Perhaps the best part of being an author is that you get to travel to far away places or familiar places that you get to create yourself. That's part of the allure of being a writer, and today's guest in My Writing Corner says that's just what attracts her.
Dena says she enjoys hiking with her husband and daughter, painting, and relaxing on her deck with a cup of coffee and a great book. She is currently working on the next Sarah Kraft novel, The Argentinian Affair. Let's find out more about Dena and her new book.
What do you enjoy about being an author?
Creating stories is such a fun way to escape into another world! It’s all of my own choosing—I get to learn about topics I am interested in and get to be in the characters’ heads I create. I can be a capable, determined woman on a mission, or a horrible, disgusting brute at any moment I choose. When I look back through my life, I realize I’ve been inhabiting characters inside my imagination since I was a kid. Something called “daydreaming” by all my teachers!
What do you find is the most challenging part of being an author?
The most challenging part of being an author for me is the editing process. My mind doesn’t work with details well and finding those little mistakes becomes nearly impossible after I’ve read and reread the manuscript several times. Likewise, sometimes it’s hard for me to spot issues with the plot. Now that I understand the process better, I’ll be more strategic in how and when to use outside editors.
Tell us about your road to publication.
It’s been a long and winding road to publication!
The idea for my novel came from my love of adventure, and boredom brought it forth. I was on a bus trip in Italy with my husband when I outlined the plot as a way to kill time. My husband thought it was good and encouraged me to continue. When we returned home, I started writing the manuscript. It was fun, but I felt like I was fumbling around in the dark, not really knowing if anyone other than my husband and I would think my writing was any good.
When my circle of friends and family learned I was writing they asked me to blog for their businesses and organizations. I began with a women’s shelter in Somalia, which had very compelling stories to tell. I went into the business sector after that, writing for tech companies, PR and marketing firms, and government agencies. This really made my search engine history interesting, but it kept me from writing my novel. So, during the pandemic, I made the move to a job that required less writing. I hired a developmental editor to help me finish my novel and, once the manuscript was completed, I pitched it at a writing conference and landed a publishing deal!
How do you develop characters?
I have read several books about female spies and journalists in World War II, and the adventurous women who have explored the world. For my leading man, I wanted to create someone who was an equal to my leading lady, but always allowed her to lead. And for my villains, I created one who used intelligence against Sarah, one who used brute force against her, and the last one was a paranormal entity that would be unpredictable and unexpected. I felt this was a good balance for the plot, gave me a lot of room to let the characters grow as I wrote them, and made them different enough that each would stand out.
My main goal as far as the character go, was to make sure that I didn’t diminish the men in the story as I kept Sarah up front as the hero.
What is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?
My book, a historical thriller, is called The Byzantine Cross (released on November 11). It is an action/adventure story set in 1950 as the Cold War is beginning to heat up. My main character, Sarah Kraft, is a former World War II spy who now finds herself living a less than exciting life as a fine art appraiser. When her old contact from the war department, now the CIA, entices her back into service, she’s off on a wild chase to find the legendary Byzantine Cross, an ancient Biblical relic with mysterious powers. It’s kept inside the Kremlin, and with the help of a Russian double agent named Nicolai working for the British MI6 agency, they infiltrate the compound and steal it. But when they run into a guard during the theft they must run for the border before Stalin’s men can catch up to them.
Sarah and Nicolai escape to Ukraine where they find out more about the cross’s powers, then to Istanbul where they think they are safe, but Sarah doesn’t realize she’s being watched. Two dangerous men are also after the cross, and Sarah must fight her way out of the Grand Bazaar to get the cross to safety. When questions arise about the CIA’s intentions for the cross, Sarah decides to take it back to where it was first created, the only place she feels it will be safe—an ancient archeology site that has been lost to history.
Lots of adventure, lots of action—and a little romance to balance it all out!
Former OSS spy, Sarah Kraft, thought she'd left her dangerous past behind in 1950s New York City. But when her former boss tracks her down and convinces her to accept a new mission-steal the ancient Byzantine Cross from inside the Kremlin for the CIA-she's dragged back into the world of espionage. Once in Moscow, she's promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but things aren't as they seem. Someone hired a hitman to eliminate Sarah, and she and Nicolai realize they're not the only ones after the mysterious cross. As the two dig deeper into the history behind the oldest known biblical relic, they discover it's far more than a simple artifact. Sarah starts questioning the motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted, and when supernatural forces come into play, she must make a decision that could change the course of history.
