Showing posts with label author interview. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

"Resolution Room" by Courtney Lyman -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Resolution Room

Author: Courtney Lyman

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: January 15, 2016

Carol loved celebrating holidays, so when she had the opportunity she opened a bed-and-breakfast where each room focused on a different one. Her early guests included Willa Newman and her roommates who came to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Carol’s handyman, Owen Coburn, was instantly attracted to Willa, but soon found himself in the “friend zone”. Several years later, as Willa sees her friends find love, she makes a New Year’s resolution that next year she won’t be alone. Seeing his opportunity, Owen invents a friend for Willa to meet, hoping that eventually she would see that the friend was really him. Will his lie tear them apart or will Willa see past his disguise and recognize the man who loves her?

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I am definitely a pantser. I’ll have a rough idea of what will happen from months or years
of daydreaming, but my stories can still surprise me once I get them out on paper. I love
not knowing exactly what’s going to happen.

2. What is your favorite part about writing?
My favorite part about writing is seeing God take me down paths I didn’t expect, speak to
me through my characters, and hopefully speak to others when they read my books.

3. What is your least favorite part about writing?
Marketing. I’m terrible at hyping myself. It feels so awkward. I have people who have
known me for years and only recently learned I’m an author – that’s how bad I am at it.
My husband very lovingly says that I’m a good writer and a terrible marketer.

4. When did you become a writer?
My youth leader’s wife became a dear friend of mine. and we would often share the
books we were reading. One day she suggested that we write our own books. I took the
suggestion and started writing, not really expecting it to go anywhere. One day, I had my
sister look over what I had written, but I told her to stop at a certain place. It seemed to
take her forever, so I went to see where she was only to find that she had passed the
place where I had told her to stop. When I mentioned it, she said, “I couldn’t stop! It was
too good!” That made me think that maybe I could actually write a book that people
would enjoy reading, and so I kept going.

5. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I often have random thoughts that cross my mind. and they can develop into stories. The
Holliday Hotel series came from wondering what it would be like to own a bed-and-
breakfast that had room names instead of numbers and the rooms were decorated for the
theme. I thought that I might like that until I remembered that I’m not a morning person
and would hate waking up early to prepare breakfast for the guests. I could create a
character who loved being an early bird and serving her guests though! Since I love
holidays, I thought it would be interesting to create rooms for different holidays and come
up with stories that went with the holidays. New Years would be about a resolution,
Valentines about what God’s love looks like, and so on. It was so much fun to connect a
story to each holiday!

About the Author

Courtney Lyman lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband, their three children, and two cats. She is the author of the KW Consulting series, the Holliday Hotel series, as well as several Christmas novellas. She stays busy with her family’s activities, her ministries at church, and in whatever time is left, knitting, singing, and playing games.

More from Courtney

Hello, Readers! I’ve dreamed of many businesses that I thought would be fun to own – things like a food truck, a book store, and a bed-and-breakfast were considered. I loved the idea of decorating and planning the theme of a b-and-b, but since I’m not a morning person, the whole preparing breakfast part seemed less exciting. Thankfully, as an author, I can put my imagination to work and experience being an inn owner in my books.

As someone who loves to decorate for the different seasons and holidays throughout the year, I wondered what it would be like to have a b-and-b where each room had a different holiday theme. Enter Carol Holliday and the Holliday Hotel. Carol was born on Christmas and dearly loves all holidays. When her husband unexpectedly dies, she decides to pursue her dream and open the Holliday Hotel which would not only have holiday themed rooms, but would offer celebrations throughout the year for her hometown to enjoy.

In Resolution Room, I wanted to explore the tendency we have to push our timelines and agendas ahead of God’s timing. By making a resolution to not be single by the following New Year’s Eve, Willa makes her desires and timing the focus of the year. How often do I do the same thing? I say I want God’s will, but I push ahead with what I want even when He is saying ‘no’ or ‘wait’.

I hope you fall in love with Holliday Hotel as much as I did and that you come back to visit for the other holidays! See how God’s love is very different from worldly love in Sweetheart Suite. Celebrate the power of the resurrection in Resurrection Rest. Explore the peace of reconciliation in Mama’s Morning Room. Embrace God’s fatherly love for us in Daddy’s Den. Freedom in Christ and forgiveness are the themes of Independence Hall while God’s power over darkness takes the stage in Harvest Hollow. Gratitude and its relationship to love is the focus of Pilgrim Passage. Finally, celebrate Christmas with a second chance romance in Christmas Chamber.

