No One Ever Asked Interview with Katie Ganshert

Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district--and in their lives.When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray--the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser--faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones--the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge's top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she's stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as "this" or "that", when such complexity exists in each person?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/No-One-Ever-Asked-Novel/dp/1601429045/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1521592602&sr=1-1&keywords=no+one+ever+asked+katie+ganshert


Welcome Katie...



1.       Tell us about your new novel, No One Ever Asked.

No One Ever Asked is a story about three very different women whose lives are brought together when an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors. Camille Gray is the wife of a corporate executive, mother of three, and a long-standing PTO chairwoman. Jen Covington is a newly adoptive mom who’s struggling with a happily-ever-after so much more difficult than she anticipated. And Anaya Jones is the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge’s top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she’s stepped into. It’s a story that explores the implicit bias impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human?

 

2.      What inspired you to share this story?

 

A couple years ago, I was listening to an episode on a popular podcast called This American Life. The episode was titled, ‘The Problem We All Live With’, featuring investigative reporter, Nikole Hannah-Jones, who covers race in the United States. She was sharing about a modern-day integration story, wherein a Missouri school district comprised almost entirely of low-income, black and brown students lost their accreditation, triggering a law that allowed these students to transfer to a mostly white, affluent school district nearby. The podcast included several sound bites from a town meeting held in one of the affluent district’s high schools, and the pushback from the parents was shocking. I couldn’t believe it was from 2013. It was a story that captivated me about a topic that impassions me. So when it came time to write my next novel, this was where my heart kept returning.  

 

3.      The book is told from the perspectives of three main characters with different experiences and backgrounds. What did your research process look like to accurately capture each of their voices and stories?

Writing a book truly takes a village, especially a book like this one! I’ve never been on the PTA, and I’ve never organized a color run (a district-wide fundraising event that takes place in the story), but I have friends who have, and they let me interview them. While I am an adoptive mother, like Jen, I’m not very familiar with the struggles that often come with adopting an older child. I’m part of a Facebook group much like the one Jen is a part of in the novel, so I reached out to the moms in that group quite often with specific questions. As far as things in Anaya’s life that are unique to the black experience, I listened to a lot of people, and I read a plethora of books, memoirs, and articles, all of which helped bring authenticity to Anaya’s character.

 

4.      How can readers engage in racial reconciliation in their own homes and communities? What are some good resources that can point readers in the right direction?

If you’re white, I think the most important starting place is listening to people of color. Tune into black voices. Follow people on Twitter. Watch documentaries. Listen to sermons. Read books and poetry (check out The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, or Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, or Citizen by Claudia Rankine). There is so much information out there. Join Latasha Morrison’s Be The Bridge Group on Facebook. Subscribe and listen to Pass the Mic, the official podcast for The Witness, a black Christian collective. Check out Scene on Radio’s ‘Seeing White’, a fourteen part podcast series. If you’re a parent, start talking about these issues with your children around the dinner table. Talk to your friends at church. Learn about your community’s racial history. Educate yourself about the current issues in your city and how these issues impact communities of color. Use your vote in such a way that reflects your desire for racial reconciliation. Find and support organizations in your area that are already doing the work. The Bible has so much to say about this topic. Let what it says guide you on your journey. Resist the urge to defend yourself or center yourself. Resist the urge to minimize pain or explain away another’s experience. Sit in the tension. Press through the confusion. Don’t retreat if you make a mistake. We all make mistakes. Keep on listening. Don’t succumb to white guilt. Rather, use your privilege to remove yokes of oppression, wherever and whenever you find them in your midst.

 

5.      What are you currently reading?

I just finished listening to Every Last One by Anna Quindlen on audio, and holy buckets! Talk about heart wrenching. She captivated me with her honest prose, and when I reached the part in the book where the title is first mentioned, I literally gasped out loud. It’s definitely not a light read, but it is a moving one. I’m also reading Becky Wade’s Her One and Only, which has had me laughing out loud at several points, and smiling big throughout. She writes wonderful romance!

