Bette Lee Crosby's new book!

The winner of Kimberly Rae Jordan's book is Valerie from North Carolina.
Congratulations, Valerie, and thanks to all those who visited my blog last week!
Now read about Bette Lee Crosby's new book:

Jubilee's Journey by Bette Lee Crosby
Give-away of one paperback and one e-book to the winner of those who comment!

If you read Bette Lee Crosby's book Spare Change, you met Ethan Allen, an eleven-year-old boy whose life was pretty destitute. Born to parents who cared more about spiting each other than caring for him, he found himself in a desperate situation. Both his parents were dead, and the sheriff was looking for him! All he knew to do was to try to find his grandpa. But he didn't know where he was. Finding an envelope in the house with his grandpa's address on it, he went searching for somebody to live with.

Jubilee's Journey starts out in a similar fashion. Jubilee, aged seven, and her brother Paul, aged fourteen, lost their parents, so they headed out to find a place to live and be together. When they arrived in Wyattsville, Virginia, a catastrophe took Paul away from her. Ethan Allan rescued her and took her to his grandma Olivia. The adventures they have are full of fun and suspense.

You'll love this novel, another winner by Bette Lee Crosby, in book two of The Wyattsville Series.

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, there is one paperback and one e-book to give away. Leave a comment, along with you email address, and I'll notify the winner on January 31 or February 1.

Winner of Kimberly's book!

The winner of last week's blog is Valerie from North Carolina. I appreciate all those who stopped by to leave a comment about the interview. I thought an interview with the daughter of a missionary was pretty special.

I'm teaching a Bible study that I wrote to women in my church, from now through the first of March, about people in the Bible. The title is Ordinary People come face-to-face with Extraordinary God.
We meet people in the Old Testament through the first part of the study and we're enjoying them. I've been working hard to get the book adapted to be used as a Bible study, and to make study sheets to go with each week's lessons.

As you might have noticed, I'm only doing one post per week. Enjoy the rest of winter, try to stay as warm as you can, and look forward to spring. I think it's only bout 50 days away, and I can't wait. Can you?

Meet Kimberly Rae Jordan

 Today we are visiting with Kimberly Rae Jordan, an author I met when I downloaded one of her books on my Kindle. I’m so glad she agreed to do an interview. She has some interesting material and I want to introduce her to all of you who read my blog.

Q: Hi, Kimberly, it’s so nice that you can visit today.

A: Thanks so much for having on your blog, Juanita!

Q: Tell us about your life—where you live, your children, etc.

A: I live in central Canada where we have beautiful summers and horrible winters! I have four wonderful kids. My oldest daughter is in university and my youngest son is just getting out of diapers! In between them are my boy/girl twins who have just entered the teen years! I do have a “day job” working in the administration department of my brother’s technology company.

Q: The book you authored that I read was Faith, Hope and Love and it was about a missionary couple. I noticed that you are the child of missionary parents. How long did you live in Asia, and did this book have any connection to your experiences there?

A: My parents took me to the mission field when I was 18 months old and, aside from furlough years, I was there until I was 18 and graduated from high school. Yes, this book was based on my experiences to some extent. The missionary center that is introduced in the prologue was based on the one I grew up. Rural and beautiful with dirt paths running through the grass and lots of trees to climb! The hostage-taking part of the story was based off several different incidents. From the time I was around 11, I was aware of missionaries who had been kidnapped. It is always a possibility for missionaries serving in foreign lands, but there are definitely countries that have been more dangerous in this regard than others. As I read the stories of these men who had been kidnapped, I was always amazed and encouraged that through it all, they maintained their faith. It led me to wonder what it would be like if the opposite occurred. A man taken hostage, tortured and released…having lost his faith. That was the basis of Faith, Hope & Love.

Q: I suppose you left Asia to go to school in the states. Did you study journalism, or was that something that came later in life? In other words, I think I’m asking, did you always want to be a writer?

