Monday, November 28, 2022

Interview with Shelley Shepard Gray about her new book Coming Home

Coming Home

Shelley Shepard Gray

 

 

Tell us about the book:


COMING HOME is the first book in my Woodland Park Firefighter Series, which focuses on three army veterans who became firefighters in a small, rural town in the mountains. In this particular book, my hero, Anderson Kelly has returned to his hometown after a long absence. He’s thrilled to be back, but when he keeps running into his former high school sweetheart, he knows that he owes her a long overdue apology. The sweetheart is Chelsea Davis. She’s a single mother of an eight-year-old and wants nothing more than to never cross paths with Anderson again. When their jobs force them to spend time together, each realizes that although there’s a wealth of problems between them, there’s also still a spark which neither can deny.

 

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

 

I very much enjoy writing a variety of novels. I like continuing to stretch and challenge myself as a writer. However, I believe that the basis of each novel are the characters. I love to create complex, imperfect, likeable characters in my books. If I start dreaming about them-or find myself imagining how they might react to a certain situation, I know I’m on my way to writing a book that readers will enjoy.

 

What is your current work in progress?

 

I’ve always worked on several books at a time. Today I’ve been working on a novel set in Pinecraft, Florida called HER SECRET HOPE. LOL, whenever the weather’s cold or rainy here in Ohio I love spending my days thinking about the beach.

What three things about you would surprise readers?

 

Let’s see…1) I’m a mess. My husband is constantly picking up after me.

2) I used to stutter and still do if I’m very excited or very upset.

3) I probably read as many books as they do a year!
 
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

We have two dogs, so they’re my main hobby. I also love to travel and love going on cruises and trains. I always, always have some kind of trip planned for at least a year in advance.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

 

Timelines! I’m terrible at timelines. I write notes, fill out charts, and give my manuscripts to a first reader to help me fix them. I’ve gotten better, but it’s still my Achilles’ heel. I’m not sure if I’m going to ever completely overcome that problem.

 

 

Share your bio:



New York Times
 and USA Today bestsellin author Shelley Shepard Gray has published over a hundred books. She currently writes Amish and Inspirational romances for Revell, Hallmark, Kensington, and Harlequin. She also writes contemporary women’s fiction for  Berkley romance and Blackstone Publishing. With over a million books in print, and translated into more than a dozen languages, her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists.

Shelley has been featured in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Woman’s World Magazine, and USA Today. She has also been interviewed on NPR as well as numerous regional radio stations.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She currently lives in northern Ohio, walks her dachshunds, bakes too much, and writes full time.

 

 

Website:  https://shelleyshepardgray.com/

Instagram: shelley.s.gray

Facebook: Shelley Shepard Gray

Twitter: @ShelleySGray

 

Sales sites:

Amazon, Christianbook.com

 

 

   


Bound by Mystery (Beach Bound Books and Beans Mysteries)

 


Bound by Mystery 

(Beach Bound Books and Beans Mysteries #3) 

September 28, 2022

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Targeted

 


Targeted 

November 1, 2022

Monday, November 21, 2022

Book Spotlight: Cathy's Christmas Confession #novella #Christmas #Giveaway

Patty is very graciously giving away one kindle book to one commentor.  Please leave contact information.

 

BLURB:

 


Christmas is not a time of joy for the hurting.

 

During a snowstorm, widow Cathy Fischer creams a stop sign on her way to work at the Christmas Ridge Community Church. Acquaintance David Martin stops to help. Cathy sees signs of deep grief in David, a recent widower. She reaches out with support in an attempt to help David through this most difficult first Christmas without his beloved wife.

 

David Martin struggles with grief over the death of his wife. He blames God for her rapid demise after her cancer diagnosis. Cathy reaches out to him with compassion and support and soon enlists him in her mission to bring joy to others at Christmas. Will their joint quest restore David’s faith?

 

David needs to turn loose of the past and embrace his future. Cathy has a confession to make to the entire community that may give David a different perspective of who she really is. Will her confession set her free?

 

Does God have plans in mind for the two of them they did not anticipate?

