On Tour: The Power of the Reframe

About the Book

Book: The Power of the Reframe

Author: J.J. Bundy

Genre: Christian Living / Self-Help / Faith-Based Healing

Release Date: September 15, 2025

When life hits hard, you have two choices: stay stuck in the pain or learn how to reframe it. The Power of the Reframe is a healing guide for women who are ready to release the weight of the past, renew their minds, and step into a new future with God at the center. Blending biblical truth, real-life wisdom, and practical exercises, this book helps you: Recognize the patterns holding you back. Reframe your story through God’s Word and affirmations. Rebuild a new perspective rooted in faith, ownership, and hope. This is not about ignoring your pain—it’s about transforming it into purpose. With journal prompts, heart-check exercises, and encouragement for every step of the healing journey, The Power of the Reframe shows you how to take your broken pieces and build something whole.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

J.J. Bundy (Jasmine Shegog) is the founder of The Reframe Collective, LLC, a healing-centered brand that equips women and children to break cycles, renew their minds, and build generational wholeness. A mother, writer, and former teacher, Jasmine draws on her own journey through grief, emotional healing, and faith to create resources that make complex emotional and spiritual truths simple and life-changing. Through books, workbooks, and retreats, she helps others reframe their pain into purpose. She also writes children’s books under the pen name J.J. Shegog.

 

More from J.J.

The Power of the Reframe because I know what it feels like to be stuck in the weight of your past, unsure how to move forward. For years, I wrestled with grief, emotional pain, and cycles I couldn’t seem to break. But through God’s Word and the practice of reframing, I discovered that the same moments that once felt like breaking points could actually become turning points.

This book is my heart on paper—a guide for anyone ready to renew their mind, take ownership of their healing, and step into God’s purpose with freedom. It’s filled with encouragement, biblical truth, and practical exercises that will help you not just survive what you’ve walked through, but actually be transformed by it.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 28

Simple Harvest Reads, March 1 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, March 2 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 2

Guild Master, March 3 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, March 4 (Author Interview)

It’s Mama Safe, March 5

Books Less Travelled, March 6 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 7

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, March 8 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 9

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, March 10 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 11

Vicky Sluiter, March 12 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, March 13 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 13

Interview with JJ: 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? My favorite thing about being a writer is being able to craft language that reaches the everyday person. Most people think being an author is “cool,” but as writers, we don’t always see ourselves that way—we’re just trying to tell the truth in a way that lands. What amazes me is how readers connect with the message in ways I could never anticipate while writing. The clarity, transformation, and breakthroughs they experience—that’s my favorite part. My readers are truly what make writing special for me.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? One of the most surprising things I learned is how fun creating adult books can be—not because the work itself is easy, but because of the revelation that comes with it. I was shocked at how, even when I reread my own writing, I would get something new out of it each time. I thought only the Bible worked like that. But I realized that what a person receives from a book depends entirely on where they are in their life at the moment. A reader might take something from a section that I never saw or intended. The revelation goes beyond the original writing, and that surprised me in the best way.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing? Losing my mom—2,000%—is what inspired my writing. I lost her in May of 2025. Even though I had been trying to write the book before that, I didn’t have the right outline or the right clarity. When she passed, the grief hit me with the realization that I never got the chance to have the conversations with her that I always wanted. That same feeling went back to my cousin who passed three years earlier. Writing became the place where I finally said everything I never got to say. It became my way of releasing the conversations, the questions, and the reflections I never got to have with them.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book? The first question I ask is: Is this even necessary? Do I truly need to write this? What new value am I bringing? Who needs this message? Why does this matter? At first, I wrestled with whether my voice was needed, but God revealed something to me: it’s not always what you say—it’s how you say it. Some people won’t hear a truth until you’re the one who speaks it. And even if the book reaches just one person—if it brings someone closer to Christ or gives them language for their healing—it’s worth it.

What was the best money you spent as a writer? The best money I ever spent was redoing my front porch. I transformed it into a peaceful writing space for early mornings when ideas are fresh. I wanted a place that invited reflection and clarity. And now, not only is it my favorite writing spot, but it’s become a place my kids love too. Creating that environment was an investment in both my creativity and my peace.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.J. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book and its companion workbook!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/wNgC2/the-power-of-the-reframe-celebration-tour-giveaway

Release Day: Shetland Sunset

Release Day Shetland Sunset

Shetland Sunset is Book 1 in my brand-new series

The Resistance Chronicles.

