Interview with Pat Jeanne Davis and spotlight of When Valleys Bloom Again...

We're happy to have Pat Jeanne Davis with us today discussing her inspirational historical novel When Valleys Bloom Again.

When Valleys Bloom Again

Inspirational Historical Romance

As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.

Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?

Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home and find happiness with Jim?

Please give us the first page of the book.

London, August 1939

Abby Stapleton slumped back in her seat, any glimmer of hope she’d harbored would soon be extinguished. A crystal chandelier jingled in the draft of an open window. She loved this room with its embossed wallpaper and rich tapestries, vibrant with memories of family. How could she leave all this?

            Her father folded the newspaper with its glaring headlines, plopped it on the table and parted his lips to speak. Abby forestalled him. “I’m nineteen,” she said, her nerves rubbed raw by the endless squabbles with her parents. Speak low and slow, Abby. “I don’t w-w-want to go.” Her voice, thin and strained, echoed back from the high frescoed ceiling.

“A father can’t ignore his responsibilities,” he said, clasping her hand. “You know Hitler’s taken Austria and Czechoslovakia. Probably he’ll take Poland next.” He furrowed his brow. “And when that happens war with Germany will be unavoidable.” His hand shook, and he sounded as though he’d aged ten years in the space of a few minutes.

Sunlight dispersed through a bay window, washing the brocaded settee on which she and her mother sat with patches of red and gold. Her mother sidled closer and stroked Abby’s arm, her face taut and pale. “Do as your father says, dear. There are sandbags and barrage balloons everywhere, and gas masks are being handed out.”

Still determined to speak her mind before it was too late, Abby shut her eyes in a silent prayer. Lord, help me to keep my temper. She released her hand from her father’s. “I sh-sh-should be able to decide for myself w-w-whether I want to leave.” Now of all times when she needed eloquence, this accursed stammer bound her up tight.

Why did you choose to write this book?

I have family in the US that served in the European Theater during WWII. When war was declared by England in 1939, my father-in-law was conscripted into the British Eight Army and served his country until 1946. I’ve had a keen interest in this period of history and hoped to some day write a faith based novel with an Anglo-American connection set during those dark days of the war.

As the ranks of those who lived through this period get smaller, I desired to highlight their lives in an instructive and entertaining way. When Valleys Bloom Again unfolds through the eyes of Abby Stapleton from an estate on Philadelphia’s Main Line with its landscaped gardens, to the bombed-out inner-city and suburbs of London to the battlefield in North Africa and Normandy. Military and history buffs will appreciate the references to battles and hardships faced by soldiers.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

That through all of  life’s experiences with faith in God and submission to His will, we can be hopeful and steadfast in purpose, trusting in the promise from Him that all things work together for
good.

BIO:

PAT JEANNE DAVIS lives in Philadelphia, Pa with her British-born husband, John. They have two grown sons. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her husband. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She has a keen interest in twentieth-century American and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Pat’s father-in-law served in the British Eighth Army during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut historical romance set in that era. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Historical Novel Society. Pat loves to hear from her readers. Subscribe to her newsletter here www.patjeannedavis.com

Links:

When Valleys Bloom Again can be purchased here:

Amazon:  

https://www.amazon.com/Valleys-Bloom-Again-Jeanne-Davis/dp/1948888920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=154

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-valleys-bloom-again-pat-jeanne-davis/1130351044?ean=9781948888929                                      

Social Media:  

Website:  https://www.patjeannedavis.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pat.j.davis.7

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/patjeannedavis/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43600391-when-valleys-bloom-again?from_search=true   

Amazon Author Page:  https://amazon.com/author/patjeannedavis 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-jeanne-davis-34290422/                   

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/patjeannedavis/   

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-valleys-bloom-again-by-pat-jeanne-davis

Spotlight of June Foster’s Dreams Deferred....

We’re happy to have June Foster with us today talking about her novel Dreams Deferred. To learn more about June and her book, read on! 

