Interview with Author Gay N. Lewis!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops, then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with author Gay N. Lewis! 

Gay N. Lewis writes under two names, Gay N. Lewis and G. N. Lewis. She writes two blogs, Gay N. Lewis and I’ll Always Remember, a blog about dementia. Visit Gay N. Lewis on YouTube and her Amazon Author Page! 

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

Thank you for inviting me to visit with you in a coffee shop. I love coffee. I like it plain with no sugar in the winter, and in the summer, I like it sweetened and iced. I stumble from the bed every morning and don’t wake up until the caffeine hits. There’s nothing better than that first cup.

That first cup is the best! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

If I could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?  That’s a tough question because I enjoy food. My favorite dish is my mom’s chicken and dumplings, but she’s in heaven now, and no one can make them as good as she did.  I’d like to order pizza from Italy, and I would also like to experience Belgium chocolates. However, I have no plans to travel to Europe, so these two authentic treats are not in my future.

Nothing tops mom's food! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

My favorite place to write is on my desktop in my office. I’m not an organized person, and I write amidst chaos.  My workplace is at the back of my house, and I can see into the backyard. The view of three huge trees, along with the squirrels chasing each other, refreshes me. Those tiny creatures are fun to watch.

That does sound fun! What inspired you to write Kade's Worth?

What inspired me to write Kade’s Worth?  When I heard of the Safe Haven Laws, the idea came to me. I had a distant relative who threw a newborn into a dumpster some 40 years ago, and she spent thirty years in prison. She could have aborted the baby back then, abortion was legal, but she didn’t. If the Safe Haven Laws had existed at that time, she could have saved herself and the baby after the child was born.

So interesting when family history inspires a story! What led you to write in this genre?

Kade’s Worth is about a young girl who is raped, wants to keep her baby, but with no help, she can’t. She learns of the Baby Moses Laws aka Safe Haven Laws and surrenders her baby. She manages to cope with her loss, but her self-worth vanishes. She marries, but after her husband dies, fury from all the injustice hits her full force. She can’t bring back the baby or her husband, but she can kill the men who raped her. She sets out on a quest to find them.

This book is a far cry from my usual Christian novels. Kade’s Worth is edgy. I normally write Christian historical and fantasy, but this one took me to another level.

That does take an edgy turn! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

My purpose in writing this book is to help women with unplanned pregnancies. With the Safe Haven, or Baby Moses Laws, there is hope. Parents can surrender a child anonymously. No one needs to know about the baby.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

One of my favorite Scriptures is Philippians 4:6-7 from the NLT. “Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything, tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.”  My children learned this at an early age, and when my daughter lay dying, we quoted it together.

How special to your family in times of hardship! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

I don’t have the next project in mind, however, I may write a nonfiction book entitled Life in the Parsonage. I’ve lived in parsonages before, and I have friends who have also. We do have some funny tales to tell.

I bet you do! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

I am currently reading Lily’s Redemption by Ann Marie Jameson. It is about a woman who dies, goes to heaven, and returns to earth. She is to make amends to all the people she wronged in her life. It is amusing and has a bit of fantasy. Those are two ingredients I love in a book.

Very interesting! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Gay! 

Check out Kade's Worth HERE!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and create aesthetic content for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page!

Romantasy Author Paige Reed

 Hello, friends. I trust you all had a safe and happy holiday season. Are you ready to load up your TBRs for 2026? If so, be sure and visit us often to find new and new-to-you authors and stories.

And I can't think of a better person to be the first introduction of 2026 than Paige Reed. Paige and I have been critique partners for five years, and I have watched her stories transform from good to amazing. I've had a front-row seat to the hard work she's poured into the Guardians of Areli series. 

Here's a fun fact: When we first started critiquing and Paige told me her word count, my response was, "No publisher is going to buy that book." She listened and reworked her 3-book trilogy into two 3-book trilogies. In the course of these past years, she's made even more changes, and her stories are fuller, richer, and more immersive because of her desire to share the stories God wants her to share.

I am not normally a fantasy reader, but Paige's books have a familiar, historical tone that makes her world-building both new and comfortable. And y'all, this lady can write. You will be swept away with her beautiful writing and her captivating storytelling. But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's what one reviewer said about Reviving Embers (Paige's debut novel): 

Immersive, thought-provoking, passionate, and clever are only a few of the terms I could use to describe this novel. What a gem in the Christian fantasy realm. It definitely leaves you anticipating more.

