Giveaway and Interview with Sara Davison, Author of Driven!

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 Sara Davison, author of Driven!

Sara Davison is the author of three romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, and The Rose Tattoo Trilogy. She has been a finalist for ten national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, a Selah, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a Word and Cascade Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children. The words on the mug she uses every morning pretty much sum up her life—I just want to sleep, drink coffee, and make stuff up.

Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org, Facebook, and 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?

Coffee. Always coffee.

YES! One hundred percent! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be? 

Greek food for sure, in particular chicken souvlaki with Greek salad and then baklava for dessert.

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

I have a friend who owns a cottage on a lake, and she and another author friend of mine and I go there 3-4 weeks a year (in non-pandemic times). We leave each other alone to write all day, only taking breaks for lunch, tea, and walks along the water. Then we cook a great dinner and sit around sharing what we wrote that day and getting feedback. Those are by far the most relaxing and productive weeks of the year for me.

That's the dream! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. You're among friends. ;-)

I’m sure I have many, but the most obvious one is my sleep schedule. I tend to stay up until two am or so writing or reading and then not getting up very early in the morning. Which might explain my answer to your first question J

Haha! I can definitely relate! What inspired you to write Driven? 

Driven is the third book in The Night Guardians Series, so I wrote this book to answer questions raised in the first two books and to tie up some of the story lines. I say some because the fourth and final book in the series, Forged, which comes out in 2022, will finish up all the story lines. I also wrote Driven as an examination of how relationships—with God, a spouse, family members, or others in our lives—are affected by grief and tragedy. As with all my books, I hope and pray that the theme, that whatever we are going through in our lives, we are never alone, God is always with us and will never forsake us, comes across loud and clear.

Ooo! Sounds great, and I love that message! What led you to write in this genre? 

I never made a conscious decision to write romantic suspense, but when God gives me a story idea and I sit down and write, that is always what comes out. I love to read this genre as well, because I always love a good romance, but I also love edge-of-your-seat tension, suspense, and action, so romantic suspense fits that bill for me. I do have a romantic suspense with speculative elements coming out in April, the standalone novel, The Watcher, and I did enjoy adding that aspect to the romantic suspense as well for something different.

I love hearing about the different ways we're inspired with a story! What message do you hope to convey to your readers? 

As I mentioned, the hope I always want to leave with my readers is that they are never alone. When the world appears to be spinning out of control, or God seems silent, I want them to know that they can trust that God is still good, He is still on His throne, and He has not and will never abandon them.

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

Sure. The Watcher comes out on April 15, 2021, and is, as I mentioned, a bit of a departure for me as it combines romantic suspense with speculative elements of spiritual warfare. 

Someone or something is watching Kathryn Ellison.

Kathryn thought she had buried memories of That Night for good—until Nick Lawson returns, reigniting her long-suppressed feelings for him. Seeing Nick has always reminded her too much of the horrible night that changed her life. As much as she wants to be with him, she wants even more to forget. When Nick unexpectedly shows up at her family ranch, Kathryn knows it is finally time to let go of the traumatic past that has held her captive for so long.

David Henley is a captive too—of the dark secret involving Kathryn, a secret he’s kept even from his wife. Now the truth is about to be revealed. And when it is, he could be stripped of everything in his life that matters to him.

A storm is brewing in the spiritual realm, and its effects reverberate through the natural world, summoning otherworldly Beings to the ranch. While Kathryn confronts the memories of That Night and struggles to let them go, she is not as alone in her home as she thinks.

As spiritual and temporal forces collide, Kathryn—and everyone she loves—is about to be caught in the crossfire.

My current works in progress include the second book in my Rose Tattoo Trilogy (the sequel to Lost Down Deep) Written in Ink, which releases in August 2021. When that one is done I will be working on the fourth and final book in The Night Guardians Series, Forged. I’m also currently writing the first book of a new series that will tackle the issue of human trafficking, so lots of projects on the go.

So exciting! All of those sound fantastic! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

I have many, but I think the two most meaningful for me are Psalm 103:13-14, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust.” I love these verses as they speak to the father-heart of God and His grace, compassion, and mercy toward us, which are endless. I also deeply love Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” These verses remind me that, whatever we face in life, however much we suffer loss, pain, or injustice, one day all will be put to right and we will dwell in God’s presence forever. What an incredible promise!

Love how God's heart is revealed in these verses! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine -- want to know! ;-)

I am thrilled and honoured to be a member of The Mosaic Collection, a group of women authors of faith who take turns releasing a novel every month. I am currently reading a book that will release in February with Mosaic, The Third Grace by Deb Elkink. Deb is an incredibly talented writer of deep, intellectual, thought-provoking novels (and a fellow Canadian!), and I am really enjoying this one. I am also reading the second of the Holly novels by C.C. Warrens, which are fabulous. So much great Christian writing out there!

That is awesome! With this newfound knowledge, my TBR is going to topple over in the not-to-distant future!

Thank you so much for hanging with us and for answering all of my prying questions, Sara!

