Meet the Author ~ Sharon Srock

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Debut author Sharon Srock is visiting today to tell us a bit about the heroine in her book The Women of Valleyview: Callie.

But first let me tell you about Sharon.

Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two dogs in Rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time. Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s writing credits include numerous poems and short stories published in science fiction fanzines.

Take it away, Sharon:

When I first started to write Callie’s story, I had no clue that the characters would become so real to me. I guess that happens to all writers. I think it’s impossible to eat, sleep, and work with people and have it any other way. I’ll admit that I initially fashioned Callie after me in a lot of ways because it seemed like the easy way out.

She’s in her mid fifties, she teaches a Sunday school class. I even gave her a job in an OB/GYN clinic, one of my fondest working experiences. I could identify with this person, I knew who she was (me), I could hear her voice in my head, and I was comfortable in her skin.

Who knew things could get so out of hand? Callie turned out to be a completely contrary individual. She had a story to tell that had nothing to do with me and I wouldn’t get any rest until it was told. She has a depth and strength to her character that I will never see in myself. Her walk with God is closer than my own. I’m an introvert, she’s an extrovert. There are several scenes where she stands toe to toe with one of the other characters in a fashion so bold that it makes me cringe. I hate confrontation. I still don’t know where some of the advice she doles out came from. I’ll never understand how this character, mined from my heart and soul could be so opposite from me.

So, is Callie Stillman Sharon Srock? Only in minor ways. I’ve decided that Callie is who Sharon wants to be when she grows up.

Sandra again. Are you intrigued?

Here’s back cover blurb:
Three dire circumstances. Three desperate prayers. One miracle to save them all.

Callie Stillman is drawn to the evasive girl who’s befriended her granddaughter, but the last time Callie tried to help a child, her efforts backfired. Memories of the tiny coffin still haunt her.

Samantha and Iris Evans should be worried about homework, not whether they can pool enough cash to survive another week of caring for an infant while evading the authorities.

Steve Evans wants a second chance at fatherhood, but his children are missing. And no one seems to want to help the former addict who deserted his family.

For Steve to regain the relationship he abandoned, for his girls to receive the care they deserve, Callie must surrender her fear and rely on God to work the miracle they all need.

Your Turn: Do you have any questions for Sharon? Every reader who comments gets an entry into a drawing for the prize package pictured below. If you wish to be included, please include contact info. On Monday November 19th, Sharon will draw a winner from all names collected during her book blog tour.

You can also connect with Sharon here:

BLOG: http://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com/
Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads

What a Difference A Week Can Make!

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Saturday I had fun hanging out at the local library with other local authors. DJ Murphy and I showed off our youngest readers…and I tried not to be put out by my grand daughter’s apparent preference for DJ’s book to mine. LOL.

It was a treat to be away from the computer for an entire weekend.

Anyone miss me Friday?

Last week was a challenge for me as I wrestled through revisions, while fighting a series of migraines due to the unsettled weather…and probably somewhat due to my unsettled feelings about a couple of scenes in the story that I was struggling to make work. 

I’m ecstatic to report that I typed “The End” on Friday evening and celebrated by reading other people’s stories all weekend. What a treat!

One of the stories I read was an advanced reader’s copy of Margaret Daley’s 2013 release, Scorned Justice. Oh my. She kept me up until 1 am. There were lots of twists and turns in the plot, but wow, I did not see the big one coming. If you love romantic suspense, you’ll want to add this one to your to-be-read pile.

This week, I’ll read through my own story one last time, and write a revised synosis for the art department, as they begin their task of creating a cover for the story, which… still hasn’t been named.

My apologies to all who offered suggestions on that front. We haven’t won over my editor with any yet.

Your Turn: What do you like to do for a change of pace?

Migraine

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Yesterday, I was knocked out by a migraine, which killed my productivity. Then again…maybe not.

Ever find that sometimes it’s a blessing to be sick? To give yourself permission to rest?

I read the story about Mary and Martha in my Bible, where Jesus comes to their house and Martha is distracted by all the preparations that have to be made while her sister Mary sits listening to Jesus.