Frances Matthew Hall is obedient to family tradition: all firstborn sons will serve as a priest. Now Matt officiates at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. But when on Easter Sunday, he notices a beautiful young woman who takeshis breath away, he must fight against his attraction to her or leave the priesthood and alienate his entire family.

Mary Louise Graham is a middle school teacher and devout catholic. Yet no amount of service to the community can ease the heavy load of guilt she carries. God can never forgive her unspeakable mistake. But when Father Matt tells her about a forgiving God through His son Jesus Christ, she's free. Only thing, the Godly priest now means more to her than he should.

Can two people find their way to each other amidst insurmountable obstacles? Dreams Deferred is inspired by the author's great grandfather and great grandmother's story.

Short blurb:

Father Matt Hall wants to serve the Lord. School teacher Mary Louise Graham needs freedom from her unforgivable past. They never expect to fall in love.

The Story Behind the Story

Dreams Deferred is inspired by the true-to-life story of my great grandfather and great grandmother. I chose to set it in contemporary times, nevertheless, I borrowed many of the story elements from the true story.

Frances Mathew Halbedl grew up in the European Austrian Empire and followed tradition in which the oldest son became a priest in his family's Catholic faith. After being ordained in Moravia, he immigrated to the United States in 1866 to serve in a parish in the state of Louisiana.

My aunt and mother always told the story of how one Sunday while saying mass, he spotted a young teen, much younger than my Mary Louise. He waited several years for her to grow up then stepped down from the priesthood to marry her. I wish I knew some of those rich details of their courtship, but since I don't, I fictionalized their romance.

They later moved to San Antonio, Texas, and had five children, three girls and two boys—Ida, Mamie, Alice, Roy, and Clifton, who was my grandfather. Just for fun in one scene, I imagined that Matt had a dream he was riding in a car with Mary Louise and the three youngest kids. In my story, the dream helped him realize how much he loved Mary Louise.

Mathew taught music both in the public school and privately. Later he became the first principal of a high school in San Antonio. In December of 2005, my husband and I visited San Antonio and looked up Matthew and Mary Louise's house. The large, two-story home is still there on Roseborough Drive. We weren't able to go in because it's a private residence. But I had so much fun envisioning Matt and ML's lives as they lived there with their children.

We also visited Clifton Halbedl's home, which I remember from childhood. I also had the address for Mamie's home, and we were able to go inside. A gracious lady who spoke no English invited us in. I have tons of pictures and hope to share them on my blog.

In the story, Matt gets a job at Jefferson High School. This is patterned after Thomas Jefferson High School where my mother went to school. Her name was Mary Louise, as well, named for her grandmother.

If I've learned anything from writing this book, I wish I'd probed for more information when my mother and aunt were still alive, but I'm grateful for what I do know.

About June Foster

June Foster is an award-winning author who began her writing career in an RV roaming around the USA with her husband, Joe. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next contemporary romance or romantic suspense. June's characters find themselves in precarious circumstances where only God can offer redemption and ultimately freedom. To dateJune has seen publication of 19 novels and 1 devotional. Find June at junefoster.com.

Interview with Gail Pallotta & spotlight of Stopped Cold...

We're happy to have Gail Pallotta with us today talking about her novel Stopped Cold. To learn more about her and her book, read on!

Back cover blurb:

Things aren't what they seem in peaceful Mistville, North Carolina.

Margaret McWhorter enjoys a laid-back Freshman year in high school swimming and hanging out with friends—until the day her brother, Sean, suffers a stroke from taking steroids. Now he's lying unconscious in a hospital.

Anger sets a fire for retribution inside her, and Margaret vows to make the criminals pay. Even the cop on the case can't stop her from investigating. Looking for justice, she convinces two friends, Jimmy and Emily to join her in a quest that takes them through a twisted, drug-filled sub-culture they discover deep in the woods behind the school. Time and again they walk a treacherous path, and come face-to-face with danger.

All the while Margaret really wants to cure Sean, heal the hate inside, and open her heart to love.

Please give us the first page of the book.

