The Secret Slipper Author Interview!

Howdy there, folks!

Today I have here, Miss Amanda Tero, author of the newly released book, The Secret Slipper. This book just released on Thursday, the 25th, but I've had the wonderful opportunity to advance read it. It is Ms. Tero's best work yet, in my opinion!  I can tell that she has improved in her writing, and I am SO amazed at how God gave her the plot line of The Secret Slipper! Like whaaat.....?? How did she think of that?? I guess it had to be God's ultimate, genius, wisdom :D  I am so close to being done with the book--it's taken me longer because of business and a big art project, but once I'm done, be looking for my review of it on Amazon :D

Well, would you like me to get on to the interview now? Okay, okay! Here you are:

What was your favorite part about writing The Secret Slipper? 

My favorite part was probably the initial first-draft writing process. It is always exciting to watch the ideas form!

Oh, yes, for sure!

Which part was the most difficult? 

That would be the rewrites. ;) Particularly Raoul’s story. For some reason, I just couldn’t figure out how to make his story interesting. Thanks to some of my first readers and friends who helped me brainstorm. A lot.

Uh-huh. I haven't got to that stage in any of my works yet, but I can imagine that would be tough. You did a great job with his story! 

Which character was your favorite to write about and why? 

I really liked a lot of my character cast in “The Secret Slipper.” Jolin is probably my most favorite, but then Dumphey and Zuzene and Lia and Raoul…oh and Noel. I even liked Bioti. They were all fun to write because they were all different.

Are any of the characters modeled after you or people you know, in some way? 

Not directly, for this novella. I feel like most of my characters are some way indirectly influenced by the people that I know.

Same with me :D

What do you hope your readers will take away from this book? 

There are a few main lessons in this book: completely trust in God no matter what situation and what’s at stake, and realizing that God has created us in His wisdom and has a purpose for the things He allows in our lives. 

What is the best piece of writing advice that you have received as an author?

Every great book was once an awful first draft.

YES! I have learned not to edit before a book or piece of writing is finished, or else I'll get frustrated and put it down. I guess that's pretty much the essence of your advice, no?

What inspired you to write The Secret Slipper?
I had finished  "Befriending the Beast" (a spin-off of Beauty and the Beast) as a stand-alone when an author friend asked, "Hey, have you ever considered a father/daughter Cinderella story?" And that is exactly where the inspiration started. I prayed about it, and the Lord supplied the full story.

Thank you so much, Amanda! It was fun to read your answers :)

And now, folks, for the fun stuff. Ms. Tero is offering a Giveaway of both Befriending the Beast, book one of Tales of Faith (but not at all necessary reading in order to understand The Secret Slipper; Befriending the Beast just ties in a very slight bit), and The Secret Slipper!

Be sure to check that out.  And 1 paper set-ooh, fabulous! :D I have really enjoyed The Secret Slipper and I hope you will too, once you get and read it--of course you will get and read it, won't you? ;)

Oh, perhaps you would like to know a bit about the book, too, eh? 

About the Book

Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose is to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?

Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?

As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?

And you can buy it here: 

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R5859Y    

Or you can:                                        Get “Befriending the Beast”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ

                                                                   About the Author

Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again – starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels. If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Connect with Amanda

Email: amandaterobooks@gmail.com
Website: http://amandatero.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amandaruthtero/
Blog: www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero

Excited yet? Well, I'll let you get on to the rest of the blogs and checking out the book for yerself :) (yes, I know I said yerself)  Let me just finish with a quote--or two:

Okay, now you can go.  After you see who else is blogging about The Secret Slipper this week.

May 25, 2017
Amanda @ With a Joyful Noise | Release Day, Giveaway
Leila @ Leila Tualla's Bookshelf | Spotlight
Faith @ Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections | Review, Giveaway
Leona @ Great Books for God's Girls | Review, Interview

May 26
Emily @ Zerina Blossom’s Books | Interview
Kendra @ Knitted By God's Plan (Spotlight) and O'Scarlett Reviews (Review) | Spotlight, Review
Alicia @ A Brighter Destiny | Review, Giveaway

May 27
Anika @ This Journey Called Life | Spotlight, Review, Giveaway
Katie @ His Princess Warrior | Review, Giveaway
Sarah @ The Destiny of One | Spotlight
Heather @ Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | Spotlight, Interview, Giveaway

May 29
Kate @ Once Upon an Ordinary | Review, Interview
Sarah @ Penumbra Reviews | Review
Dary @ Peculiar Miss Darcy | Character Interview
Julia @ My Joyful Journey with Jesus | Interview

May 30
Kenzi @ Honey Rock Hills | Review, Giveaway
Anita @ Christian Author: A.M. Heath  | Review
Judith @ JudithWNicholson  | Interview

May 31
Jesseca @ Whimsical Writings for His glory  | Spotlight, Review
Raechel @ God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae  | Spotlight, Review
Esther @ Purposeful Learning | Review, Interview, Giveaway

June 1
Kellyn @ Reveries Reviews  | Review
Victoria @ Victoria Minks Blog  | Spotlight, Review
Kelsey @ Kelsey’s Notebook | Spotlight

June 2
Hanne @ RockandMinerals4Him | Spotlight, Review, Giveaway
Erica @ Roxbury Books Blog | Spotlight
Janell @ Views from the Window Friend  | Review
Crystal @ Crystal’s Adventures for Christ  | Spotlight, Review, Interview

June 3
Alexa @ Verbosity Reviews  | Spotlight
Faith @ Chosen Vessels  | Review
Melissa @ Clothed with Scarlet | Review, Interview, Giveaway

And as a last note, thank you to all those soldiers who have given their lives so that we might have the comfort of freedom and protection. Thank you to all of the families of those who have died fighting, for their willingness to let their family members serve and give their lives for our freedom. Most of all, thank You, JESUS, for sacrificing Your life to free us from the bondage of sin and buy us into Your family to live forever with You, and thank You for reversing the normal cycle--life and then death--You died and then lived!! And now we can have the hope of living in Your presence and glory after we die (unless you take us sooner :D)! 

"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." ~Romans 14:8-9 (emphasis added)

And now you can go. Really. 

I hope you have a glorious week! 

Jewels <3

Memorial Day

Hello everyone!
This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but, as usual, I'm late for everything :)

Recently I watched a documentary, chronicling the journey of a man who visited a missionary, and traveled with him around Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. Many of the villages they visited were war torn, desolate, lots of depression and darkness surrounding them, places where violence is not uncommon. There was one village where every single man and boy living there were taken and shot all at the same time. Every man and boy died that day and were buried where they lay, in mass graves. What devastation! 
They went to villages that had been bombed and every single building damaged in some way. The village was just getting back on it's feet and some of the buildings still destroyed from the bombings. 

They went and visited Gypsies, who lived on the outskirts of town and were forsaken, looked down upon and lived in makeshift tents. 
They visited many villages where there was not one believer living there. Places where there was constant unrest, where believers had to meet quietly and secretly and be baptized in the same way, because false rumors about the Christian faith had spread and the lives of the believers were in jeopardy. 

I can't imagine what it would be like to live places like these! I can't imagine living in a place where I had to fear for my life because I was a Christian, or because of the unrest between various parts of the country, or because it's not uncommon for a person to be shot on the side of the road. I can't imagine living in a place where every man and boy had been lined up and horrifically murdered in one day, with the fear of what if it happens again. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a place where I had to gather in secret to worship God or to be baptized, because my life and that of my fellow believers would be in danger if we didn't. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a place where, if I spoke out of Jesus Christ, I could be killed or rejected and abandoned by family and friends alike. 

Do I fully realize what if means to have the kind of freedom I have? No. I don't. And that is why we need days like Memorial Day, where we specifically remember and meditate on the great gift of freedom that we have. To remember, and not forget, those who have lived and died to give us our freedom, and to preserve it. The blood of many a brave soldier has stained our ground, the bodies of many brave soldiers buried beneath our soil, the tears of many a torn family soaking our earth. All to give us leisure, security, freedom. No, folks, freedom is not free. We must never forget that. But we do. We do so easily. Tomorrow, we probably will forget what today has been all about. If not tomorrow, surely next week will it make no difference. Why are we such ignorant, ungrateful, prideful people? We really are. 

We have a duty to preserve and protect our freedom. If a gift is given us that was purchased at so great a price, it would be shameful of us to take it for granted, throw it away, and not keep and preserve it. When the lives of so many have been given on our behalf, to give us what we enjoy, it is shameful of us to not preserve, keep, guard, find great value in and be grateful for the gift we have been given, is it not?

There is another memorial today. It is a memorial, a remembrance of One who sacrificed His life to give us as believers in Christ, ultimate freedom. Freedom from our bondage to sin and death. This One who gave His life on our behalf, is Jesus Christ. But this memorial is a little bit different. Because Jesus didn't stay dead, He did more than that. He rose from the dead, triumphing over death.
But just as we have an obligation to give thanks to and for all those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and an obligation to preserve and keep that freedom, so we have an obligation to Christ, to give Him praise, honor and glory, and to live our lives according to the freedom that He has given us as believers. Freedom in this sense doesn't mean that we are free to think say and do as we please. This freedom is from our slavery to sin. 

Before salvation, we, in a sense, had an obligation to sin. We were bound to sin and governed, controlled and characterized by it. In a way, we couldn't help it. We could not be good and righteous on our own. Sin is ingrained in us. But, the difference is, we served it willingly. We were happy to be enslaved to it. We are naturally rebellious people. We willingly rebelled against God and His design and character.  

But, in Jesus' death, we have been forgiven of our debt, freed from it, freed from our bondage to sin and death, and now we have a spiritual freedom to live for Christ. That is the key--to live for Christ.  If you have accepted God's gift of freedom, you have an obligation, in a sense, to live for Him. It would be shameful for you and I to throw that gift out the window. Same with the freedom we enjoy in America, it was bought with the blood and life of another, therefore, it should be extremely valuable to us, and we should not live in ignorance of it. We have an obligation to live up to it, to enjoy it at it's fullest potential, to preserve and keep it. We need to live with our lives characterized by the freedom God has given us, characterized by the Holy Spirit that He has given to us to guide us and empower us to live for Him.  If we are truly saved, we need to live a life that gives evidence of that spiritual freedom.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all those who have served, and are still serving our country.  I don't think any of us, except those who have actually been a part of the battle for freedom, really know how expensive our freedom is, and the great sacrifice that has been, and continues to be made, to purchase and preserve it, the grief that the families of those who have given their lives on our behalf, have experienced, or what Veterans have and do experience, physically and emotionally, and I'm sorry that we have not been more grateful and respectful of the price that was paid for our freedom. May God forgive us for our ignorance and arrogance, for taking for granted and so easily forgetting the sacrifices that were given on our behalf, to purchase this great freedom we enjoy.
                                                                                                                                                                   
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own     inheritance." ~Psalm 33:12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." ~1 John 3:16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 Blessings in Christ,                                                                                                                                  
 Julia <3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

*The photos in this post are mine; please do not use without permission*