Don’t you just love books with intriguing titles? I didn’t even have to read the synopsis of Hope Dougherty’s new book Mars…with Venus Rising before I wanted to pick it up. She’s going to share what inspired her to write it, but first, a little about the book to whet your appetite even more.

A meddling horse, paper bag floors and a flying saucer on the town square. The little town of Mars has it all—including a brand new resident who might spell heartache for one of its own.

Twenty-something Penn Davenport yearns for an exciting life in the big city and wants to shed the label of orphan that she’s worn for years. To achieve that dream, she must pass the CPA exam then move away from the two aunts who reared her after her parents died in a plane crash.

When John Townsend—full of life and the joy of living—moves to town, he rattles Penn’s view of herself, her life, and her dreams…which isn’t such a bad thing until she falls for him…and discovers he’s a pilot.

Hope, tell us what brought you to write this book.

When I wrote my first novel, Irish Encounter, I broke a lot of guidelines—setting the book in Ireland, having a forty-something widow as the protagonist—then discovered those kinds of manuscripts could be difficult sells.

For my second manuscript, I wanted a twenty-something United States citizen, like the ones found in a particular line I liked to read.  

For almost fourteen years, we lived near an intriguing town in western Pennsylvania called Mars. So, I had my American location and my title, Love Finds You in…Mars, PA.

Mars is a cool place complete with a flying saucer planted in the middle of town. The residents are called Martians. The ball teams’ mascots are the Planets.

Being a Southerner means I have plenty of interesting friends and relatives, and I’ve heard plenty of crazy stories, like selling socks to finance a coast to coast vacation, burying heavy equipment for revenge (not my relatives), and making Jell-O cakes. Add my Southern roots to zany tidbits from Mars, temper crazy into quirky, and I had my tone.

From there, I focused on the characters. To discourage friends from thinking I’m Penn Davenport, I made her my opposite. She teaches math and studies to become an accountant.

Reared by her great aunts after her parents died in a plane crash, Penn struggles with belonging and lives her life quietly and safely. John Townsend, a live-life-with-gusto freelance writer and pilot who’s new in town, nudges her out of her comfort zone.

So I had location, tone, characters, and a target publisher, right?

Not exactly.

During the summer that I wrote my rough draft, my target publisher unfortunately closed. Undeterred, I changed the title to Mars…With Venus Rising and kept writing.

That’s the big story of how Mars came to be. Smaller pieces fell into place as I prayed and wrote and wrote and prayed.

Much of writing is a mystery to me. I have an idea. I pray, and God delivers—like He does in all things.

Amen, Hope, amen.

Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University as well as York Technical College. A member of ACFW, RWA and SinC, she writes for Almost an Author. Before writing novels, she published non-fiction articles on topics ranging from gardening with children to writing apprehension. She follows the Pittsburgh Steelers, ACC basketball, and Army West Point Football. Hope and her husband, Kevin, live in North Carolina and chat with their two daughters and twin sons through ooVoo. Her debut novel, Irish Encounter, is partially set in Ireland. Her second one, Mars…With Venus Rising, is published with Pelican Book Group.

http://hopetolerdougherty.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway