Interview and Giveaway with author Kristen Joy Wilks!!

Today we welcome author Kristen Joy Wilks to The Diamond Mine! She's an award-winning writer of romance and children's books. If you want to be entered in the drawing for a free copy of one of her books, please click on "leave a comment" link at the end of the interview, and include your email address, and you'll be entered! So, here we go with a couple introductions to her children's series, followed by the interview!

Faith-filled frolics with furry friends!

Book one of the series, which is perfect for 6-10 year-olds, is available now:

Phooey Kerflooey wants to stay on the farm with Jessie. But when Jessie chooses a different puppy, Phooey is thrust into the arms of another family. 

A family with all boys. Boys who make traps, write lists of dangers, and shout Shakespearean insults at rodents. A family that likes scary things like shiny kitchen floors, wheelchair races, and battling attacking squirrels. 

A family that doesn’t know she cannot drink unless it is from a fancy, fancy teacup! Can Phooey find the china teacup she needs and teach her boys how to become the family of her dreams?

Theme verse: Philippians 2:4–Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. NLT

 Phooey Kerflooey vs The Battle Squirrel (releases June 3rd)

Phooey Kerflooey has finally found a home of her own.Too bad a raging squirrel found it first!

Rasputin the squirrel spends his time stealing snacks, pooing on the counters, and biting tender noses. Phooey’s perfect home has become a perfect storm of chaos!

Phooey will do anything for her boys. Almost step on the shiny floor. Mostly go potty outside. Bite a baby carrot in half. Maybe two carrots, or even three!
The boys want Phooey to chase Rasputin and save the day, but it’s hard when so many scary things stand in her way. If only Phooey had her pink dolly to boost her bravery.
Can Phooey find her courage and chase that bad squirrel out of their lives forever?

Maybe tomorrow.
Or the day after that.
For sure by next week.
Phooey will be very brave . . . someday.

Theme verse: Isaiah 32:18--My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

These sound delightful, Kristen! Now for the interview!

When did you decide to be a writer?

When I was in first grade, my teacher sent me to a young writers conference. She must have seen something in me that I hadn’t dared to look for myself. I heard Steven Kellogg speak, bought a copy of A Rose for Pinkerton with a rare $5 bill my parents sacrificed to send with me, and let myself dream big dreams. 

Wow! That was one wise teacher to spot your talent so early!

What was the first story you wrote?

The first story I remember writing was penned in preparation for that young writers conference. The cover was laminated construction paper cut into the shape of a large guinea pig and I illustrated the interior with horrendous ineptitude! It was about Fluffy, my brother’s guinea pig, and her victory over our dog Inky when he attempted to eat her. I recall my mother’s concern that my illustration of her chasing Inky with a broom during the attempted murder made her look as though she was holding a pitchfork, ha!

I bet it was cute! What inspired you to write children’s books?

My first published books were Christian romcoms, however, I have a long history with children’s ministry and books for this age group. My degree is in early childhood education, and I took two different online courses about children’s writing. My husband and I have been in full-time camping ministry for over twenty-five years and I grew up at an off-grid Bible camp that hosts many retreats for children and teens. Plus, books for kids can have all the zany fun and delightful insanity that one could wish for!

That's true! What’s your favorite part about writing?

Fast drafting! I write my rough drafts during National Novel Writing Month in a glorious cloud of hastily penned madness! 

I haven't done that challenge for a while. I forgot how much fun it was! I should do it again!

Do you work from an outline, inspiration, or both?

I outline carefully before jumping into my crazy rough draft. In fact, I spend the entire month of October taking my story idea through four to six different outlining tools to make sure that it has a solid skeleton. However, once I start typing, sometimes new chapters, events, or even characters appear. I often get inspiration for new story ideas during worship at my church. I write them down on the bulletin and then put them into my story idea file on my computer. When October rolls around, I choose the ideas I like best and then start outlining. 

That's an interesting process! What do you want the readers to take away from your stories?

I would love for my readers to be able to see God’s deep and mind-boggling love for them when they are living a really hard day. I want them to know God seeks them, is reaching out for them, and longs for them every moment of every day. 

Oh, that's beautiful, Kristen!

Do you have a favorite character in your books?

Phooey Kerflooey is such a favorite! She is so big and so very afraid of every little thing. I find her hilarious and heartwarming and so delightfully bumbling. 

Do any of your characters share traits with you or any other real person or animal?

Marcus (the older of Phooey’s boys) shares many traits with me. He tries so hard to make the world safe for his younger brother Conner. But Conner is a rowdy young daredevil, even though he uses a wheelchair. Paintball wars, wheelchair jumping, insane squirrel traps! Conner loves them all and their neighbor Nia is just as obstreperous. Poor Marcus has his hands full with those two, plus their large and scaredy puppy, and the attacking squirrel. Phooey Kerflooey was originally based on our own Newfoundland dog, Princess Leia Freyja. Leia was 114lbs and afraid of haybales and bags of chicken food. She refused to drink unless it was from her own mug and loved our family full of boys very much. Strangely, our current Newfoundland (Nessie Grace Karu) has many traits in common with Phooey. She is very large for a female Newfoundland, weighing 130lbs at just one year old. Also, I wanted to choose a toy that Phooey loved but her boys wouldn’t like. So I used my grandmother’s TP doll that sat over the spare TP roll on the back of the toilet for inspiration. The doll is a bit spooky and has a frilly pink dress that covers the TP. Well, Leia never bothered my grandmother’s doll but Nessie loves her! She sneaks into the bathroom and takes off with that TP doll at a full gallop! In fact, the doll is looking quite ragged with both feet chewed off and decidedly mangled arms. Both Nessie and Phooey love their pink dollies even if the rest of us find them to be somewhat alarming decorations, ha!

My husband and I enjoyed our family full of five boys! What fun we had along with the happy chaos. :)

Do your characters ever surprise you?

Yes! Since I fast draft, sometimes they just start to do something crazy as I’m typing but I don’t stop to change anything. If it’s a bad idea, I’ll change it when I revise. I had no idea that Marcus would be struggling with finding peace in a house full of chaos in Phooey Kerflooey. Or that Phooey’s quest for a fancy teacup was really a search for belonging in Phooey Kerflooey vs The Fancy, Fancy Teacup. Marcus and his longing for peace closely mirrors my own struggles growing up in the craziness of camp ministry. I didn’t think about it though, not until Marcus lived out that longing on the page. 

I always learn something about myself when writing, too.What are you working on now?

I currently have two projects. One fiction and one non-fiction. 

Phooey Kerflooey vs The Deep, Deep Dark is the third book in Phooey Tales: Spring, my chapter book series from Phooey’s POV. This book takes place after Phooey and her boys move to an off-grid Bible camp very similar to the camp where I live. The camp generator breaks down. Since it provides electricity for the whole area, this plunges Phooey’s world into darkness. Her boys read her a Bible story about the plague of darkness in Egypt and Phooey is sure that all of the other plagues are coming for her! She vows to fix the camp generator with helpful nose pokes before the plague of death comes for her and all the people she loves! This story is due to come out in September.

The Rough and Rowdy Devotional: Finding God in Family Tales is a

children’s devotional book that uses stories that my dad and

grandparents told me to point kiddos toward Biblical truths. There

are some crazy stories in this one, from Grandma Autumn riding a

wild burro to Grandpa Del story about how his dad shot flies off the

wall with a pistol when he was courting Del’s mom! This book will

come out in July.

They both sound really great! It's been a delight to have you on The

Diamond Mine, Kristen. Thank you!!

And readers, here's a bit more about Kristen, as well as all her links.

Don't forget to leave a comment with your email for the drawing!

Short Bio: Kristen Joy Wilks writes from a remote 

mountain meadow that alternates between quiet and chaos. 

The mom of three sons, a cat named Whisper Persnickety, 

and Nessie Karu their giant Newfoundland puppy, she lives 

with her camp director husband at Camas Meadows Bible 

Camp. Kristen has witnessed a plethora of crimes 

committed by squirrels. Snacks destroyed, chickens 

attacked, fires started in the woodshop! Despite these 

many trials, her stories highlight the humor and grace God 

gives amidst the detritus of life. When she’s not battling 

squirrels, Kristen can be found tucked under a tattered 

quilt at 4:00 a.m. writing a wide variety of implausible tales 

or at www.kristenjoywilks.com.

