Shaded Goodness by Kathleen J. Robison

 

 

About the Book

Book: Shaded Goodness

Author: Kathleen J. Robison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Jacquie Dupre has worked tirelessly to give her daughter, Destiny, a future free from the mistakes of her past. But when Mickey, her ex-husband returns to Bay Town, her carefully built world begins to crumble. He claims he’s changed. He’s conquered his addiction that destroyed too many lives, but can Jacquie believe him? As old wounds resurface and a dangerous figure from their past threatens their fragile peace, Jacquie must confront her deepest fears—about Mickey, about love, and about God. Can faith truly heal, can goodness prevail, or will their future be forever shaded by their past?

 

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

How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing? 

Jesus is the most important person in my life. Now that I’m much older and my kids have grown, I have the privilege to spend endless time with Him through prayer and His Word. It’s because of His closeness that weaving Biblical truth into my writing comes naturally through my characters. I also try to remember when I was a new Christian or before I had any faith and use those memories to craft characters searching for truth. The titles in my Bay Town Series hint at the virtues and struggles that we all encounter, as seen in my new release, Shaded Goodness. Can you guess what’s in store?

Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing? 

Always early morning. It’s so quiet except for the birds chirping. I do my devotionals, go for a walk, and then begin writing. I usually continue for about four hours or until I reach my daily word count goal. However, when I’m meeting a deadline, I can be pretty productive at any time of day or night. God has a lot to do with giving me the strength to push through because evenings are when I really shut down and rest.

Why did you pick this genre for your book? 

The first story I ever wrote, Shattered Guilt, was a page-turner from the start. I didn’t have a genre in mind; I just started writing!  In Book Two, Restored Grace, I continued with the same theme of human trafficking, and when my publisher asked for more, I expanded on the Christian Romantic Suspense genre. 

However, I do love mysteries and suspense, and I also appreciate seeing redemption and reconciliation after a difficult trial. I’m also a hopeless romantic! By combining these two genres, romance and suspense naturally create conflict and ultimately foster unity between the characters. I love to write about a faith journey through one or more characters, and suspenseful situations bring about the issue of trust in one another and in God.

What is your next big goal as an author? 

I have two. First, I hope to finish a middle-grade fantasy book for my grandsons. I began writing it quite some time ago and hope to finish it before my time on earth is done! It’s quite a challenge, as I don’t read fantasy and have never written a young adult story. I’d like to leave a legacy for my grandchildren, encouraging them to follow God’s calling, whatever that may be. 

Secondly, writing a few books on parenting advice is on my back burner, nagging at me!  Because my husband and I have eight great, not perfect, children and have been blessed with twenty-one wonderful grandchildren, we’ve often been asked to share our secrets. We have none! But we can always share what worked for us.

 Of course, it’s totally the Lord, but we have some practical things that we know the Lord has used over the years. Our family is very close and so far faithful to the Lord in following His plan for our lives. I’d love to encourage young parents to raise loving families who love and serve Jesus and to trust that He who has begun a good work is faithful to complete it. Amen!

Thank you for allowing me to share a little about my writing journey. I treasure this time in my life when I’m able to write, and I hope you are encouraged to pursue God’s calling wherever you are in your life’s journey.

 

About the Author

Kathleen J. Robison weaves tales that inspire a walk of faith and a reliance on God’s guidance through life’s trials. With endearing characters, her stories are a testament to the resilience of broken lives, revived through hope and renewed through God’s grace. Kathleen and her husband call Southern California home residing near the beach and find their most joy in the company of their nineteen and counting grandchildren.

 

 

 

More from Kathleen

Have you ever heard of a Shoofly? The word conjures up an annoying, buzzing insect, but a Shoofly is a magnificent white, wooden, raised gazebo-like structure built around giant oaks and sycamore trees. Back in the 1800s, in the south, they elegantly dotted the coastline of Mississippi. Almost every vacation boarding house boasted one. A relaxing venue for people to gather while avoiding the large horse flies that tended to hover closer to the ground, pestering guests and residents. The raised platform also allowed guests to enjoy the ocean breezes on sweltering hot summer days. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, due to storms, hurricanes, and erosion, Shooflys all but disappeared in the 1900s. Yet in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, the setting of my Bay Town Books, you can visit a Shoofly today in the local park downtown. In 1989, a group of town women decided to resurrect the nostalgic structure and had one built. It was completed nearly one hundred years after the near extinction of most of the iconic Shooflys along the Gulf Coast. It’s a key setting in my book, Shaded Goodness.

