Suzanne Woods Fisher's Blog, page 9

The Perfect Mother’s Day Present

I met Deb Coty at the Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center, during their amazing writers’ conference. One of God’s gift from that conference was that Deb and I were put together as roommates, and then became writer-buddies. We live on opposite ends of the country, but our friendship grew and grew! She’s had tremendous success as a writer and recently hit a significant milestone–over one million copies sold! Her imagination is vivid, her humor hits the mark, and her writing is sublime. I’m thrilled to share her with all of you! 

Deb’s newest book feels like peeking into a diary of someone you admire, reading oh-so-vulnerable moments that make you sigh in relief. She comes alongside moms with delicious humor, gently steering them to rely on God’s promises to make something wonderful out of something fizzled and frazzled.

The Perfect Mother’s Day Present

by Deb Coty

Feeling like you’re totally Mom-Mom-Mom’ed out?

Or so stressed, you’re a ticking mom-bomb?

I so get that. It’s only because you’re an overworked, over-tapped, over-sucked-out mother who’s barely treading water in the stress-pool of life. We moms constantly deal with unexpected disruptions, overflows, explosions, implosions, boo-boos, bodily fluids not our own, emergencies that aren’t, emergencies that are, and uncharted potholes that careen us off our preferred path. It’s all it’s part of the job description. Our reward may not be Mother of the Year. It may not be hugs and kisses. It may not be here on earth at all (I’m hoping it’ll be a maid and cook for all eternity). Whatever it is, we’ll be thrilled because our loving heavenly Parent is pleased with us. “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:4 NIV). Dearest sister-mom, if you’re a stress mess, this one’s for you. My books aren’t written for the have-it-all-together, but for the scattered and tattered, scarred and scared. I pray that my crazy mom stories, encouragement from Papa God (“Abba” in biblical Aramaic), and a whole heap of LOLs within these pages will bring you hope, even if the size of a brownie crumb. Because that’s enough for you to take the next bold plunge toward honest-to-goodness joy.

This delightful boxed set includes Coty’s popular Too Blessed for Moms devotional, featuring just-right-sized, truth-filled readings (gift-wrapped in humor); while the creative journal showcases beautiful art pieces to color along with inspiring thoughts and prayers, plus room to record personal thoughts, favorite scriptures, or anything else that happens to be on your heart and mind. Touching on topics like patience, grace, rest, time-management, attitude, and more, you’ll experience inspiration and encouragement to help you to attain the peace you crave—the peace that passes all understanding.

Purchase the gift box set HERE.

Debora Coty is an inspirational speaker and author of the popular book series, Too Blessed To Be Stressed, with over 500,000 copies sold. Her passion is sharing an off-beat blend of biblical truth gift-wrapped in humor, encouragement, and unconventional wisdom with women of all ages. She believes that the stresses of life become manageable when we truly understand God’s blessings.

Deb considers herself a tennis junkie and “choco-athlete,” which means she exercises just so she can eat more chocolate! She is a retired piano teacher and orthopedic occupational therapist. Deb currently lives, loves, and laughs in central Florida with her husband, Chuck, two grown children, and three adorable grandbuddies who live next door.

Connect with Deb on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While you’re here, sign up for the free Too Blessed To Be Stressed e-newsletter and become one of Deb’s BFF’s by joining her Blessed Friends Forever Club!

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Author Spotlight with Ann H. Gabhart

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Ann H. Gabhart’s new book, The Refuge.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Karen Gerrity for winning Lisa T. Bergren’s Verity.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

Ann Gabhart’s first foray into writing Shaker novels occurred in 2008, which resulted in the bestselling novel, The Outsider. Since that time, Gabhart has penned six more Shaker novels, along with a number of stand-alone historical books and several series. Now Gabhart invites readers to return to the enigmatic world of the Shakers in an emotional exploration of the power of love and the bond of family in The Refuge.

