Welcome Golden Keyes Parsons - Just Making Up Stories

Please interact with our guest authors by answering the question they provide.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GOLDEN KEYES PARSONS - In her deep plowing of the heart, moving from tears one moment to laughter the next, Golden will touch your heart with her dynamic Bible teaching, combined with her vivid personal examples, moving from tears one moment, to laughter the next, all the while communicating the message that God is faithful--keep trusting Him. She has a passion to communicate the Word of God in such a manner that will lead to godly living.

Golden, and her husband, Blaine, have just retired as pastors at Faith Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River, NM. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren. Her testimony and myriad of life experiences lend a touch of authenticity to her teaching. She loves to speak for women's conferences, seminars, luncheons, retreats and Mother/Daughter events.

If deep Bible teaching that brings the Scriptures alive is what you want, Golden is the speaker you need.

WHERE HEARTS ARE FREE (A Darkness to Light Novel)
by Golden Keyes Parsons
Published by Thomas Nelson

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bridget is in love with one man...and promised to another.

Amid the liberty and promise of the New World, Bridget Barrington and Phillipe Clavell fall in love. But nothing about their love seems possible.

To pay for the Clavell family's passage from France, Philippe, a former member of French royalty, worked as an indentured slave to the Barringtons. Bridget is the heiress of the prominent plantation.

When Bridget's parents discover the budding Romance between their daughter and their servant, they quickly orchestrate her engagement to an older, more advantageous match. But Edward Moorehead has a secret. And he's anything but a good match for Bridget.

Separated from her true love and in danger from her betrothed, Bridget must rely on God to deliver her from darkness into light.

Readers, buy your copy of WHERE HEARTS ARE FREE today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

JUST MAKING UP STORIES

I have a confession to make. When I first started trying to get published, I was writing non-fiction—Bible studies, general inspirational books, a book on marriage. And, frankly, I had a rather snobby attitude toward fiction writers. I would pass them in the halls at writers’ conferences and although I never said it out loud, I would think to myself, “They are just making up stories. I’m writing biblical truth.” Ahem, ahem—as I smiled sweetly.

One fall at the Glorieta Christian Writers’ Conference while working on staff, I happened to have a few moments, so I slipped into the back of a fiction class. What I heard in that one-hour session rocked my world, and I’ve never looked at fiction the same way since. Dave Lambert was leading the workshop, and he said that a non-believer is probably not going to pick up a Christian non-fiction book. However, they might pick up a novel and read it. He said as Christian fiction writers we can embed the gospel in a novel in perhaps a more palatable way than in a non-fiction book, which sometimes is way too preachy for a non-believer. I walked out of that classroom reeling.

The Holy Spirit had fingered a chord in my heart. I remembered that Jesus was the Master Storyteller and taught biblical truth through stories. Why had I thought that telling stories was an inferior method of spreading the gospel?

About the same time I came across a published genealogy of my Huguenot ancestors. I wanted to tell their story, and I decided I would do so as historical fiction. As I began writing and submitting my chapters to my critique group, they enthusiastically encouraged me. They assured me that fiction was definitely where I needed to be. The rest, as they say, is history. I procured an agent and a four-book contract with a major publisher.

Recently I received word of an atheist picking up my book in France and commenting, “Maybe there is something to this God thing.” I watched an atheist professional safari guide from South Africa sit down in the den of our daughter’s home and read through In The Shadow of the Sun King in one day. He has since ordered the rest of the series for his mother. I receive emails on a regular basis of similar testimonies.

My profession is to tell stories. I am so blessed to write and tell my stories. I pray that they in turn bless the readers and that they bring glory to God.

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Thank you, Golden, for sharing with us today.

Reader Question: What stories have touched your life in a profound enough way to inspire you to change your decision or current path in life? What book(s) have challenged your way of thinking?

CFBA Blog Tour - Golden Keyes Parsons and A Prisoner of Versailles

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Prisoner of Versailles
Thomas Nelson - September 1, 2009)
by Golden Keyes Parsons

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GOLDEN KEYES PARSONS - In her deep plowing of the heart, moving from tears one moment to laughter the next, Golden will touch your heart with her dynamic Bible teaching, combined with her vivid personal examples, moving from tears one moment, to laughter the next, all the while communicating the message that God is faithful--keep trusting Him. She has a passion to communicate the Word of God in such a manner that will lead to godly living.

Golden, and her husband, Blaine, have just retired as pastors at Faith Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River, NM. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren. Her testimony and myriad of life experiences lend a touch of authenticity to her teaching. She loves to speak for women's conferences, seminars, luncheons, retreats and Mother/Daughter events.

If deep Bible teaching that brings the Scriptures alive is what you want, Golden is the speaker you need.

A PRISONER OF VERSAILLES
by Golden Keyes Parsons
Published by Thomas Nelson

ABOUT THE BOOK

Madeleine's faith puts her at odds with an intimidating rival: King Louis XIV.

Having fled their homeland of France because of the persecution by Louis XIV, the Clavell family seeks refuge in Switzerland. However, the king is not about to let the recently widowed Madeleine, his childhood sweetheart, escape that easily. He sends musketeers to kidnap her and her oldest son, Philippe, holding them captive in his opulent palace. King Louis is suspicious that Philippe could be his son, and he's enraged by the growing affection of one of his courtiers for Madeleine.

