Joining me on my blog today is author Sara Beth Williams.

A Worthy Heart turns one this month.  I’m giving away a paperback copy of my book all month long! To enter to win, you must subscribe to my newsletter by JULY 31^st.  At the end of the month, I’ll draw one winner!

You can subscribe from my website here: http://www.authorswilliams.wordpress.com

Keep reading for more information about the book AND an excerpt.

A Worthy Heart: By Sara Beth Williams

Genre; Contemporary Christian Romance

Summary:

Joel Bennett has always known Serena Hayes as his sister’s gregarious best friend. In the three years since Lacey began college, Serena became a regular house guest, but lately, she’s absent more than not. When Joel discovers she’s in an abusive relationship, protectiveness from within roars to life.

With only a part time job to support her and nowhere to go, Serena fears leaving her current relationship would jeopardize her chances of graduating college. After a brutal attack leaves her no choice, she courageously moves out. On her journey toward regaining confidence, self-worth, and independence, Joel falls in beside her, encouraging her. The way he emulates Godly love and compassion draws her close—not just to him, but to the God who can satisfy her longing for love better than any man.

Attraction sizzles between them, but events from their pasts cast shadows of doubt.

When the unthinkable happens, can Serena open her heart to a second chance at love, or is she destined to be alone?

Set up: In honor of Independence Day in the U.S. and the accompanying fireworks we  undoubtedly witnessed over the weekend, I think you’ll enjoy this excerpt, even if it is New Year’s Eve instead of Independence Day. Ah, makes me miss traditional sky fireworks…

 Excerpt:

Joel stepped behind Serena as they walked up an incline onto the bridge. Metal beams strung with white lights towered overhead, illuminating the face of the crowd. With a gentle nudge to the small of her back, Joel guided her through the crowd. They positioned themselves near a thick rail alongside hundreds of others and stood in contented silence as conversation flowed around them like the dark river water below. Checking her phone, she noted they had five minutes to spare. A smattering of boats dotted the glistening black surface of the water. A chilly wind caused ripples below and tangled her hair.

The entire time they waited, Joel kept his hand at the small of her back, anchoring her in place.

Serena sucked in a gasp; the boom of the first explosion radiated deep in her chest. Joel’s palm pressed harder against her back, and he stepped a fraction closer. A hush fell over the crowd as music poured from loudspeakers, timed with explosion after explosion of exquisite, radiant colors—red fireballs, whistling golden shooting stars, beautiful bursting purple peonies.

“Amazing,” she murmured as canon boom after canon boom vibrated the air. Several more fiery beams launched into the sky, flaring into aerial shells, showering brilliant golden streams down into the water. More fiery streaks—green and red—rocketed high above the bridge. An explosion sent long, bright arches downward across a velvet sky. She turned toward Joel and studied his profile as the light of the fireworks danced across the angular planes of his face, illuminating the contented quirk of his lips. Good. I’m glad he’s happy again.

She leaned in close to speak above the music. “Thank you so much for inviting me.”

He grinned down on her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

About Sara Beth Williams

Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California and currently works as a teacher assistant and freelance publicist. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. She is all about connecting with readers! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Bookbub and AllAuthor.

Visit her website and blog to find out more about her and her books.

www.authorswilliams.wordpress.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be entered to win a paperback of A Worthy Heart!

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Wow! So it’s been a crazy few months. I don’t have to go into details about what I’ve been going through because we’ve all been living “it.” The threat of “it” hasn’t subsided yet. In fact, according to some sources, we’ll see another wave before long. The social isolation caused by the virus, along with the turmoil and unrest in in our nation, has brought on anxiety to many, including myself.

I’ve been waiting for things to get back to normal. In fact, there will be a new normal, and I will have to adjust some of the ways I’ve thought and done things in the past. One thing I am certain, God is good, and there are good people in this country. I will continue to rely on God’s grace to bring my loved ones and me through the storm.

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:18-19.

In news closer to home, July came in with high temperatures. This wasn’t a great time for the air conditioning both in my home and in my van to give out, but it did. I should have both fixed soon, but not in time for this heat wave.

