Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

About the Book

Book: Above the Circle of Earth

Author: E. Stephen Burnett

Genre: Science Fiction

Release date: March 4, 2025

The fight for the space mission begins in his homeworld.

Brock Rivers never wanted to be a repairman on Mars. Years ago, he failed to protect his family, and now he labors across a frontier planet to keep his children alive and escape CAUSE. But the spacefaring humanist regime is taking over Martian colonies, forcing all to join the secular state.

Back in Brock’s homeworld, his people summon him to fulfill old hopes with a new dream. After decades of cultural isolation, they plan to restore missions for the 22nd century, voyaging beyond Earth to share the gospel in space. Brock must find a ship and recruit a team of misfit believers. They expect opposition from the formidable CAUSE, but not from a more deceptive enemy.

One adversary attacks from the shadows to destroy the faithful. Others unify to oppose the project. Brock and his family must fight to resist these enemies of the space mission or else return to exile forever.

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

Christians have struggled with sci-fi. When we like these stories, they’re more like

the classic solar-field fantasies of C. S. Lewis, or the occasional space-marine books

for bros. The reigning champion, of course, remains end-times fiction.

I couldn’t help but wonder—could a sci-fi story balance the high-tech worldbuilding

of a futuristic adventure with the humanity of its heroes? What if Jesus does not yet

return in the next few centuries, and people could really make new technologies to

settle Mars and other planets? We can enjoy imagining what could happen.

That’s what Above the Circle of Earth aims to discover. Which means the story stays

wholesome yet honest, idealistic yet realistic, inviting you aboard a tight-run ship.

2. What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

Perhaps the greatest challenge is staying ahead of real-world technology. Many

concepts that seemed fantastical ten years ago—like the dominance of private

spaceflight, AI, robotics, and quantum computing—now wait (or lurk!) just around

the corners of tomorrow. What’s next for us? Cold fusion? Synthetic gravity?

Cultural shifts are also quite fun. To sum up, several religious belief systems that

are popular today would ground humanity in permanent harm if the Lord allowed

these notions to take over society. So the story needed to sideline these in order to

ensure some kind of spacefaring future. As a result, ACE’s villains inherit a small yet

growing tradition we can see in today’s secular humanist “big tech” circles.

Finally, foreign language translations prove difficult, especially for the audiobook.

3. What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?

That’s hard to choose. Sometimes I stand tall at the “command deck” of plot, action,

big themes, and setting the story’s course. Other times I prefer lingering on the

“living deck,” visiting these heroes and getting to know them. And occasionally I’ll

venture to “labor deck,” where the fusion reactors hum and stats insist I get every

detail right for the ship to fly—energy source, momentum, style, science research.

4. How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

Ideally, biblical worldview starts in the worldbuilding. Some people think Christian

authors should start with a moral lesson and build the story around that. Others

suggest that’s none of our business; just tell the story and let these virtues happen.

I favor C. S. Lewis’s approach of letting one’s own starter images “bubble,” then

giving them the form of genre and story, and then discovering their godly purpose.

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

One reviewer said Above the Circle of Earth’s cast reminds her of “a wide range of

Christians, from enthusiastically genuine to hardheaded troublemakers.” Here’s

hoping other readers feel the same! Sure, I know the T-shirts and memes warn “be

good or I’ll put you in my book.” I think, however, the best characters aren’t copies

of real people, but composites. Christ’s church is a wonderful, maddening, ugly yet

beautiful place. The best Christian-made stories will reflect many kinds of humans.

6. Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned

and organized? Why?

Oh, very planned and organized. I’m a pre-writer, or detailed plotter, or whatever

the pros are calling it these days. That means I get to work out most the surprises

during the pre-writing. Then I enjoy experimenting with pace and style for draft 1.

7. Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your

writing?

That’s almost always in the evenings, once I’ve finished all my other creative work

for Lorehaven.com with its articles, weekly podcast, and social media outreach.

8. Why did you pick this genre for your book?

By now I think I love sometimes about every fantastical fiction genre. Yet somehow

from an early age, when I first read unabridged Jules Verne classics, I felt a special

enjoyment for science fiction. It’s able to explore big heroes, weighty ideas, and

incredible potential futures in ways that other genres naturally can’t do.

9. How many books do you personally own?

My shelves runneth over. The total likely surpasses 1,000, and twice that if you

count the many amazing books my wife brought into our household.

