How can you choose what is right for you when your decision will break the heart of someone you love?Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Tara Ross's contemporary YA novel, Fade to White, is:
duhpaynes@...
Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.
And now let's chat with novelist Beth Vogt, author of the new women’s fiction release, The Best We’ve Been (Tyndale House Publishers, May 2020).
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored nine contemporary romance novels and novellas, The Best We’ve Been, the final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, released May 2020. Other books in the women’s fiction series include Things I Never Told You, which won the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year, and Moments We Forget.Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist.
An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.
For years, I had a secret desire to skydive. It was a way to confront my fears in a big way – just jump out of a plane, right? But since having back surgery, I’m thinking my surgeon would say no to that. And the reality is, I’ve confronted a lot of my fears through my writing.
Wow, that's quite a head-on approach to confronting one's fears! I know sometimes writing can feel just as daring, though.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Best We've Been.
Having abandoned her childhood dream years ago, Johanna Thatcher knows what she wants from life. Discovering that her fiancé was cheating on her only convinces Johanna it’s best to maintain control and protect her heart.
Despite years of distance and friction, Johanna and her sisters, Jillian and Payton, have moved from a truce toward a fragile friendship. But then Johanna reveals she has the one thing Jillian wants most and may never have—and Johanna doesn’t want it. As Johanna wrestles with a choice that will change her life and her relationships with her sisters forever, the cracks in Jillian’s marriage and faith deepen.
Through it all, the Thatcher sisters must decide once and for all what it means to be family.
What is it about Johanna that will make your readers care about her?
It would be easy to just label Johanna a control freak, someone who has to hyper-manage her life and everyone else’s life, too. But there’s more to Johanna than that – more to her story. And isn’t that true for all of us? Don’t we all want to be understood for more than just our surface actions? To be truly seen and understood?
Definitely. And control freaks don't usually choose to be such. The story behind that behavior can be very interesting.
Have you ever written a novel with a seasonal (or holiday) setting/theme? If you had to choose a seasonal or holiday setting, which would you choose? Why?
My novella, A November Bride, is featured in the Autumn Brides section of the Year of Weddings novella collection. I wove in the Sadie Hawkins holiday, and had a lot of fun with it.
A lot of readers love Christmas stories, and so I’ve thought of writing one, but as women’s fiction author, it would have a complicated family relationship vibe.
Some of my favorite Christmas-themed stories have involved complicated family relationships! I still remember lying in the tub, reading The Christmas Shoes, crying like a baby.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?
I’m trying to read more in 2020. Not being on a specific deadline plus the COVID19 social distancing requirement has helped with that goal. Susan May Warren’s Way of the Brave was a page-turner and I laughed out loud while reading Jenny B. Jones’s Enchanted Events Mystery Series. She writes the most unpredictable plots and characters.
What are you working on now?
I’m mulling over two different stories, both women’s fiction. One has a bit more humor in it, and one, well, it just may be the most challenging novel I’ve written. Mulling is an important part of the writing process for me. It requires a lot of walking around my house and also Face Timing with my friend and mentor, Rachel Hauck, to toss around ideas while I consider possible plot lines.
Rachel is a very giving author. What a great brainstorming partner!
Where else can readers find you online?
Website/blog
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
BookBub
My Dream Readers
The book can be purchased online via the following button:
Readers, if you would like to read a sample from the book, click HERE
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
Have you ever had to make a choice that you know would hurt someone else? How were you able to make the decision?
Thank you, Beth, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Beth has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.
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21 comments:
I've seen this book just about everywhere! Would love to read it!
I had to make the decision to leave my home church & go to another. I had been a member there for almost 10 yrs & I knew it would hurt the pastor & his wife, but I prayed about it...alot. There have been other difficult decisions I've had to make throughout the years, but this is the one that comes to my mind 1st.
dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com
Oh and I'm a subscriber!
I knew moving out of state after I got married would hurt my Mother, but I also knew I needed distance from her for my marriage relationship to have a chance. Praise Jesus, I'll have been married 33 years next month, we did eventually return to our hometown and my relationship with my Mother is much improved.
stacey_dale{at}yahoo{dot}com
Diana: Leaving your church home is a tough decision, but yes, it's sometimes necessary.
