Shannon here: J.L. Burrows shares insight into her real life romance and her characters’, along with a chance to win an ebook copy of her Futuristic Novel, FreeFalling. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Aug 4 – 23 to enter the drawing for August Book Bundle 1, including J.L.’s book plus five other titles. Deadline: Aug 23rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s J.L.:
Finding Faith in the Future:
It’s incredible to think about how far we’ve come from my childhood in the 80s and 90s till now. Computers, then cell phones, took the world by storm. Was it good, bad, or neither? Is progress something to strive for?
In FreeFalling, we fast forward a hundred and eighty years into the future, into a world decimated by war, controlled by the wildly rich and powerful, and where those in control dictate both thought and belief. How might God penetrate such a broken society? Where would hope come from? How might faith blossom?
When I started working on FreeFalling, I wanted two scriptures to be the guide, to really delve into how truth can impact some of the darkest settings and how God’s love might pursue us when there is so little truth to learn from.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. John 16:13
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
What came out of this exploration of God’s truth and man’s potential future thrilled me. Of course, there are drones and tech beyond our wildest imaginations, a snarky AI, but there were also sweet moments with a stray German Shepherd, great friendships, soul searching, and the importance of planting a seed for God to nurture and develop.
There’s much of my life in this book. Serenity is a teacher who is determined to protect her students. As a high school English teacher myself, I’ve spent a great deal of time thinking about how I might react if an intruder came in to hurt my students. I’ve sat behind a locked door with a class hiding in the corner and a gunman in the school building. I’ve also listened to people who have never been in the classroom pontificate solutions and use the classroom as a political chess piece. In these difficult times, I’ve had my faith to guide me. Without it, I’d never have made it this far.
Faith and love are integral to our relationship with God, and in every one of my favorite stories, no matter how much the characters have to battle through to survive, there’s a beautiful romance. Serenity finds love in the most unlikely of places, as the still small voice in her heart directs her path and sends her on a journey she’d never imagined for herself alongside a man she first counted as an enemy but eventually found a family in.
It takes a long time to build trust in another when everyone in her world is lying, but Serenity discovers the path to truth, finds faith like her grandfather told her about, and uncovers love where she once only believed hate lived. Because we serve a God that is bigger than any technological advance, whose voice will find us where we are, and whose love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle, faith will always find a way to our hearts in the greatest love story ever even in the most technologically advanced future.
Real Life Interview:
- How soon after meeting your spouse did you know he was the one?
I had no idea my husband was the one. Three months into dating my now husband of twenty-three years, a friend of mine asked me how serious our relationship was, and I predicted it wouldn’t last. Since then, we’ve weathered several storms, battled his bout with terminal brain cancer that he survived, and miraculously God has carried us through every single moment.
- Who is most romantic, you or your spouse?
I am the romantic at heart, but he is the one who buys the flowers, sweets, and makes me coffee each morning before I leave to teach for the day.
- What is the most caring thing your spouse has ever done for you?
For me, it’s not in a single grand gesture, or a moment that demonstrates one’s caring nature. It’s in everyday monotony. The struggle to make life. Those moments when you are sitting on the rocking chairs on the back porch and watching the hummingbirds drink nectar from your intentionally planted, hummingbird friendly flower garden, and he’s just sitting beside me doing life and rest with me. I think this truth is reflected in Freefalling as the characters are busy fighting for their lives, they don’t have a lot of time to do the traditional things, but in the stillness between battles they find ways to bring joy and tenderness to one another’s lives in a world that is outright hostile.
Character Interview:
- How soon after meeting the hero did the heroine know he was the one?
Like me, Serenity was attracted to Mack, but she didn’t see him as an option. He was the enemy, fighting for a government that was too flawed to even know how to care for its citizens anymore. So she was completely unaware.
- How soon after meeting the heroine did the hero know she was the one?
Mack fell in love at first sight. Serenity was doing everything he’d dreamed of doing but never had the courage to do. He fell in love with her commitment to her convictions and her bravery in the face of impossible odds. But Mack is a very guarded character and his feelings are only hinted at in FreeFalling, but his point of view is fully flushed out in Awakening, book two coming out May 2026.
- Who is most romantic, your hero or your heroine?
Mack is a character dedicated to protecting those he loves. He doesn’t buy flowers, or gift chocolates. He stands in front of Serenity, willing to take a laser blast, willing to fight to the death if need be.
J.L. again: I love to chat with readers! Ask me questions, let me know what you loved about FreeFalling, what made you cringe, what made you turn the pages faster…
Question for Readers: Which character’s journey in the story reminded you of your own walk with God? Does the idea of redemption through or despite technology intrigue or concern you and why?
August Book Bundle 1 Giveaway
Hill Country Redemption by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Contemporary Romance, Print U.S. only
Counting on the Cowboy by Shannon Taylor Vannatter & Her Texas Cowboy by Jill Lynn, 2 in 1 Contemporary Romance, Print U.S only
Noble: The Story of Maakah by Mesu Andrews, Print U.S. only, Biblical Fiction
Trinity Shore by Jen Dodrill, Sharon H. Carpenter, & Deborah Sprinkle, Print signed by all three authors. U.S. only, Romantic Suspense
FreeFalling by J.L. Burrows, e-book U.S. only, Futuristic Christian Fiction
About J.L.: J.L. Burrows has a master’s degree in education and has taught English in Tennessee for nearly twenty years. She is the author of seven Christian speculative novels, a member of the ACFW, an editor for Scrivenings Press, a columnist and reviewer for Clean Fiction Magazine, and sponsor for both Charis a local Smyrna writing group and her high school’s Creative Writing Club. When she’s not helping her high school daughter and college son, both juniors, she’s taking care of her sweet Shiapoos who require miles of tender love and care. And when the sun is set and the day is done, you’ll find her living the thrills of a thousand characters. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – FreeFalling (Book 1 in the Reconditioned series): 
Under the Dome, peace reigns … forcefully.
One hundred and eighty years in the future, the U.S. government eradicates warfare and violence.
Serenity should feel safe, but she doesn’t.
Serenity Knowles knows two things for certain. Finishing her government assigned community service as a teacher is mandatory in order to start her adult life. And stopping those in power from reconditioning two of her favorite students will ruin her chances at a future and a life.
Everything she thought she once knew to be true, suddenly is now in question after her typically peaceful girls fight in plain view of everyone at school. The Federal Bureau of Acceptance storms in and collects them both for reconditioning—chemical brain washing. With no one to help, Serenity is driven into a wild rescue and escape plan. The girls can’t be made into shadow children, brainwashed and limited to a menial future.
All that stands between the overreaching government and her girls is Serenity’s budding faith, a furry beast companion, her modified illegal AI, and a ragtag group of men and women set against the use of cutting edge technology and genetically modified bio-weapons on citizens under the Dome. If any of them get caught, they will be reconditioned. If they don’t move fast enough, the girls will be lost. If she doesn’t become a hero, any hope of a real future will be forfeit.
In her transformation from a teacher with a broken family to a radical defector leading a team of rebels, Sere discovers America’s deadliest threat—its own government.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in J.L.’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
Come back August 16th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
Thank you for the interview!
Nice to “meet” you and hear about this book! I’m relating to Mack. He sounds like a soft-hearted, good guy 🙂
This book sounds fascinating!
I have a winner! Blossom Eniola Dopamu won the drawing for my August Book Bundle #1. I appreciate J.L. for being my guest and everyone who stopped by.
Since Blossom is international, I’m sending her my books. For the rest of the giveaway, Sherall Cornwell is the winner.