they live in becomes real for my readers.

Then there are the weirder ones: What does rancid flour smell like? How long does it take to become immobilized in freezing water? How long does it take to die from [name of 19th century disease here]?

If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?

As I mentioned, Lucy Maud Montgomery has been a favorite author since childhood. I’d ask her how she created such engaging characters and how she came up with her story ideas. I’d love to learn from her how to bring more humor into my stories.

What’s your go-to drink while writing?

Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. I’m at an age when I have to stop drinking caffeine by early afternoon so I can sleep at night!

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be patient. Figuring out your career path takes time. Learning how to be married takes time. Parenting takes time. It’s okay not to have everything figured out and to walk in faith through the unknown. This definitely applies to writing. It takes time to learn the craft. I’ve come a long way since my first stories…and I have a lot still to learn.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?

I live on a hobby farm in the country, and I enjoy being outside, taking care of my animals and gardens. I love to cook and preserve food, though I don’t always have time to do as much as I’d like. Right now my garden is a disgrace, but I’m working on it.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m looking forward to Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep. I loved the first book in this series, and I can’t wait for my summer break to dive into this one. I’m also looking forward to Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner. I love to mix up my historical romance picks with a fun contemporary romcom.

What can we look forward to next?

I recently submitted a new story set during the Upper Canada Rebellion. Charlotte is the daughter of a former military hero desperately loyal to the crown. When her brother goes missing and is accused of joining the rebel cause, she takes matters into her own hands and sets off into the wilderness She enlists the help of Joshua, a backwoodsman who lives in a hotbed of rebel activity. Charlotte needs Joshua to help her find her brother. Joshua needs money to save his homestead. Something tells me it won’t be that simple…