Writing Inspirational

with guest Shannon Vannatter.

Thanks for having me back, Seekerville. I’m excited about my topic today.

We want readers to dive into our books, vicariously live a fictional journey with our characters, and thoroughly enjoy the ride. As inspirational writers, we also want to share a spiritual truth. If we get on our soapboxes and start preaching, readers stop reading. It’s a delicate balance.

When I discovered inspirational romance as a reader, I started with Love Inspired and Heartsong. I remember one of the first longer lengths I read. It was coated in Scripture. The heroine thought in Bible verses, quoted Bible verses, dreamed Bible verses. It got on my nerves and then I felt bad that it got on my nerves. Time passed before I picked up another longer length. Thankfully, I realized the book I’d read wasn’t the norm.

If I want to read scripture, I’ll read the Bible, which I do nightly. When I want to read fiction, I want to get lost in the story with a spiritual thread seamlessly woven into the character’s intriguing journey. 

There are readers, who aren’t Christians, who read inspirational fiction because they know it’s clean. I’ve met them. Imagine if we beat non-believing readers over the head with our message. If they finish the book, they might not pick up another. 

So how do you intertwine your spiritual message without shoving your Bible down the reader’s throat? Here are some tips: 

• Don’t preach. 

Don’t have one character preach to another. Instead, have one character impart spiritual wisdom gently a bit at a time. Like you would a dear friend who needs Jesus. Think of your reader as a dear friend.

• Don’t let your character preach.

Reader’s aren’t stupid. They’ll catch on that you’re preaching to them through your character. The only time you should let a character preach is if the character is a preacher and the scene is during a church service. Even then, don’t let the preacher monologue and cover the whole sermon. Let your character hear what they need to hear and then go into their thoughts as what they heard sinks into their heart. 

Just like in real church. I get caught up on something the preacher said that applies to me or that I’ve never thought of before and I miss part of the sermon because I’m still thinking about it.

• Stay off the soap box.

Don’t have a character get on a soapbox and pretend your conviction is his or hers. This is a hard one. It’s so tempting to let your character spew your views. But even if your reader is a Christian, they may not share the same conviction or opinion you do. And the thing you never, ever want to do is offend your reader.

One exception, you can use an elderly character to state the truth. But keep it short and loving or maybe even crotchety. Elderly people are expected to have a strict view on things. If your reader doesn’t agree, they’ll roll their eyes or laugh at the old codger. But you still squeezed something you believe strongly in there. And you might plant the seed of conviction in a reader.

• Don’t dump your spiritual truth.

The spiritual thread is much like backstory. Sprinkle it lightly here and there. It should weave through the entire book until resolved. Not on two pages. Weave your spiritual truth in as if you were gently witnessing to a non-believing friend while trying not to overwhelm them or turn them away.

I once read a book where six characters were stranded in a perilous situation. It was a page turner. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t wait to see what happened next. There wasn’t really a spiritual thread, but it was a clean, nail-biter read. One character prayed a few times, but not out loud. Once the characters survived their ordeal, the praying character invited them to church. They all went and got converted right then and there. 

After what the characters had endured, I can see that happening with one character, maybe two. But not five. If the author had the praying character gently witness to the other characters a bit during their ordeal, it would have made more sense. Or even if some of them had converted one or two at a time during their ordeal. But to have all five become Christians at the end of the book disappointed me. And you guessed it, I haven’t tried that author again.

• Don’t write fifty pages and then suddenly send your character to church.

If your character is a believer or struggling believer, make their faith an integral part of their values and beliefs from chapter one on. You don’t have to have them preach or get on a soap box to do this. Show their values and beliefs in the way they live, behave, react, and think.

• Don’t make all of your Christian characters preachers, Sunday school teachers, song leaders, or church leaders. 

Your characters should attend church if their Christians. If they’ve been a Christian for a while, they can be active in the church. Let them help with the fundraiser for needy children or Vacation Bible School. But your fiction should reflect real life. There are lots of pew warmers out there. If all of your fictional characters have important positions in the church, it’s not very realistic.

•  Don’t make your Christian character perfect.

