Looking Out the Window: Danele Rotharmel Introduces Time Trap, The Second Book In The Time Counselor Chronicles

A Warm Welcome to Danele Rotharmel

She'll give away a signed print copy of Time Trap
and a “White Rose Prize Package” 

It contains the following items.

(U.S. residents only)

• A white rose teacup and saucer

• A white rose journal (Faith Sees the Invisible)

• A white rose notepad

To enter to win leave a comment and an e-mail address below

She also shares a favorite Bible verse and recipe

To Nourish the Soul

1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

Fond Memories And A Yummy Pecan Pie Recipe 

Pecan pie and 1 Corinthians 9:24 always remind me of my great-grandmother Kathryn. Kathryn was an extremely spunky lady. She worked hard, and if she wanted something done, she went out and did it herself. She taught herself carpentry skills and created elaborate shelves, bedroom closets, and kitchen cupboards. She even took the wood from apple crates and made fancy rocking chairs and dollhouses for her grandchildren. When she was in her seventies, she was still running footraces with her great-grandkids—and winning them too! Kathryn lived to be over one hundred years old. She left behind a wealth of wonderful recipes, a strong work ethic, and a heritage of devotion to the Lord. Today, when I think about giving up, or when I feel that life is too hard, I remember Kathryn and those long-ago footraces. She taught me that a well-lived life is one that focuses on God and tackles things with enthusiasm and gumption. She taught me to run my race fervently and joyfully.

Kathryn’s Pecan Pie

3 slightly beaten eggs

½ cup sugar

1 cup Karo syrup

1/8 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

¾ c. pecans

Sprinkle pecans into an unbaked, eight-inch pie shell. Mix the other ingredients together, stirring by hand. Pour the ingredients over the nuts. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.

Thank you! That sounds yummy! Now, tell us about Time Trap, your latest book.

Time Trap is the second book in The Time Counselor Chronicles, and it takes place four years after Gil Montgomery’s successful time surf in Time Tsunami. In Time Trap, two cadets go missing during a field exam, and Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson travel back through time to find them. Time Trap is squeaky-clean Christian fiction, and it’s full of romantic suspense. It not only contains time-travel twists, but it also contains funny scenes that are sure to make you laugh. One reader told me that Time Trap caused her to laugh out loud and also to hang onto the edge of her seat. I think that’s a magic combination, and I hope my readers will agree.

What inspired you to write this particular book?

Time Trap is the sequel to my first book, Time Tsunami. I wrote it because I’d fallen so in love with my characters that I couldn’t give them up. I had to find out what happened to them. I had to create more of their adventures. Simply put, I wrote Time Trap because I couldn’t bear not to!

What do you love about this book? And what do you hope readers will tell others about it?

I love the mystery aspect of Time Trap. In my book, Laura and Peter are trying to find two missing cadets. The man who kidnapped them keeps leaving clues to their location. Some of the clues are photographs, others are cryptograms, and others are snatches of poetry. I had a great time devising the clues and designing the cryptograms. I hope my readers have a blast trying to solve the clues with my characters. This book was extremely entertaining to write, and I hope my readers find it equally entertaining to read!

Does your faith affect your writing? How?

My faith is an important part of my life, and it naturally spills out into my writing. Not only do I write “squeaky-clean” fiction that Christians can buy with confidence, I also explore different aspects of faith in each of my books. In Time Trap, tips are given on how to develop a deeper relationship with God. Forgiveness, prayer, and faith during trial are also explored.

If you could interview any character in one of your books which one would it be? What shocking thing might that character say? Why?

The characters from my first book, Time Tsunami, fill the pages of Time Trap—and I love them all.

I’ve also added a few new faces to my cast of characters. Alex and Phoebe are sure to become fan favorites. Crystal and Marc are back, and their convoluted relationship is always good for a chuckle. But if I had to interview just one character from Time Trap, it would have to be Laura.

Dr. Laura Nelson is a fascinating character. She’s extremely smart; in fact, she started college at age sixteen. She’s a college professor and third-in-command at TEMCO. Laura has a calm demeanor. She’s always well dressed, and she rarely has a hair out of place. She doesn’t seem the sort of person who would be good in a fight, but she feels things deeply and isn’t one to stand by while others are being hurt. When it’s time to fight—everyone better watch out! Laura dives in and doesn’t hold back. In Time Trap, Laura must physically confront a man who is strong, ruthless, and brutal. When she must, Laura shoves down her fear and fights hard. I really admire that about her.

As far as a shocking thing she might say—I think it would be a warrior’s yell rather than actual words. The villain in this story doesn’t think Laura is a threat to his plans, but she proves him wrong in a rather spectacular way.

Time Trap sounds exciting. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

My best advice would be to write what you love. Enjoy yourself! Have a blast! And most of all, try your best to honor God with your gift. Never write a single sentence that you would be ashamed to read to Jesus.

Thanks, Danele.

More about Time Trap

When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself. 

Excerpt:

Light pierced the darkness as the door to Peter and Laura’s prison swung open. In the quiet stillness, Peter stood in the shadows gripping his wire with both hands. Spider, wearing a ski mask and steel-toed boots, put a brick in the doorway and slowly advanced. Muted light shimmered on the barrel of a gun.

Peter began to sweat—his whole body quivered with the strain of waiting. He knew that with a gun in the mix, he needed to get the wire around Spider’s neck on the first try.

Spider laughed lowly as light fell on Laura. Seeing the way he was advancing toward her, Peter lunged from behind the door and wound his wire around Spider’s throat. Spider gave a strangled bellow and began to struggle. Peter grappled with him, dragging his thrashing body away from Laura. Suddenly, Spider’s gun went off. A bullet ricocheted around the room. “Laura,” Peter shouted frantically, “get down on the floor!”

Laura dove to the ground as the gun went off again.

Spider made horrible gurgling noises as Peter tightened the wire. Peter knew those sounds were going to haunt his dreams. Spider shoved his gun over his shoulder, ramming it in Peter’s face. Peter jerked to one side. A bullet whistled past his ear.

Spider thrashed wildly as Peter gave the wire another twist. Suddenly, the wire snapped—its brittle surface strained beyond its strength. Peter’s heart plummeted. He grabbed at Spider’s neck with his bare hands, but missed. Swinging on his heel, Spider pointed his gun at Laura.

Time froze.

Buy the Time Trap on Amazon
and Barnes and Noble

Bio: Danele Rotharmel grew up with a love of the literary word, and by age five, she knew she wanted to be a writer. However, her life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a low-level carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace in her home was slowly poisoning her. This poisoning triggered severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and partial amnesia.

During this time, the hardest thing she faced was a crisis of faith. She had to quit her job and stop going to church. She couldn’t write, couldn’t drive, and could barely remember who she was. To say she was upset with the Lord was an understatement. She began reexamining her faith in light of her illness, and eventually, she came to the firm conclusion that God is real, God is good, God is interested and involved, and God is trustworthy regardless of tragedy.

When her illness became even more severe, she was put into quarantine and could only talk to friends and extended family through the glass of a window. This quarantine lasted for seven years. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.

Danele currently lives in Colorado where she continues to write. Although her journey back to health was long and difficult, it provided her with the opportunity to grow closer to God and to write her books. For that, she is forever thankful.

You can learn more about Danele by visiting her blog
Stop by Danele's welcome page
and her books page books page