When a recent outbreak of cholera sweeps through their area, Darcie and Walter Goodwin are determined to escape the epidemic by joining the Shakers, whose villages seem immune to the disease. Their stay was meant to be a temporary situation, but the best-laid plans don’t always work out. When Walter is killed in a riverboat accident, Darcie finds that with no family and no money, she has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby, conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village.

Widower Flynn Keller is struggling to raise a headstrong daughter but is finding it more difficult than he anticipated. He believes the Shakers’ strict rules will help provide the structure she needs. As Darcie reaches out to help the young widower and his daughter, she also begins to wonder if there is still hope for happiness and a family in her life. Can love live again in spite of rules and in a community that doesn’t believe in marriage?

The Good Old Summertime!

Do you remember how fun it was to leave school on that last day before summer vacation? Enticing days of freedom awaited. Time to read. Time to go exploring. Then the wakeup call. I did live on a farm. That meant summer was also time to work with my mom and dad and help with the farm chores. But that wasn’t every day and Sunday was always a day off except for those essential chores like feeding the chickens, pigs, and sometimes bottle feeding a calf or lamb. 

So Sundays were a much looked forward to time when my cousins would come see us or we’d go visit them. And in the summertime, we would spend a week at their house and then they’d come spend a week at ours. We had to pick those weeks in the summer when the crops were laid aside. That meant the fields had been planted and were now too tall for any more plowing or hoeing out. Yet they needed growing time before harvest which usually wasn’t until September. We did have garden chores. Berries to pick. Beans and tomatoes to pick and can. And forever weeds to fight in the garden.

But we always had summer cousin visiting time. Playtime all day long for a whole week. We explored the woods. We played in the creek and when at their house, we swam in their pond. We hunted the hayloft to find where the mama cat hid her kittens. We played hide and seek outside at twilight. We made homemade ice cream and ate popcorn with homemade fudge. We climbed trees and dreamed of building tree houses that never quite got built. But we had fun with the planning. And when I was around nine, I began writing a mystery story starring my sister, my cousin and me as Hardy Boy wannabes. That turned out to be the biggest dream of all.

I remember waiting for my cousins to get to our house or the sweet drive through a tunnel of trees on their country road right before we got to their house. Such anticipation. Such certainty that fun was about to happen. The memories of those summers have a soft cozy glow even now. We were young, loved, and happy.

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Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling and award-winning author of several Shaker novels—The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, The Gifted, and The Innocent—as well as historical novels—River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, Angel Sister, Love Comes Home, and more. Writing as A. H. Gabhart, she is also the author of the popular Hidden Springs Mysteries series. She has been a finalist for the ECPA Book of the Year and the Carol Awards, has won two Selah Awards for Love Comes Home, and won RWA’s Faith, Hope, and Love Award for These Healing Hills. Ann and her husband enjoy country life on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky.

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Explore Maine on Us!

CLICK HERE to learn more about On a Summer Tide and to purchase your copy!

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Author Spotlight with Lisa T. Bergren

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Lisa T. Bergren’s new book, Verity.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Rose E Blackard for winning Jennifer Delamere’s Artful Match.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

After leaving England behind for a new life in the West Indies with her sisters, Verity Banning wants something to call her own. Her affinity for animals inspires her to set up a business importing horses, as well as other goods in demand by the island residents. But when she arrives in the Colonies to purchase her goods, unexpected news of Captain Duncan McKintrick awaits her—as does the captain’s handsome brother, Ian—whose sympathies lie with the fledgling Patriot cause.

As the great-granddaughter of a British general and friend to many Loyalists, Verity believed all she wanted was a peaceful resolution. But both the Patriots and the impassioned Ian McKintrick are steadily laying claim to her heart. When faced with the decision of what—and for whom—she will fight, can she set her feet on a new path despite the danger that awaits?

Q&A with Lisa T Bergren


I know an idea is good when…When it feels like I’m watching a movie in my head and I can barely type fast enough, getting it all down on paper.





