Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry- Not To Be Missed!

God is always at the center of every good thing. Treha, an extraordinary girl, is gifted with a most unusual way of relating to others. Her work centers around Desert Gardens, a nursing center, and its elderly residents. Miriam watches as her life slips by, a mixture of redundancy and sameness, she longs for purpose, and reason. When Miriam recognizes Treha and what she can do for the facility and its residents, she encourages her to make full use of her potential. When Treha's life changes abruptly uncertainty lingers in the background. A very creative and original read with connectable and interesting characters, believable scenery, smooth flowing and progressive plot that will cause the reader to hang onto every word and promises to keep them reading long into the night. This is a what if.. kind of novel that men and women would enjoy. I found it to be very hard to put down with an overall inspiring message. I was entertained by this faith challenging novel and will highly recommend it to others. Very well written! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for this blog tour for my review. Author Bio
Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children. Chris's novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR. Visit his Web site at www.chrisfabry.com. Author Q & A; A Chris Fabry on Every Waking Moment 1. What was your inspiration for this book, Every Waking Moment? The question at the center of this story is “If this is as good as it gets, am I okay with life?” I find this is a universal question that hits at the heart of our outlook on life and our belief in God. The other question it raises is this: If you could bring someone back from dementia or Alzheimer’s and have a conversation, what would you ask? What would you say to that person? 2. Tell me about your main character Treha Langsam. Was this character based upon anyone in particular? She was loosely based on my own children and what they’ve gone through the past five years. This is probably my most personal story to date. We were exposed to toxic mold. Most people think you can only get a rash or have respiratory damage, but it can attack the brain. Treha’s symptoms are similar to what I’ve seen in them and others who have been exposed. 3. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel? I love the fact that God doesn’t look at the exterior; he looks at the heart. As humans, we have a tendency to judge on first impressions, but we miss so much by doing that. Those who are disabled, those who have some kind of struggle in life, those who are older—all are lumped into a category, and this is such a disservice to them and us. 4. How do you expect Treha’s story to resonate with your readers? I think everyone feels a bit like Treha. She is the little engine that could, even if she isn’t given a chance. And it only takes one person giving someone else a chance. I’m hoping readers will give someone a chance—or maybe let someone else give them a chance. 5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story? I loved getting to know Treha better because she’s so mysterious to everyone around her. She’s also a bit scary. To crawl into her skin and walk around and see what she sees is a heartbreaking, life-affirming journey. I also liked the discovery that came with other characters who encounter Treha and see how she changes their lives. 6. What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers? My hope is that this force of nature, Treha, would empower readers to believe the truth about themselves and others. In Christ, you are stronger than you think you are. With God, you can do anything he calls you to do. 7. How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller? Trying to tell a complex story in a simple way is always difficult, and people’s lives are hugely complex. Trying to uncover the truth about Treha—why she is the way she is and where she might be able to go from here—helped me as a human being as well as a writer. 8. Your novels typically touch on a relevant and current topic in our culture. What topics do you weave into this novel? One thread running deeply through this story is the reliance we have on drugs. It’s much easier to take a pill than to make a lifestyle change. And this is affecting individuals, families, and our culture. It also means a great deal of money to institutions, so in tackling this, I know I’m not going to make friends in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m grateful for drugs—my son wouldn’t be alive today without insulin. But every positive thing can have a negative side as well. 9. What big questions will this novel get your reader thinking about? What is your backstory? What is the worth of an individual? Old, young, disabled, unsuccessful . . . several characters are faced with questions of their own worth as well as how they treat others. I’ve always heard that your faith is tested by how you treat someone who can’t do anything for you. This story will get you thinking about some of those deep issues of the heart. 10. How do you manage your time with such a full life, including a writing career, a radio career, and a large family? Everyone has the same amount of time each day. We simply make choices about what we invest in. Hence, I spend less time watching television than I used to. That’s a huge time waster. I get up earlier and go to bed earlier. And when you begin your day centered on God’s Word and ask him what your priorities should be, things generally fall into place. I haven’t arrived at that balance, but I’m struggling as well as I can. http://www.tyndale.com/x_products/videos.php?flv=Not-in-Heart.flv http://www.tyndale.com/x_products/videos.php?flv=Not-in-Heart.flv