For days, I’d been praying for direction with my story, trying to be still and listen, knowing that’s what I needed to do, but feeling way too distracted by the writing awaiting me as a deadline loomed.

But feeling like my head would explode if I sat up and looked at a computer screen gave me lots of time to be still and listen. It was good.

Jesus said, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Have a blessed day!

What’s Your Secret?

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Everyone has one or two. Right?

In fiction, a character’s secret is a wonderful catalyst for unexpected twists or added tension, because its revelation will have (at least in the mind of the secret-keeper) catastrophic repercussions.

In my first novel, Deep Cover, the reader is in on the hero’s biggest secret–he’s an undercover cop–right from the outset. Keeping this secret from the heroine creates tension on several levels–in the investigation, in the romance, and on an emotional and spiritual level. 

Of course, I love keeping secrets from the reader, too. The biggest being who dun it. But I usually have one or two others that throw little twists into the story.

Which brings me to my current dilemma. While revising my next romantic suspense manuscript, I realized that the hero’s sister let the heroine in on his secret in chapter two.

I had my reasons.

And there is more to the secret than the sister is aware. But…

It does pull the punch of his later reveal.

And it was bugging me. 

The most obvious solution would have been to nix the earlier revelation, but I didn’t want to do that. I decided to turn the revelation on its head. Make it inadvertently cause her to reveal something, too–her doubts about God’s goodness.

She doesn’t blame the hero for what he thinks he should have prevented. She blames God.

After all, he’s, well, God! If he wanted to stop the tragedy he could have.

Trouble is I’ve written myself into a black hole. There’s no reasoning a person out of that emotional state. Is there?

I spent pages and pages trying. Crumpled them as being far too preachy. Because it pretty much comes down to believing that God is good despite the tragedy, that He loves you more than you can fathom, and that He wants you to find rest in His peace. And that peace, when you find it, seems to defy explanation.

Your Turn: What would you say to someone who asks how you can still trust God when your life derails?

Image courtesy of basketman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Fun Friday ~ The Giveaway Winners & More

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Thank you to all who made the “suspect interviews” so interesting!

Image courtesy of chainat at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I had such fun seeing the suspects of Critical Condition squirm on Wednesday with your questions that I decided to give away 3 copies of Critical Condition AND an advanced copy (when it becomes available) of Deadly Devotion, my upcoming book with Revell, due out next summer.

Yippee!!

 If you haven’t yet had a chance to read the first two books in my Undercover Cops series, check out these giveaways:

For Book 1, Deep Cover, visit Christian Bookshelf Reviews (open to US & Canada) ends Oct 20th

For Book 2, Shades of Truth, visit Inkslinger Blog also ends Oct 20th

And without further ado… 

The winners of Critical Condition are: 

Angela Holland 

Laura AKA Loves to Read Romance and 

Lisa at Two Bears Farm

The winner of an Advanced Copy of Deadly Devotion is: 
Denise

Congratulations! Please email me your snail mail address this week. See link at top of sidebar.

If you’d like to read heroine Tara Peterson’s interview, stop by the Craftie Ladies Blog on Sunday (link will work Sun) Then stop by Margaret Daley’s blog next week to read Zach’s. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Last 3 images courtesy of kongsky,  imagerymajestic, and foto76 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Suspect Interviews for Critical Condition & Giveaway

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Visiting with us today are secondary characters from Critical Condition, Dr. Whittaker, intern Dr. McCrae, and nurse Alice Bradshaw. To help you better follow the interview, allow me to first share a brief description of the main characters.

Zach Davis (aka Zach Reynolds) ~ Undercover cop working as an IT specialist at Miller’s Bay Memorial Hospital to figure out if a murderer is behind recent suspicious patient deaths.

Tara Peterson ~ Head nurse of the cancer ward at Miller’s Bay Memorial. She brought the deaths to the police’s attention after a patient and the patient’s husband died. The husband’s dying request was that Tara stop the killer

Between you and me, I haven’t informed our guests that they are suspects, nor are they all the suspects in the book.

