Welcome Christian Author, Stephanie Guerrero Q & A

Stephanie Guerrero has a passion both for living real-life adventures and for the power of writing a redemptive story. She specializes in adventure romance! When not writing, she enjoys hiking, travel, exploring, research, and all things chocolate. Christ is her inspiration in all things. Her husband and four children make "living the adventure" a joy.

On the side, she is co-founder of Sister 2 Sister Women's Ministries and has actively ministered to children or students for 30 years. A member of ACFW and a former educator of middle school reading & writing, she loves to continue to hear from her readers!

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https://shadesoftheorient.wordpress.com/

   Tell me about yourself. What got you started writing?

           I have always been an avid reader of Christian fiction and graduated with an education degree specializing in reading, but… When my husband and I got pregnant with our first child, he supported my decision to invest in being a stay-at-home mom. Best decision I’ve made, but my overactive mind needed more than playtime in the baby/toddler years.

          I woke up one day with an idea to start writing my own book. I promised myself I would finish and submit it whether I ever got published or not. Many other things took priority, so it took several years, but I finished it!

     How did you come up with your book idea? What inspired you?

        Promise of Gold was inspired by my great-grandfather who died during the Spanish Flu Epidemic after carrying the workload for all the farm families around his own. At age 37, he left behind seven children. My grandmother was the baby and nearly buried with him since she contracted the Spanish flu as well. This book uses the names of many of my relatives alive during the time period. 

    What was the most difficult part of writing this book? How did you overcome this difficulty?

         When my publisher asked for a book set in the Roaring Twenties, I was excited, anticipating a lively, exciting time. However, in my research, I discovered the root of the “carefree” lifestyles. Between WWI, mumps, measles, polio, and finally the Spanish Flu killing nearly 100,000,000, yes, you read correctly… the Flu ALONE (without the wars or other illnesses) killed nearly 1/5 of the global population. The lifespan of most individuals was 35-45 years! SO MUCH SORROW, that the U.S. developed an attitude of “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you may die!”

          It was difficult to study, but now I see it prepared me for the challenges of today. And there were great times as well… King Tut’s tomb discovery among them! I LOVE Promise of Gold because it showcases the hope!

    Who is your favorite character from the novel? What about them makes them your favorite?

          I LOVE the character of Lillie-Mae because no matter how many times life knocks her down, she just gets back up and chooses to let God grow and lead her. She changes a lot.

         But I have to say that Web Dudley… the hero is truly my inspiration. He NEVER changes! He’s rock steady, always chooses right. He has one major moment when things get to him, and he can be a bit thick in understanding when God is trying to get his attention, (so can I); yet he always does chooses the right path.

      Do your characters (or message) ever seem to have a life of their own or agenda?

         Very much! Though in life I am a fairly organized, detailed person, I LOVE writing by the seat of my pants. It helps characters come to life and change the direction of the story in ways that surprise even me!

    How has writing this book impacted you personally?

          I’ve learned to endure… I’ve learned to look at setbacks as challenges, to have compassion for those less fortunate around me.

     How many books do you currently have published? What genres?

                Currently, I have ten books published with four more coming out in the next 6 months. 

              I’ve written: Historical, Contemporary, Suspense, intrigue, royal romances, billionaire romance, westerns, and more! 

Be watching for:

The Highlander’s Prize- 15^th century historical set in Scotland

Taken By Surprise- A 1900 historical suspense in The Old West

Nutcraker Cottage- A Christmas contemporary set in Colorado

    What is your favorite thing about writing? Your least favorite?
I
                   I get excited when the characters come to life, and I always put some sort of twist just for fun.

What authors in your genre inspire you most?

           Linda Windsor is an amazing author for Irish historical, but she writes great contemporary humor as well.

          Dee Henderson for suspense and personality details

What would you tell a beginning author who wants to publish but doesn’t believe he/she has enough talent?

      Putting your writing out there for critique is like having someone tell you that your precious baby is ugly! It’s okay!

      Some of my favorite authors have been rejected by publishers even after they were published authors of dozens of books. Sometimes, it just takes the right publisher. Don’t be afraid to ask another author for helpful suggestions. Even the toughest ones can make you a better writer, but keep in mind… what one critic hates, another loves. Grow, Learn, Write. The biggest tip…JUST KEEP WRITING!

