Hello, readers, and welcome back to the Diamond Mine. We are so thankful for each and every one of you. Today, I am delighted to introduce you to an author whose debut novel is arriving March 2021. Plus, keep reading to find out how you can get a free novella before the release of Shelia Stovall's first book.
About the Author
Shelia Stovall is the Director of a small-town library in southern Kentucky, where only strangers mention her last name, and the children call her Miss Shelia.
It tickles her to see shocked expressions when folks learn she’s traveling to Africa—again. She’s the worst missionary ever, but God continues to send her to the ends of the earth as He attempts to mold her into something useful.
Shelia is a country girl who relishes eating a bologna sandwich at a country store just as much as savoring an elegant meal in a posh restaurant.
Shelia and her husband Michael live on a farm, and she enjoys taking daily rambles to the creek with their three dogs. Spending time with family, especially her grandchildren is her all-time favorite thing. The only hobby Shelia loves more than reading uplifting stories of hope is writing them.
Connect with Shelia: Facebook | Instagram | Website
Suzie: Are you ready to learn more about this debut author and what's coming? Just for fun…Would you rather have all traffic lights you approach be green or never have to stand in line?
Shelia: I’m usually running a little behind, so the thought of never again being forced to stop at a traffic light makes me smile. While shopping, I’m usually listening to an audiobook, so I’m entertained while waiting.
Suzie: I agree with you. I'd rather have all traffic lights be green. Would you rather be forced to dance anytime you hear music or be forced to sing along to any song you heard?
Shelia: I’d definitely prefer to sing along to any song as music usually plays in my thoughts' background.
Suzie: Share a little about your mission trip to Africa and what you learned through that experience.
Shelia: Visiting Africa made me realize I am blessed to be an American. Women in Africa are often treated very poorly. Even the poorest in the U.S. are wealthier than most people living in Kenya and Niger villages. Almost all Americans have access to clean water, food, and medical care.
Many Americans view Muslims in West Africa as hostile, but I didn’t experience this. In Niger, the population is 99.9% Muslim. However, all of the women I met were friendly and gracious hosts.
Few of the women in Niger can read, so they’ve never read the Koran, and many are too busy to visit the mosque. Yet, they are considered Muslim because they are born in a Muslim country. It’s sort of like saying everyone in America is a Christian since America is known as a Christian nation. The people in Niger and Kenya treated me like an honored guest.
Suzie: And what a eye-opening experience that must have been. Now, What are three books on your current tbr? Pssst...Shelia's a librarian so narrowing it down to three may be tough. :)
Shelia:
The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson by Lauren H. Brandenburg
All of You, Always by Lindsay Harrel (release is January 4, 2021)
Faith’s Mountain Home by Misty M. Beller (release is January 5, 2021)
Suzie: Where do you write? What does your writing space look like?
Shelia: I write in a little room upstairs under the eaves. Most would consider it the size of the closet. My writing room used to be my children’s nursery, then playroom.
Suzie: Tell us a little about your journey to getting published.
Shelia: During a Priscilla Shirer Bible study in 2010, I spent time meditating on the question, What does God want you to do that you don’t want to do? God planted the seed for me to write a book, but it terrified me. To avoid the calling, I signed up for a mission trip to Africa, but God continued to pursue me. I started the first draft, but it was too hard. I simply didn’t have the skills required. Then, I received a mysterious email at work advertising a Christian writers’ conference at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX. I attended the conference and met New York Times best-selling author Lisa Wingate and Judy Christie. Both authors encouraged me to finish my novel, and Judy introduced me to her award-winning editor Jamie Chavez. I finished the first draft of Every Window Filled with Light on 12/12/12. I’ll never forget that date. That’s when the real work started as I started studying the craft of writing and polishing the manuscript. I’ve re-written the novel three times.
It’s been a long road to publication due to many setbacks, but I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I’ve made countless friends along the way. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing as I know the book Elk Lake Publishing will release in March is so much better than the work I first submitted to publishers.
Suzie: Writing a good book is definitely not for the faint of heart. Share a little about Every Window Filled with Light.
Shelia: The setting for Every Window Filled with Light is the make-believe town of Weldon, Kentucky. I came up with Weldon to remind me why I get up at five o’clock in the morning to write. I long to hear Jesus say, “Well done,” when my race is finished. Although Weldon is a fictional place, my hometown of Franklin, KY, is the inspiration.
Suzie: Readers, keep scrolling to read what Every Window Filled with Light is about.
In the meantime, what’s next for Shelia?
Shelia: I have so many stories that I want to write, I’ll never live long enough to finish the task. The second Weldon, KY book is finished, and the third book is almost complete. I’ve ideas for seven books
in the Weldon series. Since writing the Christmas novella, A Sassy Creek Christmas, I hope to write a Sassy Creek series.
Readers may download my Christmas novella, A Sassy Creek Christmas, by clicking on this link.
About the novella:
Welcome to Sassy Creek, Kentucky, where pretty much everything starts at the Wide Spot Country Store. There you’ll find laughter, a little gossip, Goo Goo Clusters, and might even be invited to join in a hand of Rook with the locals . . .
Like Ovaleta Mayhew, who plans the first-ever Sassy Creek Christmas parade to raise funds to help pay eight-year-old Ava’s medical bills. People want to help but unexpected conflict erupts—leaving Ovaleta to regret her impulsive actions.
Or Pastor Seth, who’s in love with Lila, a nurse he met at the Nashville cancer center. He wonders what she’ll think of Sassy Creek and his dwindling congregation. He can’t compete with the bright lights of Nashville, but he knows God’s called him to Sassy Creek.
The parade is set to start at the Wide Spot, but two tragedies silence everyone and the community gathers to pray. Without a miracle, it’s doubtful there will ever be a Sassy Creek Christmas parade.
Suzie: And last, but certainly not least, how can we pray for you?
Shelia: Please pray for my life and work glorify God. I hope and pray my stories will fall into the hands of those who do not know Christ, and they will pray a simple prayer and ask Jesus to enter their heart after reading one of my stories.
Coming March 2021 - Every Window Filled With Light
Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way. Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope.
Luke encourages Emma to finally forgive, but it seems impossible until Emma sees the same poisonous emotions in Harley. If Emma can yield and offer forgiveness to her husband’s killer, perhaps she’ll be able to piece together the broken pieces of her heart…and the broken people who enter her life…to find a new family and maybe even have a second chance at love.
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1 comment:
I met Shelia at an ACFW conference, and we instantly bonded. She is one of the sweetest people I know. Conferences can be fun, but they can also be terrifying. We experienced ups and downs, but we prayed together and worshipped, learned, laughed and had fun.
Shelia, I'm so happy for you and can't wait to read your new books. Congratulations!
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