Sandra: Alice, I understand that you were pretty upset that Tara Peterson was recently appointed head nurse instead of you.

Alice: Of course, I was upset. I have ten years seniority to her. That should count more than the couple of extra years of schooling she’s had. Experience is the real teacher in our profession.

Sandra: Some would have us believe that you were upset enough to sabotage her work, to make her look incompetent.

Alice: That’s ridiculous. She’s quite capable of digging her own grave without any help from me.

Sandra: Dr. McCrae, I understand you’re pretty passionate about helping cancer patients find cures. Can you tell us a little bit about what drives you?

Dr. McCrae: All doctors are passionate about helping their patients become well, but I have a particular heart for cancer patients, because I lost my brother to cancer.

Sandra: That’s admirable, but as an intern, you must have a heavy debt load from your years of education. Heavy enough perhaps to be tempted to pilfer a few pills here and there to sell on the street.

Dr. McCrae: Absolutely not. I’m the one who requested more security cameras to combat precisely that concern.

Sandra: Does that mean you believe a thief killed the husband of that patient, because the husband caught him stealing the patient’s pills?

Dr. McCrae: As I explained to the police when they questioned me, it is my medical opinion that the patient died due to complications from a seizure, and the husband died of a heart attack. Since Miss Peterson claims someone else had been in the room and rushed out upon her arrival, it seems reasonable to assume that perhaps this person had a confrontation with the patient’s husband before his heart attack.

Sandra: You report to Dr. Whittaker is that correct?

Dr. McCrae: Yes.

Sandra: Has he ever asked you to falsify reports so that patients, who normally wouldn’t qualify, might be allowed to participate in experimental treatment protocols?

Dr. McCrae: Absolutely not. I would never do such a thing and he knows it. Personally, I have serious questions about the efficacy of his current pet project, but clearly, his rapport with the pharmaceutical companies brings much needed funding to the hospital, as evident by the newly built cancer wing.

Sandra: Ah yes, the wing they named after him. Are you suggesting he’s testing drugs that he knows are of no value purely for the profit it brings him?

Dr. McCrae: He’s not interested in the profit for himself. He thrives on prestige. You’ll have to decide for yourself if that hinders his judgment with respect to his patients’ treatments.

Sandra: Some of his patients have started to request to see you rather than him. Can you tell us why?

Dr. McCrae: I care about getting them well, not about satisfying a treatment protocol.

Sandra: But I thought patients called Dr. Whittaker Dr. Wonderful because of his wonderful bedside manner.

Dr. McCrae: (laughs) I believe that’s what the single nurses call him, which probably has more to do with his good looks.

Sandra: Dr. Whittaker is it true that you’ve solicited donations from patients toward the construction of the new cancer wing?

Dr. Whittaker: Absolutely, and I’m proud of the level of donations brought in by such personal requests.

Sandra: I understand one couple donated their entire estate, then died soon after.

Dr. Whittaker: Yes, very sad case that. But at least their money will go on to help others.

Sandra: Tell us a little more about the experimental drug you’re providing patients.

Dr. Whittaker: Only terminal patients are permitted into this program, and yet we have seen some stunning reversals in tumor growth in several participants.

Sandra: Isn’t it true that those shrinkages of tumors occurred after the patients withdrew from your program?

Dr. Whittaker: Yes, several withdrew due to the side effects. But clearly the drug has a remarkable latent effect. There is no other explanation. Unless of course you believe in miracles.

Sandra: And what about those who suddenly died? How would you explain those deaths?

Dr. Whittaker: As I said, all of the participants are terminal. We cannot predict whether they will react favorably or unfavorably without further testing.

Sandra: Are you concerned that Tara’s allegations about murders on the cancer ward will have negative repercussions on the hospital’s reputation?

Dr. Whittaker: Of course I am. They couldn’t help but sour people’s opinion of our work here.

Sandra: Are you concerned enough to put a stop to the allegations?