[Insert Guest Post Pictures Here]

Recently, my childhood friend returned to visit Bay St. Louis. I asked him to take a picture of the Shoofly, and his wife took the shot above of him waving from the deck. He remembers visiting my family in Bay St. Louis sixty years ago, and he said it still has the charm and hasn’t changed or grown much. Except that it’s now an artisan’s dream! Can you imagine? I can. It’s why I set my romantic suspense series in the fictional setting of Bay Town, inspired by Bay St. Louis. Shaded Goodness is the last in the book series.

“You got to forgive him, Jacquie. And no, I haven’t seen him. But I have been talking to Pastor Roland, and it’s a dark spot, one of many in my soul.”

“Dark spots? Is that what you call ’em?” Jacquie threw up her hands. “I can’t even go there. That man killed –”

Themes of forgiveness, second chances, and redemption are woven throughout Shaded Goodness. It was a joy to write because the male protagonist in this book was inspired by the character of my deceased ex-brother-in-law. Shaded Goodness is entirely fictional, but I loved using Mickey’s good traits to craft his character. He was a truly good soul who sadly made poor choices throughout his life. I like to think that if he had lived long enough, his life might have turned out like Mickey’s in this book, happily ever after. That’s why I enjoyed writing this story, as it allowed me to give Mickey a life of redemption here on earth, and I’m grateful that he’s living it in eternity. His love for the Lord in his last years proved contagious, just like his Christ-indwelling goodness. All glory to the Lord.

I pray for my readers that, as in all my books, you will be encouraged in your faith. That’s why I like writing about second chances and reconciliation. Because God is all about that, isn’t he? The Bay Town Series is a collection of stand-alone books. Still, the returning characters, after facing their own troubles and tragedies, help their neighbors as they face similar trials. 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 instructs us to do just that. Some characters choose the right path, and some don’t, just like in real life. But God’s promised hope is extended to all.

Shaded Goodness comes full circle from book one. Melanie Thompson Brooks champions through tragedy in the prequel and in Shattered Guilt. Her growth enables her to serve as the guiding voice to Jacquie Dupree in Shaded Goodness. With similar backgrounds, the pain of their pasts threatens to unravel their future. You won’t need to read Shattered Guilt, Book One, to enjoy Shaded Goodness, Book Five, but I think you’ll want to go back and get to know the lovely people of Bay Town through Restored Grace (First Place in the National Excellence in Writing competition), Shadowed Doubt, and Ransomed Peace. I think you’ll find some good friends and wish they really were your neighbors.

I hope you’ll fall in love with the setting where I lived for a short time as a child. It’s why I set my books in the deep south of Mississippi. Where life was slower, and the small-town community came together for events and rallied and prayed for one another during difficulties, much like the body of Christ should. Come on down to Bay Town; it just may become home.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 26

Stories By Gina, August 27 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, August 30

Guild Master, August 31 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 2 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 3

Blossoms and Blessings, September 4 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 5

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 6 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain , September 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 8 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54285

Finding Juniper by Cindy Thomson

 

 

About the Book

Book: Finding Juniper

Author: Cindy Thomson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: January 2, 2025

For Patrick Doyle, the claim that time heals all wounds is a cruel lie.

In 1920, returning from WWI, Paddy finds Ireland creeping toward civil war. Invisible borders separate people, including Paddy and his pregnant girlfriend. With few prospects, Paddy sails to America. However, America is far from the land of opportunity he’d hoped for. And worse, his girl refuses to follow him because of her political involvement.

Thirty years later, Patrick has moved on with his life, building a new family. A letter arrives, suggesting the child he’d assumed died may be alive. Patrick’s American daughter Mardell pushes him to find out what happened to her sister, named Juniper. Patrick anxiously sails to Ireland.

