The author life only has to be a solo one if you choose it. More and more, I’ve discovered how warm and welcoming the writing community can be. There’s room at the table. Grab a chair and we’ll scoot down. That’s the beauty of community. There’s always a way to make room for more.
Anyway, all that to say, that I’m so excited to have Olivia Rae with us today for an author interview and to hear a bit about her book, Joshua’s Prayer!
About Olivia Rae
Olivia Rae is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary inspirational romance. She spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long, boring days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories by adding in what she’s learned as an adult living in a small town on the edge of a big city. When not writing, she loves to travel, dragging her family to old castles and forts all across the world.
Olivia is the winner of the New England Readers’ Choice Award, a Buyer Best Book Award Finalist, a Kindle Book Award Semi-Finalist, I Heart Indie Award Finalist, and Grab Me Award Finalist. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.
Contact Olivia at Oliviarae.books@gmail.com
For news and sneak peeks of upcoming novels visit:
About Joshua’s Prayer
They only want what is best for Joshua—but disagree about what that is.
When Dr. Sam Morgan’s estranged wife dies in a tragic accident, he returns home from a months-long, overseas surgical mission to discover his disabled son, Joshua, does not remember him. Sam is convinced that he and Joshua can only overcome their heartbreaking memories by leaving their decaying small town and starting over somewhere else.
Nicole James runs a women’s shelter where Sam’s wife fled with Joshua, claiming Sam was not the saint he appeared to be, but a physical and mental abuser. Nicole is determined to protect Joshua by legally preventing Sam from leaving Golden Ridge with his son until she can get at the truth—is Sam Morgan an abuser or the victim of lies in a marriage that went terribly wrong?
As Sam and Nicole are forced to work together on Joshua’s behalf, they begin to gain a grudging respect for one another. But will mutual distrust prevent them from realizing that the best thing they can do for Joshua is to fall in love?
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Author Interview: Joshua’s Prayer by Olivia Rae
Quick Answers:
- Favorite Dessert: Hot fudge Sundaes.
- Pet Peeve: People who have the TV on all the time!
- Current Read: I have been reading the Crystal Lake Series written by Laura Scott. If you like Christian romantic suspense these are great books. The first book is free on Amazon (and probably everywhere else too) Healing Her Heart. There are 6 books in the series and I am reading my way through all of them.
- Song on Repeat (include artist): (Christian) “How Great Thou Art” by Carrie Underwood. And anything by Keith Urban and Tim McGraw song.
Cordially Barbara: I feel that way about the television being on all the time too. It keeps me from being able to think!
In-Depth Questions
1. What inspired Joshua’s Prayer?
I wanted to bring some awareness to two things that seem to be ruining our families – alcoholism and physical and verbal abuse. I also spent many years as a special education teacher and I wanted people to realize and understand there are many different types of disabilities out there.
Cordially Barbara: Actually, that’s what made your book stick out to me. It seemed like such a thoughtful premise.
2. Did the characters of Joshua’s Prayer teach you anything while you were creating the story?
Forgiveness. None of us are perfect and we all do things that are wrong. But no matter how bad we have messed up and no matter how bad those around us have messed up, God always cares about us and loves us. If God can love me when I’m a miserable mess than I can forgive and love others when they are going through rough times.
CB: Ooof. I remember the day when I realized that if God just struck us dead when the really bad sinners did the worst kind of things, that many of the best people I know today wouldn’t be here. Made me so grateful for forgiveness.
3. On a day of inclement weather, what would your protagonist be doing?
Interesting question. Nicole, my protagonist does have a day where the weather is awful outside and though it starts out with thanking God for rainy days, it ends up with a very sinister accident within Grace House—a battered women’s shelter and preschool. I’m not going to tell you what she does that would ruin the story.
CB: Oh, my! Now I just want to knowwww!
4. Is there a line or quote from Joshua’s Prayer that you just love?
Joshua who is the little boy in my story has FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). He’s pretty big into praying. In one scene he finally masters the third verse of “Jesus Loves Me.” Joshua is so excited he exclaims: “I did it! Like a prayer! I sang it all!” Of course there is another scene where he asks his father and Miss ‘Cole to pray together. Joshua’s says, “Now we say prayers like a family.” That line gets me every time.
5. Did you travel to research Joshua’s Prayer?
The only traveling I did for this book was walk out the front door and through my neighborhood.
CB: Sometimes, that’s all it takes to go on an adventure.
6. I like to write book reviews where I compare the book to food. What would you compare Joshua’s Prayer to?
Lemonade because there are scenes in the book that are bittersweet and yet they quench your thirst.
CB: mmmm, I like that comparison. It makes perfect sense.
What adventure have you found in your own backyard?
[…] and I connected over our mutual love of books. Surprising, right? I also got to interview her about Joshua’s Prayer and find out her favorite dessert and pet […]