Thank you so much for visiting me! God bless and happy reading!

Courtney Lyman

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 28

Pause for Tales, August 29

She Lives To Read, August 30

Simple Harvest Reads, August 31 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Artistic Nobody, September 2 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 3

Guild Master, September 4 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 5

Fiction Book Lover, September 6 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 7

Book Looks by Lisa, September 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 9 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, September 10 (Author Interview)

For Him and my Family, September 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Courtney is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54287

Thursday, September 4, 2025

"Shaded Goodness" by Kathleen J. Robison -- Author interview

About the Book

Book: Shaded Goodness

Author: Kathleen J. Robison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Jacquie Dupre has worked tirelessly to give her daughter, Destiny, a future free from the mistakes of her past. But when Mickey, her ex-husband returns to Bay Town, her carefully built world begins to crumble. He claims he’s changed. He’s conquered his addiction that destroyed too many lives, but can Jacquie believe him? As old wounds resurface and a dangerous figure from their past threatens their fragile peace, Jacquie must confront her deepest fears—about Mickey, about love, and about God. Can faith truly heal, can goodness prevail, or will their future be forever shaded by their past?

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

What is your favorite part about writing?

I love just pounding the keyboard with a new idea! Sometimes, a song moves me. Often, I see a

stranger on the street and wonder what their story is. Shaded Goodness came about when I saw

old pictures of a now deceased family member. I couldn’t wait to craft a story with his

characteristics.

When I sit down at the keyboard for the first time with a new story, my fingers fly. I keep in

mind certain things like hooks and cliff hangers. I try to keep the plot moving forward in each

chapter, and work on character arcs and plot techniques that I know I must hit. But in the first

stages just letting the story run for a good ten to twenty thousand words is my favorite thing.

After that, I begin to think about where my story is going.

Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?

After years of frantically writing down an idea on a napkin or a grocery receipt, I now take notes

on my phone. Collecting all those scraps of paper and losing them became quite frustrating! An

author friend once gave me a beautiful, hard-bound journal. It’s where I put all my ideas, now.

The problem is that I won’t live long enough to write all those stories, and my Idea Journal is

bursting at the seams! It seems the Lord fills my brain with stories of people with broken lives

that He’s willing and able to fix!

When did you become a writer?

I’m pretty new. I began writing about thirteen years ago. I never dreamed of being a writer, but I

was always a daydreamer. When I was a little girl, and even still as a woman with grandchildren,

the dreams keep coming. When my younger boys were playing college baseball, I took long

drives to watch their games. Sometimes, two times a week. I turned off the radio and wrote my

first book during many two-hour road trips. I kept the story all in my head until my missionary

son in Japan encouraged me to start writing it down! Then he challenged me to take part in

NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, where you strive to hit 50,000 words in

November. The rest, as they say, is history. I signed my first publishing contract seven years later.

It was seriously divine intervention!

What is your work schedule/routine when you write?

When pounding out a rough draft or editing a final manuscript, I write from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00

noon, five to six days a week. Some days are much longer…I don’t even get out of my pajamas,

and hubby fixes dinner! Typically, without a deadline, I write for four hours a day. When I first

started writing, I awoke at 4:30 a.m., spent my quiet time with the Lord, and then wrote for about

six hours a day. I have so many finished manuscripts from those days that I don’t need to do that

anymore! Now, it’s lots of rewriting and editing.

Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?

Always! I don’t write other people’s stories, but if something happened in my life or theirs, and

the situation fits, I’ll use it. I also need to have a character in mind, so many of my friends, and

family’s personality traits have taken over a character. Again, it’s not them or their story, but my

characters are definitely influenced by someone. A few times, I forgot to change their name

when the book went to print. In one of the earlier books in my Bay Town Series, a reader texted

me and asked, “Is Mrs. Crowley in this book the same whom we know and love?” I was so

embarrassed, but she was honored, and I brought her back in the current release, Shaded

Goodness, for a cameo!

Thanks for allowing me to share a bit of my journey. God has indeed blessed me with this

writing gig, and I appreciate the opportunity to share His love through my stories.

