The Promise of Morning by Ann Shorey
Ellie Craig believed her marriage to Matthew, the pastor of Beldon Grove’s church, would flow from blessing to blessing. He’s always been the leader in their household, giving her a comfortable life.
Then they lose three children in infancy and her world reels, leaving her vulnerable to the attentions of the recently returned son of Beldon Grove’s founder. When Matthew suddenly makes a decision that leaves Ellie alone with their older children, she realizes her actions have driven him away.
Now Ellie must search within herself for the answers to her problems. Will she be able to open her heart to her husband? Or did her actions destroy any chance they had at happiness?
I met Ann Shorey when I lived in Southern Oregon. We would meet for lunch along with several other SO authors at a restaurant called Heaven On Earth. While eating there we discovered it is Chri
stian restaurant. They make these huge cinnamon rolls and other special goodies. Oh, and they sell Christian fiction. Now, doesn’t that sound like Heaven on Earth?
Ann is a wonderful, warm and friendly person–the kind of person that you want on your side. I hope she attends the ACFW again this year because I’d love to see her again in person. I appreciate her taking time for this interview.
Don’t forget to post a comment to enter a drawing for her book!
Share your writing journey and encouragement for others.
I’ve been writing seriously for around twenty years. Prior to that I was busy with family plus a job and was too brain-dead at the end of the day to come up with anything coherent. My first publishing credits were in Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul and the Adams Media Cup of Comfort books, plus articles for various regional publications. I switched to fiction around ten years ago because I wondered what my female ancestor’s lives were like back in the 1800’s and wanted to fill in the blanks. It took several years of writing and rewriting until my first novel sold. As difficult as it is sometimes, rewriting is our friend. Our books get better when they’re polished to a shine.
How did you come up with the idea for this novel?
I’ve always been fascinated by my great-great grandparents. I knew some basic facts about their lives, written down by my grandfather when he was in his 80’s, but wanted to flesh out their story. So I asked myself, “what if this or that happened?” The Promise of Morning took shape from there.
Tell us about your hero’s journey.
Matthew Craig is the pastor of a small-town church in the 1840’s. He left home over his father’s objections to become an itinerant preacher when he was 18. Now in his 40’s, he’s haunted by the mocking words his father hurled at him. Some part of his spirit still believes he’s inadequate to preach the gospel. He needs to overcome his fears and recognize his value in God’s eyes and in the eyes of others.
The heroine’s journey?
Ellie Craig’s parents died when she was a girl, and although she was reared by a loving aunt and uncle, she fights fears of abandonment. She believed marriage to Matthew would lead to a life of blessing, but learns that she needs to search within herself for the answers to her problems.
Who is your favorite hero from books or movies?
I don’t have an all-time favorite. Usually my imagination is captured by something I’ve seen or read recently. So in that vein, the character Patrick Shawcross in Monica McInerney’s novel Family Baggage was a perfect hero—I loved his personality.
Who is the biggest hero in your personal life and why? Anyone else?
I’d have to say my husband is my biggest hero. He’s always ready to go the extra mile to help anyone who needs something done. He’s patient, kind, and soft-spoken. The Lord truly blessed me when He brought us together.
What do you hope the reader learns from your hero and heroine?
I didn’t write The Promise of Morning to serve as a lesson, but the importance of keeping promises is a recurring issue in the novel.
If there was something in your life you could change, what would it be and why?
I’d go back and change some of the decisions I made right out of high school, back when I thought I knew it all!
Closing thoughts to your readers.
The Promise of Morning is the second book in the At Home in Beldon Grove series from Revell, and can be purchased at all major bookstores, as well as from online booksellers.
You can find me on the internet at http://www.annshorey.com. I post a book review blog on my website two or three times a month, and love to interact with other book lovers.
Thanks for your thought-provoking answers, Ann! I’m looking to reading this book.
Don’t forget to post a comment if you’d like a chance to win a copy of The Promise of Morning.