Dr. Whittaker: Yes. I’ve warned Tara several times to keep her opinions to herself.

Your Turn: If you would like a chance to receive an autographed copy of Critical Condition, please leave a question in the comments for one of today’s guests. (no spoilers please) Winner will be announced on Friday’s blog and asked to email me. You do not need to leave your email address here.

EVERYONE’S AT RISK

There’s a murderer in the hospital, and nurse Tara Peterson is determined to prove it. With mysterious deaths in the cancer ward, anyone could be next. But no one wants to believe her…except undercover agent Zach Davis. The murderer wants Tara’s suspicions silenced, permanently. To protect Tara, Zach lets her in on his secret, and unwittingly into his heart. Tara and her three-year-old daughter are like the family he lost years before. Zach will risk everything to keep them safe, no matter the cost.

“Alice” Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
“Dr. McCrae” Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
“Dr. Whittaker” Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What Makes You Cry?

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

I’m over at the Love Inspired Authors Blog today, chatting about What Makes you Cry in a book.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers!!

Since I’m Canadian, eh, I’m taking the holiday off from blogging…sort of.

I’m over at The Inkslinger Blog sharing romancy things. And…there’s a giveaway for book 2 in my Undercover Cops series.

Fun Friday ~ Photo Day

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard
As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend here in Niagara, Canada, the autumn colors are at their peek. Unfortunately, the weather isn’t looking like it will be the nicest for enjoying them, or all the craft shows scheduled around the area. 
So…I was happy to get out for awhile yesterday afternoon to soak up the beauty!
And my granddaughter got a kick out of the praying mantis her grandpa found

Character Interview ~ Song of the Meadowlark

Posted on: by Sandra Orchard

Today I’ve invited “Cora Buchanan” the heroine of the inspirational romance, Song of the Meadowlark, to answer a few questions.

First a bit about the book: 
When trusting others only leads to pain and rejection, and loving ends only in loss, what will it take to restore hope again? Shamed by the uncovered truth about her missing husband’s secret life, Cora Buchanan sets out on a road trip for home, but winds up stranded in a small Georgia town. Add in an adorable little girl and her rugged widower cowboy father, and plunge with her into pure romance with a twist of mystery. Set in the charm of contemporary small-town Georgia.

1. Cora, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I am the poster child of young adult rebellion gone straight. I married someone my parents didn’t approve of and left Florida to live in South Carolina with him. I thought we had a great marriage until he was arrested for trafficking drugs and then fled after his parents bailed him out. That’s when I realized my parents had been right and I started on my path to change. The saddest part about leaving South Carolina was leaving behind Clark’s parents who had been like parents to me.

2. What do you do for fun?

It took me a while to remember what fun having fun can be. When I lived at the beach growing up, I loved to swim in the ocean. I still do but now I live on a ranch in South Georgia. I’m learning to ride horses although I’m still pretty scared of them.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Paying bills. I hate doing it!

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m afraid of being abandoned—again.

5. What do you want out of life?

I want a family who will love me and who will support me in my dreams.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

I used to think a career and material possessions were the most important things in life. But now that I have been through a total life change, loving God is the most important thing to me.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

I love to read romances and mysteries.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would change the way I shrink away from conflict. I have learned that not all conflict is bad but I still tend to avoid it.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I do not have a pet right now because I live on a ranch as a nanny. When I was growing up I had a black Labrador named Bandit. He stayed by my side all the time. I left him when I married and moved away to South Carolina.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

If I could travel back in time, I would go out West to the late 1800s. I have grown to love living on the Southern Hope ranch and think it would be exciting to live as they used to back then.

Song of the Meadowlark was written by Sherri Wilson Johnson.

Sherri is an Inspirational Romance novelist, a speaker, social media junkie, and a former homeschooling mom who loves to share God with others, while sharing her life experiences with them. You can learn more about Sherri and her books at: http://sherriwilsonjohnson.com/ 

Your Turn: Any questions for Sherri? Or how about answering one of the interview questions for yourself?