 

BIO:

 


Patti Shene Gonzales hosts Step Into the Light, a weekly interview style podcast where guests share their journey out of darkness or ways they lead others out of darkness. She hosts writers on her two blogs, Patti‘s Porch and The Over 50 Writer. She enjoys writing, reading, critiquing and spending time with family and friends. Patti lives in Colorado with her devoted feline companion, Duncan. Cathy’s Christmas Confession is her first novella.

 

WEBSITE

 

FACEBOOK

 

TWITTER

 

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

 

When I was invited to join a group of four authors to create a multi author five book Christmas series, I had no idea what I was going to write.

 

Many Christmas stories center around a young couple and holiday romance. I decided to write about two older people who have experienced loss and will spend Christmas alone. Kathy Fischer suffered the death of her husband a couple of years ago. David Martin is facing his first Christmas without his beloved wife.

 

Once my characters introduced themselves to me, my main objective was to bless readers and glorify God by focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. I crafted the story of two hurting people who find healing to their own hearts by helping others discover joy in the gift of Jesus’s birth.

 

To all who choose to read this Christmas novella, Happy Jesus’s birthday!





Sunday, November 20, 2022

At Bat by BJ Bassett

 


Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.


Psalm 32:1 MSG


Nate was at bat. The pitcher was like the giant Goliath. Strike one. Strike two. Strike three.

“You’re out.”


Shoulders slumped, Nate returned to the dugout. His coach patted him on the back,

encouraging him. “Shake it off. You’ll have another chance.”


The next time it was his turn, he watched the umpire wipe home plate clean. Then Nate

approached, and pushed his cleats into the dirt, finding the best place to stand. He took a couple

of practice swings. The fastball zoomed toward him. Strike one. Strike two. Then he smacked the

ball over the fence. A home run! He ran the bases to the cheers of the crowd.


God gives us a fresh start when we strike out, as Nate did. Our Coach is the Lord God

Himself. He’s our Encourager, giving us a fresh start. Let’s not be hard on ourselves for past

mistakes. Our Coach died for our sins.


Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Coach and giving me a fresh start. I long to hit a home

run for You, giving You all the glory. Amen.


Reprinted from

The King’s Daughters


A Women’s Devotional

BJ Bassett



B. J. Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher and speaker. Her books include a contemporary novel, Gillian’s Heart; a historical novel Lily; Sweet Charity; A Touch of Grace—The G.R.A.C.E. Ministries Story; and coauthor of a children’s devotional My Time with God, Focus on the Family, Heritage Builders, with over 55,000 copies sold.

 


As a contributing writer, publications consist of Writer’s Handbook 2000, The Writer, and The Focus on the Family Guide to Growing a Healthy Home, Wolgemuth& Hyatt, Publishers, Inc.—consistently on Bookstore Journal’s Best-selling Christian Books List from November 1990 - February 1991, and voted the 10 Best Books for 1990 by Today’s Christian Woman.

 

Magazines, devotional booklets, curriculum and newspaper publishers include Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, The Quiet Hour, Pathways to God, Devotions, Harcourt Brace, WordAction, Gospel Publishing and Times Standard (newspaper).

 

She teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR and at writer’s conferences. As a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and acceptance, not only in life, but as a writer as well. She also offers book talks, including discussion questions and shares the journey -- from the seed of an idea to a published book.

 

Memberships: ACFW and Oregon Christian Writers (OCW).

 

She enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm scones oozing with butter and strawberry jam and sipping earl grey tea.

 

 





Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Bound by Disaster (Beach Bound Books and Beans Mysteries #2)

 


Bound by Disaster 

(Beach Bound Books and Beans Mysteries) 

 September 6, 2022

Monday, November 14, 2022

Interview with Chip Arnold and Henry O. Arnold about The Singer in Israel

 


 

Tell us about the book:

 


The Singer of Israel
is the third volume in my biblical fiction series The Song of Prophets and Kings. This series is dedicated to telling the stories of the first three kings of Israel and matching them with the first three major prophets of Israel. The first two volumes are entitled A Voice Within the Flame and Crown of the Warrior King. In the first volume, the reader is introduced to Samuel the prophet who anoints Saul, to be the first king of Israel. The second volume is the early days of Saul's reign and his eventual fall from grace.

