I am so happy to introduce you to Penny Frost McGinnis and her debut novel, Home Where She Belongs! When I saw that Penny’s book started off with one of my life passages, Proverbs 3:5-6, I knew she was a kindred spirit! She also loves lighthouses and chocolate: “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.“
What aspects of your childhood inspired you to become an author?
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. Suess 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.
Tell us something unique about you that your readers might not know.
Oh my, I believe we are all unique in our own way, and I encourage my children and grandchildren to discover who God made them to be. Along with loving books, reading, and writing, I also enjoy arts and crafts and sports. I’m a baseball fan, I coached high school volleyball for two years, and I enjoy kayaking and hiking.
Tell us about your new release. What do you want readers to take away from your story?
Home Where She Belongs is a small-town romance with a dash of mystery and the promise of hope.
Here is a synopsis:
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. Would the love and faith she learned from them 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?
I am praying readers who relate to Sadie’s situation find courage and hope. Sadie has trust issues, so I’m hoping her story will encourage readers to trust in God. As for Joel, I hope his struggle opens the door to readers as they see God’s forgiveness at work.
My Review of Home Where She Belongs
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
The timeline between my desire to write fiction and actual publication has been twenty-five years. During that time, I wrote devotions and had some published. I also started a blog where I post devotions, book reviews, and encouraging thoughts. I penned ideas and I read a lot. So many great books have been written by amazing authors who want to help new writers. I joined the American Christian Fiction Writers and got to attend one conference where I connected with seasoned authors. I found smaller conferences to attend and connect. The encouragement spurred me along. I invested money and time for many years because I knew God called me to be faithful to Him and write, and I eventually learned the publication was up to Him.
God called me to be faithful and write—publication was up to Him.
If the dream of publication and the call to write rests on you, put in the time, the work, the tears, the laughter, and the love of the written word, and be faithful. Fortunately, my husband, family, and friends supported my long journey. I pray you are surrounded by encouragement.
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
Amazon purchase link:
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