10. What is your next big goal as an author?

Hmm. I might write some more sci-fi. Might see what else I can do. That all depends

on how readers enjoy Above the Circle of Earth. Of course, I’d love to see where this

good ship could next take the Rivers family and their Space Mission recruits.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue publishing Lorehaven.com and building this into the top

mission to help readers explore fantastical stories for God’s glory.

About the Author

E. Stephen Burnett creates sci-fi novels as well as nonfiction, exploring fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He is coauthor of The Pop Culture Parent and other resources for fans and families. Stephen and his wife, Lacy, live in the Austin area and serve in their local church.

More from E. Stephen

Today’s earthly life seemed especially rough.

My day job had issues. A family member is facing worse challenges. Home-repair projects are piling up. Oh, plus our two dogs stormed out of the house and, for no discernable reason, attacked the neighbor’s pet (zero injuries reported, so far).

It’s not all bad. As I write, my wife and I aren’t sick. Times of rest are coming soon. We have good work and freedom to worship Jesus. We enjoy shelter and supplies.

Also—we’re not forced into exile on Mars because of secular persecution on Earth.

That last is the scenario of my debut sci-fi novel Above the Circle of Earth. Its creation began with an “original” teenage thought like, “Hey, what if someone made a sci-fi adventure, only with Christian characters?” That grew into a complex futuristic world of fantastic space exploration, but also mixed results for believers in Christ.

ACE isn’t all dystopia. You can still enjoy freedom to practice your faith on Earth. But you need to stay in your religious preserve. If you try to live like a Christian outside that homeworld, the spacefaring humanist regime CAUSE won’t appreciate that.

That’s how Brock and Alicia Rivers ended up fighting to survive on Mars, laboring in the settlements and raising their three children in a dry and weary, waterless land.

Then comes their call to adventure. This is not just a mission, but the Space Mission, the first restored missionary outreach in fifty years. They’ll have to return to Earth and face the death of a loved one, intimidation by the secular CAUSE, and many challenges and greater threats from their own Christian brothers and sisters—all forming a fantastical adventure about how we long to defend our homeworlds.

I started my first version of ACE decades ago. But to tackle big themes like this, I now realize I needed more experience to understand these kinds of struggles. Of course, I’ve never had to diagnose a leaking dome on another planet or resist a technocratic humanist regime. But I have felt the pain of lost job opportunities, grief after the loss of a parent, and the futility of researching odd subjects (from biblical theology to Martian calendars!) that seemed to lead nowhere.

Well, plot twist: All those hard times made this science fiction more realistic. You can’t build spaceships or stories without those struggles. Otherwise the tale ends up bad—inauthentic and corny, with simplistic morals and shallow heroes. Ugh. Few readers want that. And the few who do will barely remember such a book.

Maybe that’s one reason our Author allows the real-world challenges. He’s not just making us holy and more like Jesus Christ. He’s making us to be more human, well-rounded heroes with dimension and realism, for His glory and our good.

Here’s hoping Above the Circle of Earth launches a different kind of Christian-made science fiction, helping us see all hard times in light of our Author’s amazing future.

Godspeed and #GoTherefore!

Stephen Burnett

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 25

Novel Notions, March 25

Guild Master, March 26 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26 (Spotlight)

A Reader’s Brain, March 27 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, March 28 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, March 29

The Lofty Pages, March 30

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 31 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, April 1

Fiction Book Lover, April 2 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 3

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 4 (Spotlight)

Blogging With Carol, April 5

Simple Harvest Reads, April 6 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 7

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, E. Stephen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a hardcover 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/00adcf54184

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Watch Your Back by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

About the Book

Book: Watch Your Back (Crossroads Suspense Book Three. It can be read as a standalone).

Author: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 5, 2025

You can’t watch your own back.

Private Investigator Avery Reynolds leads the charge to expose Tampa’s supposedly “extinct” mob. The crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death is within her grasp—until she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot.

Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to focus on ending the crime boss’s reign of terror. But working together exposes her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade’s tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. But will that help reach her in time?

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

The hardest part of writing Watch Your Back was finding the time to write it. My son was only a year old when the deadline for this story arrived, and he kept catching colds from the church nursery. At that time, he also struggled with night sleep, so my husband and I were both tired too. But God provided the inspiration and space to complete the project, and I’m so happy with how it turned out.

2. How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

I love this question, because I want everything I write to point readers to Jesus. My goal is to reveal Biblical truth through mycharacter development. As the suspense ramps up in the story, how do the characters respond? Like us, my characters are flawed and make mistakes. Fiction is a beautiful vehicle to show redemption and God’s hand at work in people’s lives.

