Interview with Paige Edwards 2026

When did you feel called to become an author?

About eleven years ago, during a season when my husband was serving as a youth minister, I started noticing how many young people were dating unbelievers. It tugged at my heart. I felt a gentle but persistent nudge to write a story that explored those choices—not in a preachy way, but through fiction. I like to think of it as a “back-door” approach: a story that quietly invites readers to consider how today’s decisions can ripple far into the future.

What did you learn while writing this book?

This story features two very different grandmothers—one who leaves behind a legacy of love and wisdom, and another who uses control and bullying to influence her family. Writing them reminded me that families are messy. They don’t always come wrapped in a cute pink bow. Some relationships are complicated and sometimes painful—but difficult people can care deeply, even if they show it in all the wrong ways.

What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?

Hands down, writing the villain’s point of view. Usually, I can handle it, but for this book, I researched sociopaths and the careers they’re often drawn to. Let’s just say that research worked a little too well—I ended up with a nightmare and a newfound appreciation for lighthearted scenes.

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

Oh, I am positive I’m already on an FBI watch list. You’d see searches for bombs, weapons technology, white-collar crimes involving hacked and encrypted bank accounts, human trafficking, arms dealers… and then—just to keep things interesting—horse doping. Writing inspirational romantic suspense is not for the faint of heart.

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

Mary Stewart or Jane Austen.

What would you ask them?

Both had an uncanny ability to sum up human nature through their characters. I’d love to ask how they knew their people so well and how they shaped those observations into characters that still feel timeless today.

What’s your go-to drink while writing?

Dr. Pepper Zero. And when I’m feeling especially fancy, I add a splash of coconut creamer and vanilla. It’s basically a reward system in a cup.

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

Trust your writing impressions. I spent far too much time second-guessing myself early on. A writer’s instinct is right about ninety-nine percent of the time. If something feels off in your story, listen—and then be brave enough to fix it.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?

My husband and I recently converted a Sprinter van into a full-on camper—complete with a bathroom and kitchen! We’re slowly working our way through the national parks in the lower 48.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Right now, it’s overflowing with clean and wholesome hockey rom-coms. I’ve been invited to join a hockey rom-com series… and I know nothing about the sport or the genre. Interestingly, just before the invitation came, I’d been praying about branching out and collaborating with other writers. God has such a creative sense of timing, doesn’t He?

What can we look forward to next?

Deadly Depths releases September 15, 2026! It’s an inspirational romantic suspense and part of my Roxbury Heirs/Roxburgh Scions series. I can’t wait to share it with readers this fall.