No one is perfect, except Jesus. Let your characters have flaws. Let them struggle with something. Let them make mistakes and suffer the consequences. Make them learn from those mistakes. If your publisher allows it, let them fall, and then lean on God to get back up. 

•  Don’t make them holier than thou. 

Christians are just sinners saved by grace. No better than anyone else. The only difference—we have eternal life and convictions. The only time your character should be holier than thou is if they’re supposed to be unlikeable. Even then, consider knocking them off their high horse by the end of the book.

• Don’t allow your character to remain unchanged.

In Christian fiction, your character should grow spiritually as they grow as a person. If they’re a Christian at the beginning of the book, they should be closer to God by the end. If the character is a non-believer, let them at least be curious or seeking the truth by the end of the book if you don’t convert them. Show their growth through dialogue and thoughts. Even the bad guy can ponder on what makes the good guy so happy.

• Don't rescue your character with a miracle.

I believe in miracles. But your reader will be more satisfied if you challenge your characters to solve their own problems while leaning on God. Have them turn their problems over to Him as they sort through them. But don’t pull down a miracle out of Heaven that solves everything. Your reader will be disappointed. 

Trust me on this one. I once read a book where the character had a real, life-changing health problem. Just as I got used to the character’s new situation and thought he could handle it, the author threw in a completely impossible surgery that fixed everything. I haven’t read that author since.

• Don’t coddle them

Christians live in this fallen world just like non-believers do. Evil touches our lives. When we become Christians, life doesn’t automatically become rosy. We still have problems and challenges. But we have peace. Let your characters deal with real-life problems. And show their faith by how they handle their problems by leaning on God.

• Don’t overdo it with the Bible verses.

I sort of covered this one in the intro. I use Bible verses sparingly – one or two per book. And usually as a thought—when my characters are wrestling with something. One time, I went through five scriptures of the Roman’s road as a preacher led a man to Jesus. But it fit that book and the characters. 

Depending on the publisher, you could go a bit heavier. I’m reluctant because of that long ago read. I have my characters read the Bible. I’ve even had characters read the Bible together and discuss the meaning of the scriptures they read. But I’d caution on writing a Bible-quoting character who speaks only in scripture. Unless he’s a street preacher maybe.

• Don’t make every come to Jesus moment happen during a sermon or at the altar call.

Let your character accept Jesus as their savior silently in Sunday school class. In their car on the way home. Kneeling by the side of their bed. In life, people wrestle with Jesus, unwilling to give in, and often hit their knees wherever they happen to be when they finally surrender. To make an impact on readers, our fiction needs to reflect life.

• Don’t get doctrinal.

I like to call denominations – flavor. What flavor Christian are you? Every denomination has different beliefs. Readers are diverse. They don’t all believe like you do or attend the same kind of church that you do. Stick with universal truths. We all need Jesus.

As Christian writers, our first goal has to be entertaining readers. If readers aren’t entertained, you’ll never get your message across. Since we want to impact lives, we must strive to present the gospel without getting in the reader’s face. Without cluing the reader in on what we’re doing. Handled delicately and realistically, the spiritual thread in your book will reflect real life and maybe touch a reader’s heart and soul. 

I hope these tips help you write that book. I’m giving away a copy of Winning Over the Cowboy (Winner announced in the Weekend Edition) and I’ll be here all day. Pop in and let’s talk. 

Share with us when you discovered Christian fiction and why you love it.

The Rancher Stakes His Claim 

When she inherits half a dude ranch after losing her best friend, Landry Malone is determined to see Eden's legacy flourish. That is if her friend's broad-shouldered cowboy brother will give her the chance. Chase Donovan isn't happy that his sister left their family business to an outsider—and he's determined to test Landry's mettle, hoping she'll give up her claim. Soon Chase is impressed by Landry's ability to rise to every challenge he puts in her way—and worried that his attraction to the perky spitfire seems to know no end. Finally working together to ensure the ranch's future, will their business partnership be the foundation for something more?

Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/award winning author. She once climbed a mountain wearing gold wedge-heeled sandals which became known as her hiking boots. Shannon writes inspirational contemporary romance and it took her nine years to get published in the traditional market.

