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Meet L.A. Darroch!

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Guest Post. Meet Author L.A. Darroch! I’m happy to have her join us today.

L.A. Darroch

L.A. Darroch is a Christian author with a heart for the persecuted church and other stories that touch the hearts of readers for God’s glory. She seeks to use her writing to encourage readers to “Speak Life.” She credits her late father with introducing her to a passion for reading, which led her to pursue a B.A. in English, with a focus on creative writing. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada and is owned by a very smart cat named Bathsheba. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys history, playing tennis and spending time with Bathsheba, family and close friends.

The Road From Damascus

About the Book:

The Road from Damascus: The Inspiration Behind the Novel

The inspiration for The Road from Damascus came to me during the height of ISIS’s rise to power. I saw the persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria were experiencing while watching CBN in 2015 and I felt a burden for them. I began following what was happening through charities that serve persecuted Christians, including Open Doors. Through the information I received from the charities and various news articles, I discovered the plight of not only my brothers and sisters in Syria, but in many nations around the world where it isn’t safe to follow Jesus.

I’ve always been a very sensitive person. Their stories of pain, struggle and triumph for Christ amid persecution drew me in. I read as many as I could, drawing inspiration for my struggle with depression. During this time I wrote emails to several officials in the Canadian government begging them to give special priority to religious minorities, including Christians, for resettlement. I received no response.

I wanted people to understand the struggle of Christians in the Middle East. So many people in the west just didn’t know or understand, even those in the churches. I wanted to share what I knew with others to help them connect with the persecuted on a personal level. I’ve always loved writing and storytelling and I wanted to write a novel someday.

I decided to write it from the perspective of a 14-year-old Christian girl whose family was attacked by ISIS. I started my first draft solely from Istir’s perspective, but as I continued writing, I discovered new events that Istir couldn’t fill in because she wasn’t there. It was at that point that I knew I needed to rewrite and add other character perspectives. I wasn’t expecting that, but God led me and it resulted in a much more insightful and emotional story. It was through this that I discovered the reason for the title, The Road from Damascus. Though I won’t reveal the reason here, because it would spoil the book.

Thank you for dropping by, L.A! Check out her Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ladarroch and be inspired to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world!

Sally

Reviews

Book Review: The Jealous Son

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The Jealous Son

The Jealous Son begins within the borders of the Navajo Nation in Arizona. When Eliza and Alex are banished from the only home they’ve ever known, little did they know it would set events into motion that would affect the rest of their lives.

Author Michele Chynoweth has also written The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, and The Runaway Prophet, all based on Biblical characters. She is an inspirational speaker, a book coach and a writing instructor.

The Jealous Son reimagines the lives of Cain and Abel in a contemporary setting and puts flesh on the circumstances surrounding the famous brothers’ lives. It “portrays what happens when envy goes too far.”

Michele weaves a story that takes a look at relationships gone awry and the consequences of attitudes gone sour. The book tackles what a dysfunctional family does to survive and the messes they stir up in the process. Yet, their story is ours, as we all are prone to going our own way, instead of always seeking God’s design. We can relate to anger, jealousy, malice and shame. We, too, have seen the adverse effects of alcohol abuse, gambling addictions, credit card debt, drugs and loneliness. The Jealous Son helps us take a look at ourselves and what we are capable of, if offered different circumstances.

We can relate to wanting better lives for our children. Eliza reflects, “I guess you always wish for more for your kids. And even though you hope they learn from your mistakes and don’t make the same ones you did, ultimately, they have to learn from their own.”

We can understand the grip of pride. “Eliza winced, not daring to even look in her older son’s direction, fervently hoping he wouldn’t be offended. She knew Cameron was proud like his father. Sometimes a little bit of that pride went a long way in building a dream, a house, a family. Sometimes too much could make it all fall apart.”

Read The Jealous Son and find out for yourself what it could have looked like, when Cain and Abel walked the earth!

Sally  

Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway : A Silken Thread

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The Cotton States and International Exposition sets the backdrop for A Silken Thread. Four lives are interwoven when the Expo comes to Atlanta, and their values are tested. Laurel, Langdon, Willie and Quincy question their viewpoint in different ways, giving us a peek at human nature. Would we respond any different?

Kim Vogel Sawyer wrote A Silken Thread with an underlying theme. “I wanted to use the elements of story to show the injustice and unfairness of treating people differently based on something as inconsequential and out of one’s control as skin color.”

The year was 1985, but inequalities hadn’t been resolved in the 30 years following the Civil War. The war should have lessened the divide. “Rich and poor, black and white, educated and unschooled… There were more chasms holding people apart than bridges bringing them together.”

Could one person make a difference? Willie’s Ma had said, “Set the better example, Willie. Be kind an’ acceptin’. Sometimes all people need is someone to show them another way to be.”

Through Willie’s actions, we learn the importance of elder care and the sanctity of life.

Through Quincy and Willie’s friendship, we learn people need to be more like God, who looks on a person’s heart.

When trouble hit, Laurel mourned the destruction of the Silk Room. “Why would someone destroy things that were so beautiful?”

Miss Warner sighed. “I suppose it happened, Laurel, because some people don’t see the beauty of a thing. They only see a threat. And in their ignorance, they seek to destroy it.”

There are so many reasons why I liked A Silken Thread. Descriptions of the Expo create excitement about the adventure and change it brought to the South and to the city of Atlanta. A look into the lives of those affected helps me to see the impact of my actions on others. And the elements of good storytelling show me how the Bible relates to life in every century. Kim says, “We all have the same desire as Laurel in the story: to love and be loved, to belong, to matter. We can help others feel accepted and valued when we choose to look past their exteriors to their hearts. That’s what God does for us. As His followers, should we not emulate Him?”

A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Get a copy and settle in for a charming story about what really matters!

Question: Can one person make a difference? Explain. Leave a comment, and you will be entered into the drawing to win my copy on Thursday, May 23. (Must be in the continental United States.) For an extra chance to win the drawing, share this post on social media and let me know in the comments.

Sally

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the WaterBrook/Multnomah book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/join-waterbrook-multnomah-book-launch-team/
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