Kathy Harris's Blog, page 4

D. J. Williams ~ Secrets of the Highlands

D. J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong, which is responsible for igniting his adventurous spirit. He has ventured into the jungles of the Amazon, the bush of Africa, and the ancient cities of the Far East. His global travels submerged him in a myriad of cultures, providing a unique perspective that fuels his creativity—and his books. His novels have climbed the charts on Amazon Hot New Releases and received stellar reviews from Kirkus Reviews. Secrets of the Highlands is Book 2 in his new Beacon Hill series.

D. J. has also been an executive producer and director for over 500 episodes of broadcast television.

 

If someone asked you to describe yourself with one word, what word would that be?

Determined

Just as all good novels include a plot twist, the Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

Yes. Three days on the Zambezi. My career and storytelling path changed along the banks of the river, and set me on an adventure I never imagined would happen. And I nearly died when an elephant charged our Land Rover!

Let’s talk about your new book, Secrets of the Highlands (December 2023, Tyndale House). What inspired you to write the Beacon Hill series?

Since I began writing stories, the one story I’ve always wanted to write is Beacon Hill. For more than a decade the idea lingered in the back of my mind and haunted my imagination. Being an expat who grew up in Hong Kong, I’ve always been drawn to a melting pot of cultures and have found myself among all walks of life. So the storylines, characters, and locations are a snapshot of the world I grew up in, people I’ve met along the way, and a deep dive into my creativity to bring this supernatural series to life.

What are some of the themes you explored in this book?

The value of friendship is a thread woven through the entire series, and in Secrets of the Highlands those values are put to the ultimate test. Each character must choose whether they will stand united or whether their own ambition will leave them divided from the rest. Themes of faith planted from Hunt for Eden’s Star (Book 1 in the series) grow through Secrets of the Highlands as the challenge of walking out one’s faith amid the mountaintops and valleys leads Jack and his friends to make choices that will determine their destiny. My hope is readers will be inspired to embrace the adventures and challenges of life no matter what they might face to discover a deeper faith than when they turned the first page.

What has been the greatest challenge to living out your faith in today’s culture as a storyteller?

One of the challenges is to write a page-turner for a broad audience without losing the values rooted in my creativity. Believe me, I’ll push to the very edge without crossing boundaries because there are clear limits. I won’t cross certain lines, no matter what cultural message is bombarding social platforms and beyond. When I think about the characters and worlds that inspire me, I’ve found the challenge is less daunting and more freeing. You’ll never please everyone in today’s culture, but you can entertain and inspire them.

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Ribeye and grilled potatoes. I’m a simple dude.

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

Mythical warrior, who’s a dark stranger

Thanks, D.J. It’s nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

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For more information about D.J., visit his website and follow him on Instagram and X.  

To purchase Secrets of the Highlands , go to —

 

Kelly Irvin ~ Seriously, God, All Circumstances?

by Kelly Irvin

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 (NIV)

If you’re like me, you probably have read Romans 8:28, scratched your head, and said, “Seriously, God? All situations?” I did a lot more than scratch my head in January of 2016 when my oncologist informed me that I had stage 4 ovarian cancer. I cried. I shook my fist at the sky. How could God “let” this happen? It wasn’t fair.

I sounded like a little kid, I know, but let me give this some context before you judge me. First, I’d been diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a rare neurological disorder similar to ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease one month earlier. ONE MONTH! I’d lost my ability to walk normally. No more hiking, jogging, doing aerobics or Tae Bo, no body surfing in the ocean, no ziplining, no nothing. Then came my late stage diagnosis that meant I had less than a 20 percent chance of surviving more than five years. I would be in treatment for the rest of my life—however long that was.

Up until that time I’d been incredibly healthy. I worked out everyday and ate healthy food. I took my vitamins and did all my routine screenings. I did all the right things, yet I still got cancer. Again, I railed at God, it’s not fair!

What’s more salt in the wound? I was a “good” Christian with regular attendance at church and Sunday school. I made sure my kids went as well. I served on church committees and in several ministries. In other words, I talked the talk and thought I walked the walk. And yet I was totally unprepared for this season of loss and ill health. I was angry. And became even more incensed when I learned that I didn’t have PLS. My neurological damage was caused by a rare disorder in which my overactive immune system tried to fight the cancer by attacking my central nervous system. My cancer caused me to lose my mobility.