Juniper endured a childhood in institutions, and when she’s released, she moves on without the parents who left her. Operating an apothecary out of an inherited cottage where villagers are slow to trust outsiders, Juniper finally finds a home when her grandmother arrives. Just as she feels comfortable and content, her father shows up at her door, bringing shocking news about her mother.

Finding Juniper invites readers on a journey of confronting the past, healing from old traumas, and redefining what family truly means.

 

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

• What was your process to align your book with your target audience? 

I write what I want to read. I know there are readers out there because there are several authors writing what I like to read. I don’t think it’s ever been a specific process for me, no trying to make my writing conform to a market.

• What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

Getting it done. At least it was for Finding Juniper. I honestly had no idea it would take me so long to write this book. I mean years. It took me about two years initially and that was because my time to write is so limited right now. I watch my grandchildren full time. When I first thought it was ready, it was not. I got some good feedback and did a lot of re-writing. When I finally got the book to my editor I discovered that working sporadically had a cost. There were too many threads in the story that went no where, mostly because I lost track of the main story here and there. I tend to be a seat-of-the-pants writer rather than a plotter and when a lot of time passes between writing sessions I get lost. I do need some kind of outline rather than what I keep in my head.

• How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing? 

We all struggle with something and it’s usually the lies we tell ourselves. If you are dragging around past hurts you can’t run from them. Facing them is the only way through. Whether or not you can make amends—sometimes you can’t if a person has passed away, for example. And that is not as important as laying them to rest is. Also, family isn’t always about blood or about those you are close to. Family is about who is in your heart. In my view, only God creates a family and we are all his children.

 

 

• Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you?

Bits of them are. I think that happens naturally. Two examples;

Mardell, the American daughter who goes with her father to Ireland to find his first daughter. She has no other siblings. I was the youngest daughter with only half siblings. Some I was raised with and some I wasn’t. The circumstances are not the same as in the novel, but I think wanting to find out things about my parents’ lives before they had me has always interested me. I would have loved to take a trip of discovery with my father. Perhaps I was unknowingly aware of that while writing. And perhaps I actually did in a way since my father moved on to heaven while I was over there.

Another example is Postman Evans. I love him, and I hope readers will too. He’s helpful, cheerful, and takes his duties seriously. My dad was a postal worker. There’s a bit of him in Toby Evans. There is also a bit of the wonderful Irish people I’ve met wrapped up in this one character.

 

 

• Why did you pick this genre for your book? 

I enjoy stories from the past, stories from those who went before us that we can learn from. For Finding Juniper, I heard about how soldiers returning to Ireland after WWI were mistreated . That made me want to explore how someone might have coped. It was a tough time for them but it was also a tough time to be an Irish immigrant in America with no connections. Prohibition offered easy money so it was easy to imagine how someone like Paddy Doyle might have been drawn to work as a rumrunner. I was also interested in how a young girl left at an institution might have coped once she was released. Those two story ideas sparked the writing of Finding Juniper.

 

About the Author

Known for the inspirational Celtic theme employed in most of her books, Cindy Thomson writes both fiction and nonfiction and has published more than a dozen books. She is co-founder of the Faith & Fellowship Book Festival, vice president of the Mordecai Brown Legacy Foundation, frequent creative writing teacher at Thurber House, and a genealogy researcher. Her love of history inspires everything she writes. When she’s not minding grandbabies, she writes from her home in central Ohio where she lives with her husband Tom.

 

 

More from Cindy

Q&A Finding Juniper by Cindy Thomson

Q: What led you to write this book?

I answer this question in my author’s note, but with this novel hearing about how soldiers returning to Ireland after WWI were treated made me want to explore how someone might have coped. It was a tough time for them but it was also a tough time to be an Irish immigrant in America with no connections. Prohibition offered easy money so it was easy to imagine how someone like Paddy Doyle might have been drawn to work as a rumrunner. I was also interested in how a young girl left at an institution might have coped once she was released. Those two story ideas sparked the writing of Finding Juniper.

Q:What was the most unexpected challenge you encountered while writing a book?

