Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Fences Left Broken by Kristen Terrette

 


 

About the Book

 


Book: Fences Left Broken

Author: Kristen Terrette

Genre: YA

Release Date: October 13, 2023

Mia’s father is dead, and her mother has left her in the rural Mississippi Delta town of Marigold with family she’s never known. Her two sets of grandparents are separated not only by a fence dividing their properties, but by skin color and a deep-seated hatred for each other which none of them will discuss.
When Mia learns their mutual hatred concerns a long-ago murder, she and her new friends set out to uncover who was murdered and why. Their search leads them to unspoken secrets and buried tragedies, stretching from the years of the Great Depression to the Freedom Summer Movement of ‘64.
Mia hopes to reconcile her grandparents by finding the truth. But can broken family fences be truly mended in the face of decades of unforgiving hate?

 

Click here to get your copy!


 I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. 


Author Interview 


1. Why did you want to become an author? 

 

Honestly, I had stories and characters running through my mind that needed to come out!

 


2. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why? 

 

By far the most challenging part of bringing this story to life is all about correctly capturing my biracial main character’s life and understanding of the world around her. I am a literary agent as well, and certainly know the faux pas involved here with a white woman writing a biracial character. I took this very seriously. I had four sensitivity readers give feedback on the book. I interviewed a biracial girl and her biological white mother. (These are good friends of mine, so I could be real, and so could they!) I tried many times to figure out how to write this fascinating story (inspired by true events) that God had planted inside me without making Mia a biracial teen, but I couldn’t do it. So, I just started writing. And I’m very proud of the story. And my feedback from both black and white readers has been wonderful. This is not a white-hero story. This is a forgiveness story.

 


3. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?

 

 

Watching a documentary started it all, revealing the little-known historical facts of the massive role Mississippi landowners played in the Civil Rights Movement and Freedom Summer. In the 1930s, sharecroppers became some of the first black landowners under Roosevelt’s New Deal and became essential to the civil rights movement. The documentary is called Dirt and Deeds in Mississippi (https/vimeo.com/ondemand/dirtanddeeds/). As I watched it, I couldn’t help but think, there’s a story here And this thought led me to think about all the families before and after the 30s and 60s this would’ve affected. And so, the story of Mia was born.

 

 

4. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?

 

Probably Chloe. She tries hard to walk strong as a Christian and to notice what’s going on around her. She’s a helper, which is what I try to be. 

 

5. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about? 

 

Basketball. Living in the country. 

 

6. What did your research process look like for this book? What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? 

 

After seeing the documentary mentioned above, I outlined the different time periods that the book would “slip” too. I needed the years of these events to work with the generations of people. So, between 15-30 years apart. The New Deal was in the 1930s, which left WWII in the late 30s/early 40s, then Freedom Summer and what became known as Mississippi Burning in the 60s. Then, I scoured the internet about all these events. I purchased and read books, and watched documentaries about these events as well. And, since I LOVE history, I LOVED every minute of researching. 

 

 

7. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? 

 

Actually, no. I am very comfortable talking about race, racial reconciliation, and social justice. I’m super passionate about these topics. 

 

 

8. How did you celebrate when you completed your book? 

 

I don’t remember, probably just moved right on to the next book! Or maybe moved on straight to writing the dreaded synopsis, lol. 

 

9. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? 

 

Popcorn and Coffee! Always those two things!

 

 

10. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? 

 

That holding bitterness inside is like a festering disease. Release it and forgive!

And, what you see or hear or even think is not always true. 

 


About the Author



With a background in education and theology, Kristen served as a children’s ministry director and women’s leader for many years before returning to her first love—writing the stories playing out in her head. She dove into the publishing world writing numerous articles, devotionals, and novels in both the Romance and Young Adult genres. After managing an international blog and a publishing house’s social media feed, she found herself as an intern at the esteemed literary agency, Writers House, in the summer of 2022.

This landed her a job with Martin Literary Management where she now takes on author clients of her own. Stories are her thing and authors are her people. When not on her computer writing, editing, or emailing, or with her nose in a book, you can find her getting a little too loud from the sidelines of a kids’ basketball or football game. She’s also a recent transplant to rural Georgia where she thrives on jogging her forty acres terribly, drinking coffee while birdwatching, and daydreaming of new book characters, plotlines, and making her client’s dreams come true (which are her dreams as well).

More from Kristen

All you need is a spark.

When people find out I’m an author or have read one of my books, I’m often asked how I came up with the story. My answer is always the same. They all begin with a spark, a small idea, sometimes even taking root first in a remote corner of my mind, that says, “There’s a story there.” And that one spark lights, then it quadruples, over and over until it ends up a bright and thriving fire.