Featuring four Norwegian American siblings and their Norwegian cousin, the stories highlight the brave individuals who served in the Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, and Danish resistance organizations. 

They also find their happily ever after!

About Shetland Sunset:

Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war?

After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again?

Distraught when the Germans overrun her beloved Norway, Tonje Bondevik refuses to take the occupation sitting down. She joins the fledgling resistance movement, deriving great satisfaction distributing the underground newspaper and performing acts of sabotage…until the day the Nazis come looking for her, and she must flee for her life. Perhaps she should have listened to the handsome Norwegian American when he offered to take her to Shetland.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AWqJk

Talkshow Thursday: An Interview with Liisa Eyerly

Talkshow Thursday:

An Interview with Liisa Eyerly 

I "met" Liisa a few months ago when she joined Heroes, Heroines, and History as a fellow blogger. She writes biblical fiction that is excellent! Grab a "cuppa" and get to know this intriguing lady.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Research—hands down. Writing gives me permission to chase questions most people might casually wonder about but never pause to explore. That curiosity has carried me to Italy, Greece, and Ephesus in modern-day Türkiye, where apostles once lived and preached.

Layer by layer, I reconstruct Sabina’s first-century world through everyday details: spiced wine paired with flamingo-tongue appetizers, vibrantly dyed tunics, the echo of conversation in marble bathhouses. Studying artifacts in museums and walking ancient streets helps me sense the textures and rhythms of her world—and my hope is that readers sense them too.

What sort of research did you do, and was there an especially interesting tidbit you included?

One favorite resource is Biblical Archaeology Review. They reported on a small coin unearthed near

Jerusalem from the Jewish revolt of AD 67–71. Its inscription boldly anticipated a Jewish victory over Rome—a triumph that never came. That fragile piece of misplaced hope captivated me. I wove it into the opening scene of Obedient Unto Death, and it resurfaces in later books as a key clue. There’s something deeply satisfying about breathing story back into a forgotten artifact.

How did you learn to write?

Mostly by reading—constantly. Authors have unique styles, and over time, I learned from the ones I loved. I’ve attended writers’ conferences, filled shelves with books on structure and character arcs, and studied techniques for increasing tension and crafting strong openings. Writing is a lifelong apprenticeship. And it always circles back to the same advice: read, read, read.

Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?

Yes—and it never gets old. My newsletter community continues to grow, and thoughtful reviews on Goodreads and Amazon encourage me more than I can say. Readers tell me they’ve fallen in love with Sabina and appreciate a strong female protagonist navigating first-century Ephesus. I love hearing, “I didn’t see that twist coming!” But perhaps the most meaningful feedback is when readers say the stories helped them see early Christians—and familiar history—in a new light. If a mystery can both entertain and illuminate, I feel I’ve done my job.

What draws you to this time period?

My love of historical mysteries collided with my faith when I realized Roman-era novels rarely included Christian characters. Yet the New Testament pulses with drama, danger, betrayal, and a faith bold enough to defy an empire.

Who were the men and women willing to risk death rather than renounce their beliefs? Those questions wouldn’t leave me alone. When I couldn’t find the stories I wanted to read, I decided to write them.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired you?

A conversation with my son sparked something profound. He mentioned a friend who lost his faith after reading The Da Vinci Code. That moment showed me how powerful stories can be—not just to entertain, but to shape belief.

Authors like Francine Rivers, Taylor Caldwell, and Tosca Lee strengthened my faith through fiction. I began asking: if a secular mystery can unsettle faith, could a well-researched mystery strengthen it? That question became my assignment.

How do you come up with storylines?

I start with a cultural or religious tension point that won’t leave me alone and assign it to a character—often the victim. Then I ask: who has the most to lose if the truth comes out? In a mystery, that’s usually the killer. From there, I weave motives, red herrings, and emotional stakes around a beginning and an ending I already know.