Why? Why God? Wasn’t my rocky, dysfunctional childhood enough? Why heap more on me?

Then, as pastors like to say, But God. In the midst of never-ending treatment and its side effects, good things started to happen. A contract for four more books came. I had to quit my PR job, which meant I realized my lifelong dream of working as a novelist full-time. I didn’t die. The five-year mark came and went, and I was still here, still writing Christian fiction—more than a dozen books, several novellas, short stories, and poetry, just since my diagnosis.

My questions morphed into why was I still here and not other women with this insidious, horrific disease? I’ve come to believe that God wasn’t done using me yet to write His stories. He’d given me this writing gift, and I hadn’t used it all up yet. In the meantime, I’ve been here for the birth of two more grandchildren, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and many other good times. Every one of these events are precious and they create memories for my beloved family members.

I’ve learned that time is fleeting. It’s finite. We all know that, but we choose to ignore it. It’s true whether you have a terminal disease. This journey of self-realization, of strengthened faith honed by these trials, gave me the context from which I wrote my first women’s fiction novel The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos. It’s a story of two sisters, one an oncologist, the other a woman with stage 4 ovarian cancer. When Sherri’s diagnosed, Kristen knows better than anyone, that the clock is ticking. If they are going to heal old wounds and knit their family back together, they have to do it now.

Time is a precious treasure. The gifts God gives us are meant to be used and used up. He doesn’t cause terrible things to happen to us, but He also knows that a faith untested is a weak faith. Mine has been tested and grown stronger. That doesn’t mean I don’t still mourn what I’ve lost. But I’ve learned to treasure what I’ve gained. I hope The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos will be thought-provoking for readers as they traverse their own seasons of trial. For me, there’s been joy in the journey and the knowledge that God knows what He’s doing. For that I’m genuinely thankful and hopeful. I hope you are too.

About the Author

Award-winning author Kelly Irvin has published more than 35 Amish romances, romantic suspense novels, and novellas. Although the characters, settings, and themes vary widely, all of Kelly’s books feature powerful stories of strong women who struggle with difficult trials. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has been writing nonfiction professionally for more than 30 years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter. In her spare time, Kelly blogs, reads fiction, and loves her family.

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For more information about Kelly, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To purchase The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos, go to — 

 

Angela Hunt ~ What a Wave Must Be

Publicity photo © EAH Creative

The author of more than 165 works, Angela Hunt has sold nearly six million copies of her books worldwide. She has been honored with awards such as the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards for Excellence in Media, and Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword’s Book of the Year Award, among others. 

Angela holds a doctorate in biblical studies and a ThD. She and her husband reside in Florida.

 

If someone asked you to describe yourself with one word, what word would that be?

Practical.

The Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

Of course!  I have made many plans that were shut down only to be divinely replaced by infinitely better ones.

Let’s talk about your new book, What a Wave Must Be (Focus on the Family, November 2023). Please tell us about it.

Seventeen-year-old Maddie is left reeling after the unexpected passing of her beloved father. No one has any idea why he betrayed them all so spectacularly, but that’s exactly what his death feels like: a betrayal. With their world shattered, Maddie’s grieving mother sends her to spend a few months with her grandparents, thinking a change of scenery will do her good.

Susan and Frank, Maddie’s grandparents, are heartbroken over the loss of their son, but they welcome Maddie as an addition to their long-empty nest. Maddie settles in and makes friends at her new school, but she still wrestles with why her father took his own life. Then an unexpected twist throws all their lives into fresh turmoil, testing the very fabric of their faith.

What led you to write this story?

Focus on the Family wanted to do novels about contemporary social issues. Jerry Jenkins contacted writers and edited the three books, and I’m thrilled to be associated with Chris Fabry and Tamera Alexander in this endeavor.

What part does faith play in it?

The adult characters, including the man who takes his life, are believers. Maddie, the teenager, is not. So the adults have to deal with their own grief as they try to model Christian hope and faith for their granddaughter. Not always easy to do.

What advice do you have for younger writers?

