Getting to Know Toni Shiloh
Our guest today is Toni Shiloh. Welcome Toni. Her book A Run at Love is out May 7. Thank you for being our guest today.
Where are you from?
I’m from San Antonio, Texas but currently reside in northern part of the state of Virginia in the USA.
What’s something interesting or unusual about you that not everyone knows?
I love to watch K-dramas. Primarily because I love romance and they just have a way of telling a story that gets me in all the feels. Second, once upon a time I was learning how to speak Korean so listening to K-dramas makes me nostalgic (and no, I’m not fluent at all).
What do you like to eat or drink when you’re writing?
You can usually find me sipping tea. I used to drink only black tea with milk and sugar. However, after having some stomach issues, I drink a lot of herbal teas. Ginger, chai turmeric, lavender, green tea, etc.
What did you learn while writing your last book that surprised you?
A Run at Love is all about the road to the Kentucky Derby. I knew absolutely nothing about horses, racing, etc. What surprised me the most is when I had a horse enthusiast read my book and compliment me on my research. I fully expected her to tell me I needed to research more but I’d actually begun to retain the information and make it organic to the story. Biggest compliment ever.
Have you ever met a person in real life who is a doppelgänger (lookalike) for a character in your book/s?
Yes! There was a guy who worked in an ice cream shop who actually looked like a cover from one of my earlier books. Even one of my friends noticed the lookalike.
What types of books do you like reading?
I’m all about romance. I love reading contemporary ones, historical ones, suspenseful ones, speculative fiction ones. You get the idea. J If it has romance, I’ll often give it a try even if I’ve never read the author before.
About Your Writing
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
I absolutely love the first draft when I get to see the characters come to life and share their journey with me. It makes me indescribably happy.
How does your faith impact your writing?
My faith is closely intertwined with my writing. I don’t start a writing/editing/etc session without prayer. My characters also have a faith arc that changes throughout the story, and oftentimes becomes a way God speaks to me. My books would be nothing without my faith.
What’s your biggest writing challenge?
Probably the revision stage. It’s very difficult for me to figure out what needs to change. There are so many puzzle pieces to the revision stage and moving those around often feels like playing a game of Jenga where I’m trying to ensure that the tower doesn’t fall.
How do you choose names for characters in books?
It depends on the book. Sometimes I ask my launch team members to help me name a character. Sometimes I pick based off of nationality/ethnicity. Sometimes it’s the meaning of the name that I want to hold the most impact. Whatever the case, I make sure it fits the character perfectly.
About A Run at Love
Describe A Run at Love in one or two sentences.
Piper McKinney has been in love with her best friend for as long as she can remember. When she hires him to train her Thoroughbred to race for the Kentucky Derby, she has to decide if love is worth the risk, or if her feelings will remain hidden forever.
Who is the target audience for A Run at Love
ARAL is a Christian contemporary romance cantered around the Kentucky Derby. Fans of contemporary romance, horse enthusiasts, Kentucky natives, and fans of Heartland will probably love the book.
What inspired you to write A Run at Love?
The heroine, Piper, actually first appeared in my mind. I saw her riding a horse and knew instantly that she was in love with her best friend. The idea of her owning a horse that would go to the Kentucky Derby wouldn’t leave me. So I wrote the idea down and saved it to my idea file. Then when I was getting a proposal ready for Bethany House, I went to look at my idea file and knew that was the one I wanted to present to them.
What did you research before writing A Run at Love?
I read so many books about horse racing, the Kentucky Derby, and everything in between. It became a case of I didn’t know what I didn’t know, because my lack of knowledge on the subject was so vast. I watched old horse racing videos. I looked at YouTube videos. And of course, I spoke to people who own race horses and had them read my first draft to correct any errors I had. It was a huge learning experience.
Have you explored any issues in A Run at Love that readers might find challenging or difficult to read?
A Run at Love discusses transracial adoption. Those who have been adopted or have adopted may find this a little triggering, though I tried to approach as sensitively as possible.
How is A Run at Love unique and different to other books in the same category?
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a book cantered around horse racing. There is a lot of western romances featuring cowboys, but not ones that talk about horse training and horse racing. I also discuss transracial adoption which I haven’t seen in the Christian contemporary romance category, at least, not where the adoptee is the main character.
Please share how A Run at Love fits within the Love in the Spotlight series?
A Run at Love is book two in the Love in the Spotlight series. Tuck and Piper are first introduced in The Love Script (#1) as secondary characters. This story is their story and can be read as a standalone book, though characters from book one do make a cameo appearance.
Will you have more books in Love in the Spotlight series coming soon?
Book three, The Nature of Love, will release February 2025. It’s the third and final book in the series and tells the story of Chris (introduced in book 1) and Erykah (introduced in book 2).
Book Description:
As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse racing world. Raised on a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.
In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.
Award-winning author Toni Shiloh makes a run for the roses with this heartwarming novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest victories are found within our own hearts.
About Toni Shiloh
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. Her novel In Search of a Prince won the first ever Christy Amplify award. It has been praised by Oprah Daily, POPSUGAR, Library Journal, and Booklist, and is a Parable Group bestseller. Her books have been finalists for the Holt Medallion and the Selah Award. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW), Toni loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. Learn more at http://tonishiloh.com.
Can’t wait to read it! 🤩
It does sound good doesn’t it. Narelle is reviewing tomorrow
Hi Jenny and Toni, Thanks for sharing your fun interview with us. I’m also a fan of herbal teas and I always have a large selection to choose from in my pantry. I enjoyed reading A Run to Love and I read it quickly (in 2 days) because I couldn’t put it down. I’m posting my book recommendation on the blog here tomorrow. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!!