Interview with Cheri Swalwell, author of Path to Grace, part of the The Redemption of Green Pines series.

 

Let’s meet the book and the author before we get to the interview.

 

About the Book

Book: Path to Grace

Author: Cheri Swalwell

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction

Release Date: October 20, 2022

 

Everyone knows that Ariana does not get rejected.

Used to getting her own way, Ariana grew up having her daddy wrapped around her little finger—and he still is. As an adult, she goes through life expecting that all men will give into her whims. When the one man she sets her sights on won’t give her the time of day, Ariana is truly baffled.

Matt avoids Ariana whenever possible. The young woman has no way of knowing that she reminds Matt of his mother and the heartbreaking memories that he worked hard to bury. If Matt has his way, there won’t ever be a reason to discuss the issue.
But when Ariana’s life is turned upside down, and rumors about Matt could destroy everything that he’s worked so hard to achieve, it will take a heavenly amount of grace to prevent history from repeating itself. Will Matt and Ariana accept God’s plan for their lives?

If you like wholesome fiction with a faith-filled message, explore the Path to Grace, the fifth book in the heartwarming Redemption of Green Pines series today. Each book can be read on its own, but they’re best enjoyed when you read them as a full series!

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author 

Cheri Swalwell is a Christ follower who thoroughly enjoys her calling to be a wife, mother, writer, podcaster, and speaker, in that order. Cheri loves to encourage people through her fiction series and many nonfiction books including devotionals, Bible studies, and compilation books. Interested in receiving encouragement 365 days a year right in your inbox? Then the JESUS in the EVERYDAY monthly membership is for you! For a full list of books visit www.cheriswalwell.com. Do you like YouTube? Head to JESUS in the EVERYDAY for 5 to 7 minutes of encouragement weekly.

 

Author Interview

 

Let’s welcome author Cheri Swalwell to today’s interview. We’re talking about her series The Redemption of Green Pines of which Path to Grace is book 5.

 

Hi, Cheri, so glad you could join us.

 

Q: What genre do you write in and why?

A: I absolutely love Christian women’s fiction. The first two authors I read from that genre were Deborah Raney and Karen Kingsbury. I also was a psychology major in school so studying relationships is my passion. I hate shallow conversations; I’m the type of person that wants to go deep. My books reflect that.

I had goals when I first started out writing. I was going to write fiction, be traditionally published and quit my paying job in two years. (I’m pretty sure God laughed.) Instead, He took fiction away from me and had me write strictly nonfiction books (devotionals, Bible studies and compilations), steered me in the direction of self-publishing and eventually allowed me to write fiction again.

Looking back on it now, God’s plan is always best. He had me write nonfiction first so that I could develop a closer relationship with Him; then infuse that learning naturally into the fiction books He put on my heart to write. Some of the issues that the characters in The Redemption of Green Pines have gone through are experiences that I had to walk through first, before I could write them (some, not all). LOL

I love women’s fiction, too. And I’m pretty sure God has laughed at a lot of us authors and our “plans.” Isn’t it wonderful that we can see His plan in hindsight?

 

Q: Do you have any writing preparation quirks? (For example, do you have a favorite coffee mug you use before you sit down at your computer to write?)

A: I really like to have a quiet house. That doesn’t happen often, so if it’s too loud, I’ll wear ear plugs. I have a candle I like to light. Smell is very important to me, so when I’m smelling the coffee scented candle, it takes me right into Green Pines, where the story is written. (Probably why the characters love coffee so much! I’ll have to make sure and pick a new scent for the next series.)

I read the last chapter or two before diving back into writing. I also think about the story throughout the week since I really only have one day, sometimes two days to write each week, but I’m thinking about the storyline throughout the week. I try to make the most of the time I have to write since it’s very limited right now.

Mmmm. Yes, I love the smell of coffee. I’m impressed how much you have accomplished given your limited time. Way to go!

 

Q: What was your favorite character to write?

