Hello and happy Friday!
I’m so thrilled to share a special interview with author Virginia Henderson, whose latest book released TODAY! Peace Be Still, book #3 in the Abundant Blessings series, is now available on Amazon!
Scroll down for more information about the book, then we’ll dive into the interview!
About the Book
True peace doesn’t always mean that God calms the storms surrounding us. Sometimes He calms the storms within us.
William insists on taking his family to a cabin in the mountains for Christmas. It is supposed to be a quiet getaway from distracting electronics and civilization, where he and Rachel can finally share their exciting news with their daughter, Peggy.
However, 13-year-old Peggy has other ideas, including flying to California alone to meet her biological father, Ryan. Unfortunately, her trip goes sour, and it might cost her more than she bargained for.
Shady characters, flashy casinos, unexpected friendships, and a lesson in learning who your real family is. This is one Christmas the Hamlets and Hughes will never forget!
A perfect read for the Christmas season! Great for fans of Christ-centered reads that deal with sensitive topics. Clean & Christian romance with a few kisses between married couples. No swearing, smut, or gore.
Content warnings: Drinking/drunk character, mild physical abuse, gambling, kidnapping, and human trafficking.
Find it on Amazon!
The Giveaway
Click on the links below to go enter the launch giveaway! Today is the last chance to win your very own copy of Peace Be Still, and the winner will be announced tomorrow!
Enter the launch giveaway (U. S.)!
Enter the launch giveaway (International)!
The Questions
Bella: Hi, Virginia! Congratulations on your new release, and thank you so much for joining us on the blog today!
We’ll start off this interview with an age-old question. What first inspired you to write?
Virginia: First, thank you so much for having me on your blog today. I’m excited to be here 🙂
I’ve always loved to write, even at a young age. I can’t say it was one thing in particular that inspired me to write, but I know God gifted me with this love for words and storytelling.
Bella: I know you refer to yourself as a multi-genre author. Do you have a favorite genre to write so far? If so, what is it?
Virginia: Suspense! I love a fast-paced story with high stakes, adventure, and lots of twists and turns. My hope is to try my hand at fantasy and more historical fiction someday.
Bella: I love that! Suspense stories are so much fun.
Do you have a favorite part of the writing process (drafting, editing, formatting, marketing, etc.)? If so, why?
Virginia: It would be a toss-up between drafting and creating the cover. There’s so much possibility when drafting and I love scheming new ideas. Working on the cover is excellent inspiration and excites me about the project.
Bella: That’s so cool! I can definitely understand that, and I love that you make your own covers.
Speaking of story ideas, can you tell us one of your favorite tropes, and one of your least favorite tropes?
Virginia: I love stories about small towns. They’re just so cozy and comforting. One of my least favorites is matchmaking. No matter how well-meaning the characters are, I find it irksome.
Bella: Where do you want your writing to take you? If you could choose where you’ll be in 10-15 years, what would your life look like?
Virginia: For now, my writing is more of a hobby. I’m in the middle of rebranding my writing platform, including new edits and fixes to my backlog, in hopes of giving the brand a bit more of a “professional polish.” I want to take my time with this, so it will be a few years in the making.
In 10-15 years, I’d like to have an established virtual assistant career, working from home or in an office.
Bella: I love that! I hope the process is smooth and enjoyable for you.
What’s the next book on your TBR? What was the most recent book you read and loved?
Virginia: I don’t keep a specific TBR reading list. I’m a mood reader and I go with whatever strikes my fancy at the time. Currently, I’m reading A Noble Purpose by Laurie Lucking, The Railway Children by E. Nesbit, and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
I absolutely loved the last two books I read. Grand Intentions by J. Grace Pennington and The Tale of Despereaux by Katie DiCamillo
Bella: So many great books on that list! I’m going to go add them to my TBR, haha.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
Virginia: There’s so many! Margaret Peterson Haddix, C.S Lewis, Lloyd Alexander, John Flanagan and Brandon Mull to name a small few.
Bella: I recognize quite a few of those names!
Moving back to the topic of writing, do you prefer silence or listening to music (lyric or instrumental) when writing?
Virginia: It really depends on my mood or what I’m working on. Sometimes I just need silence while other times I’ve got a playlist on repeat. I do like instrumental music but mostly I listen to nostalgic soundtracks from my favorite movies and cartoons from back in the day.
Bella: That’s so fun!
Are there any Scripture verses you find especially helpful/encouraging to your writing? If so, which ones?
Virginia: Matthew 14:31. It’s the story of when Peter attempted to walk across the water to Jesus. He got so far before he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. The quote, “wherefore didst thou doubt” is a powerful reminder for me to not doubt my gifts, as I sometimes do.
Bella: I absolutely love that story. Such a good reminder, you’re right!
If you could live in any storyworld, where would you choose and why?
Virginia: Narnia. I was in the middle of rereading the series and it’s a place I would like to escape into.
Bella: You definitely couldn’t go wrong with Narnia! That would be incredible.
Do you have any favorite Christmas traditions?
Virginia: Every year is a little different but I love driving around looking at Christmas lights.
Bella: Me too! Everything can look so cozy and magical this time of year.
And finally, can you tell us a little about Peace Be Still? What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
Virginia: It’s a story about the unknown and God working outside of our little box. So often we are so focused on the here and now that we don’t see the big picture.
I sincerely hope that readers will take away the messages of peace and family. Despite the rough patches and even tragedies, God is still working for the greater good.
Bella: That’s so true, and I love the intention behind the book. As always, that’s a very timely message – one I think we could all stand to be reminded of.
Again, thank you so much for joining us today, Virginia! We wish you all the best!
About the Author
From the author: “Originally from Ohio, I now reside in Texas with my folks and little sister. I’m a born-again Christian and I want to give all the glory to God. He’s gifted me with this passion for writing and I want to give it back to Him.
I’m a multi-genre author with an interest in suspense, thrillers, and the occasional wholesome Christmas story. Down the road, I would like to try my hand at fairytale retellings and historical fiction.
Aside from writing, I’m always reading. I love the classics, (Treasure Island and Peter Pan being my top favorites) historical fiction, survival, adventures, fairy-tale retellings, suspense, and all things Newsie-related. That particular time period (turn of the century New York) is one that I find very interesting.
I very much enjoy plays and musicals, embroidery, road trip adventures with the fam, retro arcade games, and board games. I’m also very interested in weaponry (archery, swordsmanship, etc).”
Connect with her at:
– her blog (click HERE)
– her newsletter (click HERE)
– her Instagram (click HERE)
– her Youtube (click HERE)
Congratulations again on your exciting release, Virginia!
And thank YOU for reading! Don’t forget to check out Peace Be Still, and to enter the giveaway before it ends today (here’s those giveaway links again – U.S. & International). The winner will be announced tomorrow (12/7)!
Have you read any of Virginia’s books yet? How would you have answered the interview questions? Could you relate to Virginia’s answers? We’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment below!
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Thank you so much for having me! 🙂
Thank YOU so much for being here! I enjoyed this so much <33 Congratulations again on your release!!