Shannon hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her family, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Website: http://shannontaylorvannatter.com

Blog: http://shannontaylorvannatter.com/blog

Facebook: http://facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29672798-shannon-vannatter

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stvauthor

My Diagnosis: Writing in Layers

with guest Shannon Taylor Vannatter.

I snapped this cloud shot during our annual road trip to Texas. See how they’re like bricks, stacked on top of each other in layers above the tree line? I thought of this post when I saw them. 

For years, I didn’t know what to call my condition. I had the luxury of perfecting my chapters before I sent them to my critique partners, until I signed a contract. Suddenly with deadlines looming, I sent them page upon page of dialogue and character thought with this disclaimer: Sorry guys, this is sooooo first draft. I always add the description, body language, and emotion later. Just let me know if you like the characters and story.

That’s when one of my critters diagnosed me in a life-changing e-mail: You write in layers. 

Wow, is that what it’s called? Once I knew, I fully embraced my label. My first drafts are heavy on dialogue with a touch of character thought, light on everything else. Talking heads with no sense of where they are, movement, or emotional reactions. I’ll show you what I mean. Here’s my first draft of an early partial scene from my first Love Inspired title, Reuniting with the Cowboy. True to form, it’s all dialogue with a bit of character thought.

Here’s the setup: the heroine has a veterinarian clinic and animal shelter at her home. With a new neighbor next door, she’s anxious to win them over and hopefully avoid any complaints about her noisy critters. At the end of the first scene, she shows up bearing a dessert, recognizes her new neighbor, and almost drops the dish. This is the beginning of scene two:

Cody grabbed the dish, his hands closing over hers. Ally. On his porch. Skittish as a newborn colt. Who would have thought one kiss would put the wariness in her eyes and cause Ally to spend all that time since avoiding him? 

“Cody? You’re my new neighbor?”

“Looks like.” 

“I thought you’d be back on the circuit by now.” 

“I…um…I decided not to go back to the rodeo.” More like his doctor decided for him. 

“Aubrey is home and I needed a place of my own.”

“You bought the place next to me?”

“This was the only land available with enough acreage to start a ranch.” Technically leasing, with an option to buy. 

“What happened to Aubrey not being big enough for you?”

“Things change. Does your mom still live with you?”

“She does. Okay, yeah, I still live at home. But it’s the perfect place for my vet practice-slash-shelter and Mom’s my office manager at the clinic.”

“Come on in. And tell me this is a four-layer delight.”

“It is. Mom made it, but I didn’t come to stay.” 

This draft has 180 words. Other than Cody grabbing the dish, there’s no movement. Through the entire scene, they stand like statues, both holding the dish. We know they’re on his porch only because of his thoughts. Except for that one movement, everything above is mostly dialogue with a splash of character thought and that’s how my first drafts always look. 

Here’s the version that went into print:

Cody grabbed the dish, his hands closing over hers. His breath caught.

Ally. On his porch.

Same old Ally. Long waves the color of a dark bay horse’s coat, usually twined in a thick braid but loose today and spilling over her slender shoulders. Cautious coffee-colored eyes as skittish as a newborn colt.

He’d succumbed to her charms once. It had rearranged his insides and altered everything. Who would have thought one kiss would put the wariness in her eyes, build an uncomfortable wall between them and cause Ally to spend all that time since avoiding him? 

All because of his disobedient lips.

“Cody?” Her voice went up an octave. “You’re my new neighbor?”

“Looks like.” And now he’d gone and moved in next door to her. Maybe not the best way to keep his distance. “Let me take this.” He scooped the dish out of her hands.

“I thought you’d be back on the circuit by now.” Her gaze dropped to his shirt collar.

“I…um…I decided not to go back to the rodeo.” More like his doctor decided for him. And that little bubble in his brain had something to say about it, too. “Aubrey is home and I needed a place of my own.”

“You bought the place next to me?”

“This was the only land available with enough acreage to start a ranch.” Technically leasing, with an option to buy. If he decided to have surgery. And lived.

She hugged herself. “What happened to Aubrey not being big enough for you?”

“Things change.” A brain aneurysm changed lots of things. “Does your mom still live with you?”

