CROSS SHADOW - Andrew Huff - One Free BooK

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

I started writing suspense fiction because that was the kind of book that I wanted to read. I love reading authors such as James Rollins, Clive Cussler, Matthew Reilly, Robert Ludlum, and even Dan Brown. The issue I kept having (especially when it came to Mr. Brown’s novels) was that while the stories were thrilling and adventurous, there were sometimes values and worldviews antithetical to my Christian beliefs. I decided I would try my hand at writing the kind of novel that I wanted to read, one high on thrills but also deep in theology.

I would also say I write the books I do because I love the work of storytelling. It’s so much fun to create a cast of characters, put them in life-threatening situations, and then see what happens as a result. While I’m always ultimately in charge of how the story plays out, I’ve been amazed at how often the characters take on a life of their own and surprise me with how they influence the direction of the plot.

That often happens to me, too. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

My wedding day! My wife, Jae, and I will be celebrating our 15-year anniversary this year and without a doubt every year has been better than the last. She is a big part of the reason I’ve pursued a career in fiction. In fact, I was writing character profiles for a novel that I eventually wrote but never published on our plane ride home from our honeymoon.

The day we were married was hectic, like most, but an incredible experience shared with many friends and family. We were married in front of a beautiful country home that would be the future site of a church that I would eventually work for, with the reception taking place in an exquisite tree-lined courtyard under tents.

How has being published changed your life?

I’ve never been busier! I still work a full-time job that does not involve writing fiction (oh, how authors long to be able to do just that!), and on top of that, I still serve with my local church, coach sports for my sons, and generally spend time with my family and friends. So I have to be very deliberate when locking myself away to write, not to mention the extra time spent now participating in interviews and working on other marketing opportunities for my novels.

One thing that has been fun to have happen is having readers reach out and connect over their love for fiction. Taking the time to build those connections has been one of the more rewarding aspects of being published. Hearing what draws them into stories and how they’ve particularly enjoyed my novels is time worth spent!

What are you reading right now?

I’m in the middle of two non-fiction books at the moment. The first is a book by James K.A. Smith called You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. It’s a great book about how the object of our worship shapes our hearts and therefore our daily practices. While the emphasis in the book is on how proper worship can inform discipleship, there is so much practical application for individual Christian formation as well.

The other book I’m reading is South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Battlefield History by John W. Gordon. This one is research for a potential story that has been brewing in my mind for the better part of a year. While my story has to do with a particular historical figure, the book is a good primer on the political and military background of the Revolution in South Carolina.

What is your current work in progress?

I just wrapped up the first draft of the third novel in the Shepherd Suspense series, Right Cross. We’ll go through several editing phases in the coming months before that book will be ready to print.

As I look ahead to the next novel I would like to write, I’m also interested in working on the craft of screenwriting. I’ve had several opportunities to write scripts for shorter form projects through my current employer, but I’m also very interested in finishing a longer form script at some point in the coming year.

Screenwriting is a totally different kind of writing. I should know, since I also write screenplays. What would be your dream vacation?

I had the opportunity to spend time in Seville, Spain, during a trip to capture stories of local church pastor training and education and fell in love with that area of Europe. My dream vacation would be to return to Spain and spend time on the coast.

Another dream of mine is to travel the Mediterranean coast visiting famous biblical sites in Greece, Israel, and Egypt. I have a particular interest in biblical archeology and would jump at the chance to visit and perhaps even work at an archaeological site somewhere in Israel.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

It’s a combination of both writing about places I’ve visited but also choosing the best location for the story I’m inspired by. One of the ways I form a plot for a novel is to read about real life events and then imagine what that event (or some facsimile of that event) would have been like for my characters to be involved in. In some instances, I can transplant the story from one location to another that I would prefer to write about, but other times the plot may dictate the location based on real life criteria (CIA training grounds, called The Farm, located in Virginia, for instance).

I also have a list of real-world locations that I’ve got in my back pocket in case they happen to work for a storyline in the future. I’m drawn to not only interesting natural locations but also to manmade towns and structures that may have been well known in history but have fallen into disrepair or forgotten entirely.

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

This is a great question. There’s so many great people to choose! Off the top of my head, someone I would love to spend an evening with is Bear Grylls. I’m a huge fan of his shows and have always want to think of myself as someone who would be a capable survivalist (not that I’ve ever come close to finding that out, haha). I would love to just hear stories from Bear’s past and maybe get some practical tips on how to survive in a wilderness.