I would encourage young writers to start writing small things before attempting a novel. I wrote nonfiction pieces for five years before I even thought about writing a book. It’s a process, not something that you can learn overnight.

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Depends on my mood, but I love bubble gum!

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

The strong female lead. I love strong women and try to write them. They aren’t out to BE men or OUTDO men, but they’re not likely to wait for a man to rescue them, either. This is why I’ve learned how to wire my own ceiling fans.

Thank you, Angela! It’s nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

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For more information about Angela, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram .

To order What a Wave Must Be , go to –

 

Tamera Alexander ~ A Million Little Choices

Tamera Alexander is the Christy Award-winning and bestselling author of numerous books, including Colors of Truth, With This Pledge, A Lasting Impression, A Note Yet Unsung, To Whisper Her Name, and more. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide.

It’s a special pleasure to host Tamera again on Divine Detour. As young writers (we’re still young!) many years ago, we were both members of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Tamera’s successes have multiplied exponentially since then… And she just keeps doing it over and over.

Tamera and her husband make their home in Nashville, where they spend time with their adult children and grandchild, who live nearby. Add two rambunctious, but lovable Australian Terriers to the mix and life for them is full and rich!

 

If someone asked you to describe yourself with one word, what word would that be?

I’d kindly remind them there’s a reason I write 150,000 word books, then wish them a very good day.

In this story, your characters experience a number of unexpected detours, which ultimately become blessings. Typically, when you begin writing a book, do you write toward an expected end with all of the character’s twists and turns already in mind? Or does your story sometimes take a turn that surprises even you?

Definitely the latter. One of the best things about writing are those moments that even you didn’t see it coming. When you get to a scene you’ve envisioned for several weeks and yet one of the characters simply will not do what you’d planned. Because they’ve grown through their experiences and therefore wouldn’t make those pre-plotted choices. I love that. Of course, it’s frustrating as all get out and always demands rewriting and replotting, but it’s one of the signs that my story has taken on a life all its own.

Let’s talk about A Million Little Choices (Focus on the Family, November 2023). Please tell us about it.

It’s a story that’s been inside me for over fifteen years. A story about two women from different centuries living in the same house who share strikingly similar journeys. And a story I’m thrilled to have finally put on the page!

Sometimes secrets just won ’ t stay hidden . . .

Claire Powell’s life is turned upside down when her beloved husband admits to a “near affair.” But when Stephen accepts a partnership with an Atlanta law firm without consulting her and buys a historic Southern home sight-unseen―it pushes their already-fractured marriage to the breaking point. Claire’s world spirals, and she soon finds herself in a marriage she no longer wants, in a house she never asked for.

In 1863, Charlotte Thursmann, pregnant and trapped in a marriage to an abusive husband, struggles to protect her unborn child and the enslaved members of her household. Desperate, she’s determined to right the evils her husband and others like him commit. But how can one woman put an end to such injustice? Especially if her husband makes good on his threat to kill her?

Both Claire and Charlotte discover truths about themselves they never realized, along with secrets long hidden that hold the power to bring God’s restoration―if only they choose to let it.

A few fun questions…

What Bible passage or story best describes your journey of faith?

A passage I’ve clung to for years, that the Holy Spirit consistently brings to mind, is Hebrews 12:1-2a: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

First, God has set a unique race for each of us to run. Our races may look different, but be assured that God is the author of all. And every “no” along the way is really part of His final “Yes!” when His perfect timing is reached.

Secondly, it’s all about Jesus. From beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation…it’s Jesus! You can’t truly understand who Jesus is without understanding His Jewishness and without understanding the history of the Land. To that end, I highly recommend any and all of Lois Tverburg’s books about Rabbi Jesus, and also the recently released Rediscovering Israel by Kristi McLelland (Oct 2023). Life-changing and faith-deepening reads.

Your books also encourage and inspire readers. What most encourages and inspires you?

The Living Word and the Word of God. For years I prayed that God would increase my desire for His Word, and He has. And I’m so grateful.

Who is your writing hero, one you’ve met and one you haven’ t met?

