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.