Cynthia Ruchti: Up Close and Personal

Interview by Kelly Klepfer

Tell us a bit about your current project.

The book that just released is A Fragile Hope. In some ways, one might say it was a risky project. How does a woman write an emotion-packed contemporary novel with a male protagonist, a marriage in trouble—his own—and his wife’s point of view is “heard” only in mere snippets…for the whole book? And how can hope weave its way onto the pages of a novel with betrayal center stage?

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A Dog, A Monk and A Judge Walk Into a Book Store

Sorry. There is no punchline. But Ron has author wisdom to share involving all three of those elements. How could I resist?  

Meet Ron Marasco ...

What things would you do differently…

I think I would have liked to begin my writing career with the understanding I now have about editors. Older writers sometimes have negative and cautionary things to say to young writers about editors. But it has been my experience that your relationship with you editor can be one of the truly rich experiences of your working life as a writer. The key is to approach it as a naturally collaborative relationship—as it is—as opposed to an adversarial relationship--which it only is if it gets off on the wrong foot!

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What Love Requires, Y'all

By Michael Ehret

(Scene: Country radio studio where the host, Jimmy Guffey, is about to talk with New Yorker Patricia Talbot, sweetheart of bullriding star Talon Carlson, the hometown boy. Guffey has heard that Talbot has talked Carlson into giving up bullriding and, as a longtime fan, he wants to know why. See the contest offered after the post!)

Jimmy: This is Jimmy Guffey on KPLR, Praise the Lord for the Rodeo Radio, 104.3, on your FM dial. Today, on “Bustin’ Broncs for the Kingdom,” we’re talkin’ to Patricia Talbert, a New York hoity-toity social coordinator who’s fallen hard for our #1 rodeo hero, Talon Carlson, from right here in Stephenville, Texas.

Jimmy says this is a photo of Talon as a
young cowboy. There's no proof of that claim.

Talon, as y'all know, loves nothing more than bullridin’ and the rodeo, save perhaps The Man Upstairs, so when this longtime fan of his heard he was givin’ up bullridin’, well, I just knew there had to be more to this story and, as one of Talon’s biggest fans, I’m itchin’ to find out the truth.

So, Patty, what’s the scoop? Fill us in, if you can. I understand a gal name of Linda Yezak—she ain’t country, now, is she? Not with a name like Yezak. Anyway, I understand this Linda has told your and Talon’s story. So tell us what you told her. How’d you convince our Talon to leave the circuit?

Patricia: Well now Jimmy, Linda may not have been raised in the country, but she's always been country at heart. Her husband, on the other hand, was raised on a farm in central Texas. You want country? His family didn't have electricity until he was six. Now that's country!

You really want to know how I made Talon promise not to ride? Well, I decided to show him what it's like to watch someone he loved get thrown. I rode Mostro—the wildest steer on the Circle Bar Ranch.

Talon taught me how to ride bulls. Even though they were fairly tame, he made me ride them without a flank strap, which, as you know Jimmy, tends to make the ride more dangerous. I wanted the strap when I rode Mostro, but I didn't know what I was in for. It made him so mean and wild, he threw me into the next pen.

After watching me get tossed, Talon didn't think twice about making the promise. Of course, it helped that he was recovering from a concussion and a broken arm he'd received when Burnt Biscuit threw him into the ER not days before. Linda told about that event in Give the Lady a Ride.

Jimmy, there’s a Bible verse comes to mind. It’s 1 Corinthians 13:7 about all the things love does—and not all of them are easy! In fact, they can all be difficult when you think about it. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” I’ve been reading up on that lately, and when I think about it in connection to Talon and me, it gives me pause.

Jimmy: I’m glad you brought that up. As I understand it, you’re learning to put boots on that verse and walk it around the ranch, so to speak. Tell us about that. For instance, “Love bears all things.” What kinds of things are you willing to bear for love?

Patricia: I know what I can't bear—to see Talon hurt again. But it seems Aunt Adele is pushing him to get back on a bull, just so she can see him ride. She's my aunt and I love her, but Talon and I both have to bear with her attempts to take me back to Manhattan.

The verse says, “Love bears all things.” Love isn't restricted to any particular type. It can be the kind of love Talon and I share, or the kind I feel for the ranch, my friends, and my family—even Aunt Adele. Right now, bearing with her is stretching my patience!