 

Isaiah's Daughter By Mesu Andrews

In this epic Biblical narrative, ideal for fans of The Bible miniseries, a young woman taken into the prophet Isaiah's household rises to capture the heart of the future king.

Isaiah adopts Ishma, giving her a new name--Zibah, delight of the Lord--thereby ensuring her royal pedigree. Ishma came to the prophet's home, devastated after watching her family destroyed and living as a captive. But as the years pass, Zibah's lively spirit wins Prince Hezekiah's favor, a boy determined to rebuild the kingdom his father has nearly destroyed. But loving this man will awake in her all the fears and pain of her past and she must turn to the only One who can give life, calm her fears, and deliver a nation.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Isaiahs-Daughter-Novel-Prophets-Kings/dp/0735290253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515901168&sr=8-1&keywords=isaiah%27s+daughter

Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an old friend.

The desire for God's Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available--children's Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God's Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.

Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu's love for God's Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.

Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)--the story of Job and the women who loved him--won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love's Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon's Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.

The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses' life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends.

Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days.


Welcome Mesu

1.       Can you tell us about your new book, Isaiah’s Daughter?
Isaiah’s Daughter is a story of both tragedy and triumph. It tells of difficult days in Judah’s history under King Ahaz’s reign, when moral bankruptcy and child sacrifice led to a nation on the verge of destruction. A little girl named Ishma sees her parents brutally murdered and is led into captivity, but a series of events finds her miraculously delivered to the prophet Isaiah’s home to live—so it seems—as a servant in his household. The rest of the story follows this little girl from captive orphan to captivating queen, and I hope readers will feel the same wonder I felt as I watched the story unfold through my research.
 
2.      What drew you to research the history of the main character, Hephzibah?
I don’t remember the first time I discovered the prophet Isaiah had a daughter, but I was immediately intrigued. The Bible mentions his two sons (Isa. 7:3; 8:1) and calls his wife a prophetess (Isa. 8:3), but there’s no direct reference to a daughter—at least not specifically calling her a daughter. In Isaiah 62:4, Isaiah mentions the coming of a “vindicated” Jerusalem and calls the new and righteous city, Hephzibah. Imagine my surprise when I discovered rabbinic tradition teaches that King Hezekiah’s wife—Hephzibah—was Isaiah’s daughter! Connecting Hezekiah’s wife with Isaiah’s daughter opened all sorts of “what ifs” in my imagination.
 
3.      Your biblical fiction novels tend to use biblical and historical facts as a foundation. What is your process like for interweaving these facts with fictional details?
Research is my favorite part of the writing process. I get to dig into ancient texts and Bible commentaries. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, cultural commentaries and all sorts of archaeological data make this part of writing like a big treasure hunt. Weaving them all together is somewhat less glamorous than you might imagine. I open a blank Excel sheet and start filling in confirmed dates on the left side—column A. I then put important “Names” across the top (Row 1) and begin listing events in the appropriate cells corresponding with date and name as I find information in biblical and historical resources (making note of which resources used). I begin a second sheet in the same Excel document, labeled “Historical/Biblical/Fiction,” and again place all the dates in column A. This time, however, I put only three divisions across the top: Historical, Biblical, and Fictional. Then I fill in events from the first sheet under the proper category—never changing the truth of Scripture or facts of history—and begin to “connect the dots” by adding whatever fictional details in the third column will smooth out the story for a believable plot.
 
4.      What was the most fascinating information you discovered in your research for this book?
I think the prophet Isaiah walking around barefoot and naked for three years (Isa. 20) was pretty fascinating—and quite shocking! Perhaps even more fascinating was the idea that Isaiah may have thought Hezekiah was the suffering Messiah he spoke of in Isaiah 53. Christians see that chapter as a clear description of Jesus Christ, but some of my research made a strong case that Isaiah might have thought Hezekiah “took up [Jerusalem’s] pain and bore [their] suffering” with his near-death illness in Isaiah 38. This book really made me think about how prophets might have viewed their own words in their current circumstances.
 
