Author Interview - Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey

From an Unknown Sender JustRead Blog Tour

Guide to categories: Author Interview – an interview with an author, if there is no review from me, I have not read the book and cannot speak to its appropriateness for a school library

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Welcome to the Blog Tour for From an Unknown Sender by Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: From an Unknown Sender
Series: Falcon Point Suspense #2
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 21, 2023
Genre: Clean Suspense

After spending a busy holiday season putting drug smugglers behind bars, CIA operative Cole Bridger is looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas in Vienna with his girlfriend and fellow operative, Isabelle Roberts. But when Isabelle is tasked with investigating a string of suspect financial transactions and redirects a suspicious package to a museum in Amsterdam, she inadvertently places Cole’s cousins in the crosshairs of a drug smuggling ring.

Lars and Marit have no desire to be drawn into the deadly dealings of the criminal underworld, but when Lars’s sister, Tess’s, life is placed in danger, they willingly join Cole and Isabelle in their efforts to uncover the mastermind behind the drug smuggling ring. Unfortunately, the two couples’ involvement does not go unnoticed. And though each step brings them closer to the truth, they also reveal a startling picture of greed and corruption at the center of a dangerous organization that will stop at nothing to retrieve what it has lost.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

More Books in This Series

About the Authors – Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children’s teenage years. She loves to travel and recently retired after twenty-six years coaching her local high school swim team. She has written forty-five best-selling novels and is an eight-time Whitney Award winner, including 2017 and 2019 Best Novel of the Year.

Connect with Traci by visiting traciabramson.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, and grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend university in the US, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, with a minor in English. She began her writing career as a student, publishing several articles in magazines while still in college. Since then, she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children’s books. She is a USA Today best-selling author, a Foreword Reviews Book of the Year finalist, and a Whitney Award finalist.

Sian and her husband, Kent, are the parents of five children and the grandparents of three beautiful girls and two handsome boys. They currently live in southeast Idaho, and although Sian doesn’t have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch still rolls off her tongue. Traveling, reading, cooking, and being with her grandchildren are some of Sian’s favorite activities. She also loves hearing from her readers.

Connect with Sian by visiting sianannbessey.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Author Interview – Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey

When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Sian: I’ve always loved reading and writing, but I never had a specific goal to become an author. Now that I have so many books to my name, maybe it’s time to claim that title. 🙂
Traci: I first decided I wanted to be an author when I was in third grade while I was reading the Little House on the Prairie series. Laura Ingalls Wilder had such an unassuming way of writing that she made it look easy. I have since learned that writing a novel is definitely not easy.

When you are not writing, what other hats do you wear? What do you do for fun?
Sian: Wife, mother, and grandmother are my favorite hats. I love cooking and baking and often do that for relaxation. Sharing what comes from my kitchen is always fun. I also enjoy traveling and reading.
Traci: Until two years ago, I was also coaching high school swimming. I have since retired from that, and travel has taken up a lot of that extra time. And of course, I love spending time with my husband, children, and grandchildren. Baking, cooking, and gardening are other favorite pastimes. And I love to see new places.

What is your favorite genre to read? What about that genre draws you?
Sian: I enjoy a variety of genres, particularly historical romance, rom-coms, romantic suspense, and historicals.
Traci: I lean toward historical fiction, contemporary romance, and suspense.

What is your favorite thing about this time of year?
Sian: It’s a wonderful reminder to stop and be grateful. I love gathering with family and friends. And, of course, I love all the baking.
Traci: I love being able to take a step back from the everyday craziness and spend time with family. Family games are played often during the holidays. I am well practiced at losing gracefully.

What historical figure do you admire and why?
Sian: There are so many, I don’t know that I can single one out. I recently wrote a book about the discovery of the smallpox vaccine, and it gave me an even greater appreciation for the many men and women throughout the centuries who have worked tirelessly in medical and scientific fields to improve the quality of our lives today.
Traci: Booker T. Washington. I love his general concept that we all can benefit from gaining an education and continually learning. Most of all, I appreciate his belief that the best way to earn the respect of others is to continually strive to make a positive contribution to society.

How does your faith play out in your writing?
Sian: Writing is hard, and I have a strong conviction that I could not do it without heavenly help. Praying for guidance as I write has become a daily occurrence. If my writing lifts and inspires others, I feel that I have helped create something worthwhile, something God is pleased with.
Traci: I think more than anything, recognizing that all our gifts are God-given helps keep everything in perspective. I frequently pray over what I’m writing, asking for the Lord’s guidance to help me create the best work possible. I think our general faith and inclination to rely on the Lord breathes into how our characters act and treat others.

As a former K-12 school librarian(and since this blog is geared toward school librarians) I have to ask – what is your favorite children’s book?
Sian: Having grown up in the UK, some of my favorite books are not so well known here. I loved Enid Blyton books when I was young. The Famous Five series and the Secret Seven series were particular favorites. I also enjoyed the Swallows and Amazon series by Arthur Ransome.
Traci: When I was a kid, I loved the Nancy Drew Mysteries as well as the Little House on the Prairie series. Of books that I have discovered through my children, my favorite is probably Chester’s Masterpiece.

Young Author’s Days were an important part of my work as a school librarian. What advice would you give to a child or teen who wants to be a writer?
Sian: Read! When you read something you really love, pause long enough to try to figure out what the author did to captivate his/her readers. Was it a unique setting, the depth of character, word choice, tension? Learning from good authors is a great way to start. And then practice. Everything is practice, including writing in a journal, writing a letter, and writing for school classes.
Traci: Read, read, and read some more. You can learn about craft, which is important, but the most valuable skill you can gain if you want to be a writer is how a story works. Nothing teaches us more about structure and pacing than reading well-written books. Ultimately, that gives us an inherent sense of what works in a story and what doesn’t.

Thank you for joining me today Sian and Traci – I enjoyed getting to know you.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each win a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 20, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 27, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!