Jimmy: The next part of that there verse says that “love believes all things.” I dare say that could cause some problems. Let’s just say Talon has been known to stretch a truth a time or two—he ain’t perfect. So Patty, er, Patricia, beg yer pardon, why do you think you can believe him when he says he’s never going to ride another bull?

Patricia: Ha! You know him well. His practical jokes and tall tales are legendary. I still remember the one he pulled on me when we checked for estrus cows. Almost had me convinced that the only way to know they were in heat was to approach them with a thermometer . . . well, that's another story.

For all his pranks, though, I believe in him. He's not at all like the men I knew in New York—or DC either, for that matter. We've been together about a year now, and everything I see of him smacks of integrity. He's the preacher at our Cowboy Church, and he's highly respected around here. Not to mention how patient he has been with Aunt Adele. That alone just amazes me. I can't imagine him breaking a promise to me or anyone else.

Besides, he had to do all his ranch work one-handed while he waited for his arm to heal. I'm certain he wouldn't want to risk that again.

Jimmy: Hope is what keeps many a cowboy in the game, as you know. Hope that next time he’ll make the eight or win that buckle. “Love hopes all things.” What does that mean to your life?

Patricia: My hopes are centered around making a life here at the ranch. It's totally different from New York, but I believe God wants me here. Aunt Adele thinks she can lure me back, but I love it here too much, love the people too much. I love Talon, and he belongs here, which means I do too.

I have hope that God will convince Adele—and my mother, who no doubt put her up to making my life crazy—that I am where I belong and with whom I belong.

But I also hope that the scars from my past will heal, and that this time, with this man, things will be different.

With God, all things are possible, and He is the source of my hope now.

Jimmy: Now I know you don’t want to give away too much, Patricia, and ruin things for Linda and her readers, but endurance—that there’s another great cowboy trait. I’ve seen Talon endure some pretty tough times, on the bull and off. But what does that mean to you? What are you willing to endure for your own sake? For Talon’s sake? For the Lord’s sake?

Patricia: That’s a great question, Jimmy. Honestly, at this moment, I don't know for certain what God has in store for me here. So far, all I've had to endure is the insufferable Texas heat—and Consuela's cooking lessons and a lot of ribbing from the men for being such a greenhorn.

But since I returned to my Savior last year, I've spent every day studying His word, learning who He is, and lamenting what I've missed all these years separated from Him. Whatever He sends my way, whatever I'll have to endure in the future, I know it will be much easier than what I've endured in the past. Because this time, I'll have Him to guide me through it.

Jimmy: Well, that’s about it for us folks here KPLR, Praise the Lord for the Rodeo Radio. Today we’ve been talking with Ms. Patricia Talbert about love and what it does—and what it requires. Look for the complete story of Patricia and Talon in the books by Miz Yezak, Give The Lady a Ride and the just released The Final Ride, available now in fine stories everywhere and online.

Y'all enter this contest!

Before you go folks, I am feeling led to announce a contest! That’s right, a chance for y'all to win both of these fine books by that Yezak filly.

No, I ain’t gonna make it easy on ya’—what’s the fun of that? But just answer this question below and you’re entered!  

Question: When have you had to put 1 Corinthians 13:7 into action in your life? Creativity and giggles count, so give it your best shot.

Here’s the skinny on that Yezak woman:

More than 25 years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda W. Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Connect with her at: Facebook Fan Page, Pinterest, Amazon Page, Goodreads, Newsletter, at 777 Peppermint Place, and on Twitter at @LindaYezak. 

____________________________________

Michael Ehret has accepted God's invitation and is a freelance editor at WritingOnTheFineLine.com. In addition, he's worked as editor-in-chief of the ACFW Journal at American Christian Fiction Writers. He pays the bills as a marketing communications writer and sharpened his writing and editing skills as a reporter for The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star.

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Lunatic Cons Publisher

posted by Michelle Griep

Author JOSEPH COURTEMANCHE

What do Santa and Novel Rocket have in common? Author Joe Courtemanche, of course. So, how does a professional Santa who's ex-military break into the publishing field? Read on . . .

