Interview with Debut Fiction Co-authors Denae Jones and Jennifer Thomas

Meet Denae Jones and Jennifer Thomas co-authors of But, Even Now, a split-time biblical and modern-day story. They are kind enough to offer a free copy of their book. If you'd like to win a the book, leave a comment with your name and email address by July 14. We must have your email address to be eligible.

I'm excited to interview both ladies and introduce them to you. 

Jennifer:

What genre do you enjoy reading most?

Historical fiction for sure! I love the feeling of going back in time and experiencing what life may have been like through the different characters' points of view.

Jennifer:
What is your favorite childhood book? 

Definitely King Bidgood's In The Bathtub by Audrey Wood... Check it out if you haven't read it! I guess you could say it would be historical fiction for a picture book. The last page will NEVER not make me laugh!!

Denae:
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Funny, I thought writing was a more recent dream of mine, but I found books with my writing in it from
all the way back to about third grade. Poetry, short stories, etc. Then in college, one of my professors asked us to make a list of our top 5 long-term dreams. Having a published book was on that list, but I had totally forgotten about it! I guess this is just what God wanted me to do. I started with having a couple of stories published in Chicken Soup books, then I created a line of greeting cards for people who had lost a child. About six years ago, I wrote for newspapers, which eventually developed into my devotion books. The latest is our novel, But, Even Now.  

Denae:

Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?

But, Even Now is our latest published book. The story goes between biblical times and modern day, and it's the first in this series. At the end of But, Even Now you can read the first two chapters of the sequel, titled The Two Martha’s. We are currently working on completing that and can’t wait to see how it ends!

Thanks for sharing a bit about you.

Denea:

Please share the book we are featuring here: 

But, Even Now  

Meet Trista, a woman whose present-day world has been falling apart for years. How can she stay close to God when insurmountable obstacles meet her time and time again? As advised by her counselor, she starts journaling, which inadvertently tells a heart-gripping story about an unexpected path to motherhood, love and loss, addiction, betrayal, and faith that will change future generations.

Meet Adinah, who lives in a world dominated by Roman oppression just as Jesus is being revealed as the Messiah. Being a barren wife in a culture where family lineage is everything, she questions God when she feels all but forgotten by Him. Ready to give up, she beholds firsthand how life-and faith-can change in an instant.

1,985 years ago, Adinah was there to witness a miracle. Today, that same miracle changes Trista's life. This historical/fiction novel will have you laughing and crying as it weaves together the intriguing stories of these two women who have one very important thing in common: Jesus.

(Available online most places books are sold.) Amazon

Denae, I know you delve into the Jewish religion in the historical fiction. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

But, Even Now is a time leap book that is historical/fiction. It was important to us that the historical part and the present-day part not only aligned with one another, but that they were as historically accurate as possible. We did quite a bit of research and conducted interviews to make sure the cultures described in the book were represented well.  

Jennifer:

Do you find yourself returning to a similar theme in your novels or do you have a new message with each release?

Honestly, we haven't had to choose a theme yet because God has clearly instructed us in our writing journey so far. It was clear to us that pornography addiction would be a part of our beloved Trista's journey in some way. This epidemic is stealing the innocence of children and harming marriages at an alarming rate in our world today. It was also clear that our two main characters would both be encouraged through their trials by words right out of Martha's mouth in the Bible. As for the theme of our sequel, The Two Marthas, we already knew what it was to be about before we finished the first. God is really in the lead with this series, and we are just hoping we get it right.

Jennifer:

Is there a certain Bible passage or verse that goes along with the theme of your book? 

Yes! So glad you asked! John 11:22...  Check it out and then read But, Even Now. :)

To finish our time together, each of you tell us a fun thing about you.

Denae:
What are the top three things on your bucket list?

One thing on my bucket list would be to travel to the Holy Land and then to parts of Europe. Another would be to go Sky Camping, where you camp in a hammock that is suspended over the side of a mountain. My top bucket list actually came true last year, and that was to see every member of my family baptized!

Jennifer:
If you could be any animal, which would it be?

I would probably pick to be one of my dogs, chickens, or ducks because of how much we spoil them!

If you'd like to win a copy of the book, leave a comment with your name and email address by July 14. We must have your email address to be eligible, and we need five comments from five readers.

Thanks for checking out The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction.

Sarah Monzon Combines the Past and Present with Freedom's Kiss

Welcome back to the Diamond Mine, friends! We hope you are finding some new and new-to-you authors. This week I'm thrilled to introduce you to an author who delves into some difficult topics in her stories, and she does it with dual-time stories, contemporary books, and her new foray into rom-coms. Meet Sarah Monzon.

Sarah Monzon is a Navy chaplain's wife and a stay at home mom to the two cutest littles in the world. Playing pretend all day with them isn't enough, she spends the evenings after their heads hit the pillow to create her own imaginary characters. When she isn't in the world of make believe, she can be found in the pine forests of western Washington taking care of her family, fostering friendships, and enjoying all the adventures each day brings.

Connect with Sarah: www.facebook.com/sarahmonzonwrites   www.twitter.com/monzonwrites    www.instagram.com/monzonwrites

SW: Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Sarah! I’m thrilled you are visiting this week and excited to introduce you. Let’s start with some quick, get-to-know-you questions

Early bird or night owl? 

SM: Early bird

SW: Chocolate or vanilla? 

SM: Chocolate

SW: Pancakes or waffles? 

SM: waffles






SW: Libraries or museums? 

SM: This is a trick question!

SW: Yes, it was! This one is not. Book or movie? 

SM: Book


SW: What is one recent read you would recommend? 