 

Website  https://kristenjoywilks.com

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/kristen_joy_wilks_author/

BookBub  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kristen-joy-wilks

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/booksdogskissesandfrogs

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@kristenjoywilks

Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/kristenjwilks7/

Amazon Author Page  https://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Joy-Wilks/e/B016FREUPM?ref

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14422377.Kristen_Joy_Wilk

 Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D4118H93

Amazon paperback: Available June 3rd

Barnes and Noble ebook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-battle-squirrel-kristen-joy-wilks/1147001594

Kobo ebook: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-battle-squirrel

Apple ebook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-battle-squirrel/id6742045841

The paperback will be available at other retailers on June 3rd.

Free Phooey Kerflooey Coloring Pages: https://kristenjoywilks.com/fun/coloring-pages/

Coloring Prompts from Phooey Kerflooey vs The Battle Squirrel: https://kristenjoywilks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Phooeys-Coloring-Prompts-Phooey-Kerflooey-vs-The-Battle-Squirrel.pdf

Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Phooey-Kerflooey-Fancy-Teacup-Spring/dp/B0D9M25J1Y/

Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/Phooey-Kerflooey-Fancy-Teacup-Spring-ebook/dp/B0D9JBMX83

Barnes and Noble Paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-fancy-fancy-teacup-kristen-joy-wilks/1146054159

Barnes and Noble ebook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-fancy-fancy-teacup-kristen-joy-wilks/1146021659

Kobo ebook: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-fancy-fancy-teacup

Apple ebook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/phooey-kerflooey-vs-the-fancy-fancy-teacup/id6553835259

Free ebook with Kristen's Newsletter: https://kristenjoywilks.com/quarterly-newsletter/

Free Phooey Coloring Pages: https://kristenjoywilks.com/fun/coloring-pages/

Coloring Prompts from Phooey Kerflooey vs The Fancy, Fancy Teacup: https://kristenjoywilks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Phooeys-Coloring-Prompts-Phooey-Kerflooey-vs.-The-Fancy-Fancy-Teacup.pdf

Looking for Engaging Christian Stories for Your Teens? Meet Debut Author Jeremiah Friedli

 Today I'd like to introduce you to a debut author who writes dystopian fiction for young people (and those young at heart) who are fans of a twisting plot and engaging story (with no romance so if you are a parent of boys, Jeremiah Friedli is an author they'll enjoy). 

Meet Jeremiah Friedli

Jeremiah Friedli is a homeschool graduate, lifelong writer, ice cream lover, and native Texan who can imagine danger just about anywhere and anytime. He enjoys getting out in God’s creation, whether that’s hiking, camping, running, or just reading quietly on the porch. His favorite books—the kind he loves to write—are those annoyingly good page-turners that keep him up long after he really should have gone to bed. When he’s not browsing grocery stores for the latest deals on Blue Bell ice cream and frozen pizza, you might find him seated behind a large screen with one of his beloved spreadsheets or watching a movie with his family. Learn more and connect with him at jeremiahfriedli.com.

Suzie: Welcome to the diamond mine, Jeremiah. I am looking forward to introducing readers to you and your new release.

Let's get started with something easy. What is your favorite writing drink or snack?

Jeremiah: Definitely coffee! Just a medium roast with half and half. That’s a staple of my morning writing routine. For later in the day, I can still do coffee, but I often go for iced green tea and occasionally Alani.

Suzie: Caffeine to fuel your mornings is sometimes necessary, isn't it? Name three books on your tbr right now.

Jeremiah: I recently finished Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas. The American War for Independence

is my favorite historical period, and this book did a terrific job of dropping the reader into that era, along with the issues relevant to that time, including faith and religion. But what I also loved was the pacing. Though Preacher on the Run didn’t quite move at thriller speeds, it certainly kept me turning pages!

I’m just about to start Trusting God by Jerry Bridges—the second time. This book was an incredible blessing to me years ago, and I’m excited to re-read it. Trust goes hand-in-hand with fear, the theme for CORE Deception.

Also, I just finished The Mental Game of Writing (James Scott Bell). Written for writers, this book is an easy read that’s packed with ideas to help authors with

the various mental obstacles they may face in their careers.