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

Two novels in the Secrets of Ephesus series are published: Obedient Unto Death and Fortunes of Death. The third, Powers of Death, releases this August.

My favorite? Always the one I’m writing. The plotting, the scheming, the layering of clues—and the chance to dive deeper into history and the human heart—keep each new book fresh and exhilarating.

BOOK BLURB:

Winner of the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches a gripping historical mystery series set in the perilous world of first-century Rome. In Fortunes of Death, fearless Christian sleuth Sabina returns—risking everything to expose murder, magic, and corruption beneath the empire’s glittering surface. With rich historical detail and powerful spiritual themes, author Liisa Eyerly delivers intrigue, danger, and hope in equal measure. Reviewer Deborah Anne raves: “Murder mystery—Intrigue—Love—Fellowship through Christ. This series has it all! Eyerly is wonderful! If you’re tired of boring—read this series! I love a good mystery!” Prepare to be hooked!

Crossriver Media:   https://www.crossrivermedia.com/product/fortunes-of-death/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Di2gyQ
Website: http://www.LiisaEyerly.com
Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/liisa.eyerly

Photo credits:

Author photo and book images: courtesy of Liisa Eyerly

Shekels: Pixabay/Ri Bhutov

Petra Jordan Treasure House: Pixabay/Chiem Seherin

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Rachel Blanchard

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome, Rachel Blanchard

I’m thrilled to be hosting first time visitor Rachel Blanchard to my blog. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as I did.

How did you learn how to write?

I’ve always loved creative writing assignments in school. After following my favorite authors online, I realized that by reading articles, signing up for workshop classes, and checking out books from the library, I could teach myself to write a novel. With every book that I write, I better learn to work out its issues to craft the best possible story.

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I have written four books. I don’t think I can choose a favorite! But I can say what I like the most about each. My first, First in My Heart, reminds me about coming to Florida, growing up, and falling in love. My second, Finding My Heart, I published right before I went through a hard time in my life. I had no idea that the words from the ending would come back to comfort me. Even if no one else read the story, it was worth it because God used it to speak truth to my heart. My third, Cassia’s Calling, was just plain fun, from researching different aspects of the medieval period to exploring different plot twists. My fourth book, The Rancher’s Reason, was the easiest to write, and an unexpected blessing. It’s just as wonderful to remember the stage of life I was in during each book. They’ve become like beautiful time capsules on my shelf!

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?

The most important aspect to iron out for me is character. Who is the hero and heroine? What are they like? What are they struggling with? The story conflicts come pretty naturally from there. I like to have the starting and final image in mind, and then fill out the plot beats in-between to ensure that character development occurs naturally and in an exciting way. I try to jot down notes about whose POV the scene would work best in, as well as basic details about the setting and secondary characters. Of course, outlines must be flexible, as through the process of writing, you discover that what you originally planned might have to be modified for coherence or believability. I always tell other writers, getting started is the most important, and you can always edit later!

How did publishing your first book change your writing?

Initially, I set the intention that, as long as a few friends and family enjoyed the book, I would be satisfied! I was honestly taken aback at how vulnerable I felt after publishing my first book. The imposter syndrome kicked in greatly, and I was thankful that other authors I admired shared that they go through the same thing. I also felt proud that I had put in the work to achieve a goal, a journey that I could share with my children as they grow. I’ve learned that the beauty is in the process of improving with every book rather than in external statistics. Publishing has taught me to be confident in what my readers like and who I am instead of worrying about pleasing everyone, and to make wiser decisions regarding how to best plan my time.

What was the best money you spent as a writer?

The best money I spend is having an editor give me holistic feedback about my early draft. When you spend so much time within the manuscript, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture, and how the reader might be reacting differently to your characters and events.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?

I am an English teacher, so I constantly am exposed to classic authors in different genres: Shakespeare, Orwell, Steinbeck, and so on. The vocabulary they use to make us feel, the way they delicately weave in symbolism to change minds and hearts are such that it is impossible not to become smarter simply by continued exposure. I knew some about stylistic choices and how to break down a plot as an English major but becoming a writer has multiplied my knowledge and appreciation of pacing and other literary techniques.

What books are on your nightstand right now?

