Eileen Hinkle Rife's "Second Chance"

Title: Second Chance
Publisher: OakTara

Cover blurb: Mave Robertson, a recent empty nester, wants the fire back in her marriage, but her husband, Jerry, remains aloof. Is he having an affair? Midlife crisis? When a neighbor suggests she “get a life,” Mave accepts the challenge and volunteers at an inner city teen ministry where she’s thrown into a culture of drugs, gangs, and unwed teen moms. She soon discovers someone she can help, but might he also be the cure for both her stale marriage and her crumbling relationship with her father?

1) How did this story come to you?
In part, this story was my way of processing the empty nest. Finding purpose in the second half of life is a theme in Second Chance, so I wanted my central character Mave to find new meaning in this season of her life. Through her volunteer work with a Christian inner city teen ministry, I hope to spotlight the efforts these organizations make to reach out to lost and hurting teenagers with the gospel of Jesus Christ. My special focus is on Straight Street where my daughter and son-in-law serve fulltime. In fact, a portion of book proceeds supports Straight Street.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
OakTara contracted Second Chance shortly after they published Chosen Ones (3) in my Born for India trilogy (2011).

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
One of my new ventures in the second half of life is dancing with hubby. Playing with my six grandchildren, ages five and under, keeps me on my toes as well. Two of my grandkids were born via water birth using a mid-wife. One of them was born in my home. Quite the adventure!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
OakTara has just contracted two more projects: 1) Wit & Wisdom from the Wee Ones, a kids’ quip book inspired by (you guessed it), my six grandkids and 2) Laughing with Lily, my fifth novel. Teaser: An unexpected encounter with a person from her past launches a special education teacher on a quest for answers.

5) Parting comments?
My hope for those who read Second Chance is that they will find a mix of laughter and tears as they process transitions in life. Like Mave, may they discover a purpose much bigger than themselves.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.eileenrife.com/, http://www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com/, http://www.guardyourmarriage.com/, http://www.christianspeaker.net/