Suzie: Okay, my TBR just got bigger. Where is your favorite place to write? Why?

Jeremiah: Well, there’s favorite and then there’s practical favorite. A favorite place might be in the mountains or by a flowing stream. But since I’m in West Texas and neither of those are very accessible, I often end up at a coffee shop-like setting. Really, just anywhere moderately quiet with good coffee. 

The exception is when I’m dictating a first draft. In that case, I prefer to sit in my truck with my computer and microphone. Vehicles have terrific acoustic qualities!

Suzie: Coffee shops are also great for people watching. Who makes up your writing tribe? 

Jeremiah: I write fiction for teens with a Christian background and who like stories with suspense and intrigue. As I sometimes say, I create Christian YA thrillers. Right now, that happens to be sci-fi/dystopian. But that doesn’t mean readers won’t eventually see some post-apocalyptic, medieval fantasy, kingdom adventure, or modern royalty stories. I have a lot of ideas, and I can’t seem to write them fast enough! But whatever the genre, readers can expect fast-paced stories with teen characters.

Suzie: It's nice when ideas flow freely. If only time didn't move so fast, right? What inspired you to write CORE Deception?

Jeremiah: The idea was largely birthed during 2020 when I faced fears I didn’t know I had. It was an odd, disruptive time for many, and somehow the unknowns of a strange illness and the changes that came to just about every aspect of life triggered fear in me. I’ve struggled with fear of acceptance, fear of failure, and fear of incompetence before—to name a few fears. But this was new to me. It was fear that dominated my thinking and tried to control my actions. (And really, doesn’t all fear do that?)

Something told me this wasn’t right—more like Someone. As a Christian, I shouldn’t fear like that, not if I believe the Bible. After all, our future is secure, no matter what happens to us physically. And as Christ-followers, we have more hope than anyone else.

So why was this fear so strong? It was a while later that I came across a quote by Max Lucado from his book Fearless. He put it really well: "Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control." (https://maxlucado.com/fearless/)

Ouch, that was me. He nailed it. It felt like I had lost control of almost every aspect of normal life. Not that I had control in the first place. And that was the foundational deception of my fear. Life had been going fairly well, and I’d built my stability around that instead of the hope I have in Jesus. Experiencing this fear was painful because it forced me to face a reality—I wasn’t trusting God like I thought I was, like I wanted to think I was. But as painful as that was, it was a gift.

That’s the struggle for the main character, Seth, in my book CORE Deception. But that’s not all. Throw in some espionage, a little hacking, a dystopian government, and another ice age, and soon you have both an exciting and thought-provoking read.

Suzie: Security and control are hard to release to God sometimes, aren't they? We think we understand what's best for us while He knows what's best. 

What led you to write YA dystopian?

Jeremiah: Speaking first to YA, it was somewhere around my teen years that I gained my love of good fiction. I really enjoy YA stories. Maybe I’m still a teenager at heart. But over the years I’ve been creating stories, I just tend to dream up ones featuring teen characters. Nearly every time a story sparked in my imagination, it was YA.

But why dystopian for the CORE Series? I love stories of espionage, undercover, and page-turning suspense. I also like some level of technology. Before the CORE Series, my stories with those elements were set in current-day America. But placing YA characters in situations with espionage and undercover work posed a continual challenge. It’s hard to keep it realistic in a modern setting, at least if the teens aren’t criminals (which doesn’t work so well for a Christian writer trying to encourage other Christians to do the right thing).

Plus, there’s the dark side of espionage and undercover work. As much as I love that kind of stuff, I have to carefully choose what I read and watch. Evil people do evil things, and sometimes the “good guys” make significant moral compromises. Christians have to be careful what they allow to enter their minds when considering stories (true or fiction) on this topic. And so, I found myself challenged with “how can I incorporate the elements I find intriguing without showcasing the sinful behaviors that sometimes come with those topics?” Or put another way, “Can I have a moral, good spy? What sort of story could do that realistically?”

Enter dystopian, with its trope of controlling governments unjustly oppressing the populace. Now my main character had a good reason to use the tools of deception and espionage. I had the modern technology I wanted (and beyond), plus the setting allowed normal teens to step into areas they were unlikely to experience in the USA.

Suzie: The premise of the book is intrigue, and as someone who has read CORE Deception, I can confirm the story is a page turner. 