I’ve had many “in the flesh” writing mentors through the years along with people whose writing I have studied and greatly learned from, but I’ll choose not to single any one of them out. They know who they are and that I’m so grateful for them. But one “writing hero” I didn’t get to meet this side of eternity that I look forward to knowing in the next, is Catherine Marshall. I’ve read her beloved Christy so many times through the years. And I actually wrote A Note Yet Unsung, a Belmont Mansion novel, with Christy in mind. You might say it was my ode to Christy, a way of honoring Catherine Marshall for her influence in my faith and in my writing. So you can imagine that when A Note Yet Unsung won a Christy, well, it was doubly special.

Thanks, Tamera! It’s nice to have you back at Divine Detour.

Thanks for the kind invitation to join you again. Y’all are a pleasure, and I appreciate all you do for Christian Fiction!

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For more information about Tamera, visit her website and/or on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

To order A Million Little Choices , go to – 

 

 

Chris Fabry ~ Saving Grayson

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. Chris’s novels, which include War Room, Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and A Piece of the Moon, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Awards of Merit from Christianity Today. He was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2018.

Chris and his wife live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

 

If someone asked you to describe yourself with one word, what word would that be?

Persevering.

That’s a great quality for a writer to have. Who are your writing heroes? One you’ve met… And one you haven’t met.

Jerry Jenkins is a writing hero. I not only met him but he also took me under his wing and taught me. There are editing mistakes I see in my first drafts and smile because I hear his voice. I’ve read a lot of Cormac McCarthy stories and have never met him.

Let’s talk about Saving Grayson (Tyndale House, November 2023). Please tell us about it and why you chose to write about memory loss and Alzheimer’s.

In the first scene, Grayson is sitting in his closed garage in his boxer shorts holding a nail gun, and he can’t remember why he’s there. The trouble for Grayson is amplified for his wife and those who love him, and the story tries to capture the tension of how to love someone who is slipping away.

We are all dealing with this in our families and extended families. But I chose this struggle because the reader is forced to follow Grayson’s search to solve a murder mystery as well as discover the truth about his own life. Grayson is trying to uncover the truth and get it down on the page before he can forget it. I found that a really compelling storyline.

What did you learn from the process of writing it?

I actually did a major rewrite of it after it was finished because it didn’t ring true to me. And in that season, I was face down on the pavement, so to speak, wondering how to make it work. And I realized that I was in the same place as many of my characters who were at the end of their own ability to love or make life work. When you get to that point, it’s really hard, but it’s also good because you’ve tapped into a big emotional aspect of the story you’re trying to flesh out.

What do you hope your readers will take away from it?

I’m hoping someone will see themselves and say, “I realize that I have controlled the pain and struggle so much that I haven’t allowed others to love me well.” And perhaps someone will say the same thing about God—that through this story they see how they’ve kept God at a distance.

Your books encourage and inspire others. What encourages and inspires you?

I’m inspired by audio books that have helped me overcome my inability to read long novels. I finished The Lord of the Rings in 2023 solely because of Andy Serkis. He was amazing. Stories read to me take me back to my childhood and become this inexhaustible pool.

Thanks, Chris! It’s always great to have you at Divine Detour.

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For more information about Chris, visit his website and follow him on Facebook and X.

To purchase Saving Grayson, go to –

 

Michelle Shocklee ~ What Does it Mean to be Adopted by God?

By Michelle Shocklee

In my new novel Appalachian Song, the theme of “I choose you” is at the heart of the story. It involves a childless midwife, a motherless teenager, and the baby they both love. Adoption plays a role in the lives of several characters, and they experience all the emotions, struggles, and challenges many adopted people experience. I’ve been privileged to have a front-row seat to the beauty of adoption, with extended family and dear friends alike being blessed through it. I’ve seen the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, victories and failures. Raising children is hard, whether they are your biological children, foster children, adoptive children, or grandchildren. Love, patience, and determination are required every single day.

As I wrote the book, however, a deeper form of adoption began to make itself known. That is, the adoption we experience when we become children of God.

Romans 8:14-16 says: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”

That is an incredible statement for all of us.