To de-stress, I like to…Take a hike. Living in Colorado, we’re surrounded by good options, once the snow melts!

I stay in touch with the world through…Facebook. Sometimes too much in touch!! It’s totally my “water cooler,” where I can connect with friends, family, and strangers who gradually become “Facebook friends.”

Purchase a copy of Verity

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Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than 40 books, with over 3 million copies sold. Her most recent works includes the YA series Remnants (Season of Wonder, Season of Fire, Season of Glory), the River of Time Series (Waterfall, Cascade, Torrent, Bourne & Tributary, Deluge), God Gave Us Sleep, a devotional called Upside-Down Prayers for Parents and the Grand Tour Series (Glamorous Illusions, Grave Consequences, Glittering Promises), and the River of Time: California duology (Three Wishes and Four Winds). She’s currently finishing up the Sugar Baron’s Daughters Trilogy (Keturah, Verity, and Selah).

Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, and working at Rocky Mountain Rustic, a business she runs with her husband, Tim (RMRustic.com). Tim’s a worship leader and sculptor/artisan. They have three kids–Olivia (24), Emma (21) and Jack (16).

The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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Author Spotlight with Jennifer Delamere

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Jennifer Delamere’s new book, Artful Match.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Stephanie Halcomb for winning Kate Breslin’s Far Side of the Sea.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

Cara Bernay has never fit in. At loose ends in 1881 London, after a near tragedy costs her a job, she befriends a carefree artist. With his help, she begins planning a new life and developing her own artistic talent. But soon Cara finds herself at odds with the artist’s brother—a handsome but arrogant earl forcing his brother back to a “respectable” life. Henry Burke, the Earl of Morestowe, feels the weight of growing financial burdens. His younger brother is the one person who can save their family, and Henry needs him back home. Despite misgivings about Cara’s mysterious background, Henry sees she’s a positive influence on his brother and on Henry’s young ward, and he strikes a deal with her to return with them to their estate. But the family has their own secrets, and when Cara, drawn ever closer to Henry, stumbles onto the truth, she must choose between following her heart and pursuing a bold plan that could bring disaster.

Q&A with Jennifer Delamere

I know an idea is good when…

All the possibilities of where it could lead just blossom in my mind in so many exciting ways. And then my next thought is, “Oh, I hope no one else has thought of this yet, because I want to be able to write it!”

To de-stress, I like to…

Take a walk, preferably in nature. There is a lake near my house with a walking trail around it. In the hour or so it takes to walk the path and admire the view and the wildlife, I can feel my mind relaxing even as my body gets a nice workout. It’s also a great way to work through problems, either in my life or with the story I’m writing. If I’m alone, I pray; if I’m walking with my husband or a friend, we can talk and enjoy the time together.

I stay in touch with the world through…

Twitter, where I probably spend too much time…  But I stay in touch with the REAL world through personal interactions with friends, family, my neighbors, and my church. That’s what keeps me most blessed and grounded.

Three guests at my dream dinner party would be…

I’m going to say W.S. Gilbert, Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Miss Jessie Bond! While writing this series, I enjoyed researching the lives of Gilbert and Sullivan, who wrote famous comic operettas, and Jessie Bond, a lighthearted singer who performed in their shows. They all appear in the first book in this series, The Captain’s Daughter. I’d love to have them for dinner because Mr. Gilbert would be cracking wry jokes, Sir Arthur could entertain us at the piano, and Jessie would share funny backstage stories. A rollicking dinner party indeed!

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Jennifer Delamere’s novels have won numerous accolades, including a starred review from Publishers Weekly, Romance Writers of America RITA® award finalist, and the Maggie Award for Excellence from Georgia Romance Writers. Jennifer earned a B.A. in English from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she became fluent in French and developed an abiding passion for winter sports. She’s been an editor of nonfiction and educational materials for two decades. She loves reading classics and histories, which she mines for the vivid details to bring to life the people and places in her books. A longtime resident of North Carolina, Jennifer can often be found hiking the mountains with her husband or planning their next travel adventure.

