Interview with Shirley Raye Redmond

An award-winning writer and frequent conference speaker, Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of three inspirational novels, PRUDENCE PURSUED, VIPER’S NEST, and AMANDA’S BEAU, as well as two dozen children’s books. Shirley Raye holds an M.A. in literature and teaches part time through the Institute of Children’s Literature. She has been married to her college sweetheart for forty-five years. They live in New Mexico and are blessed with two grown children and four adorable grandchildren.

Backcover copy of Courageous World Changers: Meet women who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.

Children of all ages will be inspired by the stories of

• Corrie ten Boom—activist, author, and Holocaust survivor
• Laurie Hernandez—gymnast who won both gold and silver medals in her sport
• Florence Nightingale—health care reformer
• Madeline L’Engle—author of children’s literature
• Mother Teresa—missionary and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

These inspiring profiles will captivate kids’ imaginations and encourage them to discover their own gifts and how they can use them to glorify God.  

These and the 45 other female spiritual role models featured in this book have made a profound impact on the world around them, and in many cases changed the course of history. Strong, smart, and sometimes outspoken, these women are tremendous examples of God’s love in action.

Heidi here. Shirley, congratulations on CourageousWorld Changers! Tell us what prompted you to write this book?

I had just finished reading 7 Women and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxes. The seven Christian women profiled in the book lived their faith boldly, and I was so inspired by their biographies.  I made a comment to my husband how I would love to write a book like this for girls. Shortly after that, my agent contacted me saying Harvest House was looking for such a book for kids. She wanted to know if I’d like to submit a book proposal. So I did. I want girls to see—in the words of Christian convert Pandita Ramabai that, “A life committed to Christ has nothing to fear, nothing to lose, and nothing to regret.”

Who/What spurs you to write? Where do your story and character ideas come from?

I have always wanted to write from the time I was 12-year-old. I had my first newspaper article published when I was still in high school. Ideas come from everywhere. The seed for my first novel, Stone of the Sun (romantic suspense) sprouted while I was watching a re-enactment of the shoot-out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Pigeon Hero! (Simon & Schuster) came to life after I watched a special about World War II messenger pigeons on the History Channel. I keep a recipe box filled with index cards on which I write down ideas—some fictional and others nonfiction, some for books and some for articles, essays or devotions. I’m never at a loss about what to write next. There are plenty of ideas to chose from.

What do you consider the greatest moment of your writing/publishing career?

Oh, that’s so hard to say. Each “first” has been so exciting: my first article, my first novel, my first children’s book (which later became a Weekly Reader selection), my first writing award, signing with my first literary agent. When Lewis & Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President (Random House) was chosen to be a Children’s Book of the Month club selection, I was over the moon. The first time I received a hefty 5-figure offer for textbook rights for one of my children’ books, I did a happy dance in the living room—literally. Even receiving my first fan letter was a thrill. Every first has been a blessing to me.

Congratulations on your great publishing success! Time for a fun question: You are alone and stranded on a desert island and can have ONE food product and ONE drink, what would they be?

That’s too hard! I love food. But I can’t go very long without iced tea or Dr. Pepper and those little orange cheese crackers that come in a box—I fear I’m addicted to them. J

Well, I must admit I am not a fan of those little orange cheese crackers ~ I'd go with diet pepsi and chocolate (though I could easily survive on cheese, popcorn, and chocolate). But, back to you.....What drew you to these particular fifty women?

Faithful Christian women are salt and light in their communities. They all make a difference. But some have such a vibrant faith that—like a stone tossed into a pond— their influence ripples throughout the world. The fifty women included in this book fall into that category. They were (and are) full of courage because they were (are) persuaded that Jesus is Lord. In the Greek, that’s what faithfulness means—“persuaded.” Faith is not a mushy sentimental feeling. It’s a head thing. The word courage comes from the Old French word corage meaning “heart.”

