Monday, December 20, 2010

Maurice Gray's "To Whom Much is Given"

We're happy to have Maurice Gray with us today talking about his book, To Whom Much is Given. To learn more about Maurice and his book, read on!


Title: To Whom Much Is Given
Publisher: Write The Vison, Inc.

Cover blurb: Max Carson’s goals in life are to live a life pleasing to God, to achieve as a journalist and to find and marry the woman God has for him. His life is quiet and he is content. If only those dreams would go away- - -
Donna Randall is establishing her adult life. Having moved to Delaware after college, her concerns are to find a job, a church home and eventually, a husband. She has no time for dreams and visions, but now she has no choice but to deal with them.
Merry Lucas is convinced that one day she will have the life of luxury she thinks she deserves. When she sees her chance, she reaches for it, but her plans will be derailed if she can’t forestall a threat from her past.
Fred Bennett has a good job, Max as a best friend and all the women he can handle. Life is good, but at thirty, Fred feels like something is missing. Is Merry the answer, or only another question? And could Max be right about God?
Yolanda Mason has helped Donna decipher prophetic dreams and visions since they were children, but this time, Yolanda can’t shake the feeling that the stakes are much higher.
Max and Donna learn that their individual dreams are pieces of a puzzle. If they don’t solve the mystery, hundreds of innocents will die. They are caught up in a whirlwind adventure wherein they explore the mysteries of the Holy Spirit and of their own hearts. Their only recourse is to trust in God to work things out.

1) How did this story come to you?
A phrase came to my mind: “the woman of my dreams.” I flipped that around to “the dreams of my woman.” I thought “what if this man dreamed about a woman he’s never met and then he meets her someplace?” The story took off from there.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It took me ten years from idea to finished product. I started writing the first draft in 1990 (the year I graduated college) and had the first edition in my hands in October 2000. In between, I wrote, I learned the craft and I met authors who helped me along the way. I met author Gayle Roper at the Sandy Cove Christian Writers Conference in 1997. She critiqued the first chapter of To Whom and gave me great advice that helped me fine-tune it. I also made contacts with several publishing companies, and submitted my manuscript to them. Not long after that, I met another author, Patricia Haley, who also helped me. She taught me everything she knew about self-publishing, and helped me realize that this was a viable option. After about thirty rejection letters from various traditional publishers, I decided to self-publish and I’ve never regretted that decision.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) In college, I briefly played on a coed intramural flag football team that went undefeated.
2) On my first ever job (at a Roy Rogers restaurant), I got a raise and promotion for being able to speak Spanish to some Mexican new hires.
3) I sing bass in a men’s quartet at my church

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next novel, Female Problems, is set to release in April 2011. I also have plans to write another book featuring Max, Donna, Fred, Yolanda and friends in the near future.

5) Parting comments?
My second novel is the sequel to To Whom Much Is Given. It’s called All Things Work Together, and it features Max and Donna’s best friends Fred and Yolanda.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I can be found at http://www.mauricemgrayjr.com/, on Facebook, Shoutlife and Shelfari.



15 comments:

  1. Hi Maurice! I find myself particularly intrigued by the title you've chosen for your first novel. It's a phrase my husband (truly God's gift to my life), Michael, & I throw out at one another often when we are discussing things. We both believe that God meant this to be taken to heart, and not just skimmed over. I love the fact that you are not limiting yourself to just one couple or just one book about a couple of couples who interact. It is their interaction, of course, which I am looking forward to following so I am really hoping that I'll be chosen to win a copy of your book, titled, "To Whom Much is Given...". Thanks for the opportunity to grab an early copy of your book, and for writing for the Lord. The world could use a lot more writers that are writing for Him, and not about Him, for themselves.
    Sincerely,
    Anita
    SweetThot@tds.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. The title threw me here! I'd love to read your work and the purpose for writing, you continue to PUSH through the rejections and been selective on your CALLING to write and get the message out.

    adriennaturner@earthlink.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. What can be said to a man who has written a novel as powerful as this? Maurice Gray had the self-confidence and connection to our Lord to publish on his own. Apparently he knew the importance of the words the Holy Spirit gave him. Maurice had that confidence wrapped up neatly to face that coed intramural flag football team who had never been defeated. That must have told him a lot about the strength in women. This book is definitely added to my TBR books. Thank you for this giveaway and particularly for the chance to win this spectacular story. I hope I win!

    Blessings of Joy,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great interview! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great interview and the book sounds great. Would love to read it. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for all the wonderful comments thus far. I'm glad to have this opportunity to share with all of you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks like a great read....Dreams! Please include me.

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. The book sounds great, pleae enter me.

    dancealert at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maurice,
    I would love to read your book:)
    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
    Many Blessings and Smiles,
    chakasa58 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This sounds like an interesting book! Thanks for the chance. I am an email subscriber.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Leah

    wallest02 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cool introduction. This sounds a fascinating book.

    ReplyDelete

Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness . To learn more about her and Lioness, please read o...