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Author Spotlight with Kate Breslin

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Kate Breslin’s new book, Far Side of the Sea.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Edward Arrington for winning Irene Hannon’s Driftwood Bay.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

In spring of 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries at the front, receives an unexpected message by carrier pigeon: it is an urgent summons from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life—a woman he believed to be dead. Leaving Britain’s shores to return into war-torn France, he hopes his reunion with her will ease his guilt and this mission restores the courage he lost on the battlefield.

Colin is stunned when he arrives in Paris to discover the message came not from Jewel, but from a stranger who claims to be her half-sister, Johanna. Johanna works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence; having found Jewel’s diary, she believes her sister is alive and in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is at first skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, however, that trust is at stake, as danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

Q&A with Kate Breslin

I know an idea is good when … I wake up in the wee hours and grab for the notepad and pen on my nightstand. At times I’ll fight with a storyline for days, but then suddenly the mental plot knot unravels, usually in the early morning hours, and I have to write it down!

The best day in my life (so far!) was when … I married my husband of forty years, or when I cuddled my newborn grandson for the first time. When a loved one in my family beat cancer, or when I walked among the 2500-year-old temple ruins of Apollo at Delphi in Greece. One really great moment stands out for me however; holding in my hands my first published novel, For Such A Time, after 25 years of writing and submitting, getting rejections, revising, resubmitting, and still never giving up on my dream.

To de-stress, I like to … walk my favorite two-mile trek through our beautifully wooded neighborhood here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s an area thick with evergreens; Douglas fir, birch, alder, and a few old-growth cedars. I appreciate the clean air we have here and just being able to breathe it in and witness God’s grandeur, relaxes me. I like to think I come from a long line of forest dwellers! J

I stay in touch with the world through … Social media, though my husband gives me the world highlights each morning while he reads his newspaper. Otherwise, as an author of historical fiction, I tend to live in a completely different dimension.

I wish I could travel to … Great Britain! For years, I’ve enjoyed setting my stories in  England, Scotland, and one day, Ireland, but have yet to visit. I have been blessed to travel to many places abroad, but “Old Blighty” is next on my go-to list!

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Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate’s first novel, For Such A Time, was shortlisted for the Christy and RITA awards and won ACFW’s 2015 Carol award for Debut Novel. Kate’s fourth novel, Far Side of the Sea, released in March 2019. When she’s not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading, hiking in Washington’s beautiful woodlands, and traveling abroad.

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Author Spotlight with Irene Hannon

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Irene Hannon’s new book, Driftwood Bay.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Vera Godley for winning Patricia Bradley’s Justice Delivered and Pam Flynn for winning Mesu Andrews’ Of Fire and Lions.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

Three-time Rita award winner Irene Hannon has captivated readers with her heartwarming romances set in Hope Harbor, Oregon. Now she offers readers another chance to escape to this charming coastal town in her newest book, Driftwood Bay.

After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea room—until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn’t worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.

Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it’s least expected?

Hannon’s gift for creating a community of charismatic residents continues to delight readers and has them returning again and again to this picturesque seaside town, where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

Q&A with Irene Hannon

I know an idea is good when…

I wish I had a surefire way to know this! Usually, a notion just grabs hold of me and I go with it. However…I do have a surefire way to know if a story has the potential to tug on the heartstrings. After I finish a novel, I let it sit for a few days and then do a final read-through. If I pull a Romancing the Stone (meaning I end up like Kathleen Turner at the beginning of the movie, all choked up as she finishes her novel), I feel confident readers will be as touched as I was by the story. And I’m happy to say, that happened with Driftwood Bay!