A: I left after high school and came back to Canada—talk about a shock on several levels! At the time I was planning to go to college for Business Administration. That didn’t work out so I ended up working at a few different jobs until I had my first child. It was around then that I began to dabble a bit in writing. I have always loved reading, and growing up without a television really helped develop my imagination. I would tell myself stories to fall asleep at night. Early on I don’t think I was necessarily writing in pursuit of publication, but more for the enjoyment of it. So the written word has always been a large part of my life only now I get to share it with lots of people.

Q: Tell us about your spiritual experience and when you came to be a child of God. With missionary parents, I’m sure this was an important part of your life.

A: Yes, growing up as a missionary kid meant that I was exposed to Christianity at a very young age. It was a large part of my life through most my school years as well since the schools I attended were all missionary schools which included Bible teaching along with other subjects. Having all that exposure does not, however, guarantee that a missionary kid will “stay the course”, so to speak. As a young adult I found myself just drifting along in my spiritual life. I spent a lot of time trying to be the person people expected me to be because of my parents and my background. I went to church because that was expected of me. I agreed to work in the nursery and teach children’s Sunday School because it seemed like the right thing to do. I adhered to the conservative life I’d been raised with for no other reason than I’d been told to. I struggled a lot for a few years and finally came to a breaking point where I questioned much about my spiritual life. It was a very difficult time for me spiritually and emotionally. I never questioned the reality of God, but just felt lost in my relationship with Him. Eventually I realized that I needed to have my own personal relationship with God, not my parents’ (grandparents, etc.) relationship with God. My writing has helped me to continue to build that personal relationship. Often the things my characters struggle with and learn in the course of the story are based on my own struggles and what I’ve learned.

Q: How true, Kimberly. We all have to have a face-to-face encounter with God. I call it a "point in time" experience. Something you can always remember.

Tell us a little about your writing journey. How long did it take after you started writing to get a book published? Or did you start with free-lance writing for magazines, etc?

A: Once I put my mind to trying to publish, I began to research publishers and agents. I joined a writers’ organization which lead me to become part of a couple of critique groups. Those groups were filled with some wonderful women who helped me polish my writing and offered encouragement along the way. I originally targeted the Love Inspired line and had several requests for complete manuscripts, but each time I ended up with a rejection from them. It was discouraging, but I kept writing and submitting. When I had my spiritual crisis, I stopped writing. I stopped submitting. I was in a place where I just couldn’t face any more rejection. I set aside my writing and focused on other things. A couple of years ago I reconnected with an old critique partner. She had self-published through Amazon and told me I should look into it too. My husband also encouraged me to take up my writing again. It took me awhile to get the nerve up, but eventually I pulled out those old manuscripts and began to revise (update!) and polish them. At the end of January 2013, I published Faith, Hope & Love, and I haven’t looked back!

Q: I so appreciate authors who write Christian fiction. How long have you been writing and how many books have you published?

A: My writing journey has been kind of fractured, but I think it’s safe to say I’ve been writing in one form or another (fiction, journaling etc.) for most my adult life. To date I’ve published six books and contributed to a devotional for authors.

Q: I notice you have a series about the Karlsson Brothers. From the reviews I read, this is a popular series. Tell us about these guys and how you came up with a series about them. How many books are in the series? Do you plan to write more?

A: To be honest, when I wrote the first book (Waiting for Rachel), I never planned for it be a series. As the story unfolded and Jace was introduced into the story, I began to think about writing his story. I had already planned that Damian (the hero of book 1) would come from a family of three adopted boys, so then I just needed to flesh out the middle brother, Alex. There will only be three stories in this series, but I have discovered a love for series books! In writing the stories of these three brothers, the thing I enjoyed most was not having to say goodbye to the characters at the end of their book. Well, except when I got to the end of book 3. Lol! Being able to carry on parts of Damian and Rachel’s story into Worth the Wait was fun. And then to be able to revisit the lives of the characters of the first two books in the third, which takes place a few years in the future, was very satisfying for me. I hope the readers feel the same way!