I honestly had no idea it would take me so long to write this book. I mean years. It took me about two years initially and that was because my time to write is so limited right now. I watch my grandchildren full time. When I first thought it was ready, it was not. I got some good feedback and did a lot of re-writing. When I finally got the book to my editor I discovered that working sporadically had a cost. There were too many threads in the story that went no where, mostly because I lost track of the main story here and there. I tend to be a seat-of-the-pants writer rather than a plotter and when a lot of time passes between writing sessions I get lost. I do need some kind of outline rather than what I keep in my head. So to answer your question, finishing was the biggest challenge with this particular book.

Q: Can you share a moment from your personal life that inspired a scene or character in the book?

On my first trip to Ireland my father passed away back home. It happened toward the end of the vacation. When my husband and I were in Dublin the night before the flight home, we kind of wandered aimlessly. We stopped in at pub to grab a light dinner. It was a quaint place with round tables scattered about. It was fairly early in the evening so not too crowded. I took a quick photo of our drinks and the menu. On our way out the door, the bartender handed us two small keychains bearing the name of the place. I didn’t realize until after we’d gotten home that we’d wandered into a famous place with a literary connection: Davy Byrnes. From the pub’s website: “The literary giant with which Davy Byrnes is synonymous, is of course, James Joyce. Joyce regularly visited the premises and developed a special relationship with the friendly but abstemious Davy Byrne. Joyce’s Dubliners has mention of Davy Byrnes, but the Joycean character with which the premises is most associated with is Leopold Bloom of Ulysses.” So when my characters Paddy and Mardell arrived in Dublin in 1950, I wanted them to visit the pub and to know, unlike me, where they were.

Q: How did you choose the title for your book, and what significance does it hold for you?

Choosing this title was very different from the process for my other books. The title popped into my head first. From there I imagined a journey where a father searches for a daughter he never knew. Later I contemplated changing it. There are a couple of other novels with the title. But I couldn’t. This was the story, finding Juniper. So I kept it.

Q: Were there any themes or messages you consciously set out to explore in this book?

Yes, the definition of family. The process of healing from past hurts, forgiveness, reconciliation.

Q: What research did you conduct for this book, and did you uncover anything surprising or fascinating?

Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I love finding the lessons characters from the past learned and passing those on in fiction. As I mentioned, learning about Irish soldiers returning to an Ireland that was not the same as the one they left sent me researching for what I could find about this. As one fellow author who was born in Ireland told me, it was not talked about. The fact that Ireland was slower to recover from the Great Depression was another detail I wanted to include. Not everyone was poor but it was tough to make a living. Asylums in Ireland often held people who did not need to be there. Not everyone was mistreated but many were, their only offenses being too pretty, pregnant outside of marriage, or having no family to care for them. How someone heals from this was another thread I wanted to explore. And of course visiting Ireland is the best part of research, at least I think so!

Q: Can you describe a memorable interaction you’ve had with a reader about this book?

I’ve been pleasantly amazed at what readers have been saying. Those who have read my other books say Finding Juniper is my best. Readers tend to say they love this story, which pleases me greatly. One of my favorite quotes from a review by Kathy: “It’s been a long time since a book brought me to tears, evoking a depth of emotion I rarely experience from reading a novel. Finding Juniper contains that kind of depth.”

Q: Are there any characters in the book that you relate to on a personal level?

There are bits and pieces in most of them but I would have to say Mardell. I was the youngest daughter with only half siblings. Some I was raised with and some I wasn’t. The circumstances are not the same as in the novel, but I think wanting to find out things about my parents’ lives before they had me has always interested me. I would have loved to take a trip of discovery with my father. Perhaps I was unknowingly aware of that while writing. And perhaps I actually did in a way since my father moved on to heaven while I was over there.

Q: What was the most rewarding moment you experienced during the writing process?

The editing phase always brings me the most rewarding moment. When the story I wanted to tell is actually there on the pages (with the help of an editor), when I know I’m close to the end, is so very exciting.

Q: How do you approach writing dialogue, and do you have any tips for crafting authentic conversations?

I hear the conversations as though they are actually happening. Sometimes that causes me to invent a word or a sound that doesn’t exist. Another reason I appreciate editors. Dialogue needs to feel natural and not like the author is dumping in information. What would the characters be thinking, feeling, questioning? It’s the time they come alive.