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

In Watch Your Back, none of the characters are based off myself or someone close to me, though I always try to find at least one way I relate to the heroine. At first, I couldn’t figure out what Avery and I had in common. We are quite different! But then, I found our commonality: we both fear failure. She fears failing at the most important assignment she’s ever accepted, and as a writer, I feared failing to get this book written in time. That fear drew me deeper into her story, and I’d like to think we both learned a lesson about what to do with our fear together.

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

As the mom to a toddler, any “free” time I have becomes my most productive time. However, one unique place I tend to write well is in the car. My parents live about two hours from us, and when we visit, I spend most of the drive writing something.

5. What is your next big goal as an author?

In addition to more books for women and young adults, I would love an opportunity to publish my children’s book. I know it’s an entirely different market, but it’s a dream I have: to publish something my young son can enjoy within the next few years.

About the Author

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective. Her books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. She lives in the Tampa, Florida area with her husband and son.

More from Kristen

Finding God in Our Fears and Failures

Whenever I write a heroine’s character, I generally see a small piece of myself in her. Although I relate to some characters more than others, I can usually spot some shared quality that helps me empathize with her early on in my writing.

Writing private investigator Avery Reynolds in Watch Your Back was different. I liked her, despite all her sharp edges, but I didn’t see myself in her at first. As time went on, I found our shared similarity: a fear of failure.

While our situations are wildly different, this fear is not. She fears failing to take down Tampa’s elusive mob boss and letting down the few people close to her that she cares about. The stakes are so high at the end of the story that failure is worse than death to her.

While I was writing her story, I was raising a one-year-old, working online, trying to keep up with my home, and barely holding my head above water. Fears of missing my deadline—or worse, fears of letting down my family—ate away at my confidence. I couldn’t do it all. I wasn’t cut out for it.

That revelation was in fact the most freeing discovery I could make. I couldn’t do it all on my own, because I was never meant to. God provided a supportive husband, grace for each day, and the inspiration I needed to finish this story. Most importantly, He provided His never-failing presence. “For not, for I am with you,” the prophet Isaiah writes (Isaiah 41:10a NKJV). Ultimately, the reason we should not fear is Immanuel, “God with us.” (See Matthew 1:23.) He will never leave or forsake His children (Hebrews 13:5).

I don’t want to give away any spoilers in Avery’s story, but I will say she has her own moment of self-revelation as well. But will she recognize God’s hand reaching out to her in time?

When was the last time you found yourself in a situation you couldn’t handle on your own? How did God show up in your story?

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 11

A Reader’s Brain , March 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 12

Texas Book-aholic, March 13

Betti Mace, March 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 17

For Him and My Family, March 18

Holly’s Book Corner, March 19

Book Looks by Lisa, March 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 21

Stories By Gina, March 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 22

Books Less Travelled, March 23

Artistic Nobody, March 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kristen 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/00adcf54170

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Mara The Unseen Battle (Victory Series Book One) by Blossom Turner

About the Book

Book: Mara The Unseen Battle (The Victory Series Book One)

Author: Blossom Turner

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release date: January 21, 2024

A mother’s love should be a given…

Growing up in1970s small-town Canada, Mara Howland strives to meet her mother’s impossible demands—yet the sting of failure always follows. Each punishment leaves another wound to hide, another cruelty to hush, until that dark summer evening. Now, she holds a secret she must bury…if she wants to survive.

But more is happening than meets the eye.

The mystery of the supernatural unfolds as Mara’s guardian angel and the sinister forces of evil battle for her well-being—and her soul. A place where rulers of the darkness prey on the innocent and unwary. Will Mara’s spirit be crushed by the malevolent powers that fuel her mother’s cruelty, or is there a loving God who has a plan for her life?

In this gripping first book of a three-part series, Mara’s life journey brings startling awareness of our daily spiritual battles. Step with Mara behind the veil of the visible world, into a realm where prayer is a weapon, faith is tested, and all must choose between hatred and revenge, or love and forgiveness.

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 enjoyable part of writing your book?

I love sitting down at the keyboard and writing that first draft. Before I get started each day I pray to God for creativity, and He is the best writing partner going. Imagination flows, and I have yet to have writer’s block. To God be the glory.