My first day as a Freshman at Meriwether Christian High School in Mistville, North Carolina, the sun shone on a small plant with pink blossoms on the window sill and gave Mrs. Hornsby’s English class a cheerful look. She stood in front of pine straight back chairs scrunched together in the middle of the room, the tables shoved up against the wall at the end of it.

“Today we’ll form a circle and get acquainted.”

Her voice sounded bubbly and kind, but I wanted to escape to the pool or a beach. She directed us with her hands as we scraped chairs across the laminated floor and took our seats. That’s when I noticed Jimmy Willmore staring at me. As self-conscious as a possum in a dog show, I peered at my lap. Was he checking me out? I raised my head and glanced at him.

He shifted his gaze to the blackboard.

Mrs. Hornsby ran her hand through her short, salt-and-pepper-colored hair then twirled around. “Let’s start with you.” She gestured toward a pretty girl with dainty features and long, blonde hair.

“I’m Sally Dumont, a transfer student from North Wilkes.”

The other kids gave their names, but I let them fade into the background while I thought about Jimmy Willmore. Then it was my turn. “I’m Margaret McWhorter, and I entered Meriwether in middle school.”

What do you do for fun when not writing? Get together with friends and family, go to lunch with hubby, swim and go to the beach every chance I get.

What are you working on now?  I’m excited about a new adult romantic suspense novel I’m working on.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

I’m a fan of Elvis Presley. I listen to his CD, “An Evening Prayer,” three days a week on the way to the pool.

I love fresh fish, especially eating it on the Back Porch in Destin, Florida.

It’s hard to find my shoe size, so I rarely throw away a pair of shoes no matter how old and ragged looking they get.

I have Lyme disease, but thanks to Jesus and a wonderful alternative doctor, I’m up and kicking.

I cook Southern recipes handed down from three generations.

Why did you choose to write this book?

As a college student then later as a young Mom, I knew of children, teens and young adults affected in a devastating way because they didn’t always excel. The results ranged from heartache in children over not winning a race or making all As to suicide attempts and suicide in young adults. I’m not sure if these sad situations crossed my path more than they did that of others or not, but the more pain I witnessed, the more I wished these children, teens and young adults had believed they did not have to be the best, but do their best. Even though the drive seemed to originate from different sources - parents, siblings, peer pressure or within - I wanted to tell them that God had given each of them a gift or gifts to use for Him, and they didn’t need to be #1. The theme rattled around in my head for years until finally I put it in Stopped Cold.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand? 

It takes a lot of hard work.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

Marketing, especially balancing it with time to write.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

Standards set by others pale when we use our talent to glorify God. We’re all created in His image, but each of us has a particular gift or gifts to use for Him.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

My wonderful, Christian daughter.

Bio:

Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. She’s a former regional writer of the year for American Christian Writers Association, a 2013 Grace Awards finalist and a 2017 Reader’s Favorite Book Award winner. She’s published six books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums.

Where else can readers find you online?

I have a special twitter site for the high school in Stopped Cold and would love to have people follow it. It’s Meriwether Christian @MeriwetherCS. (https://twitter.com/MeriwetherCS)

Website - https://gailpallotta.com

Blog - https://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore

Twitter - Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords  

Interview with Alexis A. Goring & spotlight of Love in Pictures...

Interview with Lynn Basham Tagawa & spotlight of The Shenandoah Road...

We're happy to have Lynne Basham Tagawa with us today talking about her book The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of Great Awakening. To learn more about Lynne and this historical fiction novel, read on!

From the back cover:
John Russell's heart aches from the loss of his wife, but the Shenandoah Valley frontiersman needs to marry again for his daughter's sake. At first he believes he has found the right young woman, despite their differences, but his faith falters when time reveals she isn't quite what she seemed. Can he truly love her? 

Unlike her disgraced sister, Abigail Williams obeys the Commandments. At least, she thinks herself a Christian until a buckskin-clad newcomer courts her. He treats her kindly but also introduces her to a sermon by the controversial preacher, George Whitefield. Her self-righteousness is shattered, and she wonders about their relationship. If she confesses her lack of faith, will John continue to love her? 