Q: What was the most challenging scene for you to write, and how did you overcome it?

When reading this question the first thing I thought of was the memories Paddy has of the traumatic events he experienced in WWI. Readers needed to know what Paddy went through so they’d understand why it affected him so much. It breaks my heart, though. Oh, what these men suffered. I tried not to re-read that scene any more than was necessarily. It’s not graphic violence but it is heart wrenching.

Q: Can you share a behind-the-scenes anecdote or interesting fact about the creation of this book?

I’ve already shared some, but here’s another. Postman Evans. I love him, and I hope readers will too. He’s helpful, cheerful, and takes his duties seriously. My dad was a postal worker. There’s a bit of him in Toby Evans. There is also a bit of the wonderful Irish people I’ve met wrapped up in this one character.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

If you are dragging around past hurts you can’t run from them. Facing them is the only way through. Whether or not you can make amends is not as important as laying them to rest is. Also, family isn’t always about blood or about those you are close to. Family is about who is in your heart. In my view, only God creates a family and we are all his children.

Q: What projects are you currently working on, and can you offer any hints or teasers for your upcoming work?

I hope that my next novel is not so long in coming. I have a good start on it, but I’m still hatching out the story. Readers will meet Juniper and many of the characters from Finding Juniper. I’m also working on a devotional for creatives.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, August 23 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 24

Artistic Nobody, August 25 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, August 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 26

Fiction Book Lover, August 27 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 28

Stories By Gina, August 29 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 30

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, August 31 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain , September 1 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 1

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 2 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 3

Vicky Sluiter, September 4 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, September 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cindy is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book, a mug, and tea!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54284

Butterflies by Samantha Roman

 

 

About the Book

Book: Butterflies

Author: Samantha Roman

Genre: Christian YA

Release Date: June 4, 2025

Fifteen-year-old Candy Chancellor must choose between holding onto yesterday’s pain or the hope of tomorrow. When her father is tragically killed weeks before her baby brother is expected, Candy is tossed from being a happy home schooled girl to the new girl at Christian school- with a seat in front of her new best enemy. Now that her grieving mother is unable to provide any true support, Candy relies on the help of two of her new friends from school, an old friend of the family, and tries to find God in the midst of it all.

Real estate tycoon Leslie Chancellor must make a choice between life or death and this time she doesn’t have her husband to help her. When Robert Chancellor is tragically killed, Leslie spirals into a deep darkness she can’t escape. Now that Candy is chasing her dreams of being a super star, Leslie must rely on an old family friend, a kind colleague, and new friend she didn’t plan on meeting.

 

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

Why did you want to become an author? 

​I have always wanted to be an author and I’ve been writing stories since I was six! I also won my first (children’s) writing contest at that age. I’ve felt like it was a calling and I truly believe that.

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

​I always believe Jesus inspires my stories and it’s always beautiful to write stories with Him.

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

​Probably Leslie because both of us can ride the struggle bus sometimes! 

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

​If I met Leslie in real life, I’d really want to know more about her past, her childhood, and what gave her a rebel streak. If I spoke to Candy, I’d want to talk about country music and who her favorite singers are. I’d tell her that she’s so good, she’d probably sing at the Grand Ole Opry someday. 

What did your research process look like for this book? 

​Research!! I love research! The best research starts in the Bible. Letting Jesus talk to my heart during Bible time is always a special part of the writing process and finding the right verses are so important because they will drive the story mentally for me and/or show up often in the book itself.

Also,  my dad is a physician, so I was really blessed to interview him for all of Leslie’s health challenges so that it would remain true to life. I play the piano and violin, but listened to hours of country music and researched a ton of typical country shows. I’m now an official fan. 

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

​I hope that readers know that God loves them, redeems them, and it is never too late. 

 

About the Author

Samantha Roman is a Christian author  who loves sharing heartwarming fiction with readers all over the world. She writes by day and is a mystery movie watcher at night. When she isn’t writing or watching movies, you can catch her with her family and puppy!