I recently started a new job after looking for a while. I started a few, only they didn’t work out. All along, God was designing the perfect job for me. I am thankful every day that I can spend time with some of my favorite people while earning a paycheck.

We’ve had several new additions to our household since last summer:

I guess it’s true that books and cats go together. 🙂

My novella, Angelica’s Christmas Wish, will be on sale later this month. One year ago, I submitted the story to Anaiah Press. I was shocked when they actually sent me a contract for it. Getting published has been a dream of mine for a long time.

I am currently on a deadline for edits on The Reluctant Billionaire, my contemporary Christian romance. The main characters, Liam and Jessica, have been in my head for over a decade. It’s exciting to finally be telling their story. The book is on target for being released in November.

Almost 11 years ago, my husband passed away days after a tragic work accident. Through the grace of God, the support of family and friends, and the passage of time itself, I have found healing for my grief. I still miss his presence, but knowing that Pat is in a far better place, and that I will see him again one day, brings me peace.

Last June, I started on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle. One year later I met all of my goals. I haven’t given up my efforts; instead, I am working harder to meet new goals by this time next year. Having hit the double nickel birthday in May, I’m happy to say that I’m in better health now than I was in my thirties.

I have plans for the month of July, but I know God directs my path. I pray that I will keep my focus on God, and His provision and grace, through any obstacles that come my way. I hope to finish this month strong in all areas of my life.

Today I am interviewing Joiya Morrison-Efemini, author of a newly released YA novel, Petrified Flowers. Let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself.

I am a Christian wife to a wonderful man, and mother of four fantastic children. I gave up my career as a child advocate attorney ten years ago, to be at home full time with my kiddos. I began writing in the spaces between mothering as a way to still feel like an individual with my own thoughts and ideas. Writing has been such a beautiful creative outlet for me.

What is your book about?

Petrified Flowers is the story of a beautiful brown girl, fighting for her life against the despair that misfortune and loss can cultivate. It’s a story about how God uses us to change others, even as He is molding us. And, how we can lose ourselves in the mission to rescue other people. It’s a saga saturated with sisterhood, racial identity, and class distinction. Mostly, it’s a story about the love of God.

What is the inspiration behind your story?

As an African American, a Christian, and a woman, I always have an agenda. I want to inspire readers to delve into stories about people that don’t look like them. I want the message of the gospel to spill out from my pages. I want to write stories that affirm my daughters, and their daughters. Petrified Flowers was conceived on the day my family watched a documentary about a private school in New York City that stands directly across from public housing. The dichotomy in that film moved us all to tears. I placed Iris and her sisters in that complex, and imagined their world.

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find time in your day to write?

My day job is raising four phenomenal children, and being a wife to a wonderful man. I write in the midst of the beautiful chaos that a family of six, plus a dog and a cat create. I wrote Petrified Flowers in between my childrens’ school projects and sports events, during their arguments and after their heartaches. I wrote it with their laughter all around me.

Are you a night owl or morning person?

I am a wannabe night owl who falls asleep on movies that start after 9 pm. I like to wake up early, before the rest of the house, pop in my headphones, and listen to a sermon or praise music while I run around my neighborhood.  

Were there any surprises that came up as you wrote your story?

I belong to a writing group made up of bright women who challenge me on every draft of every story and poem I submit to them. In an earlier draft of Petrified Flowers, one of the main characters died. There was a unanimous decision that I needed to develop that character. I fought it, but listened to their wisdom. The development of that character caused a love for her/him that just would not let me write her/his death. I believe the story is much better for it.

Are you part of a writing group?

Yes! And, their input is invaluable. The fact that we meet once a month puts a fire under me, holding me accountable to write pages they can critique. And, their questions and suggestions about my writing always inspire me to go deeper in character development, or take risks that I may not have done on my own. They are brilliant, fun, and honest. They are dear friends.

Do you experience writer’s block? What do you do to get through it?