Not only that, but I’ve read his faith plays an important role in his life. I would love to not only hear his life stories but talk about the balance of life and faith that he has had to achieve as well. I’m sure most people may choose theologians (I had many names), other fiction authors, or celebrities (Chris Pratt, right? I guess Bear might count as one), but I kind of loved the idea of having an evening with a true-life adventurer since he is exactly the kind of character I like to write about!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I’m very much into sports, football in particular, and not only spectate but also coach my sons’ teams. Spending time with family is a priority, and we love a variety of shared activities such as taking walks, having NERF gun battles, competing in Mario Kart competitions, and playing board and card games. A hobby for me and my wife involves visiting as many of the local coffee shops in our area as many times as possible!

I am also very involved in church. I teach an elementary-age boys’ small group, lead teach for all age groups in the children’s ministry, and co-lead a home group of adults with my wife. Throw in the 9-5 job, and my week gets filled pretty quickly!

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

It’s an obstacle that is both frustrating but also necessary. Often when I’m writing, I will reach a point where I need to stop and make sure I’ve got something right. This requires research, and I like to be thorough. Now, that might not sound like an obstacle, but I’m usually tight on time when I’m writing and trying to cram in a lot of work in a short period. So sometimes it can feel like my scheduled writing time was a waste when I don’t have as many words to show for it.

At the same time, this is an incredibly important part of writing. To get through this obstacle, I have to constantly remind myself that the time is not a loss. Even if I didn’t get as far as I would have liked, the time I spent making sure what I was writing was correct would have needed to be spent ultimately either now or later. It’s nice to be well researched before you begin, but there are always new things to discover along the way!

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Writing a novel is as much learning the craft as it is being inspired. Like every beginning author, I spent a lot of time researching publishers and agents while I was still in the early stages of learning how to even write. I still blush over having pitched incomplete and weakly written novels to editors at conferences! So don’t do your homework on how to get published until you’ve done your homework on how to write fiction.

Read books on how to write fiction, and also read the kind of fiction books you want to write. Find writing groups you can engage with. These can be local chapters or people you meet as a part of a writing conference. And, most importantly, practice! Write as much as you can. I always find that doing something is the quickest way to learn. What you need to remember though is that published authors will often have a novel that they wrote in the beginning that wasn’t published. So don’t worry the first one being perfect, just set out to finish it!

Tell us about the featured book.

Cross Shadow is the follow up to my debut novel, A Cross to Kill, and is the second book in the Shepherd Suspense Series by Kregel Publications. In the first book, we are introduced to journalist Christine Lewis and John Cross, the man who rescued her from an execution by terrorists. Christine sets out on a mission to discover who John is, only to be surprised to learn that he is a former CIA assassin now serving as the pastor of a small country church. John’s past doesn’t stay hidden for long, however, and soon his idyllic life comes crashing down around him threatening to take Christine along with it.

Cross Shadow picks up Christine and John’s story the following year from the explosive ending of A Cross to Kill. They are trying to make a long-distance relationship work, but things become even more tense when Christine leaves John behind as she sets off toward Dallas, Texas, to investigate a murder charge against her stepbrother. Things are not what they seem, and before long both she and John are pulled into a web of conspiracy that is more dangerous than either could have imagined.

Please give us the first page of the book.

A brisk wind prompted Christine Lewis to draw her coat tighter as she exited the headquarters of the North American Broadcasting Channel and joined the herd of New York City natives and tourists mingling in the open-air plaza out front. Pushing past a group of senior citizens organizing a photo op in front of the network gift shop, she picked up her pace and trotted through the Forty-Ninth Street crosswalk just as time expired on the pedestrian signal.

The plaza access street between Forty-Ninth and Forty-Eighth offered a quaint block length of traffic-free asphalt perfect for a pleas­ant lunchtime stroll, but her meeting with her cameraman, Mike, had run over and she didn’t want to miss the next B Sixth Avenue Express car arriving in six minutes. His excitement over covering a Russian tanker detained by the coast guard did nothing to distract her from her impending clandestine meeting.

Even as she marched toward the intersection, she couldn’t help but imagine any number of scenarios of how her resignation would impact the network. Mike an exception, most of her coworkers wouldn’t care. Her boss, Steven Jacobs, would be furious, but when wasn’t he when things didn’t go his way?

Janeen would want to come with her, but Christine didn’t expect United News Network to accept terms that included full-time jobs for best friends. Still, maybe the door would open. Someday. A pit formed in her stomach as she pictured Janeen’s reaction to the news of Christine’s departure. She pushed the emotional farewell from her mind and searched for a happier face to picture.

Interesting! How can readers find you on the Internet?

