Sara, please tell us five random things we might not know about
you.
1.
I put peanut butter on just about anything,
including Oreos, Chips Ahoy, bananas, apples, and strawberry cereal bars. (K. Dawn- I put ketchup on everything to the point that my husband says, "You eat ketchup with your ketchup.")
2.
I hope to someday visit Italy, Alaska, and the
pirate haunts of the Caribbean. (K. Dawn- I just finished one item on my bucket list...visited New York City two weeks ago.)
3.
My favorite day trip activity is visiting Cades
Cove, here in East Tennessee. (I've actually hard of it. I live in SW VA.)
4.
I have a pygmy goat named Razberry who sneaks in
my house whenever he can. His favorite snack is Ritz crackers and I would take
him places with me if I could figure out how to keep him from pottying
everywhere. (What a neat pet!)
5.
I love adventure movies and books like Indiana
Jones, The DaVinci Code, etc. (I'm a suspense lover.)
Why
did you choose to write this book?
Of Walls is the story of a mom
and homemaker named Julie. She loves her family and her role in it, but her
marriage is struggling. I wrote this story because it is realistic. Not that
Julie’s story is exactly my story, but that the struggles to temptation, the
oppression of everyday life, and the glory of God’s love and truths are things
real women in the real world face. I wanted to write a moving, at times
heartbreaking, story about a fictional woman who learns how to deal with
something raw and real with grace because of God’s presence in her life.
What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would
understand?
It is a job. Even though I am not some famous superstar
making bazillions, I consider writing my primary career, because it is my primary
passion and my calling from God.
What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?
I think for me getting started was the hardest part. I was
filled with such self-doubt and fear. I worried that if I got rejected I would
give up and never live my dream. I am just thankful that God gave me good
support in the beginning and that I had people encouraging me not to quit.
Because now I can say I get to wake up every day and live my dream of being a
“real” writer.
What
do you hope readers to take away from your novel?
I
hope readers will realize that none of us is perfect. We all face trials and
temptations and think things we would be ashamed to say out loud. But the truth
is, no matter what happens God’s love for us can bring us through, is merciful
and forgiving, and, in the end, we are stronger than we think.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of,
writing-related or not?
I am proud, but mostly thankful, that I have
managed to stick with a writing career even though life is hectic
and crazy all the time, with 5 homeschooled kiddos, a work-from-home part-time
job, and a very busy schedule.
The first page of Of Walls.
Chapter One
He just looks at me. Trying to figure
out my subtext? I send messages to my eyes to pretend there isn’t any. I’m not
brave enough to illuminate the truth. Not yet.
“Our finances are never going to get
better.”
I roll my eyes. Of course they aren’t.
There’s no hope in anything, according to you. “You know, I have confidence
when I get home I can take this course and provide for myself.”
He lifts his eyebrow.
I’ve crossed a line. I try to
backpedal, cover my almost truths. What I want to say is, “I don’t want to be
married to you anymore. I’m done. I give up.” My tongue hurts with permanent
teeth impressions by now. If I say the things in my mind, I won’t be able to
stuff them back in. Won’t be able to erase them. Won’t be able to put the
smashed bricks back into place. What if I am blatantly, brutally honest and
regret it? I see the fear flitting across his eyes. The anger igniting beneath
the hazel irises. “That’s not what I mean.” I take a deep breath. “I really need
this trip.”
He drops his gaze. “I know.”
Does he? Does he sense the wall of
barbed wire squeezing my heart? The pain? The desperation? Despair? “We will
figure out the money when I get home. It’s going to work out somehow. God has
taken care of us this long, He won’t stop now.”
What do you do for fun
when not writing?
My
favorite things to do are read, camp, hike, and spend time with my family. (K. Dawn- I love to read as well and I just taught myself to knit. Go youtube!)
What are you working on now?
The
third Inspirational Romantic Suspense book in the Love, Hope, and Faith Series
from Mantle Rock Publishing, Inc., is in editing right now, awaiting release in
early March. I am writing the first book, The Jade Owl, in a new Romantic
Suspense series, The Serafina Jones Series.
Where else can readers find you online?
Sara's Bio:
Sara is a multi-published, award-winning author and homeschooling mother
of five who writes amid the beauty of East Tennessee. She earned her Bachelor’s
degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers. She is the author of the Love, Hope, and
Faith Series, which includes Callum's
Compass (2017), Camp Hope (2018),
and Rarity Mountain (March 2019). She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your
Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the
beauty of nature. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping,
and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her
work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.
Back cover blurb of Of Walls.
Julie
Johnson's life as a mom and homemaker is richly blessed, but her marriage is
struggling. Years of busyness, exhaustion, and hurt have taken their toll on
her emotional and spiritual life, building impenetrable walls around her heart.
When she feels God calling her to a mission trip on the other side of the
world, Julie puts her faith in Him and leaves her family for ten long days.
What she learns about herself, her marriage, and her faith will change her life
forever.
Answer the following question... I eat so much _______________, it's easy to say I eat it on almost everything.