• How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

Mara, The Unseen Battle is a story based on Ephesians 6, and Spiritual Warfare. It brings alive the truth that we have an enemy, and we are in a battle. Weaving this Bible truth into the story is done by a peek into the other realm where guardian angels and Satan’s minions are at work and at war. Through story and showing these scenes this truth comes alive.

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

In Mara, The Unseen Battle, her story and abuse is close to what I suffered as a child. It is why my beta readers have said that the writing comes across as authentic and heart-wrenching. Of course, I have used enough fiction to protect the not-so-innocent.

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

Mornings are for sure my most productive time, but there are days when the creative lbug bites and I’m up late into the wee hours of the morning allowing the creative blast wings to fly.

• Why did you pick this genre for your book?

I was happy writing historical romance, but this genre of Christian Suspense/Spiritual Warfare picked me rather than the other way around. I would have to say that God kept dropping this into my mind over and over. When I finished my award-winning Shenandoah Brides Series, it was like the Holy Spirit said that now was the time. I felt it would be a disobedience if I did not follow where I was led. So, I am very excited about what God has planned for this series, for it is all His, not mine.

Thank you, Katie, for taking the time to interview me. May you be blessed for blessing me.

About the Author

Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist who loves to jump out of planes, garden, and sing… all for fun. She is published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, a former newspaper columnist on health and fitness and personal trainer. With a passion for words this gifted author brings to life thought-provoking stories of love and relationship sprinkled with God’s hope. Check out the award-winning Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their love stories. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with their Shepherd/Bernese dog named Lacey.

More from Blossom

Have you ever felt like something, or someone is watching you? Have you ever experienced darkness in a fully lit room? Or wondered if a malevolent force was working against you?

We all love stories on angels and God’s love and protection, but we also have an enemy…a living, breathing adversary, who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Ephesians 6:12 says…For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

This story, Mara, The Unseen Battle… found me. My genre is historical romance. I was building a following, won some awards, and loved what I was doing. But as I finished up my last series the Holy Spirit made it very clear that Mara would be my next project. From my own experiences of childhood abuse, I added enough fiction to protect the not-so-innocent and created a story that reveals the unseen spirit world that preys on the innocent and vulnerable.

As sweet Mara suffers under an abusive mother, we discover evil forces are plotting her death. The odds are against her, yet she does not fight alone. In this first book of a three-book series Mara comes face-to-face with the evil behind her mother’s attacks and must choose whether to enter that darkness or turn toward the light. Her birth to death story unfolds in a unique, riveting, and page-turning experience that will alert you to events taking place in the unseen spirit world.

You will be entertained, (nothing wrong with that) but you will also come away with a greater appreciation for prayer, for Christ, and His work on the cross. You may even view the trials of life in a new encouraging way. The battle is real but the One by our side is victorious.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, January 24

Artistic Nobody, January 25 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 26

Stories By Gina, January 27 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 28

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 29 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 30

Guild Master, January 31 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 1

A Reader’s Brain, February 2 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 3

Back Porch Reads, February 4 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, February 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 6 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, February 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Blossom is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate and an eBook 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/00adcf54140

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Kisses from Heaven, Book Three by C.B. Caleb Woodworth

About the Book

Book: Kisses from Heaven, Book Three: Unique, Inexplicable, Extraordinary, and Supernatural Tales from the Heart of a Miraculous God

Author: C.B. Caleb Woodworth

Genre: RELIGION / Christian Living / Personal Memoirs/ Prayer/ Inspirational

Release date: December 10, 2024

Jesus proved who He was by signs and wonders. Here, pastors and restoration ministers C.B. Caleb Woodworth and intercessor wife, Emily Anne, are ready to serve you a banquet of real-life God Stories, personal testimonies of Jesus’ unique, inexplicable, extraordinary, and supernatural ways to illustrate, once again, He is still the same yesterday, today, and forever.

If you’ve ever wondered whether God was still performing miracles in our day, this series will be a welcome reminder of his power and goodness.

Click here to get your copy!

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

Author Interview

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

Whether on the traditional or charismatic side of the Church, American Christians are lacking the

knowledge that Holy Spirit is the only God on earth, that He lives within each of us as a real person and

was sent as our Helper because we desperately need help negotiating our Christian walk. Would any

of us live as we do ignoring the most gracious, others-centered person alive, one who is above all

things longing for a close, loving, personal relationship with us? What if we could simply see Him

constantly at work trying to build a relationship of trust and dependence to become our number one

priority in life? Perhaps, if we could see through the distractions that He is always trying to help us

grow into the image of Christ by intervening in our daily lives to provide and protect us, often

incognito, inexplicably, and at the eleventh hour. So often, we claim serendipity, coincidence,

ourselves lucky, to have beaten the odds, or have good karma and are giving credit where credit is not

due. But for Holy Spirit, blessed Holy Spirit, who slips in to clean up our messes without a sound. “For

God alone I wait in silence” (Psalm 62:1). When was the last time you waited in silence, busy Christian? This book results from a lifetime waiting in the Spirit for Him to move and then being privileged to be apart of the whole miracle without raising a finger and getting a “Kiss from Heaven” for it. Grace.