The spark for Fences Left Broken was a documentary from 2016 called Dirt & Deeds in Mississippi which told of “the largely unknown and pivotal role played (in the Freedom Sumer Movement and the Voting Rights Act) by black landowning families in the deep South who controlled over a million acres in the 1960s.” This documentary was fascinating and linked generations who had no idea just how important they would end up being in a much-needed and changing time in history. Black sharecroppers who benefitted from an agricultural program during Roosevelt’s New Deal became landowners overnight. Skip ahead a few decades, and these same landowners, or their heirs, had the power to force change.

In the sixties, Mississippi law said that if you were a landowner, you could vote, which opened doors for black families. But, also, these black landowners had leverage. Land was king. Land was also collateral. So when Freedom Summer came along and the wave of black Southerners tried to register to vote, these black landowners had a unique advantage.

Blacks and whites who were volunteering for the Freedom Summer Movement were arrested, often on bogus charges like disrupting the peace and put in jail. But guess what? Black landowners put their land titles up as collateral and got these people out on bond.

Even crazier, out of the hundreds of arrests and bail bonds issued that summer, not ONE failed to follow through and appear in court. Not ONE person charged with a bogus crime was found in default, their bail revoked, and the bond kept. This means not ONE black family who put their land up as collateral lost it.

Historians have gone so far as to say the success of Freedom Summer and the result of the Voting Rights Act wouldn’t have been possible without these families risking it all for the sake of justice and equality.

This documentary was my spark. I got to thinking about these families. They were real people, now generations of people, living in these intertwined communities. What would this have looked like through the years? What became of these families? Where are they now?

And the rabbit trail of my mind began. That spark ignited, and I followed it, outlining potential events that could have happened to families in Mississippi before and after the 1960s, and it all led to my main character, Mia. And Fences Left Broken was born.

I hope you enjoyed learning some little-known history, and a little tidbit of my writing inspiration. And I hope you are curious to find out more about Mia’s story!

Blog Stops


Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 8 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, March 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 9

Artistic Nobody, March 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 11

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 12 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 13

A Reader’s Brain, March 14 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, March 15

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 16 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, March 17

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 18 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 19

Guild Master, March 20 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, March 20

Fiction Book Lover, March 21 (Author Interview)


Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Kristen is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 dollar Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a553/fences-left-broken-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Guardian by Cathy McCrumb

 


About the Book



Book: Guardian

Author: Cathy McCrumb

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: February 20, 2024

The Recorder’s fate has been sealed, but the Consortium is not the only enemy.

Labeled an aberration by the Consortium, the Recorder is not yet free. Time is running out as an engineered bioweapon wreaks havoc on friend and foe alike.

Stopping both the biological agent and the people who created it is no easy task, especially since the Recorder and her friends are trapped on a research station infested with behemoth insects. Without Consortium technology, the probability of neutralizing the threat falls to nothing. In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name.

 

Click here to get your copy!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions. 


Author Interview


1.What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?
We live in a fallen world that doesn’t value people, and yet as Christians, we are called to love each other. There is lip-service to love without much lovingkindness. What if the world kept going in that direction? How would a person find love and acceptance if everywhere she turned, she faced rejection?

2. What did your research process look like for this book? 
I spent a lot of time reading historical essays about the Soviet Union and even more time on NASA’s websites and NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). That sounds more dry than it is. I find science fascinating. Finding the story inside the history and science is a treasure hunt. I will not, however tell you more than, yes, I spent scores of hours studying insects. Studying cats, however, was much more fun. There are cats in the novels, so yes, I say that the cat videos were totally research. In fact, I’m completely convinced that people will still be watching cat videos hundreds of years in the future. 

3.What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? 
The setting chose me. That sounds tongue in cheek but really, this started with a dream I’d had.
More seriously, I had been searching for solid science fiction that didn’t denigrate God, human life, and faith. This probably is one of the things that drew me to writing in this genre. That dream became the foundation for what is now chapter two in Recorder

4. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? 
I love apples and cheese. Lately that’s been my snack. Almonds are dangerous because when I am focused on writing, I’m not always aware of mindless eating. Coffee and I have a volatile relationship, but Egyptian licorice tea has been a source of comfort. (I drank a lot of tea while writing this series. It’s the Recorder’s favorite drink.)

5.What message do you hope readers take away from your book? 
This is by far my favorite question. 
It is my hope that readers come away knowing that they are each valuable and unique. They each matter. They are never alone, either, for the God that made the universe is working upstream. There is only one of you. What an amazing and precious thought!