I am listening to Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder as I do the chores and reading an early reader copy of To Win a Crown by Rachel Hauck on my Kindle.

What is your next project?

I am in the early brainstorming stage with another fantasy story with Christian elements, not medieval this time, but possibly more dystopian-flavored. I am also considering trying a contemporary retelling. I find new stories tend to take on a mind of their own, so I am excited to see what I will discover next!

About The Rancher’s Reason:

Succumbing to her younger sister’s pleas for more school volunteer hours, chorus teacher and single

mom Willow Hutchins does the one thing she swore she’d never do—steps foot on the Missouri ranch run by her high school sweetheart, Ace Sterling. As Ace invests in her sister, Willow is roped into using her creative talents to save Ace’s ranch from financial disaster. But the more time they spend together, the more danger Willow is in of Ace discovering her biggest secret. He’s the father of her three-year-old daughter.

Ace wonders if he can keep his passion project alive after repeated sabotage attempts from a local developer, plus an ever-growing pile of bills. Even more confusing is the woman who once pushed him away entering his life again. Can he trust himself to be near to Willow, for the horses’ sake? Or will Ace’s last remaining dream burn up in smoke?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4qYTOYU  

Social Links:
Website: https://www.rachelblanchardwriter.com/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4t40QOb
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21726418.Rachel_Blanchard
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rachelblanchardwriter/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/rachelblanchardwriter?_rdr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelblanchardwr?_t=ZT-90WQJnapljZ&_r=1
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rachel-blanchard

Photo Credits:

Author photo and book image: Courtesy Rachel Blanchard

Question Marks: Pixabay/Alexas_Fotos

Classroom: Pixabay/Kohji Asakawa

Wartime Wednesday: The Humble White Potato

Wartime Wednesday: 

The Humble White Potato

French fries, mashed, hash browns, home fries, scalloped…just a few of the ways the potato is eaten here in the United States. According to Wikipedia and several other sources, the potato is native to the Americas, and the Spanish are the ones who introduced the fleshy tuber to Europe where it would quickly become a dietary staple.

Part of the nightshade family Solanaceae, potatoes are related to peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, paprika, and chili powder. Intriguingly, white potatoes and sweet potatoes are not related; they come from two different plant families.

During World War II, potatoes were eaten by everyone from civilians to soldiers and European- and American-based POWs. Research indicates that the British people consumed about four-and-a-half pounds per week. Spuds contain high levels of vitamins C and B6, potassium (more than bananas) and magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants, yet are low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol making them a nutritious and healthy food option.

As a root vegetable, they are easily grown and easily stored. They are also quite cheap. In the United

States, potatoes also became an essential part of citizens’ diets, and victory gardens were filled with potato plants, and the potato processing industry expanded as a result. In Britain, the Women’s Land Army cleared thousands of acres to plant (literally) tons of potatoes to feed the masses as well as the military. According to an article on historyhit.com, by the end of the war production had doubled since1939.

The Soviet people and her troops were starving by 1943, so authorities encouraged the population to plant potatoes. The Nazis promoted potatoes in Germany through radio, newspapers, and training courses (of all things!), resulting in an increase of annual consumption from twelve million tons to thirty-two million tons. Sadly, a large percentage of potatoes were exported from the Netherlands to Germany during the winter of 1944-1945 cause severe famine among the Dutch people.

Because of strict rationing, Norway, Belgium and other countries under German occupation added potatoes as a main food source. With an extensive fishing industry Norway was able to increase its dependency of fish such as cod, herring, and salmon. Likewise, neutral Sweden increased potato production to prevent food shortages.

When all was said and done, the humble white potato may have saved millions of lives.

_________________

Love’s Rescue

A prostitute, a spy, and the liberation of Paris.

Sold by her parents to settle a debt, Rolande Bisset is forced into prostitution. Years later, shunned by her family and most of society, it’s the only way she knows how to subsist. When the Germans overrun Paris, she decides she’s had enough of evil men controlling her life and uses her wiles to obtain information for the Allied forces. Branded a collaborator, her life hangs in the balance. Then an American spy stumbles onto her doorstep. Is redemption within her grasp?