What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

Jeremiah: I’d say the key takeaway is a Christian’s response to fear, as mentioned above. The key phrase from the Bible comes from Mark 5:36. “Do not be afraid, only believe.” Too often I let fear take control of my emotions instead of keeping my eyes on the Lord, even when I can see how or understand why. I also created a “mini devotional” on fear (https://jeremiahfriedli.com/books/core-series-extras/), which has 40 short insights on what the Bible has to say about fear.

Other elements naturally emerge from dystopian settings like CORE Deception’s. When written from a Christian perspective, dystopian can offer hope for those who see darker times on the horizon, including for the USA. That’s because God is always there, regardless of the time in history (or the future!), geographical location, or presence of Christianity. His love, care, and protection transcend all eras and places.

Another key element relates to technology. Touting their motto of Efficiency for Survival, the government in CORE Deception boasts a very robust technological system that runs the nation and keeps everyone in their place. And in many ways, it’s a good thing considering the global ice age rendering places like Hawaii uninhabitable—except for the right level of efficiency empowered by innovation. Characters like Seth and Krystin learn the hard way they're always being watched. I set the CORE Series years into the future, but many aspects aren't very futuristic. Look at the surveillance state of current-day China and how widely the government deploys technology to control its populace. I wanted to explore that type of thing with the CORE Series. What might happen if America took a few more steps toward widespread technology employment, all in the name of safety and security?

Closely related are controlling governments and their suppression of freedoms like religion, speech, and free-thinking. Some characters in the book go along and comply, others push against the system. More importantly, when is it right for Christ-followers to comply, and when is it right to go against the authorities? Do we keep silent or do nothing? Or do we stand up to them and face the consequences, even if it’s severe? God gave us Acts 5:29 for a reason. (Side note: this is a key theme in my prequel novella Association, available for free at my website.) One of my favorite books is God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, and it was fascinating to see how Brother Andrew worked through this dynamic as God led him to bring Bibles to people who had little or no access to it.

Suzie: Readers, here's a quick description of what to expect in Association: When 15-year-old Krystin Jakobsdóttir’s uncle is accused of attempted murder, she determines to help him clear his name of something she knows he didn’t do. But soon she realizes she’s not just fighting a false accusation. She’s fighting against a conspiracy to take down the social activist her uncle supports. The situation is eerily similar to what happened two years ago, the devastating loss of her sister. With a relentless police inspector watching her every move, Krystin faces a dilemma—avoid the authorities and hope for the best for her uncle or align with the very thinking that tore her sister from her two years ago.

 Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

Jeremiah: I'm well into the planning phase of CORE Deception's sequel. Readers can assume more suspense and espionage while exploring new facets of the CORE series storyworld and digging deeper into characters like Seth, Krystin, and Jhalak. The next title and plot are a secret right now, but here's a little teaser:

A relentless pursuer.

An unpredictable ally.

The opportunity of a lifetime.

Can seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez survive a daring undercover mission that could change the course of a nation…or destroy everything he’s even known and loved?

After a third novel in the CORE Series, I'm praying about what to write. Several ideas are pushing their way to the front of the line, and it’s too early to say which one will win out. It could be another sci-fi, a modern thriller, kingdom adventure—you get the idea.

 Suzie: I'm intrigued. 

Switching topics, do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

Jeremiah: It’s hard to narrow it to one verse, but one phrase God reminded me of a lot this year is from Jeremiah 32:27. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” 

When I feel overwhelmed, experience doubts, or get confused thinking I have to make things happen, this verse helps keep me on track and reminds me of who God is. He is enough, and He loves me more than I can understand.

Suzie: That's a fantastic verse. Before we go, how can we pray for you?

Jeremiah: Thanks so much for asking. I’d appreciate prayers that CORE Deception positively impacts readers, strengthening them in the Lord. And I’m always grateful for prayers for in crafting the next story, keeping myself humble before God so His work can flow through me.

Suzie: Thank you for introducing yourself and your debut to us, Jeremiah. 