 


About the Author



Cathy McCrumb graduated from Biola University with a degree in English Literature and a love for stories. She and her husband, whom she met while writing letters to soldiers, have five children and currently live within the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. While writing is one of her favorite things to do, she also enjoys reading, long hikes and long naps, gluten-free brownies and raspberries, and crocheting while watching science fiction movies with friends and family.

 

 

 

More from Cathy

Someone asked me recently why I wrote Guardian.  My answer was that the whole Children of the Consortium trilogy is my love song to people who feel left out.

In the first novel, the Recorder—a young woman with no name, no family, and no friends—doesn’t see her life as valuable. As she discovers friendship and love, however, she realizes that every person in the system is unique, and this by definition must include her, too.

How often do we doubt our own value and that of the people around us? In a world that prioritizes youth, beauty, health, and success, many people are on the outside, looking in. I suspect that deep down, a lot of us wrestle with who we are and how we fall short of this external measuring tape.

The truth, however, is very, very different from the lie of worthlessness. While we have names (and don’t usually encounter two-meter insects, for which I am extremely thankful), we frequently forget that as humans, even though we are fallen, we are made in God’s image. Furthermore, as Christians, we have been both called and adopted.

Zephaniah 3:17 says that the Lord is with us. He takes “great delight” in us and rejoices over us. What an amazing, beautiful, and comforting image. The One who formed the stars, who breathed life into every human on the planet rejoices over YOU.

My prayer is that you find hope and joy in the midst of darkness, whether or not you find friends in the pages of these novels. Look to the Lord and hold fast to the fact that you are unique and valuable. Because even when you feel like you’re on the outside looking in, you are never alone.

Blog Stops


Locks, Hooks and Books, March 7

Through the Fire Blogs, March 8 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 9

Splashes of Joy, March 10 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 11

Artistic Nobody, March 12 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, March 13 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, March 14 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 15 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, March 15

Simple Harvest Reads, March 16 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, March 17 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, March 17

Fiction Book Lover, March 18 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol , March 19

Vicky Sluiter, March 20 (Author Interview)


Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Cathy is giving away the grand prize of a copy of Guardian!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a552/guardian-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Leading Ladies by Amber Weigand-Buckley & Lisa Burris Burns

 


About the Book

 


Book: Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success

Authors: Amber Weigand-Buckley & Lisa Burris Burns

Genre: Christian Leadership and Religious Leadership

Release Date: May 25, 2023

SISTERS, IT’S TIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!

Find out how to step up to God’s calling as these daring women redefine what leadership looks like. Authentic and heartfelt stories of world-changing women leaders of every hue, background, and job description, teach us by example how to battle to find our passion, connect with our gifts, and maintain forward-focused momentum in every season of life.

Join authors Amber Weigand-Buckley and Lisa Burris Burns — along with Babbie Mason, Candace Payne, Jacquelyn Marushka, Martha Bolton, Katy Nichole, Kymberlie Joye, and so many more powerhouse women–as they explore leadership purpose, and living a life that counts.

 

Click here to get your copy!


I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all authors’ opinions. 



Authors’ Interview


1. Why did you want to become an author? 

Lisa: I have been a wordy book girl all my life. I love vocabulary and spelling. But in all honesty I don’t think I ever imagined co-authoring a book! I was doing freelance articles, and in that process writing just started to make sense. Amber pulled me into doing magazine articles and the next thing I knew we were on this adventure together. It’s been a huge blessing.

Amber: I grew up in the magazine world, and writing a book wasn't initially a dream. However, I felt a strategic moment guided by God, leading me to share my perspective through the book, "Leading Ladies." It became an opportunity to help others change their self-perception.


2. What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you and why? 

Lisa: The book gave us a huge opportunity to ghost-write for some amazing women with fantastic stories. Trying to maintain their voice from our interviews with them was time consuming and yet so important. We were stretched in a way that I can honestly say grew us. So it was a great bonus in just becoming a better communicator and writer.

Amber: The most challenging part was creating a cohesive feel with numerous contributors and conducting interviews for ghostwriting. The lack of a clear outline made it come together organically, and maintaining a powerful yet non-repetitive narrative was a significant challenge.


3. What did your research process look like for this book? 

Amber: The research involved over 35 women through intensive interviews, including writers and non-writers. Zoom sessions with my co-author ensured a powerful and poignant book without repetition, a process that proved to be demanding yet rewarding.

Lisa: Yes! What Amber said. So many loooooonnnggg Zoom sessions, but so very worth it. 


4. What was something new you learned while writing this book? 

Lisa: I’ve always been the one that comes in and fluffs the flower arrangement one last time, or pushes for the final polish on the vocalists solo. While writing the book I discovered that I really love the tweaking process involved in editing thoughts! 


