Author Spotlight: A.K. Moore Talks About Her Debut Clean Romance, A Matter of Trust

“It feels surreal.”

Beaver Lake Books:
A.K., big week for you. Your first novel is officially out in the world. How does it feel?

A.K. Moore:
Surreal. Exciting. Terrifying. All of it. I’m checking my dashboard like a new parent watching the baby monitor. But mostly I’m grateful to finally share this story. I started working on it over 25 years ago. I guess persistence pays off!

Where the Story Began

BLB:
What sparked the idea for A Matter of Trust?

AKM:
It started with a simple question: What happens when two good people are trying their best, but fear keeps getting in the way? I love stories where the conflict comes from vulnerability, not villains. Then I pictured a small snowy town and two hearts learning to trust again, and I couldn’t let it go.

As this question cooked in my mind, I remembered a scenario described by a professor I admired from college. During summer breaks, he would visit his cabin in the Rocky Mountains and sit beside the nearby creek, playing his saxophone. Neighbors would gather along the creek bank with their lawn chairs and favorite beverages, listening to him play. And I thought to myself, “What a great idea for this book!”

Thirty Years in the Making

BLB:
How long did you work on the book?

AKM:
Off and on for more than thirty years. Life got busy, doubt crept in, and at one point I stuck the manuscript away. But the characters wouldn’t leave me alone. Eventually, I realized the only way to get peace was to finish it.

Hardest Part of the Process

BLB:
What challenged you the most while writing?

AKM:
Letting the characters be messy. I wanted to hurry to the heart-warming moments, but real emotional growth takes time. Also, I rewrote the final chapters three times. I wanted the ending to feel earned, not rushed.

Writing Influences

BLB:
Who inspired you as a writer?

AKM:
Authors like Janette Oke and Debbie Macomber. They proved you can write sweet, faith-rooted and moral romance that still hits deep emotionally. I also take inspiration from real couples who work through trust and forgiveness one day at a time.

A Surprise Standout Character

BLB:
Which character surprised you the most?

AKM:
Cole surprised me the most. He started out in this process as an emotionally stunted, rock-hard man who couldn’t acknowledge, much less understand, his own emotions. As the book took shape, I realized that he wasn’t really that type of person. He had a great capacity for kindness and warmth. His sense of humor came as a terrific surprise, as well. I found myself laughing out loud as I wrote some of the scenes in the diner and alongside the creek.

On Authentic Dialogue

BLB:
Readers are already complimenting the natural dialogue. What’s your secret?

AKM:
I listen. People say the most honest, heartfelt things in everyday conversations. I wanted the dialogue to feel like something you’d overhear in a coffee shop or after church—warm, real, and sometimes a little funny without trying to be.

What Readers Should Take Away

BLB:
What do you hope readers feel when they close the book?

AKM:
That trust isn’t automatic. It’s built brick by brick. And that forgiving yourself can be just as brave as opening your heart to someone else. I want readers to believe that these characters could be real people with real, authentic lives.

What’s Next?

BLB:
Is another book already brewing?

AKM:
Oh yes. Another clean romance is underway. And I have several ideas simmering on the back burners of my mind, as well.

Final Thoughts

A Matter of Trust is a beautiful, uplifting story from a promising new voice in clean romance. If you enjoy emotional depth without explicit content, this is a debut worth celebrating.

📚 Now Available on Amazon: A Matter of Trust by A.K. Moore
⭐ Heartfelt. Sweet. Hopeful.
❤️ Perfect for fans of small-town love and second chances.

Stay tuned for more author interviews and behind-the-scenes features from Beaver Lake Books.