Q: What would readers be surprised to know about you? Tell us an embarrassing situation or an unusual happening, please.

A: This question has me stumped! I try to avoid embarrassing situations at all costs. Lol In addition to writing, I enjoy baking. I don’t bake as much as I would like to because baking leads to eating, and eating sweets and such leads to…well, you know! I was first introduced to baking by my dad. He helped me bake my first pie! When I was 14 years old, 4 friends and I started up a bakery on our missionary center. Each day we would take orders and then would bake things like cookies, bread and cinnamon buns. The name of our bakery was “Dough-Dough’s Bakery” and our slogan (courtesy of my mom!) was “We knead your dough.” We each made a nice sum of money that summer. I have sold baking to help raise money for my oldest daughter’s mission’s trip to Jamaica as well as to supplement our income at varying times.

Q: Kimberly, thank you so much for being with us today and for your insightful answers. I hope our bloggers will be looking for your books. Tell us where you can be found—your website and how to reach you on Facebook or Twitter.

A: Thanks so much for the opportunity to share about myself and my books with your readers! I’m in all the usual places on the web. My website is www.kimberlyraejordan.com. You can like my author page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyRaeJordan and follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/KimberlyRJordan. I answer all email, so you can also write me at kimberly@kimberlyraejordan.com.

Q: Thanks, and I hope I get to read more of your wonderful books.

Note from Kimberly: We will hopefully have Faith, Hope and Love available in print by the end of the year. I would be happy to donate a book for your winner!

Readers, you will love this book! I read it on my Kindle and had to keep recharging so I could keep reading! Remember to leave your email address so I can notify you if you win.
I'll announce the winner on January 26, but will email the winner on the weekend, January 24 or 25.

Mona Hodgson--Interview with Wooly Rutherford Wainwright, character in first novella

   

The winner of last week's blog contest is Rachel from Virginia. Congratulations, Rachel! You'll be hearing from Sarah Sundin soon.
Now meet "Wooley" Rutherford Wainwright-- a character from Mona Hodgson's book, The Quilted Heart. Be sure to read to end to find out how you can enter to win a copy of this book on Mona's blog.

 "Wooley" Rutherford Wainwright is the son-in-law of Mrs. Brantenberg, who has been away in the Civil War for four years, ever since the birth of his little daughter, Gabi, and the death of his precious wife. Gabi can't understand why her PaPa has never come back to see her. As you read THE QUILTED HEART by Mona Hodgson, you might wonder about this man. I did. So here is an interview with him to learn something about his life. He is a man of few words, and he has a sorrow about him that is evident as you read his words: 

Wooley, tell us a little about yourself. What is your job?

I was a farmer, then a soldier. Now my work depends on how I am received by Mrs. Brandenberg.

How would you describe yourself?

As a disappointment.

What do you need most right now?

Forgiveness.

How do you face disappointment or hardship?

In the past I ran. I hope I can do better this time around.

What is your most important goal in life?

To reunite with my little daughter, Gabi, and be a PaPa to her.

What are you most afraid of?

That I won't be given a second chance.

If you could travel back in time, where would you go, and why?

To the day before my daughter was born. I'd like to do things differently. And right.

What do you put off because of dread, or because you just don't want to do it?

Returning to St. Charles.

What is most important to you?

To return to St. Charles and to make sure the daughter I abandoned knows how much I love her.

What do you want others to see in you?

My dependence on God for every step I take, from now on.
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If you have not yet read The Quilted Heart by Mona Hodgson, you can get it and learn about Wooley and his second chance. The sweet love story of Wooley and Maren, and his precious little daughter Gabi is in the first novella, Dandelions in the Wind. All three novellas will thrill you as you read about three women in the town of St.Charles. The women are of different nationalities with different customs but they are tied together because of a love of quilting. In Bending Toward the Sun and Ripples Along the Shore you will meet other beloved characters, all friends, some of whom are making their plans to go to West on a Wagon Train.