*What was the most enjoyable part of writing this book?

I periodically read over my work to see if He will make it more readable or fill in blanks He wishes filled. This process is such a blessing to see Him work carefully but powerfully in situations that seem unfixable or irredeemable. These stories never fail to remind me how much He loves us. And why not? “Kisses from Heaven” do that.

*Did you learn anything new during your writing process?

Patience. Willingness to let Him shape the story that I already had in mind to bring glory to Heaven and

away from Earth, i.e. to Father and away from me. The “postscripts,” the insights at the end of each chapter, were for the most part a teaching lesson for me, commonly an epiphany, and in the end a reason for the story in the first place.

*Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned out and

organized?

Both. It was already a story when I began to write it, but spontaneous in the postscripts when I felt Holy

Spirit had His say (sometimes I think I butted in).

*What is your next big goal as an author?

Snippets, snacks, shards, and leftovers sometime when He gives the word!

About the Author

A Marine aviator and family physician, C.B. Caleb Woodworth and Proverbs 31 wife, Emily, left the world to follow Holy Spirit as restoration (inner healing) missionary pastors over the last twenty-six years. Today, the Woodworths continue ministry among those in need from America’s heartland, making the most of their time, for the days are short.

More from C.B. Caleb

In a world that is growing darker and where hope seems far away, we need to hear about the goodness and faithfulness of God all the more.

This little book of true God Stories will introduce you to the wondrous ways Holy Spirit works to accomplish His will and purposes. Sometimes referred to as miracles, these “Kisses from Heaven” have most often come as a complete surprise or at the eleventh hour to turn ordinary events into inexplicable, extraordinary, or even supernatural ones.

Whether you are doubtful and need a reason to believe or you are a faithful believer grown weary in your walk, you will find story after story of God’s gracious intervention in the lives of mortal men and a hopeful reminder of the goodness and faithfulness of our heavenly Father.

So, Christian, come join us for a walk through our encouraging, if not eye-opening, personal little book of God Stories. We pray it becomes the harbinger of Jesus sharing tender mercies to and through your own lives, leading to an awesome Kiss from Heaven or two for you to pass on to the kids, grandkids, and generations to come.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

Artistic Nobody, January 23 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, January 24 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 24

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 25 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Guild Master, January 27 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 28

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

Godly Book Reviews, January 30

Back Porch Reads, January 31 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 1 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 1

Fiction Book Lover, February 2 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 3

Simple Harvest Reads, February 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, C.B. Caleb is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of all three books in the series!!

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/00adcf54138

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Change Rushes West: A Ginnie West Adventure by Monique Bucheger & G.L. Rasmussen

About the Book

Book: Change Rushes West: A Ginnie West Adventure

Authors: Monique Bucheger & G.L. Rasmussen

Genre: Upper MG

Release date: January 8, 2025

Twelve-year-old Ginnie West has always been haunted by her mom’s tragic accident—and by the fact that her mom’s prized trick-riding horse, Eternal Love, was sold shortly afterward.

When Ginnie and her twin brother, Toran, uncover new clues about where Eternal Love might be, they embark on an exciting journey to find the horse that holds so many memories of their mother. With her horse, Calliope—who, as it turns out, is Eternal Love’s daughter—Ginnie faces a mystery filled with unexpected twists, family secrets, and plenty of challenges along the way.

As she races toward answers, Ginnie learns that sometimes the past isn’t as far away as it seems, and love can be found in the most surprising places. Change Rushes West is a heartwarming adventure about family, friendship, and finding hope in the most unexpected moments.

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.

Author Interview

1) What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book? Finally getting to add the last 8 chapters to this finished novel. I wrote them 2 books ago, but the last 2 books are not where they belonged. It was very satisfying to add in the other story arcs and allow the final chapters to bring everything to an exciting finish–for this book. We’ve already started writing Book 8. ;)

2) Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you? Ginnie’s mom was inspired by a woman who championed me as a teen–and who has since passed away. But her kindness and love still live in my memories and gratitude for influence lives in my heart.

3) Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and organized? I am a discovery writer (or pantser) by nature. However, I know my stories benefit from some plotting. Why? I write with some vague notion of what I want to happen, but I don’t plot it all out because I l;ike my characters to have a say. They keep the stories interesting to me.

4) Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing? I usually write best first thing in the morning or late at night when the house is quiet. I wrote my first 4 books mostly between 10 pm and 2 am–because that’s when my kids were asleep and I could write without being interrupted.

5) Why did you pick this genre for your book? Ginnie is 12–so she sort of picked the main genre by her age: middle grade. This series is more upper middle grade since I deal with some hard subjects–but all in an age appropriate way. The series also touches on family drama since the extended West family is involved with most of Ginnie’s adventures, and this book is also a mystery as Ginnie tries to discover what happened to her late mother’s prized nationally ranked horse after her dad sold her over 8 years ago.

Katie,

Thanks for hosting: CHANGE RUSHES WEST on your blog today. As a FREE thank you gift for having us, you and your readers are welcome to
download a short story that we wrote to introduce you to Ginnie and her family, which happens before Book 1 in our series.

Ginnie & Toran’s Great Escape:
https://BookHip.com/DNFVDVW
My website is:https://authormoniquebucheger.com/

About the Author

Monique is a bestselling author, a certified Farland Fiction Coach, and an empowerment speaker, dedicated to championing the underdog, in both her writing and real-life adventures.

Having a heart for families in crisis, Monique creates stories that capture the essence of real-life challenges and triumphs, with a touch of humor.

Monique’s upper middle-grade series, ‘The Ginnie West Adventures,’ delves into sensitive and weighty themes such as parental loss, abandonment, and overcoming abuse. She delivers stories not only for tween readers, but for those young at heart.

Drawing from her experiences nurturing a dozen of her own children and fostering over a hundred more, Monique’s experiences shape her books, creating novels in a number of genres, including a historical family saga, contemporary family dramas, a fun picture book, and a middle grade series weaving whimsy and heart into her tales.

A country boy by birth and by choice, Gary spent his youth working on the family farm, for local farmers and ranchers, on horseback or playing sports. Offered scholarships in Agriculture and Advertising Design, he opted for the bright lights and big city. Eight years in the advertising field convinced him that wasn’t where he wanted to be.

Gary freelanced in design and illustration, converted his love of writing for advertising to a newspaper column about the country lifestyle. He has also worked as a ranch manager, cowboy, rancher, and horse trainer. An avid painter and author, Gary shares his talents through mentoring others, is a past president of the Western Art Guild and Idaho Writers League and is an active member of Western Writers of America.

Gary and his wife, Margie are the parents of four children and ten grandchildren and have traveled extensively throughout Europe, Great Britain and the United States.

More from Monique

Hello Everyone,

Change Rushes West has been a long-time coming for me. It explores Ginnie’s relationship with her mom’s horse, Eternal Love. Ginnie’s mom’s tragic accident really shaped the entire series. From the beginning, I knew that losing the horse was a sore spot for Ginnie. I always wondered what happened to Eternal Love after she was sold—it felt like an unresolved part of Ginnie’s story.

The idea of bringing them back together has been in the back of my mind for years, but I didn’t seriously explore it until one night G.L. and I brainstormed ways to tie up some loose ends in the series as well as figure out what story arcs to add to this book.

That brainstorming session was pivotal. We started imagining what Ginnie’s journey to find Eternal Love would look like and realized it could be so much more than just a search for a lost horse. It could be a way for Ginnie to reconnect with her mother, heal from that loss, and explore how life moves forward—even when it feels like it’s standing still.

I also loved the idea of Calliope, Ginnie’s horse, being Eternal Love’s daughter. It felt like a beautiful connection between Ginnie’s past and present, between the mother she lost and the person she’s becoming. It added another layer of emotional depth to the story. I wanted Ginnie’s journey to feel like a true adventure, but also an internal one, where she learns that not all endings are sad—sometimes they’re just the beginning of something new.

Writing Change Rushes West was a way to bring Ginnie full circle, and I think readers will enjoy the mystery and the twists along the way. There’s family drama, of course, and the West family is as dynamic as ever.

However, at its heart, this story is not only about Eternal Love, the horse her mother was seldom apart from, but about the emotional love—both the kind you lose… and the kind you find, when you least expect it.