I am very excited to have Amanda Stephan visiting Favorite Christian Books today. She has been gracious enough to be interviewed and she is giving away a copy of her book The Price of Trust. So please welcome Amanda!
Thank you for having me here today, Holly!
When you reach heaven, other than Jesus, what Biblical character are you most looking forward to meeting and why?
The first person I’m looking forward to meeting in Heaven (besides Jesus,) is probably Daniel. I love how this young man took a stand for his faith in Jehovah despite what everyone else was doing. Such faith and character! To stand for what was right when no one else was, what a strong person he must have been.
What would be the first question you would like to ask him?
I’d like to ask him if he was at least a tiny bit afraid when he had to stand in front of King Nebuchadnezzer and give him an answer as to what his dream was all about. The dream before he went wild like an animal. This king wasn’t known for his kindness, and for him to have to give him bad news I think would be terrifying! Then, on the heels of that question, I’d probably ask him what his thoughts and feelings were as he was being lowered into the lion’s den. Goodness gracious! What could happen if we had faith like that today!
When you were a little girl what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be so many different things. A cashier because it looked fun to type numbers, to be a CPA because it was fun to crunch numbers, to be a wife because my parent’s had such a good marriage, and finally, to be a writer, because I could control what happened in the lives of my characters and always have a happy ending! (I really don’t like sad things.)
Please tell us a little bit about “The Price of Trust.”
My book, The Price of Trust, is my debut novel. When our daughter hit 13, I was worried that she’d start reading romance novels, and we all know that there are some pretty embarrassing books out there. I wanted her and our son to have something good, clean, and edifying to read, so I sat down and wrote a book. I wanted them to know that just because things didn’t go the way they wanted them to, that things do and will go wrong, God is still there and He’ll take care of them if they just ask and trust. My book is about a young woman that is running away from her abusive ex-fiance. He’s a very rich man and doesn’t like losing, so he stalks her wherever she goes, not allowing her to settle anywhere. Finally, she breaks down in a small, rural town, and is forced to stay longer than she’d like. She tries to guard her heart, but the people find a way past the walls she’s built up, and she ends up falling for a handsome farmer.
If you like reading contemporary Christian romance with an uplifting message, you’d probably enjoy this book. I have a little mystery and suspense in there as well, and there’s a bit of violence.
I’m looking forward to reading this story. I enjoy romance especially when it’s mixed in with some mystery! Lastly, Amanda, we see a lot of advice out there for writers, but what advice would you give someone like me, who enjoys reading and writing reviews on a book? What makes a good review?
I think what makes a good review is an outline of major moral topics. I’d like to know before I pick up a book if there’s inappropriate scenes, swearing, drinking, and adultery in the book. Actually, I find those things more useful in a book review than the star rating, because a book review is highly subjective. What someone else likes to read, doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ll like it. But an outline of moral issues helps me decide if I’d like to pick up a copy.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us. If you want to learn more about Amanda you can find her on the web at: www.thepriceoftrust.com
Now for the GIVEAWAY!!! On January 22nd at 9:00 PM PST I’ll use www.random.org to choose a winner. The winner will have their choice to receive either a copy of the book or PDF version. Please leave a comment with your name and what state you live in. If you fill out the comment form with your email address you do not need to leave it in the comment section. (I love that about WordPress!!)
Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway, Holly! I look forward to meeting your readers!
Blessings ~
What a great interview. I love the questions and enjoyed Amanda Stephan’s responses. This sounds like a great debut book and I would love to read it. Please add my name in the drawing. Thanks for the opportunity!
Jan Marie
Thank you, Jan, for your kind words! I hope you have a marvelous day!
I loved the interview and love the premise of the story. I definitely do want to read this book. Please add me in the drawing and thank you for the opportunity to do so.
Jo
Thank you, Jo! I’m so glad you stopped by. Holly’s blog is certainly fun, isn’t it? I could spend all day here…
I would love to read this book.
I live in So Cal.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Hello Linda! Thanks for stopping by ~ good luck!
I read your interview and it sounds like a good book – I thank you for the opportunity at this giveaway, please sign me up for a chance. Blessings,
Lori
Why, thank you Lori! I’m blushing… naw, but really. It’s nice to meet you all on here!
Hey! I’ve heard a lot about Amanda’s book lately! I’d love a chance to win it, please count me in!
~ Katy
Hello, Katy! Thanks for your kind words! It’s a great thing for me that people are hearing about my book! Good luck to you 🙂
Great interview…loved that she wrote the book so there would be good, clean, romantic books that her own daughter could read!
Carman sent me!
I thought I wanted to be a CPA at one time too, until I did payroll for 10 years. I think I’m done with the number crunching! This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!
Meredith
This sounds like an interesting book and the type that I would enjoy. I also enjoyed the interview! Thanks for the opportunity to win a book! I’m from IA
Hey Amanda!
I saw your blog over on ECFL, so I thought I would come and check out the cool interview with one of my online friends/fellow authors! Kudos to both you and HollyMag for the poignant discussion! I enjoyed the story behind The Price of Trust, pertaining to you crafting the novel for your teenage daughter. I have one of my own, and I feel she would not only enjoy, but also benefit from the read. I am certainly intrigued as well! Blessings to you, Amanda, and to you, HollyMag! Keep writing the good write!
As iron sharpens iron…
Teric Darken
Typing from AR
Teric Darken at yahoo dot com
Hiya, Teric! It’s nice to see you on here ~ good luck to you and thanks for the encouragement!
Hello Maureen, Meredith, and Carol! It’s nice to ‘meet’ you!
Thank you all for your kind words ~ have a blessed day!
Great interview! Thanks for the chance.
Carman sent me.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Thank you…
Follow via gfc
Illinois
lgm52@hotmail.com
Carman sent me to this site, and i’m so glad she did. i love the questions asked of the author, and the answers. i would like to win this book. thanks for the chance!
mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com
Great Interview.
Would like to read “The Price of Trust”.
Please enter me in the drawing.
Thank you for the chance.
Hello Nancye, Leanna, Marianne, and Wendy! I’m so glad you stopped by ~ good luck to you! 🙂
OMG! I have heard so much about The Price of Trust! I would LOVE to win! Thanks!
🙂
Hi Bren! I’m so glad you stopped by ~ good luck to you, and be sure to tell your friends!
This book looks interesting! I live in Florida. 🙂
– Kait
I’m from Tennessee. Enjoyed the interview, sounds like a good read. Carmen sent me
I would love to read your book, Amanda! I love your motive of wanting to write a book your daughter can read. I so understand that. And I would love to meet Daniel, but I think Peter is the first one I want to meet (after Jesus). I live in upstate NY.
Kait, Sheila Anne, and Julia ~
Thank you so much for stopping by & commenting!
Sheila Anne – I live in TN as well! Yay!
Good luck 🙂
please enter me
Please enter me in this giveaway! This book sounds really good and I can’t wait to read it. 🙂
I would like a physical copy, and I live in OK. 🙂
Hello Sean & Carman! Thanks for stopping by ~ good luck! 🙂
I really would love to win this one!
I would love to read your book. I love the title. PDF would be fine —
lonegunkim at gmail dot com
I’d love to win a copy – thanks!
That was so great! I love the work that Amanda is doing! I’d just like to actually be able to read a book by her! 🙂
~Jay from New York
And the winner is…..
Wendy Shoults!!!
Congrats!
Thanks to everyone who entered! More giveaways coming!