Simon Harlow is one of an elite corps of American soldiers. Regularly chosen for dangerous covert missions, he is tasked with infiltrating Paris to ascertain the Axis’s defenses. Nearly caught by German forces moments after arriving, he owes his life to the beautiful prostitute who claims she’s been waiting for the Allies to arrive. Her lifestyle goes against everything he believes in, but will she steal his heart during his quest to liberate her city?

Inspired by the biblical story of Rahab, Love’s Rescue is a tale of faith and hope during one of history’s darkest periods.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mKwLAv

Sources:
https://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/cou/bel/occ/w2bo-food.html
https://www.historyhit.com/how-did-potatoes-become-political-in-wartime/
https://the1940sexperiment.com/2023/02/14/how-many-potatoes-did-people-eat-during-ww2/
https://histclo.com/essay/war/child/ww2/food/cou/eur/w2cfc-swe.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgeBWzocLqU
https://museum.wales/articles/1084/The-ration-years-of-the-Second-World-War/
https://www.mofga.org/stories/stories/potatoes/

Photo Credits:
Poster: U.S. Archives
Potato Pete Cookbook: museum.wales.
Girls with potatoes: courtesy Imperial War Museum

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Amanda Cabot

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Amanda Cabot

I am very pleased to welcome back Amanda Cabot to my blog. I love her stories, and she is a fellow tea drinker! Grab your favorite hot beverage and meet this lovely author.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

There are actually two things that I love about being a writer. The first is being able to escape into a world that I’ve created. The second is having readers tell me that my stories touched their hearts and helped them through a difficult time in their lives. That’s worth more than the largest royalty check!

How did you learn how to write?

By reading. That may sound strange, but reading what would now be considered classics taught me how to structure a sentence and how to plot a book. It also instilled a lifelong love of books in me. As Thomas Jefferson famously said, “I cannot live without books.”

What does your writing space look like?

I have two desks. Does that sound strange? One is for handwriting, which is how I outline my

manuscripts and then edit them once they’ve been keyed into Word and printed. (Yes, I’m old-school and like to work with hard copy.) The second desk houses my computer. The highlight of the room is the wall in front of my monitor which has three shelves with framed covers of my books. Seeing them there provides me the inspiration I need when I’m in the middle of the first draft, my least favorite part of the whole writing process.

What was your inspiration for the story?

The Sisters of the Heart trilogy started because I was intrigued by the idea of three very different women living together and becoming as close as blood sisters. The year Sophia, Victoria, and Olivia spent in Europe forged their friendship and created ties that were only strengthened once they returned to the States.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

Since my heroine’s father is imprisoned for embezzlement, I needed to learn where he might have been incarcerated. That led me to Eastern State Penitentiary, which was considered the foremost example of “modern” correctional facilities. I was appalled by how far they took solitary confinement, even putting hoods over the prisoners’ heads when they left their cells so that they would not see another human being. That’s not my idea of enlightened punishment.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

What a great question. Although I hadn’t thought about a fourth book in the series, Charlene Scott deserves a chance at redemption. Who knows? Thanks to your asking the question, she just might get her own book.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Three things. First, read extensively in the genre you want to write. Secondly, attend writers’ conferences to hone your craft. Thirdly—and most importantly—never give up.

What is your next project?

The predictable answer would be the third of the Sisters of the Heart books, and I will be working on that soon, but since readers hated to leave Sweetwater Crossing, I’m going to give them another Sweetwater book. Although the majority of my books are set in the nineteenth century, Beyond the Melody takes place right after World War II. I’m having so much fun bringing that pivotal time in American history to life. Melody is scheduled for release in early July.

BOOK BLURB:

A woman whose life is in shambles. A man who’s fighting for his future. A decades-old mystery. Carr

Valley will never be the same.

Victoria Holton has it all, or so it seems: beauty, a doting father, betrothal to one of Philadelphia’s most eligible bachelors. But all that ends the day her father is imprisoned for embezzlement. Suddenly penniless and shunned because of her father’s crime, she flees to Carr Valley, hoping to find refuge with Sophia, her sister of the heart.