Will Madeleine escape the king with her life or lose everything that she's fought so hard to keep?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Prisoner of Versailles, go HERE.

Readers, buy your copy of A Prisoner of Versailles today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

It is a continuation of the story of my Huguenot (French Protestants) ancestors' flight from the persecution of the Catholic government in 17th century France. The story line of "Prisoner" is entirely fictionalized, but the historical facts are accurate.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

I think within every character developed by an author at least germs of the author's own experiences lie embedded. In "Prisoner" there is a point where my heroine is angry with God and offended because of her circumstances, and she rails against him. I have been there. I have been offended by things in my life that God allowed -- illness, loss of career, a rebellious child.

I don't know that I would have the courage that Madeleine had to formulate a plot and carry it through to save my family. Although she experienced periods of weakness, she was victorious in the end and was able to remove them from harm's way.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

She is anything but plain vanilla, so I'm going to say Jamoca Almond Fudge. She has a strong flavor to her personality, with some "hard" places, but also with swirls of richness and sweetness.

4. Are there any themes in A Prisoner of Versailles that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

That the journey of faith is never easy, and all of us fail from time to time, but God is faithful.

The theme of forgiveness and reconciliation as illustrated by the relationship between Pierre, the courtier and Madeleine's rescuer, and his father, Commander Bovee. The Commander had not been a father to his son as he pursued his career as a dragoon soldier serving the court of King Louis XIV, but the two are reconciled as the story progresses.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult thing for me was giving layers to Madeleine, my heroine, to make her relatable. I gave her character flaws; cited her failures; made her vulnerable, but for some reason, she was still difficult for some readers to relate to. I worked really hard on that, but that is difficult when the female protagonist is a strong woman.

I think one of the best scenes is when King Louis is questioning Pierre about his mission to find Madeleine. The double talk that Pierre has to maneuver through to avoid giving himself or Madeleine away without lying was fun to write, but a bit tricky.

Writing the dance scenes was fun. I actually found videos of 17th century French dances and viewed them over and over.

I also like the scene where Commander Bovee ambushes King Louis' soldiers. I think it is tight and full of page-turning tension.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

When Hearts Are Free comes out in the fall of 2010. The story takes up six years later in Pennsylvania where the Clavells have settled. Madeleine is still a part of the story, but the new heroine is Madeleine's son, Philippe's, love interest, Brigitte Barrington. Philippe and his brother have been indentured as servants in Philadelphia, and the story deals with their adventures to be free and settle with the family, and the troubled romance between Brigitte and Philippe. My ancestors actually were indentured as servants in Philadelphia.

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Thank you, Golden, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of A Prisoner of Versailles.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Spotlight on Golden Keyes Parsons and In the Shadow of the Sun King

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GOLDEN KEYES PARSONS is a speaker and author who issues the challenge: dare to take God seriously! In her deep plowing of the heart, moving from tears one moment to laughter the next, Golden will touch your heart with her dynamic writing, combined with her vivid character experiences. If deep story-telling that brings the book alive is what you want, Golden and her debut novel, In the Shadow of the Sun King, is the author you need.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN KING
by Golden Keyes Parson
Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK

Seventeenth-century France is a dangerous time and place for a Huguenot. One woman risks it all to save her family and to fight for the freedom to practice their faith.

Because of their Protestant faith in Catholic France during the 17th century, Huguenots Francois and Madeleine Clavell's estate is overtaken by King Louis XIV's dragoons. Madeleine takes it upon herself to save her family by calling on her past love affair with the king. This is a desperate and risky decision, and one that forever changes her family's future.

Features the following bonus materials: a map, author and historical notes, and a reading group guide, making it a perfect selection for book clubs.

Buy Your Copy of In the Shadow of the Sun King Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I came into possession of my family's genealogy from 1695 and decided that our family's story needed to be told. Of course, the final result is highly fictionalized, but the facts surrounding the persecution of the Huguenots in 17th century France are true.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I found that I draw heavily upon my own experiences, especially in the ups and downs of my faith walk. My heroine, Madeleine Clavell, stands strong for her faith, but finds that her knees grow feeble when her family is threatened. She puts herself on the line to save them. Sometimes that looks like she may have to compromise her faith.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what he/she be and why?

Interesting question. Certainly not vanilla. Maybe something like Rocky Road ... she's strong, sweet at times, but the way is rocky for her.

4. What themes exist in In the Shadow of the Sun King that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I hope the reader will appreciate, maybe for the first time, the price that was paid for the freedom to worship as we please by so many of our ancestors. The theme that is not so "in-your-face" is the cord running through the story that who and how we love can have long-reaching effects -- even down through history.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult parts to write were trying to describe the palace at Versailles, which I've never seen. The action scenes, the love scenes, the death scenes seemed to just fly off my fingers, but when it came to describing an historical place accurately, I had trouble with that. I do hope to go there someday, but it wasn't in time for my first book.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Book #2, "A Prisoner At Versailles," will come out in the Fall of '09, and is the sequel to this first book. The story picks up where Sun King ends and deals with King Louis' pursuit of Madeleine. When she tries to escape to the New World, he brings her back to Versailles to try to persuade her to become his official mistress, because he suspects that her oldest son is his. I'll leave it at that :)

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Thank you, Golden, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of In the Shadow of the Sun King.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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