Interview with Writer Gwendolyn Gage

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Gwendolyn Gage

Gwendolyn Gage is an aspiring author anxious to take the truths God has taught her to the world through the package of an entertaining novel. She’s been writing stories since 2008, and now has three completed manuscripts. For the Sake of One Lost is a Speculative novel about time travel to Roman Ægyptus. The Way of Impressions and Healing Rift fall under Historical Romantic Suspense, and are set in the 18^th century.

Gwendolyn, welcome to Overcoming With God.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

Thanks, Carrie, I’m excited to be your guest today! I was well on my way to realizing my American dream by 2006. A homeowner and a newlywed, I had a cool job at Lockheed Martin, one of the most coveted places to work in Dallas. But in 2007, when my grandpa’s health began to fail, God asked me to quit my job and move to Kentucky for a season.

For a long time, I struggled with the question “Is this really God’s will?” Especially after I gave up my job and made the move, only to be rewarded with a hard financial struggle that sent us right back to Texas in order to save our house from foreclosure. We moved in with my mother-in-law who’d been house-sitting for us, and then the unthinkable happened. She didn’t move out. And the comfortable relationship I thought I had with her, evaporated.

Suddenly, the spiritual warzone I endured at work followed me home, and sleep was my only rest. Suddenly, my marriage was under attack, and I was losing control of even what we had for supper at night. I wallowed in self-pity, sure that quitting my job at Lockheed Martin and going to Kentucky had been a huge and terrible mistake. I wrote my first draft of For the Sake of One Lost that year, using it as a way to vent my frustrations, express my longing for a normal life, and make sense of the lessons God was teaching me.

That pivotal year of 2008, God taught me the meaning of “for better or for worse”. Sitting on my front porch one breezy, spring night, I imagined my life without my best friend, and considered a road I knew was not God’s best. By God’s grace, I decided to stay with my husband, even if it meant living with his mother for the rest of our lives and accepting second place. God also taught me how to love my enemy—how to repay cigarette smoke in my house with a salad from Olive Garden, her favorite. How to pray for her every morning on my drive to work. When we lost our house the next year, hubby and I moved in with friends across town and my mother-in-law moved into a rental home. Sadly, she never contacted my husband again. I still pray for her.

Today, the blessings of that lesson in tough love are reaching so much farther than my husband and his mother. If I hadn’t gone through the trials of dark 2008, I wouldn’t have the patience or strength to endure the servant-like ministry He’s called me to today. I’m back in Kentucky, serving my grandparents and other family members who live with them. It’s hard. I didn’t want this. I wanted to cook and clean and care for a family of three in my own home, not a multi-generational household of ten people in someone else’s. But I know that God has put me in this situation to minister Christ’s love in a particular way. It may be that my example will get a family member’s attention when nothing else will. I keep that in mind when my selfishness and pride try to tell me I deserve better. I already have better—waiting for me in God’s city, the New Jerusalem. My version of the American Dream is nothing compared to what God has in store when I’m with Him for all eternity. I can’t wait! Can you?

Gwendolyn Gage blogs at “Serving Through Words”, and you can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

http://gwendolyngage.blogspot.com/ (blog)

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gwendolyn-Gage/192275760841484?ref=hl (Facebook page)

 

https://twitter.com/gwengage (twitter)

 

http://pinterest.com/gwengage/ (pinterest)

Thank you Gwendolyn for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Guest Review by Helen Wakefield: Julie Lessman's "A Passion Denied"

 

A Passion Denied 

by Julie Lessman

(Revell, 2009)
Review by Helen Wakefield

A Passion Denied is the third and final instalment in Julie Lessman’s The Daughters of Boston Series.  After the stories of Faith and Charity, it’s the quiet sister’s turn.   Lizzie O’Connor is all grown up and no longer sees John Brady as a brother figure.  But for some reason, this man refuses to return her love.

I read all three books in quick succession, drawn in by Julie’s dramatic and passionate writing.  But I have to admit, when I started reading A Passion Denied, I was a little blasé.   I wasn’t expecting anything new or earth shattering.  I figured Julie had packed all the drama she possibly could have in the first two books in the series.

Suddenly, a new character arrives on the scene and in an instant I sat up and took notice.  Now  I was utterly intrigued.  Where was this story going? My mind went wild with possibilities as I read on.  But there was no way I could have guessed where the story went – plot twists, after all, are a Julie Lessman specialty!

I was shocked at Mr-Goody-Two-Shoes Brady’s past, but I admire the fact Julie isn’t afraid to touch on controversial issues.  The truth is, the world sees these issues on a daily basis, and just because we’re Christian doesn’t mean we’re sheltered from them.

Julie deals with the issue of guilt, and the importance of obtaining forgiveness not only from God,  but from ourselves and one another.  One of the messages I got from this novel is that nothing is beyond God’s forgiveness.

A Passion Denied is full of the unexpected – Julie has the drama dial turned all the way up.    There’s plenty of eye popping deception and manipulation to keep you flicking pages in a hurry.   Fans of Faith and Charity will be happy to know they still get an insight into their lives.  Their present struggles make for entertaining subplots, and Marcy and Patrick have their own set of troubles.  Everything is sewn up nicely in the end and I was left with that warm O’Connor family feeling, and a few tears of joy as well J


Helen Wakefield runs the book review blog, Book Review Sisters, with her sister, Jessica.  They review Christian historical fiction, women's fiction and young adult fiction, usually with strong romantic elements.  Helen is currently working on her first book, a Christian young adult novel set in her home country, Australia.


Here is the link for Julie Lessman books available for purchase through Amazon (click here.)

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Julie's books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback. Three giveaways this week!

Carrie Fancett Pagels Reviews Dan Walsh's "The Unfinished Gift"

Audio review of “The Unfinished Gift” 

by Dan Walsh
(Revell/Oasis, 2010)

5 Stars *****

Easy and Compelling Listen

I listened to this book as a download through audible.com where I have a platinum membership.  I was sick when I listened to over half of it and was I ever glad that I had it.  This is a nostalgia book, i.e., it is not set long enough ago to be a historical nor recently enough to be a contemporary.  I imagine most people would say I am wrong and that this is a historical. So be it.

Having listened to the second book in the series first, I was expecting some sort of romance. I am bad about listening to things out of order.  This was an instance where the first book probably should have been read first.

 

The story is almost a men’s fiction, as the three generations relationships were pivotal to the storyline.  We have an estranged WWII pilot, Shawn Collins, whose wife has just died leaving behind their young son, Patrick.  The paternal grandfather, Ian Collins,  is the closest living relative but he has never even seen his grandson.  He’s a bitter, grumpy old widower with few redeeming qualities.  Rigid is his middle name. He doesn’t deserve to have this sweet little boy in his home.

A social worker, Katherine Townsend, who is assisting with the Collins child, has become emotionally involved with the boy.  An orphan herself, Katherine finds the irascible elder Collins undeserving of having his grandson in his custody. When Patrick goes missing, near Christmas, they must pull together to bring the child home safely.

I felt Patrick Collins was the most engaging character in the story.  I wanted to know more about Katherine and I was dying to see Ian have some of his crustiness ripped away, which kept me listening. I don’t normally read this type of book. However, I think this is a great audiobook, especially for someone who is ailing.  It is an easy and compelling listen.


Roger Mueller, the narrator, was amazing. He was perfect for this book, capturing the nuances of each character's voice.


Note: The Unfinished Gift was Dan's debut book and won two prestigious Carol awards through ACFW.  

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of this author’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.