I am excited to welcome Shellie Arnold to my blog today. Her debut novel The Spindle Chair captivated me. It’s the kind of book you can give to a friend who is struggling with their past and is more likely to be read than a self-help book. Check out my review on Goodreads.

My hubby loved it too. His words, “This doesn’t read like Chick Lit.” Not that he actually knows what Chick lit is, but if my guy enjoyed it so will other men.

Shellie, welcome to Writer’s Patchwork. Take a seat and help yourself to some Chai Tea. It’s a pleasure to have you here today. I am so excited (I know I already said that) to learn all that went into creating The Spindle Chair. Let’s get started.

1. Where did the inspiration come for the characters and their stories come from?

Thanks for having me as a guest.

There are two parts to answering that question. First, prior to illness starting in late 2002, my writing interests sat squarely on the non-fiction side of publishing. After God healed me on May 18, 2005, my husband and I prayed for eleven months before I started writing again. I didn’t take for granted I knew exactly what God wanted me to do. During those months I got pictures in my head, snapshots really, and a scene from what became The Spindle Chair. I didn’t know what those images were for, but in conversation with God I felt He wanted me to pursue fiction, even though that’s not what I’d been pursuing before. I started studying craft and attending critique groups working on what became The Spindle Chair.

The second part of my answer is, that I’ve always wanted to help marriages. When I realized what the pictures in my head actually were—scenes from a novel—I knew I could write about marriages using fiction, and actually show people’s struggles and emotions, history and discoveries. That’s the journey I hope to show through my fiction—a real journey through something tough, that ends with a stronger, healthy marriage.

2. You have a passion to build strong marriages. Tell us about that?

I’m from a broken home. I remember the moment I knew my parents’ marriage would end in divorce. I was devastated, and as I grew older I was frightened of the idea of marriage. I thought “Either there’s no way to be married without hurting each other, or if there is, God isn’t sharing the secret.” When I knew God wanted me to marry, I pretty much told Him I’d only do it if He promised to teach me how to do marriage. I want to share all I’ve learned the hard way, in the hope it will help others who have as much stacked against them as my husband and I did.

3. Why choose a pastor as your main character?

Great question! As a new author, I really have to prove myself, and one aspect of good fiction is the situations presented must be believable. I knew what I wanted my main character and his wife to go through, but I also knew I wanted God to speak to them through scripture. I felt it would be believable—or maybe more believable—to have a young pastor remembering scriptures he’d memorized as opposed to a new convert or an “inactive” believer.

I really wanted to show how a past hurt or trauma can affect a life and a marriage. And, I wanted to show that although facing that hurt or trauma so God can heal it is a painful process, that process doesn’t have to destroy your marriage.

4. What would you hope your readers take away from your story?

Another great question, and thanks for the opportunity to answer it, because this is my heart: I really want readers to know that God is always at work in their marriage, even if they can’t see it. He’s always reaching, always trying to grow us, heal us, change us—not only to be conformed to the image of Christ, but to also “become one.” I hope readers will take away hope—both the belief and the knowledge that no storm in marriage is evidence of God’s absence, but rather is proof of His presence and work and purpose in their lives.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1941103871/

5. Any other writing projects in the works?

Oh, yes. Many. I’m working on edits for book 2 of The Barn Church series. Sticks and Stones will be released in October 2016. I’m also writing book 3, Abide with Me, which is slated to release October 2017. The proposal for my first stand-alone novel is with the publisher right now, and while I’m waiting to hear back I’m writing that book. It’s about one-third complete.

I also write and produce video seminar teachings on various marriage topics, which are available through my web site www.shelliearnold.com. I’m giving away a complete teaching package BREAK THE CONFLICT CYCLE. Just log onto my web site and you’ll see it and other YOUR MARRIAGE resources available there.

Finally, I’m working on my first non-fiction book. The topic is sexuality in marriage, and I have a much different take on the subject than other materials I’ve seen. I can’t WAIT to for that book to be published. I’m hoping for a 2017 release date for Awakening: Passion, Pleasure, and Sexual Freedom for the Christian Wife and the Husband Who Loves Her.

6. Now for the question I always ask writers. (After all this is a writer’s blog.) What one tip would you share with up and coming novelists that you wish someone had told you?

Something I wish I’d been told…That waiting for the right agent is a smart choice. I had the opportunity at different times to sign with other agents, but I didn’t feel like I’d found a great match. That was difficult, turning down representation at times it seemed I was “missing” my only opportunity and wondering if I’d ever get another opportunity for representation. Some fellow authors thought I’d lost my mind.

Don’t settle for someone who doesn’t “get” what you’re doing, especially if you’re like me working in two genres (which is kind of taboo for a new author, and not readily accepted). Keep working on your craft, continue improving your work, and work on every project God tells you to work on. Eventually He’ll present you with the right match.

Giveaway

Shellie is giving away a teaching package called RISE TO FREEDOM to one lucky winner. She is also giving away a paperback copy of THE SPINDLE CHAIR to another winner. Just tell me in the comment section of this post on my Facebook page which item you would like to be put in the drawing for. You can be put in both drawings. I’ll draw the winners on Monday, December 14^th.

More about Shellie Arnold

Shellie Arnold writes and speaks on marriage and family. She truly believes that despite baggage, neglect, or mistakes, when husbands and wives listen to God, they can live happily even after. Her passion is sharing how God has helped her do exactly that. She maintains a blog at www.shelliearnold.com, and is the founder of YOUR MARRIAGE resources. Shellie is a mother of three and has home-schooled for over twenty years. She lives in Ohio with her husband of twenty-nine years.

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