“She does.” She bit her lip. “Okay, yeah, I still live at home. But it’s the perfect place for my vet practice-slash-shelter and Mom’s my office manager at the clinic.”

“Come on in.” He stepped aside, striving for casual, despite the drumming of his heart. “And tell me this is a pecan chocolate four-layer delight.”

“It is. Mom made it, but I didn’t come to stay.” She glanced toward her place.

I’m not saying this is the second draft, just the final one. Sometimes, I pour over scenes, adding and deleting four or five times.

Now at 341 words, emotional reactions give you a sense of how both characters feel about seeing each other again. We see what Ally looks like from Cody’s perspective. They still stand there holding the dish for a bit as they’re both in shock, but there’s movement as he takes it from her. More detail into his medical condition explains why he’s back, why he’s only leasing, and it ups the stakes. He steps aside to let her in and you find out more about the dessert in case readers aren’t familiar with it. And instead of only saying she doesn’t want to come inside, she shows her reluctance. There’s still not a lot of movement here, but once she gives in and goes inside, they move around more in the rest of the scene.

I’ve met so many writers over the years who haven’t finished a book because they keep going back and trying to perfect the first paragraph, scene, or chapter before they can move on. 

Unless my critique partners are going through my work as I write, I complete the entire book before I go back into layer what’s missing. Sometimes my first drafts include clichés, mostly telling instead of showing, and scenes in the wrong point of view. Giving myself permission to write badly propels me forward. I’ve never, ever, ever had any problem with finishing a book. 

Every writer is different. Certain techniques work for some and don’t for others. If you struggle with perfection or with finishing your book, try giving yourself permission to write badly, finish that first draft, and layer in the good stuff later. 

Question: What writing technique have you discovered that works for you?

Today Shannon is generously giving away  2 copies of Reuniting with the Cowboy. International included. Winners announced in the Weekend Edition.

Can’t wait for the drawing? On sale August 23: Reuniting with the Cowboy

The Cowboy Next Door 


A charming cowboy moving in next door shouldn't be bad news. But veterinarian Ally Curtis knows Cody Warren—she'd never forget the boy who left her when she needed him most. Cody is doing everything he can to show his beautiful neighbor he's not the wild bull rider he once was, from helping her find homes for her beloved strays, to protecting her when her business is threatened. But Cody has a secret that keeps him from fully reaching out. Yet as they continue to work together to promote her shelter, he can't keep himself from hoping that Ally might have a home for him…in her heart.

Award winning, central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. She once climbed a mountain wearing gold wedge-heeled sandals which became known as her hiking boots. Vannatter has twelve published titles and is contracted for three more. 

It took Vannatter nine years to get published in the traditional market. She hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all, Jesus does.

Learn more about Shannon and her books at Shannon’s Website and check Shannon’s Blog full of real life romance and weekly book giveaways.

Connect with her: Shannon’s Facebook, Shannon’s Goodreads, Shannon’s Pinterest, Shannon’s Twitter, and  Shannon’s Amazon Author Page.

Writing the Second Book with Guest Blogger Shannon Vannatter

In early 2009, after 9 1/2 years of rejections, requests, and disappointments, I got my first contract with Heartsong Presents. I’d made it. My euphoria lasted until my editor asked one simple question.

JoAnne: “Can this be a series?”
Me: “Okay.”

Never mind that White Roses was never supposed to be a series. I scrambled for ideas and wrote a one page synopsis for two more books within a month’s time. The first pre-book synopsis this seat of the pants writer had ever written.

JoAnne approved the series and set dates to sign contracts. Euphoria again—for about a week. Then realization dawned—by jukies, I had to write the second book. These four words struck fear and writer’s block in my newly contracted soul. It had taken me eight years to mold White Roses into a publishable book and I only had eight months to write book two.

So what’s a newly contracted, under deadline, blocked writer to do? I went to a writers’ workshop. Kaye Dacus was the teacher and mentioned that she’s a seat of the pants writer. After class, I told her I’m a pantser and writing my pre-book synopses and facing my first deadline had blocked me. She gave wonderful advice: Put the synopsis away and work on something else until it’s out of your head, then write the book.