Paige has generously offered to give one of our readers a signed paperback of Reviving Embers (her debut novel). Be sure to read to the end to find out how to enter the giveaway.

Let's welcome Paige to the diamond mine.

Meet Paige Reed

Paige loves life in all its messy reality. She believes in hope—not the sort spun by fairytales—but a hope fearless of the dark. Chocolate is her kindred spirit and together they write epic stories about fascinating people caught in incredible places and discovering an extraordinary God. Paige won the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for speculative fiction and the 2021 ACFW Virginia Crown Contest Award.

Connect with Paige: Website | Newsletter | Amazon | Instagram | Facebook

Suzie: Welcome, Paige. I am delighted to introduce you to our readers, so let's get started.

Would you rather live without internet for a year or without air conditioning and heating for a year?

Paige: The internet—as long as I had a different way to research, market, and publish my books, lol. I’m one of those sorts who are on the internet because I have to be, not because I love it.

But heating? I live in the north country and that is a desperate need in my life :-)

Suzie: I couldn't bear the Tennessee summers without AC myself (but I do use the internet every day) 

Would you rather give up social media or eat the same dinner for the rest of your life?

Paige: For sure, social media! I’m a foodie, and foodies can’t handle “the same” anything too many times in a row.

Suzie: I agree with the social media (although I am okay with "the same" for a while). Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.

Paige: I’m an avid gardener. At least, I avidly enjoy gardening. Unfortunately, flowers and herbs are the only things that have grown well—so I’ve never had enough surplus of produce to make canning worth it. My husband and I joke that if the economy goes belly up and had to live off my garden, we’d have one good day before starving to death ;-)

Suzie: I can't even keep flowers or herbs alive. 

What are three books on your current tbr?

Paige: The Huntress by Carrie Cotton … because it’s a bestseller in my genre.

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham … because I’m a die-hard classics fan. So much so, if you would have told me I would be an author one day, I would have assumed I’d write historical fiction. But alas, my characters insisted their story be told in a different time and place, so I became a fantasy writer instead. And I might just love it.

Cerulean Rose by Demi Griffin … because I love fairytale rewrites with spiritual layers.

Suzie: What does your writing space look like?

Paige: I write at a standing desk, located in our house’s loft, that overlooks a panorama of rolling hills, trees, and huge, expressive sky. The view makes my heart incredibly happy and helps my creative juices flow.

But the surface of my desk is a wee bit crowded right now. Between writing a series and needing to have access to all of its parts and pieces at a moment’s notice, trying to figure out this marketing thing, and a plethora of art supplies for drawing fantasy maps for said series, I’m thinking I need a piece of furniture to help me stay organized while being able to still find everything. A cute, white or distressed-white dresser with three drawers stacked on top of each other should do the trick. And I think the color would pair with the buttermilk yellow walls and European cottage vibe I have going on up there.

And did I mention it would be cute?

Suzie: That would be cute. Would you share with us a little about your road to publication?

Paige: I tried to go the traditional route.

I studied craft.

I joined crit groups.

I entered unpublished contests—even won the Genesis and Virginia Christian Writers Awards—hoping to earn the attention of a trad publisher and agent.

I even met with one of the top agents in the Christian publishing world.

However, I didn’t realize how the publishing industry worked. Didn’t know that if the Christian publishing houses hadn’t built a market for romantic fantasy, then they weren’t going to pick up my manuscript no matter how well written it was or how popular the genre was becoming.

Which meant that this technology-challenged and marketing-adverse individual—who gets a grand total of two or three likes on any social media post—had to learn how to publish and sell her own books.

Don’t get me going on the desperate, overwhelming search to find professional-grade editors and cover designer …

But the Lord is right here in all the unexpected, guiding my faltering, inadequate footsteps. I’m inching forward. In July of 2025 I published my first book—Reviving Embers, prequel to the Guardians of Areli series. Then released the second book in October of 2025. Annnnnd—I have two more scheduled to release in 2026.

Suzie: The publishing industry is rough, no matter which route you choose to go. What are some of your favorite things about writing romantacy?

Paige: Always, I love the romance. There is something so intrinsically beautiful about the strong and powerful gentling themselves to woo the heart and trust of the fairer sex. It reminds me of how

Christ set aside His resplendent glory—that would have frightened or overwhelmed us—and took on the form of a servant to win His bride. I also adore the process of the MMC and FMC

growing toward each other, discovering each other’s souls—especially the wounded places—and choosing to love sacrificially and unconditionally.