Adoption is one of the metaphors the Bible uses to explain, in terms we can understand, the extraordinary process of becoming God’s child. I find that interesting because adoption was not common in Jewish families. A person’s standing in the community—in the world—was based on his parentage, his pedigree. In Luke 3, the lineage of Jesus can be traced all the way back to Adam. Most Jewish families could do the same, sometimes with a written account or by verbally passing down names through the generations.

Adoption, therefore, was not looked upon favorably in those days. Although Moses was adopted by Pharoah’s sister, he eventually returned to his own people. Esther was adopted by Mordecai, but they were related by blood. If a man died without children, his widow was required to marry her deceased husband’s brother or close relative. The first child born to the couple would be considered the dead man’s child so his family line would continue through blood, not adoption.

In Roman culture, however, adoption was a customary practice. If a Roman man had no sons, he adopted a young man, either a valued servant or slave, or someone else he deemed worthy of becoming his son. The adopted son would legally change his name, have all his debts cancelled, and would be entitled to all the rights and benefits of a natural-born son.

When Paul wrote his letter to Christians in Rome, his audience would have been familiar with the practice of adoption. It must have been astonishing to read that they were now considered children of God, because up to this time, only Jewish born individuals were considered God’s children. Paul told the Christians in Ephesus that “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:5) Those would have been radical, life-changing words to gentile Christians.

The truth is, none of us are worthy of being called sons and daughters of God, but that’s exactly who we are when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord in our lives. As children of God, we enjoy all the benefits of natural born children. Our debts are wiped clean, we’re given new names, and we are entitled to the glorious long-ago promises He gave the children of Israel.

Galatians 4:5-7 says: “God sent [Jesus] to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer slaves but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

In Appalachian Song, Bertie says, “Family don’t always mean blood kin.” She’s absolutely right. God himself makes that abundantly clear when He adopts us into his family and gives us the amazing privilege to call Him Abba, or Papa. Giving a child a ‘forever family’ here on earth is so important, but the best family to belong to is God’s.

About the Author

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including Count the Nights by Stars, a Christianity Today fiction book award winner, and Under the Tulip Tree, a Christy and Selah Awards finalist. Her work has been featured in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about.

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For more information about Michelle, visit her website and/or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To order Appalachian Song, go to:

 

When God Speaks ~ Larry Randolph & Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

After a series of devastating personal losses, Larry Randolph finally had things under control. Then one morning while praying, he felt God speak two simple words to his heart: “therapy dogs.”

There was only one problem. Larry didn’t have a dog, and hadn’t since the loss of his beloved basset hound, Gus. Why would God say that? Could Larry even open himself up to loving a dog again? He had far more questions than answers.

But then came Grace.

Together, Larry and his beloved white Lab Gracie brought hope and healing to hundreds of sick and lonely people. But when Larry’s own life took a shocking and terrifying turn, it was up to Gracie to rescue Larry and his family too.

When God Speaks

Excerpt from Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World

Larry eased the door closed behind him and treaded softly down the hall. He smiled to himself, thinking of how quietly he used to sneak from the bedroom, afraid any noise would wake his new wife. But after nearly five years of marriage, Larry had come to realize that Susan could sleep through almost anything.

Sunrise was still thirty minutes away, and there was no light streaming through the windows. Larry made a pot of coffee in the kitchen, poured himself a mug, then continued to the living room. His routine was as familiar as it was necessary. He craved these quiet moments in the morning before the noise of his workday began. It was a routine he had put into practice years ago when nothing had felt familiar or certain, and his soul had been desperate to hold on to something solid.

Placing his mug on the side table, he settled into his recliner and reached for his Bible.

“Good morning, Lord,” he prayed aloud. “Thank you for this new day and for being here with me.”

The hum of the air conditioner and overhead fan—necessities for enduring Florida summers—provided a soothing soundtrack as Larry sat in quiet awareness of God’s presence. With a busy day ahead of him, this focused time was like fuel for his heart and mind. He prayed first for Susan. Then for his daughters, Kristy and Heather; Susan’s daughters, Tara and Brooke; their sons-in-law; and his young grandchildren. His prayers then turned to friends from their Bible study and for his workday ahead, full of real estate proposals and client meetings.

“Lord, I give my day to You. Help me speak with wisdom and grace today. Guide my conversations and help others see You in me.”