The best day in my life (so far!) was when…

I’ve had so many wonderful days that singling one out on the personal front would be impossible. But professionally speaking, there are two days that stand out. First, getting the long-hoped-for call that I’d sold my first novel after years of trying. I was out of town on a business trip for my day job—and let me tell you, trying to rein in my excitement and focus on work was really tough after that call! The other day was when I won my third RITA Award in front of 2,000 publishing industry professionals in New York and was immediately inducted into Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame as only the 16th member in the 39-year history of the organization. I will never forget that amazing night.

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Irene Hannon is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 50 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. She is also a three-time winner of the RITA Award—the “Oscar” of romance fiction—from Romance Writers of America, and a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame.

Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carol, and Reviewer’s Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement Award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist.

Millions of copies of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

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BONUS Author Spotlight with Mesu Andrews

Welcome to this BONUS Author Spotlight!

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Mesu Andrew’s new book, Of Fire and Lions.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature.

Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

Christy Award-Winning Author Mesu Andrews Brings to Life the Prophet Daniel Through the Eyes of the Woman He Loved

“Andrews (Isaiah’s Daughter) fleshes out the lives of well-known Old Testament characters in this enchanting work. Unexpected plot twists, empathetic characters, and well-researched biblical history make this an exceptional work of scripture-based fiction.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

CBA best-selling and Christy Award-winning author Mesu Andrews draws from the Old Testament book of Daniel to tell a powerful story of survival, long-held secrets, prophecies and miraculous deliverance in her new biblical fiction novel, OF FIRE AND LIONS (3/5/19, WaterBrook). 

 

Andrews takes the well-known story of Daniel, including the 70-year exile of the Jews to Babylon and Daniel’s time in the lion’s den, and imagines it through the eyes of his lifelong love, Belili.

As a young girl, Belili narrowly escaped death when the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. Instructed to tend to four captive princes—Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—Belili was immediately drawn to Daniel as she witnessed him step into his role as a prophet at a young age. But her survival journey took her elsewhere, among pagan worshippers and into a life she would long to forget.

Years later, as Daniel’s wife and matriarch of their family, Belili’s past seems far behind her; until the night the Medo-Persian Army invades and brings her secrets with them. Will Belili choose truth over deception and find freedom in the God who rescues His people from both fire and lions?

Andrews once again provides a compelling, previously unexplored story inspired by the Old Testament. Biblical fiction and historical fiction fans, as well as readers who take a special interest in the Old Testament, will love the way Andrews has woven her imagination through the biblical account of Daniel.

Q&A with Mesu Andrews

How did your first published book change your life?

When we lived in Nappanee, Indiana (beautiful Amish territory!), and my husband served as a pastor for fourteen years, I served alongside him at the church, spoke at retreats and conferences, and wrote one Bible study—a companion book for my favorite presentation. I hoped to publish that Bible study—non-fiction—and attended several writers conference to learn how to do that. Oh, how things changed when we moved to the Pacific Northwest and a friend convinced me to write that Bible study as a novel!

When I signed my first contract in 2008, crawling into the pages of Scripture and living those stories with the biblical characters became my hobby, my career, and my passion. The fact that some people started following, liking, and reviewing my books and signing up for my newsletter (without me begging them) was sort of a bonus.

I remember the first time I introduced myself to someone at a conference and she said, “Oh! I’ve read your book!” I was astounded and began asking all sorts of questions to see how we were related. Surely, only my family would read my book, right? But I also had to grow a little armor around my heart, letting negative comments bounce off—though some still poked holes in my Cloud 9.

When my first book won the ECPA debut novel of the year, my publisher emailed to congratulate me. I emailed back with, Oh, is that good? I got an immediate phone call from my marketing director explaining who the ECPA was and why I should be elated!