Publishing your first novel is exciting. It’s also a ton of work. It means that you, the author, are on the hook for social media, reviews, distribution of bon mots of great wisdom, and making sure that you catch all the typos in the final addition. If you’re really engaged, it also means recording your audio book and having it ready in the short time between the galleys and the book coming off the press and out to the public.

There are joys. I went to the printer and picked up the first 550 books myself. It was a great road trip with my old friend. We laughed, marveled at the printer’s setup, and white-knuckled it back through a blizzard. But I actually saw where the book was born.

I also got to autograph my very first book for a fan. It is a huge thing emotionally. You are part of that book forever. Some fan, some customer (it is a business) has now spent their hard-earned money and thinks enough of your writing to ask you to inscribe yet another bon mot inside the cover.

I got to read my first review from someone who had never met me. Peter Younghusband said nice things about my book. And then arranged an award for me for Redemptive Fiction.  Floored? Yes. Amazed. Blessed. Thankful.

If you’re worth a hoot as an author, you’ve spent time reading other new author’s books and encouraging them. Some of them were fantastic books. I reviewed all of them that deserved four or five star reviews. I ignored others – mainly because the genre was so alien to me that I couldn’t offer an opinion of any merit.

Along the way, I collected a list of people who said they’d promote my book when the time came. Now, on the day of launch, most of them are going to post reviews on their Facebook pages as well as the big sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I haven’t asked them to be nice, nor have I suggested what they write. Only that they write. I’m rather breathless to see what they put out there.

Is it a good book? I think so. I knew I was on the right track when someone actually wrote me a fan letter. I knew I’d found my calling.

Available on AMAZON

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When terrorists assault Saint Agnes Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, they expect to find a congregation of lambs: they get Bobby Kurtz instead. An unrepentant Cold Warrior, Kurtz destroys the terror cell with violent finality. Against his will, Kurtz is pulled back into the life he left behind decades before. He reluctantly picks up the burden of hunting the terrorists in our midst. He risks his life, and his marriage, in a single-minded pursuit of victory over evil. Working with a shadowy government agency, Kurtz uses all of his skills and experience to foil a plan that would plunge the Twin Cities back into the Stone Age. The final battle rages across the plains during a Christmas Eve blizzard in a story that will leave the reader pleading for more of Kurtz and his team of experts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joseph Courtemanche is a former Police Officer and Middle East/North Africa analyst. He is a distinguished veteran of the Naval Security Group of the United States Navy, and an Arabic linguist with training at the University of Minnesota and the Defense Language Institute (Honors Graduate).

Joseph's debut novel, Assault on Saint Agnes, won the American Christian Fiction Writers 2015 Genesis award for best novel in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category. He has been published in Splickety magazine as well.

As a performer, he's appeared on television in a variety of commercials, and does voice over work for both radio and television. He delights in doing his own audio books. His greatest joy is working as a professional Santa for the last fifteen years, appearing in a number of television spots as the Jolly Old Elf.

He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife and dog. Both of whom tolerate him fairly well.   

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Softball and Author?

by +AneMulligan  @AneMulligan

Brooke Cox is a creative and feisty old tomboy and softball player. Last October was her 30th wedding anniversary to her high school sweetheart, Tim. Their daughter Sara recently married and they proudly have 3 grand doggies. She has been writing or “making up stories” before she learned how to write. Unfortunately, she didn’t get serious about writing until after she had her daughter. She spent the previous years working her way through college. She  still managed to graduate Summa Cum Laude. By the way, there are days she would love to roll in infield dirt again.

What sparked the story for this novel?

A joke. I used to joke about how I never fit in with my immediate family. Then I got to thinking about it. I wanted to reach out to others who didn’t always fit in either. I wanted them to know the only One we need to worry about pleasing is Jesus. It went from there.

Share a bit of your journey to publication. Was it short or long?

L-o-n-g. I took classes on honing my craft for years, but the most important step I took toward publication was joining the ACFW.

What would you do if you didn't write?

I have a degree in Accounting, but I don’t like doing that. What I love is doing taxes, so I would probably get back into tax preparation. At one time I wanted to take the enrolled agent’s test.

What makes you struggle as an author? How do you handle it?