One cannot have the mental or moral courage to stand up against fear and trials unless one is first fully persuaded there is a reason to do so. In this case, the head rules the heart. How else could Corrie ten Boom survive her ordeal in the Nazi prison camp? If not fully persuaded that Christ was real why would Mahalia Jackson dedicate her singing career to Him? How else could Josephine Butler endure being smeared with dung by an angry mob? Why was Bethany Hamilton brave enough to venture back into the ocean after her shark attack? Their faithfulness should encourage us all.

Thank you for sharing that inspiration for the book. Finally, how do your faith and spiritual life play into the picture and affect your storytelling?

To quote author Madeleine L’Engle, “Jesus was God, who told stories.”  So we follow in His footsteps when we’re creative in this way. With Courageous World Changers, I hope to increase the faith of growing Christians and to inspire hope in the hearts (and minds) of those who struggle. The book contains fifty biographies of amazing, gutsy Christian women. I hope reading about them will encourage others to keep running the good race.

Shirley, thank you for sharing with us! Touch base with Shirley at shirleyrayeredmond.com or Facebook 

Author Interview with Heather Norman Smith

HeatherNorman Smith is a devotional blogger and author of inspirational fiction. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage, while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She also enjoys writing songs and singing about Jesus.

Heather is proud to be a life-long North Carolinian and aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her writing. Her home is just outside Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with one husband, two daughters, one son, two cats, and two dogs. Heather loves words and does not enjoy math, except when it comes to counting blessings.

WhereI Was Planted:

In the spring of 1961, ten-year-old Nate "Weenie" Dooley has a revelation-his father is not a good one.

Inspired by National Geographic, his favorite thing next to the Bible storybook his mother gave him before she died, Nate plans to leave his father and their home in the Smokies to set out on adventure.

When he discovers that his father has left him first, it will take the help of a stray dog, some kind neighbors, a one-man-band, letters from a long-lost-aunt, and a new understanding of God to figure out he isn't really alone.

Will he find that Copper Creek is where he's always belonged? Or will his wanderlust keep him from ever coming back?

In her second novel, Heather Norman Smith demonstrates that love makes a family, and that while fathers may leave, our Heavenly Father is faithful, and He has a plan for all of us. 

Heidi here. Thank you for stopping by to visit with us today, Heather, and congratulations on your newest novel, Where I Was Planted. I read it a few weeks ago and reviewed it here on Thursday. What an amazing and gripping story. Where do your story and character ideas come from?

Thank you! I’m excited to be here!

This book, and my first one, caught me completely by surprise. I don’t remember actually trying to come up with a plot or characters. They were just “there”, and I feel very grateful for that. Although, I’m sure there was some subconscious inspiration at some point.

  

Obviously you are a natural and gifted storyteller, keep writing! What’s your biggest challenge in balancing writing time with your other responsibilities 

I am probably the busiest I’ve ever been in my life right now. And when I don’t get time to write, I feel like part of me is missing. Then I wind up staying up way too late in order to fulfill that need. So, lack of sleep is definitely a challenge.

Ahh, sleep, Never enough. How do your faith and spiritual life play into the picture and affect your storytelling?

Jesus is my purpose, in life and in writing. I enjoy telling stories, but if they didn’t point people to Him in some way, I don’t think I’d have the motivation to finish an entire book.

Well said. Time for a fun question…..You are alone and stranded on a desert island and can have ONE food product and ONE drink, what would they be?

I’ll be somewhat practical and say bread—something I enjoy but also that would be satisfying and I wouldn’t get too tired of eating.

I am addicted to black coffee and Diet Dr. Pepper, so that’s a tough one. For drink, I’ll say coffee. Even if the island were hot, I’d want my coffee.

No chocolate? I don't think I could survive without.....I adore your name. Believe it or not, your name connects with my life…..My father wanted to name me Heather, not Heidi. Obviously he was overruled. And, believe it or not, his given name was Norman. So, every time I come across your name I think of my dear father, whom I miss so very much. 

That’s so cool! And Heidi is a great name, too. Name meanings are very important to me.

What do you consider the greatest moment of your writing/publishing career?