You can read more about me and my novels and sign up for my e-mail list by visiting my author website: www.andrewhuffbooks.com. I’m also very active on my author Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/huffwrites. You can also follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/andrewjohnhuff as well as on Instagram at www.instagram.com/andyhuff.

Thank you, Andrew, for sharing this second novel in the series with my blog readers and me. Your first page really pulled me into the story.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Cross Shadow  - Christianbook.com
Cross Shadow (Shepherd Suspense) - Amazon Paperback
Cross Shadow (A Shepherd Suspense Novel Book 2) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

A CROSS TO KILL - Andrew Huff - One Free Book on This Blog, and More

Welcome, Andrew. A Cross to Kill is your first book release. Tell us about your journey to become an author.

Storytelling is something that’s been a part of my life since an early age, though I wasn’t convinced I could actually be an author until much later in life. I would write stories every day using toys, sometimes turning those stories into drawings, and on occasion, writing ideas down. I spent my high school years telling stories through video, even helping develop narrative projects with my home church. Yet I still wasn’t motivated to sit down and attempt to write something longer than a five-minute screenplay. That changed right around the time I finished college.

I was an avid reader growing up, and after finishing my undergraduate degree, I started consuming full length mystery/suspense novels. The problem I ran into was that many of the authors I enjoyed did not hold to the same worldview or values that I did. And whenever I found a thriller that did, I was often left wanting. So, I decided if I couldn’t find the type of book I wanted to read, then I should try to write it. It took many years of learning the craft and discovering the right story before I was able to sit down and not only start, but successfully finish, a full length, action-packed, suspense story that I was ready to share with readers.

Introduce us to your new series, and specifically A Cross to Kill. What inspired the story?

I love letting real-life events inspire fiction, and my new series is no exception. When I first started developing the storyline, there were a handful of high-profile executions of journalists at the hands of terrorists overseas. What made these executions unique to this era was the fact that videos of the killings were spread across the internet. As these tragic events were taking place, I found myself wishing someone had intervened. Thus, the rescue attempt at the beginning of A Cross to Kill was born.

The other aspect of real-life that inspired the story was my own experience in ministry and the reality of how unique that calling is in the life of a person. I not only spent time in local church ministry myself, but my father was also a small country church pastor during my early elementary years. I loved the idea of capturing the fish-out-of- water experience of someone who did a very different job finding themselves learning what it means to spiritually care for a group of people. I also have to admit, I’m greatly inspired by the thrills of such action franchises as Mission: Impossible, Jason Bourne, and James Bond. I want my series to take the Bible and the Church seriously while offering the same kind of jaw-dropping action those novels and films excel at.

The main character, John Cross, is a small-town pastor with a top secret past the members of his church would find hard to believe. What are some of things John left behind in his former life?

John didn’t just leave behind a past filled with poor choices and immoral behavior. Almost immediately, we get a sense that he performed actions in his role with the CIA and on behalf of his country that he is unable to forgive himself for. At a key moment in the story, we discover that John’s marksmanship was put to use by his superiors in unpleasant ways. You’ll have to read the book for all the details, but what I can say is John can’t help but evaluate his actions through a rigid view of Scripture, and as a result he’s struggling to believe God could truly forgive him.

What I find interesting is the theological question surrounding his previous life that he’s finding himself at odds with. Is the taking of a human life ever justifiable? There’s much to unpack with that question, but when we first meet John, he’s not yet taken the deep plunge into his theological training, and therefore, has very black and white opinions on complicated issues. This creates a conflict within him as he struggles to cope with the memories of his time with CIA and strive to live under the forgiveness of God in Christ.

What events led up to John finding and following Christ?

John’s conversion has already happened when A Cross to Kill begins, but later in the book we get to hear his version of it. It’s a rather unconventional story, but that’s what I like about it. The fact that his conversion happens while he’s on assignment is such a great picture of the two competing forces in his life, that of his ingrained training and his newfound commitment to Christianity.

The short version is that after performing operations of a lethal nature with the CIA for so long, John lost his sense of humanity. While tracking a target in Spain, he ends up in a cathedral during a Catholic service. Unable to understand the liturgy, he still found himself drawn to the religious symbols. Compelled to know more about the man hanging from the cross, he forgot about his target, found an English Bible at a local shop, and devoted himself to knowing more. While everyone’s story is different, John’s story is one of God reaching down with an irresistible draw to set aside an undeserving man for His great purpose.

What are some of the faith struggles that John faces along the way that readers can identify with?