I struggle with selling myself. I love the challenge of taking an idea and spinning it out into a story. But selling that story to a publisher or reader is difficult for me. First, I pray about it. Second, I read encouraging blogs and book from other writers. Third, I give myself a little kick in the pants.

Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy nook?

No, I don’t really have a place as much as a mood. I can write anywhere as long as I have music to listen to. Music is my muse.

Do you prefer the creating or editing aspect of writing? Why?

I love the creating aspect. I have often said that I believe my being creative is part of the reason God put me on this plant. And I am a math/science girl-not a grammar girl!  I’d rather work an equation than diagram a sentence.

Do you consider yourself a visual writer? If so, what visuals do you use?

My mind’s eye. When I write out a scene, I see it in my head as if I were watching a movie. And I will try to imagine myself actually there. For example, what do I smell or hear?

What are your top 3 recommendations for a new writer?

1)   Give yourself permission to think outside of the box

2)   Never stop learning about or honing your craft

3)   Join a writer’s group. I have been in the ACFW for years and have made many wonderful and supportive friends there.

Then what 3 things would recommend not doing?

1)   Don’t ever give up

2)   Don’t compare yourself with other writers. You can always learn from them, but their writing journey is different from yours.

3)   Don’t write only to get paid. There are places I write for and don’t receive any money, but I get my name and work out there.

What's next for you?

Many things I hope. I have other book ideas I’m working on. I want to get into speaking, but I want to have a comedic edge to it. I love being goofy. I’ve had lots of practice at it. And I want to get into Christian novelties. I have used my poems as specialty gifts to my friends and they absolutely love them.

Deadly Doll

Adventurous twelve-year old Brooksie discovered a hidden room in her grandparent’s attic. She opened up an old hat box and found her mother’s favorite childhood doll wrapped up inside. Brooksie’s great-grandfather sent it from Alaska and it was believed to have burned in the trash pile years ago. After showing it to her father, he takes it from her. A few days later he was murdered and the doll becomes a faded memory until it reappeared six years later after a freak accident. What was it about the doll that people kept hiding it? Could finding the doll have played a part in her dad’s murder? If the doll had remained hidden would he still be alive? Brooksie and her best friend Darlene delve deep into the doll mystery which has them learning about a past that Brooksie never knew existed.

Along the way, Brooksie’s thirst for adventure and acceptance has the girls stumbling on the edge of danger. What shocking family secrets might she find and could they change her life? Will she finally understand why God made her so different from the rest of her family and will it draw her closer to Him? Can Brooksie finally accept who she is?

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What If You Could Have a Conversation With Your 23 Year Old Self?

An interview with James L. Rubart by Allen Arnold

I met James L. Rubart back in 2009 and we became friends almost instantly. I had a hand in shaping three of his novels, Soul’s Gate, Memory’s Door, and Spirit Bridge, but his latest is one I’m discovering for the first time just like most of you. 

So was excited when he asked me to interview him on Novel Rocket for the just released, The Five Times I Met Myself. First, a bit about the story and then we’ll dive into my interview.

What if you met your twenty-three-year-old 
self in a dream? What would you say?

                
Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.

So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.

Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.


Q The Five Times I Met Myself is your seventh novel, James. Does it get old? Seeing another novel come out?

Not even close. It’s still a rush to see that box of books show up. I posted on my Facebook author page the other day that I feel like George McFly in Back to the Future at the end of the movie when his book shows up in the mail and Lorraine says, “Your first novel!” And this novel is pretty special to me.

Q What about this one makes it so special?

All of my novels contain a lot of me in them, but this one more than most. Close friends will definitely see things about me in there that will make them smile, along with serious elements that will hopefully make people think. 

Plus, a slice of trivia for you, the story I tell in the novel of how, Brock my protagonist and his wife met, is the exact story of how Darci and I met back in 1984.

Q Did you have a theme in mind as you wrote it?

The desire in my mind the whole time I wrote the novel to give people hope for the future no matter the choices they’ve made in the past. I wanted to tell a story that shows how to escape the continual cycle of regret we often put ourselves through and into the freedom God wants for all of us.  

Q What early opposition did you encounter to your love of writing and how did you get past that?

I fell in love with writing when I took a journalism class in eighth grade. At the end of that year, when the journalism teacher asked who wanted to be part of the school paper in ninth grade, I almost sprained my arm I raised it so quick. 