BlurbThe Quilted Heart OmnibusLike a beautiful patchwork quilt, the three novellas in The Quilted Heart tell stories of lives stitched together with love and God’s unending grace.
Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles, Missouri. The ladies who gather there have all experienced heartache related to the intense hardships of the Civil War, and together, they are facing their painful circumstances with friendship and prayer. Can the tattered pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God’s grace?
Dandelions on the Wind  Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg'’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household. But when Gab'i’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren, and she feels compelled to find another job. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan?
 Bending Toward the Sun Dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, Emilie Heinrich is convinced she doesn't have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm captures Emilie'’s eye and her heart. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?
 Ripples Along the Shore Change is brewing in St. Charles. A group of brave souls are preparing to head west on the Boone's Lick Wagon Train, led by the mysterious and handsome Garrett Cowlishaw, who served as a Confederate soldier in the war that killed Caroline'’s husband. Despite her dislike for him, Caroline is tempted to join the wagon train and start fresh somewhere new, but when Mr. Cowlishaw forbids her, ­a single woman, ­to travel with them, will one man'’s prejudice destroy Caroline’'s hope for a new future? Or will the ripples of God’s love bring the answer she needs?


Click here to pre-order your paperback or eBook copy of The Quilted Heart. ( http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=220625)

Comment on Mona Hodgson Author Page [ https://www.facebook.com/Author.Mona] before Friday,, January 31st to enter the BLOG TOUR DRAWING for one of three signed copies of The Quilted Heart. Which blog did you visit and comment on? You can enter once for each Blog Tour Drawing blog you visit and comment on.




Bio

Mona Hodgson is the author of nearly 40 books, historical novels for adults and children’s books, including her popular Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series, The Quilted Heart novellas, and Prairie Song, Book 1 in her Hearts Seeking Home Series. Her children’s books include bestseller, Bedtime in the Southwest, six desert and princess Zonderkidz I Can Read books, Real Girls of the Bible: A 31-Day Devotional, and her six I Wonder books.

Mona’'s writing credits also include several hundred articles, poems and short stories, which have appeared in 50 different publications. Mona is a speaker for women’'s groups, Christian women’s retreats, book clubs and reading groups, schools, and conferences for writers and librarians.


Mona Hodgsonwww.monahodgson.com Prairie Song, Book 1 in the Hearts Seeking Home Series (WaterBrook Press/Random House) NEW!The Quilted Heart Omnibus (Pre-Order for January 21st Release) The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series

Meet Sarah Sundin, author of novels set during World War II

Juanita: Hello, Sarah, I’m looking forward to our visit today and to getting to know you better. First, will you tell us where you grew up and where you live now? Also, tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Sarah: I grew up in southern California and now live in northern California. My husband and I have three children—two in college and one in high school.

Juanita: I noticed from your website that books were important to you as you were growing up. I think you said “Our house was wallpapered in books.” That’s a great way to grow up. What were some of your favorite books when you were a little girl and a teen-ager?

Sarah: I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. The Little House on the Prairie books were particular favorites, as were the Betsy, Tacy, and Tib books.

Juanita: Now will you tell us about your spiritual heritage? I know you are a Christian because of your testimony on your website and the things you do. When you began writing, what impressed you to write from a Christian perspective?

Sarah: I write from a Christian perspective because I can’t imagine writing from any other. The Lord is active in my life, and I see Him at work all around me. To write stories omitting Him wouldn’t be true to reality.

Juanita: That’s a great testimony, Sarah, one I love to hear. I just finished reading On Distant Shores and the main character was an Army Pharmacist. I also notice you have a Doctors’ degree in pharmacy. Please tell us about this direction in your life and what inspired you to write about this medical field, along with placing it in the time frame of World War II?

Sarah: Starting in sixth grade, I fell in love with science and knew I wanted to use science to help people, which led me into pharmacy. I never seriously considered becoming a writer—but God had other ideas! However, my scientific and health care training has ended up being very useful to me as a writer. I’ve been able to decipher technical pilot manuals and write authentically about Army hospitals, nurses, and health care. My husband (also a pharmacist) kept bugging me to write about a pharmacist. My research turned up very little about pharmacy in the military during the war…but when I finally found some sources, what I learned fascinated me—and inspired On Distant Shores.