At some point—I’m not really sure when—I started feeling a little less like a newbie. In the movie, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell knew his purpose was ultimately to be a missionary to China, but when he ran he felt God’s pleasure. I’ve always known my greatest purpose is to be a wife, mama, and grandma but now—after having been published and seeing the Lord minister to so many folks through my writing—when I write, I feel God’s pleasure.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

My publishing journey isn’t at all typical. I was a Bible teacher at retreats and conferences for more than ten years before we moved to the Pacific Northwest. Speaking was my passion until chronic health issues suddenly made writing more practical—necessary even. I went to three writer’s conferences between 2001 and 2008. Even had an agent for three years that fielded dozens of rejection letters for my non-fiction attempts. But when I attended Mt. Hermon’s fiction mentoring clinic, my first fiction proposal garnered interest from an editor. Was it due to stellar writing? No way! I didn’t even know what POV was! But the editor promised she’d look at the full manuscript if I could “fix my craft issues.” It was because she was at that particular conference looking for biblical fiction, and I was the only one she saw. It was because of God’s timing, not mine. With LOTS of help and a patient instructor (thank you, writing-mama Gayle Roper), I submitted the full manuscript and was offered a two-book contract. Sounds great, right?

This is where it got complicated. The publisher wanted to wait three years to publish my Bible-study-turned-novel and wanted me to write a second novel within twelve months to publish first. The problem? I’d never written a novel from start to finish in so little time! That first “novel” had been a Bible study that took me twelve years to write!!! By God’s grace, I completed my first published novel, Love Amid the Ashes (the story of Job), which sailed through the editing process with fewer edits than any of my books to date. Again, our great God proved that HE ALONE was in charge of my writing career—and He confirms it by bringing me to my knees on every book I write.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found work best for you?

I have found building a great street team is the best benefit in so many ways. For those who aren’t familiar with the term street team, it’s sort of like being an “influencer” or becoming a member of a “launch team.” You usually receive a free advanced (pre-release) copy of their newest book in return for your honest review posted to an online retailer’s website. However, my interpretation of a street team carries a bit more responsibility for both the team members and the author.

My team—called Mesu’s BFFs, Bibilical-Fiction-Fans—remains together even after the specific book is launched. They’re given the opportunity to step off the team after launch but are encouraged to continue as part of the group to help promote other biblical fiction authors as their books release. The application process for my team is pretty rigorous, and we look for members who are passionate about the biblical fiction genre—not just folks who like my books and want a free gift.

The continuity of our team makes for a tight-knit community and encourages prayer support between author and team as well as member to member. We get matching t-shirts, do mug and/or postcard swaps to build relationships, and I communicate personal updates as well as up-to-date publishing news.

And when Release Day comes—WATCH OUT! I’ve got an army of passionate readers ready to spread the word on all their favorite marketing channels: social media, personal blogs, book clubs (online and community), libraries (churches and public), and their local church ministries (women’s ministries, etc.). A well-trained, committed street team multiplies my marketing efforts exponentially, and they become precious friends working shoulder-to-shoulder for the Kingdom.

What has been the toughest part of being a published author? The best part?

The toughest part is juggling the other aspects of my life around my ever-growing passion for writing. I love what I do, so my Type-A inclination is to do it all the time. I adore my husband, my kids, and grandkids—but when I’ve been living night and day for two weeks in 9th-century B.C. Israel or Babylon or Egypt, it’s hard to fully engage in a birthday party for a five-year-old in 21st-century America. 2018 was the most difficult year of my writing career because I over-committed with three rough-drafts and two releases in a single calendar year. I usually do one first draft and launch in a year. Bad planning.

This year I’m back to one book a year and have MUCH healthier boundaries on the time I spend in my ancient worlds! The best part about being a published author…writing! I’ve always loved researching the biblical text; discovering ancient culture, learning more about the land and surrounding nations, getting into biblical characters’ “skin.” Because I’m actually writing books, I get to share what I’m learning with others. I’m almost giddy every time I find a new detail to work into a story. It’s better than C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E.

Describe a moment when you said to yourself, “Now this, this is why I write!”