As he opened his Bible to the passage he had been reading the day before, an odd restlessness settled over him. It was a feeling he had experienced several times over the last few weeks. Thankfully, though, the feeling never lingered. He figured it was probably work-related stress. Or maybe, Larry thought, looking around the freshly painted living room, this feeling has to do with Susan’s determination to repaint every room in our townhouse.

No one could accuse his wife of taking it easy in her early retirement. Instead, she poured herself into all the things she’d never had time for when she was working. Now Susan was busier than ever with her community Bible study, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, and turning their townhouse into a cozy and beautiful home. She joked that retirement had become a full-time job.

Larry took a sip of coffee and tried to push the unsettled feelings aside. After all, life was good. His own retirement was approaching, and he and Susan were looking forward to traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren. He had everything he’d ever wanted—everything that at one point in his life he’d thought he would never have again. Larry smiled to himself. I’m sure my restless feelings are because I never know what color the living room will be when I come home.

His Bible was open to the third chapter of Proverbs. Even though he had read through the book countless times, there was always some new nugget of wisdom God would show him.

He started reading silently, then paused at Proverbs 3:3: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

“God, please help me to pursue love and faithfulness in all I do. Write them on my heart.”

He stopped again two verses later—not to pray, but to catch his breath. His heart was racing. It wasn’t alarming. In fact, it almost felt . . . joyful, like the anticipation before opening a gift. He read Proverbs 3:5-6 aloud: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Larry knew the words by heart, and yet it was like he was reading them for the first time. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Experience had taught him that this feeling of joyful anticipation while reading Scripture was usually God’s Spirit gently speaking to him.

“Lord, I want to trust you fully and submit to your will. Is there something you want me to do?”

And then suddenly, in the silence, there it was.

Therapy dogs.

Larry’s heart skipped a beat. Therapy dogs? Where had that thought come from?

“God, was that you?”

He already knew the answer. His heart said yes, even as his mind struggled to understand.

What did therapy dogs have to do with anything? He was a real estate developer, not a dog breeder. Or a therapist.

I don ’ t even have a dog.

And yet a certainty washed over him that he hadn’t felt since his first date with Susan—when he knew she would be his wife one day.

“Therapy dogs,” he said, testing the words out on his lips.

He got up and began to pace back and forth between the living room and the kitchen.

“Therapy dogs . . .” he repeated. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don’t lean on your own understanding. Hold on to love and faithfulness . . . therapy dogs.”

It was like trying to create one image from two different puzzles. “Lord, please help me understand.”

He considered waking Susan. But what would he say? “Good morning, sweetheart. What do you think about therapy dogs?” No, he needed to sit with this a little while.

“Therapy dogs,” he repeated the words again. The words hadn’t come out of nowhere. Could God be speaking to him?

But what would he say to Susan? They had only been married for five years, and he had already taken her to hurricane-ravaged Louisiana to help feed victims of Katrina, to Tanzania to build churches, and to south Florida to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Could he really ask her to join him on another wild adventure? And why would God ask him to do something with therapy dogs now?

Maybe I heard him wrong, he rationalized. Maybe my subconscious had just been remembering Gus, or maybe I dreamed about him last night and he was just on my mind this morning.

Larry’s pulse began racing as his heart accepted what his mind was still fighting.

Trust me, not your own understanding.

“Okay, Lord, I will do whatever you want me to do,” Larry spoke aloud. “But, um . . . I think you might have to bring me a dog first.”

Adapted from Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World by Larry Randolph and Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, releasing from Tyndale House Publishers in October 2023.

About the Authors

Larry Randolph is the founder and president of Canines for Christ Therapy Dog Ministry.
He served in the Coast Guard Reserves; is a graduate of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism and a Billy Graham Rapid Response Chaplain; and is a board-certified crisis response specialist. Larry’s latest book, Finding Grace, will release on October 17, 2023 from Tyndale House Publishers. For additional information about Larry, go to: Canines for Christ | Blog | Facebook | Ministry Promo Video

Author photo by Pete Van Valkenburg, Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley is the author of Joey, the Pawverbs devotional series, and Project Solomon. She holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling and worked for several years as a grief counselor before discovering her passion for writing. Jennifer’s latest books, Finding Grace (Tyndale House Publishers, October 2023) and Pawverbs for Kids (Tyndale House Publishers, September 2023). For additional information about Jennifer, go to: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pawverbs for Kids

Author photo by Greenflash Productions Photography, copyright © 2019. All rights reserved.

