Runaway prostitute meets a deputy sheriff and love blossoms in a lie before sparks fly with the truth. Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Stardust, by Carla Stewart, is:
jeanereads@ . . .
Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!
Now let's revisit with novelist Martha Rogers, author of Spring Hope (Realms, May 2012).
Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and the author of the Winds Across the Prairie series as well as the novella, Key to Her Heart in River Walk Christmas. Summer Dream, Autumn Song, and Winter Promise, the first three books in her new series, Seasons of the Heart, are now available.She was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009 and writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Martha and her husband live in Houston.
In addition to her works of fiction, Martha has stories in a number of compilations as well as devotional contributions to several anthologies and writes the weekly "Verse of the Week" for the ACFW Loop.
She is a retired teacher and lives in Houston with her husband, Rex, where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and attending football, baseball, and basketball games when one of the grandchildren is playing.
Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.
--I began college as a nursing student
--My husband and I went on several mission trips as sponsors to Mexico with our church youth
--I was on the tennis team in high school
--I lived in Washington D.C. in the 8th grade and went to Alice Deal Junior High.
--I skipped the second grade in school and graduated high school at age 16 in 1953.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Spring Hope.
Libby Cantrell’s life has gone from bad to worse since her mother’s death. With an abusive father, and life in a brothel, she sees no hope for her future until she gains the courage to make her escape one cold winter night.When she arrives exhausted, hungry, and ill in Portersfield, Texas, Sheriff Cory Muldoon finds her in an alley and takes her to a doctor. Against Cory’s better judgment, Seth and Erin Winston take her in and offer her a job as a nanny for their young son. As a minister, Seth sees it as his duty to take care of the young woman. As a deputy, Cory sees it as his duty to find out the truth about her even as he is attracted to the waif of a young woman.
An unexpected late winter storm and an accident at the river bring Libby and Cory even closer. As his love for her grows and winter becomes spring, will he be able to accept her as she is now and truly forget and forgive her sordid past?
What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about him?
I think many of us face the struggles with forgiving others who have hurt us and go against everything which we have believed and taught. My hero’s journey parallels my own journey to forgiving.
If a novel were published today, based on your life, what would be an appropriate title?
Rollercoaster of Life.
What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
Dan Walsh’s The Discovery. It fascinated me as it was a book within a book. It captured my interest and wouldn’t let go with a most unusual story line for the “inside manuscript”.
What are you working on now?
Love Comes Home, Book one of Love’s Journey Home series.
Where else can readers find you online?
www.marthawrogers.com
The book is available at fine books stores and for online purchase via the following buttons:
CBD.com
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Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
Why is forgiving those who hurt us and betray our trust so difficult when forgiving others is one of Jesus’ major lessons for us as Christians?
Thank you, Martha, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Martha has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, June 4. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Martha's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.
And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.
Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.
17 comments:
Hi Martha and Trish, this sounds like a great story! It's so exciting to see the way Martha has so many new books coming out! Congratulations!!
I think forgiving is so challenging because we sometimes believe that holding on to our anger resentment is somehow punishing the person who has hurt us...but really we are only hurting ourselves.
Sometimes people believe they have to be able to forget what happened in order to forgive. The Bible doesn't teach that. We are asked to forgive as Christ forgives us. We can learn from hurtful situations and be wise in our dealings with the one who has hurt us in the future, but we still need to forgive. It's the only was we can truly be free and move ahead.
Blessings,
Carrie
carrie (at) turansky (dot) com
Thanks Trish for this interview with Martha. Her book sounds good. Carrie said what I was thinking. Sometimes I wonder if I have really forgiven when I have times of remembering the offense. But, we aren't GOD, so how can we make ourself forget? But, I still love the people and want to see them when I can. I would love to win Martha's book. Hey, Martha, I live next door to you, in Pasadena. Do you ever come in this area for book signings? I'd like to meet you. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )
Wonderful interview! I always love learning more about authors...behind the scenes! :)
I think God wants us to forgive others because it frees us to love...and God is all about love, isn't He? When we don't forgive, we harden our hearts and it is hard to love others and God. (Great questions!)
sherrinda(at)gmail(dot)com
When we forgive someone who has hurt us, we are opening ourselves up to the possibility of being hurt again. That's what makes it hard. If we knew forgiveness meant the end of hurt... how much easier it would be! But that's not reality.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book. Sounds good!
twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
Hi Trish and Martha! I enjoyed the interview so much. This book sounds like a great read and I can't wait to read it. I'd love to win a copy.
