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23 November 2014

Interview with Sandra Ardoin

Author Sandra Ardoin

Sandra, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  
Thanks so much for having me, Carrie. What inspiring articles you run on your blog! 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help? Answer:  
God has blessed my life more than I deserve. That makes me nervous, because the Bible says we won’t be tempted beyond what we can handle. So, at times, I wonder how much trouble He thinks I’m unable to deal with, and maybe my faith isn’t strong enough. 
Even so, we all have difficulties and I’ve had my share. There was a period of about eleven years when I stopped attending church—pretty much the whole decade of my twenties. It wasn’t because I stopped believing or was mad at God about something. I was lazy. I missed a Sunday, then another, and another. Before I knew it, I was out of the habit of going, and living to please the Lord wasn’t at the top of my to-do list. 
I’d get nudges from the Holy Spirit that I would acknowledge, then go on about my merry way—until the moment God actually spoke to me as if He stood behind me in flesh and blood. 
I was about to make an important phone call when He said, “Don’t do it. I have something better for you.” Wow! You don’t ignore a voice that strong. Soon after, He opened up an opportunity that took me to a small town and a good church. In the end, that opportunity restored my relationship with Him … and led to meeting my husband.
Some people think they can worship without attending church services, which is true. But we all get busy. I think what they should ask is, “Will I eventually distance myself from God by ignoring a formal time to worship and the fellowship of other believers?”

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?  
My publisher, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, offers a number of their books in audio format. At this time, I’m not sure whether or not The Yuletide Angel will be turned into an audio book, but you’ll find what they presently offer here. As for large print, the novella will be in e-book format (as well as print), so the font size can be changed. 
The Yuletide Angel by Sandra Ardoin

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  
It would be difficult to do any such situation justice in a little over a hundred pages, however, my hero faces the challenge of forgiving a brother whose fondness for alcohol led him to commit an act of betrayal.  A big part of the plot touches on alcoholism and the damage it can inflict on families. 
This problem is also a large part of the story in the follow-up novel, A Reluctant Melody (working title), which revolves around the mission of the brother mentioned above. It releases in January 2016.

THE YULETIDE ANGEL BACK COVER COPY:
It's Christmastime in 1890s Meadowmead, and someone is venturing out at night to leave packages at the homes of the needy. Dubbed The Yuletide Angel, no one knows the identity of this mysterious benefactor.

No one, except Hugh Barnes, a confirmed bachelor who finds himself drawn to the outwardly shy but inwardly bold Violet Madison, a young woman who risks her safety to help others.

When Violet confesses her fear of eviction from her childhood home, Hugh longs to rescue her. His good intentions are thwarted, however, when Hugh's estranged brother shows up in town ... and in Violet's company.

But Violet faces an even bigger threat. A phantom figure lurks in the shadows, prepared to clip the wings of The Yuletide Angel.


BIO and LINKS:
Sandra Ardoin is a multi-published author of short fiction. A fan of old westerns growing up, it’s only natural that she sets stories in the days of the horse and buggy, as she did with her newly-released Christmas novella, The Yuletide Angel. She’s the married mother of a young adult and lives in North Carolina. 
Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on FacebookTwitter, and Goodreads. Check out her Pinterest board for The Yuletide Angel. Sign up for her newsletter

Giveaway: Ebook copy of Sandy's new Amazon bestselling Christmas novella!

25 comments:

  1. SANDY, thank you for sharing your testimony and for being with us this week on OWG! What an intriguing sounding story -- with a cozy and wintery cover, but the spooky house in the background gives it a suspenseful looking aura as well!

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    1. Thank you, Diana. Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas did a great job of interpreting what I envisioned for the cover. :)

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  2. Hi, Sandy. Thank you for sharing. I have in the past drifted away from attending Sunday morning services, and used every excuse in the book. Even so, I always continued with circle meetings, special Bible studies, women in the church events, and quiet time. Love Yuletide Angel and wish God's blessing on your success.

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    1. I'm getting ready to read Yuletide Angel for review this week, Susan! I should get you to do a guest visit review! Can't wait to read your next release! Hugs!

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    2. You are a major reason it came out so well, Susan! :) I'm looking forward to your release shortly.

      It's so easy to drift away from going to church. Unfortunately, for me, I didn't do the other events, either. Now, when my daughter is that age and working some Sunday mornings, I encourage her to be sure to go when she's off.

