I am thrilled to welcome Author Penny Frost McGinnis to my blog this weekend for the Saturday Spotlight.
oday I’m interviewing Penny discussing her new book, Home Where She Belongs. Read below for all the details about her book, Penny’s bio, and where to connect with her online.
Welcome to the blog, Penny!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Tired of being a pawn for her father and an emotional punching bag for her ex-boyfriend, Sadie Stewart runs away. She leaves behind a lucrative job, at her father’s financial company, and narcissistic, abusive ex-boyfriend, Bryce Shaw. Her heart longs for a peaceful, simple life on beloved Abbott Island in Lake Erie, Ohio where she spent magical summers with grandparents she adored.
On the island, Sadie takes over her grandparents’ small island home and her gram’s rental cottages. With a fresh start on the island, she tries to push the past behind and dig in to make the rental business thrive. As Sadie and her dog, settle into her new home, her thoughts wander to Joel Grayson, her teen crush. As soon as he crosses her mind, she dashes the thought away. Not ready to share her heart with anyone, she pushes herself to finish her tasks.
Joel Grayson left the island long enough to train at the Police Academy. The folks in the community trust him, even with his failures. Before Sadie’s grandpa died, Joel had promised him he’d look after their cottages, with a secret hope Sadie might return. When he’s on patrol and finds a woman on his friend’s property, he bristles until he realizes his dream girl has come home.
Sadie recognizes Joel and immediately guards her heart. Her experience with Bryce left her untrusting and hesitant. Even handsome and kind Joel won’t tempt her to open her heart.
When someone is set on sabotaging Sadie’s future, she seeks Joel’s help. As they are drawn together, Joel wants to protect Sadie as a police officer and a friend. Sadie begins to trust Joel and allows the wall around her heart to crumble, just a little. As Joel tries to find the person behind the menacing, Sadie fights to build her rental business and latch on to the peace she longs for.
Even as Joel and Sadie grow closer, a dark cloud hangs over them. Ugly graffiti, a fire, and threats cause Sadie grief. She wants to believe in God, the way her grandparents did and longs for the peace that passes understanding, but her heart hesitates to trust anyone.
Joel needs to place his past behind him and allow God to work in his heart. In his attempts to protect Sadie, he falls for her all over again, even though she keeps her distance.
Will Joel and Sadie overcome their fear and lack of trust? When they discover who is sabotaging Sadie’s future, can they stop them? Will two broken people find their path to love?
Home Where She Belongs is a romance with a dash of mystery and the promise of hope, as Joel and Sadie discover what it means to trust in the God who loves them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
If Penny Frost McGinnis could live in a lighthouse or on an island, she would. Instead, she and her husband are content to live in southwest Ohio and visit Lake Erie every chance they get. Blessed with five children, their spouses, and a passel of grandchildren, she adores her family, indulges in dark chocolate, enjoys fiber arts, and grows flowers and herbs in her tiny garden. Penny has been published in Chicken Soup, and The Upper Room. She blogs at Hope for Today’s Heart and believes God has called her to bring hope to people’s lives through the written word. Contact Penny at penny.frost.mcginnis@gmail.com or visit her website at http://www.pennyfrostmcginnis.com.
Social Media:
Website/Blog https://www.pennyfrostmcginnis.com/&
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/PennyFrostMcGinnisAuthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/PennyFMcGinnis
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pennyfmcg/hope-for-todays-heart/
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/penny-frost-mcginnis
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
If I could inhabit a lighthouse on an island, I would. Instead, I’m happy to live with my husband and dogs, Olive and Rosie May, in southwest Ohio and visit Lake Erie every chance we get. I enjoy hanging out with our grown children and my wonderful grandchildren. In the spring and summer I grow flowers and herbs in my tiny garden, and in the winter, I work on arts and crafts. I love books—reading them, writing them, and making them. I blog at Hope for Today’s Heart and believe God has called me to bring His hope to people through the written word.
Tell us about your current release.
I write contemporary romance with a dash of mystery and the promise of hope.
Several years ago, my husband and I vacationed in northern Ohio and visited Kelleys Island. I became enamored with the simple, quiet life on the island. Modeled after Kelleys Island, Abbott Island came alive as the setting for Home Where She Belongs. Proverbs 3:5-6 reflects the theme of the story. How to trust and who to trust.
Tired of being a pawn for her father and an emotional punching bag for her ex-boyfriend, Sadie Stewart escapes to Abbott Island where she spent summers with her grandparents. She plans to resurrect her grandmother’s cabin rental business, she inherited, and find the peace she’s desperate to embrace. Would the love and faith she learned from her grandparents be enough to fuel her new life? She wants to believe God’s promises, yet broken trust holds her back.
Joel Grayson left the island long enough to train at the Police Academy. The community trusts him, even though he’s failed. When he finds Sadie at her grandparents’ cottages, his heart skips a beat. He’d love to get to know her again, but no one needs to share the hurt he harbors.
When Sadie discovers someone is sabotaging her future, she seeks Joel’s help. As they are drawn together, will Joel let down his guard and let her in? Will Sadie trust the man who loves her and the Father Who cares?
If you knew ahead of time your book would benefit only one person on their spiritual journey, would you still write it?
I would. I believe God has called me to write, whether for one person or many. It took me a while to come to this conclusion. Like many writers, I was dazzled by the possibility of publication, but in writing a blog I learned that if the one person who needed the words the Lord gave me, read them, I am doing a good work. When I applied that to writing fiction my attitude changed, and I started enjoying the writing process. Granted we all need goals and perhaps publication is one of them, but I also believe in nudges from God as he directs me on my path.
What inspired you to start writing, or did you always want to write?
Reading inspired me to write. From the time I was old enough to read, I was fascinated with words. My mom signed me up for the Dr. Seuss book club. With anticipation, I waited on my monthly book to come. I wore those books out. At a young age, I was introduced to Robert Frost’s poetry. That inspired me to write poems as a teenager and for many years after. Writing poetry gave me the tools to create word pictures, which eventually led to what I write today.
What made you take the plunge and finally do it?
When I retired, a friend challenged me to finish my second novel, the first one is still tucked away in my computer. She gave me a deadline to complete the rough draft. My husband encouraged me to work toward publication and do what I needed to do. With the help of a wonderful critique partner and beta readers, I used the stay-at-home time during the pandemic to rewrite and revise my story. When I found out Mt. Zion Ridge Press was taking submissions, I felt God nudge me in their direction. I guess the short answer is encouragement from my family and friends and God’s push.
Thank you for joining me, Penny, and readers, be sure to join me several Saturdays throughout the year when I spotlight author friends and their awesome books!
Before you leave, check out these posts:
reading suggestions for kids of all ages
book news and giveaways
5 ways to jumpstart your writing project
fantabulous pumpkin muffins recipe
resting in the arms of an unchanging God
how to become an undercover prayer warrior
tools to help your child succeed in life
Thanks so much for taking the time to share this post. I appreciate you!
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Penny Zeller 