Two things happen on almost every book I write, one negative and one positive. The negative usually happens first at some point in the process when I stumble on a difficult research fact or an editor gives me (what feels like) hopeless feedback. I say to my husband, “I can’t write this book. I have to break the contract and give the advance money back.” After hearing it ten times now, he’s learned to just pull me into his arms and let me cry.

Fairly soon after, the positive thing happens—that “Now this is why I write!” moment—when the Lord takes over and reminds me He’s in charge. I suddenly discover how to weave into the story that difficult historical fact. Or I make the changes my editor suggested, and the scene turns out ten times better than I could have imagined!

In my current WIP (work in progress), Isaiah’s Legacy, I’m writing about King Manasseh, the most wicked king to ever rule God’s people. The story was becoming too heavy, and I despaired over whether anyone would even read to the end. I’d been asking the Lord for days about how to write a hopeful ending that could overcome the darkness—and then it began to flow from my fingers onto the keyboard. I absolutely sobbed and laughed and praised Jesus as I wrote the whole last chapter! (I was glad no one else was home—they would have thought I’d lost my mind.) But I knew, I KNEW it was the reason I wrote the book—to give hope to those praying for their prodigal.

That same feeling happens at least once on every book. If I could see the supernatural world, I’d probably be terrified at the unseen battles raging. I’m so thankful God ALWAYS wins!

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any advice you’d give to yourself? Or to aspiring writers?

Include your family and friends in your writing process. Writing is such a lonely business, and it’s easy to compartmentalize your writing world in one corner of your heart and the “real world” in a different part—especially if family and friends don’t “get” it. They may never understand why we talk aloud to our characters or spend so much time editing a single scene, but by excluding them, we create a distance between us that can become a stumbling block in those relationships.

I’m currently working to clear away ten years of writing-neglect that some in my family are feeling. Though the Lord undeniably works through the stories He gives me—and I’m both honored and humbled by that reality—He would never want me to sacrifice my relationships on the altar of publishing. I am first and foremost my husband’s one-flesh partner in this life. I’m a mama to two beautiful, grown daughters and Grammy to eight amazing grandkids.

In order to be a good steward of ALL God’s blessings, I must write from the overflow of my heart after my priorities are well and fully cared for. THAT’S what ten years of published writing has taught me.

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Mesu Andrews is the Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter and has received numerous accolades for her other novels including Love Amid the Ashes, The Pharaoh’s Daughter, and Miriam. Her deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers.

Many of her faithful readers are members of her launch team—Mesu’s Biblical Fiction Fans (BFFs)—and offer their time and service to promote God’s word through story. Andrews lives in North Carolina with her husband Roy and enjoys spending time with her growing tribe of grandchildren.

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Author Spotlight with Patricia Bradley

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Patricia Bradley’s new book, Justice Delivered.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Lori Austin for winning Samuel Parker’s Border Son.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley has captured readers by keeping the suspense taut and the stakes high in her Memphis Cold Case novels. In her newest novel, Justice Delivered, Bradley offers another fast-paced story that will leave readers on the edge of their seats and turning pages nonstop.

A victim of sex trafficking, Carly Smith has been at the mercy of ruthless men, ignored by law enforcement officers who should have helped her, and seemingly rejected by her own family. She can’t even trust herself to do the right thing. Now she wants to build a new life and move on—but she can’t escape her haunting past.

The man responsible for her captivity is still out there, luring other vulnerable girls under the guise of being a modeling agent. When her own niece is kidnapped, Carly must decide if she can overcome her fears and go after the man who ruined her life in order to save others from suffering the same fate.

Q&A with Patricia Bradley

I know an idea is good when…it keeps me awake at night.

The best day in my life (so far!) was when…I was in a car about to be sideswiped on one side by a tour bus and a crazy speed demon on the other and both missed!

To de-stress, I like to…pretend I’m floating on the Dead Sea, after taking a mud bath.

I want to see… Hawaii…if I could wiggle my nose and be there.

I keep organized by…Organized? What’s that?