5.      Which character do you most identify with from any of your books? Why?
That’s easy. I’m Gomer from Love in a Broken Vessel. Though I wasn’t an actual prostitute, and my husband isn’t the prophet Hosea, I lived a pretty hard life before that good man followed God’s call and loved me in spite of my brokenness. He showed me what unconditional love really meant and introduced me to a personal relationship with Jesus. Then he married me six months later. J
 
Historical fans you are in for a real treat with this one. I was very surprised how much that I enjoyed this one.

Give this 4 star read a try. I recommend it.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Be sure to stop by the other blogs and see what they have to say about  Isaiah's Daughter.  www.wmbooks.com/IsaiahsDaughterTour 

Interview with Cara Putman

THE POLICE SAY THE WOMAN WAS A MURDERER. EMILIE WESLEY KNOWS THEY CAN’T BE TALKING ABOUT HER CLIENT . . . CAN THEY?
To the world it seems obvious: Kaylene Adams killed her daughter and then was shot by police. Attorney Emilie Wesley knows a different story: Kaylene would never hurt anyone and was looking for a way out of a controlling, abusive relationship. Her death shakes Emilie’s belief that she can make a difference for women in violent marriages. Self-doubt plagues her as she struggles to continue her work in the wake of the tragedy.
Reid Billings thought he knew his sister—right up until he learned how she died. He discovers a letter from Kaylene begging him to fight for custody of her daughters if anything should happen to her. No attorney in her right mind would support an uncle instead of the father in a custody case, but Kaylene’s letter claims Emilie Wesley will help him.
Thrown together in a race to save Kaylene’s surviving daughter, Emily and Reid pursue the constantly evasive truth. If they can hang on to hope together, can they save a young girl—and find a future for themselves in the process?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Justice-Hidden-Cara-Putman/dp/0718083482/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512366333&sr=8-1&keywords=imperfect+justice+cara+putman

Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I've been writing award-winning books with the count currently at 25.

In addition to writing, I am a homeschooling mom of four, attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women's ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband, and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University's MBA program. You can learn more about my books at http://www.caraputman.com. And if you'd like a copy of my legal suspense novella, Dying for Love, simply connect with me here (http://www.caraputman.com/contact/ ) , and I'll send you the link.

 Welcome Cara, So glad to have you with us today!

1)  What sparked your decision to journey down the path to write Imperfect Justice?

 

     When I envisioned the Hidden Justice series, I knew that each of the women in the cohort of four would get their own story, but I didn’t know exactly what those stories would be. Hayden’s Beyond Justice became based on juvenile immigration issues. Then I turned to Emilie, Hayden’s roommate and started thinking about issues I’m passionate about and would resonate with who she is. I was sitting in Siena at our apartment (I was teaching there for Purdue) and saw a headline about a domestic violence situation in Houston and my mind began to spin what ifs. Emilie’s story was born.

 

2) Share a little tidbit about Emilie and Reid with us.

Emilie likes erasable pens like I do, and Reid is based in part of my husband and feedback from readers. They told me they wanted to see more heroes that are like the men in their lives. So he’s living life and then asked to step into bigger things.

3) What is your favorite genre to write legal thrillers, historical romance or romantic suspense novels?

            Oh, such a hard question. I like each of them for different reasons. I adore bringing real events from WWII to life and wrapping them in a story. I love the pacing and action of a thriller. And I love the tension and romance in suspense. I’m marrying legal thrillers and romantic suspense with the Hidden Justice series, and I know one of them will have a WWII tie. Just not sure which one. J

 

4) How does being an attorney compare to being an author?  And how does that compare to teaching undergraduate law courses?

