Eileen Rife's "Journey to Judah"

We're happy to have Eileen Rife with us today talking about her book Journey to Judah. To learn more about Eileen and her book, read on!

Title: JOURNEY TO JUDAH
Publisher: OakTara

Cover blurb:Could love await her, even in India?
Maggie Osteder’s given up hope of finding a man who shares her love for India. So while her friends plan dream weddings, she follows her heart, fulfilling a ten-year dream of becoming a career missionary. “Don’t lose heart. Stay focused on serving, and God will take care of the rest,” her mother always tells her. Yet upon arrival in Chennai, a fellow missionary makes a comment that strikes to Maggie’s heart—that her ministry will be more effective if she’s married. And her newfound friend says she has the perfect match: the new doctor, Gavin Munsfield.
But Maggie isn’t so sure she’s ready to open her heart . . . especially to a man who seems to be struggling with his own issues.
One woman. One God. One passion.
In an exotic culture of 7.5 million people and 30 million gods, one woman’s resolve to make the journey results in an amazing story of the Lord’s protection and provision.

1) How did this story come to you?
My daughter's love story was the initial seed; the rest is totally fiction. I was so impressed by the way God provided Rachel's "Boaz" clear around the world that I had to write about it.
My faith got a shot in the arm as I watched the Lord lovingly pick up a young man in Washington State, take him to India to meet my single missionary daughter, and then marry her in 2005 and return to India as a couple in 2006. It was truly a love story written by God. The Lord deepened my assurance in Ps. 84:11 which says, "The Lord is a sun and shield; He gives grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
About the time Rachel was introduced to Nathan, my women’s small group was studying A Lady in Waiting based on the story of Ruth. As I thought about the similarities between Ruth and Rachel, a story began to emerge. I woke up one morning with the title for my novel: Journey to Judah.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The first draft poured out of me in-between two weddings! Several readers and one agent offered helpful suggestions. After allowing the work to cook for a few months, I pulled the manuscript out once more, tweaked according to suggestions, then submitted through the Writer’s Edge agency. A year passed with no nibbles. Then in January, 2007, while visiting Rachel and family in India, I clicked onto my email. There sat an invitation from Capstone Fiction, now OakTara, to preview the entire manuscript. After more revising, Journey to Judah was published in April, 2008.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
While Journey to Judah is based on my oldest daughter’s love story as a career missionary in India, actually my other two daughters are involved in mission work around the world as well. Not only that, I grew up in home mission work. My father served in East Tennessee with Children’s Bible Mission for over 50 years; hence the fodder for chapter twelve of Journey to Judah where Maggie returns to one of her old childhood haunts.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
After a final proof, my third book, CHOSEN ONES, in the Born for India trilogy will be released. I have also signed a contract with OakTara for a stand alone novel titled, SECOND CHANCE.

5) Parting comments.
Journey to Judah is packed with action, adventure, and romance. But most of all, I want readers to know that following the Lord is not a step to fear, but a fulfilling journey on which He proves to be a faithful lover, provider, and protector. With this assurance, I hope readers will discover the special journey God has for them, no matter where that path may lead.

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

Christine Sunderland's Hana-lani

We're happy to have Christine Sunderland with us today talking about her book Hana-lani. To learn more about Christine and her book, read on!

Title: Hana-lani
Publisher: OakTara

Cover blurb:Only opening their hearts will keep them from plunging into the dark abyss. Old Nani-lei lives in Hana-lani, her family home in rural Hawaii. She looks after her grandson Henry, 52, and his daughter Lucy, 6, who have returned to Maui from Berkeley after the death of Maria, Henry's wife. Henry and Maria, both professors, had been working on A History of Ethics, and now the grieving Henry struggles to finish it.
City girl Meredith Campbell, 36, fast-paced, self-centered, and beautiful, believes her body will ensure her happiness. After losing her job and finding her lover unfaithful, she flies to Maui, sure he will follow…but her plane crashes near Hana-lani.
As their worlds collide in a natural world both beautiful and dangerous, Henry will be forced to act on his words, and Meredith will come face-to-face with her own life choices.
A poignant journey that unravels T.S. Eliot’s “permanent questions”—what is goodness, truth, and love?

1) How did this story come to you?
I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit Hana, Maui and the Hawaiian Islands and have been impressed with their culture of family, faith, and history. I have also been troubled by the general trend in American culture away from family, faith, and history. I wanted to write a "good read," fast-paced but with serious themes, and thought this setting would be a perfect location. Douglas R. Cobb of Bestsellersworld.com called it "sexy, sweet, and touching… beautifully written…" so I think I did!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Once Hana-lani was fleshed out and edited with the help of local readers and editors, I sent it to my publisher, OakTara (who published my first three novels, Pilgrimage, Offerings, Inheritance, set in Western Europe) and they loved Hana-lani. We went into final edits in November and it was available on Amazon in early December 2010.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
First, I'm the daughter of a Presbyterian pastor, left the church in my college days, and returned as an enthusiastic Anglo-Catholic. Second, I never planned to become a writer and didn't begin writing novels until I was fifty and had time to reflect on life. Third, it took six years of submissions to agents and publishers and only one acceptance (OakTara), which to me, is clear evidence of miracles.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I enjoy writing my blog, which is a travel journal when away and a spiritual journal at home. I've just finished the first draft of a fifth novel, The Magdalen Mystery, set in the present about a quest to find the real Mary Magdalene in Rome and Provence, about discerning historical truth. After that, if my fingers still work, I'll pick something from my idea list and jump into the sixth novel.

5) Parting comments?
I love words, and I've found being older (sixty-three) gives me more life experience to draw upon when I write. I have many folks read my drafts and I study authors I admire (P.D. James). I have found that workshops and local writers clubs essential to improving my craft.
Thanks so much for having me visit. I appreciate the opportunity.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.christinesunderland.com/; http://mytravels.christinesunderland.com/; Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Authorsden, Scribd, and many others…