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  3. I thank you Sandra for a chance to win one of your books. You are new to me. Don't you just love these OWG girls? I do! They are great encouragers. And, lovers of our GOD. I never quit going to church, but did stop going to SS for a long spell. And don't go to night services anymore. I have always gone to church. Was just a normal thing since I was born into a Christian where church was a given for us kids. GOD blessed us with the most wonderful parents. I have missed more church in the past several years than my whole life, due to my health. BUT, I love church. I brought my four up the same way. No staying home just because they wanted to. Would like to win your book. I like the cover.
    Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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    1. I ended up turning my back on Christ and the church. But PTL, I came back. God is so good, He wouldn't leave me alone. Hugs to you sweet Maxie!

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    2. Thank you, Maxie! It's so important as parents to see to it our children are raised in church and given that opportunity to know the Lord. The older they get, the harder and less likely it is that they'll find that salvation and relationship.

      I'm glad you like the cover of The Yuletide Angel. The publisher did a great job. :)

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  4. Great interview! Thanks for the opportunity to win your book, I cannot wait to read it. rose blackard (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Thank you, Rose. I hope you enjoy Violet and Hugh's love story. :)

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  5. Thank you for that beautiful post, Sandy and Carrie!!

    I relate to your story, Sandy - I, too, turned my back on Christ some years ago before finding the only true lasting happiness in Him. Such a growing period I went through and many lessons learned over the years before acknowledging defeat in the lifestyle I was living and the solutions to problems I chose. During this period, I was also married to an alcoholic husband - putting myself through much unnecessary additional stress and abuse. I'm so grateful God didn't give up on me, He has been faithful and kept me safe from many harms to which I subjected myself!!

    I have "The Yuletide Angel" on Kindle and can't wait to read it - looking forward, also to "A Reluctant Melody"!!

    Shared post!!

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    1. We could have saved ourselves a lot of grief and regrets, couldn't we, Bonnie? So glad you're back in your relationship with God. Enjoy the book!

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  6. Lovely to meet you here today Sandra.

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  7. Hi Sandra! Thanks for the lovely interview! It's great getting to authors I haven't meet. You're book spuds delightful! Ilk have to my TBR pile.

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  8. SANDRA it's wonderful to have you on OWG this week!! Thank you for sharing with us!!

    I know it's possible to worship at home, I do it all the time, but there is nothing like meeting with other believers in worship. In fact that's why I didn't come by yesterday, my husband is the worship leader and I'm the piano player at our church, so Sunday's are busy around our house!

    I can't wait to grab a copy of the Yuletide Angel!! I was raised watching westerns with my daddy, so there's nothing I like better, unless it's a Christmas story that's set in the West in the 1800's!! :-)

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    1. Thank you, Teresa! It's been such a blessing to meet everyone here! I'll check emails on Sundays, but I don't write. After church, it's my day for laundry and relaxing--football and NASCAR. :) Enjoy The Yuletide Angel!

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  9. Sometimes I wonder, too, Sandra, about the difficulties I've had to face and/or the obediences He's asked of me. They seem so paltry in light of other's trials and tribulations, yet it seems I get way more than my share of blessings. I have experienced that speaking that almost knocks your socks off, too! Yes, ma'am. You know it's Him and that you best listen. Even if He asks you to do something you don't want to. If we're obedient as you were, it always works to our good! Praise Him! Blessings.

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  10. Thank you, Carol. I love your description that it knocks your socks off. That's about it! When God speaks that clearly, you can't help but obey. I guess He had to, because I was too hardheaded otherwise. :)

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  11. It's so easy to just stop fellowshipping with other believers, isn't it? I didn't know what I was missing until I returned to church and felt that nourishment in my soul. I feel that same nourishment when I fellowship with other Christian writers, like you and Carrie.

    Thank you so much for writing Yuletide Angel. I loved it and can't wait to read A Reluctant Melody!

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    1. Thank you, Angie, for both your comment and the part you played in making sure the book was the best it could be! Yes, I think setting aside that fellowship makes a big difference in attitude and actions. We just may not realize it until we get back to it.

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  12. my most difficult time was when my husband of 24 1/2 years who was a pastor divorced me. The church allowed him to stay as pastor and he immediately began dating our female music minister and married her soon after. I felt betrayed by the church and God. But God has assured me that he loves me. Thanks!

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    1. I'm so sorry, Rhonda! I can see where an experience like that might make a person bitter toward church and God. I'm glad you didn't follow that path!

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  13. Sounds like a great book
    God bless you
    Chris Granville

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