I’m happy to have my friend and fellow author, Cara Grandle with me today, sharing some encouragement from her writing journey as well as an excerpt from her new release.
Cynthia asked me to come on her blog and share the spiritual theme of my new book…my first book. But before I get into that, it feels significant to say this is my first book interview.
I’ve been chasing the dream of being a published writer for eight years, and this moment right here is significant and special. And I’m sharing that with Cynthia, who I met at the 2014 ACFW writers conference. We’ve lived life alongside each other since then and seen so much.
WORDS TO ENCOURAGE
Before I talk about The Rock I want to encourage you. Hold fast to your dreams. They don’t always come in the way or timing we expect, but God’s promise is to be faithful and to reward those who diligently seek Him. He has your reward in His hand, whatever that looks like. Respect the dream.
Do the hard thing.
Trust Him.
I suppose that is the heart of The Rock too. I like using wagons and cowboys set in Oregon Territory to tell the story of characters who learn to hear and trust that sweet leading of the heart as they face the challenges that life throws at them. I like to find the places in story where you can see this scripture:
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
BUT when the desire comes, IT IS the tree of life.”
THE ROCK ~ EXCERPT
Rebecca had a choice. She would either shrivel and die like Jules’s rose, or she would thrive like the one Rose gave her.
She didn’t have Mrs. Mabel here, smelling like cinnamon and sugar, saying she would help her find her way. Leander tried his best. He’d given her a safe place—a place to grieve and think and decide. But it was up to her.
Pulling her quilt off the bed, she wrapped herself in it and turned the light a little higher so she could find all the places Jules left notes in the Bible. Maybe there was more help here. Maybe she could find her way out of the darkness that had nothing to do with the nighttime.
Hours later, shoulders hunched and neck sore, she still read. She’d found a favorite.
‘The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’
The words poured into her cool and fast, like the spring she showered in. The Lord My Rock. Her rock? If He was her Rock, then He was the strong one. Love stole her breath. She could hide in Him. She read the verse over and over until it felt like a familiar path, like a rock in her pocket.
INSPIRATIONAL NOVELS
Stories of faith and resilience on the Midwest prairie
Inspirational Historical Romance
~Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
**Connect with Cynthia Roemer on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway below for a chance to win your choice of either an e-book or print copy of The Rock by Cara Grandle. (Print copy is for USA addresses only)
Congratulations on your book release! Sounds like a great story! Thank you for the opportunity.
For a keepsake, I have a kept a chalkboard I used to draw on while visiting my grandparents.
What a great keepsake, Betsy. Something so small can let the memories flow.
I have part of my Mothers wedding rings and a sweater from my Father.
I have knickknacks and a few pieces of jewelry from both grandmothers and tie tacks that were my dad’s.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by to enter and share, Roxanne!
I liked reading about your journey to get your first book published! Keep up the encouragement.
Cara is a great encourager. Thanks for stopping by to enter, Donna!
For a keepsakeI have my Mom’s Bible.
I can think of no better keepsake, Donna. That’s precious. Thank you!
So many things. My Grandma and Mom’s jewelry. Stuff I did in Junior High and High School buttons or badges. Charm bracelet with things I was in.
Thank you for sharing the story of struggles and hardship we all experience sometime in our lives. I have my Grandmother’s sewing machine which is a foot pedal. God bless you.
Love those old sewing machines. Thanks so much for sharing, Debra!
I have a lot of keepsakes! One of my most prized is a ring carved for me by my maternal grandfather. I also have a brooch of my maternal grandmothers. Another prized keepsake is the heart pendant with my parents wedding picture on it that I had done for my Mom after my Daddy passed, that is now mine since my Mom passed.
How very special. So sorry about your mom, Trudy. Keepsakes are so wonderful to keep memories alive. God bless you!
I have jewelry that belonged to my mom as a keepsake. I hope that my daughters will treasure them too.
Oh, I hope so too, Linda. What a blessing to have something of family value to pass down to your daughters.
I have a stuffed animal that my grandparents gave me for Christmas when I was little.
Nice! What a sweet keepsake to have. Thanks, Amelia!
I have a birthstone baby ring from my grandparents. When I was ten, I got to go to the jewelry store and pick one out myself. It was a lot of fun and I still have both of them.
What a great memory! Thanks for sharing, Perrianne! =)
I have lots of keepsakes my grandpa railroad watch, my granny’s handkerchief and apron, etc
Love it! Thanks for sharing, Lucy!
I have my Daddy’s Bibles. He’s been in Heaven since 2012.
What a wonderful way to remember him by, Caryl. A blessing for sure. Thanks for sharing!
I have a couple of my grandmother’s knick knacks that she had on her end tables in her living room. I always looked at all her figurines when we visited her.
Thanks for sharing, Linda! Even small items can mean so much and bring back many wonderful memories.
There are so many keepsakes. One of my favorites is a blanket my grandmother crocheted for me when I was born. And a white baby blanket that comforted me when I was sad and angry.
Those sound so very special. I have a quilt my grandmother hand-stitched. I feel the same way about it you do your keepsakes. Thank you, Rachel.
I kept the corsage of silk flowers made for my Mom at my wedding in 1986. Mom kept it and I got it before she passed away.
A very thoughtful keepsake. Thanks for sharing, Vivian!
I have my mother’s wedding band as a keepsake.
I’m not typically one to save things as “things” don’t have a lot of sentiment for me. I cherish memories of times spent with loved ones as well as photographs.
I agree, Cindi. Memories and photographs are the most meaningful keepsakes. Thank you!
I have kept childhood books and stuffed animal
Nice! Sweet reminders of childhood. Thanks for sharing, Danielle.
I’ve kept my mothers wedding band.
A beautiful reminder, Darlene. Thanks for stopping by to enter.
a recipe in my paternal Grandmother’s writing! (she was born in 1901 – died 1994) I also have some of her embroidered handkerchiefs! She was a pastor’s wife, and her handkerchiefs matched her outfit, purse, and shoes!
She sounds so much like my Grandmother born that same year! My grandmother was meticulous. She even ironed her dish cloths. =) Thanks for sharing, Barb!
I have so many keepsakes! I know my daughter can’t keep them all when I’m gone! I have numerous quilts made by my mother and grandma, a small trunk and pen knife that belonged to my grandpa when he was a child, and many others!
For a keepsake, I have kept a music box that a teacher gave me when I was her helper in high school
Congratulations on your new book release! Your book sounds like a great read and the book cover is Beautiful! I have different keepsakes, one of my favorite ones is a short prayer that my mom made up and she signed it and I have it hanging in one of our bedrooms on a frame. Thank you for the chance. Have a Great week and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.