More from Samantha

You wanted to read Christian fiction, but nothing with too much “romance.”

You sing your part of the duet, but your dad doesn’t answer.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, August 8 (Author Interview)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 9

Artistic Nobody, August 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 11

Guild Master, August 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 13

Fiction Book Lover, August 14 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, August 15

A Reader’s Brain , August 16 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 16

lakesidelivingsite, August 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 18 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 19

Vicky Sluiter, August 20 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Samantha is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54271

An Ancient Worship Movement by Greg Gordon, St. Thomas Church

 

 

About the Book

Book: An Ancient Worship Movement

Author: Greg Gordon, St. Thomas Church

Genre: Christianity

Release Date: December 1, 2025

Find an Ancient Faith that will Transform Your Life.

Beyond the noise of a busy western world lies the need to worship God for Himself alone. So many different denominational ideologies and techniques of Church growth exist but what did the early Apostles and believers do? There is a need for “An Ancient Worship Movement” where we rediscover and implement older Biblical Church practices that were pre-denominational.

This book will help you:

- Rediscover Ancient practices lost to many evangelicals

- Renew your intimate personal walk with God

- Renew A passion for lost souls

- Experience personal spiritual revival

- Be equipped to start an [Mission] House Church

”The Ancient Worship Movement is not just a book but literally an invitation to a vibrant movement of God’s Spirit in our day. This book is a clarion call to the Western Church to point back to Jesus as the centre of the gathering of His people.” – Steve M.

 

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

What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

For me the most challenging step is simply to start writing. We never know the impact and purpose we can fulfill until we step out in faith.  Once one chapter is done there is no turning back, the rest just flows. The question as a Christian believer we should ask ourselves is: Are we called to write this book?   As believers we want to fulfill burdens and callings that God gives us.

What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book? 

I enjoy researching more deeper footnote content and adding that in. That is part of the process that I think I enjoy the most. The cover design also is the first step I usually take and love having a cover to be inspired by even if the book title will change slightly still. Book writing is a continually refinement process.

Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and organized? Why? 

I usually start with a book cover, book title, this helps inspire me in the topic I am writing. Next I work on a few key featured quotes for the book that further inspire and then I move to writing titles for each of the chapters I envision in the book. These chapter tiles can change but are serving as an outline for the burdens I want to express in the book.

For me personally in book writing, I don't organize it in anyway, I simply write when I feel a burden to write and allow the Holy Spirit to work through me in this way. I believe some of the words and ways I express a topic are beyond my natural ability and give God the glory for any help given when writing. 

Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing? 

I usually find it best to write very early in the morning or very late at night when it is very quiet. When I write, it usually flows and I want to be as not interrupted at all. With three small children it can be hard to find quiet time in the home to write during the day. 

Another forced discipline has been to try and not browse the internet at all while I am writing, to reference and find things on the internet while writing really distracts from the writing process. I will spend a separate time to do research for footnotes on the already written text I have done.

How many books do you personally own? 

Currently I own over 2000+ Christian volumes, including an extensive collection of Church liturgy and Church history books. I have really enjoyed and continue to enjoy delving into so many different minds on their vantage point of the history of the Church. There are a lot of volumes on godly believers such as journals and biographies also that greatly inspire me.  The Memoirs of Robert Murray M'Cheyne, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis are a few favourites. Currently I am reading through a very strutting and challenging book: Those Who Love Him by Basilea Schlink.

About the Author

Greg Gordon is the founder of SermonIndex.net, which was established in 2002. Millions of audio sermons have been distributed through this world-wide ministry. He is also the author of “The Following of Christ” and other books. Greg has traveled to many countries and across North America to thousands of churches and ministries bringing a message of radical Christian discipleship. He has also been involved in organizing over 12 international historic revival conference events where thousands of lives were impacted

 

 

More from the Authors

Why An Ancient Worship Movement? 10 Reasons from the Early Church Fathers

As the author of An Ancient Worship Movement, and founder of St. Thomas Church I’ve spent years reflecting on the wisdom of the early Church Fathers—those giants of faith like Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Augustine who shaped Christianity in its purest days. Their writings reveal a worship so vibrant and real that it pierces through the noise of our modern age. Here are 10 reasons, drawn from their own words, why we desperately need a new ancient expression of worship today.