The first page of the book:

Chapter One

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green; He leadeth me

The quiet waters by.

--Psalm 23:1, The Scottish Psalter, 1650

May 1744

John Russell knelt on the grass that grew over the grave. The small hickory cross had survived the winter.  On it was carved a name.

 His wife’s name.

Janet Russell (1719-1742)

He had spent hours over the little cross, finding the best wood, hand carving it,

engraving it, and rubbing linseed oil into it again and again.

Still, it would not endure the elements. Wood never did. But her soul was safe with God, and though he had grieved long and hard, his peace was real, too. The peace that went beyond all understanding.

He stood.

“She was a good wife,” Sarah murmured behind him. “And she willna mind you marrying again.”

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

I’m a science teacher by trade, and I’ve taught a lot of algebra over the years—I’m definitely the nerdy type. I play the flute. I graduated from the University of Hawaii. I married a “local boy” I met in Geology 101.

Why did you choose to write this book?

A lot of things came together. My friend Douglas Bond has written a number of HF books both for adults and young teens, and his writing inspired me. I thought, “It’s possible to write an engaging story without sacrificing spiritual truth.” I also realized that there were few stories written in this time period. One of Douglas Bond’s (for juveniles) and Jack Cavanaugh’s The Colonists come to mind. But nothing exactly like I wanted to write.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand?

The huge amount of labor that goes into a book you can read in two days. Especially a genre like historical fiction. Some writers have no problem writing a thousand words a day, every day. But sometimes I spend more time researching that actually writing. Then you come to “The End,” but that’s only the beginning. Next comes the rewrite, the editing, and so forth.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

My debut novel was hard (A Twisted Strand). I’d already published a nonfiction book (Sam Houston’s Republic) but fiction is different. The rules are different. Sometimes I felt like a grown-up going to first grade, and I like to think of that story as my Creative Writing 101. From conception to publication it took four years.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

I want readers to get a sense of what it was like to live in that time period, in every regard: daily life, cultural differences, the impact of the Great Awakening, and even things like the flora and fauna of the time period. Did you know that buffalo often wandered into the Shenandoah Valley? But most of all, I’d like the reader to come away with uplifting and challenging scriptural truth. It’s why I added the subtitle. I want readers to know upfront that it’s not a romance per se, it’s something much more, which is why it doesn’t fit into the “romance” genre.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

Besides my kids and grandkids? LOL Actually, I am happy about “placing” at the Selah Awards—tied for second place in the historical/biblical fiction category. It is gratifying for a relatively untested writer.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

Read!

What are you working on now? 

I’m working on a sequel to The Shenandoah Road. It’s set roughly ten years later, during the time period of the French and Indian War. I won’t give anything away, except this: I decided to create a Shawnee point of view character in addition to the main two. I have really loved that aspect of the story.

Where else can readers find you online?  

I have a Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/lynne.tagawa

I also have a website: https://www.lynnetagawa.com/

Bio

Lynne Tagawa is an author, editor, educator, and best of all, grandma to four. She loves to writes quality fiction with solid gospel content. Her debut novel, A Twisted Strand, is contemporary romantic suspense, but she thinks she’s found a true home in historical fiction. Currently she’s writing the sequel to The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening.

Back cover blurb

John Russell’s heart aches from the loss of his wife, but the Shenandoah Valley frontiersman needs to marry again for his daughter’s sake. At first he believes he has found the right young woman, despite their differences in background, but his faith falters when time reveals she isn’t quite what she seemed. Can he truly love her? And what about his own failings?

Unlike her disgraced sister, Abigail Williams obeys the Commandments. At least, she thinks herself a Christian until a buckskin-clad newcomer courts her. He treats her kindly but also introduces her to a sermon by the controversial preacher, George Whitefield. Her self-righteousness is shattered, and she wonders about their relationship. If she confesses her lack of faith, will John continue to love her?