Wasn’t chosen. Made me believe the lie that I had no talent. I buried my desire to write for twenty five years. It was Jesus and my wife going on a three day fast that finally showed me the way to step out of the shadows and pursue the dream.

Q When you ask God what he thinks of your writing, what do you hear him say?

That’s such a great question, Allen because when I ask God that question, he says, “This is fun, isn’t it? You and Me. Creating stories together. Writing the stories you’d love to read yourself.”  

When I hear that, it takes all the pressure off. It makes awards and sales figures and deadlines fade away and I remember why I write.  I love the feeling of being exactly where I’m supposed to be, the place closest to the deep desires of my heart, playing with words on a page. 

Q  Who is your favorite character from LOST? Why? 

Love Jack, love Sawyer even more, but John Locke wins. He’s the man of faith, he’s the one that has gone through so much pain and yet chooses to believe anyway. He’s resolute and has a fire that doesn’t come out often, but is always there simmering beneath the surface. He continues to grow, stretch himself, push into the mystery. 

Q What’s the book or books that haven’t been written yet, that you can’t write, but that you want most to read? 

At the end of the gospel of John, he says, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” 

I read a little bit of the gospels every day and when I finish John, I start over. Every time I find myself saying, I want to read those other stories. But I’m not the one to write them. Anyone? 

Q Are you excited about the new Star Wars movie coming out? 

Yes and no. Yes, because I’m a huge Star Wars fan. No, because I have no idea what it's about. I don’t want to know anything. I want it all to be fresh when I get to the theater. Probably comes from a phone call I got back when Return of the Jedi came out. 

My best friend at the time called me up and said he’d just been to the movie. I asked him how it was, if he thought I’d like it. He said, “It was great! Darth Vader repents!” No, I’ve never forgiven him for that.

Q I’ve already seen exceptionally strong reviews for The Five Times I Met Myself. Did you expect people to resonate with this book as deeply as they seem to be doing?

My wife, Darci isn’t a big reader of novels, but she has an innate sense of people and stories, whether it’s on TV, in movies, or in novels. So when she said The Five Times I Met Myself had replaced Rooms as her favorite of my novels, I took notice. 

That told me there was a good chance others would like it as well. I’ve already had readers e-mail me telling how powerfully the book has set them free from past regrets and that’s the greatest feeling in the world.

Q The best way for people to stay in touch with you? 

Probably the best way is to head for my website and sign up for my newsletter. 

Q Any final advice for people not as far along the writing path?

I believe that in God’s way of looking at life there is only definition of failure: You didn’t try. When we shed this mortal coil, the money, awards, reviews, recognition that comes from writing won’t matter for even a breath. 

What will matter is God saying to us, “I gave you talents, maybe not as many as the other guy. Not ten or five, maybe just one. What did you do with it?” And when we answer, “I tried,” His response will be, “Well done.” 

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He thinks he's still young enough to water ski like a madman and dirt bike with his two grown sons, and loves to send readers on journeys they'll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He's the best-selling, Christy, INSPY, and RT Book Reviews award winning author of seven novels as well as a professional speaker. During the day he runs his marketing company which helps businesses, authors, and publishers make more coin of the realm. He lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington. More at www.jameslrubart.com

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Interview with Debut Author Shellie Arnold

Edie here. Today I'm excited to introduce you to a new writer on the publishing scene. Her book is a wonderful read and her personal story is an encouragement to us all!

Shellie Arnold is a wife of 29+ years and a home school mother of 3. She believes every marriage can flourish if both parties listen to God, and Living Happily Even After is just one obedient-to-God choice away. Shellie’s blog and other resources can be found at www.shelliearnold.com where she shares what she’s learned the hard way about building a godly marriage.    

What sparked the story for this novel? Three things: First, I’ve wanted to help marriages since I was in the second or third grade and knew my parents’ marriage would end. Second, I’ve found myself in both Laurie and Pierce’s shoes. Third, after God healed my brain (which you’ll see below) He gave me images in my head of several scenes from the novel. I couldn’t not write it.