I’m still fairly new to this writing life, but I’d have to say the most special moment was when my dad texted me after he read the first manuscript and told me I was now his favorite author. I know he’s my dad and he has to say things like that, but he’s the most avid reader I know, and just to know he’s proud of me is special.

That is super sweet! Tell us about future books planned..

I have one other completed, yet-to-be-published novel and three in process! So, there will be more coming. I’m just not sure when. I’m actually working on a devotional now that will probably be out before another novel is published.

Heather, thank you for your time today, it was fun! And congratulations again on your newest novel, Where I Was Planted.

Thank you, Heidi!

A Visit with Suspense Author: Donn Taylor

I am so delighted to introduce and share this interview with my friend, Donn Taylor, with all of you. Please be sure to check out the links below to discover where his books may be purchased. Now here's Donn...

Murder in Disguise Blurb: 

Official verdict: Suicide.

But why would that vigorous department chairman kill himself? To avoid disgrace? Those rumored ventures on the dark side? Some other secret life? Visiting professor Preston (Press) Barclay wonders.

But his questions bring no answers, only anonymous threats. He has enough problems already, proving himself on a strange campus while radical faculty do all they can to undermine him. Worse yet, that sexy siren assigned as his assistant complicates his courtship of the beautiful Mara Thorn.

While Press keeps asking questions, Mara’s research reveals a cancer of criminal activity that permeates the community and even the campus itself.

The more Press questions, the more dangerous the threats against him become, and the more determined he grows to clear his friend’s name.

But can Press and Mara’s stumbling efforts prevail against the entrenched forces of police, the campus radicals, and an unseen but powerful criminal organization that increasingly puts their lives in danger?

Link to buy:

Murder in Disguise is available among my other books at: https://amzn.to/2TddBsm

What started you on your writing journey?

I'm not really sure what started it. I don't remember a time when I wasn't trying to create something. I began writing music at age 14. But at age 18 I got interested in poetry—the Romantics, of course—and began writing poetry and some very bad short stories.

The Cold War draft and the Korean War interrupted, and the next two decades of Army brought only bare-facts tech writing. After that came graduate school and the painful switch to bloviated academic writing—and in both situations no time for creative writing.

Two decades after graduate school I retired from college teaching (English Lit) and decided to see if I could write the kind of poetry I enjoyed teaching. That point proved, I turned to see if I could publish a novel. It took longer than I expected to convert from literary thinking to commercial-fiction thinking.

That first novel—The Lazarus File—took a couple of years to finish. It was published in 2002, and it's still selling as an e-book.

What kind of books do you enjoy reading?

1. Aside from the Bible, my reading goes in three wildly different directions. In commercial fiction,

it’s suspense. Almost any book by:

• Jack Higgins (Henry Patterson), but especially his Paul Chavasse series and the first half of the Sean Dillon series.

• Also any of Harry Wegley’s thrillers

• and most Westerns by Terry Burns or Ernest Haycox.

• But my all-time favorite is Gavin Lyall’s The Wrong Side of the Sky.

2. The second direction is the classics. I don’t do a lot here, but they keep me reminded of the deep meanings genuine art can reveal. Favorites include:

• poetry by George Herbert, Tennyson, and W.H. Auden.

• For novels, it’s hard to beat Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.

• And just for fun the other day I revisited (in English translation, of course) part of Ariosto’s light-hearted epic romance, Orlando Furioso (Orlando Insane). It has wonderful comic situations.

3. The third direction is nonfiction—most recently:

• the late M. Stanton Evans’s Stalin’s Secret Agents

• and Paul Kengor’s Dupes (American non-communists who unthinkingly promoted Soviet Russia’s interests).

• But my favorite is Mark Moyar’s Triumph Forsaken, a historical study of early Vietnam War using Communist as well as US sources.

Which character in your newest release most interested you while you wrote? Why?