Interview with Jarm Del Boccio & Spotlight of The Heart Changer...

We're happy to have Jarm Del Boccio with us today talking about her book The Heart Changer.  To learn more about Jarm and her book, read on!

Cover blurb

Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?

Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission—far beyond what she could imagine.

This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

1. I love to travel, and am passionate about visiting new places. My motto is: never visit the same location twice. Well — I’ve disregarded my own rule a few times, but otherwise, I stick to it as best I can. I’m slowly checking off destinations on my bucket list, and have journeyed to six of seven continents. I’ll let you decide which one I have yet to step foot on . . .

2. I was accidentally hit in the head with a baseball bat and sported black and blue eyes for eight grade graduation. A well-meaning elderly man thought I had applied my makeup incorrectly. The ironic thing is — I am not a sports fan!

3. When I was a junior in high school my first job was — no joke — in a Chinese laundromat.

4. My secret desire? To get caught up in a flash mob singing a tune from a favorite musical.

5. When I was in elementary school, I begged my Mom for a baby alligator from Florida, trying to convince her we could keep it in our bathtub. She gently asked me what I would do once it grew to full-size. I pondered the question for a minute or two, and reluctantly backed down.

Why did you choose to write this book?

I have a soft spot for kids in the Bible who have no name and backstory, but have made a huge impact on the people around them. So, I chose the story of Naaman’s wife’s servant girl from 2 Kings 5. I gave Miriam a name AND a feasible backstory! I try to stay as close to the historical account as possible.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand? 

Authors are not passionate about writing for financial gain, but because we have a story to tell the world that can’t be squelched. We want to impact lives!

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

Hmmmm. I guess I have to say receiving one manuscript rejection after another. One year, I submitted to agents and editors twice a month. That’s over 24 submissions which ended up as a ‘no’ or ignored, as I watched other kid lit authors sign contracts and find agents after only a few tries. It will happen when the time is right. My career is in God’s hands.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

There’s always hope when God is allowed to write our story. He has conceived it, so He will bring it to pass in the best way possible.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

I wouldn’t consider this an accomplishment, per se, but I have the ability to fit into whichever culture or country I am visiting at the time. Often, while traveling, folks can’t tell by my speech that I’m American. They say I have more of a cosmopolitan accent. And I love to eat, speak and live as they do. From ‘85 to ‘87 I taught missionary children in an isolated village of Papua New Guinea. Even there I tried to fit in by carrying a load in a woven bag on my back with most of the weight resting on the strap across my forehead, just like the local women.

Please give us the first page of the book.

C H A P T E R  O N E

“RUN! RUN, MY DAUGHTER! DON’T let them see you!” Miriam’s mother cried in alarm, shielding baby Zacchaeus in her long robes. She watched, helpless, as her precious child ran to escape the oncoming invasion.

      Picking up her skirts, the young girl fled down the center of the Shunem town market, following the frantic path of others, terror- stricken by the billowing clouds of dust gathering in the distance. As the villagers ran for their lives, baskets of fruits and vegetables, nuts and spices were carelessly scattered on the parched ground. Carts of fish and goat’s cheese were upset, the sound of splintering and cracking adding to the mayhem as striped awnings ripped from their door frames. Goats and sheep scattered, and those who could not be freed from their leads bleated in fear. Shouts of the Syrian army, and the sound of clomping horse’s hooves on the stone pavement signaled the enemy’s advance. Cries and screams escaped from the villagers as they dropped a trail of precious belongings in their flight. A keepsake and a fresh loaf of bread meant nothing. Only their lives mattered now.

     Miriam eyed another overturned cart, its sweets scattered in the dust, and swiftly darted behind it to evade the soldiers’ haunting advances. She covered her face with the cloth from her head covering, tucking it in to hide her maturing face. Heart pounding, she took a deep breath, pressing her head against the rugged wood, praying no one had seen her.

 What do you do for fun when not writing?