Share a bit of your journey to publication. Was it short or long? My journey to publication has been very long. I attended my first writers conference in January, 1994, and dabbled at writing for many years. I worked toward writing non-fiction until 2002 when I became ill. On May 18, 2005, God healed my brain and turned my head to fiction. I said, “That’s not what we were doing.” God’s response was, “That’s what we’re doing now.” So, I started learning about fiction in 2006/2007 as a total newbie after being out of the industry for several years.

What would you do if you didn't write? Ha! Refurbish houses. It’s a dream of mine. I love power tools (I have my own table saw, grinder, and sander), love heavy work, love getting dirty and turning something ugly into something beautiful. I want to refurbish homes and rent them out to families in need.

What makes you struggle as an author? How do you handle it? On the outside: time. My time is packed and stretched beyond its limits. I have several projects going at once—both fiction and non-fiction. On the inside: time. I fight feeling pulled in too many directions. I’m an introvert, so I recharge only with uninterrupted solitude—which I never get, because I’ve home schooled for over 20 years. How do I handle those? I am constantly fussing at—ahem, make that having discussions with God about my priorities, time management, and how to stay on track with what He wants me to do in a given moment. I don’t trust my judgment on priorities, especially during times of high stress (which is most of the time).

Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy nook? I write wherever I can. I have a corner in our front porch I’ve turned into a “pretend office,” sometimes I go to the library, or I often work in my truck if I’m running errands and waiting on a child. Parking lots are great places to get work done. I do a lot of writing in my truck.

(Do you have a photo of your writing space we could share with our readers? If so, can you send it to me in a jpeg file?)

Do you prefer the creating or editing aspect of writing? Why? That’s a hard question! Creating has its own joys and anguish—the creating, yes, getting on paper what you see in your head. But editing (for me) is kind of a fun reminder of what I’ve written, and I see it as the opportunity to improve what’s on the page. I don’t resent editing. I enjoy finding a word, sentence, or paragraph I can improve, then experiencing that feeling of “Yes!” when I know I’ve made it better.

Do you consider yourself a visual writer? If so, what visuals do you use? You’re going to laugh, but I had to Google “What is a visual writer?” to answer this question. And, of course, Google is always right, (LOL) so here goes. I’m definitely a visual writer. I’ve been told my writing is vivid and has a literary flair. To me, I’m just telling the story as I see and feel it in my head. To me the feeling is paramount; the seeing must support the feeling conveyed or I’ve failed in that sentence/paragraph/scene.

What are your top 3 recommendations for a new writer? Wow. The best advice I was ever given came from the president of the agency which now represents me. Years ago I was told “Your writing isn’t good enough. You’re not ready.” That was an owie (is that a word?) but it pushed me to be a better writer instead of settling for my craft level at that time. Second, I’d say, read, read, read, then read more great authors who write what you want to write. Third, get into a fabulous critique group like Word Weavers International at word-weavers.com. I would be nowhere without Word Weavers and attending writers conferences.

Then what 3 things would you recommend not doing? Don’t throw up during your first critique! LOL (like I almost did because I was so nervous). Not kidding. First, don’t resent good critique, embrace it—one little idea could be the turning point to great improvement of your writing. Second, never stop reading. Never, ever, ever. And third…don’t stop placing your talent, calling, and craft before God. You’re a steward, not the source. Don’t stop seeking the Source.

What's next for you? Oh, boy. The second book in The Barn Church series will be released in October 2016. I’m working on book 3 now, and also my first stand-alone novel. I’m about to begin doing free online webinars on various marriage topics and will be releasing my pre-recorded seminars, which will be available for purchase through my web site. I’m also working on my first non-fiction book regarding sexuality in marriage. I have a different take on the subject than others I’ve seen, and I can’t WAIT for that book to be published. 

The Spindle Chair

by Shellie Arnold

What happens when the miracle God gives you threatens to destroy your marriage?

Laurie Crane is happily married. And she is usually able to overlook her husband's moments of quiet sadness. If only God would give them a child ...

Pierce wants a child as badly as Laurie and has spent years praying alongside her. But he has no idea that a "yes" from God will unearth long-buried memories and bring their marriage to the brink of catastrophe.

In The Barn Church trilogy's first novel, "The Spindle Chair", Shellie Arnold explores what happens when "happily ever after" becomes more than one couple can handle.

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