Denise M. Colby, Author
Historical Romance Author
Denise M. Colby is a historical romance author known for her Best-laid Plans series, set in Sacramento, California, during the late 1860s. She writes heartwarming historical romances infused with faith, hope, and love. Fascinated by the past, she often reflects on what life was like in the 1800s. Her debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist and placed third in the Historical Romance category of the OCRW BBB contest.
Best-laid Plans Series
Three young women arrive in Sacramento, California to teach in one-room schoolhouses in the surrounding rural communities. Their original plans change when God’s plans unfold in ways they never could imagine. Some of which include learning a thing or two about friendship, dependance on God, and the most wonderful gift of all—love. Not at all what they are looking for, but everything they need.
Book 1 – When Plans Go Awry (released May 2024)
Book 2 – A Slight Change of Plans (released May 2025)
Prequel Novella – No Plans At All (releasing November 4, 2025)
Goodreads Giveaway
Enter to win a signed printed copy of the historical romance "No Plan at All" by Denise M. Colby.
KP - In November 2024, I had the pleasure of meeting Denise M. Colby at the ScrivCon writing conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her warmth, humor, and passion for storytelling were immediately evident. I knew right away I wanted to feature her on my blog, and with her upcoming novella set to release in just a week, now is the perfect time.
Welcome, Denise M. Colby.
About The Novella
KP - What inspired you to write this novella, and how did the idea first take shape?
DMC - When I was writing my first book, When Plans Go Awry, I created families who had loved ones pass and become intertwined with one another. That’s the Taylor’s and the Baker’s. But I needed a catalyst of why Luke Taylor (the hero in book 1) was sending for a mail order bride that wasn’t about finding a wife to love, etc. I gave him multiple reasons, including Sarah Baker leaving him right after his ma died to deal with his grief and raising his sisters alone. She’s never on the page, but readers may not like her because they didn’t know her side of the story.
When I wrote out the event, I also wrote it from Sarah’s point of view so I could make sure it worked. From there Sarah had her own story to tell. There are always two sides to every situation and Sarah had her own reasons for leaving that night. What were they? Why take the risk? And how could God reach her, teach her, and mold her into who He wanted her to be? What did she need? And who would be the perfect match for her?
I guess I didn’t want readers to ultimately not like her. Sometimes decisions are made that hurt others, but by the power of God we can heal, forgive, and learn from our mistakes. Besides, it’s hard for me to write bad characters—I want to redeem them all.
Then of course, I wanted the chance to write a character from nobility. I was reading a lot of regency but was terrified of writing one because there’s so much to know and I didn’t want to get anything wrong. So one year during NanoWrimo, I wrote the rough draft to No Plan at All and created Alex, who was nobility but was living outside of his world and in the one I had created.
KP - Are any of your characters inspired by real people in your life?
DMC - No. They were their own “people” from the beginning, but I did use some names from family members. I named Sarah’s brother Will very early on in my writing. William happens to be my husband and one of my son’s middle name (side note - he is probably the only character to be in all four of my books). Pastor Kenneth, who Will is going to take his place is named after my husband. Alma, the woman that befriends Sarah at the Revival uses my Great Grandmother’s name. And Bear, Alex’s horse’s name is a nod to our family dog Bear, whom we lost in 2020. It’s fun to utilize names of people that I hold dear, but none of them are the characters themselves.
KP - Which part of the book was the most challenging to write, and why?
DMC - Sometimes I have big ideas, but when I write the words down they don’t always come out the same way I envision things in my head. Also, on their journey, Sarah and Alex travel through several towns. Most of the maps I studied had the same names, but a few had a different name of one of the towns. I had to ultimately decide which one to use. I also learned one of the towns changed names once a post office was put in, but my timing was before that. Even though I had to make some changes to the timeline to fit my story world, I tried to be as accurate to the time period as possible.
KP - Do you have a favorite scene, passage, or character in this work?
DMC - I’m not sure if it’s one scene or an idea that travels throughout. I had a lot of fun writing Alex’s brogue (but it was also challenging) and there’s a time when Sarah finally admits she can’t understand him and I love the banter between them about it. It was also fun to give Sarah wagon motion sickness. That was a real thing during that time-period and I enjoyed weaving that trait throughout the story since they are in a wagon a lot.
KP - What do you hope readers will carry with them after finishing your book?
DMC - Hope. Upflited. Encouraged. Also that they have an enjoyable time reading and feel a connection with the characters.
Writing Process & Craft
KP - Please describe your writing process. Do you outline extensively (plotter) or discover as you go (pantser)?
DMC - I’m a pantser. That has now been confirmed to me. This was confirmed with the most recent book I wrote when I tried to plot the entire thing. I was continuously replotting because my characters revealed things to me as I went. I do like to brainstorm and understand my characters first before starting to write. But as much as I try to figure out the characters, sometimes how they respond to situations comes out when I’m writing.
KP - Do you follow a daily writing routine? If so, what does it look like?
DMC - This keeps evolving, but I have found being a part of a writing sprint group works well for me. These happen in the morning before my day job starts. I use that time for all my writing related work. Twenty-five minute sprints. I’ll use a timer on my own as well. I’ve been able to write the last three books this way.
KP - Are there any writers or books that shape your style?
DMC - As a kid I read the Love Comes Softly Series and the Little House on the Prairie books. I’m a huge fan of Karen Witemyer, Mary Connealy, Jen Turano, and Susan May Warren as well as several others. These have all shaped my writing.
Looking Ahead
KP - Are you already working on your next project? If so, can you share a glimpse?
DMC - A Whole New Plan, book 4 in the Best-laid Plans series, is written and submitted to my publisher. It will be released in May 2026. It is the story of Will and Lydia, who is another teacher that came west with Olivia (from book 1) and Jenny (from book 2).
And I’m in the brainstorming stages for the next book in this series as well. Actually, I have several books I want to write so trying to figure out which one comes next. One is a Christmas story. The other two will be the other two teachers (for a total of five) that came west together.
KP - How do you see your work evolving in the future?
DMC - I’m not sure. I have ideas for two other series I’d love to write. But I also want to go where God leads.
Learn More About Denise
For more information, please visit Denise’s website.