 

In The Singer of Israel the story begins with David the poet/shepherd crossing the mountains to meet up with the army of Israel camped at the Valley of Elah. With the beauty of his voice the king and the royal family are smitten. But when David slays Goliath, he becomes known throughout the land as the "giant-slayer." David and Mikal, the daughter of the king, fall in love and are married. But King Saul sees David as a threat to his throne and makes several attempts to have David killed. It becomes so dangerous for David that he must flee for his life. Mikal risks her life to save him and is banished from the palace for her disloyalty to her father, the king.

 

How did your interest in writing originate?

 

My parents were actors, teachers, and writers. There is a love of words and storytelling in my DNA. When I became a professional actor it was a natural fit, and the love of language, spoken and written, flowed through me like my bloodstream.

 

What does your writing process look like?

 

There is a lot of research involved ahead of time. Before I begin to write, I think about the characters for a long time. I imagine the scenes that might become the flow of the story and watch the characters play within those scenes. It's much like a rehearsal process for a play. Once I begin to understand the shape of the story, I begin to write what is played out in my imagination. I might have a rough outline, what I call the action throughline, but nothing is written in stone. At any time, the characters can surprise me and the action can take an unexpected turn.  For me, it is an exciting creative process.

 

If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?

 

I come from a professional life in the theatre, so I would want to cast actors who really know their craft. Certainly, there is a marquiee factor when you cast high-profile stars in leading roles. But I would choose lesser known actors who have the acting chops and who understand the spiritual nature of their characters and the story they are telling.

 

Who was your favorite character in The Singer of Israel.

 

I have to say I have two favorites, David and Mikal. A shepherd and a princess fall in love. A very unlikely match, but in spite of the forces arrayed against them, from a giant to a king, they fall in love and enjoy a life together albiet for a short time. 

 

I love David for his deep sense of right and wrong and his holding of God and the king in highest honor. I love Mikal for her devotion to David even to the point of risking her life and eventual banishment to save the life of her husband. They are indeed "star-crossed lovers."

 

What are you working on now? What is your next project?

 

I just completed the fourth volume in this biblical series entitled The Fugitive King. There will be five volumes before the series is complete. But for now I have to write a sequel to my contemporary thriller series The Mercy Seat. The first novel releases from Mountain Brook Ink publishers in January 2024.

 

Share your bio:

 


Henry O. Arnold co-authored the novel Hometown Favorite, with Bill Barton, and a work of nonfiction, KABUL24, with Ben Pearson. He co-wrote and produced with Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson the film The Second Chance starring Michael W. Smith. He wrote the screenplay for the documentary on evangelist Billy Graham, God's Ambassador and the documentary KABUL24, based on the book. His latest documentary film I Go to The Rock: The Gospel Roots of Whitney Houston, will be released in 2023.

 

The Singer of Israel is the third volume in his historical fiction series, The Song of Prophets and Kings. The first two volumes, A Voice Within the Flame and Crown of the Warrior King, are also published by WhiteFire Publishing. He lives on a farm in Tennessee with his lovely wife Kay. They have two beautiful daughters married to two handsome men with three above-average grandchildren. For more information please visit: www.henryoarnold.com

 

Social media and buying links

 

1) Website and Newsletter: www.henryoarnold.com

2) Instagram: Henry O. Arnold

3) Facebook Pages: www.facebook.com  Henry O. Arnold and Chip Arnold

4) Goodreads: www.goodreads.com Henry O. Arnold

5) Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B097S85LFX

6) YouTube: Henry O. Arnold: www.youtube.com

7) Bi-monthly Newsletter – Conversations at the Crossroads accessed through www.henryoarnold.com

8) Author Page at WhiteFire-Publishing: www.WhiteFire-Publishing.com

 





The Gift of Joy (Unexpected Gifts)

 


The Gift of Joy 

(Unexpected Gifts)

April 26, 2022

This Special Blessing for You Hardcover – Picture Book #childrensbook

  This Special Blessing for You  Hardcover – Picture Book, February 20, 2024 by  Eric Schrotenboer   (Author),  Meredith Schrotenboer   (Aut...