            I know they look like such divergent careers, but in reality they’re closely tied. At the core each job is about communicating. In law school I learned how to write fast and cleanly. Reading voraciously taught me about story and character. Being an attorney taught me to think quickly on my feet when in court while also doing the deep research and writing needed for appellate briefs. My graduate and undergraduate classes allow me to combine that on your feet communicating skill with a passion for knowing my students. I am blessed to be able to do the three.

 

5) Share with us your favorite place to get away and write.

            I have a home office again which is a great blessing. But I also have an office at Krannert and another at the law firm. Sometimes I have to mix it up. I’ve also written at my husband’s office at the church, Panera, and McCallisters. Basically, I need a plug for my computer and time.

 

6) What would I find around your computer that you have been snacking on when you are on deadline?

            Oh, to take a photo and show you the chaos! It’s nuts. Usually I have files for characters, research books and articles, character interviews, calendars to keep the action straight, my erasable, colored pens, a chocolate bar, and a glass of water, coffee, or both!

 

7) What book are you working on now? Can you share just a little bit about it?

            I just turned in the third book in the Hidden Justice series. I can’t wait for people to get to know Jaime better in Delayed Justice. And I’m eager to dive into Caroline’s story next. I’m also finishing a book for Guidepost and have another one to turn in right after Christmas. Lots of books percolating!

 

8) If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Stopping time. I really need that one to get everything done that I need to do. I’d say a superpower I do have is communicating. I love teaching and writing. And when I look back across my career communication is at the core of each experience. But man, if I could have Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth or Elastigirl’s flexibility, it would be amazing!

 

9) Share with us your top 5 favorite authors and/or books of all time.

·         Colleen Coble

·         Dee Henderson

·         Randy Singer

·         Lisa Gardner

·         Julianna Deering.

It really is unfair to ask a question like this. I mean I’ve already read 77 books this year, and I won’t finish a book if I don’t enjoy it. You can see the books I’ve loved this year here: https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/7650912

 

10) Tell my readers where they can keep up with you.

Http://caraputman.com.     

Facebook: www.facebook.com/caraputman

Twitter: www.twitter.com/cara_putman

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/caraputman

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CaraPutman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caracputman/

My Thoughts...

Imperfect Justice was a 5 star read and I was so impatient waiting for this second book in the Hidden Justice series. It was so worth the wait. I loved the romance and the legal thriller combination of this book.
You are going to love Emilee and Reid. I can't wait for you all to read this one. 
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Interview with Stephen Mizell Author of The Long Walk back

Failure is something we have all experienced. We have also watched the public failures of people that resulted in many lives being affected. It is painful to watch someone's life as their career, family, and finances go to shambles because of their poor choices. It is even more painful to experience all that personally.
There are consequences to every choice we make. Failure can be devastating. The losses seem almost impossible to overcome. But nothing could be further from the truth. There is a path back to success and fulfillment. The question is, will we take it?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-Back-Recover-Failure/dp/151278740X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511579883&sr=8-1&keywords=the+long+walk+back

Stephen Mizell is the Lead Pastor at Open Door Church. Stephen and his wife Barbara, along with their children, started attending Open Door on Easter Sunday 2005. In January of 2008 he came on staff and became the Lead Pastor in October, 2010. Stephen believes he has been specifically called to impact northeastern North Carolina with life-giving congregations in rural communities.

Stephen is a gifted communicator who is committed to sharing practical truths from God’s Word. He is committed to raising up leaders both locally and around the world. As a part of John Maxwell’s organizations EQUIP and the John Maxwell Team, Stephen has been able to teach leadership principles in many countries around the world. He is also an entrepreneur and has owned several businesses over the last 20 years.

Stephen and Barbara reside in Edenton, NC. They have four children and three grandchildren. They enjoy traveling the world and serving people wherever they go. You can follow Stephen’s thoughts on ministry, life and leadership at www.StephenMizell.com. His brand new book about his personal story of redemption entitled “The Long Walk Back” just released and is available here on Amazon.


Welcome Stephen...

1) What sparked your decision to journey down the path of writing The Long Walk Back?