Thank you for allowing me to share today!

Thanks, Stephanie for sharing with everyone!

All that glitters is not gold’ in the Roaring Twenties, or is it…?

This romantic suspense swirls with glamor and intrigue in a world gone wild.

Amidst discoveries of a pharaoh’s untold riches and a mad rush to develop atomic weapons, Mae Simmons simply longs for someone to see beyond appearances to her heart. Neglected by family, society, and especially the fellas… she feels invisible!

Yet Webster Dudley, captain of the baseball team and heir to Dudley Industries is different. Mae catches his eye. Claiming her in front of his whole social set, he bestows his coveted gold class ring on the social outcast. Too soon, the War to End All Wars rips him far away into the world of industrial espionage, leaving Mae with nothing but his ring and golden promises.

Then her physicist father is murdered for his Atomic designs. 

Forced to enter the silence of protective custody, Mae is invisible again. Can Web see past appearances once more? Time is running out to discover where the promise of gold truly lies.

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Welcome Christian Author, Debbie Lynne Costello Spotlight & Giveaway

Debbie Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told.

 She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children's Director. She loves the Lord and hopes people will be uplifted and inspired by her writing.

Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In their spare time, she and her husband take pleasure in camping and riding their Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.

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Amnesia can numb your pain…

…. unless it gets you killed.

A freak earthquake upends Olivia’s world, while two men claim her love. When her memory begins to return in bits and pieces, Olivia discovers embezzlement. With danger lurking all around her, she must continue the charade of amnesia. But will time run out on her before she uncovers the truth?

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MY REVIEW

Shattered Memories kept me engaged from the first chapter. The author's descriptions of the city of Charleston after the quake and how the citizens handled the aftermath made me feel as though I was experiencing it with them. The historical aspect of the story made it come alive.

I loved the character of Olivia and her courage to hang on to hope even though the amnesia clouded her judgment. Andrew was compassionate and loving in spite of feeling the love of his life drifting away from him. There were a lot of tense moments between them which created anticipation of what would happen next and kept the suspense going.

Lloyd, on the other hand, was cunning, underhanded, and went to no end to get what he wanted. The perfect villain.

There are beautiful lessons in God's love entwined throughout the pages of the story that make the reader stop and ponder over them. The unfolding love story weaved within the pages in spite of a lot of deceptions, brings forth a wonderful ending that wraps up nicely.

I received the book as a gift and voluntarily choose to review it.




Giveaway

The author is giving away one copy of the winner's choice of her novels/novellas. Print or ebook.  If "Sword of Forgiveness"  is chosen, there is an audio copy available for the giveaway. 


The winner will be chosen from the comments to this post through Random.org.  

Welcome Christian Author, Kathy Ide

Kathy Ide is the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, and the Capitalization Dictionary and the editor/compiler of the Fiction Lover’s Devotional series.

She’s a professional freelance editor and writers’ conference director. 

She owns Christian Editor Network, parent company to The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, Christian Editor Connection, The PEN Institute, and PENCON, which she founded.

For more, visit KathyIde.com.



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Successful writers spend a lot more time editing than they do writing. They know that first drafts need extensive revisions to ensure their stories or messages come across clearly and effectively.


In this book, you’ll find a wealth of suggestions from best-selling authors who have studied editing techniques and implemented them in their books, which have touched the hearts and lives of readers around the world.


If you’re an aspiring, beginning, or intermediate writer, this book will help you polish your manuscript and get it ready for publication. If you’re an established author, these tips can help you edit other writers’ manuscripts, either in a critique group setting or as an editorial freelancer.


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Fiction Lover’s Devotionals

21 Days of Grace

Christians have long loved devotionals, but today’s Christians are also developing a strong love for fiction. They want to read stories about characters they can relate to, who experience situations similar to their own, and learn from those examples how to live out their faith. For them, life lessons are more easily absorbed this way.