5. What audience did you have in mind when writing this book? 

Amber: Initially, the book was meant for women like me—those questioning their purpose, feeling lost, or equating their worth with accomplishments. God guided me to speak to women and remind them of their inherent value and purpose.

6. How did you balance keeping your book informative yet engaging as a non-fiction? 

Lisa: It’s pretty safe to say that Amber and I are creatives to our core, so we were actively looking to “up the sparkle” in this area! The book was intentionally broken up by chapter content, pause & reflect questions, and an applicable closing prayer. There are letters of encouragement, and added quote pages with amazing graphic design. When it comes to formatting and design, Amber is your girl! I think it all worked together beautifully. It keeps the reader engaged and allows them to bite off as much as they want at the time.


7. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? 

Lisa: For sure the amount of pages we were going to complete was a big step out of our comfort zone! While I’ve had the opportunity to do several freelance writing projects that were much smaller ventures, the book did bring initial feelings that were daunting.

Amber: Despite my challenges with ADHD, the need to write 60,000 words pushed me out of my comfort zone. Surprisingly, the book's structure, with bite-sized stories, catered to non-readers. Each chapter being short and easily digestible became a benefit during the process.


8. How did you celebrate when you completed your book? 
I think the initial sigh of relief when Amber pushed “send” on the final manuscript was probably heard around the world! Seriously though, we hit the ground running to attend the National Religious Broadcasters Convenvention in Orlando, Florida. We were able to promote the book there and had some downtime to put our feet up poolside in the evenings.


9. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? 
Lisa: Coffee in the morning always makes my day start happily!

Amber: While writing, my co-author and I frequented a coffee shop called Blooms. Although it's now closed, they had amazing pastries. My go-to drink at Blooms was an Irish cream breve. Of course, I celebrate most of my  milestones with coffee—getting out of bed for example.


10. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? 

Amber: I hope women realize their worth and unique contributions. The book aims to convey that everyone, including leaders, faces struggles, and success should be measured by personal fulfillment rather than societal standards.


About the Authors



Meet Amber

Amber Weigand-Buckley is an author, speaker, multi-award-winning magazine editor, and art director, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (awsa.com) marketing director, Bold Vision Books’ creative director, and owner of #barefacedcreativemedia (barefacedcreativemedia.com). The Springfield, Missouri native navigates bipolar and anxiety disorder while embracing her best life. At its peak, her mental illness almost caused her to take her own life. Amber is a mental health advocate who knows that a diagnosis does not disqualify you from God’s leadership call.Amber, whose vision birthed Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success, is energized by helping world-changing women of all hues, backgrounds, and walks of life to find their wings, hone their skills, and take their God-call to the next level.

She has two grown daughters, Saffron, Imogen, and one teen Penelope, with Philip, her British hubby of 28 years, two Great Pyrenees pups—Stanley and Stuart, and a zoo of exotic pets.



Meet Lisa

The diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder initially shattered LISA BURRIS BURNS’ ministry dreams as a vocalist and worship leader. Despite this, God opened opportunities for her journey and abilities to expand beyond what she ever anticipated for herself — to acting, stage performance, set design, and writing. As a vocal and performance coach with K.C. Superstar, a Kansas City-based competition likened to “American Idol,” she is passionate about fine-tuning artists’ creative expressions. Lisa thrives on the artistic process, especially everything yarn and crafty.

This avid Kansas City Chiefs fan lives with her husband, Randy, in Blue Springs, Missouri. The Burns have served in marriage and family ministry since 1988. They have six fantastic children, two amazing son-in-loves, and five adorable granddaughters.

More from Amber and Lisa

Are you ready to discover your God-given gifts and move in forward in all that He’s called you to be? Leading Ladies: Discover Your God-Grown Strategy for Success will help you identify your unique leadership abilities.

For a limited time, get the inspirational song “Lead Me On” recorded by Michaelah Weaver for FREE when your register as a Leading Ladies VIP at leadingladies.life.

Let “Lead Me On” be your empowering anthem as you read Leading Ladies and learn to boldly walk in your purpose. Download the song and book excerpt now at leadingladies.life!

Blog Stops


Godly Book Reviews, February 16

Artistic Nobody, February 17 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, February 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 18

Simple Harvest Reads, February 19 (Author Interview)

She Lives to Read, February 20

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 21 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, February 22

Beauty in the Binding, February 23 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 24

For the Love of Literature, February 25 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 27 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, February 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28

A Reader’s Brain, February 29 (Author Interview)


Giveaway



To celebrate their tour, Amber and Lisa are giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a0cf/leading-ladies-celebration-tour-giveaway