1. To Reclaim Worship as a Way of Life

Clement of Rome taught us, “Let us cleave to righteousness, for our whole life is a sacrifice to God.” The Fathers didn’t see worship as a Sunday event but as a constant offering. Today, we’ve boxed it into schedules and stages—don’t we need to live it again, every moment?

1. To Restore the Power of Prayer

Ignatius of Antioch wrote, “Pray without ceasing, for it is the breath of the Church.” Prayer wasn’t optional for the early believers; it was their lifeline to God. Our distracted, prayerless culture needs this ancient pattern to reconnect with the triune God.

1. To Center on the Eucharist’s Mystery

Justin Martyr said, “This food we call Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes.” The Fathers revered the Lord’s Supper as a sacred encounter, not a ritual. Shouldn’t we strip away our casualness and rediscover its awe?

1. To Embrace Simplicity Over Spectacle

Tertullian observed, “We assemble in homes.” The early church thrived without megachurches or light shows. Today’s obsession with production values begs for a return to that humble, uncluttered faith.

1. To Rekindle Evangelistic Zeal

Irenaeus declared, “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to some, but to us the power of God.” For the Fathers, sharing the gospel was worship itself. In a world numb to truth, don’t we need their bold witness to awaken souls?

1. To Foster True Community

The Didache instructs, “Share all things with your brother, for you are one in Christ.” The Fathers lived as a family, not a crowd. Our isolated, individualistic churches need this ancient bond in the unity of the Church.

1. To Confront Modern Drift

Cyprian warned, “He who departs from the unity of the Church departs from Christ.” The Fathers fought heresy and complacency with fierce clarity. Today’s watered-down faith needs their courage to call us back to the real Jesus.

1. To Ignite Personal Revival

Basil the Great prayed, “Kindle in us the fire of Your love, O Lord.” The Fathers knew revival starts in one heart. In our spiritually tepid age, don’t we need their passion to set us ablaze again?

1. To Ground Us in Practical Faith

Polycarp urged, “Stand firm in the faith, doing all things in love.” The Fathers gave us hands-on ways to live worship—prayers, fasting, service. Shouldn’t we trade theory for their tangible practices to anchor our restless lives?

1. To Dream of a Renewed Church

Augustine envisioned, “A people praising You, O God, from every corner of the earth.” The Fathers saw worship as a movement that could transform the world. Today, with faith fading, don’t we need their ancient hope to spark a new awakening?

These voices from the past aren’t relics—they’re a roadmap. The early Church Fathers show us worship that’s raw, relational, and rooted in Christ. As you consider to explore the book, An Ancient Worship Movement, I pray something of the genuine early faith of the Apostles illuminates your heart afresh to truth and reality. Jesus the Son of God is coming back soon may we be found doing His will, working with His Church and loving Him with First Love devotion.

Here are some summarized points from current reviews from the book:

”Thoughtfully explores Christian theology, delving into worship’s multifaceted nature—actions, evangelism, prayer, and communion.”

”Guides readers toward emulating the authentic roots of early Christian faith with a balanced, constructive critique.”

”Sets a spiritual tone from the start with an opening prayer that centers on Christ, not the author.”

”Offers fascinating insights into early church communion practices, making history vivid and relevant.”

”Strikes a compelling balance between theological depth and accessibility, especially in its practical prayer section.”

”Inspires personal spiritual revival with actionable guidance for deepening faith.”

”Critiques modern church drift thoughtfully, avoiding harsh judgment, and invites reflection.”

”Valuable for house church enthusiasts and believers seeking intimate worship renewal.”

”Provides a profound invitation to rediscover authentic worship through early church lenses.”

Blog Stops

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Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 7

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For the Love of Literature, August 9 (Spotlight)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 9

A Reader’s Brain, August 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 12 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 13

Simple Harvest Reads, August 14 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 15

Guild Master, August 16 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, August 17

Fiction Book Lover, August 18 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, August 19 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Greg and St. Thomas Church are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of An Ancient Worship Movement and An Ancient Move of God: Book of Acts!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54269