I’ve been blessed that in each of my novels there is one character who simply took off and wrote himself. In Murder in Disguise, that character is the graduate student, Helen Chevius, unmarried and who delights in introducing herself, “I’m Miss Chevius.” That prompts the person meeting her to respond with something like, “I don’t doubt that, but the word is pronounced MIS-ch-vus. Now, what’s your name?” So Helen can explain, putting the other person on the defensive. But that’s not all: She responds to difficult situations by taking some outlandish action or other that puts her, at least partially, in charge of the situation. It was a challenge to find the wild actions for each of her situations.

Why do you write in the genres that you do?

In real life I have two backgrounds, military (to include aviation) and academic. The military experience led directly into suspense writing for two novels, with a heavy emphasis on espionage. The academic experience led itself to the Preston Barclay mysteries set on college campuses—mysteries, yes, but with continuous satire of academic institutions and their pretensions. I also wrote one historical novel, Lightning on a Quiet Night, set in the place and time when Mildred and I were growing up. I wrote it before I knew the limits of genres in commercial fiction. Consequently, it splits the requirements for several genres: romance, mystery, suspense, and comedy—all in a historical setting. That made it a misfit in all of them, but it still was a finalist for the Selah Awards.

What is a favorite memory from your childhood?

This is a weird one. I don’t have coherent memories until I was about age five. But there is one vivid one before that. I remember waking up in a Pullman coach on a train at night. We were stopped in a station. I could see and hear a steam engine on an adjacent track, and I could see and hear the steam released from the engine. I remember vaguely that my mother comforted me, and know that I went back to sleep. Why is it weird? Because our only trip that matches it was our return from NewOrleans, where I’d had bilateral mastoid surgery. That would mean I was two years old. I will never understand why that one early scene still remains so vivid in my mind.

Share a verse or Scripture passage with us that is special to you. (and why it's special)

I would share three. Two statements by Jesus form the bedrock core of my belief. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

And He said, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.…" (John 11:25)

And the third scripture: I am fascinated by the perfect structure of Psalm 19 ("The heavens declare the glory of God…). In the first six verses, the psalmist contemplates God's physical ordering of the creation. In the next six verses (beginning "The law of the Lord is perfect…), the psalmist contemplates God's moral ordering of the creation. In the final three verses (beginning "Who can understand his errors?"), the psalmist invokes God's ordering power to order his own life, concluding with the familiar prayer, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in they sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

About Donn:

Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterward, he earned a Ph.D. in Renaissance literature and taught literature at two liberal arts colleges. His publications include several suspense novels, one historical novel, and one book of poetry. Two of his novels have been finalists in the Selah Awards. He lives in the woods near Houston, TX, where he writes fiction, poetry, and essays on current topics. A blog describing the action of God in his life (“A Quiet Assurance”) is at https://bit.ly/2R4jSRd

He is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/donntaylor and www.facebook.com/authordonntaylor, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/donntaylor3. His website is www.donntaylor.com

Thank you, Donn, for sharing about you, your writing, and books with us!

Friends, don't forget to check out his links! I'm sure you're going to enjoy them!

***

Love Historical Romantic Suspense? Check out the first book of my WWII Spies series!

Book One:

Angry at being rejected for military service, Minister Tyrell Walker accepts the call to serve as a civilian spy within his own country. Across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, a spy working for a foreign country is stealing secret plans for newly developed ammunition to be used in the war. According to his FBI cousin, this spy favors pink stationery giving strong indications that a woman is involved.

He’s instructed to obtain a room in the Rayner Boarding House run by the lovely, spunky red-haired Emma Jaine Rayner. Sparks of jealousy and love fly between them immediately even as they battle suspicions that one or the other is not on the up and up.

While Tyrell searches for the murdering spy who reaches even into the boarding home, Emma Jaine struggles with an annoying renter, a worried father (who could be involved in this spy thing), and two younger sisters who are very different but just as strong willed as she is.

As Tyrell works to keep his double life a secret and locate the traitor, he refuses to believe that Emma Jaine could be involved even when he sees a red-haired woman in the arms of another man. Could the handsome and svelte banker who’s also determined to win Emma Jaine’s hand for marriage, be the dangerous man he’s looking for? Is the trouble-making renter who hassles Emma Jaine serving as a flunky? Worse, is Papa Rayner so worried about his finances and keeping his girls in the style they’re used to, that he’ll stoop to espionage?