21 Days of Grace fits all of these needs. It is a collection of engaging, inspirational short fiction stories written by new, intermediate, and well-known authors including Angela Hunt, Deborah Rainey, Cindy Woodsmall, Cecil Murphey, Robin Bayne, and more.


Like Jesus’ parables, these stories deal with important life issues in a subtle, unpressured manner. And, as Jesus did, the authors follow up with life applications based on the stories, suggesting how the inherent lessons can be applied to the reader’s daily life.

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21 Days of Joy
Oh, the joys—and struggles—of motherhood!

21 Days of Joy honors mothers of all varieties. Biological moms. Adoptive moms. Stepmothers. Grandmothers. Godmothers. “Second moms.” Even men who “mother” children when circumstances put them in that position.
Whether you are a mother, have one, or know one, these heartwarming fictional stories will touch your soul and help you see that you are not alone. The work you’re doing will have an impact for eternity. And those rewards will make the trials all worthwhile.

God knows every sacrifice you make for the children He has brought into your life. So take a few moments out of your busy schedule to read this book, and get a glimpse of your daily routine from a divine perspective.

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21 Days of Love

Love can be found in many treasured relationships: boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife, parent-child … with a special friend, teacher, or pet … in the kindness of a stranger. We even have a national holiday to celebrate love.
The greatest love ever known is God’s abundant love for us, His children. And He often demonstrates that perfect love through imperfect people.

These stories represent all kinds of love. Woven through each story is the sustaining hand of our loving heavenly Father. On Valentine’s Day—and every day—whether your life is chocolates and flowers or loneliness and pain … let these stories fill your heart with hope, peace, and most important, love.

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21 Days of Christmas

Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is a time to recapture the joy and wonder of God’s greatest gift: His Son, Jesus.


21 Days of Christmas will warm your heart with stories about giving, loving, and family. These engaging tales celebrate the hope and joy that make this blessed season unique. At the end of each story, you’ll find an insightful message that will help you discover anew the true meaning of this special time of year. 

So grab a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick, curl up in your favorite chair beside a picture window overlooking a serene spot, and savor the true meaning of Christmas through these inspirational and encouraging stories.

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Cover Reveal "A Ranger for the Twins" by Tanya Agler-Just Reads Publicity Tours LLC

Coming Oct 2020

She fell from grace…

Before falling for him

When her husband defrauded the town of Hollydale, now-divorced mom Lucie Decker went from being the town darling to total pariah. Now she’s launching a new business and needs ranger Caleb Spindler’s help. And her twins adore Caleb. After all, he’s a genuine hero—even if he is hiding a secret. But while Lucie’s heart has forgotten how to trust, it still remembers how to fall in love…


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To Enter the Giveaway

Review of "Wild Montana Skies" by Susan May Warren

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.

Of her books, Publisher's Weekly has written, "Warren lays bare her characters' human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness."

Author Amazon Profile

Search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing is home on leave in Mercy Falls, Montana, twelve years after she joined the military to escape the mistakes of her past. With a job waiting for her as the new lead pilot of Peak Rescue in Glacier National Park, Kacey hopes to reconnect with the now-teenage daughter she sees only between deployments. What she doesn't realize is that someone else is also back in town.

Ben King has been building his country music career since the day Kacey shut him out of her life. Now all of that's on hold when his injured father calls him home to help run Peak Rescue until he's fully recovered. It doesn't take long, though, to discover his father's ulterior motives as Kacey Fairing walks into the house and back into his heart.

With Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben are forced to work together to save lives. But when floodwaters turn personal, can they put aside the past to save their future?



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My Review

The storyline in this book is one of forgiveness, complicated relationships, and courage to trust in God when everything seems to be coming apart.

The characters were well-developed and I found myself feeling like being on a runaway roller coaster, not knowing which way the characters would react next. Their flaws were so real and before long I felt as though I really knew them.

There were lots of tense suspenseful moments and some tender ones that made me smile to myself. The ending wrapped everything up nicely and was happy and uplifting. The references to God and the characters' struggles with their faith seemed very real.

A very enjoyable read and highly recommended.

Review of The Edge of Destiny by Emma Easter

Like the characters in her stories, Emma Easter juggles a range of identities.