With her life upended, Victoria longs to find a new purpose, but what can she do? She wishes she could solve a decades-old mystery that’s haunting a newfound friend, but the only clue leads nowhere. Her attempts at housekeeping in Sophia’s hotel are laughable, and despite a number of would-be suitors, she has no intention of marrying. The only man who interests her is one she could never consider, for if there’s one thing Victoria knows, it’s that she is not meant to be a minister’s wife.

Pastor Peter Mulholland has never doubted his calling to the ministry … until now. Even though he can’t please everyone, he refuses to let the deacons’ demand that he marry determine his future. He knows the kind of wife they expect him to choose, and it’s not a woman like Victoria. Besides, what does he have to offer her? Perhaps his critics are right, and it’s time for him to leave Carr Valley.

But then a stranger arrives and the whispers begin.

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/4quiSr3

About Amanda:
From the age of seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She is now the bestselling author of more than forty novels and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. For her, a day is incomplete unless it includes books and at least one pot of tea.

Social Media Links
www.amandacabot.com
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot
http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/

Photo credits:

Author photo and book image: Courtesy Amanda Cabot

Jail Cell: Pixabay/Ichigo121212

On Tour: A Year in the Room

On Tour: A Year in the Room

About the Book

Book: A Year in the Room (The Reluctant Pilgrim Book 2)

Author: Steven Rogers

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release Date: October 23, 2024

Reluctant pilgrim Ben Cahill steps off a flight from Israel facing an unrelenting list of challenges—a fractured family, no job, no place to live, and a dubious grip on his newly-found sobriety. He has no plans for the next steps in his life.

Ben starts over, settling into a small, rented room and working three part-time jobs. As his first year of recovery unfolds, Ben fights an unrelenting spiritual war against his personal demons and the consequences of his past actions.

Can a chain-smoking, no-nonsense grandmother, a retired navy cook, a crusty old Scotsman, and an unexpected pilgrimage to the legendary Scottish Island of Iona, clear away the wreckage of Ben’s life and lead him to hope? Join Ben on his journey in this sequel to the award-winning novel Into the Room.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Steven Rogers is a Christian author of the “Reluctant Pilgrim” series. His most recent novel, A Year in the Room, was published in November 2024. The book is a sequel to his debut novel, Into the Room, which was published in 2021. In addition to other awards, both books were finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Awards.

Steven loves the process of writing, especially exploring characters that are either broken or facing unfamiliar situations. They are usually ordinary people confronting their internal demons and the challenges of day-to-day living. He also enjoys bringing his stories to a happy, or at least hopeful, ending.

Steven serves as the Director of Royalty Management and Acquisitions Editor at Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. In addition to writing, Steven is a speaker and enjoys sharing his journey of faith and exploring how God’s word applies in the modern world.

Steven, a proud father of three adult children and one incredibly lucky son-in-law, is happily married to his wife of thirty-nine years, Kathy. They live in Richmond, Virginia.

More from Steven

When I first began writing, I was trying to become the next Stephen King. I was inventing serial killers, violently murdering people, and using time travel as a plot concept. At the time, I didn’t know there was a robust and far-reaching Christian Fiction market.

Things changed in 2017 while I was on a flight to Israel. Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, I had the thought, I wonder what would happen if I were an alcoholic who has just been released from rehab, and I HAD to take this trip? I quickly invented my character, Ben Cahill, and took him on the tour with me.

When we got back home, my wife asked what I’d been writing in my journal during our visit to The Holy Land. After I explained, the following exchange took place:

Her: “You may have a book there.”

Me: “That’s not my genre.”

Her (using much gentler language): “You’re not published yet; you don’t have a genre.”

To make a long story short, the result of this conversation was my first novel, Into the Room.

A Year in the Room is Book 2 in my “Reluctant Pilgrim” series. I wrote the book because I was compelled to continue telling Ben Cahill’s story and explore an alcoholic/addict during the first year of recovery.

Many writers fall in love with their characters. I am no different. Writing about Ben has been a blessing for me. His story has significantly impacted my personal spiritual journey, taught me to forgive, and brought me closer to God. I will be forever grateful for his impact on my life.

Interview with Steven: 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

I consider writing a mission and a book can only impact one person at a time. As a result, my favorite thing about being a writer is meeting readers and discussing my books. There’s something about the personal connection and hearing what people did or didn’t like about my stories that is both fulfilling and educational. I especially enjoy learning that my story had a positive impact on one of my readers.