I love to take tours and visit museums, especially when they relate to history. Travel is my go to inspiration, so I take advantage of it whenever possible. Next on my bucket list is a cruise through Scandinavia or a stay in a Mongolian yurt! And I have to admit, I love to be pampered with a facial or massage, but it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed one.

What are you working on now? 

I have three other middle-grade novels, set in England, Spain, and the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. The latter novel I’ve been submitting to publishers and agents, so I would be blessed if it was in God’s plan for it to be snatched up in 2019!

Jarm (‘J’ pronounced as a 'Y') Del Boccio finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on lives of characters from the past, Jarm is devoted to breathing new life into the pages of history.

Jarm has a background in elementary and high school education, and served for seven years as a school librarian. Grateful for the opportunity, she taught three missionary kids in an isolated area of Papua New Guinea. She is part of SCBWI and American Christian Fiction Writers, and has published articles in "The Old Schoolhouse" magazine.

“The Heart Changer,” her debut MG historical/biblical fiction, releases with Ambassador International April 26th 2019. Jarm is content with the journey God has placed her on, and lives with her husband, adult daughter and son (when he lands at home) in a tree-lined suburb of Chicago. You can connect on her author’s website/blog at: https://www.jarmdelboccio.com/

"My Passion is to Make Scripture and History Come Alive for my Readers: Illuminating the Past. Making Sense of the Present. Offering Hope for the Future.”

Where else can readers find you online?   

My author’s website/blog: https://www.jarmdelboccio.com/

            Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JarmDelBoccio/

            Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jarmdelboccio/

           Twitter: www.twitter.com/JarmVee

            Instagram: @JarmDelBoccio

Interview with Sherrinda Ketchersid and spotlight of Lord of Her Heart...

We're happy to have Sherrinda Ketchersid with us today talking about her book Lord of Her Heart. To learn more about Sherrinda and her book, read on!

Back cover blurb

Lady Jocelyn Ashburne suspects something is amiss at her family’s castle because her father ceases to write to her. When she overhears a plot to force her into vows—either to the church or a husband—she disguises herself and flees the convent in desperation to discover the truth.

Malcolm Castillon of Berkham is determined to win the next tournament and be granted a manor of his own. After years of proving his worth on the jousting field, he yearns for a life of peace. Rescuing a scrawny lad who turns out to be a beautiful woman is not what he bargained for. Still, he cannot deny that she stirs his heart like no other, in spite of her conniving ways.
Chaos, deception, and treachery threaten their goals, but both are 
determined to succeed. Learning to trust each other might be the only way either of them survives.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“I tire of this endless cleaning.” Jocelyn Ashburne sat on the cold stone floor of the cellarium and put a hand to her aching back. Her gray woolen habit made her itch. She wanted to pull off the veil to release her damp curls from its confines. “Methinks the Reverend Mother Agatha is attempting to tire my body and mind into forgetting my desire to return home. My petition for release has been again ignored, and I know not what to do.”

            “Perhaps you should write to your father once more.” Sister Mary, her dearest friend at the convent, scrubbed the floor, swiping at her forehead before looking up at Jocelyn. “It could be he has had much to deal with at Ramslea and has been too busy to answer.”

Jocelyn dipped her rag into the bucket of rosemary-scented water and wrung it out. “I’ve been here four years. I know I’ve only heard from him a few times, but ’tisn’t like him to be so silent, even with the distraction of his new wife. My father has been silent for an entire year, and I am worried.” Perhaps she should scour his missives for clues to solve the mystery of his silence.

“Do you sincerely think Helen might sway his ability to make decisions?”

Jocelyn huffed and scrubbed the floor with renewed vigor. “Aye, she cares not for me and only fawned over me in the presence of Father. He was blind to everything but her beauty and charm.”

“He was lonely after losing your mother. I’m sure Helen fills the void in his heart. God will provide for you. Never fear.”