I wish I could travel to… hmmm. Let’s see, I just went to Israel in December…if I could travel anywhere it’d be back to Israel!

Three guests at my dream dinner party would be…Tom Selleck, the gorgeously handsome man with the two-day beard on the flight from Tel Aviv to Amsterdam back in December, and Josh Grobin.

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Winner of an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in Suspense and a 2018 Carol finalist, Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi with her rescue kitty, Suzy. Her romantic suspense books include the Logan Point series and the Memphis Cold Case Novels. When she’s not writing she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.

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Author Spotlight with Samuel Parker

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Samuel Parker’s new book, Border Son.

Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Kelley Morrow for winning Melody Carlson’s Courting Mr. Emerson.

Please email my assistant Christen to claim your prize. Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I will get a small commission if you click and buy from that link.

Samuel Parker captivated readers with his brisk, raw style of writing in both Purgatory Road and Coldwater. Now he offers readers a haunting tale of a father and son, rescue and destruction, and the high cost of second chances in his new book Border Son.

It has been years since Edward Kazmierski has had contact with his wayward son. The last place he knew Tyler to be was in an El Paso jail six years ago. Then, in one day, he receives a cryptic phone call telling him that his son needs him in Mexico, another from a federal agent searching for Tyler, and a visit from two men he hopes to never see again.

One impulsive act has set a dangerous chain of events into motion, which will almost certainly lead to death—for Tyler and anyone else trying to help him. Edward reluctantly agrees to cross the Mexican border to rescue his estranged son, who is mixed up in the drug trade. But it will take everything they have to tear down the wall that has been built up between them and to make it back alive.

With insight and artistry, Samuel Parker brings the dusty and dangerous streets of a Mexican border town into sharp focus in this suspenseful reimagining of the Prodigal Son story—which explores the true nature of redemption and forgiveness.

Q&A and Excerpt from Samuel Parker’s Border Son

Border Son is your third novel. Tell us how this book differs from your first two novels, Purgatory Road and Coldwater.

Border Son is different in that it does not have a supernatural element. It is a straight-to-the-point, flesh-and-bone thriller.

How did you come up with the plot for your novel?

I was kicking around the idea of wanting to do a story set in Juarez, and then the movie Sicario came out, which was brilliant. So I shelved the idea for a few years because you simply can’t compete with Taylor Sheridan. Ha! Then, I came back to it and thought it would be a good setting to tell a version of the Prodigal Son.

You did some very interesting research when writing Border Son. Can you please tell us what your research entailed?

I spent some time in El Paso doing research, but it was a short jaunt over to Columbus, New Mexico, and then a walk into Puerto Palomas, Mexico, that sealed the deal for the setting. The desert fascinates me to no end, so getting out and walking amongst the rock and the dust is what gets my mind going.

Library Journal stated that fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz will enjoy your style of writing. Do you agree with this statement and how would you characterize your writing?

I heard another reader say my style reminds them of old Dean Koontz, so that seems to be a theme. I like stripped-down storytelling, no filler. Get to the tale and throw everything else out. In the way that this mirrors King and Koontz, I would agree.

Some of the issues that you touch upon in your book are covered frequently in the news. Did you take this into account when writing Border Son?

I follow several reporters and writers who know exponentially more about our southern border than I will ever know. I am fascinated by the area, the environment, and the people. I wanted to write a story set in that part of the country but was hesitant for several reasons. Retelling the Prodigal Son story was a way I thought I could slip into the environment.

Do you have a character that you really resonate with?

I have several, but I really found myself resonating with Roberto Ibanez in this story. He started off as a side character, but I would argue that this book is as much about him as anyone else in the story.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your novel?

I hope readers walk away from my novel thinking about how we treat people and our duty to love people, even when it’s not in our best interest to do so.

Read an exclusive excerpt from Border Son here.

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Samuel Parker is the author of Purgatory Road, named one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2017, and Coldwater. Born in Michigan, he was raised on a never-ending road trip through the US.

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