I had been able to help some other people one on one and knew this would be a way that I could help people that I would never have the opportunity to sit down with one on one. I have a real desire to help others who are struggling with failure and also to help people avoid some of the pain I experienced.

 

 

2) Share with us one tip on how to get out of the mess we may have found ourselves in.

The most basic decision is to want something different than what you have. The next needed decision is to surround yourself with the right people

 

 

3)  Can everyone recover from failure?

The simple answer is yes, but the recovery doesn't always mean restoration. Your recovered life may look nothing like your previous place.

 

 

4) What is your favorite Bible verse?

This one is tough. Being a pastor, there are a lot of verses I identify with. As I have signed this book, I have used Ruth 4:14 but I was not left without a redeemer

 

 

5)  Tell us a little bit about your family.

I grew up in a pastors home, so the life I have is not completely foreign to me. My wife Barbara and I have been married for 12 years and we have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. All of our children live within an hour of us.

 

 6) Will The Long Way Back by your only self help  book or will others follow it? If so can you share a little bit about what's next.

I am currently working on a book on parenting. Helping families is a real passion for me. It is where I have found my greatest struggles and I want to share the lessons I have learned.

 

 7) Pastor, what is your favorite comfort food?

 Fried chicken or ice cream

 8) If you could have one wish what would it be?

That I leave a legacy that makes an impact long after I am gone

 

 9) Where can my readers keep up with you?

Blog: www.stephenmizell.com

Twitter: @stephenmizell

Facebook: @StephenMizellOnline

 

Interview with Brennan McPherson Author of Flood

What if the story of Noah and the ark isn't what you thought it was? What if, instead of being a story about God's judgment, it's actually one of the most powerful illustrations of God's mercy? 

Read FLOOD today to see God's mercy unveiled in a visionary retelling of the story of the worldwide flood. . . 
Nearly two thousand years after Adam and Eve eat death into existence, the flavor still echoes in their descendants' tongues. War is sweeping the world from the iron throne of a man who calls himself the God-King.
Caught in the crucible is a young family broken by loss and carried along by the prophecies spoken over the infant boy who fits in their hands.
Will little Noah grow to be the savior the world needs? Or will bending his bow come easier than bending his knee to the God who holds his destiny?

 

Beginning before Noah is born and continuing on until the world is washed clean, FLOOD is a stunning story about family and forgiveness in a world filled with pain. 

Brennan McPherson has always wanted to tell stories, but it wasn’t until his junior year in college that he built up the nerve to try. Now he writes dark biblical fiction with a fantasy twist that puts flesh on some of the most well-recognized characters of all time. Brennan is married to his best friend, works full time at a small nonprofit, and plays the drums in his spare time. Visit him at brennanmcpherson.com, where he blogs on the intersection of art and faith.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Flood-Story-Noah-Family-Raised/dp/0692953531/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1509851546&sr=8-2&keywords=flood+by+brennan+McPherson


Welcome Brennan...


1) What inspired you to write the book Flood?
 
 
I had some friends in college who denied the God of the Bible because they couldn’t reconcile the God that they viewed as a “terrible despot” in Genesis 6-9 with the “God of mercy” in the New Testament. They just couldn’t imagine how the flood could be seen as merciful, and thereby viewed the entire Bible as irreconcilable with itself. So, I applied my imagination to conjure just one potential scenario in which God could be seen as merciful for sending the Flood. Obviously, because we know basically nothing about that time period, it’s highly speculative, and we shouldn’t take it too seriously. The point is that if we can imagine just one scenario, can’t we trust that the God of the universe had good reasons for what he was doing? They call it the Christian “faith” for a reason, after all. . . My dad often asks skeptics, “Do you know 90% of everything?” Of course, if they’re honest (or at least not perfectly self-absorbed), they’ll answer, “No.” He follows that up with, “Alright, if you don’t know 90% of everything, can’t you assume that the answer you’re seeking is hidden somewhere in the 90% you don’t know?”

