WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

What book should you read next? What words should you write next? Whether you're a reader, a writer, or both, you need look no further for ideas and pointers to help you make up your mind. You might even get your next book for free!

Sometimes I even give away my own novels. My Inspirational romances and devotionals are pictured below and are detailed on my Books page. You can always count on a trace of humor in my novels and nonfiction. Whether you're a teen or a woman mature in years, I think these stories will ring true.

Read on, and discover some of today's most appealing Inspirational novelists, their latest books, and their words of wisdom and imagination. Enjoy!

Monday, March 8, 2021

Sherri Stewart and Free Books!

She has the voice of an angel, but the devil is listening.

Before we talk with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free Kindle copies of my new contemporary romance, You're Where I Want to Be, are:

tumcsec@... and lhanberry1@...

Congratulations! I'll get your books 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 Sherri Stewart, author of the historical romance, A Song for Her Enemies (Heritage Beacon Fiction, March 2021).

Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food and visiting the sites. 

Her trip to the Netherlands engendered a love for the town of Haarlem, and she’s learning Dutch for future visits. 

A recent widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her lazy dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who can fix anything. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe via the link at the bottom of the interview.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I earned my law degree in my fifties, studying at an online Christian law school while teaching full-time during the day.

Wow, that's impressive, Sherri! I would imagine that knowledge could inform some of your writing as well.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of A Song for Her Enemies.

After Nazi soldiers close the opera and destroy Tamar Kaplan’s dream of becoming a professional singer, she joins the Dutch Resistance, her fair coloring concealing her Jewish heritage. Tamar partners with Dr. Daniel Feldman, and they risk their lives to help escaping refugees. When they are forced to flee themselves, violinist Neelie Visser takes them into hiding. 

Tamar’s love for Daniel flowers in hardship, but she struggles with the paradox that a loving God would allow the atrocities around her. 

When Tamar resists the advances of a Third Reich officer, he exacts his revenge by betraying the secrets hidden behind the walls of Neelie’s house. 

From a prison hospital to a Nazi celebration to a concentration camp, will the three of them survive to tell the world the secrets behind barbed wire? 

A Song for Her Enemies is the story of a talented young opera singer and the bittersweet love that grows amid the tyranny and fear of World War II, set against the backdrop of neighbors willing to risk their lives in the German-occupied, war-torn Netherlands.

What is it about Tamar that will make your readers care about her?

Tamar Kaplan was a sheltered young woman, not a hero by any means, whose main goal in life was to become a lead soprano at Haarlem’s opera. Circumstances forced her to shed her fears, take charge, and become the woman God intended her to be for the sake of her loved ones.

Imagine you’ve been contracted to write a novel about a real person. About whom would you want to write?

Corrie ten Boom has always been my hero. She offered her home as a refuge for the Jews whom God sent to her door and paid the ultimate price by being sent to three labor camps. After her release in 1945, she spent the rest of her life travelling the world to tell them that there was no pit so deep that God’s love was not deeper still.

Oh, my goodness, yes. Her book, The Hiding Place is absolutely stunning and gripping. I would recommend it to anyone. She's my hero as well, Sherri. 

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? 

The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham is the best book I’ve read in years—so much so that I read it twice. It’s about Anke Huff, a political prisoner in a concentration camp, who is recruited to become the midwife of Eva Braun, mistress of Adolf Hitler. The story, of course, is pure fiction, but it’s believable, compelling, and most of all, beautifully written.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the sequel to A Song for Her Enemies, which takes place five years after the war’s end. Haarlem’s heart has been damaged in every way, and Tamar and Daniel are trying to find their place in it. Whereas A Song forced Tamar to respond to her world falling apart, now she is dealing with the need for justice to be done. And it starts with a painting she spirits away from her former house.

That sounds like a wonderful sequel to your current release. 

Where else can readers find you online?

Amazon author page
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
www.stewartwriting.com
Instagram
Bookbub
Newsletter sign-up

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

1. What heroine would you like to read about in a historical fiction?
2. Do you like to read novels with mentions of God in them? In what way?
3. Do you gravitate toward books that are realistic—even gritty—or to lighthearted books?

Readers, feel free to answer any or all of Sherri's questions. I appreciate hearing your thoughts!

Thanks, Sherri, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Sherri 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 Sherri's above question(s). "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, if you connect with me on Bookbub, you'll get alerts when my books release and when they're available at special sale prices. And if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook, just click HERE or 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

16 comments:

Melanie Backus said...

I seem to gravitate toward books that are realistic but I also like a light read now and then.
mauback55 at gmail dot com

Sherri Stewart said...

Same with me. Give me a holocaust book, and then give me Stephanie Plum.

Paula Shreckhise said...

I do enjoy a gripping story especially if it is one based on a real person. Then I like a light read to balance it out. Historical is my favorite genre.
Thins book sounds fascinating.
paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

Pat Nichols said...

I definitely gravitate to more realistic, gritty stories. Which is one reason I loved A Song For Her Enemies.

Sherri Stewart said...

Paula, It is based on the story of Corrie ten Boom. Of course, you can't write fiction accounts about real people, so I made up my characters.

Sherri Stewart said...

Pat, I agree, I like my characters to have warts. It makes them more easy to identify with. I even want my bad guys not to to be entirely evil or we're just writing another Marvel comic. As such, my Nazi petted a puppy.

Trish Perry said...

I like to go from serious historical to gritty suspense to light romance to dense classics, and so on. The reading options are never too small, which is one of the most terrific things about fiction.

I'm still thinking about your question about my choice of historical heroine for a novel. I often don't consider whom I'd want to read about until the book is written. Then I think, hmm, that sounds like a woman/man worth learning about. Right now I'm reading A Most English Princess, by Clare McHugh, about the daughter of Queen Victoria (and the mother of Kaiser Wilhem!). Very interesting, and much more fun than reading a straight history text.

I do like novels that include mention of God. But since I also read plenty of novels in the mainstream, that doesn't always happen! It's a special treat when it happens in a secular novel.

Gail H. said...

My mood depends on whether I read a realistic type novel or a fun, lift my mood novel.

tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

Alison Boss said...

I do enjoy a gripping, realistic story, but I also enjoy light-hearted stories as well. I do like having God mentioned...to see how He moves and works in peoples lives and the circumstances that surround them. Historical Christian fiction is my favorite genre to read. A Song for Her Enemies sounds sooo good! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book!!

Patricia Hawes said...

I just like to read and yes, God should be( because He is)in every story. I like sweet, light and easy to read stories.

Sherri Stewart said...

Gail and Alison,
I agree with you. For me, sometimes I just want to read a romantic suspense novel, but I also like historical romance. I learn from the historical romance.
Sherri

Sherri Stewart said...

Patricia,
That's the beauty of Christian fiction--to see how God works in the events of our lives. Thank you for your comment.
Sherri

Trish Perry said...

Readers, please remember to leave your (fractured) email address if you want to be entered in the drawing for Sherri's book. The random selector uses email addresses, so it's the only way we can enter you.

Anonymous said...

I like books about WW2. This sounds like a good one. Hope it's a print book as that's the only kind I can read. Vivian Furbay jtandviv (at) q (dot) com

Sherri Stewart said...

Yes it is in paperback on Amazon. I hope you'll read it.

Alison Boss said...

Oops! I forgot to leave my email. Thanks for the reminder, Trish! My email is:
nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

 

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