Would that Jocelyn had Mary’s faith in God’s ability to manage her return home. So far, He had been silent to her pleas. Perhaps His lack of communication was His answer. Perhaps she was to have faith amid the silence of her earthly father, as well as her heavenly one.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

1. I love to paint and letter in my Bible.

2. I have scoliosis and had to wear a metal back brace as a freshman and sophomore in high school. Think Joan Cusack in Sixteen Candles. J

3. I moved away from home to attend a Bible school when I was 17 and just out of high school.

4. My husband gave me a dozen roses on my 18^th birthday (I’d only been talking to him for two weeks.) and we were inseparable after that.

5. Coffee with cream is often my go-to dessert.

Why did you choose to write this book? I originally wrote this book to tell a good story and bring someone as much joy as reading has brought to me. But as I wrote, the message of trust came through and I hope that brings hope to others as they journey with God.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand?  

Hhmm. My friends and family are very supportive of my writing, but I hear others say they wished people would understand how time consuming the writing life can be. A writer must treat writing as a job and pass up invitations sometimes in order to get their “job” done. It takes a lot of discipline and hard work to get a book written and rewritten.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer? 

Rejection is always difficult. There have been times when I have wanted to give up, but as a spinner of stories, I have decided I would write even if the book doesn’t see the light of day. I write because I am a writer.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel? 

I would love for readers to get lost in the story and come away smiling. But on a deeper level, I hope they can see in themselves a need to trust—not only the need to trust God in difficult times, but learn to trust others for help when they need it. Everyone needs a listening ear or help from time to time, and sometimes we are afraid to ask. We need to get over that feeling of not wanting to bother someone or not trusting others to step up to the plate and help us out.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not? 

I’m most proud that I have raised self-sufficient and loving children. They are kind, thoughtful, and generous. They are my greatest accomplishment and I love them dearly. Writing-wise, I am most proud that I stuck with my first story and didn’t shove it under the bed. The book needed a lot of work, but my publisher took a chance on it and molded it into something I am super proud of.

What do you do for fun when not writing? 

I love to read inspirational romance, historical or contemporary. I also like to paint and letter in my Bible as a way of worship. I like to spend time with my seven month old puppy, Phineas. He gets me outside and moving.

What are you working on now?  

I am editing and rewriting my second story, His to Keep. It is the story of Ian McGowan, the head guardsman in Lord of Her Heart. He receives an inheritance that forces him to marry an English woman.

Bio

Sherrinda Ketchersid is a lover of stories with happily-ever-after endings. Whether set in the past or present, romance is what she writes and where her dreams reside. Sherrinda lives in north-central Texas with her preacher husband. With four grown children, three guys and a gal, she has more time and energy to spin tales of faith, fun, and forever love.

Where else can readers find you online?   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrindaKetchersidAuthor/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sherrinda

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherrinda

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sherrinda/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19022507.Sherrinda_Ketchersid

Website: https://www.sherrinda.com

Interview with Gina Holder & Spotlight of No Greater Love...

We're happy to have Gina Holder with us today talking about her book No Greater Love. To learn more about Gina and her work read on!

Back cover blurb:

One Book Changed Her Life…and Her Eternity

He said he’d never risk leaving a widow.

She said she’d never love a man in uniform.

Paige McDonald collects antique literature and works at the largest bookstore in Portland, Oregon. When her grandfather, a firefighter, was killed, she vowed never to fall in love with a first responder. An old Bible leads to an unexpected discovery and disrupts everything she knows about herself, her family, and God. Her desire to know the truth sends her to the town of Whitman directly into the radar of Patrol Officer Hamilton Bryant.

After the loss of his best friend and fellow officer, Hamilton vowed never to marry. He won’t risk leaving a widow. Instead, he reserves his passion for serving his family and the town he’s sworn to protect. When a series of robberies and threats against the mayor correspond with Paige’s sudden appearance in Whitman, their paths intersect.

Please give us the first page of the book.

There isn’t another smell like this in the entire world.

