Happy Tuesday, y’all!
I’m excited about the day because I have a bunch of back-to-school activities to do with my kiddos. One kid gets to go to his school, find his locker (and drop off the insane amount of school supplies), and his classrooms. There’s always that relief when he knows where he has to go.
The other, well, he get’s to stay home while I go meet his teacher and find out the expectations for the school year. He’ll get to drop off his school supplies and meet his teacher tomorrow. All in all, it’ll be that hectic moment before they go back to school and enter our fall routine.
Which means my brain is scrambled and it took me forever to figure out a blog post idea. Full disclosure, I didn’t come up with the idea but the awesome Jaycee Weaver did. Thanks again, Jaycee!
So what’s the idea, well, talking with the ladies of Freedom Lake. My Freedom Lake series (all 3 books are up for giveaways in the Back-to-School giveaway) is one of my favorites. There’s just something about this group of friends that touches my heart. So let’s get started!
Toni: Welcome, ladies! Thank you so much for agreeing to speak to me.
Michelle: Of course. We’re glad to talk to the readers so they can get to know us, and hopefully read our stories. Right? *Michelle glances at her two best friends.
Chloe: Definitely.
*Michelle nudges Jo*
Evan and Jo’s story
Jo: Happy to help.
Toni: Fantastic! How about you tell the readers a little about yourself. Oh and please go in book order.
*Jo straightens, placing her boot clad feet on the ground.* Jo: Guess that means I’ll go first. Let’s see. I’m a carpenter, middle child, and recently married.
Toni: And you Michelle?
Michelle: *she grins* I’m an attorney and I love bringing justice to families. Of course now that I live in Freedom Lake again, I see a wider range of clients now. I’m recently engaged. *flashes wedding ring* And loving life. God is good.
Chloe: All the time.
Toni, Jo, Michelle, and Chloe: God is good.
Toni: That leaves you, Chloe.
Chloe: Well since everyone is leading with profession, I’m an interior designer. I’ve recently inherited some extra family members I knew nothing about. It’s a little unnerving but God is helping me process.
Jo: Jump right into our problems why don’t you.
Chloe: Jo, you know that’s what the readers want to hear. If they don’t know our struggles, how will they ever relate?
Jo: True. *she frowns* It’s just so hard, talking about them. *she leans forward* Listen, Toni, you could simply share the blurb of our stories and leave it at that.
Toni: Of course I could. But one, that would be a boring blog post. Two, it still doesn’t give a lot a way.
Jo: Fine. My problems all stem with family. Everyone has family drama, but if you’re like me, then you have drama with your mother, but seem to be the only sibling willing to step up to the plate. Throw in an archnemesis.
Toni: Who you reconciled with.
*Jo blushes, but forges on.* Jo: health issues, a change of heart regarding God, and that’s my story in a nut shell.
Guy and Michelle’s story
Michelle: And what a story. It was so sweet watching the romance between her and Evan bloom.
Toni: But what about you, Michelle? Your story had its ups and downs as well.
*Michelle runs a hand over her sleek bob* Michelle: That’s certainly true. My childhood sweetheart moved back to town with his two adorable twins. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them and I tried my best not to fall for him because I knew my secret would kill any love between us.
Toni: But your relationship with God developed through it all.
Michelle: It certainly did. I can see now why Chloe has been quoting the Bible all these years. It’s not so annoying when you get it. *she grins sheepishly*
*Chloe chuckles* Chloe: Of course it can be annoying when a bombshell drops in your life. Suddenly you realize just how easy life has been and maybe those verses don’t hold as much weight as you wanted them to.
Toni: Or maybe it’s just that grief can be so very overwhelming.
Chloe and Darryl’s story
Chloe: So true. I may not have grieved a death, but I certainly was grieving. I can see through it all, I knew God was with me. Mentally speaking of course. I just had to get my hurts and heart on the same track.
Toni: I hear ya. Trials are no joke.
Chloe: But so necessary. I learned so much about myself and about God through it. And I gained family and a new love. *she smiles softly*
Toni: So none of you are mad about what I put you through?
Jo: Oh I’m still peeved, but I get it.
Michelle: It was a necessary evil.
Chloe: Agreed.
Toni: Thank you, ladies. I really appreciate you taking the time to chat with us all. Chloe’s story, Finally Accepted, is on sale for $1.99 today. Readers, do you have any question for the ladies? If so, drop them in the comments so they can respond. Oh and I hinted at a #giveaway. One reader who comments by August 23rd, 3pm EDT, will have a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card.