SM: No Less Days by Amanda Stevens. I read A LOT of books and am always on the look out for a plot/story that is unique and out of the box. No Less Days is full of diversity in many surprising layers and a story that will really engage your mind and heart.

SW: I, too, enjoyed No Less Days and look forward to the next book. You live in the Pacific Northwest. What would you recommend someone visiting for the first time not miss?

 SM: A National Park. Hands down. Glacier, Rainier, Olympics…they are all simply stunning and

Mount Rainier in Washington

must not be missed. 


SW: Oh, I agree. The majestic mountains are worth the trip! 

One thing I love about the author community is how supportive everyone is of each other. Who has supported you in your writing journey (authors and others)?


SM: I love that, too! Some writing sisters have been on this journey with me from the beginning and others have lifted me up and encouraged me at divinely specific times. I especially appreciate readers and bloggers that take the time to write reviews and support authors in a really vocal way. Sending out virtual hugs to you all.

SW: Now that you’ve got a few titles out there, is there anything you wish you’d done differently? Or any lessons you’ve learned you could share with aspiring authors?

SM: I think the most important lesson that I’m still struggling to learn is that of focus. Keeping my focus on my writing only and the unique ministry God has called me too. Too often I get distracted by other things like sales numbers and reviews and easily get discouraged when all that stuff doesn’t ultimately matter. All that matters is that I stay faithful to what God has called me to do and the stories that He has given me to write.


SW: Amen! I think we all need to remember that at times in our lives.

You’ve written dual time, contemporary, and romantic comedy. Do you have a favorite genre? (By the way, I adored Bookishly Ever After and hope you are planning more romcoms in the near future) 

SM: *hides face behind hands* I know! I am so scattered all over the place genre wise. Do I have a favorite though… I don’t know! I like each for different reasons. If I *had* to choose, though, I think dual time might just edge out the others. Just. Maybe. *sigh* Must I chose? 

Side note—I am so glad you enjoyed Bookishly Ever After! That was a fun one to write. I’m planning on two more bookish type stories along the same lines. In fact, I’m working on one now and hope to have it out in a few months.

SW: Yay! More romcoms from you. And your writing variety isn't a bad thing. I've enjoyed all of them from the Finders Keepers series to The Esther Project (and have I mentioned how much I loved Bookishly Ever After?).



Which of your characters is most like you? Which hero would you accept a date with? 

SM: Almost all of my characters have a component of either my personality or my own backstory, but the character that is MOST like me is undoubtedly Emory Blake from Bookishly Ever After. Emory is basically me but with dark, curly hair. A bibliophile that’s awkward and has no idea how to make small talk…yep, that’s me to a T.

As far as which hero I would date, is all of them an acceptable answer? Seriously, I fell in love with each and every one of them while I wrote them, so it would be impossible for my heart to pick just one. Polygamy is acceptable with fictitious characters, right?

SW: Fictional polygamy is totally acceptable!

Tell us a little about your newest release, Freedom’s Kiss and what you hope readers take away from the story.

SM: Freedom’s Kiss is a dual timeline book with both a contemporary and historical thread from the 1800s woven together. In 1816, Winnie escapes slavery with her family, but instead of finding freedom to the North, they travel through Georgia to Florida hoping to find refuge in Negro Fort. Their plans go awry but are accepted among the Seminole people. 

Now jump forward 200 years..
(For those who are familiar with the Carrington family (this is the third book in the series), this book tells Adam’s story.) Adam is a criminal defense attorney turned food truck owner. He’s haunted by his role with a past case and seeks to make restitution for it but nothing he does seems to take the guilt away. Enter Olivia Arroyo in a hurricane of motion, blowing into his life but fitting like she’d always been there. Olivia knows what she wants—to become a chef—but the foundation of who she *is* is shattered with a surprising result from a DNA ancestry test.

Three people completely different yet all searching for the peace only found with a kiss from freedom.

I hope readers are encouraged by the themes of embracing the abundant life God has for each of us and the freedom found only in Him.


SW: Can't wait to read this one soon! It was a pleasure spending time with you. Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to visit with us today.

SM: Thank you so much for having me!

SW: Readers, Sarah is gifting one of you a signed paperback copy (US address only) of Freedom's Kiss. Keep reading to find out how to enter.

They were prisoners of the past. Could legacy be the key to set them free?

Olivia Arroyo knows who she is and where she’s going—her sense of family responsibility a stepping-stone to her dream of becoming a chef. When her employer refuses her the chance to move from server to the kitchen, she makes another opportunity for herself with the owner of a new food truck. But her life derails when a hidden piece of her past suddenly comes to light, and she discovers everything she thought she knew about herself has been a lie.

A single decision can have innumerable consequences—a truth that has changed Adam Carrington’s life. A criminal defense attorney turned food truck owner, he is haunted by his role in an unpardonable act and driven by his need to make restitution. Unexpected help comes in the form of a feisty, raven-haired beauty, but she soon begins challenging his kitchen as well as his heart.

Florida, 1816
Propelled by a fleeting hope of freedom, Winnie and her family escape slavery and find refuge and new life with the Seminole Indians of Florida. But their future is still uncertain as threats of war, a return to slavery, and removal to the West shake their tentative grasp on freedom. Will they ever step out of the shadow of fear to leave a legacy of deliverance? 

Now available on Amazon

Giveaway

To be entered to win the signed paperback copy of Freedom's Kiss, leave a comment telling us what you most enjoy about the dual time genre (you can also tell us if you haven't read this genre yet). Get an extra entry by signing up for Sarah Monzon's newsletter or following her on social media and letting us know. 

***Giveaway ends 9/4/2018, 11:59 pm EST. Giveaway open to US addresses only. Not valid if less than five unique commentors enter.