Giveaway ~

Sara has generously offered to giveaway two paperback copies of Driven to anyone in Canada or the US!

Children aren’t the only ones who can disappear.

Driven by ongoing grief and relentless dreams, Holden Kelly is determined to track down the

child his brother Gage abducted eight years earlier. The kidnapping that saved Matthew Gibson’s

life had cost Gage his. Proving his brother hadn’t sacrificed his life for nothing might be the only

way Holden can start fully living his again. And it could be the last chance he has to find his way

back to the wife he loves but who is also mired in grief and a crisis of faith.

Mikayla Grant has nightmares of her own. A road trip with private investigator Jax

Rodriguez—a man she is drawn to even though his primary goal seems to be to drive her

crazy—can’t be the way to heal from a terrible loss. Can it?

As Holden, Mikayla, and Jax follow the missing child’s trail from Toronto to Chicago, their

mission is not as secret as they thought. Someone knows they are coming and will stop at

nothing to prevent them from finding Matthew.

And to make sure that no one ever hears from the three of them again.

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away two paperback copies of Driven!

This giveaway is open to the US and Canada! 

This giveaway will close on February 17th, 2021,  at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place. This will only be done once. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter 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 take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Interview with Anne Carol, Author of the Faithfully Yours Series

Hi guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. 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. ;-)

We are chatting with Anne Carol, author of the Faithfull Yours Series!!! I'm super excited, so I'm going to stop babbling so we can finally talk!

 

Anne Carol grew up reading, writing, and listening to English rock bands, obsessing over one in particular. Continuing her fascination with musicians, she married a bass player, with whom she has two sons, both blessed with the music gene. Besides reading, writing, and music, Anne also loves traveling, visiting with friends, watching Netflix, and daydreaming on Pinterest. A native of Northern California, she occasionally indulges in good red wine and a square of dark chocolate.

 

Connect with Anne ~ Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Interview ~

First things first, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question…

 

Coffee, with a little half and half. I’m trying to stay away from sugary Starbucks coffees, but I do treat myself to a Peppermint Mocha during the holidays. In 2018, I need to work on cutting caffeine, so herbal tea will be my new friend.

 

I love Peppermint Mochas! I would pound those all year if I could. Haha! On to our second most important question: if you could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?

 

(Assuming I’m not gluten-free or watching my carbs), I’d go for a big plate of creamy Fettucine Alfredo, along with a Caesar salad and a piece of parmesan-garlic bread. For dessert, a slice of cheesecake. Yum!

 

*dabs drool from chin* We should be lunch buddies. :-) Where is your favorite place to write? And why is that your favorite place?

 

Twelve years ago we added on to the back of our house, creating a family/TV room. That left the front room to become a peaceful area in front of the fireplace. The couch in that room is my “office”- at least until I can get my real office organized and set up! But I love this space because my husband and boys leave it alone, except for when they practice their instruments. I’ve stocked the coffee table with writing reference books, notebooks, reading glasses, and coasters for my water and coffee/tea.

 

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

 

Sometimes I get ideas for scenes or plots at random moments, either for my current project or a future project. That’s when I want to rush to the nearest pad of paper so I can jot them down. Another quirk I have is listening to the same three John Barry music scores while writing. I have a playlist which includes scores for “Somewhere in Time”, “The Scarlett Letter”, and “My Life.” I’ve also been known to make a playlist for each of my books. I’ll listen to these around the house while doing chores; it helps me think about my stories while doing mundane tasks.

 

I love the idea of making a playlist for your books, but I’ve never done it. *hangs head* What inspired you to write the Faithfully Yours Series?

 

I began reading young adult and teen romance novels around the time I had a mad crush on a member of the popular British band, Duran Duran, in the mid-1980s. Like many pre-teens and teens of that era, I fantasized about being swept off my feet by my favorite band member. So at the age of 11 ½, I started writing a story about a California girl who spends a summer in England and falls in love with an aspiring guitar player. I remember entertaining my close friends with the story, but I never did anything more with it. During high school, I sort of pushed my writing aside, though to this day I’m not sure why. Then one summer while I was home from college, I buried myself in this same story again. It was therapeutic after going through my first breakup. Fast forward fifteen years, the story resurfaced in my mind after I read the “Twilight” series. This time I decided to publish it. It was never going to leave me, so why not?

 

I love reading stories that have been with the author for years! There’s something so beautiful about them. What led you to write in this genre?

 

I self-published the first two books of the series in the general market. At the time, I was mostly reading mainstream romance novels and didn’t know much about the clean or inspirational romance markets. After I published my second book, I went through a dry spell. I lost the passion to write, and then I discovered Christian fiction. The more I read, the more I thought, “This is how I should be writing.” As a lifelong Christian, it just made sense. That was early 2016. Since then, I’ve done a lot of soul searching, reading Christian and clean fiction, studying Scripture (I joined Bible Study Fellowship in 2016), and getting to know other Christian writers. My motivation for writing has completely changed, and I finally feel like I’m following God’s plan.

