Shannon here: Sue A. Fairchild shares the inspiration behind her Contemporary Fiction title, Changing Tides. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Sept 2nd – 20th to enter the drawing for 4 books in my Sept Book Bundle #1. Deadline: Sept 27th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Sue:
My 2024 Christian contemporary novel, Changing Tides, explores the life of a widower a year after he loses his wife to cancer. And while this story does not contain an obvious romance element, the story behind the story does contain a romance aspect.
You see, my main character Gabe Pechman is an almost exact replica of my husband. My main goal in writing this story was to explore what would happen if I died before my husband. What would he do? How would he react? What choices would he make?
As I wrote Changing Tides, I interspersed actions and decisions for my character based on how I thought my husband would react. I can’t be sure, of course, because I’d have to be dead to really know! But I kept writing, making choices for my character, until one day, I thought … Wait. Why don’t I actually ask my husband how he thinks he’d react?
And I did.
Now, let me say it was uncomfortable for my husband to consider this scenario in his life. At first, he just kept saying, “This will never happen.” (He isn’t much for fiction. He tends to read all nonfiction stuff, so coaxing out his imagination is tough.) When I finally convinced him that I wanted to make my story as realistic as possible, he started to help me with various scenarios.
As I wrote, I kept my husband and his likes, dislikes, and personality in mind. But as I wrote, I began to notice an additional benefit. Our marriage was growing stronger as result of this process. I began to see my husband in a new light—not one where I held onto minor arguments or disagreements, but one where I started to understand him and his way of thinking. And although he thought my story a bit morbid at times, he also began to enjoy stepping into my writing world to help with the process—something completely foreign to him.
When the book was finished, my husband read it. This was the first book of mine that he had ever read. (I had three other self-published works at that time.) I watched as he read through the entire book in one sitting, hoping and praying that nothing I had written would upset him. When he closed the book, he didn’t give me much in the way of praise, so I had to prod him.
“What did you think?” I asked.
“Pretty accurate,” he said. “I even teared up a few times.”
The highest praise as my husband is not someone prone to these types of emotions.
As a result of following God’s direction in writing Changing Tides, I believe I’ve not only connected with my readers, but I’ve connected with my husband in a new and unique way. Now he understands me and my writing process a bit better, and I understand him and his love for me and our marriage a bit better. In this way, God strengthened our marriage and kept us moving in the direction He wants for our union.
I don’t believe everyone needs to write about their marriage in order to grow closer to their spouse, but I do believe every marriage needs God at the center in order to grow and thrive. And this is definitely an aspect I included for my characters Gabe and Ellie.
Reader Question: Why do enjoy Christian Fiction?
Sept Book Bundle Giveaway #1
A Texas Bond by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, print, Contemporary Romance
Sharktooth Island by Susan Page Davis, Linda Fulkerson, Elena Hill, and Deborah Sprinkle, print
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge: A Biography for Children by Susan Braun, ebook
A Very Bavarian Summer by Katie M. Reid, US. Only, Contemporary Romance, print
About Sue: Sue A. Fairchild is an editor, writer, and speaker. In 2024, Sue traditionally published two Christian Contemporary novels, one of which, Changing Tides, won honorable mention in the AWSA Golden Scrolls awards and was a finalist in the American Legacy Book Awards. When she is not writing her own books for God’s kingdom, Sue loves working with clients who are working toward the greater good of sharing God’s message in this world. Learn more & connect:
About the book – Changing Tides
The tide will come in no matter what you do.
Eventually it’ll swallow you up if you don’t move with it.
Gabriel Pechman has finally fulfilled his wife’s greatest dream — he’s quit his finance job and moved to the Outer Banks to live a life of peace and joy in the sun. Too bad his wife never lived to see it happen.
After Ellie’s untimely death at the age of fifty-two, Gabe seeks to fulfill her wishes. Doing so does not erase his grief, however, but sometimes increases his loneliness as he struggles to create a new life without his beloved wife.
The more he tries to fight the overwhelming grief he feels, the more it seems to haunt him. He soon discovers grief has no set end date and no set location — it follows you everywhere you go.
Living in paradise also doesn’t protect Gabe from fresh sorrow. When a new friend suffers a heart attack and Gabe has the urge to run away from his pain, can he overcome the constantly changing tides of grief to be the friend the new widow needs or will he succumb to the waves?
Interested in Sue’s book or her other titles? Get your copy/copies now!
Come back Sept 13th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
I enjoy Christian fiction because of the hope found in the stories. (Also for the “clean” aspect of most of the books.)
I like Christian fiction because of hope and a deeper understanding of faith.
I enjoy Christian fiction because of the hope it offers. Also because it’s safe from foul language and other unsavory content.
Because it brings glory to God!
I have a winner for my Sept Book Bundle #1. Kelly V. won the drawing! I appreciate Sue for being my guest and everyone else who stopped by.