I also enjoy world building. My approach to fantasy is probably different than most. I love using a different time and place to interact with foundational, eternal truths that are alive and real in our world. It’s my desire to magnify, articulate, and remember again with my reader the spectacular realities that get lost in our harsh, broken, now and now.

And I cherish the opportunity to organically weave in the truest and deepest delight of the human experience—that place where the finite crosses paths with the Infinite, or the sinner discovers the Savior, or the wounded meets the Restorer.

Suzie: Sounds like you are in the exact genre you are supposed to be in. Tell us more about your upcoming release.

Paige: Rending Hearts is the third installment in the Guardians of Areli series … and my favorite book yet.

And I’m not just saying that.

Middle books can be difficult to write—which is why a lot of fantasy writers go with the whole “one of the main characters is now possessed and their mind has been altered/hijacked,” as seen in the Hunger Games.

And there’s nothing wrong with writing or loving a story with that twist.

But between you and me, I don’t enjoy these deviations. When I go on a journey with a character, I want to discover who they are and watch them authentically grow and transform over the course of the story.

Yet going without a major setback along this order forces the plot and characters to carry the momentum. There is no “how will they get free?” taking up a lot of space and time.

And I’m thrilled to say this cast of characters nailed it all on their own. The book sort of wrote itself, and I can’t wait for my readers to get to experience the incredible lows and highs of this next installment in the battle for Areli.

Suzie: I'm looking forward to reading it. What are you currently working on?

Paige: The fourth and final book in the Guardians of Areli series—which brings my first epic romantic fantasy to completion. Three books' worth of threads and character development are coming to a climax, and it’s incredibly satisfying to build each scene. This final book is coming together better than my wildest

imaginations.

And … I’m also working on two companion novellas that cover the love stories of beloved secondary characters. I’m super excited about these stories because they will give us a glimpse behind the scenes and into both territories and struggles that I don’t have time to cover in the main series—but are super delightful and hopefully every bit as inspiring.

Suzie: It's bittersweet saying goodbye to a series. How can we pray for you?

Paige: Wow. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this question.

Two things come to mind—

1. That each book will reach its full potential.

2. That I will find my readers. I’m still in the infant stages of building my author career and it’s a pretty big, overwhelming world out there. Sometimes, it feels like I’m launching my stories into a void. But the Lord had specific readers in mind when He led me to write these books, and I would love to find them :-)

Suzie: Thank you for spending some time with us, Paige. 

About Reviving Embers

He vowed to protect his people no matter the cost. But what if the cost is her?

Twelve years ago, the Shields of Power saved Paul Marshall's family from annihilation. Now a man, he’ll stop at nothing to earn a place among the elite council sworn to protect the Shields’ source of strength.

But no one with common blood has been appointed for centuries.

To rise, Paul must train with the nobility and secure influential connections in a world that doesn’t want him. His chances go from slim to impossible when he attracts formidable enemies—and the affections of a woman he can never have.

Verity Scillician, noble born and destined to marry the crown prince, struggles to accept the path laid out for her. Emptiness haunts her, forbidden pursuits call, and Paul tugs at every hungry place inside her. But breaking free from the expectations of her family and class could ruin her.

Subversive influences sweep Areli into a war of ideologies that threatens their past and future. As they fight to preserve their heritage, and the attraction between them deepens to love, Paul and Verity must decide if they will obey the ancient warning to stoke the fire within …

Even if the flame consumes their dreams.

Amazon | Goodreads

About Revealing Shadows

There is treachery without. And treachery within.

Prince Beniah receives this cryptic warning when a lethal storm drives him to take refuge in the Western Cliffs. Yet the tension between him and his father compels him to hide his investigation.

Evidence of conspiracy continues to stack. A divisive treaty. Scarred earth. The opening of Areli’s borders to their ancient enemy. A murder. As the threat to his kingdom escalates, Beniah faces chilling questions …
Who is the mastermind? And who is their ultimate target?

Anne has lived her life cloaked in obscurity and rejection. Hidden behind a hair scarf and tinted glasses, she serves the High King and Areli with quiet devotion. But disturbing revelations force her to choose between staying safe in the shadows or betraying her sect by reaching across the class chasm for help.

As the web of mystery tightens, Beniah’s and Anne’s paths—and loyalties—cross treasonous boundaries, making discovery even more dangerous. Yet when their enemies close in, no safe options remain.