I'm in a difficult position right now with two close relatives of mine. There was a misunderstanding on their part regarding an email I had written. I went to their home and we hashed everything out. We all asked forgiveness and I thought everything was fine. It seems they can't let it go and I am on a black sheep list. Where do I go from here? At this point I am hurt and want nothing to do with them. I can feel myself building a wall so as not to get hurt again. Forgiveness is really hard at times.
Thanks for this great question and giveaway.
Blessings!
Judy
judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
I think forgiveness is difficult because we are afraid of being hurt or wronged again. Sometimes, too, I think it's a matter of our pride.
I forgot to add my email to the above comment.
lgm52 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Probably because of our pride!
richmond.abigail@gmail.com
This book looks great!!!
Forgiving is hard because it hurts so bad. It takes time to heal and sometimes even to forgive.
If a book was written on my life today, it would be stupid or looser.
Would love to read your book.
jrs362 at hotmail dot com
Forgiveness is hard because it is surrendering the hurt and pain to the Lord, trusting Him and letting Him work through us. Trust broken is so hard to win back because we don't ever totally forget.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Maybe true forgiving is hard because we trusted that person with our life and now we feel lost. Another thing, saying you've forgiven is easy but truly forgiving & living that forgiveness are two different things. Also, once forgiven the forgetting is even harder.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I think forgiving is hard because it is such a spiritual stretch for us. We are faced with the fact that we must be more Christlike and forgive or we are not on the level that we thought we were (are). Christ forgave before He was asked to forgive. We struggle with a certain view of oursselves as being more Christlike so we can say we aren't offended or hurt or angry or whatever. Then we come face-to-face with those emotions in our lives and we must first face ourselves, then be the Christlike person we thought we were. I t takes admitting to ourselves our flaws so we can forgive others.
Shirley
beekeeper5(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Some wonderful answers here, and most address the fact that trust is broken and although we forgive, we don't truly forget. I forgave my brother thirty years ago, but it took a long time to share the fact with others, and it's not forgotten. It's a reminder of how God loves me and will give me the strength to love my brother no matter what.
Judy, when we forgive others, but they don't seem to forgive us, it's hard to go on without resentment, but we've done our part and we must move on no matter how difficult it is.
Thanks Lena for the opportunity to share with others.
Some wonderful answers here, and most address the fact that trust is broken and although we forgive, we don't truly forget. I forgave my brother thirty years ago, but it took a long time to share the fact with others, and it's not forgotten. It's a reminder of how God loves me and will give me the strength to love my brother no matter what.
Judy, when we forgive others, but they don't seem to forgive us, it's hard to go on without resentment, but we've done our part and we must move on no matter how difficult it is.
Thanks, Trish for having me and giving me the opportunity to share with others.
Well, that is a very good question...I know I still struggle with forgiveness some times...it seems I forgive and boom, they do it to me again ans again....But only if I allow them to, so It has taken a very long time for me to learn that I can forgive and not give myself back to the situation. I can forgive and protect myself, move on in a better direction. And some I can forgive and still love and encourage to change their path and walk with me ... I think the most important thing I have learned is simply to pray for those that I believe need forgiven, for they need GOD in their life...
thanks for the opportunity to share my beliefs, Sonja
I hate to admit this, but I have not read one of Martha's books yet. This one looks great.
Cara cara at caraputman dot com
New author for me! Forgiveness goes to the Lord when contact is refused. Prayer that He will work in hearts to reconcile.
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
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