When Matt's life spirals out of control, to love again seems impossible--until Tara appears to walk beside him through his grief. Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Pat Nichol's women’s southern contemporary novel, Starstruck in Willow Falls, is:
mnjesusfreak@...
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 meet novelist Sara Beth Williams, author of the contemporary Christian romance, Anchor My Heart (Anaiah Press, March 2021).
Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California. When she's not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. Sara Beth is all about connecting with readers! Find her on her various links, below.
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.
I love playing guitar and singing.
Those are good talents to have while we're all locked down and unable to explore life as we're used to.
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.
I love playing guitar and singing.
Those are good talents to have while we're all locked down and unable to explore life as we're used to.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Anchor My Heart.
Worship leader Matt Lawson has every blessing in life he could ever ask for. In one tragic night, the future he’d so carefully planned out for himself crumbles at his feet. In the aftermath, a debilitating past affliction roars back to life and leaves him reeling in despair, unable to face the reality that he has lost everything he held dear.
Tara Pierce has spent the last five years crushing on everyone else’s man. Now, she’s about to graduate college. It’s time to put past infatuations aside and focus on her career goals. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.
Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. Warning bells clang within and Matt holds back, but their shared experiences only heighten the magnetism between them. Still, Tara senses he’s not ready to give himself away again. Risking her heart and their friendship, she is forced to put distance between them and let God step in to heal where she can’t.
What is it about Matt that will make your readers care about him?
Throughout Anchor My Heart, Matt experiences some great losses, and must learn how to both accept those losses, and find ways to rebuild. When the desire to rebuild with Tara beside him crashes into him, he’s terrified.
Share with us one line or paragraph from your novel that will give us a good feel for the tone of the story.
Stronger than the threat of panic, more potent than the overwhelming sadness he endured, was the realization that, in the black sea of his grief, Tara was his anchor.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?
I just finished A Promise to Keep by Melony Teague. It’s such a moving story of overcoming grief, and rediscovering the love you didn’t even recognize you had. Plus, with a swoony rescue hero as a male lead, and some harrowing rescue scenes, you can’t go wrong. What a great read.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a few different projects. The one project I am attempting to pitch to agents is a story of a famous musician who hides out in disguise while he’s recovering from a severe illness. While hiding out, he meets his sister’s roommate. Secrets and summery romance abound as the two figure out how in the world they can make something seemingly impossible, possible.
That's a great premise, Sara Beth! Where else can readers find you online?
Amazon
Goodreads
Bookbub
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Newsletter
The novel doesn't release until March 16, so watch for the purchase link to be available on Amazon soon!
Worship leader Matt Lawson has every blessing in life he could ever ask for. In one tragic night, the future he’d so carefully planned out for himself crumbles at his feet. In the aftermath, a debilitating past affliction roars back to life and leaves him reeling in despair, unable to face the reality that he has lost everything he held dear. Tara Pierce has spent the last five years crushing on everyone else’s man. Now, she’s about to graduate college. It’s time to put past infatuations aside and focus on her career goals. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.
Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. Warning bells clang within and Matt holds back, but their shared experiences only heighten the magnetism between them. Still, Tara senses he’s not ready to give himself away again. Risking her heart and their friendship, she is forced to put distance between them and let God step in to heal where she can’t.
What is it about Matt that will make your readers care about him?
Throughout Anchor My Heart, Matt experiences some great losses, and must learn how to both accept those losses, and find ways to rebuild. When the desire to rebuild with Tara beside him crashes into him, he’s terrified.
Share with us one line or paragraph from your novel that will give us a good feel for the tone of the story.
Stronger than the threat of panic, more potent than the overwhelming sadness he endured, was the realization that, in the black sea of his grief, Tara was his anchor.
What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?
I just finished A Promise to Keep by Melony Teague. It’s such a moving story of overcoming grief, and rediscovering the love you didn’t even recognize you had. Plus, with a swoony rescue hero as a male lead, and some harrowing rescue scenes, you can’t go wrong. What a great read.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a few different projects. The one project I am attempting to pitch to agents is a story of a famous musician who hides out in disguise while he’s recovering from a severe illness. While hiding out, he meets his sister’s roommate. Secrets and summery romance abound as the two figure out how in the world they can make something seemingly impossible, possible.
That's a great premise, Sara Beth! Where else can readers find you online?
Amazon
Goodreads
Bookbub
Website
Newsletter
The novel doesn't release until March 16, so watch for the purchase link to be available on Amazon soon!
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
Have you ever had plans for your life fall through? What was your God-moment, when you realized that God had a different plan or a different direction for your life?
Thank you, Sara Beth, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Sara Beth has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Sara Beth's above question. "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.
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.
Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.
Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE
Thank you, Sara Beth, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Sara Beth has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, click on the word "comments" below to reach the comments page, and leave your answer and your email in answer to Sara Beth's above question. "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.
Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.
Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.
Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE
7 comments:
Thanks so much for hosting me, Trish!
Last year as a matter of fact....I’ve always dreamed of visiting Alaska. We had booked a cruise to Alaska last summer 2020. In Feb 2020 I had a man in a pickup truck pull out right in front of me. I had a cracked pelvis in two places, crushed left humerus, crushed right femur. It’s taken me a year and four surgeries to recover. I’m still working on trying to walk without a limb. Needless to say we had to cancel and got refunded all but $800. COVID would have eventually killed it for us anyway.
Now I’m sad because we have no plans to take that trip anytime in the future if ever.
tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
I thought I had sold my home and started packing but the deal fell through. I decided God wanted me to stay here a few more years. Recently a man came to my door and asked if I would consider selling my house! I said "I told God "If I'm supposed to sell my house, you need to send a buyer!". I don't know yet but I may be moving! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
I felt I was supposed to go into army because I felt burdened to work with service people. I passed written part. I was 29. But didn't decide to go. I met my husband in March 1979 at church. We married in June. Moved to Arizona where he was pipefitters welder. There we worked with service men and women in our church and fed them on holidays. Still friends with them. Use sarahmom335@yahoo.com
ANCHOR MY HEART sounds amazing!
Yes I had a time when God changed my plans. But I didn't know it at the time. Short version: derailed career (twice with the same company) led me to a man who led me to Christ and later became my husband. While he'd been a dedicated follower of Jesus all his life, he had the same experience of a derailed career with the same company. But God led him to me. When we became engaged the hundred-year-old company went bankrupt and closed. Isn't God great?
Alice Myers
myersalicem@gmail.com
Alice, your last comment made me chuckle. We just never know what God will do for us in our lives!
sarahmom and Joan, those stories are wonderful. And Gail, I don't know if I had ever heard of your accident before, and I'm so sorry. Sometimes God truly has a different plan, and it's clearly not always evident where the "good" part of the plan is.
I've always been a planner. Sometimes God steps in and redirects me, and at times His method of redirection doesn't feel so great. But He does provide. I'm constantly having to remind myself that He may well have something else in mind, regardless of what I anticipate. He knows what's best, even if I can't always see it.
These are some great stories!
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