 

To purchase The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World, go to — 

 

Melanie Dobson ~ The Wings of Poppy Pendleton

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of twenty-five historical, time- slip, and romantic suspense novels. Five of her novels have won Carol Awards. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were nominated for a Christy Award in the historical fiction category. Catching the Wind won an Audie Award in the inspirational fiction category. And The Black Cloister, her novel about a religious cult, won the Foreword magazine Religious Fiction Book of the Year.

She is the previous corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family, owner of the publicity firm Dobson Media Group, and an adjunct writing professor. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she enjoys teaching a variety of workshops.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters and live near Portland, Oregon.

 

If someone asked you to describe yourself with one word, what word would that be?

Storyphile. It’s not in the dictionary, but I think it should be! I love everything about a great story.

Your new book, The Wings of Poppy Pendleton (Tyndale House, September 2023) deals with human trafficking. How did you go about determining the best times for the settings of your story, i.e., 1907 and 1992?

Determining the best years to set my time-slip novels is always a challenge. I pick the dates based on historical events and what has to happen in the lives of my contemporary characters as they resolve a past mystery. In this case, I needed the historical story to take place during the booming Gilded Age in New York’s Thousand Islands, a few years before the Empress of Ireland sank (1914). Poppy Pendleton goes missing from one of the island castles in 1907, and then eighty-five years after her disappearance, something extraordinary happens. I’d like to tell you what, but . . .

Now I want to know more! What inspired the story?

The main plotline in Poppy’s story was inspired by a recently discovered photograph of my grandpa and great-uncle as children. In this picture, my great-grandmother is holding a baby girl, and while my family is close, no one had ever told me about a great-aunt. I discovered that my great-grandparents adopted a girl in 1923, but sadly, they both died when she was young and none of my relatives knew what happened to her. As I began to unravel Marjory’s complicated journey, I decided to write a novel about another girl who went missing in the same era. A mystery that I could ultimately resolve through fiction.

What are the best and/or worst parts of the writing process for you? Do you have advice for writers just starting out?

I love researching a new story and dreaming up the characters and plot, but the writing portion of the writing process is, oddly enough, the most difficult part for me. Even though it’s hard, I love the challenge, and writing fiction is tremendously life-giving for me as it brings some order to all the messy ideas in my mind.

Anne Lamott once said, “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a [bad] first draft.” My advice for new writers is to learn from the experts, analyze the structure of your genre, seek wise advice about how to improve your skills, and then write that first draft. It won’t be perfect but pour your story onto paper and then come back later to polish your words.

Those are wise words from Anne Lamott. Are there other writing heroes or mentors who have influenced your craft?

Beautifully crafted stories by authors like Catherine Marshall, Angela Hunt, Randy Alcorn, Grace Livingston Hill, Jan Karon, Robin Lee Hatcher, and Davis Bunn originally inspired me to pursue my dream to write fiction. I’ve enjoyed learning from countless novelists since I began my journey, but in the past sixteen years, I’ve learned the most from my local critique group. They see right through my blind spots and help shape every story that I write.

Thanks, Melanie! It’s always nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Melanie, visit her website and follow her on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

To order The Wings of Poppy Pendleton , go to —

 

DiAnn Mills ~ Facing the Enemy

How to Attract and Delight Book ClubsBy DiAnn Mills

 

Writers long for book clubs to feature their books. We are excited, passionate, and thrilled to take the readers on a new adventure. But how do we entice book clubs to choose our books? How can we make selecting our stories an easy and enthusiastic choice?

Most importantly, writers must create a great book that appeals to readers of our genre. It’s all about the reader.

Let’s start with the basics. What is a book club?

A book club is a group of people who come together to read and discuss books. Everyone reads the same book, then they get together and share in an honest forum about the book’s content. Some groups meet in person at bookstores, churches, host homes, libraries, community centers, or restaurants. Other groups meet online.

