“Deep in the dark hallways of Briarbeck Sanitarium, terror rips through the mind of Olivia Windstone. Who would know her secrets? Why would they dig so deep?” So begins C.S. Hart’s novel of suspense/thriller “Windstone: The Secrets Within.”Like that other thriller writer, Ann Rice, Hart has two passions, writing and religion. Hart was born in St. Louis, but considers herself a country girl.She  grew up in the small Arkansas town of Pocahontas, where she graduated high school. As a college student at Williams Baptist College she loved creative writing and excelled in storytelling. Since then Hart has won several writing awards, including her school’s award for creative writing. She has also written numerous short stories, with titles like “Grandpa Tom” and “The Chair.”Hart says she has always been drawn to suspenseful tales. “My mind tends to drift in the thriller direction,” she says. “I often tell stories which have a good versus evil story line, while supplying twists and turns and suspenseful page-turning plots.”Hart spent several years working as a Christian missionary in various countries, including Brazil, where she was exposed to the voodoo practices. She made it her mission to learn more about the strange religion.While she spends most of her days writing, she is a also a singer songwriter and travels with her husband Dale and their Christian music ministry, HartStrings Ministries.Hart will be signing copies and reading sections from her book from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Village Bookstore in Warrenton.

C.S. Hart