And thanks for letting me know you've seen The Best We've Been around the Internet.
Stacey: Congratulations on your upcoming wedding anniversary. I moved across country after my husband and I got married and I have to say it was a wonderful thing for our marriage, too.
A tough decision we made was to let our oldest son be responsible for his own actions rather than bail him out.
We also moved from Chicago area to Florida when we got married and then farther... to Guam early in our marriage (in the Navy).. I think it helped us to not be around relatives. We will have our 51st Anniversary this June.
paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
When my marriage fell apart, I knew the person who would be most hurt was my son. Raised Christian from day one, he thought his dad and I would stay together forever (as did I, at first). It broke my heart to see his heart break. But I knew it was best that his dad left, and I wouldn't let him return when he decided he wanted back in. His motives weren't honorable, and I knew the leaving would be repeated. I feared my son would become a rebel. But God protected us. My decision was one of the most difficult ones I've ever made.
I had to make a decision to listen to God and break off a certain relationship. It was a very hard action to take, but thankfully the peace of God was in my heart and my family stood behind me.
eclitton [at] gmail [dot] com
Over four years ago I had to make the decision to move my mother to my house. She was very independent and had lived in her house for over 50 years. She resented me for insisting but I knew she was no longer in her house alone. I feared going there and finding her hurt or worse. She lived with us almost a year before she passed away under Hospice care. I kept her at my home. I had promised her no hospital or nursing home. I was able to hold her hand as she slipped away to her Heavenly home. She gave me lots of grief during that year but she knew I loved her and she me.
Beth I’d love to read your new book and review it.
tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
Paula: Your wise parents to not bail your son out -- and yes, it's a difficult choice. My husband was in the military, too. Thank you to your husband for his service -- and I know it is hard on the family, too. So thank you.
Trish: I can understand how your decision was so heartbreaking for you and for your son. Sometimes we have to make hard, right choices -- and others don't understand, which makes it all the harder. I'm thankful you and your son were protected.
Elizabeth: Relationship decisions -- especially ending a relationship -- can be so, so heartbreaking. Choosing to listen to God is always best, but that doesn't mean making the right choice isn't done without tears.
Gail, You made that decision for your mom because you loved her and cared so much for her. I'm sorry she didn't understand, but I know you realize it was the best thing to do for her.
When I got married 30 years ago, I decided to have both my bio father and stepfather walk me down the aisle. It was the best decision and worked out very well.
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
perrianne Askew
I can't think of a choice I had to make that would hurt someone else. I did have to make a choice to let my 14 year old son go to live with his father, half a country away. That was very difficult, but so were the four years since the divorce from my husband (his idea, I didn't have much choice in that). Though it was terribly hard to let my son go, it did help our relationship, and also his with his dad. After eight years of just visits, he moved back to my state and lives about 20 minutes away. He's managed to put all the awfulness behind and turned into a great young man who likes to visit me each weekend. God is so good!
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
I forgot to mention I am a subscriber. Thanks for the extra entry.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Perrianne: I can imagine having both your biological father and your stepfather walk you down the aisle was a decision fraught with possible tension. I'm glad it worked out so well.
Pam: I know divorce is so hard on families. I'm glad to hear that you and your son have a good relationship.
I finished a book last night and am SO excited to begin The Best We’ve Been today! A tough decision I had to make that hurt others...In 2018 I was taking care of my mom on hospice. The last few days she didn’t want visitors. She simply didn’t not have the energy. Anyone who has been through this process understands many hospice patients withdraw. It was very difficult when her church friends wanted to see her “one last time” to tell them no, but for Mom’s strength—and quite frankly, her dignity at that point—I had to make decisions that hurt some people’s feelings. It was so hard.
Your books always sound so inspiring, Beth! I’ve made a lot of decisions over the years but none in particular that I knew ahead of time that they would hurt someone else. I’m wondering if it’s easier when the hurt is just part of the fallout. I’m also a subscriber!
Trdivincenzo (at) gmail (dot) com
We made a decision to move half way across the country when my husband received a good job offer once. We knew our families would be upset when they wouldn't be able to see us or their grandchildren as often. This was before Skype!
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann
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