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Find out more on her website at http://tonishiloh.com.
I love your Freedom Lake series! Thanks for the chance to sit down and chat with everyone 😊!
Hi Toni! Nice interview with the ladies of Freedom Lake. Inspiring name, but tell me more about Freedom Lake’s location and why you ladies enjoy living there? Best wishes with your Back to School activities, Toni! Our Middle School age grandson also gets his schedule and chance to find his classrooms today. The high school and elementary school grandkids have theirs next week. Summer is definitely winding down and fall is in the air.
Hi Toni, how fun, thanks for sharing:) We have 4 and a half weeks until the end of term 3 and then a 2 week break. Term 3 always goes very very fast!!
Blessings:)
I enjoyed the chat thank you.
Thanks for hanging out with us! <3
Hi, Renate! Enjoy the winding down of fall!
Jo: Hey, Renate! The one thing I love about Freedom Lake is the lake. It’s gorgeous and I have the perfect view from my mother’s house. There’s also a gorgeous backdrop off trees and the scenery is what makes it home for me.
Michelle: Hi, Renate. For me, I love the people. I moved to Freedom Lake when I was still in school and quickly became friends with Jo and Chloe. When my parents died, they became my family. So for me, Freedom Lake is all about the people.
Chloe: Hi, Renate. Thanks for chatting with us! The best thing I love about Freedom Lake is the community. Like Michelle, my family is something of a hodge podge. I love my church community as well as my friends who rallied behind me when my grandmother past. Freedom Lake wouldn’t be much without the people.
Thanks gals. Description still vague. The United States is large with many geographic locations – Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, etc. Dialect, cuisine, traditions are different in each. This avid traveler has traveled coast to coast. Where is Freedom Lake? What state?
Yay for a break!
Thanks for chatting!
These characters sound really interesting! I need to check out the series!
Oh, sorry! We live in Indiana in a fictional town modeled after one that used to be a African American resort town.
I hope you get a chance to!
So much fun! Love these ladies!
Me too!
These books sound great, and I’d love to “meet” the characters!! Best of luck to your boys going back to school!!
Thank you, Trudy!
Thanks for your time!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Toni!
Jo, my dad was a general contractor in the ’70’s before the recession. What is it like to be a middle child and a carpenter? Who do you work for and are things booming?
Being a middle child is maddening. I’m not the oldest and I’m not the baby, so I get overlooked until someone needs something. Since I’m also the single one, my brother and sister act like their time is more valuable. But with God, I’m learning to accept who they are. As for being a carpenter, I love it! It always makes me think of my dad. The town is seeing some growth so I keep busy with odd jobs here and there and at least one major job a month.
How fun!
Question to Jo:
Why did you choose this career path? A carpenter?
Sounds like these characters are ones I would enjoy reading about.
My dad was a carpenter and some of my best memories were helping him fix things around the house. I never thought of doing anything else with my life. Now I do it to honor his memory.
I hope you get a chance to learn more about them.
How fun. Dialogues with fictional characters are always creative. ;)
Thank you! That’s great <3
Thank you for sharing. Sounds so good.
Wow, I loved this post! So great getting to know your characters!! Mmm, my question (for any of the ladies or all of them) would be: what’s the verse that’s helped you the most through your struggle(s)?
Blessings for you, Toni, through this new school year :)
Thanks!
Hi, Priscila! Great question!
Jo: For me It’s Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” I had to learn that God will always be there with me.
Michelle: And for me it was Romans 5:20, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” I needed to know no matter what I’ve done, God could forgive me.
Chloe: It’s more difficult for me to pick a scripture. I felt so confused throughout my journey. But I will choose Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” No matter what I have gone through, He never changed.
Thank you so much for sharing! Those are great verses and great reminders (and encouragement!)
What a fun concept for a review/ interview!
Sounds like a lovely town.
These all sound so good!
Thank you!
Thanks!
Great interview!
I loved the characters coming to life! Did you find while you were writing that the characters kind of “took over” the story? Did the stories go a bit differently than you originally planned? I have heard a few authors mention that their characters tend to take on a life of their own.
These all sound amazing Thanks!
Thank you
Definitely. I don’t plan a story because I know my characters will tell me where it needs to go. For instance, there’s a scene between Jo and her mom that shocked me.
My pleasure!
There is so much excitement and anxiety with the first day of school. Nice that they get to go a day early to put their stuff into their lockers. What did they think of their teachers?