About the Author

Kathleen J. Robison weaves tales that inspire a walk of faith and a reliance on God’s guidance through life’s trials. With endearing characters, her stories are a testament to the resilience of broken lives, revived through hope and renewed through God’s grace. Kathleen and her husband call Southern California home residing near the beach and find their most joy in the company of their nineteen and counting grandchildren.

More from Kathleen

Have you ever heard of a Shoofly? The word conjures up an annoying, buzzing insect, but a Shoofly is a magnificent white, wooden, raised gazebo-like structure built around giant oaks and sycamore trees. Back in the 1800s, in the south, they elegantly dotted the coastline of Mississippi. Almost every vacation boarding house boasted one. A relaxing venue for people to gather while avoiding the large horse flies that tended to hover closer to the ground, pestering guests and residents. The raised platform also allowed guests to enjoy the ocean breezes on sweltering hot summer days. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, due to storms, hurricanes, and erosion, Shooflys all but disappeared in the 1900s. Yet in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, the setting of my Bay Town Books, you can visit a Shoofly today in the local park downtown. In 1989, a group of town women decided to resurrect the nostalgic structure and had one built. It was completed nearly one hundred years after the near extinction of most of the iconic Shooflys along the Gulf Coast. It’s a key setting in my book, Shaded Goodness.

Recently, my childhood friend returned to visit Bay St. Louis. I asked him to take a picture of the Shoofly, and his wife took the shot above of him waving from the deck. He remembers visiting my family in Bay St. Louis sixty years ago, and he said it still has the charm and hasn’t changed or grown much. Except that it’s now an artisan’s dream! Can you imagine? I can. It’s why I set my romantic suspense series in the fictional setting of Bay Town, inspired by Bay St. Louis. Shaded Goodness is the last in the book series.

“You got to forgive him, Jacquie. And no, I haven’t seen him. But I have been talking to Pastor Roland, and it’s a dark spot, one of many in my soul.”

“Dark spots? Is that what you call ’em?” Jacquie threw up her hands. “I can’t even go there. That man killed –”

Themes of forgiveness, second chances, and redemption are woven throughout Shaded Goodness. It was a joy to write because the male protagonist in this book was inspired by the character of my deceased ex-brother-in-law. Shaded Goodness is entirely fictional, but I loved using Mickey’s good traits to craft his character. He was a truly good soul who sadly made poor choices throughout his life. I like to think that if he had lived long enough, his life might have turned out like Mickey’s in this book, happily ever after. That’s why I enjoyed writing this story, as it allowed me to give Mickey a life of redemption here on earth, and I’m grateful that he’s living it in eternity. His love for the Lord in his last years proved contagious, just like his Christ-indwelling goodness. All glory to the Lord.

I pray for my readers that, as in all my books, you will be encouraged in your faith. That’s why I like writing about second chances and reconciliation. Because God is all about that, isn’t he? The Bay Town Series is a collection of stand-alone books. Still, the returning characters, after facing their own troubles and tragedies, help their neighbors as they face similar trials. 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 instructs us to do just that. Some characters choose the right path, and some don’t, just like in real life. But God’s promised hope is extended to all.

Shaded Goodness comes full circle from book one. Melanie Thompson Brooks champions through tragedy in the prequel and in Shattered Guilt. Her growth enables her to serve as the guiding voice to Jacquie Dupree in Shaded Goodness. With similar backgrounds, the pain of their pasts threatens to unravel their future. You won’t need to read Shattered Guilt, Book One, to enjoy Shaded Goodness, Book Five, but I think you’ll want to go back and get to know the lovely people of Bay Town through Restored Grace (First Place in the National Excellence in Writing competition), Shadowed Doubt, and Ransomed Peace. I think you’ll find some good friends and wish they really were your neighbors.

I hope you’ll fall in love with the setting where I lived for a short time as a child. It’s why I set my books in the deep south of Mississippi. Where life was slower, and the small-town community came together for events and rallied and prayed for one another during difficulties, much like the body of Christ should. Come on down to Bay Town; it just may become home.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 26

Stories By Gina, August 27 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, August 30

Guild Master, August 31 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 2 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 3

Blossoms and Blessings, September 4 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 5

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 6 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain , September 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 8 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Thursday, August 14, 2025

"Love's True Measure" by Lori DeJong -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Love’s True Measure

Author: Lori DeJong

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Shannon Trent has dedicated her life to ministering to teens, even as she hides secrets that haunt her past. Born into privilege, she’s built a simpler life away from the expectations of her influential family. She’s content on her own, believing that to open her heart would mean unearthing her deepest shame. But when her charming neighbor stirs feelings she’s never allowed herself to entertain, his lack of faith provides the perfect excuse to keep her distance.

