HEART OF PETRA - Hilarey Johnson - One Free Book

Welcome back, Hilarey. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I value honesty, and I like to know what makes people believe the way they do. I will always have a little romance in my stories, but I am more interested in why two people fall in love than how. Secondly, I read for adventure and entertainment, so that is also what I try to write—but I want it to matter.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

This question is difficult. Every joyful event comes to us in a fallen world. For example, the birth of my children came through pain. Many of my personal successes have arrived on the tail end of a God-ordained humbling or correction, or preceded one. Two really happy days were when it rained on our (August) vacation in Orlando and the park cleared out so my husband and three teenagers had cool weather and small crowds. Also the day I got news I was a semi-finalist in Jerry B Jenkins Operation First Novel was pretty great. It validated writing for me.

How has being published changed your life?

It has shown me that no one thing will bring true joy on this earth.

What are you reading right now?

The Legend of Sheba by Tosca Lee.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m stretching myself right now, it’s a martial arts fantasy set in 1863.

What would be your dream vacation?

To take my three grown children to Prague, Czech Republic, and show them where my husband and I spent our first year of marriage.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Setting can add to or detract from a book. My first book location was because when I lived in Reno, I drove by strip club billboards every day. The second book was about a character from that story—so it was chosen for me. I picked Idaho for the one I am currently working on because it was so volatile and wild during the time period.  

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I would say Saeed Abendini because that would mean he was no longer imprisoned in Iran for his faith in Christ. #savesaeed

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to garden and cook. I love to take walks and meet friends for coffee. Martial arts is a big part of my life—but more than a hobby. Before publishing, I made time for crocheting and sewing. Lately I’ve been having more fun than should be allowed at Zumba Senato. I would scuba dive if I didn’t live in a land-locked state.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Discipline and switching between book marketer and writer. I haven’t overcome either yet. I’m hoping if I ignore my obstacles, they will just go away.

Good luck with that. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Write several books before you try to publish. Don’t think about anything but story.

Tell us about the featured book.

The first in the Breaking Bonds Series was about a girl trapped outside of church. Heart of Petra is about a girl trapped inside. It has similar elements of spiritual suspense.

Leah was raised in a conservative, dying church. Leah’s father was so controlling, her sister was expelled when she chose to go to college instead of letting her him choose her husband. Leah wants to submit to God, and her father, but her father begins to push her toward a relationship that isn’t right. The man ends up having ulterior motives.

You could also say the story is about not allowing your heart to turn hard because you are complacent in your faith, the damage done by church splits, courting, texting while driving and spying on your neighbors.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Whoever heard of an insomniac with a pajama fetish? I swipe my hand down the leg of my lime-green cotton PJs, but it doesn’t help steady them, and I still need two tries to adjust the telescope.

With a deep breath, and a double check at the lock on my bedroom door, I’m able to slow the skipping in my ribs. It’s amazing how blood and heart vessels work together, pumping day and night, even while people sleep—well, while most people sleep. An insomniac doesn’t have the pleasure of dreaming during the seven hundred and twenty minutes our sun shines on the other side of the world.

I twist the focuser on my telescope clockwise—a bit too far, back just a hair. Perfect.

Returning to my love of pajamas: Seven sets of long-sleeve, long-pant outfits wait in my bottom drawer in two neat piles. One drawer up contains nine matching shorts-sets, twelve nightgowns and one baby-doll nightgown my parents don’t know I own...

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website/Blog -- http://hilarey.com/

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hilarey-Johnson/214879415388747

Goodreads -- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8182303.Hilarey_Johnson

Twitter -- https://twitter.com/HilareyJohnson

Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/Hilarey-Johnson/e/B00K0LJOQK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

YouTube -- http://youtu.be/B8XWSF9mIlo

Thank you, Hilarey, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Heart of Petra (Breaking Bonds) (Volume 2) - Paperback
Heart of Petra (Breaking Bonds Book 2) - Kindle

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