The musty scent of vintage paper enveloped her like the familiarity of a security blanket, drawing her into her happy place. The smell of various perfumes and lavender vacuum powder lingered in the air. Several dimly lit, antique lamps sat atop the stand-alone marble-topped bookcases in the middle of the room. A terracotta rug and leather chairs gave the room the appearance of a cozy den. Paige McDonald closed her eyes and jostled her hand along the fraying spines where their roughness tickled the pads of her fingertips. She imagined the lives they’d lived, the places they’d been, and the stories they could tell beyond the ones written on their thinning, yellowed pages.

A shrill noise echoed in the distance, breaking into Paige’s daydreams. She lowered her hand and sighed, moving to open the interior door of the Rare Book Room. She stepped through the doorway into the Pearl Room on the third floor of the largest bookstore in the world. Florescent lights momentarily blinded her. She clicked the door shut behind her, protecting the rare literary volumes against the ultraviolet rays.

“Paige! Paige McDonald!”

Customers lifted their heads as the intrusive sound interrupted their browsing. The source of the offensive voice topped the stairs leading from the color-coded Red and Purple Rooms below. “I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”

“Yes, Mrs. Bastille. What can I do for you?” Paige clasped her hands behind her back and waited for instructions as the swanky assistant manager stalked her direction. Cat Bastille’s red hair complemented her fiery personality. She wore an outdated navy pantsuit and a gold scarf around her neck. Paige detested the woman, but she was all that stood between herself and the unemployment office.

The manager invaded Paige’s personal bubble and blew coffee breath in her face. Paige scrunched her nose against the odor. “The toilet is overflowing. Get in there and put a stop to it. Then, clean out the fridge in back. Some of the employees’ lunches are growing mold.” Cat tossed her hair over her shoulder with a show of dramatics. The woman should have been an actress…or a troll.

“Of course, Mrs. Bastille. I’ll take care of it.” Paige kept her voice sweet and submissive, when all she really wanted to do was grab the woman by her oversized hooped earrings and shake her. Cat repeatedly assigned her to the lowest and most demeaning tasks in the store. However, working at Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland was the closest thing to her dream, and if it required groveling at the feet of Cat Bastille, then so be it. Without another word, she ducked under her boss’s outstretched arm, heading for the janitor’s closet on the second floor.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-        I have heterochromia, meaning my eyes are not the same color

-        I collect Precious Moment figurines.

-        I took horseback riding lessons for three years.

-        I play piano, organ, and I used to also play cello and guitar.

-        I’ve visited 15 countries and 43 states.

Why did you choose to write this book?

I wrote the book in such a way that if I share my inspiration for the story, I’ll give away spoilers! 

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand?

Writing a book is about 10 % inspiration and 99 % perspiration. (Yes, I’m aware that doesn’t equal 100%.)

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

When I was editing my debut novel, Whither Shall I Go, my husband took me away to a cabin in the mountains for us to work on the book together. Unfortunately, I was very sick the entire time, burning up with fever. When I got home, I was diagnosed with mono. I couldn’t do anything for the next two weeks.

What do you hope readers to take away from your novel?

A reminder of just how much God loves them. Also, a new or renewed appreciation for the first responders and their families.

 What do you do for fun when not writing?

I read books for fun and for review. I love to watch cheesy Hallmark movies with my husband. I spend time with my family. I’m addicted to social media and spend time each day surfing the web.

What are you working on now?

I’m beginning Book 2 of the Shadows of Whitman series, the sequel to No Greater Love. I’m also working on a historical romance called, In the Midst of the Sea, it’s book one of a shoot-off series from my debut novel.

Where else can readers find you online?

I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter under the name “storiesbygina”. I also have a blog at http://storiesbygina.wordpress.com.

  

Gina Holder dreamed of being a writer from her early teen years and completed the Long Ridge Writer’s Group “Breaking into Print” course. She also graduated from Faith Bible Institute. In August 2017, she published her first novel, Whither Shall I Go?, a historical romance. No Greater Love is her first contemporary romantic suspense.

She lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. When she’s not homeschooling her daughter or working on her next novel, she enjoys reading, watching movies, singing, and playing the piano and organ.