Shannon here: Contemporary Romance author, Paula Mowery shares the inspiration for her latest release, For Our Good. Comment or answer the question at the end of any post dated Sept 28 – Oct 2 to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: Oct 10th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Paula:
The first inspiration for writing For Our Good was from my father. He had a mysterious man approach him while working at the airport, just like Colton and Marshall do in the story. (He turned the man down, just like Marshall does.) Not long after remembering Dad’s story, I saw a story on our news about an airplane downed in a local lake and this became part of the story also.
Being a pastor’s wife, I’ve experienced the heartbreak of discovering that a church member was involved in something completely opposite to what is expected of a Christian. I’ve observed this wrecking not only the person’s testimony but his family as well. Sadly, I’ve specifically seen drugs infiltrate a family and split it apart. Though we live in what would be considered a small town in East Tennessee, we have seen way too much occur in the drug scene here.
There is also a character who deals with infertility which is based on my personal experience.
The title For Our Good comes from the verse from Romans 8:28. This title and scripture seemed to fit in with the theme well. The characters in For Our Good must learn that not everything that happens in life is good, but God can bring good from even the darkest of situations.
About Paula: Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessing from Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. Be The Blessing won the Selah Award in 2014 in the novella category. In November of 2013, her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. This book went to number five on Amazon’s bestseller category, historical Christian romance. Legacy and Love was her first solo romance and was a finalist in the Carolyn Readers Choice Awards in 2015.
Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blog, Full Flavored Living. She wrote a section for Join the Insanity by Rhonda Rhea. She has devotionals included in several collaborative books.
As an acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group, Paula particularly looks for romance stories with Christian values at its core. She’s especially attracted to those manuscripts that leave the reader mulling over the story long after turning the last page.
Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and is on the author interview team. She was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference faculty.
Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.
You can follow Paula at www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Mowery/175869562589187. Learn more about Paula at her blog at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com or enjoy her monthly columns on www.christianonlinemagazine.com. You can also check out her blog for Christian writers at www.ccwcu.blogspot.com.
About the book: Charlie Jarvis is haunted by loss that fuels her desire to rid the world of drug traffickers. When her next assignment takes her back to her hometown, she has to confront her painful past. She has no interest in a relationship since God seems to kill everyone she loves.
Colton Thomas appreciates material things and the status of being a corporate pilot. When someone approaches him to deliver a package for a large sum of money that could wipe out his debts, temptation knocks loud on his door even as his partner, Marshall, slams it shut. Meeting Charlie challenges his non-committal stance with women. As he considers who he has become and the kind of man he would want to be for Charlie, he confronts his own shallow lifestyle and the fear that he would never be able to help her heal her wounds.
As Charlie pursues the man causing young boys to die of overdoses, she struggles with the secrets she keeps from Colton. With people around them shining the light of God and encouraging their courtship, both Charlie and Colton have to face hard truths about life, death, love, and faith. And maybe find a fresh start for them both.
Question for Readers: Do you travel by plane? Why or why not?
Come back Oct 5th for Valerie Comer!
The first time I traveled by plane was in my 30’s.(I am 55 now) I got sick on the first flight. But, after that, I loved flying. That was back when the pilots could show a first timer the cockpit and even give out special “wings”. Things have changed in the past few years and we don’t fly unless we absolutely have no other choice.
Have never flown but would love to try someday
Melissa and Shelia, I grew up going to the airport and flying with my dad as the pilot. I guess as a kid you think everybody has the same experience as you do. I will tell you that it was a different story when I had to fly on an airplane all the way to Africa. My daddy wasn’t flying the plane, and that made me a little nervous. I made it, but I prefer my dad in control.
Our travels are by plane, although I really prefer road trips!
I have a winner! Melissa Henderson won the drawing. I appreciate Paula for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.