Book clubs offer friendship, social time, lively discussions, and an opportunity to learn about other cultures and how those people live. It’s a win-win situation for all book lovers.

What do book club members discuss?

What they enjoyed about a book, enthusiastically.What they disliked—with lots of comments.Their opinions—lots of those too.Book takeaways—this is an asset for book club members.How can each member apply what happened in this book to their life?How has the book changed them?Would the member read another book by this author?

A writer who joins a book club discussion gains more insight into what readers look for and demand. For the author longing to have their book chosen, consider the following:

What types of books has this book club read?What genre appeals to the members?How is your book like what the members have previously read?How is your book different?What qualities about your book make it unique? What will enhance the experience for the book club.Brainstorm ways to entice book clubs to read your book.

A writer who offers to attend a book club meeting that features their book has the potential to invest in readers’ lives and form lasting friendships. When an in-person visit isn’t possible, Zoom is another way to share your book with others.

What we’ve covered so far is practical, but what about the search for the perfect book club?

Poll readers on social media platforms to see if they are book club members.Contact those who are book club members with a brief note. For example: Is your book club looking for a (thrilling, romantic, heartwarming) novel? I’d like to send you or the hostess a copy of (title). If your group meets near me, I’d love to attend. I could also Zoom into your meeting. Look at the assortment of book club ideas on my website (link). Feel free to download any of these book club helps. (That does mean the writer must provide book club ideas on their website before contacting the book club.)Google online book clubs. Narrow your search to a specific geographical area or genre.Check with directors in charge of the following:Churches—adult and youth. Including church libraries and bookstores.Community centersPrivate schoolsSenior living facilitiesSubdivision organizationsSpecialty men’s or women’s organizationsConduct a Twitter search for book clubs or genre-specific book clubs.On my website is a tab devoted to book clubs. Reader activities are in place for Facing the Enemy and previous titles. Check them out. Who knows? You may find inspiration for your own book release or for your readers.Design a Pinterest board for each book to assist book club hosts.Create blog and newsletter posts about the book and its value to the reader.Take advantage of online resources to create games for the book club/readers. For example:Word search using information from the book.Crossword puzzle using information from the book.Other sources to create online word games. 

Engaging Book Club Members at the Event

Have a thank-you card and a small gift for the hostess.Arrive early and greet each member.Ask open-ended questions.Be transparent.Take pics and request permission to post online.Share stories.Be fun.Thank everyone.

What tips do you have to attract and delight book clubs?

Photo credit: Lynette Eason, 2022

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. DiAnn’s latest novel, Facing the Enemy, releases from Tyndale in September 2023. Connect with DiAnn at diannmills.com. 

 

 

 

To purchase Facing the Enemy and other books by DiAnn, go to —

 

 

 

Back to School Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

Welcome to the inaugural Back to School Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. I’m happy to be a part of this 27-author online event.

What you need to know: This hunt is a blog hop. You will collect “clues” (pieces to a longer phrase) at each stop. You may enter any individual giveaways along the way. Then click on the link at the bottom of the post, and it will take you to the next stop. Repeat this process until you reach #28, where you will input the full phrase as your entry for the grand prize drawing.

We hope that throughout this hunt you will discover new books and authors—and get to know a little more about each of us. The hunt begins at 12 Noon EST on August 30, 2023 and ends at 11:59 pm EST on September 4, 2023, giving you plenty of time to visit each stop. If you need to step away and come back later, make a note of the last stop you visited. Go to this post for a list of all stops on the hunt, including the START page if you are joining the hunt here.

If you are having trouble viewing the posts, you may need to change browsers. Chrome and Firefox sometimes work better than Microsoft Explorer, Safari, or Edge.

My book in the hunt is Deadly Conclusion. It’s the final book in The Deadly Secrets fiction series. If you don’t win a copy, you can purchase it—and all three books in the series—wherever books are sold, including Amazon, ChristianBook, and Barnes & Noble. And… (drumroll, please), for a limited time the ebook of the first book in the series, Deadly Commitment, is available at Amazon for .99! Click here to purchase it.

Now… for the clue! The words you need to complete the text are…

And it is

Your next stop is https://www.angeladshelton.com/scavenger-hunt-coming-soon/ 

Good luck!