 

That is so cool! I love how God faithfully led you to His plan. <3 What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

 

My current series, Faithfully Yours, takes the reader on a journey from the beginning of a romance, when the characters are teenagers, through the development and maturing of the relationship as adults. I want to show the messiness of young love and (eventually) marriage, and how a couple strives to hold it together, even during the dark times. Their faith gradually becomes stronger, and they learn how to become “one” with each other, with God by their side. 

 

Okay, I’m seriously loving this story concept! <3 It’s so hard to find stories with that kind of journey. Can you tell us a little about your next release?

 

I’m finishing up the third installment of the Faithfully Your series, Never Change. This is the continuing story of Beth and David, an American girl and her rock musician husband, who is now touring with his band, Vinyl Fog. It’s set in 1983-1984, in London and California. In this installment, they deal with some issues which began in the second book, Never Fall. They also embark on a new adventure and must learn to juggle additional responsibilities.

 

I also plan to change my first two books, Never Let Go and Never Fall, to fit into the clean general market. All three books will have faith weaved throughout the stories. New editions of #1 and #2 will be published prior to the release of Never Change. After the holidays, I plan to nail down a release date, but I’m aiming for April or May.

 

Yay! Sounds wonderful! I will be frantically checking for updates in April and May. :-) What is your favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

 

My overall favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It’s a great verse to live by when you feel insecure about life and what’s up ahead.

 

But this year, Romans 8:28 seems to be my verse. Earlier this year, I read this verse in a devotional, and it felt like God was speaking directly to me. And then I kept seeing this verse everywhere, and now we’re actually studying Romans in BSF. It reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Two years ago when I stalled out on my writing, I know God was calling me to change my motivation for writing as well as the content of my books. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve been obedient to that call. However, I often struggle over the past and wish I’d done things differently to begin with. But I can’t change that. This verse reassures me that God will take my winding path and use it for a good purpose, as long as I follow His lead. It’s so comforting to know this!

 

Yes, yes, yes! All the hearts! God is awesome! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds – mine – want to know. :-)

 

I typically read four books concurrently: one audiobook, one Kindle, one paperback, and one nonfiction book. Right now, I’m reading The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen, The Esther Paradigm by Sarah Monzon, Cowboy Lawman’s Christmas Reunion by Louise M. Gouge, and The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee.    

 

I should stop asking this question. My TBR pile always grows. Haha!

 

Thank you so much for answering all of my prying questions, Anne! I had a blast hanging out with you today!

 

You can check out the Faithfully Yours Series below, as well as the cover reveal for Book Three, Never Change!

 

Deep breath. In. Out. In. Out. Here we go! ;-) *squeals*

 The Faithfully Yours Series ~

Is it possible to find your soul mate on the other side of the world?

 

Beth Johnson is an ambitious high school senior from suburban California with a secret passion for writing. David Somers is a charming young Englishman who wants nothing more than to play guitar in his up-and-coming rock band. Though worlds apart, when fate brings Beth and David together in London in the summer of 1979, sparks fly. After Beth receives upsetting news from home, she finds herself drawn to David’s warm character, and an all-consuming love develops. Theirs is the kind of love one never forgets, and as Beth’s stay in London nears the end, the young devoted couple must face the inevitable question: will their romance fade with the passing of summer or will they realize their promise of never letting go?

“Your fairy tale is about to begin.”

Beth and David’s whirlwind romance has survived a year of long-distance dating—dodging exes, dealing with jealousy, and syncing future goals. Eager to move into the next chapter of their lives together, Beth leaves California after graduation to follow her heart, joining David in his native London.

While Beth keeps busy with her university courses, David focuses on building his music career—recording and touring with his band, Vinyl Fog. They’re young and in love with the world at their feet.

Life seems perfect.

But it doesn’t take long before a series of unforeseen events challenges them like never before. How will Beth and David cope with one battle after another, and ultimately hold each other up while life keeps trying to knock them down?

Falling in love was easy.
Surviving love is the challenge.

 

Two souls becoming one…

 

The marriage of David and Beth Somers has survived many challenges in its first three years. The London guitarist, still faithfully devoted to his wife, has a new dream which pushes him to remain strong as he recovers from drug and alcohol addiction.

Ready to take on a new adventure, Beth and David discover they still have a lot to learn about marriage. Through many ups and downs, the young couple realizes it takes more than love to make a relationship thrive.

It takes commitment.

When Beth and David are gifted with a new blessing, they feel rewarded for all the heartache and tragedy of the past few years. Life on the road with Vinyl Fog, David’s band, becomes a three-ring circus, yet the changes are embraced by all.

But just as things are going well, an illness hits a loved one, forcing Beth to leave the tour and move in with her parents. Temptations surround David, now that his wife is away. Meanwhile, Beth turns bitter as she questions David’s commitment to his family. Will their marriage survive this separation, or will their souls remain one, even as life changes around them?

I don't know about you guys, but I'm definitely going to check out this series! And can I just say that those cover are gorgeous!!! I want to draw a big heart around them. <3

Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer