One of my favorite authors of contemporary romance is Denise Hunter. I first discovered her books when I encountered a Hallmark movie adaptation of her book The Goodbye Bride. Her characters are relatable, and she takes readers on adventures with every new story – to the mountains, the lake, or the beach. Denise kindly answers a few questions about her passion, her process, and her “people.”

Karen: Some authors have dreamed of publication since they were little while others didn’t find the passion until they reached adulthood – or beyond. When you were young, was being an author a goal for you?

Denise: Not at all. I was going to be a gymnast. I did enjoy writing angsty poetry as a teenager, but I didn’t try my hand at fiction until I was in college and assigned to write a short story. I enjoyed the process, and that’s when I began to wonder if I could write a book someday.

Karen: That’s a fun way to discover your talent. What has your writing journey been like? When challenges come your way, whether in the writing process or in the production process, how do you overcome them?

Denise: There are always challenges in the writing process: trying to decide which story ideas to chase, trying to decide what comes next in the story, trying to decide how to resolve all the conflict I created along the way. When indecision arises, I spend time in prayer, do a lot of brainstorming, and sometimes confer with my critique partner, Colleen Coble.

Karen: I can empathize with that, and having a solid critique partner is crucial to the writing process. Do you use some of those challenges as inspiration for your stories? In what ways?

Denise: Only if I’m writing a story about a novelist, which I’ve done three times now: Lake Season, A Novel Proposal, and Love, Unscripted. It’s fun to give my novelist protagonists similar problems, and I think it’s fun for readers to feel what it’s like to write a novel.

Karen: One of my favorite elements of your writing is the way you draw readers into the setting. How do you tackle creating the mountain and small-town settings so they come to life for your readers?

Denise: I’m so glad to hear that! The main thing I do to draw the reader into the setting of the story is visit the town I’m using as inspiration. I take pictures, visit the local fun spots, interview people, gather brochures, and take copious note. All of this helps me visualize the area and understand the culture of the town so I can hopefully bring it alive for the reader. 

Karen: And you get the added bonus of traveling and exploring new places. You have had multiple books adapted into Hallmark movies, including The Convenient Groom and A December Bride. Would you describe your reaction to that first book option?

Denise: I was truly shocked and thrilled to find out The Convenient Groom was being optioned for a movie. It’s basically every author’s dream to have a book adapted into a movie, and I could hardly believe it was happening to me! What a blessing.

Karen: After that initial response, how did you feel about the rest of the production process?

Denise: Other than being very slow, the process went much the way I expected. When an author signs on the dotted line, he or she is usually giving up their rights to the story. The producer and scriptwriter can make changes to the storyline—and must in order to tell the story in less than two hours. I knew that going in, and the producer was very respectful of me and my stories. Happily, my husband and I got to go on set to two of the movies and even got cameos in them. Seeing the cast and crew bring my story world and characters to life was truly an amazing experience.

Karen: The screenwriting and filming process can be lengthy and often feels as though the movie itself will never come to fruition. Your newest novel, Love Unscripted, draws on your experiences working with filmmakers. Which details and events from your experiences translated to the book?

Denise: Each scene set around the filming was derived from my own experiences on set. (Though, thankfully, I never accidentally sat in the director’s chair!) But because the scope of the filming was larger in the book (a big-screen movie instead of a TV movie), I asked my producer to read a pre-published copy to help me get it right. All of her insights helped me get the details right.

Karen: What a great move on your part. Many of your books include threads of faith. How important is it to you that your books reflect your faith? What messages do you hope your readers take away from your books?

Denise: It’s important to me that my books reflect my beliefs and Biblical values. Some of my stories are more overt faith-wise than others. As far as the message, it really depends on the story. Sometimes there are themes of forgiveness. Sometimes my protagonist is dealing with abuse or abandonment issues. I like dealing with real-life issues that readers will be able to relate to and perhaps learn something along the way. 

Karen: So often, readers find a bit of themselves in the books they love. Using real-life issues and universal themes makes your characters and their stories come to life. Of all the character you’ve created, who is your favorite?

Denise: Oh, my! That’s a hard one. The female character I’m most proud of would be Josephine in Sweetbriar Cottage. She had so much to overcome and needed someone to love her so badly. Noah was just the man for the job.

My favorite male character is Daniel from Dancing with Fireflies. He’s a totally different kind of hero for me—a small-town mayor. I was a little worried about that going in, but he turned out to be such a swoony guy!

Karen: I like how you think. Which character would you choose to go on a hike with you?

Denise: Avery from Mulberry Hollow. First of all, she’s in good shape so she’ll be up to the task. Second, she’s very smart and bookish, so we’d have lots of great conversation (between all the huffing and puffing). Third, she’s a doctor, so when I sprain my ankle (which I’m prone to doing) she’ll take good care of me.

Karen: So you’re anticipating spraining your ankle? Well, at least you’re thinking ahead. Who would join you for a beach day?

Denise: Sadie from A Novel Proposal. She’s a hoot so she’d keep things entertaining. Also, she loves to read so she won’t be offended if I just want to lounge in sun with the good book. Which I will.

Karen: That, I think, is often an author’s biggest quandry: spend time with your characters or time with someone else’s. Such a tough decision! Your next novel, Before We Were Us, releases in September. In once sentence, how would you describe the feel of the book?

Denise: This is a stand-alone story that will break your heart then put it back together.

Karen: Thanks for the warning – and the promise of hope and healing. What is in store next for you? Novels in 2025? More Hallmark movies?

Denise: My April 2025 release is entitled The Summer of You and Me. I have one book that’s being adapted into a movie (fingers crossed) but I don’t yet know the platform or timing. I hope to have concrete news to release soon!

Karen: Thanks for taking a few minutes to share a bit about your books, your writing process, and what comes next. I can’t wait to see Before We Were Us arrive on my doorstep on September 10.

Denise Hunter’s September 10 novel release, Before We Were Us is a “cozy, autumnal, opposites-attract Hallmark movie mixed with 50 First Dates.” Check it out – and all of Denise’s other work – at DeniseHunterBooks.com. Click here to pre-order from Baker Book House.