Juanita: I notice a lot of World War II history is included in your writing. Are most of your books set during this time period? What impelled you to get into this part of history and devote so much time to it?

Sarah: As of now, all my novels are set in World War II, including a future contracted series. I find it such an intriguing time period with an unlimited supply of stories. Part of the appeal is how ordinary men learned they could do extraordinary things, and how women tried on new roles while remaining ladies.

Juanita: You are also a Sunday School teacher and a leader in Women’s studies. I do these things, too. Can you tell us how long you’ve been doing this and which authors you prefer to study with the ladies you teach?

Sarah: I’ve been teaching Sunday school since 2002 and women’s Bible studies since 2003. I’ve enjoyed learning from Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and many others. Our church women’s ministries uses a combination of video-driven studies from established teachers like these, but we’ve also recently begun using our own material. We have an excellent teaching team of about a dozen extremely talented ladies. We rotate teaching throughout the quarter, write our own lectures, and develop the discussion questions. The teachers like this because we get to teach from our personal study and what God lays on our hearts—but we only have to put together a handful of lectures each year. And the women love the variety of teaching styles and focuses.

Juanita: That sounds like something I would love to be a part of. I like the lecture format, too, and I just finished writing a Bible study about ordinary people in the Old Testament, that I will teach in January at our church. How long have you been writing and how many books have you authored? Are all of them still in print?

Sarah: I’ve been writing since 2000, and my first novel (A Distant Melody) was published in 2010. I have five books published right now (all still in print), two more coming in 2014, and then another three-book series after that.

Juanita: If one wanted to read a book just to get to know you and your style of writing, which one of your books would you recommend that we start with?

Sarah: I’d suggest either A Distant Melody (Book 1 in the Wings of Glory series) or With Every Letter (Book 1 in the Wings of the Nightingale series). However, all the novels do stand alone, so if another story particularly appeals, start there.

Juanita: I also noticed that you place a lot of importance on belonging to writers’ groups and studying the craft of writing. What advice would you give a beginning writer in this respect?

Sarah: If you’re writing for the Christian market, I strongly recommend joining American Christian Fiction Writers. There are email loops, free courses for members, online critique groups, and an excellent yearly conference. I love this group. Also look for writers’ conferences, which are great ways to learn gobs of material, meet other writers, and get connected in the industry. A good conference is worth every penny. I joke that I’m “addicted” to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference—I need my yearly dose! (That’s a pharmacist joke).

Juanita: Do you have any more “words of wisdom” for our blog readers this week?

Sarah: If you have a dream on your heart, take advantage of the spirit of the New Year. Pray about this dream, and if it’s something God wants you to do, pray He’ll give you the courage, discipline, and wisdom to bring it to pass.

Juanita: Thanks so much for being a guest today and for introducing us to your books. I love books set during the 1940’s and 1950’s and many of our blog readers do, too.

Sarah: Thank you so much for having me!

_____________________

Readers, be sure to leave your comment and email address so your name can be added to the list of those who qualify to receive a free copy of On Distant Shores.
If you have problems signing on here, you can send me an email (mjnobles at charter dot net) or find me or Sarah on Facebook and comment there.

Blog Winner!

The winner of Rosemary Hines' free book is Katrina. Thanks to those of you who commented.

Rosemary's trilogy is a wonderful story. Michelle Barron, the heroine in the book, tells Rosemary's story of her struggle through dabbling in the New Age movement, finding Christ as her Savior, and her life. If you read the interview, you saw Rosemary's testimony (and if you didn't, you can go back and read it. You will be blessed.)

In Out of a Dream, we meet Michelle and learn of her temptations with New Age. Once Satan gets a foothold like he did with her, it's hard to get away. But she succeeds as you will see when you read this book.