Either they step into the light and risk revealing their deepest-held secrets …

Or they let the shadows swallow them whole.

Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway

Would you like to read Reviving Embers? Paige is giving one of you a signed paperback (US addresses only). To enter, simply leave a comment and tell us which of the above tropes are you're most interested in reading about.

Giveaway ends at midnight CST on 1/14/26.

Interview with award-winning and best-selling author Sarah Hamaker!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops before heading to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with award-winning and best-selling author Sarah Hamaker!

Award-winning and best-selling author Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Connect with Sarah on her website, newsletter, Facebook, Book Bub, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

Hot tea all the way! I love a good cuppa of black tea. Some of my favorite blends of black tea are Earl Grey Supreme, cranberry black, blueberry black, and Scottish Afternoon. Add a little sugar and a splash of cream—the perfect drink for writing.

Tea is so comforting! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

This is a hard one for me because I’m not a huge foodie—I’m more like my late father in that he ate to live, not lived to eat (not that I don’t like to eat, just not super picky about what I’m eating). But if I could order anything in the world, it would be a juicy cheeseburger made with grassfed beef and cooked medium rare with crispy, lightly breaded onion rings on the side.

Yum! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

My office because I have a comfortable chair, a split keyboard and large monitor. I can also shut the door if I need a little peace and quiet. But I do my best thinking there.

Awesome space! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

I have a reader’s vocabulary. At least, that’s my mother’s explanation for the fact that I have trouble pronouncing (and spelling, if we’re being honest) some words. I wasn’t taught phonics as a child and always read above my grade level, so I’d pronounce things in my head and usually that was not how those words are actually pronounced. Even today, I’ll substitute a “smaller” word for the “bigger” one in my head because I’m not sure how to correctly say it.

I can definitely relate. What inspired you to write Justice Denied? 

The story. It’s always the story that needs to get out of my head and onto the page. In Justice Denied, which is book two in my Seeking Justice series, I wanted to give the hero, Seth Whitman, his own story because I liked him as a side character in Justice Delayed, book one. Seth needed to find his own happily-ever-after and was the perfect complement to my heroine, Jetta Ainsely.

A father’s tarnished legacy drives a daughter to untangle a web of deception with the help of a photojournalist. 

Jetta Ainsley’s life had been complicated enough as she navigates cleaning out the family home while her mother recovers from a car accident. When her dog is hurt, her next-door neighbor, Seth Whitman, offers his help. Seth would like to do more for Jetta but the walls she’s placed around her heart are unsurmountable.

Then she learns her late father had been accused of embezzlement, drawing Jetta into a web of secrets that could prove his innocence—or destroy her. When digging into her father’s past brings danger to their doorstep, Jetta turns to Seth for assistance in uncovering who stole millions before someone gets hurt. 

Seth tries to protect Jetta and her mother from the increasing danger, while clues lead them ever deeper into a tangled conspiracy. Unraveling the sinister plot will require all their courage, faith, and trust in each other.

But will uncovering the truth clear her father’s name—or destroy their growing love for one another?

Everyone, check out Justice Denied! What led you to write in this genre? 

I love weaving the romance around the suspense part of the story, probably because I read way too many mysteries as a kid and teenager. I started with the Happy Hollisters and Nancy Drew, then graduated to Agatha Christie and other gothic mystery writers. Frankly, I doubt I could write anything without the dash of mystery and suspense!

How fun! What message do you hope to convey to your readers? 

That our God is a God of second chances and redemption. All of my main characters are believers and it’s important to me to have them live out their lives as authentically as possible on the page so that readers can see how faith in action in sometimes hard circumstances looks like.

That's awesome! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)? 

Right now, I’m finishing the rough draft to a short novel for a collection next summer, then I’ll move on to editing the first book in a new series featuring 911 dispatchers as the heroines. Like my husband says, I’ve always got something on my writing plate.

Exciting stories are coming! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

One of my favorite verses is Psalms 37:4, which says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” All too often we focus on the latter part of this verse about how God will give us the desires of our hearts rather than the vital first part about delighting ourselves in the Lord. When we focus on the former part, our desires and God’s will align, and God’s desires for us will be what our hearts desire too.

Well put! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

I’m currently reading Honor, book three in the Long Hot Summer Christian Romantic Suspense collection. I enjoy anthologies and these short novels are a great way to sample many different authors.

Anthologies are so much fun! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Sarah!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and create aesthetic content for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page!