Want to know more? How about an excerpt:
“Here you go,” he said, removing the box through the hole and handing it to Sarah. She didn’t respond. Instead, she blew a layer of dust off its lid and ran her finger over the double-headed eagle to see the rubies flash red in the light. She lifted the lid and lying inside on a cushion made of purple silk was the Byzantine Cross.
No decoration, no jewels—just a simple wooden cross.
“That’s what you’re after?” Nicolai glanced over her shoulder. “Rather plain, isn’t it? The box is worth more.”
“You would think so, wouldn’t you?” Sarah murmured.
Nicolai glanced at his watch again and said, “We should get going. The power will be back on in nine minutes.” He took the box from Sarah and carefully put it back on the shelf. “Hopefully, this will go unnoticed until you’re back in Rome.”
Sarah tucked the cross into the waistband of her trousers and pulled her sweater down as she jogged back through the galleries behind Nicolai. When they got to the main hall, they rushed toward the stairwell but stopped when she heard the click of a gun behind them.
“Kremlin Garrison!” a deep voice yelled again a few feet behind them. “Stop where you are, or I’ll shoot!”
Sarah sucked in a breath and held it. No! Not now!
“Pizdets!” Nicolai swore next to her as he raised his hands above his head. “Follow my lead,” he whispered as they pivoted to face the man.
“Stay where you are.” The guard stalked them, his gun aimed at Nicolai’s chest. He appeared twenty years younger than Nicolai, and bigger in size.
This won’t be easy.
“What are you doing here?” the guard asked in Russian.
“I can assure you there is no need for weapons,” Nicolai replied with feigned confidence.
“What’s your name?” the guard barked.
“Nicolai Rodzyanko, secretary to the chairman of defense. I have my credentials in my pocket if you’ll allow me.” He moved to reach inside his dinner jacket but froze when the guard took a step forward.
“Keep your hands up!”
The guard closed the short distance between them in three steps and reached out to search Nicolai for weapons.
“I work in the intelligence office,” Nicolai said. “We’re guests at the ball tonight. My date wanted a tour of the museum.” He waved his hand dismissively. “It has all been authorized.”
“By whom?”
“The director of intelligence. He arranged for the alarms to be turned off.”
The guard waved the gun at Sarah. “What about her? Why is she dressed that way if you’re coming from the party?”
“She’s...she’s,” he stammered and glanced helplessly at Sarah.
“I’m an American spy,” Sarah blurted out in English. “Here to steal the Kremlin’s treasures.”
How do you come up with your plots?
I like to bring ancient history into the recent past, and I love archeology and learning about brave women in history. I’ve studied art history in college and traveled quite a bit, so I pull from all these sources and use some of my own experiences to create links that fill in the plot.
I love when two seemingly random bits of a story connect and make perfect sense! This happened throughout the writing of The Byzantine Cross.
What’s your next project or what are you working on now?
I’ve started my next Sarah Kraft novel, with the outline and a few chapters started. It’ll take place in Argentina and brings together a mysterious vessel with the power to look into the future, a Sumerian high priestess, and a group of power-hungry Nazis who’ve escaped to South America after the war.
I’ve also got a good start on a science fiction series about a man who has been plugged into a system but is liberated when the system shorts out. From there, he will be “reborn” and learns to live with a native tribe in the wild.
What advice do you have for beginning writers?
Believe in yourself and let your intuition and mentors guide you.
When I started writing I didn’t know if I would produce anything worth reading. I took a long time to learn by writing for my business and for myself. I also went to writing conferences where I met important contacts and learned from authors who have seen success with their own novels.
One such author told me to surround myself with other authors, and that was great advice! I continue to learn from them and they are generous in helping me promote my debut novel!
Here are Dena's contact information and the buy links to The Byzantine Cross.
Amazon:
Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-byzantine-cross-dena-weigel/1146196612?ean=9781509258284
Social contacts:
Website: http://www.denaweigel.com
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Istanbul: https://www.instagram.com/denaweigelauthor/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denaweigel
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