Through the Tears tells of her problem with infertility and her subsequent adoption of a baby.  Into Magnolia recounts Michelle's experience with a young girl in her class at school who is unmarried and pregnant. I downloaded all these onto my Kindle and read them in a short time.

If you want to read a great story, download these and read them. They are expensive as print, but as e-books they are quite a bargain. If you don't have a reader, you can download an app on your computer to read them.

Author Rosemary Hines--one more time!

Hello, Readers, Since my blog was not working last week, I'm posting it again this week. Hope you'll read and comment and enter your name to win one of Rosemary's books. If you can't comment but want to enter the contest, please send me an email at
mjnobles@charter.net and I'll put your name on the list.

---------------

Juanita: Hello, Rosemary, It’s so nice to be able to visit with you today. I know we’re going to have a great time as we get to know you.

Rosemary: Thanks, Juanita! I’m looking forward to our time together and the privilege of being a guest on your blog.

Juanita: I found your books on an e-Reader list and am so glad I downloaded and read them. Your three-book series was wonderful—up-to-date and so relevant to today. The setting was modern America, present-day, and dealt with problems everyone has heard about. Please tell us about them.

Rosemary: I’m glad you enjoyed them. Since you’ve read all three, you know that they are realistic, contemporary Christian fiction. My goal was to create a seamless story line that spanned all three books. I’ve been told they are page-turners, with many readers reporting they stayed up late to finish reading. That’s music to an author’s ears! J

Juanita: Did you always aspire to be an author? Will you tell us why you wanted to write these books and what you want people to take away from them?

Rosemary: Becoming a writer was never on my radar growing up. Although I’ve always been an avid reader and found that words flowed easily for me, my career goal was focused on teaching.

I didn’t become a Christian until I was 30 years old, choosing New Age beliefs instead. One day I was praying and expressing my regret to God about how I had wasted those first 30 years trying to live without Him. I’d even mocked Christians as out-dated and narrow-minded. 

As I expressed my regrets in prayer, God impressed on my heart that He was going to redeem the years the locusts had eaten away. As a new believer, I had no idea that was actually a Bible verse from the Old Testament book of Joel. Then He gave me an inspiration to use the gift of writing and my life experiences from those first thirty years to help others understand His grace, mercy, and love.

Initially, I hesitated, not seeing myself as an author. But bit-by-bit God dismantled my excuses and fed me the stories that became the Sandy Cove series.

My hope and prayer is that He uses these books to make a spiritual impact on believers and non-believers alike. For believers, I hope Michelle’s journey through New Age deception will help them understand this false religion and be better equipped to share Jesus with family members and friends who have been seduced by its tantalizing lies. For non-believers, I hope it will open their eyes to who God really is and the only truth that can truly set them free.

Juanita: How much of your own life did you write into this series? How true to your life was the heroine of Out of a Dream, Michelle Baron?

Rosemary: First let me say I believe that fiction authors are most effective in their storytelling when they write about struggles and conflicts they have faced in their own lives. That said, each of Michelle’s trials are trials I have experienced, but her story is definitely her own, and she has her own unique responses to these circumstances and struggles.

Juanita: How easy is it for people to become taken in by the New Age Movement?

Rosemary: For those who have never experienced a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the New Age system of beliefs is very enticing. It gives followers the flexibility to basically design their own religion and create their own personal god, suited to their lifestyles and desires. In our contemporary culture, that kind of self-power is very appealing. Plus, New Age beliefs espouse “tolerance” for all beliefs, a mindset that is advocated in our public life in America, including in our public schools.

Juanita: Tell us a little about your writing journey. How hard was it to get started on this road and where has it taken you?

Rosemary: Writing these novels was a seventeen-year journey. I wrote as God inspired me along the way, while I worked full time and raised a family. In addition to the writing process, I had to make decisions about publication, which required research and attending writers’ conferences. Once the books were published, I began the process of learning how to get the word out to potential readers through social media, advertising, and lots of prayer.