Romantic Suspense Author Rebecca Lake Shares About Baseball, Life, and Writing

 This week, I'm excited to introduce you to Rebecca Lake. Rebecca is a romantic suspense author who writes stories of courage grounded in hope.

About Rebecca

Rebecca grew up in the rural West, where gold rush towns, remote caves, and the rugged Idaho mountains stirred her imagination.

The stories remained unwritten until one day she decided she could no longer wait for tomorrow and began writing. Within a year, she penned Where Secrets Lie, His Last Text, and The Mistaken Witness.

Her clean novels provide unique twists, white-knuckle suspense, and sweet romance. The characters inspire with their courage, grounded in hope.

Connect with Rebecca: website | newsletter | Facebook  | Bookbub

Interview

Suzie: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Rebecca. We’re thrilled to have you visit us this week. Let's start with something easy. What is your favorite spring-time beverage?

Rebecca: I enjoy an ice-cold Arnold Palmer (unsweetened tea and lemonade) or iced coffee.

Suzie: Ah, an Arnold Palmer in the summer is refreshing. Tell us a little about you—family, hobbies, day job, or whatever you’d like to share that’s not in your bio.

Rebecca: We’re avid baseball fans, and we’ve watched a lot of games, both on TV and in person. Pro, college, high school and youth baseball—we’ve watched it all. 

Suzie: I've never been able to get into baseball but have some good friends who love it. What are three books on your current tbr?

Rebecca: Doyle by Susan May Warren, Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey, and Out of Time by Irene Hannon

Suzie: Two of those are on my TBR as well! What does your writing space look like?

Rebecca: We converted a spare bedroom into a shared office. My window overlooks our hummingbird feeders, and when I need a break, I watch the horses in the field behind our house. 

Suzie: That sounds like an amazing view. Would you share with us a little about your road to publication?

Rebecca: My road has been shaped by authors who generously shared their expertise. I wouldn’t have made it without one incredibly kind mentor who patiently shared her vast knowledge. I hope to pay it forward someday.

Suzie: What drew you to the romantic suspense genre?

Rebecca: I’ve always loved mysteries and suspense. I initially planned to write sweet romances, but suspenseful elements kept creeping into my stories.

Suzie: Tell us more about your newest release, The Mistaken Witness.

Rebecca: Harper Ashford narrowly escapes death after getting forced off a treacherous Idaho mountain road. Ignoring his own rules, former Special Forces officer Alek Locke races to her rescue. She doesn’t trust him. He doesn’t want to get involved. Yet, unraveling the deadly conspiracy her father ignited demands they remain in the mountains, forge an uneasy alliance, and follow a trail of cryptic clues. The danger escalates beyond their wildest expectations, each discovery leading them deeper into peril. 

While writing The Mistaken Witness, one plot twist captivated me so much I spent hours researching the actual event.

Suzie: What are you currently working on?

Rebecca: Deception At Christmas. A Christmas novella, Where Secrets End, Book Three in the Deception In The Mountains series, and Disguised Deception, book one in the Garnet Falls series.

Suzie: Wow, it sounds like writing is keeping you plenty busy. How can we pray for you?

Rebecca: For wisdom.

Suzie: Thank you for spending some time with us today, Rebecca. We will be praying God gives you wisdom as you continue your writing journey.

The Mistaken Witness

A fatal crash. A father’s betrayal. A web of lies.

Budding journalist Harper Ashford isn’t stalking a big story when an SUV forces her off a treacherous Idaho mountain road—it’s stalking her. So, when a handsome former Special Forces officer “just happens” upon the remote scene, she’s not about to trust him.

Alek Locke has retreated to the mountains to regroup after a mission gone awry. Rescuing a beautiful stranger wasn't part of his recovery plan. But as threats escalate and shocking connections emerge, Harper's father's betrayal pulls Alek deeper into the conspiracy he might have been entangled in all along.

Cryptic clues soon have the reporter question her sources and the military man reevaluate his priorities. With the danger relentless, their enemies might not be who they seem. Will their fragile partnership keep them alive? Can Alek’s selfless vow to protect her pierce her guarded heart? And could Harper’s resilience teach him another kind of strength before it’s too late?

Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway and Interview with Jill Chapman!

 Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with Jill Chapman, author of Seaside SOS!

Jill resides in southern Indiana with her husband of forty-six years. They enjoy their country lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren. She is an avid movie watcher, loves Mexican food, and paints watercolors. Most days, you’ll find her in her studio working on her next adventure story or crafting new projects.