In the low-income community where she works, Easter is known as a family medicine physician who treats patients of all ages and backgrounds, including those who've been historically under-served by the healthcare system. But it's less known that she's also experienced life on the opposite end of the stethoscope as a cancer patient, now in remission.

College friends see her as an accomplished musician, having studied and mastered five classical instruments--but behind closed doors, she's just as comfortable rocking an air guitar to Creed. And when she isn't giving her heart, soul, and sanity to her three young children she's indulging in her most secret identity of all: meeting new characters, crafting fresh plots, and exploring every corner of her imagination.

Across all these different roles, one cohesive thread has tied everything together: her faith and love of Jesus Christ.

The Sisters of Rosefield is Easter's first series, soon to be followed by a second, The Destiny Series. Both center around themes close to Easter's heart: The importance of family, the redemption of true love, and the power of faith through harrowing adversity.

Emma Easter loves hearing from her readers. 

You can reach her at EmmaEaster.com

INTRIGUE, ROMANCE, AND THE LOVE OF GOD – AUTHOR OF THE SISTERS OF ROSEFIELD, EMMA EASTER, INTRODUCES A NEW SET OF FLAWED AND LOVEABLE CHARACTERS IN THE DESTINY SERIES.

Back in Fallow Creek, Rachel and her husband Keith are overwhelmed by the amount of people that have continued to leave the community since she has stepped into the leadership role.

Lily is a reserved and conservative young woman who escaped life in polygamous community Fallow Creek. She is living with her friend Sofia and voices her concern over her lifestyle choices, but Sofia doesn’t want to hear it and instead Lily decided to move out.

Shortly after moving out, Lily meets Taylor, a wealthy businessman, widower, and former member of the Fallow Creek Community. He finds himself deep in thought as he prepares for his upcoming business trip to Tucson, Arizona. He thinks of his late wife and how he wishes he had spent more time with his family instead of being so wrapped up in making plans for marrying a second wife. Taylor and Lily’s relationship quickly grows and leads to a proposal no one saw coming…

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MY REVIEW

Book 3 in the Destiny series is just as entertaining as the first two and a continuation of the happenings at Fallow Creek.

Lily, one of the women from Fallow Creek meets up with someone from her past. Unhappy with her life, and missing the normalcy of how it used to be, she makes a decision that will alter her life forever.

There is a strong sense of faith entwined throughout the story. I love how through the characters' struggles, the reader gets glimpses of their growth.

The Edge of Destiny has lots of tension, surprises at every turn, and an ending you won't see coming. Another page-turner and one you won't be able to put down. I can't wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Welcome, Christian Author, C.J. Darlington

C. J. has been in love with reading since she was a kid dragging home bags of books from the library. When she was twelve she started dreaming about becoming a published author. That dream came true when her first novel Thicker than Blood won a national writing contest. It became the first book in the Thicker than Blood series, which also includes Bound by Guilt, Ties that Bind and Running on Empty.

She has also written Jupiter Winds and Jupiter Storm the first and second books in the Jupiter Winds series. Her children's fantasy Alison Henry and the Creatures of Torone will release in June.

 C. J. lives in Pennsylvania with her family, their menagerie of dogs, a tabby cat, and a Paint mare named Sky.

Author Page on Amazon

 The Thicker than Blood Collection includes Books 1-4 in the Thicker than Blood series. While each book stands entirely on its own, we suggest reading them in order.

Thicker than Blood (Book 1)

Bound by Guilt (Book 2)

Ties that Bind (Book 3)

Running on Empty (Book 4)

These contemporary Christian fiction novels tell the stories of hurting people in need of redemption. They struggle, they hurt, but through it all, they come to realize that God's love truly is thicker than blood.

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Jupiter Winds

Book  1

Ever since Grey Alexander’s parents disappeared five years ago, she’s had one goal—to keep herself and her younger sister Rin alive. But surviving in the North American Wildlife Preserve isn’t easy, especially for the unconnected who can be shot on sight by border patrol robot drones. Through the guidance of their eccentric old neighbor Mrs. March, Grey and Rin get through by smuggling contraband into the Mazdaar government’s city zones.