Hunter Kavanaugh has spent years chasing his dream career. But when his mother’s sudden death leaves him the sole guardian of his teenage sister, his carefully curated world begins to crumble. Struggling with grief, anger at God, and the demands of his job, Hunter is surprised when Shannon’s unwavering faith begins to resonate with him—and her ability to connect with his sister draws him closer.

As Hunter and Shannon navigate their growing bond, unexpected challenges force them to confront their fears and priorities. Both must either choose to trust God’s plan is far greater than their own, or risk losing the love of a lifetime.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
 A hybrid, I guess, but leaning more toward a pantser. I do a huge amount of character
development, and from that my plot tends to take shape. Then I identify the five main
plot points of the book and start writing scenes by the seat of my pants from one plot
point to the next. But knowing my characters inside and out is what makes that work.
Otherwise, I would have no idea where to go because I wouldn’t know how they would
react to certain things, what they want to do with their lives, what their fears are, what
their hopes are. I need to know all of that and so much more in order to have any
direction for the story.

What is your favorite part about writing?
 Apart from actually writing the story, it’s the character development I do for each book.
I take weeks and study up on Enneagram types, birth order, love language, and
personality tests to determine how my characters react to the world around them. I
know their goals, their hopes, their fears, their upbringing. I know their favorite color,
favorite food, what kind of car they drive, where they live, what kind of clothes they
wear, their hobbies, their careers. I know their faith story and whether they’re walking
with the Lord or in a crisis of faith. I live with these “people” day in and day out for
awhile before I ever start telling their story. And it’s a blast.

What is your least favorite part about writing?
 Probably all the business stuff that goes with it. I’m not great at social media, and I
struggle with what to put in a newsletter that I think would interest folks. Marketing is
not my strong suit, especially when I’d rather be writing. But as much as we would
rather consider ourselves creatives putting our stories out into the world, the reality is it
is still a business. Even as Christian writers. I’m not under the impression I’ll ever get rich
as an author. Precious few actually do. But if I don’t market my books, the message God
gave me to tell through that story won’t end up in the hands of someone who really
needs to see it. Someone who needs to know the redemptive love of God, that they can
put their hope and their future in His hands. That they can truly know peace in the midst
of turmoil. That’s why it’s important to do it, even though it’s not exactly in my
wheelhouse.

What is your writing space like?
 Depends on the day. Even the hour. I usually write in a chair or on the couch in our
family room, or sitting up against pillows on the bed. But in our new house, we actually
have a room I’m making into my writing area. It has a little desk, bookcases, and also a
day bed. So, I’ll write sometimes in the family room, then move to my writing room and
either work at my desk or sitting amidst all the cushions on the day bed. I also love to
write other places other than home. Coffee shops or the library. That’s actually very
productive for me to get away from the house to write.

When did you become a writer?
 I’d been interested in pursuing it for a long time before I started writing on my own back
in the late 1990’s. After completing several manuscripts, I decided to join a national
writers’ organization in 2002, and that’s when I realized that writing is a craft that has to
be honed and practiced. I committed myself to learning all I could and went to
conferences, took writing classes, and read more craft books than I can remember.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, my family went through a
season of hardship starting in 2009, and I didn’t write for about eleven years, finally
coming back to it in 2020. I wish I hadn’t lost that decade, but it’s been such a joy
rediscovering my love for writing over the last five years. So, I guess the answer to that
question would be I became a writer pursuing publication in 2002, and I became a
published writer in 2023.

About the Author

Lori DeJong (pronounced DeeYung) is an award-winning contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori arrived in Texas in 2005 and dug those roots right in. She currently resides in beautiful Georgetown, north of Austin, with her husband of thirty-plus years. Other than their two fur-babies, their nest is empty, as their daughter graduated from college and settled in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with her husband, and the sweetest grand-dog ever.

Lori loves to write about love and romance and all that fun stuff, with a firm foundation of faith. Clean but sassy, sparkly, and even goose-bumpy romance, with God in the middle and characters seeking and learning and changing, couldn’t be more heartwarming or spine-tingly.