When I’m not taking time and space for myself to commune with God, to exercise, and to observe moments of Sabbath, I do struggle with coming up with words, even when I have ideas swimming around in my head. Knowing this, I take my time with God seriously, I exercise committedly, and I rest. I’m still learning not to feel guilty for the resting. Being locked up during the pandemic has given me an excuse to nap, and to sit quietly. Running is a catalyst for my stories, and I have written countless stories and poems in my head during my runs.  

In a fractured world, Flowers bud in the deluge of God’s favor.

Tragedy uproots Iris and her sisters, all named after flowers, from the solid ground of middle-class life and plants them, unsupervised, in the rocky terrain of low-income housing. In a world where rain falls only on the privileged, Liam, a student who attends the elite private school directly across the street, proves refreshing as a summer gale, gushing joy into the sisters’ lives. Further nurtured by Ma Moore, a church elder who sprinkles the Flower sisters with spiritual wisdom, Iris embraces her Heavenly Father with steadfast urgency.

But when a student takes a hopeless leap from the school roof, Iris withers under the scorching realization that everything she thought she knew about privilege—and God—lies crippled. Petrified Flowers is the anthem of one African-American girl straddling three worlds. It is a song of hope, a triumph of faith, and a resounding refrain of the Father’s eternal love.

What’s next for you as an author?

I am currently researching and writing a novel about a Cherokee woman who marries an African slave in the 1800’s. The blended history of Natives and Africans in this country, and the parallels in their treatment, have always intrigued me. I am also journaling a series of poems and essays that has helped me to deal with the tragic and racially motivated deaths that continue to plague our society. I have been encouraged to create a collection for publication, but for right now, these stories are just for myself and my family.

Where can readers find you online?

Website: www.joiyamewrites.com

Facebook: Joiya ME Writes

I met the woman I call my friend and twin on our first day of our freshman year of college. During our orientation class, we discovered how much we had in common. For one thing, we were the same height and weight. That was determined during a group exercise when the team was supposed to carry the lightest member of the team across a ravine.

As we got to know each other, we discovered we were a lot alike. We shared a love of books and strawberry shortcake among many other things.

We were together so much that we became known as the twins. When we were separate, someone would ask “where’s your twin?”

We had our differences, too. My friend was from the city of Detroit, and I was a farm girl.

Here is a photo of us taken in college:

We never cared about our differences, because they were outweighed by our similarities. We became best friends and did everything together. In our sophomore year we became roommates. We supported each other through the good times and the heartaches.

Before we left college at the end of our second year, we went to a pet store together and each got a kitten, which we kept hidden in our dorm room for the few days before we took them home with us.

Neither of us went back to the college after that summer. We lost touch with each other for a few years.

Then she called and asked me to be in her wedding. I got engaged and started planning a wedding, too. We stood up with each other in our weddings just a few weeks apart.

We didn’t keep in close touch after our weddings, except an occasional letter or photo. Then a few years ago, we reconnected on Facebook and our friendship picked up like we had never been apart.

We talked about getting our families together. We each have three children. She has a son-daughter-son, I have a son-daughter-son. We both married Christian men. Her marriage is 30 years strong, but I lost my husband after 20 years. My friend was very supportive of me during that time.

Our paths may have paralleled each other’s, but not everything about our lives is the same. When the tragic murder of George Floyd turned into protests, I sent my friend a message. I wanted to understand what was happening. We talked on the phone. She shared her fears for her family, and I became aware of the depth of racism in our country.

My friend lives in fear for her family’s safety. She prays every day that her children will not be racially profiled or even killed by the police just for the color of their skin. Her husband’s life is in danger every time he leaves the house. She lives in fear just for being the person God made her.

In contrast, my oldest son can drive anywhere and unless he is caught in a traffic violation, he won’t be stopped by the police. Her oldest son is repeatedly stopped and harassed by police. My daughter will never face job discrimination because of the color of her skin. My friend has herself been discriminated against and her daughter could be one day. My youngest son can walk around our neighborhood and not raise an eyebrow. Her son has to be careful where he goes on his bike.  

I am grateful for my friend. God brought us together and gave us a gift of lasting friendship. Racism can’t touch our friendship. I respect what she has been going through and want to be a part of the solution to end racial injustice.

I stand in support of my friend and her family. #BlackLivesMatter.