Readers, don't forget to grab your free copy of Association (the prequel to the CORE series) 

About CORE Deception

In a world where the government’s CORE systems see and track everyone, seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez is determined to save his sister from being placed in a reeducation facility. Armed with a cryptic letter, Seth embarks on a search for the valuable incognito devices—cyber master keys that can set his sister free. But with only three weeks remaining, he finds himself wedged between two powerful forces who will stop at nothing to get the devices first.

Goodreads | Amazon

Interview with Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

 I'm so excited to chat with Kristen Hogrefe Parnell today. If you've read the first two books in her Crossroads series, "Take my Hand" and "Hold your Breath" you already know what a talent she has for weaving suspense, faith and romance in a story. Her new book, "Watch Your Back" released March 5 and shines with the same talent! Without further ado, here's Kristen.

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for women and young adults. A former English teacher, she now designs curriculum for a Christian academy and spends most of her time at her favorite assignment to date: being a mom to her toddler. Her books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. She lives in the Tampa, Florida area with her husband and son. Learn more at KristenHogrefeParnell.com.

First let’s learn a little bit about you. Can you share a few things about yourself that have nothing to do with writing?

Thanks for inviting me to share on your blog! A little about me … My husband and I have been married for almost six years and have a two-year-old. Being a mom is teaching me more about how much I need God’s grace in my life and His wisdom every day. People tend to think I’m an extrovert, but I’m really an extroverted introvert. I love making connections and building community, but at heart, I’m a girl who would like to drink her coffee in a quiet place with a book as her only companion.

That’s a lot like me! I always say I’m a “complicated introvert” haha. What drew you to write?

My brothers, some of our friends, and I wrote chapter books together when I was in middle school. They grew tired of the project after a while, but I kept writing. That’s when I discovered my love for writing, and I’ve been writing ever since.

How cool! What’s your writing process? 

James Scott Bells explains that there are three camps of writers: pantsters, plotters, and tweeners. I fall into the “tweeners” camp. I used to start with a detailed outline, but since becoming a mom, I’ve whittled it down to a three-page synopsis that highlights the main crises. However, once I get to the middle of the story, the characters tend to take over, so the ending sometimes surprises even me.

Isn’t it crazy how they do that? It happens to me every time, too! How do you come up with your story ideas?

Many times, I’m inspired by a setting or an experience. In my Crossroads Suspense series, all the stories take the characters to Beech Mountain, North Carolina, a place that is dear to my heart. My husband and I have visited so many times that I felt inspired to craft stories around its seasons. 

I love how you have a personal connection there. We all loved “Take My hand” and “Hold Your Breath.” Tell us about your new release. 

I’m so glad you enjoyed the first two books in the Crossroads Suspense series! In Watch Your Back, Private Investigator Avery Reynolds gets her own story. She leads the charge to expose Tampa's supposedly “extinct” mob and bring to justice the crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death. But she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot. Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to work together, exposing her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade's tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. 

Oooo. We all need a copy of that! Are there certain themes explored in the story?

Avery is fiercely independent due to the barriers she’s built around herself. She acts like everything depends on her to succeed and can’t imagine trusting God to be her Father since her biological parents abandoned her. Although I believe readers will draw their own personal takeaways from the story, one theme is that God didn’t design us to do life alone and that we need Him and other people to thrive. Even if others abandon us, He never will.

I love that! And it’s so true. Do you have any favorite characters in your books?

A secondary character named Miss Martha is one of my favorites. She’s a spunky lady in her early seventies who organizes aid for Cuba through her mission and network of Cuban diaspora. She’s not afraid to “tell it like it is” and shares the Good News as naturally as she breathes. 

What are you working on now?

I’m excited to be part of a Christian romantic suspense anthology releasing this summer. My novella follows a young widow who returns to her hometown to start over with her daughter, only to uncover a covert drug ring at her alma mater and cross paths with old classmates harboring scars and secrets of their own. I’ll be sharing more about it in my newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/g8f8x7. I’d love for readers to connect with me there.

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?

When I’m not writing, I’m spending time with my toddler. I love seeing the world through his eyes. Some of our favorite activities include fruit picking (strawberries and blueberries in the winter and spring), zoo time, play dates with friends, and a midweek story and music time at church. On weekends, we enjoy adventures as a family, biking together, hiking, going to the beach, spending time on the water, or seeing family.

You can’t watch your own back.