 

 

2) How far after the Flood does the book look into Noah's life?

 

FLOOD begins before Noah’s parents meet and continues on until the world is washed clean and Noah offers his sacrifice to the Lord (and God thereby establishes his covenant with Noah, and with the world).

 

3) Would you say Genesis is your favorite book of the Bible?

 

Possibly! It’s certainly an extremely important book of the Bible. And because it contains so many layers of poetic beauty in the original Hebrew, it’s also one of the most fascinating books to study in great detail. We Westerners think we know Genesis. . . until we start studying the original Hebrew. Most of our modern views of Genesis are so far off it’s not even funny. I heard a sermon the other day of a woman teaching (from a pulpit!) that Noah was commanded to take “pre-eaten” food onto the ark, which is just straight lunacy. Additional errant ideas (that you literally can’t find in the Bible) are the ideas that Noah’s family was mocked for their belief in a pending flood, that rain never happened before the flood, or that Noah and his family were the only ones to labor on the ark. These are simply imagined, yet have been propagated as truth from the pulpit.

 

4) Tell us a little about your family?

I’ve been married for 6 glorious years to the most talented and wonderful person on the planet, and it’s been just a little over a year since we had our first daughter, Willow. My wife and I originally met through music. I used to be a full-time touring drummer, and she’s an extremely talented vocalist and songwriter. But this music video made of Instagram videos of Willow’s first year of life says it better than I ever could (my wife wrote the song to announce her pregnancy, and she and I sang the song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSGhW4zdBJ8 

 

5) If you could have one superpower what would it be and why that superpower?

 

To make food appear automatically and immediately. Solve world hunger? Check. Not have to wait 30 mins for that steak you ordered? Check. What’s missing? And don’t even get me started on unlimited donuts.

 

6) Share with my blog readers what you are writing now.

 

I’m writing a fantasy parable based on Psalm 23. It’s actually going to be part of a collaborative multi-author project called The Psalm Series (novella project).

 

7) Since we are talking about Noah do you have any pets? If so share a little about them.

 

We have a cat, Sasha, and sadly just suffered the painful loss of our second cat, Jazz, a couple weeks ago—we were very close to him so it’s still pretty raw feeling. :/ My wife and I love animals. I grew up in a hunting family (my dad even owns Mathews Inc., the world’s largest archery equipment manufacturer), but I’ve never found much joy in shooting animals. Just couldn’t get into it. I suppose my dad was right when he thought Disney’s Bambi would ruin me. J Though my books contain violence, I’m firmly and completely ANTI-violence in every way, and only include violence to show how terrible it really is.

 

8) Tell my blog readers where they can keep up with you.

  

The best way is to subscribe to my email newsletter (you’ll get a free e-book prequel, titled ADAM: The Mirror of the Almighty, when you sign up! And I DON’T spam. But I do like giving free content away, and curate it frequently.): https://brennanmcpherson.com/free-e-book/ 

 

OH--and here are some of the endorsements FLOOD has received so far I want to share with your blog readers: 

"Flood is a supernatural journey into a world that is only evil all the time and must be saved by God's merciful judgment. A soul-searching, heart-rending, deeply-satisfying story. McPherson taps our imaginations to consider what Noah, his family, and their lives might have been like before the Flood. Many of my questions about Genesis 5-9 now have a place to rest in this well-researched fiction. -Mesu Andrews, ECPA Book of the Year award winning author of Love Amid Ashes, and Miriam

"A tale as enjoyable as it is immersive. With Flood, Brennan McPherson proves himself worthy of telling a story as old as time in a bold and fresh way." -Billy Coffey, critically acclaimed author of When Mockingbirds Sing

 

"How do you take a centuries old story and put a new spin on it, inviting readers into an evocative world they thought they already knew? Brennan McPherson figured out the way. Flood will entertain you yes, but also take you deep into your soul and make you ponder both the vastness and intimacy of God." -James L. Rubart, Christy Book of the Year winning author of The Five Times I Met Myself