But when Grey is captured by the merciless General Evangeline Yurkutz and is forced to become bait for her mother and father, she questions everything she thought she knew about her life in the Preserve and her missing parents. Is it possible Jupiter isn’t uninhabitable? And could this planet, whose sky swirls with orange vapors and where extinct-on-Earth creatures roam free, hold the key to reuniting her family?

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Jupiter Storm

Book 2

Only a week ago Grey Alexander thought she and her sister were orphans. And like everyone else she believed Jupiter was uninhabitable. Now she’s standing on its surface, reunited with her mom and dad, and on the brink of an interplanetary war.

The government of Mazdaar is ruthlessly determined to claim Jupiter like they already have Earth, but Grey has joined her parents and Commander Fleur March in the Yien Dynasty’s resistance effort. Jupiter, where extinct animals roam free and seem to have an uncanny ability to communicate with her sister, is the last hope for the freedom of mankind.

When Mazdaar unexpectedly descends with a fleet of their terrifying Triangle jets, Grey and her family barely escape with their lives. Cut off from reinforcements and traveling in a ship full of strangers, who can they trust? Surely not Dana Yurkutz, the traitorous prisoner who even though she inexplicably saved Grey’s life is still loyal to Mazdaar.

Deception is their enemy’s most powerful weapon and light and darkness soon blur on this new frontier. Nothing is as it first seems, and Grey and Dana must each choose sides before it’s too late.

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The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey

When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker on the first drilling platform off the North Carolina coast, Coast Guard investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are sent to take the case. Tensions surrounding the oil rig are high and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the structure from being completed, while rumors are being whispered about ancient curses surrounding this part of the ocean.

Mounting evidence shows the death may not have been an accident at all. Was he killed by one of the activists or, perhaps more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only a plethora of suspects but also their own past and attraction to each other.

Just as the case seems like it'll break open, worse news arrives. A tropical storm has turned their way and soon they're cut off from any rescue--and right where the killer wants them. It's a race to discover his identity before he eliminates the threat they pose.


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Author Amazon Page


MY REVIEW


The Crushing Depths is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that takes you on a roller-coaster ride of suspense.

The characters are riveting, quirky, sassy, and relentless in their investigations. I enjoyed the playful banter, and the unpredictable relationships that grew from characters at first that seemed just part of the team. I loved the way the author gave a glimpse into each character's faith in God and how they handled each situation because of it.

The suspense buildup from a shortlist of suspects to a large growing list of possibilities, kept me entertained and guessing. Throw in sabotage aboard an oil drilling platform, an impending storm, and all bets were off.

I literally was on the edge-of-my-seat as one twist after another developed. I was guessing right up to the end. An amazing read and highly recommended.

I received an ARC from the author and voluntarily choose to review it.

Review of "Don't Keep Silent" by Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard, the author of the Uncommon Justice Series, is launching Book 3- "Don't Keep Silent" and publishing today, June 30th.  If you haven't purchased your copy yet, you don't want to miss it!

Investigative reporter Rae Burke will do anything to find her missing sister-in-law, even if it means facing Liam McKade, a man who almost lost his life saving hers. A former DEA agent, Liam thought he could find peace at his Wyoming ranch, but he just doesn't feel at home anywhere anymore. When the reporter who blew his cover on an important investigation inserts herself back into his life, he's less than thrilled. But Rae's keen investigative skills have led her down the right path--and directly into the dragon's mouth--leaving Liam no choice but to protect her. As the danger increases, the past they both tried to flee catches up to them, along with the feelings they once had for each other.

Bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard plunges you into a fast-paced, high-stakes story of honor, forgiveness, and justice.

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MY REVIEW

I absolutely couldn't put this book down. Don't Keep Silent is an adrenaline rush of suspense. The twists keep coming and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Rae and Liam's seemingly toxic relationship takes them to a new level when they are thrown back together again in a new dangerous situation. I kept wondering if they could solve the case and come out with their hearts intact. The character's bravery, yet vulnerability is challenged at every turn.

Everything becomes intertwined in their investigation and the past and present collide into a nightmare they could never have anticipated. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from the author and voluntarily choose to review it.