Will their love survive the danger and personal issues that arise to hinder the path of true love?

Buy the book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Author Chat with Jennifer Uhlarik about Sand Creek Serenade

Jennifer Uhlarik, welcome to Stitches Thru Time! Jennifer is a multi-published author who has just released her first full-length novel, Sand Creek Serenade, with Smitten Historical Romance.

What inspired you to write a historical romance with the backdrop of the Sand Creek Massacre, an admittedly dark blot in U.S. history?

I’d like to joke here and say it was my own stupidity, but the truth is I stumbled into this story without knowing fully what I was getting into at first. I’d been asked to put together a novella idea for a collection themed with “women working in men’s jobs.” So I immediately came up with the idea for a female doctor in the 1800s. Then, I started looking for a circumstance that would allow her to really dive into her medical practice—something big. Late one night, I read a very cursory paragraph or so about the Sand Creek Massacre and jotted it down into my brainstorming notes. Immediately, I found my hero—a Cheyenne brave—and went to bed. Overnight, my mind was alive with ideas. But later, as I dug further into the research on the massacre, I began to realize just how horrific it was—and how wrong my initial perceptions were about the events. No story about a massacre is “light” reading—but the circumstances of this event are so very tragic and unbelievable. The more I read, the more my heart broke. I debated scrapping the project because—how on earth could I convey the gravity of this tragedy in a 20,000-word novella?—but instead, I opted to expand this from novella to full-length novel. That would allow me the opportunity to write a more thorough depiction of the historical events and the characters’ feelings about them. And I hope that, in that process, I not only shed some light on the history of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people but maybe inject a touch of hope into that piece of American history as well as whatever tragic circumstances readers of this story may be facing in their own lives. There is hope, no matter what we’re facing, and that’s what I wanted to convey.

Hope is eternal, is it not? Tell us why readers will love your hero.

Oh, goodness. Five Kills is…where to start? He’s charmed me, and I’m the author! LOL Five Kills is a half-Cheyenne/half-white man who stands caught with one foot in each world. He was raised for his first 10 years with his parents in a white settlement, then left there and lived with the Cheyenne for the next 15 years. He has fond memories of his life with his white father, but he’s also embraced his life among the Cheyenne. From each culture, he’s learned honesty, morals, strength of will. He’s kind, caring, and protective, with a gentlemanly streak that I hope is going to set readers’ hearts a-flutter. Not to mention he’s tall, lean, and handsome—with a quick wit and a charming smile.

What's not to like there? Now tell us why readers will sympathize with your heroine.

Sadie is an interesting young woman. Raised by her widower father, who was a doctor, she latched onto the stories of how the medical practice brought he and Sadie’s mother (a nurse—and the daughter of the doctor under which Sadie’s father apprenticed) together. Since she’d lost her mother before she ever had a chance to know her, medicine is a way to be close to both her parents. And her father was forward-thinking enough to allow her to pursue her passion, in spite of the culture telling them such things were wrong for a young lady. Sadie has enough strength of character to buck the tides and follow her heart, no matter what anyone might say. Sometimes that trait gets her into trouble, but it’s also what helped her become a woman doctor and embrace the life she must pursue.