A: The “villains” are fun to write, but in The Redemption of Green Pines, I would have to say Holly is my favorite. I wrote Book 2, Journey Back Home, first. I wrote the second half of the book before the beginning. Holly was supposed to be a minor character in the story, but when I typed “The End,” I had a lot of questions about Holly’s past and where she came from. That’s when I realized she needed her own story, and that’s how Adventure’s Invitation was written. She went from being a minor character to one of the main characters. She truly is my favorite. I want to be like Holly. LOL

I can’t wait to read all about Holly.

 

Q: If you are a multi-published author, which book was the hardest to write? Why?

 A: Road to Freedom. In Journey Back Home, Wynn and Addie were introduced along with Owen and Zane. Wynn had a secret, but I didn’t know what it was. She was going to attempt suicide, but as the story developed, that didn’t fit who Wynn was. Finally, after Book 3, Trail to Forgiveness, Wynn’s story needed to be told. God revealed to me what the secret was, and I resisted at first. “Really, God? You want me to write about this? That’s really deep.” But these are God’s stories and I’m simply His secretary. Not only was the topic hard to write about, but Wynn was learning how to shift her identity to one in Christ. It was a journey I was taking personally and didn’t have the first idea how to guide someone else to find their identity in Christ. It was hard to write, but Wynn has become another favorite character of mine, probably because of her struggle.

Sometimes the hardest books to write become an author’s favorite, and the characters live on in our hearts.

 

Q: Are you at work on a new novel? Can you tell us a little about it?

A: I’m writing the last book in the series, tentatively titled Redemption Full Circle. I’m so excited about this one. Not only does it bring everyone together, but we revisit Shawn, and finally tell his story along with wrapping up everyone else’s lives. It begins with every mother’s nightmare, but (hopefully) told in such a way as to break the heaviness with humor. It took me a whole summer to write the first third of the story in my head, but once God showed me what He wanted, putting it on paper was easy. I even reenacted one scene with action figures to make sure it was believable. The final book in this series bring in a level of spiritual warfare that shows people how praying the armor of God over themselves and their families is easy; it’s something you can do every day in as little as two minutes. Spiritual warfare is so important and to show people it can be natural and not scary excites me with this last book. I’m really going to miss my friends from this series, but I already have the first book in my next series written in my head, waiting to be put on paper.

How exciting to show readers how your characters were able to model praying the armor of God and to confront spiritual warfare.

 

Thank you for taking the time to interview me. I hope you enjoy Path to Grace.

 

Thank you for being with us and for sharing your heart. I’m really looking forward to reading the entire series.

 

More from Cheri

Have you ever thought about how different two siblings’ lives could turn out, even though they were raised by the same parents in the same household? Two sisters, one the middle child and one the baby of the family. One always considered “less than,” the other the golden child … until she’s not.

Book 5 in The Redemption of Green Pines series, Path to Grace, shows us what happens when one sister has been favored her whole life, until she falls off the pedestal due to one mistake.

Join the community of Green Pines as life unravels for Ariana. Will her siblings rally around her despite how she treated them her whole life, or will she be left on her own to figure out what to do now?

If you’d like to read the whole story, I’d suggest you start with Book 1, Adventure’s Invitation, but if you’re simply curious about the differences Wynn and Ariana face, I invite you to start with Book 4, Road to Freedom, and get introduced to Wynn and what her life is like living in the same household as Ariana, her baby sister, and Randy, her big brother. I’m pretty sure it’s nothing like you imagined it would be.

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cheri is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card!!

Although this is the last Blog Stop, be sure to go back and click on each link and comment on each for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/27de0/path-to-grace-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

 

 

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 12

Texas Book-aholic, September 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 14

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 15

The Book Club Network, September 16

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 17 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, September 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 19

Bizwings Book Blog, September 20

For Him and My Family, September 21

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, September 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 22

Cover Lover Book Review, September 23

Pause for Tales, September 24

Susan K. Beatty, Author, September 25 (Author Interview)