Jill’s interest in books began in childhood when reading provided a wonderful outlet for her wild imagination. She loves to tell stories about her life experiences with humor mixed in to convey the sense of adventure she feels every day. Jill says her life is like a good plate of nachos, with a tiny kick of spice and a whole lotta cheese.

Connect with Jill on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter)!

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

Don’t hate me, but I’m not a coffee drinker. I love extra spicy chia tea, iced or hot. I’ve also began drinking green tea lately. It’s okay, but extra spicy chia tea in the morning is amazing.

Spicy chia tea is loved here! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

Last year, while on vacation, we ate in a Bolivian restaurant in Fort Walton, Florida. It was amazing! We spoke with the owner. He was so passionate about feeding Americans his special dishes from his country. It was fun to see a young man excited about his culture. I expected the food to be spicy, but it had a delicate flavor. I’d eat from his restaurant again in a heartbeat!

That sounds awesome! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

I arranged a room in our house to be my studio. Most days, I’m at my desk in the studio, researching and writing. When I struggle to put a sentence together, I can go to my art table and create something there.

What a wonderful space to create! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

I would say my CONSTANT internal monologue. I may be in the room with you, but in my mind, I may be in the woods being chased by a bobcat!

This is the way. What inspired you to write Seaside SOS? 

The Bomb Squad series revolves around the adventures of a boy named Bryan and his three friends. My girls loved to go to the beach when they were growing up, so I decided to have the boys solve a mystery on the beach. When they suspect sea turtle eggs are in danger, the boys must save them. Since sea turtles and ocean life can be so vulnerable, this was a way to have children see ways they can help with conservation.

Love that! What led you to write in this genre?

My desire is to create family-friendly stories filled with adventure for children. When I was teaching, some students longed for friendships but didn’t know how to be friends or develop friendships. Children learn from fictional stories in many ways, so I wrote a story about four boys navigating friendship and mysteries together. My stories have settled in middle grade, although I have plans to publish a YA mystery as well.

That's awesome! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

Friendship with the element of loyalty is challenging for children today. I want to give children an example of how to be a good friend. My stories aren’t preachy, but they do contain Christian concepts and how the boys struggle with them at times.

It's so important! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

Holiday Havoc is the next adventure with the Bomb Squad. In this adventure, the boys must help prepare a Christmas float for a parade, solve a mystery of stolen presents for a children’s event, and help care for a new pet. All of this while navigating a blizzard. 

Tell Yourself is another project very close to my heart. This testimony/journal book will include personal testimonies from my life while providing space for readers to journal about their own lives. It will encourage people to see how God works in our lives in extraordinary ways.

      Those sound great! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

There are so many verses that speak to me and have been favorites over the years. Philippians 4:11 has been my life verse for a long time now.  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Life is a challenge for all of us at times. To walk faithfully, we must learn to be content in the knowledge that Jesus knows where we are, and he’ll take care of us. I’ve struggled with feeling out of place or out of touch. This verse helps me remember to be content in where God has me.

So true! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

A book way out of my comfort zone! City of End by Katelyn Pfeiffer is a futuristic fantasy about a young woman who must save her city from an evil that is waging a war on humanity. It’s been an exciting read so far, and I can’t wait to see how it ends.

That sounds exciting! Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Jill!

Check out Jill's books and a giveaway opportunity! 

Books ~

Bryan and his three friends hop on a plane to Florida for a fun-filled seaside vacation with their families. The Squad arrives with high hopes for a thrilling time on the beach. In typical Squad fashion, things don’t go as planned. Max runs away from his dogsitter back home, Tim tells them he might leave the Squad, and the boys see mysterious lights on the beach.

Before jumping into the waves, the Squad meets a new friend beside a sea turtle’s nest near their condo. Ava tells them her suspicions about egg pirates prowling the beach at night. Together, they visit a Sea Turtle Rescue to learn more about the dangers these creatures face in the ocean and on the beach. When they decide to help Ava guard the nest, the Bomb Squad finds themselves in troubled waters again!

Will Max be found and brought home before he gets hurt? Is Tim really going to leave the Squad? Can the boys join forces with their new friend to save the eggs?

Learn More!

Learn More!

Giveaway Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away a copy of Seaside SOS!

This giveaway will close on 3/20/25 at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. The winner must respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, or their prize will be forfeit. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Enter via the handy Rafflecopter link below. May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and create aesthetic content for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page!