 Today, I am pleased to welcome author Laura Thomas to Interviews & Reviews. A published Christian author, Laura writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul. She has three Christian romantic suspense novels published as well as a Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, and middle-grade novel. She is published in several anthologies and writes devotionals for Union Gospel Press. Her articles and stories are published in magazines and online, and she shares musings on her blog. Laura is a chocoholic mom of three, married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they live in Kelowna, British Columbia as audacious empty-nesters. You can find her at laurathomasauthor.com and you can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Laura_Thomas_ Today, we are going to talk about Laura's latest book The Orphan Beach, from her Flight to Freedom series. And Laura has a special treat for our readers. She is giving away one of each book in this series to three lucky people. So three people will receive one of these titles - The Glass Bottom Boat, The Lighthouse Baby, and The Orphan Beach in eBook form. Laura, that is exciting! Welcome to Interviews & Reviews!  Laura, you have been on our review team for a while. For which we are very grateful. Finding the time to read and review books is not easy when you are a writer. How long have you been writing? I was rather a “late bloomer” when it comes to writing. In fact, I buried my childhood writing dream for 25 years and didn’t start until I was in my mid-thirties. After taking writing courses with The Institute of Children’s Literature, I had several stories published in children’s magazines, and then my first book was published in 2012. I soon discovered I am a multi-genre author, and it has been quite the whirlwind ever since! How many books have you written? The Orphan Beach, a Christian romantic suspense novel, is my eighth traditionally published book. The first two books in my “Flight to Freedom” series are The Glass Bottom Boat and The Lighthouse Baby. All published by Anaiah Press. I have a Christian teen fiction trilogy (Tears to Dancing, Tears of a Princess, and Tears, Fears, and Fame), a middle-grade fiction (The Candle Maker), and a non-fiction marriage book (Pearls for the Bride). All published by Dancing With Bear Publishing. I also self-published a picture e-book, Fairy Wings, and have stories in several anthologies. What do you do when you aren’t writing? Other than travelling (!), I enjoy reading, baking, Zumba, singing, being outside with my camera, eating chocolate, and hanging out with my family and friends. But mostly, I’m writing! Let's talk about The Orphan Beach. Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp? All my novels have an overarching message of hope, and in The Orphan Beach, we follow Juliet’s harrowing journey from utter abandonment to a place of freedom in Christ where her heart is whole and healed. The Bible verse I based the story on is: “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG). Do you travel to the places you write about? Absolutely. I enjoy travelling and love to be able to write a setting based on my own experiences, using all five senses to capture the essence of the place. It’s a glorious excuse to travel! What authors have inspired you? My all-time favourite book is Little Women, and Louisa May Alcott certainly impacted my desire to be an author when I was a little girl. Christian authors who have inspired me in my writing include Francine Rivers, Colleen Coble, Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock, and Angela Hunt. What is your favourite Scripture verse, and why? I know it’s a popular one but Proverbs 3:5-6 have been precious to me since the age of eleven: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I have seen God’s faithfulness time and again over the years. Knowing He has a plan for my life and is with me, guiding my every step—this gives me both courage and comfort. That's my favourite verse too! Do you have any other books in the works? Always! I currently have an agent for my picture book and middle-grade novel manuscripts, I am tweaking a book proposal for a devotional on hospitality, and I’ve started the planning process for my next Christian romantic suspense novel—which I am incredibly excited about. Let’s just say I’ll be taking you to my British homeland… It sounds exciting! What a busy time for you. Thank you for stopping by and touching base. And now dear readers, if you would like to win an ebook of The Glass Bottom Boat, The Lighthouse Baby, or The Orphan Beach, just fill out the form below! This giveaway ends March 3, 2020. Three people will win one of the ebooks listed. The winner will be announced here and in our Facebook Group and via email. Failure to respond within one week will result in another winner being chosen. Which book will you win? Congratulations to the following winners: Linda Klager, Claudia Castenir and Mallori Norris. Expect to hear from me soon! “Life is spiraling out of control for pediatric nurse, Juliet Farr. Heart-broken, grief-stricken, and experiencing a crisis of faith—now she is the prime target for a crazed killer. When her ex-boyfriend, detective Max Bennett, returns to work the case in the Oregon Coast, he knows sharing the truth behind their break-up will destroy any possibility of a second chance together. A manuscript, a maniac, and a mother’s love propel Juliet’s flight to a beach in Mexico as she desperately pursues hope and healing. Will she ever find freedom from the ache of abandonment? And when a troubled soul chooses Juliet as his perfect victim, can Max prove his love for her by risking his own life? Or will Orphan Beach be the end of their story?”
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