That sounds like a pair anyone would enjoy reading about. The U.S. and Native American conflicts—past and present—are a very touchy subject for many. How difficult was it to balance the true history with today’s views of our history?
I know there’s a big push by some in our country today to rewrite or whitewash the history books and try to make the historical record exonerate some groups of all guilt while heaping all the blame on others. The truth is—history lies between these two poles. No one is all good. No one is all bad. Maybe I should have been more concerned about this delicate balance while I wrote the story, but I didn’t really worry about it. My plan all along was to stick to the facts—the historical record of what transpired—and not to fudge those lines any more than I had to in order to make the story work. To my great surprise, I was able to craft a fictional story around the history without really changing anything major. In any of the minor spots where I did have to adjust the timeline or historical facts to fit, I made sure to mention those adjustments in my author’s note with my reasons for the change. I’m sure there are going to be those who read Sand Creek Serenade and think I’ve committed an unspeakable act because I didn’t depict one group as wholly evil and the other wholly good. That was never my intention because it is not the truth. There’s only ever been one Man to walk the earth who was wholly good with no spot or blemish—Jesus Christ. The rest of us fall far short of that mark, and so I did my utmost to convey the facts of this history while telling a compelling fictional story with a happily-ever-after romance. I can only ask—and hope—that readers will set aside their preconceived notions, read the story without any bias one way or the other, and let the story and research speak for itself.

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has finaled and won in numerous writing competitions, and been on the ECPA best-seller list numerous times. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, college-aged son, and four fur children.

  

Social Media Links:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferUhlarik

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

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

Website: www.jenniferuhlarik.com

Face to Face with Author Kimberly M. Miller

Kimberly M. Miller is a writing and film professor by day, author by night. She enjoys watching movies, making jewelry, and creating fun stories for her readers. Currently, Kimberly has two published novels, Picking Daisy and Forgiving Tess, but she looks forward to bringing more romance your way soon!

 

Welcome! We're so glad you could visit us today. 

What made you decide to become a writer? I started writing when I was a teenager. A friend and I made up stories that we knew famous people and got into adventures with them. It’s funny now, but at the time it showed me that I could tell stories and that I found a lot of pleasure in it. I never imagined I’d actually publish any of my work until many years later.

What is your favorite thing about being an author? My two favorite things are really figuring out my characters (especially their backstories, quirks, etc.) and writing solid dialogue.

Where did the inspiration for your latest book come from? Forgiving Tess is inspired by several areas but I’d say the biggest influence is the recognition that we all have a past but that God knows it already and is bigger than any of it. Once we’re forgiven, it’s done. But that isn’t just us forgiving others or others forgiving us either. It’s US forgiving ourselves too.

How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing? I hope that my faith is woven into the writing so that it isn’t heavy-handed. A good story well-told will inspire and encourage readers without the need for a dramatic sermon.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books? My wish for my readers is that they’ve had a chance to escape life for a while but also that they can return to it with a greater sense of peace too.

What is one of your favorite scenes in Forgiving Tess? Ahhh! That’s a tough one. I’ll give two- one, when Tess first runs into Josh again. And two, when Josh finally (awkwardly) asks Tess on a date.

When you are stressed, maybe a deadline’s approaching too fast, what is your favorite snack food? Or so you have another way to cope? Foods- coffee, chocolate and peanut butter. But other ways to cope definitely include exercise and doing yoga. I break often while writing and have a yoga mat always waiting right behind my writing chair.

If time and money were not a concern, what one skill would you like to learn? I always wanted to be more musical so maybe learning to play the piano or guitar. I don’t think there’s much hope for my vocal skills, though I do sing a LOT in the car.

What is your favorite thing about where you live? Ha. No comment. It’s below zero and snowing. So, I guess when it is summer I do enjoy going out in my neighborhood (not much traffic here) and taking long walks.

What are you working on next? I’ve got several pieces in the works that have been sitting around for a while (none of them named as-yet). I’m enjoying doing a lot of editing on those.

Tess Carson has finally turned her life around. After a string of bad decisions, she's making amends, paying debts, and working to bring her family back together. But when Tess’s childhood crush re-enters her chaotic life, she’s certain it’s the worst time for romance. Even if he still has those mesmerizing dimples.

In Tess’s eyes, Josh Thorne has it all. As a youth pastor with a thriving ministry, he’s exactly what she needs. He’s stable, kind, confident, and not afraid of Tess’s troubled past—even if she still has an entire town that insists her sins will never be forgotten or forgiven.

But when the demons of her past collide with the incredible promise of her future, Tess wonders if it’s possible to forget and forgive. Does she have enough courage to try?

Buy: https://www.amazon.com