Juanita: Please tell us a little about yourself. Besides writing and reading, what do you like to do? I understand you were once a schoolteacher, as I was. I think your teaching experiences led to the writing of your third book, Into Magnolia.

 

 

Rosemary: My childhood dreams always revolved around being a wife, mother, and teacher. God has graciously given me the opportunity to fulfill all of those dreams. My husband and I have been married for 37 years, we have two wonderful children — a daughter and a son — who are both married and live near us. Recently we became grandparents to two beautiful granddaughters now ages one and two.

My dream of teaching did not unfold easily. It was nearly derailed before it began by an anxiety disorder that crippled me for the first year after I obtained my credential. This was back in my New Age days, and I basically abandoned any hopes or plans for teaching.

After I became a Christian and began asking God to make me one of His servants, He answered, “Teach my children.” That was a very frightening thought for me. I resisted for awhile, but He patiently and gently led me one baby step at a time back into the classroom, beginning with a handful of preschoolers in a parent co-op on the beach, to an elementary position, and finally into my 15 years of teaching junior high English.

Those years as a junior high teacher gave me an opportunity to work some intensive interventions in the lives of kids who were struggling. Through my experiences, I saw the effects of broken homes, a limping foster care system, and the lack of character education and values on some very fragile kids. All of this contributed to the third novel in the series, Into Magnolia.

Juanita: Your second book, Through the Tears, dealt with the prevalent problem of infertility. I went through this with my daughter and thought you presented the problem very realistically. Why did you choose to write a novel with this topic?

Rosemary: When my husband and I first tried to start a family, we were hit with an unexpected diagnosis of infertility. Although the characters in Through the Tears were dealing with male infertility, ours was a case of sporadic ovulation coupled with endometriosis on my part. Eventually, surgery and fertility drugs succeeded, and we were able to have our daughter. Since endometriosis goes into remission during pregnancy and nursing, our son was a special surprise baby who was born 17 months after our daughter.

I wrote about this topic because there are so many people who struggle with it silently. I wanted to portray how this issue wrenches the hearts of those involved and becomes a consuming factor for them.

My prayer is that family members and friends, who are looking in from the outside, will have a deeper understanding and compassion for those in the midst of this struggle. I wish I had a dollar for every person who suggested I should just “relax” and then I would get pregnant! For those in the throes of medical issues, that is the very last thing they need to hear. I also hope and pray that those who are immersed in the heartache of infertility will find courage and hope from Michelle’s journey.

Juanita: And you certainly attained your goal, in my opinion. Having watched my infertile daughter suffer for many years, I can attest to that. Are you a member of a Writers’ group? How important do you think this is for people who desire to write?

Rosemary: I have been involved in several writers’ groups. It is a wonderful way to learn and grow as a writer, and I highly recommend trying it! If you don’t click with one group, don’t give up. Try another. Or start one yourself!

Juanita: I read these books in e-format. Are they also available in print? How can people get these books to read them?

Rosemary: My books are all available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. They sell on most online vendors such as Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobo, Apple Books, etc. For more information, your readers can visit the book page of my website, which provides some links for purchasing them. www.rosemaryhines.com/books

Juanita:  Do you have any more books in the works? What are your plans for the future?

Rosemary: I have been praying about a fourth book in the Sandy Cove series and have an idea for a devotional/prayer book. My sister and I may co-write a stand-alone novel as well.

Juanita: Rosemary, thank you so much for being our guest today. We’ve enjoyed reading about you and your work. We’ll look forward to hearing from you in the coming years.

-----OK, Readers, Now it’s your turn!  Leave a comment and your name will be entered in a drawing for one of Rosemary’s books. (If the "comments" don't work, please send me an email and I will enter your name.) The winner will receive a copy of Rosemary’s first book, Out of a Dream, in print or e-format (Winner's Choice).  The winner will receive a link from Rosemary with instructions on how to download the book if you choose an e-book. Print book can only be mailed to U.S. addresses. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can notify you if you are the winner. 

My email is mjnobles@charter.net