Lori’s debut novel, “Love’s True Calling”, Book One of her True Calling Series, was the 2020 winner of the Scrivenings Press Novel Starts Contest, winner of the 2022 ACFW Genesis Award for Romance, 2023 Scrivenings Press Contemporary Book of the Year, and a doubl-finalist in the 2024 Selah Awards. “Love’s True Home” was released in 2024 and is a 2025 Selah Awards finalist.

More from Lori

As soon as Shannon Trent showed up in chapter one of my debut novel, Love’s True Calling, I knew she had a story. That there was something underneath all that joy and spunk that haunted her. That she felt she had to hide.

Although born to a life of privilege, she doesn’t want her name to be the measure of her worth. Determined to live a simpler life, she dials in to her faith, only wanting to be and do whatever God says she should be and do.

Hunter Kavanaugh, on the other hand, has overcome the instability of his teenage years to forge his own path. He’s made something of himself by his own grit and determination, and he measures his worth in terms of his success and the things it provides him.

When these two literally run into each other outside their building, his grumpy disposition, and obvious high-powered job, leave Shannon unimpressed. No matter how handsome he might be, she has no intention of getting to know this neighbor any better.

But God …

When these two meet up again, a friendship blossoms. Her heart threatens to take her somewhere she’s never been before, but his unbelief gives her the perfect reason to keep her emotional distance.

When God gave me this story concept, I was a little intimidated. Would I be able to convey the heart of a good man who didn’t have faith? Would I be able to flesh out a woman who had an abundance of faith yet still harbored shame from her past?

But as I started writing this story, I fell in love with these two and their journey to discover the true measure of their worth … and the true measure of love.

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, August 2 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, August 3 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 4

Artistic Nobody, August 5 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 6

Guild Master, August 7 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 8

Fiction Book Lover, August 9 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, August 10

Vicky Sluiter, August 11 (Author Interview)

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, August 11

Texas Book-aholic, August 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 12

For the Love of Literature, August 13 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 14 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 15 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54274

"Just a Piece of Stone" by Mary Ann Hake -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Just a Piece of Stone

Author: Mary Ann Hake

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Adventure Novel

Release Date: April 29, 2025

A Special Stone—A Family Legacy

Suspense and a Hint of the Supernatural

Travel backward in time as the Goldberg family experiences moments of history—including the Holocaust, meeting Leonardo Da Vinci, castles, knights, battles, and thefts. They also face kidnapping, explore caves, flee as refugees, and live under various conquerors. Just a Piece of Stone begins in the United States and moves to Europe and Asia, with each chapter sharing a story about a different boy in a different time period. From grandfather to grandson for thousands of years, Just a Piece of Stone travels the world. Join the adventure!

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I am more of a pantser or discovery writer. I have the beginning and the ending in mind when I
write a story and some things that will be included. But I am not a detailed outliner before I
begin. I find inspiration as I write. The thrill of words flowing on the page to express what my
mind has conceived amazes me. The creative process takes on a life of its own, it seems.

What is your favorite part about writing?
I love the imagining and creative process. It’s like partnering with God to bring something new
into existence. This thrills the soul and lifts the spirit. In addition, although not my favorite, I like
to see the polishing of a manuscript pay off and turn rough writing into something that flows
well and expresses the message of the heart. This is also a beautiful thing.
Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?
I wish I were more organized. I have things written on scraps of paper and in notebooks, and
ideas for future projects stashed in folders and also some saved on the computer. I need to go
through them all and decide what I may still pursue.

When did you become a writer?
I longed to write as soon as I learned to put words into sentences on paper. My mother read to us
often when I was little, and I think this contributed to my love of storytelling. In grade school, I
enjoyed writing assignments, and sometimes I got to read a story to the class. In high school,
English teachers encouraged my writing. But I was too shy and not confident to send my work in
for publication. The few things I did submit were rejected, further undermining my confidence. I
got married young and became a mom and focused on raising my girls. When we homeschooled,
I thought I would have more time for my own writing, which I had mostly set aside. I gradually
began to have pieces published in periodicals and then in compilation books, then work for hire
writing curricula and other things. Now I have award-winning picture books about a blind girl,
and my first published novel, Just a Piece of Stone, released April 29 as a #1 new release in
multiple categories.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Ideas come from anywhere, really. Sometimes something just pops into my mind, maybe a fun
concept or a question, such as, What would happen if . . . ? Some ideas come from dreams, like
one award-winning short story I wrote. Others come from life, whether personal experiences,
observations, or things we notice others say and do. If you’re open to receiving them, ideas are
endless.

Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
Yes, I don’t think we can help but put some of ourselves and those familiar to us into our
characters. Much is universal, but some quirks or expressions or incidents might be used in a
book. A Young Adult novel I’m working on has a teen’s faith journey loosely patterned after my
own experience of coming to the Lord and later becoming a Conservative Mennonite. I think we
are gifted in life with material to incorporate in our stories but should do so in a positive way, not
to the detriment of anyone who might see themselves in what we write.

About the Author

Mary Ann Hake has published hundreds of stories, articles, poems, puzzles, devotions, curricula, and more (for both children and adults) in periodicals and books plus hundreds of book reviews online. Just a Piece of Stone is her first published novel. The first two picture books in her series about a blind girl, The Smells of the Seasons, received the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award and were featured on the Arkansas PBS summer literacy program, Rise and Shine. She has worked in a bookstore and as a librarian and enjoyed reading to children at story times and conducting summer reading programs. She has also taught writing to children and at writers’ conferences. She continues to work as a freelance editor along with her writing. She and her husband live in beautiful Oregon.

More from Mary

About eight years ago I had an idea: What would happen if a boy found a stone during the time of Moses during the Israelites wandering in the desert and the stone was handed down from generation to generation? I’m not going to say exactly where the rock came from because that’s part of the suspense in the book as readers try to figure out its origin, which is revealed in the final chapter.

So I looked up the approximate date of the Israelites in the Wilderness after leaving Egypt and then figured out how many generations there might be to the present day and the ages of the boys and the grandfathers in each chapter. I decided the stone would be handed down from grandfather to grandson and they would be blessed with long lives so there wouldn’t be too many chapters in the book. It was like putting a puzzle together. I originally planned fifty chapters then realized in the midst of writing that this would be too long for the age group, so I changed to thirty-five, with Old Testament ancestors summarized in the chapter prior to the finale.

I also chose to start the story in the present day with a boy getting a mysterious stone in the mail then go backward in time all the way to the days of Moses. I came up with a list of character names, gleaned from the Bible and historical info, and looked at timelines to choose dates of interesting historical events and places for the chapters’ settings.

This took years researching time periods and culture, and I learned so much. I read, watched videos, and listened to an oral history by a Holocaust survivor, whose facts I used in the chapter set in Nazi Germany. I saved dozens of pages of notes and pictures. Since the original character who found the stone was a Hebrew, I kept the family Jewish throughout the novel. So, in addition to intriguing historical tidbits and accurate locations for Jewish settlements and refugee situations, I incorporated Jewish culture and customs. I also gave the characters appropriate occupations for the settings. A glossary at the back provides pronunciations and definitions of unfamiliar words.

From chapter 2 on each chapter features the boyhood of the grandfather from the previous chapter as we move continue to move backward through time. In the Kindle version, you can click to go to any chapter you wish. Each chapter offers a separate short story within the entire family saga about the prized stone. Throughout the historical tale, we witness God’s protection and care for His followers. I also tried to model people of diverse backgrounds getting along, except, of course, for the authentic historical incidents and battles included.

Last summer when we visited Oregon’s Painted Hills, I met three generations of a Jewish family on vacation. The son is a rabbi and a mohel from New York. I told them about my story and enjoyed visiting with them. He told me the stone should be sapphire, so I changed its color to blue.

A publisher expressed interest early on, but never followed through. An agent said my writing was beautiful but declined representation. The unpublished manuscript was a finalist in the Cascade Writers Contest in 2020. Children who read the chapters one by one begged for more and for the book to be published. Eventually, Elk Lake Publishing offered me a contract then came rewriting and polishing amid many family crises. It takes much time to write, rewrite, and prepare a book for publication. I love the cover Elk Lake created for Just a Piece of Stone.

The tale is great for homeschoolers and as a teachers’ resource, which could be a launch for students’ history projects. I am working on puzzles and activities to accompany the novel and will make these available on my website and to newsletter subscribers. I am also available for online visits with classes or to teach writing to children.