I know there are faith struggles John faces that readers can identify with because they are ones I struggle with even to this day! For one, John can’t seem to shake loose from past habits and hang-ups. Sometimes those habits can be used for good, but more often than not, John finds himself fighting to walk in faith and love and not let his flesh take control when things go awry. Much of the Christian life is about this same battle. I am at constant odds with the desires of my flesh, and at times, I have sympathized with the ancient monks who punished themselves to try and defeat their own impulses (a practice called flagellation, and one which John has adapted in his own way).

Another faith struggle that I know many readers can identify with is the difficulty of accepting God’s forgiveness for not only the sins we’ve committed in the past, but the sins we will commit in the future. John struggles to believe God could forgive him for what he did while in the employ of the CIA, and that affects his ability to pass forgiveness on to others. This is something I, myself, have also found difficult. It’s not hard to believe God might forgive a single mistake here and there, but after failing again and again and again, it’s easy to expect a limit to God’s forgiveness. That’s when we can become trapped in the erroneous belief that faith is not enough, and we must work to retain God’s favor.

Writers usually write what they know. Is there any of you in John Cross?
If there was, I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you. Just kidding! The more exciting aspects of John’s story are nothing like mine, and I only wish I had half of his intuition and skill. It is true, however, that writers usually write what they know, and I’m no exception. The part of me in John Cross is less the man and more the day-to-day experience in local church ministry.

When I wrote A Cross to Kill, I was on staff with a Southern Baptist church in Central Virginia, though a much larger church than Rural Grove. So much of what John experiences with the church and its members is based on real experiences that I drew from during my time on a church staff as well as from growing up as a preacher’s kid in rural Tennessee churches. The congregants we get to know are not based on individuals as much as an amalgamation of wonderful people I had the opportunity to get to know through the years.

The book description states that A Cross to Kill is not only a riveting story of suspense, it’s also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world. Can we talk more about the moral quandaries?

A big moral quandary John faces, and I believe many of us wrestle with, is whether there is any legitimate justification for the taking of the life of another person. Is it ever right to kill another person? The Scripture could not be clearer that we are not to murder, and Jesus goes further by condemning any hateful thought toward a fellow human. There is much more Scripture to consider on the issue, but the answer to the question is not cut and dried.

The debate always seems to yield the same “yes,” “no,” and “sometimes,” answers. I didn’t want to try and provide a rigid response one way or the other in the novel, but I did wanted the characters to wrestle with the question and answers. Naturally, they probably wouldn’t ultimately agree. But for John in particular, what the characters decide, would drive the decisions they make when faced with danger. This is what we have to understand about the issue ourselves: If we believe Scripture gives a clear answer, whatever answer that might be, we must be prepared to let that answer influence how we respond to particular situations and issues regardless of how unconventional and perhaps even countercultural that may be.

Is it possible to truly put our pasts behind us? How should we respond when our previous mistakes and decisions don’t stay in the past?

I don’t believe it’s possible to truly put our pasts behind us, and I don’t think that’s ever been God’s intention. We see many times in the Scriptures how God seeks to remind His people not only of the good they’ve experienced, but also the bad. The past is not meant to be forgotten, but to shape our response today. And that can be both the pleasant memories as well as the painful regrets we carry from before.

When we remember God’s goodness in our past, it is cause for celebration and worship. In much the same way, when our previous mistakes and decisions come back into our present, it is a moment for us to acknowledge how God continues to be good in the midst of a broken world. We see His goodness in the fact that those mistakes are still covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and there’s nothing we did then or could even do now to change that. When our past mistakes return and remind others of pain we may have caused, it’s important to not only acknowledge God’s grace and mercy but also seek reconciliation and restoration to the best of our ability. Ultimately, when we humble ourselves before the Lord, He is faithful to do a work in us and in others so that even in our shortcomings, He can be glorified.

https://www.audrajennings.com/2019/11/acrosstokilltour.html

Without giving away too much, what can readers expect as the Shepherd Suspense series continues?

I’m so excited to continue the story with these characters, and I can’t wait for readers to pick up the next books in the series. One thing that is true about the Christian life is that it is a life-long pursuit of Christlikeness includes many ups and downs. We won’t find our sanctification complete this side of heaven, and so neither will my characters!

For John, he may have crossed a hurdle with accepting God’s forgiveness for his past, but that doesn’t mean he’s dealt with every decision he’s made leading up to becoming the pastor of Rural Grove Baptist Church. And John’s not the only one with a complicated past. The thing I’m most excited about sharing is the action-packed twists and turns that promise to keep the characters on their heels and the readers up past their bedtimes.

Thank you, Andrew, for sharing your debut book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book.

A Cross to Kill - Christianbook.com
A Cross to Kill (A Shepherd Suspense Novel) - Amazon Paperback
A Cross to Kill (A Shepherd Suspense Novel Book 1) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com