It worked. The words started flowing. As I wrote, the pieces of the puzzle came together, new directions took shape, but I still tried to pack everything from the synopsis in. In the end, I threw everything in, but the kitchen sink. Then just as I thought things were coming together, I got the content edit on book one, with a mere month to make the requested changes. The first content edit was like pulling all my hair out, then trying to put it back in and make it look nice. Somehow, I did it and got back to work on book two.

The day before my very first deadline, I turned in the biggest mess of a book. White Doves ended up needing two content edits. My brilliant content editor painstakingly suggested storylines to keep, cut, and pull.

I survived and Heartsong published the book. In hindsight, of course things are clearer. I came up with a few tips that would have helped with book two and did help with book three:

1. Pray.
A. Turn this book over to God.
B. What message does God want in this book?
C. For peace during the process.

2. Get creative juices flowing.
A. Pray.
B. Take a walk.
C. Turn the TV & radio off.
D. Brainstorm with a writing friend.
E. Read headlines or watch the news.

3. Get past fear and writers’ block.
A. Pray.
B. Put your synopsis away.
C. Write anyway.
D. Brainstorm with a writing friend.

4. Don’t follow the synopsis.
A. If your story takes another direction, go with it.
B. If you like the new direction, check with your editor.
C. If your editor approves, find threads to pull from the synopsis.

5. Take a break.
A. Don’t allow yourself to write for a week.
B. Work on a different writing project.
C. Critique others’ work.

6. The story is flowing and wham, you get the content edit for book one.
A. Read it and put it away for one or two days.
B. Tackle one task at a time and work your way down the list.
C. Check each item off as you achieve each change.
D. If the requested change affects the entire manuscript, work on each thread individually.

7. Trust your editors.
A. Editors expect newly contracted writers to turn in substandard work.
B. Your editor will help you make the book work.
C. It will be okay, and book three will be easier.

The good news:
In the end, my editors helped me mold the book into a cohesive work of fiction. Readers like the book. Book three wrote itself and took less edits than book one or two. I still want to write.

To get your name in the drawing for a copy of White Doves, Shannon's second book, leave a comment about writing the second book tips, getting past block tips, and not pulling your hair out tips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. Her debut three book series is set in Romance and Rose Bud, AR and published by Heartsong Presents, a division of Barbour Publishing. Heartsong book club members voted Vannatter # 3 favorite new author, White Roses #1 and White Doves #8 in the contemporary category of the 18th annual Heartsong Presents Awards. The Arkansas Democrat Three Rivers Edition voted Vannatter one of 20 to Watch in 2011. Vannatter is currently working on her new Texas rodeo series for Heartsong.
WHITE ROSES-heartsongpresents.com May 2010/Stores Nov 2010
WHITE DOVES-heartsongpresents.com Oct 2010/Stores Apr 2011
WHITE PEARLS- heartsongpresents.com Jan 2011/Stores July 2011

http://www.shannonvannatter.com/
http://www.shannonvannatter.com/blog
http://www.inkspirationalmessages.com/

WHERE MY SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS COLLIDED WITH CONTESTS

By Shannon Taylor Vannatter

I tend to go backward about things in life. Here are just a few of my reverse tendencies:

Having our first baby at thirty-six, sixteen and a half years into our marriage.

Writing three books and submitting them before ever attending a conference.

Writing three books and submitting them before ever joining a writers’ group.
.That’s right, I decided to write a book, so I just did. Afterward, my local librarian steered me toward a market guide. From there, I learned how to write queries and proposals, well I thought I’d learned. My first proposal had dialogue in the synopsis and I’m certain it gave at least fifty-two editors a good laugh.

But, I got two rejection letters with handwritten notes saying I had a great plot, I just needed to attend conferences and learn to write. Learn to write? Why attend conferences when I can just write? So, I wrote two more books and actually got one Print on Demand published.

I thought I had made it. And in all honesty, I finally attended my first conference so I could be a big dog. A big published dog. And sure enough, I was a big dog. No one else at the conference was published, other than the speakers.

I was queen for a day and to top it off, the conference hosted several contests for essays and short stories. I won two first place awards. Oh, I’m telling you, I had arrived and was certain publishers would fight over my books.

