HIDDEN WITNESS

HIDDEN WITNESS
Friday, August 29, 2025 by BETTIE BOSWELL

Categories: Friday's Fiction / GUEST AUTHORS / Reviews and Interviews

PLEASE WELCOME

BETTIE BOSWELL

FICTION FRIDAY

FROM THE AUTHOR

Writing What You Know

The phrase 'write what you know' is one I've heard many times when learning the craft of novel writing. It took me a while to puzzle out what that truly meant. Then I realized that remembering my past and incorporating it into the settings and experiences of my characters made what they go through feel more personal. My newest book, Hidden Witness, is a Christian Romantic Suspense, but as I created it, I took a journey to my own memories and incorporated some of my life experiences into the book.

The far west tip of the state of Virginia is comprised of Lee County. It was there that I took on my first public school position as an elementary music teacher. I served four elementary schools that were as far apart as forty-five minutes. I often drove during my lunch, so I left a cheese and bread sandwich sitting on my car's dashboard when I arrived at my first school. By lunchtime, I had a toasted cheese to enjoy as I traveled between schools.

With that in mind, I made my heroine, Winifred Grimsley, also known as Miss Freddie, a traveling art teacher in that same county. I named her after two art teachers I had during my life as a student. They were Miss Grimm and Miss Winnie. Those two women had a profound influence on my life, leaving a lasting impact that enabled me to pursue illustration for children's books. Because of my interest in that area, I decided that Miss Freddie, the art teacher, would also illustrate children's books to supplement her career. She uses the pen name of Winnie Gee. My knowledge of writing and illustrating helped me make her Winnie Gee persona more realistic.

One day, Miss Freddie is surprised to see federal agents at her door. The senior agent gives her quite a shock. He is an old boyfriend from her much younger past, one that she has been running from because of a criminal's threats. Now that she's been discovered, she and Agent Kent Russell will have to face what happened long ago.

Their reunion-romance amidst a suspenseful journey will bring many surprises and twists.

One of the places where they stop to try confronting the crooks is at Lee County's old Stone Face, a natural rock formation resembling a silhouette of a person. Running underneath the facade is a train tunnel. When my publisher asked about cover design, I mentioned the tunnel. Miss Freddie uses a walking stick to help defend against the attackers in that scene. The publisher incorporated both into the beautiful cover art.

My father was a great influence on my life as a writer and storyteller. He loved to share tales from his past. One of those stories involved a stubborn mule. As a tribute to him, a mule has a minor role in this story that will set the stage for book three, coming in 2026. Hidden Witness is the second book in the Forest Glen Suspense series. You can read it as a stand-alone, but I hope you will check out the other books, Hidden Names and Hidden Talent (2026).

The book's hero, Kent, has a home office in northwest Ohio. I currently live there in real life and know the setting well. He and Miss Freddie eventually head back to Ohio to set up a trap to catch their enemy. Knowing the flat landscape of this area helped me create the backdrop for the final showdown.

As I mentioned, when I first started writing, I heard phrases like write what you know, or write in your own voice. I'm thankful that God has provided me with a life filled with stories that only I've experienced. I'm glad that, as a writer, I can look back at my life experiences, teachers, and family to enhance my story with events, emotions, settings, and more. I'm always surprised when I finish a new book and often wonder how I accomplished a volume with so many words, a well-crafted story, a spiritual theme, and something enjoyable to read.

Praying for God's strength and wisdom gives me surprising words and adventures for my characters, often influenced by the life God has given me. I feel thankful to those people who taught or encouraged me along the way.

Be thankful for God's provision in your life!

MORE ABOUT HIDDEN WITNESS

Book-Hidden Witness (This is the second book in the Forest Glen Suspense Series published by Mt. Zion Ridge Press. The first was Hidden Names.)

After hiding for decades, Winifred Grimsley faces the past when her former boyfriend appears at her door as a Federal agent looking for her testimony. She ran to protect him in the past. Now, trouble is at her doorstep as they find themselves on the run from her former employer. As a young woman, Winifred, also known as Miss Freddie, worked for MAX Enterprises as a secretary while waiting for a career in art education. She met and fell in love with a young police officer named Kent Russell. During that time, she befriended the boss's young daughter and discovered a sinister side to the company. Max Whitney, her boss, asked her to participate in hacking other companies. When she refused, Max threatened Kent's life if Freddie told her policeman boyfriend about his request. Freddie left town after striking a deal with Max to save Kent. As part of the conditions, she left Kent without an explanation. That deal allowed her to travel to Europe for more art training. Finally, she found the opportunity to work as an art teacher in rural Lee County, Virginia. Max and his evil choices no longer controlled her. Life was pleasant until Max sent her a strange package. Months later, Max's daughter shows up at her door with Federal Agent Graham to find out what that package contained.

When Kent Russell sees the name of the woman who'd broken his heart on his agent's contact list, he wants to confront her. He leaves his desk job, heading up a local Ohio federal branch, and travels to Virginia to investigate this woman from his past. He'd tried to forget her. It took over a year for him to start over with a woman who wouldn't run away. Kent had a wonderful wife who left him only when cancer claimed her. His loving spouse had been faithful and loving. Freddie was another matter. She'd left him without an explanation. Anger fills his heart as he knocks on her door to demand answers. Is the woman still hiding secrets from him? Does he dare trust her when he has to face some of his own inadequacies? When he is on the brink of finding out the truth, their reunion is shattered by the threats of two members of the cybercriminal ring centered on MAX Enterprises. They claim Freddie may have another secret, and they will go to any length to find it. Even threaten Kent's grandchildren.

Buy LinkS:

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Witness-Forest-Glen-Suspense/dp/1962862747

https://mtzionridgepress.com/product-category/fiction/forest-glen-suspence/

ABOUT BETTIE BOSWELL

Bettie Boswell always loved to read and create stories for family and friends. In 2016, she began writing and illustrating stories to share with the world. She is now an author/illustrator of both children's and Christian adult fiction and non-fiction books. Her efforts include contributions to educational works, leveled readers, magazine articles, and devotional and short story anthologies. Bettie has two grown sons, one daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and a busy minister husband.

https://sites.google.com/view/bettieboswellauthorillustrator/home

MY REVIEW *****

If you like stories about romance on the run, danger on every page, and imperfect characters trying to do the right thing, you will enjoy reading Hidden Witness.

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