My most blessed moment was when a reader of A Year in the Room said, “I actually think I’m a better man for having read this story.” To know that my writing had a positive impact on someone was a compliment beyond anything I could have dreamed of receiving.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I have a whole presentation on this topic and could talk about it all day long. The most surprising thing I learned was how much my writing impacted my personal faith journey and changed the way I viewed life.

Writing about my protagonist, Ben Cahill, and his struggles with alcoholism taught me to forgive others. It helped clear my heart of resentment, anger, and guilt directed towards the alcoholics/addicts in my life. In addition, walking with Ben through the story helped me to understand better God’s grace and His love for all of us. I genuinely believe that, if these books had never been published, telling Ben’s story would have changed my life.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing?

While A Year in the Room is fictional, the story reflects my own experiences observing alcohol and drug abuse in others. This perspective was forged by living with those around me suffering from the disease, witnessing their recovery, and addressing the impacts those addictions had on me and my life. My journey has led me to do extensive research into the mind of the alcoholic/addict and the reality of alcoholism/addiction as a family disease. No one escapes untouched. I’ve tried to reflect this perspective through the story.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?

I begin with three questions. First, what is the story I want to tell? Second, have I already told this story? Three, has someone else told the story?

Once I’m satisfied with these three, I ask myself the big question— “Are you vulnerable enough to dig into your soul and expose some of your demons?” To truly impact a reader, an author must be willing to let themselves be seen on the page. This does not mean writing an autobiography or detailing specific events in your life. What it does mean is confronting your emotions and/or behaviors. For example, in writing about my protagonist Ben Cahill’s alcoholism, I had to face my own actions, faults, and addictions, working them, directly and indirectly, into Ben’s personality and the plotline. This is not easy to do, but I believe it makes for an authentic story.

What was the best money you spent as a writer?

Before submitting the manuscript of my first novel, Into the Room, to agents, editors, or publishers, I invested in a professional editor. She provided invaluable feedback and style recommendations. She also requested a few additional scenes that strengthened the story. Once we were completed, she helped me find my publisher, Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. I will forever be grateful to Michele Chynoweth for her counsel and advice.

How do you come up with story lines/book topic?

My ideas primarily come from two mental exercises. First, I constantly ask myself, “I wonder what would happen if?” About ten percent of the time, I get a story idea. Secondly, I mentally practice writing by trying to describe the space around me using imagery and “showing versus telling.” Sometimes my mind wanders further than I planned, and I end up with a short story, sketch, or character I’ll later insert into a longer work.

What was your favorite childhood book and why?

First, I’ll tell you about the childhood book that had the most significant impact on my life. When I was in second grade, my father grew tired of me watching TV and dragged me to the local library, enrolling me in their summer reading program. For each book I read, I received a paper feather to glue onto a picture of a Native American headdress. The first book (something about a swimmer in a neighborhood pool) did not impress me at all. However, the second, The Reluctant Pitcher by Matt Christopher, flipped a switch in my brain, and I became a lifelong lover of reading fiction. Since that eventful summer, I’ve always been reading novels and exploring new authors. I often wonder if my passion would have developed without the experience of reading Mr. Christopher’s books as a seven-year-old boy.

My favorite childhood book was Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. For me, the story was magic, filled with amazing adventures and unforgettable characters. I used to roam the woods behind my house pretending I was Tom. Also, this was the first book I ever bought with my own money. I can still remember the Saturday morning my parents and I stopped at a flea market in Fall River, Massachusetts, when I dug some change out of my pocket to buy an old hardcover copy issued in 1928. The book still sits on my bookshelf today.

Blog Stops

Inspired by Fiction, February 6

Simple Harvest Reads, February 7 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, February 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 8

Artistic Nobody, February 9 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, February 10

Guild Master, February 11 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 12

Fiction Book Lover, February 13 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 14 (Author Interview)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 15

A Reader’s Brain, February 16 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 17 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, February 18 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, February 19 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Steven is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/AqCbw/a-year-in-the-room-celebration-tour-giveaway