Private Investigator Avery Reynolds leads the charge to expose Tampa's supposedly “extinct” mob. The crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death is within her grasp—until she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot.

Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to focus on ending the crime boss’s reign of terror. But working together exposes her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade's tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. But will that help reach her in time?

Watch your back is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and free on Kindle Unlimited!

Want to connect with Kristen? Here's where to find her!

Website: https://kristenhogrefeparnell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KHogrefeParnell.author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khogrefeparnellauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristen-hogrefe-parnell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4774818.Kristen_Hogrefe_Parnell

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Melissa Henderson and Her Delightful Children's Books Giveaway

 Dear Diamond Mine Readers,

       Thank you so much to the owners of this blog for having me as a poster. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know you all better--and introduce you to some of my author friends--and to perhaps make some new friends!

First up is a fellow Low Country of South Carolina American Christian Fiction Writers member. We're both charter members!

Hello. Melissa Henderson here. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this blog message. 

I asked Melissa to introduce herself and learned some details I hadn't known before...

I was born in Hampton, Virginia and lived in the same house until I married my husband Alan. Young love continues to last. We celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary on March 3, 2025.  Alan was 21 years old and I was 18 years old when we married. My parents never felt a desire to move. So, when Alan and I married and we moved into our first apartment, I was excited about decorating and taking care of our home. 

One thing I find so endearing about Melissa is just how sweet she is--there's this feeling of meeting a good friend the first time you see her. I asked her what she thinks the first thing people notice about her might be...

People often say the first thing they recognize about me is my smile. I have the joy of the Lord in my heart and that makes me wear a smile most of the time. Yes, I have sad times and the tears flow. However, the good outweighs the bad and my smile shines for the Lord. Another reason for my smile is that I am a 20 year breast cancer survivor. Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord that he extended healing to you.

So, Melissa, we loved getting to know you better, but we're also here for the books. Tell us about your writing?

I’m an award winning author of children’s books, “Licky the Lizard” and “Grumpy the Gator”. I write for many online and in-print publications. I’m also published in many anthologies. My messages are inspirational and uplifting, sometimes humming with a bit of humor. Writing has always been a passion for me and I am thankful to continue to write every day.

Visiting schools, medical offices, vendor events, and other venues gives me opportunities to connect with readers and share my stories.

Where do your ideas come from, if you don't mind me asking?

“Licky the Lizard” is based on my personal experience with lizards. Moving from Virginia to South Carolina eight years ago brought new experiences. When we first arrived and I noticed lizards everywhere, I was afraid of the little creatures. The more I saw the lizards, the more I wanted to learn more about them. In the story, the lady becomes friends with a lizard and names him “Licky”.

Blurb: Licky the Lizard is one nice lizard and just like you and me, he’s one of God’s own creations. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget that we’re really all the same—-

because He created everything in our world.

In Licky the Lizard, author Melissa Henderson offers parents, grandparents, and educators a tale that teaches young children a simple, yet important message: There is no need to fear any of God’s creatures because we are all created by Him—-and He loves us all.

People might think children's books are easy to write. Did you have any challenges?

One difficulty while writing this book was researching lizards and learning there are various types of lizards. Those fast running little lizards can climb through the smallest of cracks and sometimes find their way into a home. Yes, I screamed more than once upon finding a lizard in the house. I prefer the lizards over the snakes. 

I’ve also learned about alligators since moving to the Lowcountry. Gators are a normal sight in our area. Stay away from the gators and they will stay away from you.

Do you have lizards in your neighborhood? Have you found a lizard inside your home? How did you react? Or perhaps there is another animal that makes you pause and wait for it to move. Share your story in the comments.

How can readers get in touch with you--or perhaps learn more about what you're doing?

Please connect with me at these links. I look forward to hearing from you.

My Website | facebook | pinterest | twitter | instagram

My Writing:

“Grumpy the Gator”

“Licky the Lizard”

“Pandemic Moments"

“Heaven Sightings”

“Remembering Christmas”

“Divine Interventions”

“Charleston Light: Stories Inspired by Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse”

“A Holy Christmas: Charleston Holiday Tales"

Have a blessed day!

Melissa Henderson, Author

Thank you, Melissa--and I wish you a blessed day as well. Christina