After the book came out, reality sank in. Bookstores didn’t buy my 171 page, $21.95 paperback book. I had to pay $15.95 for each copy and since I’d just had a baby and quit my job to be a stay-at-home-mom, I couldn’t afford many copies. So, I sold a rousing 178 copies of my very badly written, unedited book. With those rousing numbers, the publisher rejected my sequel even though the book had a cliff-hanger ending.

About that time, my husband/preacher decided to do something shifty. He only does shifty things for me, mind you. He went to a bookstore, which of course did not carry my book and ordered it. The shifty part: he had no intention of buying it. Knowing the book would eventually be put on the shelf, he hoped eventually somebody would shell out big bucks to buy it.

But my book wasn’t even in their system. However, the clerk told him they had another title by that author. Huh?

This is how we found out that another Print on Demand company had published the first very badly written book I ever wrote. We got a lawyer, who mentioned plagiarism and big money. But I didn’t want big money, I just wanted the publisher to stop publishing my book and pay me the piddly royalties he owed me from the piddly three books he sold.

The lawyer sent the publisher a cease and desist letter: requesting he stop publishing my book and pay me my cut. It got really ugly with the publisher, who sent me a really nasty, un-Christian-like e-mail, swore he didn’t publish the book, and finally admitted, “It accidentally got loose in his system.” Huh?

I never did get my royalties, but the book is out of print, unless Amazon digs it up for the Kindle.

Finally, I decided all of this was getting me nowhere fast. Maybe joining a writers’ group, attending more conferences, and learning to write might not be such a bad idea.

Through local groups and conferences, I learned the basics and wracked up a lot more awards. The problem with local contests is: A lot of beginning writers enter these contests. You get no feedback. The judges don’t say, “This stinks, but it stinks less than the other entries, so you win.” I know this, because at this point, I’ve judged a few local contests. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good entries, but in one contest, I picked the least stinkiest entry.

Finally, in 2005, I discovered ACFW. The first time I attended the conference, I learned that I knew nothing about publishable writing. ACFW took me to the next level and I’ve attended every year since, but didn’t join until 2008. You know—that backward thing.

Once I finally joined, I also joined a critique group, which took me to the next level.

It was somewhere along that point when I began entering RWA National contests and ACFW’s Genesis. In all, I entered five contests and placed second in two RWA’s. One second place finalist even went to a big-time editor, who said I’d started the story in the wrong place.

The feedback I received from the judges in these contests was invaluable. And though I can’t say that a contest got me published, I can say the judge’s comments got me to the next level and publishers really started to take notice after my two second place wins.

A mere two years later, which seems like at least ten, I’m awaiting the publication of my first traditionally published book, White Roses. Much of the tweaking I did to get it publishable came from judge’s comments.

How many levels are there in writing? Beats me, I’m still learning. Just ask my very, incredibly, patient editor. My advice if you’re pre-pubbed: Don’t do what I did, unless you want to take nine years to get published.

Instead:
 Join at least one local writers’ group. Two or three if you can afford the time.
 Attend local conferences, as many as you can afford and enter the contests. Sometimes you can get your conference fee back in contest wins.
 Join ACFW or a large national group geared toward your genre or niche. If the national organization of your choice sets up critique groups, join one or shop for other writers who would like to form one.
 Attend ACFW or a large national conference geared toward your genre or niche. If you can’t afford it, look into buying the conference CD’s.
 Enter national contests with guaranteed feedback from the judges. Even better if the final judge is an editor you’re targeting.

Even if you do all these things, without wasting four years chasing your tail, like I did, it may still take nine years. Or longer. But take heart, if you keep learning, honing, and submitting, eventually editors will notice. With enough persistence + patience, you’ll learn that last nugget that will help you transform your writing to publishable.

I’m giving away a free copy of White Roses.

Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing.

A little bit about

White Roses

Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.

For years, florist Adrea Welch has been artfully arranging white roses for Sara Sterling. Now those flowers are carried to the cemetery by a faithful, grieving husband. How can Adrea be so attracted to a man still devoted to his dead wife? When secrets from Adrea’s past collide with their budding relationship, both she and Grayson must learn to lean onGod’s abiding wisdom.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Shannon's Website

Shannon's Blog